Homeward Bound - Page 9

Have Cephalexin, will travel. The plan is to back track a few miles, hit I-81 to I-40. I wish I could come through and visit more of you guys, but being side-tracked for a week, with 5+ days in front of me (IF all goes well...) I think I just want to get to Modesto ASAP. To be honest, the dogs are doing awesome. They are eating well, getting the most out of their (many!) walks in the woods next door to the motel, good stools, gaining some much needed weight. Obviously I don't want to keep them in crates on the road any longer than I have to, but all are very well-seasoned road warriors, handling the stress and delay a LOT better than I am!

Sucks so much of the route will be suffering record cold spells. I am not looking forward to sleeping with 6 dogs in my room everynight, hauling crates in and out of the van, etc. BTW: Dog breath and body heat does NOT heat a van when the engine is turned off on a cold night unless the dogs are in your sleeping bag with you. LOL

Its a long way from here to CA. Hoping there's no red fluid under the van in the morning. After the transmission repair, the shop owner noticed the drive train was leaking... may be why the tranny fried. He welded it and put a new u-joint and seal in. If there's no red stuff under it in the snow tomorrow it should be good to go.
Then again, with my luck...

Time to walk dogs one more time before bed. I am hoping to make it at least as far as Bristol, VA before end-of-day tomorrow, Memphis the next night. We'll see. :-)))


SS

Red stuff puddled up in the snow under the drive train (again). 
Back to shop. More repair. Hope its fixed this time.

Doesn't sound good.

What did he have to weld?

I hope your not getting the shorter end of the stick again.

Best wishes,
Moons.

I SO don't know much about auto mechanics! It was some kind of air vent on the drive shaft thingie. They put another seal in it too. So far it isn't leaking, but by the time I get back to the hotel, got half my crap back in the van I didn't know if I would ever see again, hitched up the trailer, it was time to feed and walk 5 GSD's again, and I'd already been charged for another night, so I am STILL in Western MD. I'll try to leave again in the morning.

I cannot believe the coldest weather in years just has to happen while I happen to be trying to move cross country. Even the pioneers knew better than to head the old Connestoga West this time of year.

SS

It is bad timing weather wise, this cold air has been sitting still too long.
I'll be in the single digits tonight and probably all weekend.
Maybe late next week it will get above freezing again.

I'd drive around town for a day before I let that guy (mechanic) off the hook, and head for open road, give it some test time first.

Good luck,
Moons.

I agree with Moons, don't leave until you're sure it's fixed.  That's all you need, getting on the road and breaking down again.  You just can't seem to catch a break!  I know how luck runs, my goes bad for a year at a time, seems like you've had more than your fair share.  Above all, be careful!!!  Are you feeling any better?

...and one who knows nearly nothing of mechanics would "know" its fixed HOW?

I drove it around town some, with and without trailer. No leaks, but I do kinda wonder why a supposed "vent hole" in a drive shaft yoke, thingie, whatever, would leak enough fluid to burn up a transmission, and I wonder what other bad bongos welding the thingie vent hole closed can cause. Does that make sense? None of it makes any sense to me.

The shop is not open on Saturday, and the warranty is only good at that shop, (4K miles or 3 mos???) and I only have AAA towing free for 100 miles. Did I mention the wrecker isn't supposed to tow the trailer? Just leave it???

God, how I wish someone, anyone, would just come, load us up in a warm cargo van, hook up my trailer, and GET ME OUT OF THIS MESS! Taking advantage of me these days, especially in a situation like this where I know nothing about mechanics, isn't even sport.
Its like shooting ducks in a toilet.

Anybody betting on how far I'm going to get tomorrow? I don't want any more choices right now. I had a choice on fixing the van or renting a box truck. Cheaper to rent the truck, which would have been in CA by now, or at least not been my problem if it broke.

My cleanest socks are so dirty I may have to tie them up tonight so they don't walk off.

SS

If there's no red puddle and it seems to be running, I guess you'll have to go for it.  I was married to a mechanic but don't know much.  I can put oil in and change a tire but that's pretty much it.  Give me a hammer and nails and I can build a house, but I know nothing about cars, other than how to drive them.  I just left that to him, guess I'll have to learn now, add to my repertoire of skills.  I broke down when I was in Texas, needed a timing belt.  Thankfully, I was with YellowRose and she took me to her mechanic so I knew I could trust him.  I'd send you some luck but I've been running on empty myself, you may need a leprechaun to get you home.  Look for a rainbow (is there any such thing as a snowbow?  Right now it may be easier to find.).  Sending you all good thoughts, it's all I have right now, but I'm really hoping your luck changes, AND FAST!!

Be careful what you wish for. I have nothing to do this weekend. You might find yourself in Carolina. 

Please remind me - I left a warm house, my job, food, kennels, everything I worked for all my life, just because some asshole beat me up once in awhile and threatened to kill my friends... WHY???