Jul 10 - on the laptop

Actually, I'm on the laptop on July 11, reporting on July 10.  I've had some sort of disk error overnight and I'm sorting things out.

The 10th was a "Sandy's Car" day, as it turned out.  I did the thermostat first and it turned out to be quite easy, compared to the X5.  It's the same engine, but without the mechanical fan.  The entire fan and shroud is removed by undoing 2 screws.  Then it's simply a matter of undoing 4 bolts and the two radiator hoses from the thermostat, pull it out, put in the new and away we go.

Of course that's the theory.  Three of the bolt heads were quite rusted and it was difficult to get the appropriate socket over them, but I eventually got there.  I didn't even drain the radiator, simply let it spill into a pan below.  Then, once back together, I topped up the radiator and started the engine.

It came up to temperature quickly and then I turned on the heat full blast.  The temp gauge initially soars then drops back as air bubbles work their way through.  Then heat pours out of the vents.  Excellent.  Afterwards, I topped up the coolant again and then again this a.m. once it had all cooled down.

Later in the day I also changed the oil on that car.  Sandy's now "good to go" to Sudbury.

I was supposed to help Jim with a couple of things but he didn't make it back from Smokey yesterday.  The winds were crazy gusty and the little float planes weren't flying.

We lost power for 2-3 hours and I was starting to think about the logistics of running an extension cord over to Jason's fridge but the power returned.  Our generator had been given a workout, which is good anyway.  I'm still thinking about that generator and automatic transfer switch so I'm not stuck running around for gas to keep the small generator going.

In the meantime, I'd gone over to Bonnie's with Abby and the 4-wheeler and invited her over for a 4:30 drink.  She joined us and another day was just about finished.

We had sausages and a rice-in-foil mixture done on the grill.  Peas completed the picture.

Onward !