I began the trek to Phoenix (150 miles) and noticed my temp gauge climbing. I pulled into a truck stop, let it cool, poured in a half-gallon of water, and started off again. Climbing again. Turned on the heat and the fan on high to dissipate some of the heat under the hood (it was about 110 out) (and I blistered my toes). Didn't help. Stopped to let it cool off again. Started out and it really started climbing and running the heater didn't help. Saw an overpass ahead and pulled into the shade it made. Got out and could see all the water running out from the radiator. Didn't see any busted hoses.
So it's noon on Wednesday in the desert. I called my Emergency Roadside Service provider and told them the problem. The guy said it's probably just a hose; I say I think it's the radiator itself.
Then we played "where are you?" I gave them the GPS coordinates of my location and the mileage since my last fillup in Ehrenberg, about 53 miles. The guy keeps saying "what can you see?" I keep saying "nothing." He: "You can't see any landmarks of any kind?" "NO" I say. "What's the overpass?" "I don't know but it isn't a freeway entrance in any direction so it may not even be a road; it could be a train crossing."
Anyhow, they call back to say a mechanic is on the way. Sure enough, about an hour later, Rodger Cunningham of Mechanics Inc. shows up in his extra large pickup. And of course, it is the radiator itself. Seems the transmission oil cooler was installed backwards and the bolts (which are supposed to be on the outside) rubbed against the radiator and created a weak spot. He is very happy it isn't one of the new plastic radiators. After taking it out and fixing the oil cooler so it won't rub it anymore, he proceeds to whip out his handy-dandy sautering kit to fix the radiator. He also notices the alternator bracket is broken but it's an old break and isn't a critical issue.
In about two hours, he gets everything fixed and back together. Tests the radiator and it's holding pressure, so all is good to go. And I can now run the AC!!! He only had water to fill up with so will have to get some antifreeze soon, but that's a minor detail. He doesn't charge for his travel time so I only owe for two hours of work ($250) -- and he came all the way from Mesa. Good deal, eh? He says he'll be happy to come to Picacho Peak to do the alternator bracket and the antifreeze, and that's on his own time so he only charges $75 an hour. Nice offer but I bet I can get it done cheaper after I get settled.
I really enjoyed the guy, despite a few prejudices that poked their nasty heads out. He's 49, ex-Army Ranger (he says), and I get the impression he might just have a few "anger management issues." But he was funny, and he's a really good mechanic, and he likes cats (whipped out his cellphone to show me a picture). As usual with men, he told me all about himself and displayed no interest in me or my life. And he left me with a wave and a few fleas from his cat.
Finally, about 5.30 I start off toward Phoenix and get to the Flying J there about 8 or 8.30. It's still really hot, no breeze, and kind of muggy. I hate Phoenix. I hung out in the restaurant as much as I could, ate fruit salad, drank lemonade, had some ice cream. Got an hour or so of sleep because it was so hot.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
First Catchup Post
Trip from Crescent City CA to Picacho Peak AZ
Start 8.30 am 29 August 2009
Very foggy at the coast, needed lights and crept along. Five miles inland, no fog at all.
Drove 199 to Grants Pass OR. Stopped by the Great Cats Park, saw bengal tiger, black leopard, snow leopard, cougar, etc. Didn't take the tour as didn't have the time, just wandered on my own for about 30 minutes. Bought a big cats card deck and a bolster pillow in b/w zebra-stripe and bright blue.
South on I-5 from Grants Pass. Overnight at Flying J in Corning CA. Then Sacramento, Fresno, and onto CA-99 to Bakersfield, Barstow. Picked up I-40 there towards Needles. Saw sign "Wilmington NC 2,450 miles" which I finally realized was the other end of I-40; didn't know that I-40 begins/ends in Barstow. Nothing exciting along the way.
Lots of smoke from the LA-area fires; spectacular sunset on the way to Needles. It was so hot, I hung out at the Flying J in Barstow until 8pm, when it cooled off to about 90. About 40 miles from Needles, found a rest stop packed with trucks. Some trees, some wind. About 11.30. Crashed until about 3.30 or so. Opened the windows and the door to catch the breeze. Nice temp, too, about 70.
On to Needles. Dawn when I got there. South on 95 to Blythe (road full of dips up down up down up down), where I stayed at the KOA (I get a discount). It's a bigger park than I'm used to, about 200 spaces, many of which are permanent abodes used seasonally. It was an okay spot but I couldn't hookup my cable TV as their cable was frayed at the end and the connector was missing. I called to report this. A few hours later, I looked outside and saw my cable running across the next spot to its cable connection, so I was able to get hooked up. However, nobody had let me know I could hookup so it's a good thing I looked out, isn't it?
Even with them giving me a "special" discount the site was $38, so it must be about $45 or $50 regularly. I didn't think it was all that great. And a Flying J was about a mile away (though I didn't know it was so close). I could have slept there for free. I have to start reading my "Next Exit" book before I get somewhere.
Start 8.30 am 29 August 2009
Very foggy at the coast, needed lights and crept along. Five miles inland, no fog at all.
Drove 199 to Grants Pass OR. Stopped by the Great Cats Park, saw bengal tiger, black leopard, snow leopard, cougar, etc. Didn't take the tour as didn't have the time, just wandered on my own for about 30 minutes. Bought a big cats card deck and a bolster pillow in b/w zebra-stripe and bright blue.
South on I-5 from Grants Pass. Overnight at Flying J in Corning CA. Then Sacramento, Fresno, and onto CA-99 to Bakersfield, Barstow. Picked up I-40 there towards Needles. Saw sign "Wilmington NC 2,450 miles" which I finally realized was the other end of I-40; didn't know that I-40 begins/ends in Barstow. Nothing exciting along the way.
Lots of smoke from the LA-area fires; spectacular sunset on the way to Needles. It was so hot, I hung out at the Flying J in Barstow until 8pm, when it cooled off to about 90. About 40 miles from Needles, found a rest stop packed with trucks. Some trees, some wind. About 11.30. Crashed until about 3.30 or so. Opened the windows and the door to catch the breeze. Nice temp, too, about 70.
On to Needles. Dawn when I got there. South on 95 to Blythe (road full of dips up down up down up down), where I stayed at the KOA (I get a discount). It's a bigger park than I'm used to, about 200 spaces, many of which are permanent abodes used seasonally. It was an okay spot but I couldn't hookup my cable TV as their cable was frayed at the end and the connector was missing. I called to report this. A few hours later, I looked outside and saw my cable running across the next spot to its cable connection, so I was able to get hooked up. However, nobody had let me know I could hookup so it's a good thing I looked out, isn't it?
Even with them giving me a "special" discount the site was $38, so it must be about $45 or $50 regularly. I didn't think it was all that great. And a Flying J was about a mile away (though I didn't know it was so close). I could have slept there for free. I have to start reading my "Next Exit" book before I get somewhere.
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