Thurs morn as my skillet loaf of corn bread was cooling the repair sho[p called telling me he is in possession of the replacement drive shaft. I asked for an hour to get there for immediate install. He concurred. I stuffed the 8″ dia lsug of cornbread in the food drawer then beat easy feet to sho[p east of Junctipon. Present serviceable conditipon is worn carrier bearing which holld up the drive shaft. If teh bearing grenaded it might precipitate transmission damage. The van sometimes violently shudders in lower gears then mostly goes away at maybe 35 and keeping a load on the engine. Made the shop. Wrench drove it into shop. Office guy gave bill of $1800 and change, if I paid by checke I saved 3.5% service fee. I was told R & R would be quick. I sat in waiting room and waited, and waited beyond quessed time. Walked into shop, wrench greeted me: New drive shaft produced same noises. My drive shaft is fine. He R & R’d new for old. Said now suspects transmission starts the shake. Back to transmission replacement. This shop could install the transmission but lacked the software to program it. Sprinter transmission shops either east to Denver or west to SLC. I googled SLC shops, first one is a Sprinter specialty shop. We talked, I will be Centerville, UT Tues at 11 for their diagnosis. SO, hope sprung eternal that new driveshaft would be the solution. Difference now is incorporating van repair and living decisions of city living.
Repair shop is like 4 hours from Fruita on I70 and US 6. Lacking knowledge of transmission health creates stress because of the unknown. I sometimes so close to don’t bid the devil good day until you meet him anxious. Should the van fail I will deal with it. On US 6 a bit south of Price there is a long steep climb that would test the transmission shifting. Made it w/o slipping.
Up top is a rest area on the right on pavement. To the left is gravel which I had taken when here. Today I drove out to spot which had become a cow watering manure trampled in patch of dirt. Not staying here. Retraced drive stopping at a spot. Drove in then opened the side door being greeted by odor of a decaying mammal. I discovered source was an unburied dog. Scratch this spot. Drove to next spot which is very close to the highway. Litter. I checked BCN map researching the other side of the highway. Promising. I rode my bike across the 4 lane undivided 65mph highway and picked up a paved road leading away from highway noise. I passed close in pull outs, I wondered what was up ahead. I continued to another pull out which lead to a maven of camp spots. I picked a spot. So much better. Over here with indications of high camping load there is no litter where as the other side of the highway was heavily littered: typical beer containers.
I have been planning life till 11 AM on Tues. Tomorrow I will drive to Price and maybe ride there. Next will be over Soldier Summit to Payson canyon.
Fruita held me because of van issue and the trails are taxing for me. Starting cold climbing Hawkeye put me down. I rode from the main Kokopeli TH up Mary’s Steve’s connector and Steve’s loop then climb Wranglers, traverse then descend with closed 2 track single track to Marys for a high speed descent on tilted slick rock with sometimes climbing riders to yield to which regulates brake lever pull.
On Wed I rode from Mack TH right off I70 interchange. I will finish with Hawkeye down. I pedaled the gravel frontage rd to start of Troys built which works its way south to end at Mack Ridge jeep rd climb.
A rider struck up a conversation, we have met elsewhere in the past to my failed recall. He showed a pic of info kiosk on Willow Springs road in Moab, there is now a daily $15 fee.
Duh, bike fork is past due for service. OTE turned to, next bike. Seals and dust rings were dried out. OK. previous service was last Dec.
Forecast calls for possible wetness.
Developed a cough and chest congestion like a chest cold. Insurance paid for a COVID home test kit. Last evening’s test result was clean. Seems like past chest colds.
9:39 PM it is 75 degrees at 5505′. Last summer at Bend Steve bought the last fan at preferred RV store. Sometime later somewhere else I bought my own. I used it all last night and will prolly run all night tonight. Bed time.
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