Monday, September 16
Well, the crew and I show up at Rudy’s Automotive at one o’clock for our appointment to have the resistor put in the air conditioner’s blower motor.
A few minutes later Mechanic Jerry invites me into the bay where the PTV sits. Oh no, this isn’t good. The dreaded Walk Into The Bay.
He shows me a burnt something-or-other.
“Your connector’s burnt,” he explains.
“What?” I peer closely at the connector. Yep, it’s burnt. “Why is it burnt?” I ask.
“Voltage . . . Happens all the time,” he explains.
“Sounds like a design flaw,” I mumble-grumble.
Mechanic Jerry waits.
“Can you take care of it today?” I ask.
His cellphone rings and it’s an obvious call-back. Mechanic Jerry says okay to the caller.
“Nope. Gotta’ order the part,” he explains.
“When will you have it?” I ask.
“Tomorrow. Comes from across the pond,” he explains.
“How much does it cost?” I ask.
“Oh, about seventy dollars . . . plus we’ll have to cut out the template for the part to go in,” he explains. He points to the place in the hood.
“Huh? Why’s that?” I ask.
“It’s a redesign. We do this all the time. You can see the template in the resistor box,” he explains.
I halt this fascinating exchange so I can get through this blog post some time today. Darn! Darn! Darn!
The crew and I scurry off to the waterfront.
It seems expenses always come in bunches. I could verify everything by going to another shop. Gee, I don’t want to do that. If I pay more than I would somewhere else, I don’t care. Why waste sunshine grubbing around to save a few dollars? And maybe I wouldn’t save a cent . . .
I am fortunate to be able to pay this bill, so why fret?
The crew and I walk along the shore. Clouds shift across the sky.
One of the many things I like about the vagabond life is seeing how other people live. I wonder about the person whose livelihood depends on this boat.
And all the people who make the transfer of goods possible. Hmm. . . like that stupid connector . . .
Tuesday, September 17
Here we are, once again, at Rudy’s Automotive. I bring the crew and my laptop to the waiting room. The lady who mans the office . . . er . . . who womans the office says I can use their WiFi and electrical outlet. I read and answer comments, as well as catch up on national and world news. Ugh, how depressing.
Fast forward to the bill . . .
The connector: $70.10. Labor to install resistor and connector (seven-tenths of an hour): $58.80. Total bill: $139.73 (includes $10.83 tax).
Time to eat!
“Where’s a good place to go for lunch?” I ask the office lady. “A place somewhere between fast food and white table cloths.”
She suggests The Chestnut Cottage.
It’s only a block and a half away.
Nothing takes the sting out of an auto repair bill quite like a pair of delectable crab cakes resting on a bed of sweet potato fries with freshly made coleslaw on the side!
rvsue
Note: Sorry . . . no photo of the crab cakes (a lunch special at $13.99). You can see the restaurant and menus by clicking here: The Chestnut Cottage
And then come back to go shopping at Amazon!
THANK YOU, RVSUE SHOPPERS!
You did good just getting the resistor thing done. Just a few Amazon sales will cover the bill, so why worry.
Pictures are great as always; it is so nice traveling with you.
Are these Sony pictures?
Hi, Mick,
Yeah, that bill is forgotten, thanks to two lovely crab cakes. Nope, these are Panasonic photos. Sony’s are on their way . . . 🙂
Hi Sue, sounds like fun, it is just part of the vagabond life. I just picked up my “boat” or “monster” after having it serviced. Engine and generator, $571.00. But it is good for 12,000 miles or three years by my reckoning. So you didn’t do so bad. And you know it is done right and with the latest upgrades, so as they say on the 3 mesas in AZ. Be Hopi. 🙂
Wait till you buy the new tires for a real shocker.
Anyway, as always, enjoy and give the pups a hug.
Hi, Alan,
Repairs are expensive. There’s no way around that. I’ll appreciate turning the knob and having cool or warm air blowing, and you can feel good about your “monster” . . . So yes, be Hopi!
Oh my god, I just read the menu. Blackberry waffles with ice cream. 🙂 🙂
I know… I want to go back, again, and again, and again . . .
