Today the crew worked another weekend so they could finish my transmission job (that turned out to be a whole lot more) for my birthday. The bill came to $12,995. Rebecca Rose Guidance won the contest, guessing $13,000. By rights charges could very well have been at least $3,000 more – which it turns out is almost what I need for dental work when I get back to Connecticut.
I have neutral now! And a tachometer! I still need a new rear differential before I can go any faster than 42-43 (yeah, lost 2-3 mph), but this tranny feels stronger and louder. Bring on those Vermont and New Hampshire mountains! I am staying one more night because I couldn’t make it the 150 miles to the skoolie homestead in Georgia before dark and 38 is too cold to boondock tonight.
An interesting theory was presented to me today: that the bus does not have 96,000 miles on it, but rather, that it turned over and really has 196,000 … or even more. That would explain why it had a rebuilt engine and transmission, and why the seat is in such bad shape.
When I took Karma to get gas, I met a couple in their second skoolie. They marveled at how much room I had. I think their bus was a bit smaller, and they’re traveling with three children.There’s something special about the bonding among skoolie folk. It was like finding lost relatives and wanting to talk forever. I let them pick tarot cards before leaving. Why are people always shocked that the card’s message is dead on? (See more photos on Facebook.)
This morning, sitting in the waiting room, when the mail was delivered to the auto parts store, it included two birthday cards for me! That was so special. Sis, I hope you got your card today, too. (She was born on my 2nd birthday.) I am going to miss Mack, the service dog to be who gives the most loving and intelligent looks. I won’t miss Fox News.
It is already feeling odd to be leave the parking lot that’s been my home for six weeks. It also feels odd to be driving again.
Tomorrow I head north, without ever spending time on a Florida beach. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.