Did I remember to check the electrolyte level in my batteries? No. Would that oversight eventually bite me in the ass? Yes. Would it bite me in the ass at the worst possible most remote location between Nowhere and Dead Meat? Oh, yes.
That's the tailpipe and a piece of the exhaust inside my van.
It was a few hours of tense driving in 100km of twisty with the windows down, rain pouring in, smoke pouring out, unable to stop because I had to jump start the battery with my one remaining battery and I had no idea how long that would work...and I had already shorted out fuses trying to use the deep cell marine battery as a main battery. It was truly Labrador or Bust.
All this adds up to an adventure to get here:
Labrador City's auto parts stores now know me by first name as I required all kinds of attention to set things right again. My dead battery was 6 years old. Replaced it. The tailpipe could only receive a replacement flex pipe that will last another 6 months before rotting out like my teeth.
These repairs are not part of the wolf expedition but for the time they enable the wolf expedition. I can't lose sight of that. They are here.
I went for a wolf sighting hike but freaked myself out because I was in an uninhabited area as big as New Hampshire and wolves and bears, if I saw them, could have their way with me. They'd probably be rabid. I was scared of the Partridge. And which way was the van?
I heard the term "Open Country" for the first time since Alaska. It's used to describe park land that has no trails. I can thank the Labrador City McDonalds (still horrible food) for the Internet access but I thank the Vikings for finding this continent and setting in motion the chain of events that led to a hippie fixing his exhaust pipe in the pouring rain in a Walmart parking lot.
If the weather ever clears up I might still see the Northern Lights. We get darkness from 10pm to 5 so it's possible.
7 comments:
A payphone on the side of a highway?
It's a wormhole back to 1977.
http://www.karenrosepaintings.com/graphic_design/R2_D2_MOCKUMENTARY/pages/10PARTRIDGE_FAMILY_LOGO.htm
Ignore R2D2.
Partridges are ground birds and have little tufts coming off the top of their heads
I am getting Hamma's sled ready, meet me at the post office. The Cairns Quest skidoo adventure, waits, as the wolves will scatter to the sound of engines that will rev a cloud of smoke over your expedition. McDonalds? WTF
The photo of the Partridge is awesome. It really does look like its camouflaged. It hardly got my attention.
man with van London
wow - a saw a picture of the Subway and McD's - awesome!! So glad you'll be able to eat healthy. Are you going to get a job at the iron ore mines?
That's awesome that the only other "Man in the Van" in London is posting here now...It really has become worldwide!
I'll send bird pic to my wildlife friend. am eating berries and milkshakes. Timmy, introduce yourself and your van. the ore mines are described as hellish. library is kicking me out.
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