Alternator saga, part II

So, let's see, on Monday night I walked to my apartment that has not been rented,and slept on the floor on a yoga mat. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, but I DO own a yoga mat.

On Tuesday, I called Canadian Tire at noon. They said they were working on it. At 3pm, they called me to say that they'd given up. They couldn't fix Vandrew. This was a first for me. I asked them, "should I take it to a mechanic?"

I looked online, and found a mechanic who had good reviews on Google, and was located close to Ctrain and a movie theatre. I gave him a call and explained the situation, he said he couldn't get to it the next day (Wednesday), but would have a look on Thursday.

I got AMA to tow Vandrew from the Canadian Tire parking lot at midnight on Tuesday night, and stayed in JRS automotive's  parking lot Tuesday night and Wednesday night. On Thursday, as promised,  Jorge had a look, and fixed, the electrical problems.  Apparently, Canadian Tire had wired the alternator incorrectly and fried both of them.

Unfortunately, the solar panel doesn't work now...if it's not one thing, it's another...at least I can drive!

The adventure continues

On Friday evening, I was going to head down to my storage unit, pick up my golf clubs, and head north to Red Deer for the night, and golf with some old friends on Saturday...that was the plan...

When I was driving to pick up the clubs, I noticed that my signal lights seemed very slow. When I arrived at my storage unit, I noticed that my headlights were just a faint glow.  I picked up my clubs and headed up the highway. My storage unit is out in the country, and I figured if I could make it back to the south of the city, there's a truck stop that might sell me a new battery.

It was about 9pm by this point, and I made it to the truck stop (without using my headlights or signal lights), and just as I turned into the parking lot, the engine quit. Not enough electricity for a spark.

I figured it was either the battery or the alternator, and after a quick inspection, I figured the most likely culprit was the alternator. No loose wires, the battery was relatively new, the alternator was old...besides, the flying J truck stop didn't have any batteries for sale.

I slept in the flying J parking lot on Friday night.

Saturday morning I start calling around to find a mechanic that is working...the only option, much to my chagrin, is Canadian Tire. They tell me there's a 50/50 chance that they can look at it on Saturday. 50/50 is better than nothing, so I have vandrew towed to Canadian Tire.

They call fairly quickly, conform my suspicions about the alternator and quote me on a new one...things are looking up.

I get a call in the mid afternoon.  "We can get your alternator in, but we can't install it until Monday"

I sleep in the Canadian Tire parking lot Saturday and Sunday nights.

Monday morning (today) I meet a C.T. employee as I'm returning from the gym (luckily, there's a branch of my gym right behind the Canadian Tire). C.T. employee is moving Vandrew into the shop...shouldn't be long now!

After 4 hours, I call.  "They're having some trouble...they only get 5 volts out of the alternator, and it should be 12...we'll keep you posted"

Needless to say, no post. I walk back to the Canadian Tire to go to bed. 9pm.weekday do I see?

They've locked Vandrew inside for the night!

I'm homeless.

I got the power

After a couple of tries, the solar panel is installed in Vandrew.

Thanks to my buddy Dave, who helped me and supplied me with tools and beer, we got a 150 watt solar panel installed on the top of Vandrew.

I have no previous practical experience installing a solar panel, but I found a place in Calgary (Solar Wholesaler)  that sold me the whole kit. The panel, the controller, the wires and the breaker were fairly easy to install, and when we found a break in the weather, the whole operation went fairly smoothly.

The only things that I want to run from the panel are the fridge and charging phones and tablets.  I don't need lights very much, as the days are long and I don't spend a lot of time in Vandrew when I'm not asleep. I hope the 150 watt panel will be enough...I guess we'll see.  $450 to run the fridge is $450 well spent.  My nutritionist will be pleased with me when I stop eating out every meal.

Poem

My friend Ella sent me this poem yesterday...I think I'll try and read some more by John O'Donoghue...

For the Traveler

Every time you leave home,
Another road takes you
Into a world you were never in.

New strangers on other paths await.
New places that have never seen you
Will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that know you well
Will pretend nothing
Changed since your last visit.

When you travel, you find yourself
Alone in a different way,
More attentive now
To the self you bring along,
Your more subtle eye watching
You abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart
That lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune
To the timbre in some voice,
Opening in conversation
You want to take in
To where your longing
Has pressed hard enough
Inward, on some unsaid dark,
To create a crystal of insight
You could not have known
You needed
To illuminate
Your way.

When you travel,
A new silence
Goes with you,
And if you listen,
You will hear
What your heart would
Love to say.

A journey can become a sacred thing:
Make sure, before you go,
To take the time
To bless your going forth,
To free your heart of ballast
So that the compass of your soul
Might direct you toward
The territories of spirit
Where you will discover
More of your hidden life,
And the urgencies
That deserve to claim you.

May you travel in an awakened way,
Gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations
Which wait along the way to transform you.

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched, and free
To balance the gift of days which call you.

~ John O’Donohue ~

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