Hey Sue, $139.73 sure beats the $1996 deductible we’re getting ready to pay for the damage the water heater leak did to the carpet and laminate in the house. Or the $350 to install a replacement for the water heater that was still in WARRANTY. Or the unknown amount I’m spending on paint cause if stuff has to come out of the rooms for the carpet, I might as well get new paint on the walls, right? But the carpet is going in today and then we can put the house back together and LEAVE TOWN.
Reine! That’s terrible! All that damage from a water heater leak . . . I’m so sorry. What aggravation and expense.
You are going to enjoy your month-long trip. I know how you and Paul love getting together with other Casita people at the rallies. Give the folks a hello from rvsue and her canine crew. I’d go, but you know me . . . a dadburn hermit. 🙂
Whenever we get into a “pickle” on the road, I first call Tim in the parts dept. at Casita and get his advice. We then got to the repair shop armed with particulars about the Casita that the repair people may or may not know. Last March we burned out a wheel bearing just north of Grants Pass, Ore. and after a long trailer tote to Grants Pass and Les Schwab mechanic advice to scrap the Casita because the axle was ruined, Tim talked us thru the situation, got us to the axle man that does Casita axles and calmed us down. We then found a magic man locally who had us fixed and on our way in a day. If nothing else, Tim at Casita can help work through a Casita “situation”.
Good information, kgdan! I’ll keep that in mind and I hope Casita readers learn from your experience, too. I would’ve been devastated being told to scrap the BLT!
I have only posted once before but really enjoy reading your blog. I am the sort of guy who cannot rest until something is fixed so for the past several weeks I have been troubled by your resistor situation and actually surprised myself by becoming miffed that you did not get it fixed upon first diagnosis! But now I am at peace again — thank you.
You’re welcome, Big See. I chuckle at your predicament. I would’ve gone back the next day and had the work done in Whitehall, MT, where it was diagnosed, except for that horrendous drive up and down that mountain. Oh, Delmoe Lake… what sweet memories of you . . .
Go in peace, dear reader . . .
Since our return from the last trip Kathy Figured we’ve had 13 unexpected expenses that cut into our 2013 budget. Be Safe and Enjoy!
It’s about time.
Hi, Rick,
Unexpected expenses seem to come in bunches. You’re due a long spell without them!
Glad to know everything is fixed and working as it should! Sure makes travelling a bit easier feeling, secure in the knowledge that everything is as it should be. We got new tires and batteries for the Mothership. Chuck needs new tires for his truck and me too for my TrailBlazer, but knowing we have everything safe and ready for our journey eases my mind a lot. We want to be in Apalachicola FL in time for The Seafood Festival. the first weekend in Nov.! Wanna meet us there?
I’d love to join you for the seafood festival! Move it to Arizona or Southern California and I’ll be there. 🙁
Well Sue I wondered about the title for today’s post. A burnt something and crab cakes. I thought you messed up your lunch! Beautiful where you are. Enjoy and “don’t worry, be happy.”
Hi, Patricia,
I’d be pretty upset if I were charged $13.99 for burnt crab cakes! Nice to hear from you again . . .
Sounds like those crab cakes helped to take the sting out of the AC repair bill! and you’re right, expenses certainly come in bunches. Hope that’s it for awhile.
I hope so, too, Marcia, but I have to “pay the piper” for all those months when I drifted around without any extra bills.
Well I’m just glad it’s all fixed AND you got good food to boot!
I was determined to eat crab cakes before leaving Port Angeles.
PS: LOVE that 5th photo, the one with the yellow flowered shrub on the shore and the boat by the dock. Really nice.
Thanks, Dawn, for telling me. You may have noticed I like to have something in the foreground in my photos whenever possible. I think it makes one feel like one’s standing where I’m standing.
Darn, darn, DARN!!! I was cruising around the internet the other day, looking for some back issues of a craft magazine that I wanted (from the 80s). Didn’t expect to find them on Amazon. I just *clicked* and ordered them. Didn’t think about coming through here first. Can you ever forgive me?!?!?! *sobs*
Well, Ladybug, since you willingly confessed, I’ll forgive you. Just don’t let it happen again! 🙂
Oh so glad you got it fixed! YAY!!!
We have had a wonderful sun filled day, and two of the kids and one grand came to share the ocean today! YIPPEE! Nothing like waves and a nearly 3 year old to make you smile and wear you out!
Hugs from Hoquiam!
Barb
You live in a wonderful place, Barb, if I can believe what I see on the internet. I’m glad you had a great day in the sun . . .
