Engineer’s Log 7-17
July 17, Austin, TX
We have had a charming day in Austin, found the cool and funky part of town on South Congress, and spent the night in the definitely Unfunky (but inexpensive) Extended Day Suites about 15 miles on the north side of town in superhighway and supermall hell.
I spoke to the mechanic this morning, and he confirmed our fears, that the Cacafuego’s engine has probably suffered terminal damage. The compression on the left cylinders is at about half capacity, while the right side reads fine, which, even to a layman such as myself, indicates that there is a pressure leak on that side of the engine block or head. We could have the cylinder head removed and tuned and planed for a particular sum of money, which does not guarantee that the block or the pistons, or the rings aren’t screwed as well, or for somewhat less than double that amount, we could have a used engine from the local auto recycler (read “junk yard”), which comes with a 90 day warrantee, put in it’s place, OR, for even more money, we could install a freshly rebuilt engine with a GM certification, OR, we could junk the scarey son-of-a-bitch and buy a cargo van and a trailer.
We held a family conference this morning, and, much to my surprise, everybody expressed too much affection for the old goat, and the adventure as a whole, to contemplate throwing in the towel on her, so we elected the middle road choice of putting in a junkyard engine, provided that the warrantee has any real meaning once we leave town. I have not heard back from the mechanic on that score, he was going to get a copy faxed to his office and let me know what he thought of it. In the meantime, we have extended our car rental, and are looking for a better hotel, or at least a more convenient location, and expect to spend the next week touring around the Austin/San Antonio area. We had lunch at an outdoor creperie in a park, and talked with a charming young man at our picnic table about the local attractions, so we are set for a few days of local interest, at least. When the Cacafuego is serviceable again, we will hightail it out of town and try to catch up to whatever amounts to a schedule, meaning making it to the Grand Canyon in time for our reservations on the 26th and 27th. If we don’t make those dates, well, flexibility remains the watchword.
Engineer’s Log 7-16-08
July 16, Rockdale, Texas
The Cacafuego is down, and maybe for the count. We broke a belt after a picnic lunch at a rest stop west of the Brazos River, and, although Ann and I changed it, the time spent with the water pump not moving must have done some damage. The engine started rough, and a quarter mile down the road a rattling began. I pulled off the road, and immediately the cooling system exploded spewing radiator fluid all over and generating a huge cloud of steam. I thought we had an engine fire. So did a passing driver, who called 911, and shortly we had a helpful samaritan and a sherriff’s deputy on hand to help us decide what to do.
The deputy called for a wrecker, and we towed the vehicle several miles into town, and left it at the Chevy dealership. We were quite lucky to be that close to civilization. We spent the night in a hotel, and Ann has gone on her moped into Taylor, the next town 30 miles up the road, to get us a rental car so we can go into Austin and settle in for a couple of days while the Chevy people figure out what to do. I spoke to them already this morning, and it was being looked over at the time, so we should have an analysis fairly soon. It needs a new radiator, and is leaking oil somewhere, but there is also the rough engine bit, which is the most worrysome. We may be home sooner than we thought.
Ann’ thoughts of the day: pre break down…
AWH: Other thoughts here:
At Poppy’s Market in what ever town that was, “Ahab, the Arab” and “Alley Oop” were playing on the Loudspeaker. Whoever chose the music there is a lover of odd stuff like me!! I was amazed and pleased. Did anyone mention that Sarah drove for 2 hours and 20 minutes yesterday during rush hour, and through Shreveport ? I was in the back reading my Tennessee ghost stories; I’m not sure which was scarier. She did a GREAT job and had a good time too, which are both good signs. I am pleased with both girls, they are very accepting of this camping and campsites. Thank you Girl Scout leaders. Elinor has been great at rigging things, like the tarp one rainy night, as she explained, every campsite they went to it usually rained and so all they did was rig tarps. I’ve been teaching Sarah some knots, so more of that can happen. One regret…I found some child-proof drawer latches at Goodwill in B’more and Tom said we wouldn’t need them, especially since we rigged the drawers not to fall out, (what did the previous owners do about that?), so I left them home. And sure enough around the first big corner, we were wishing for them. The drawers spend a lot of time open, but not falling out at least. We have adjusted well, I will put them in when we get home, but again, what were the previous owners thinking?
