Nov. 9, SPEARFISH, SD. Temperatures drop on
the way to Missoula, Montana, a three-day drive across snow-covered
plains. Vette hesitates when starting, as if battery is dying. Realize
battery IS dying -- it's old and cold temps are killing it. That night
find auto supply store in Rapid City, South Dakota, swap out battery. Dead
battery avoided; feeling smug. Next morning, only five minutes down the
road when vaporized coolant begins billowing from heater vents -- on this
trip, coolant is not my friend. Heater core must have sprung a leak. This
is very bad. No longer feeling so smug. Drive on with windows down to vent
toxic air. Seventeen degrees outside. Still, with me in hat, gloves, and
muffler, and Rosie in sleeping bag, we can make it, we can make it --
forty miles further on, toes freezing, coolant still billowing, decide we
can't make it. Stop in Spearfish and check into the Kozy Motel. My kind of
place: mismatched furniture and vintage fifties bathroom, all spotless,
and gas heater stove with stovepipe, very cozy. (That's Rosie later in day
in front of sign. In background, can just make out Vette's white tag,
parked in front of our room.) It's Sunday. Ask around for a good mechanic.
Mechanic will be in first thing in the morning. Will we make it to
Missoula (still ten hours away) for the reading tomorrow night? Will we
make it to Seattle the day after that for a TV appearance and another
reading? Or will we be kicking back at the Kozy all week? Stay tuned.
|
[