Hello, friends!
FYI, Ben wrote the parts using this font. Harriet wrote the parts using this font, and added the photos, just so you know!
The last
Pic-of-the-Week was one where we relaxed, with little excitement. As with Western Oregon weather, things change
quickly. This week we are in Salem
taking care of some doctor appointments, getting the truck serviced and
visiting with friends. That all sounds
good, BUT not all is good.
Last week we
made an appointment for the truck to be serviced first thing Monday morning
(yesterday). The timing was really good,
because the motor started missing about 10 miles from our destination in
Salem. In addition to the normal lube
and oil change service, we were going to ask that the mechanic check to see why
the turbos were making more noise that we thought normal.
Well, after
the mechanic checked everything over, he said that the exhaust manifolds were
leaking, the up pipe for the turbos was cracked, 7 injectors were bad (so he
thinks all 8 should be replaced), the head gaskets need replacing AGAIN (3rd
time since we owned the truck), The heads probably need to be planed AGAIN
(hopefully, not cracked), and some part should be replaced in the turbos while
everything is taken apart! Almost $7,000
in repairs total!
Then there's the fact that we have reservations at our RV park only through Thursday morning, and the truck repair will take 3, but more likely, 5 days, and then again, maybe another week! We have nothing with which to move our trailer, so we're hoping the RV park can change some other things around and get a few more cancellations to accommodate us! Ugh! One bright spot is that the mechanic shop found us a loaner car to use. It's a little yellow VW! Tiny, but functional, other than the fact it can't pull our trailer!!
Then there's the fact that we have reservations at our RV park only through Thursday morning, and the truck repair will take 3, but more likely, 5 days, and then again, maybe another week! We have nothing with which to move our trailer, so we're hoping the RV park can change some other things around and get a few more cancellations to accommodate us! Ugh! One bright spot is that the mechanic shop found us a loaner car to use. It's a little yellow VW! Tiny, but functional, other than the fact it can't pull our trailer!!
We did take
the Model A to a car show in Sisters last Saturday. Once again, it was a very popular car, but
not a winner as it does not compete well with hot rods. Several friends showed up, and it was fun to see Mel and Katie there (photo below)! Ben went to grade and junior high school in Bend with Katie, and they also winter in Baja about an hour and a half from us. We also spent time with Baja friends Tony and Janet. She has a clothing business where she sells at weekend shows. This was her second weekend in Sisters, and she did pretty well. Tony just had some major surgery a few weeks ago, so Ben has been helping them get her booth set up and down; lots of hauling and lifting, which Tony shouldn't do for a while yet.
After the car show, we rushed around loading the Model A on its trailer, hauling it back to Ben's brother's house, and then hooking up to our house trailer for our trip to the valley. We stayed Saturday night at an RV park that is next to Mallard Creek Golf course east of Lebanon. Very pretty place, and quiet. Most of the people there are golfers, and do a package deal; staying at the RV park and golfing. I and the dogs stayed there while Ben got his dirt track racing fix at the Lebanon Speedway.
Oh, and he forgot to tell you that we had a really nice short camping trip at Crane Prairie Reservoir last week. We had a bit of rain the first day, but all in all, it was very pretty and quiet. The dogs were a bit disappointed to be on leashes, because the chipmunk population was abundant, and they (the chipmunks) knew to stay just out of reach of the dogs! We also drove around part of Century Drive, and visited some other lakes and reservoirs. Wickiup Reservoir is VERY low this year. Below is a photo of Crane Prairie. It looked normal to us, and the fishing, according to some fishermen we talked to, was pretty good, too. I was wishing we had a little boat!
I spent a week in the Chicago area visiting our daughter and our three grandchildren the first full week of July. They keep their Mom very busy, and they are smart and happy kids! We did a lot of walking, ate some delicious Chicago style pizza, made a peach pie, went to the library (several times), read stories, played games, went to the zoo, and took lots of pictures. And did I say we walked a lot!? One night we walked to the far side of the little town where they live for Mexican dinner, then enjoyed the car show on the streets of town as we walked back! So I've been to car shows most weekends this summer, it seems! "D" is a great walker, and only pooped out once on all those walks.
"A" wasn't feeling well the day we went to the zoo, so he missed being in this photo.
Going backwards again, we participated in Harrisburg, Oregon's July 4th parade (and it's a BIG deal!) We managed to win first place with our '28 Woody! Woohoo! My Uncle David Malpass had invited us to be in the parade when we saw them in Cabo San Lucas in January. Why not!? We gave him and Aunt Evelyn a ride in the parade, and everyone seemed to know them; especially Evelyn, as she and David have opened up their swimming pool for swimming lessons for many, many summers. My cousin Jane even gave us the Malpass Farms sign for the front of the car, and ribbons, and the local pharmacist gave us some whirligigs that we stuck in the tail gate. It was lots of fun! My brother Rich also rode with us.
I am posting photos in our 2015 July Picasa album. Lots of old classic cars, big farm equipment and fire engines in the Harrisburg parade, cute grand-kids, and some Oregon back country.
We hope the next "Pic" has some better news about mechanical things. We want to do some wilderness camping next week, so are praying that the repairs go very well, and quickly. Yes, when you head to Hart Mountain and/or the Steens, you want your rigs running right!
Until Ben gets inspired again....
Your truck-less friends in Salem,
Ben, Harriet, Sam & Zoey
"A" wasn't feeling well the day we went to the zoo, so he missed being in this photo.
Going backwards again, we participated in Harrisburg, Oregon's July 4th parade (and it's a BIG deal!) We managed to win first place with our '28 Woody! Woohoo! My Uncle David Malpass had invited us to be in the parade when we saw them in Cabo San Lucas in January. Why not!? We gave him and Aunt Evelyn a ride in the parade, and everyone seemed to know them; especially Evelyn, as she and David have opened up their swimming pool for swimming lessons for many, many summers. My cousin Jane even gave us the Malpass Farms sign for the front of the car, and ribbons, and the local pharmacist gave us some whirligigs that we stuck in the tail gate. It was lots of fun! My brother Rich also rode with us.
I am posting photos in our 2015 July Picasa album. Lots of old classic cars, big farm equipment and fire engines in the Harrisburg parade, cute grand-kids, and some Oregon back country.
We hope the next "Pic" has some better news about mechanical things. We want to do some wilderness camping next week, so are praying that the repairs go very well, and quickly. Yes, when you head to Hart Mountain and/or the Steens, you want your rigs running right!
Until Ben gets inspired again....
Your truck-less friends in Salem,
Ben, Harriet, Sam & Zoey
