Then the mercury climbed melting away the white exposing the puddles and wet red dirt. No riding for several more drying days.
Mon drove up to Sedona staging for Tues 8AM van service appointment. Visited with Doug and Leia till bed time. Short drive, only blocks long to garage. I parked nose in a spot facing the service advisor’s desk window, blinds closed. I waited to be summoned till 9 then I walked in. She said I was to announce myself, I assumed my presence and an appointment would have served notice. Not so. Short story: the part had not been ordered but I was not contacted to reschedule. I did score a wrench to test drive in falling snow not sticking to pavement. He was not familiar with releasing the parking brake, strike 1. He drove it with a heavy foot, strike 2. Strike 3 he said it runs alright. Which is does not. Driving back down to VOC the temp gauge indicated below normal. Dunno. Sound seems like a blower motor. No check engine control light lit. Learned that turbo runs all the time, if failing performance would be worse than driving an air cooled VW bus that I know about having owned one that I drove round trip from Ohio to WA back in ’78 to start my PCT thru hike. A code would be registered. I wonder if fan belt is spinning something unhappy. I expanded my search for repair shops. Found 1 in Prescott that works on, guy said, 95% of Sprinters in area. First appointment is 2/5. Tomorrow I visit Anderson who has worked on my van successfully previously, shop is an experience.
Full time on the road has its challenges. Finding solutions.
Yesterday while at Thunder Mtn for a visit I visited with Bob, an older mtn biker, whom we have visited with prior. I asked him his age, 80 he said. I asked about his health. He said he had artery blocking clots that were repaired which eliminated his shortness of breath. I am interested in age affected activity comparing my effort to like aged men.
I drove out to cultural park to pass time before afternoon PT session on my tennis elbow. I put on my hiking shoes in anticipation of a hike on Roundabout trail. Right from the beginning the dirt was too soft for foot steps, stuck to short paved loop.
Back out to Beaverhead overlook pavement for night. Scored preferred spot. Changed back to walking shoes and walked the highway to check out the 2 side roads. Each was a muddy mess. The wash coursing thru the first rd spot was running underneath the highway. Suspect its flow affected a crossing further in but the mud was sticking to my shoes deciding me to turn out. The other spot on the left was just as muddy. Mud stuck to my shoes. No way even walking on desert was firm. Froze overnight, I thought ahead and lifted my wipers off the windshield. Heater kept me comfortable. After sunrise I saw the white Nissan parked, we are competing for spot. Who gets there first scores. I will be there again tonight.
Hanging at outlet mall paved parking lot where my jetpack receives a strong internet signal.
I set aside Irving’s book for Pulitzer prize winning “A confederacy of Dunces” which reads easier yet very absurd.
I have learned for 2 sources that Bike and Bean is under new ownership.
The air control module’s price is $1,100.