DAY 13 - We are getting so close to the finish line in Santa Monica, that we can almost smell the ocean air. Finishing is winning in this endurance run.
We were on fire today. No, not literally, well, we could easily have been at one point, but we weren't, let me explain.....
Smile. That's all you can do. Encourage the ones that are having way worse issues, and help out. So we loaded Selma into the Team Effie van and Buzz rode with us the rest of the day. We wished Vince well, we smiled and waved at Cris and Jim as they pulled out, and we kept going.
Then the next "comedy of errors" as Pat called it happened. Selma was leaking gas, and it was not only stinking up the van, it was making a mess. So we pulled over and decided to drain some gas out of her tank. Pat started the siphon process into another gas can, and thought the gas wasn't flowing out of the siphon hose any more, but it was....and next thing we know we have gas EVERYWHERE! On our luggage, all over the floor. So I flung open the side door and started throwing luggage out onto the side of the road, Pat started trying to dry up all the gas, Buzz and Athena jump out to try to help. We filled a garbage bag full of the gas soaked towels. It was a ridiculous scene. All we needed was a match and the whole thing would have gone up in flames. We put everything back in after the floor of the van was relatively dried up, opened the windows (there are only 2) and headed back out. Then we had to laugh at the situation. What else can you do? I was still tasting gas from breathing it in all day by the time we got to Flagstaff tonight. Athena's suitcase was pretty well soaked, so, guess what our hotel room smells like.
What will be next? Just wait, there's more.
Then apparently Effie had another plan. She was enjoying this relaxation way too much. She started up without too must protesting, but then decided that she would like a longer break. She broke her rocker and spit out her pushrod onto the ground just as Cris was backing her out. We looked at it all in disbelief for a moment...shocked really....and then, got to work. It was a NASCAR style pushrod/rocker replacement. Everyone just focused on the task at hand and we got the job done. We've never taken the tank off before, but we had to loosen it to do this repair, so we learned some things again, and in about an hour, we were back on the road.
DAY 13 - Effie wanted the lunch break to last longer so in desperation, she broke her rocker and spit out her pushrod. Effie, Effie, Effie.
So with cautious anticipation we made our way up to a peak altitude of 7750', through the Coconino National Forest, had a view from the road of Humphrey's Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,633', and down into Flagstaff, Arizona. We didn't arrive too awful late...but then how would I know that anyway, because the time changed again and I really am not sure what day it is. I called my dear husband Brian tonight, not realizing its midnight at home, and what would that make it here, 10? Of course he answered worried something was wrong, but really, I was just getting done with dinner. Where am I?
It was nice and cool here tonight, and I love the smell of mountain air. The cool felt good and we cherish it because it's supposed to be HOT as we travel down into Laughlin tomorrow.
Our time today, was kind of, how do I describe it?...Weird. Athena was reflecting on what it must have been like for the settlers back in the covered wagon days to travel across this same wide open space, heading as far as we've traveled on foot, or horse, or wagon, wondering what they would find over the next hill. We didn't have cell phone service most of today...not that that puts us on the same level as the settlers of the old days, but it disconnects you some from the constant emails and knock knock of work and home. Gives you time to do that reflecting. Pat put in the new Doobie Brothers CD, Buzz got a flip video of him singing along with his own songs. The windows were open so we got to have the wind in our hair today too, even though they were open because the van reeked of gas. So while it all seemed a little like the Twilight Zone for a while, it was balanced with peaceful moments too.
Laura Klock
DAY 13 - After all these days on the road reading these route maps, this is the first time that there was a cow drawing with the word MOOO next to it. I think the organizers were getting as delirious towards the end of their planning journey as we are as we close in on the end of ours. Moo.
DAY 13 - Effie wanted the lunch break to last longer so in desperation, she broke her rocker and spit out her pushrod. Effie, Effie, Effie.So, here we are, in a familiar pose, wrenching roadside. I guess we were in a parking lot today, so that's a little better. Notice the smiles though. What are you going to do? Well, in the Cannonball, you FIX IT and keep going!