About that…This rig, (and I’m being nice here, because it is my home for the next 4 weeks) is junk. It is swigging Antifreeze like there is no next hour and we just discovered it’s going through oil too. I am not only cranky with the previous owners, but the guy who did the inspection. I expected some of this, but not ALL of this. There is a little switch on the steering column that is an additional fan for additional cooling of the motor once stopped and off. That’s how hot she runs. All of this homemade rigging has overridden the real meters, and all the readings are crazy. And now Tom is dealing with the leaking of the water containers. Thank goodness for silicone caulk. But we are sleeping well, though the girls might dispute that, and still have some room for souvenirs. We are not leaking when it rains, and the A/C works when we are plugged in. As long as we can find electricity and running water, and the camping/RV places have shower/toilet facilities, I’m happy. Once closed, the loo here is noise tight, but also tiny and stuffy. I don’t think anyone has actually tried the shower in here.
We got rid of a few things at Goodwill today, and bought a few more things, so the trade off is almost even. Wi-fi is not as prevalent as we had hoped, or we’ll see it free in odd places (like a donut [sic] shop) right after paying $4 at Barnes and Nobles.
Now, more on the biking. We thought the Natches Trace was fairly flat, till we decided to try and bike it. So, we get the bikes off and the moped, and check tires, and get helmets down, and get geared up with gloves and yellow safety vest and water bottles, and off Sarah (on the moped), Elinor, and I go. Tom is driving ahead. So, I’m slugging away and I ask Elinor what gear she is in, and she says 6 or something, and I ask, “1, 2 or 3?” “2-6,” “OK.” So I”m slugging away. They take off ahead of me and I am Slugging away…I’m in 1-3 and just barely moving… and I realize that flat road is really a long, long gentle hill. I keep slugging away and finally get off and walk a while. Elinor comes back to check on me, and we discuss the hill aspect, I have gotten back one to ride for a while, and she admits she was in 1-6 when I had asked her earlier. She had misread it. GREAT. I am in NO shape for biking, could you tell? Tom comes back at some point after I have crested the hill and riding again, and tells me there is no turn off for 5 miles, and goes past me. I had just worked up a good speed, so was not going to stop and chat. Whatever. I figure I can walk five miles, no worries. So he goes past me again, and around a curve, I see some cars stopped after hearing a squeal of tires. And perhaps you know the rest by now. PHEW!
Our route is nicely untraveled. We are seeing few cars, and are really seeing the country. Though the Natches Trace was deceptively cool, we discovered as when we came out to the road parallel to it, it was much hotter out there without the steady overhead trees. Most of these small roads are also not interesting to trucks, so we only see cars, and only a few RV’s. The speed in Texas is 70 day and 65 night. Don’t get this craft going that fast. I’ve gotten her up to 60, but just barely. One risks many scary things going that fast in this rig.
Another regret is that I didn’t take a picture of this little shack off the side of the road back in Tennessee. It was painted these great brilliant Carribean colors, like hot pink with purple or turquoise shutters and purple trim. Very tidy and neat, with a big sign saying,”Business for Sale, by Owner.” And we wondered, “What kind of business, really, was that, in this lonely place?” But I have the mental picture in my head, of that cheerful little spot, and the men that might have visited her. We are seeing shacks and trailer homes. Lots abandoned, and lots who knows. A few big places, no real McMansions. Some lovely little Victorian towns, and the town squares just continue to amuse us. They do still exist, but one very lonely one was followed up by about three miles later by a Walmart Super-store.
And now for the BEST IDEA…
What we are finding is that the RV parks are way out of the towns, so I propose we buy part or all of the Baltimore Contry Club site and make an RV park! Tom has already named it the Roland Valu-Park (RVP). See, that way RV’rs could stay in the city, go right across to shop at Cross Keys, have easy access to I-83, and still be close to many things. Year round activities: sledding in the winter; tennis in the spring, summer, fall; football and basketball games right across the street. Shopping up and down Falls Road. Think of the tax revenues, and we’d keep the Park in Roland Park. Just a few sites, very well landscaped and private. A few campsites, too, would be nice. That way the locals could still enjoy the area, and the travelers would meet the locals. The land would be used, but not too heavily. It would be a year round entity and yet not too much wear and tear on the local economy. We could add a swimming pool, that could be community and RVP, a play ground, a dog park, all kinds of amenities. We could keep all or most of the trees, and add more trees and tasteful landscaping to keep it secluded and hidden. Part of the proceeds would absolutely go back into the community, to the RPCL, or to Roads and Mantenance. It would be a true little jewel of economic opportunity. Anyone wishing to go in on this ideal opportunity should call me soon, the lines will be open. I should call the Mayor at our next stop.
