Jan 17/18 - life's adventure continues, in spades !

Everything was going too well.  Sandy got up early; we made the 8:15 flight rather than the 1:00 p.m., getting in at 3:30 rather than 8:30.  So far so good.  It got even better -- luggage came out quickly and when I called for the hotel shuttle, he was already in the area and picked us up at 4:01 -- I know that because we had to write that on his form.  Wow ... we're really cooking !

We loaded the car ... whoops, I have two flat tires on the driver's side.  Hmmm.  They could be slow leaks, time will tell.  They still look good today.  Perhaps some kids were having some fun ?  The shuttle driver brought out a pancake compressor and I topped up the tires.  Ok, we're on the road again.

That sticky caliper slowed us down on the way to Stef's to pick up Abby, or rather, I stopped a few times to adjust it.  Traffic was heavy all around on the highways so I opted for the mostly city streets, since that way I could pull off if need be. 

We left Stef's around 6:30, I think, and headed straight for the 407.  We sailed all the way to Parry Sound -- so far so good again -- and when I stopped and checked the rotor, it was cold.  Great !  We'd driven by the X5 in the Canadian Tire parking lot but went straight to the Swiss Chalet a hundred yards away, having dinner 10 minutes before they closed.  See -- some things were working out.

We left that parking lot a little after 9pm.  From there, Sandy drove the X5 since I wanted to deal with the caliper if need be.  When we got onto 522 she was following a ways back but then got a lot closer and rode my tail.  I didn't understand why until we stopped about 1km before Osprey Road since her headlights were going on and off.  I simply thought that she was trying to get my attention, but it turns out that the alternator had died ... again ?!?!

Well, the car was dead at that point.  Sandy waited in the car with lights flashing while I drove to the house and got two spare car batteries that I'd had on charge.  Everything takes time ... I got one of them attached to battery points in the trunk, under the spare tire, with jumper cables and I drove that car to the house. 

Since I'd already moved most of the luggage into the house when I got there the first time, we were soon squared away ... sort of. 

What the ?!?!  Sandy asked what now ?  I said ... tomorrow's another day; we'll figure it out then.  It was 11:30 and I didn't want to think about it.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.  So ... I didn't sleep much.  Thinking perhaps that something had come loose like a wire or whatever, I hoped that I'd be able to see and do something come daylight. 

Going up to the barn in the morning, since the battery had been on charge and the car put away, I popped the hood and started it up, quickly seeing that there was a piece of fan shroud touching the alternator pulley.  What ??  Looking closer, I realized that the fan had shattered and the shroud with it.

Next up, call Canadian Tire.  The lady that I talked to earlier in the week to arrange for Jim picking up the key was my best friend all day today.  She said that she'd get back to me and called back later to say that the "tech" said that he hadn't even gone near the fan.  Well, pardon me but it's impossible to replace the serpentine belt that drives the fan, water pump and  alternator without going near the fan.  Nope. 

Bottom line, we both agreed, we needed to get this car down to them and fixed.  She couldn't commit to anything until they had the car.  That makes sense.  She called for the tow truck and they arrived close to 2pm, should be there around now (was not there yet 20 minutes ago).  She said that they'd have the new alternator in hand tomorrow and the other parts hopefully on Monday, but couldn't actually place that order until the car got there. 

I called George.  I needed someone to commiserate with !  Sandy and I are living it -- and she's quite the trooper -- I needed someone else who has been there / done that !  I knew George had gone through the self-destructing-fan routine with his coach and is driving the upscale version of my X5 aka the Range Rover :).

What this all means for our travels remains to be seen.  At the earliest we'd be leaving on Tuesday, I think, but that will still mean a trip for both of us to Parry Sound to pick up the car, whenever it's fixed.  We need to get the car back here to load it up and leave.   Figure Thursday in Florida, perhaps.

Yes, the adventure continues.

The house is warm; I've lost a minnow ice fishing; I went into town to pick up mail and some groceries; Sandy is getting extra time to do her washing etc.  She roasted some coffee beans. 

I didn't go into Parry Sound.  Banking still awaits me. Jim still has one key and of course the Tow Truck driver has the other !

We have lots of food and wine.  What more could one ask for ?

 Life is good.  We do this or we do that. 

Onward.