Well, lots of people say otherwise–high unemployment and the ‘tweeker lot’, but if you look to the core, the base it is a really good place to be. 🙂
So glad you are up and running with AIR!
Me, too!
I’ll take a waffle with strawberries and a mountain of whipped cream. Yum that picture at the Chestnut Cottage looked tasty to me.
Things happen and they always cost something so you have to get it done. Sometimes it cost more to shop around for a better price than it does to just go for it. Thank goodness you didn’t have to wait a few days for that part.
Hi, Sue,
The photo of the strawberries on a waffle with whipped cream gave me pause as well. I came close to driving back down there last night just for that!
I have to get out of Washington soon… so many temptations. I’m going to be duking it out with the Dukan Diet again this winter for sure . . . sheesh.
Have you had any of Nash Huber’s organic carrots yet? They’re so sweet and juicy! Grown in Dungeness but widely available. Not often you get to eat such a fresh carrot.
Nope, but I saw some beautiful, organic carrots at the Chimacum Corner Farmstead.
Yes, I agree sometime it’s not worth shopping to get a deal. However when buying my upgrade to a smart phone I found a deal at Walmart so I went for it and saved $110.00 🙂 I bypassed Verizon iphone5 for $240. I thought I made out pretty good. I too need a really, really, nice camera at a reasonable price and not high maintenance for next year’s trip….somewhere. Love the photo’s posted and all ‘J’ cuz I can’t be there LOL! Enjoy your vagabond through the area with the crew.
Hi, Rita,
Glad you got a good deal on a smart phone.
As for the new camera . . . Remember to shop Amazon here! 🙂
You’re right, Sue. At least you CAN pay the bill! That puts you ahead of a lot of people!
I had a problem with my tow vehicle today, spewing power steering fluid … took it into the shop, they called after they diagnosed it & said “it’s the steering box and it’s covered under warranty!” Nice surprise. Even nicer than “can pay the bill” is “don’t have to pay the bill!” LOL.
I agree, Sherry… And there’s only one thing better than “don’t have to pay the bill” and that’s “no problems!”
When it comes right down to it, $139.73 is very cheap rent! Considering all the places you have visited the past 2 years and all the wonderful photographs you have shared with us…. I would consider that a great deal! LOL! Just one of my tires is gonna cost that much! But we drove the treads off those tires last summer 2012 driving all over Zion and southern Utah!Keeping beauty in your path is the ONLY way to go!
Hi, Geri,
Your first sentence says a lot. That’s the beauty of boondocking… It frees up money for the other necessary expenses of living on the road . . . and also for twenty-dollar lunches!
I was staying in a FS campground on Crescent Lake one year. It was early October, and it started raining. And raining. And raining. Every day. All day. I finally gave up and proceeded south and west to the town Of Forks WA. It was pouring down, but I needed propane so I pulled in at a True Value and a guy came out in a yellow slicker to fill me up. I asked him when he thought the rain was going to stop. He looked at me solemnly, water dripping off brim of his baseball cap. “O, around June 17th. ”
He wasn’t kidding.
Bob in Durango
Hoo-boy…. I hope I’m not in for the same thing. Rain is coming soon… I hope there are sunny days in between the rainy ones. I can live with that!
I have to start moving more often now. Nice to hear from you, Bob!
A good meal of yummy crab cakes can soften the blow of most harsh experiences. I miss my Maryland crab cakes from crabs caught right off the restaurant’s docks!
And I’m a fan of not doing too much comparison shopping and research, especially if time or location is a factor. Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project says there are two kinds of people: satisficers who are those who make a decision or take action once their criteria are met, and maximizers want to make the optimal decision. I feel that my time is worth a lot, so I’ve become a satisficer, and it sounds like you fit that definition as well.
You had mentioned in a previous post that you got a Sony camera. My previous camera was a Sony Cybershot DSC 3300, and I loved it. Unfortunately I dropped it while working and the lens wouldn’t extend or retract after that. I always got compliments on the photos from that camera.
Hi, Cari…
Yeah, the crab cakes were delicious. There was a lot of crab. Not like some where they’re mostly “cake” with a smidgen of crab.
I’ve charged up the battery for my new Sony and will be trying it out today!
Sometimes I’m an optimizer and sometimes a “satisficer”… depends on the situation.