Ben wrote a blog, and it was good enough, I copied it! Enjoy our summer adventures.
Hola Family and Friends,
No, this blog is NOT about almost getting run over by a truck!
Very seldom do we ever talk about the not so pleasant things that happen in our lives, choosing to concentrate on the good things in our lives instead. This time we will mention that we have had problems with our truck this summer.
The problems started while we were still in Baja. The check engine light came on and we chose to ignore it until we could get to Oregon and have it checked by a competent mechanic. The check engine light had come on a few times previous while in Baja, and we were always told it was a false alarm. When we got to Oregon, we found out that the transmission cooler (part of the radiator) was leaking and that the EGR valve was sticking. The EGR valve was probably what was causing the check engine light to come on. The final cost of those repairs was about $2,500.
Then a few weeks later we headed to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Just as we were reaching the summit of the continental divide, between Idaho and Montana, I noticed that the water temperature in the truck motor had climbed to a point near boiling. From that point on in our travels through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and back into Oregon I noticed that I was losing water in the radiator. It never dripped out, or boiled over, but it just disappeared. I called the mechanic back in Oregon, and he said that the problem had to be a leaking head gasket in the engine. The last few weeks before getting it back to the mechanic I was having to add about 1 gallon of water every hour that we drove.
We did manage to nurse it back to Salem, Oregon where we put it back in the shop to be repaired. I never realized what a BIG JOB it would be to replace a head gasket!
That is right! The cab needs to be lifted off of the vehicle before they can get to the engine and repair the head gasket!!! Nine days later, and $3,700, and the pickup is all fixed! Well, almost all fixed. Today was the day that I got it out of the shop, and then I could have the tire company rotate the tires. Hurray! No charge for that!
Tomorrow it goes into the glass shop to have the windshield replaced! While crossing Eastern Oregon we traveled on a state highway that they were putting down a layer of hot oil and then a layer of gravel as an overlay on the pavement. Some guy, pulling a trailer in the opposite direction and traveling at a high rate of speed, threw gravel on my truck and chipped the windshield in 3 places. One of those chips has now formed a crack about 1 1/2 feet long, and growing daily. My deductible for windshield replacement is $100 so my total so far this summer is about $6,300.
Ok, enough about the bad things........
To pick up from our last Pic-of-the-Week email, after leaving Lesley Gulch we went to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. There we met up with 2 couples that we have known for many years. Marilyn named it a "Weiner Fest" as there were 5 dachshunds there.
The dogs had a great time, and so did we! We saw lots of Prong Horns (No, they are not antelopes. Antelopes are in Africa, Prong Horns are in the USA.)
Birds, coyotes, and deer.
The lakes in the Warner Valley, near Plush, Oregon had a lot of water this year.
The last night in SE Oregon we did camp at an RV park that was about 5 miles from the Barry Point forest fire near Lakeview. That night we could see the flames from that fire and the next day the winds changes and it became too smokey to see. It was eventually a 93,000 acre fire burning a lot of forest trees.
That is about it for this Pic-of-the-Week. We have been in Salem now for over a week and looking forward to getting out and doing more traveling.
Until next time (whenever that may be)
Tus amigos de Baja,
Ben, Harriet, Sam and Zoey.
Hola Family and Friends,
No, this blog is NOT about almost getting run over by a truck!
Very seldom do we ever talk about the not so pleasant things that happen in our lives, choosing to concentrate on the good things in our lives instead. This time we will mention that we have had problems with our truck this summer.
The problems started while we were still in Baja. The check engine light came on and we chose to ignore it until we could get to Oregon and have it checked by a competent mechanic. The check engine light had come on a few times previous while in Baja, and we were always told it was a false alarm. When we got to Oregon, we found out that the transmission cooler (part of the radiator) was leaking and that the EGR valve was sticking. The EGR valve was probably what was causing the check engine light to come on. The final cost of those repairs was about $2,500.
Then a few weeks later we headed to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Just as we were reaching the summit of the continental divide, between Idaho and Montana, I noticed that the water temperature in the truck motor had climbed to a point near boiling. From that point on in our travels through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and back into Oregon I noticed that I was losing water in the radiator. It never dripped out, or boiled over, but it just disappeared. I called the mechanic back in Oregon, and he said that the problem had to be a leaking head gasket in the engine. The last few weeks before getting it back to the mechanic I was having to add about 1 gallon of water every hour that we drove.
We did manage to nurse it back to Salem, Oregon where we put it back in the shop to be repaired. I never realized what a BIG JOB it would be to replace a head gasket!
That is right! The cab needs to be lifted off of the vehicle before they can get to the engine and repair the head gasket!!! Nine days later, and $3,700, and the pickup is all fixed! Well, almost all fixed. Today was the day that I got it out of the shop, and then I could have the tire company rotate the tires. Hurray! No charge for that!
Tomorrow it goes into the glass shop to have the windshield replaced! While crossing Eastern Oregon we traveled on a state highway that they were putting down a layer of hot oil and then a layer of gravel as an overlay on the pavement. Some guy, pulling a trailer in the opposite direction and traveling at a high rate of speed, threw gravel on my truck and chipped the windshield in 3 places. One of those chips has now formed a crack about 1 1/2 feet long, and growing daily. My deductible for windshield replacement is $100 so my total so far this summer is about $6,300.
Ok, enough about the bad things........
To pick up from our last Pic-of-the-Week email, after leaving Lesley Gulch we went to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. There we met up with 2 couples that we have known for many years. Marilyn named it a "Weiner Fest" as there were 5 dachshunds there.
The dogs had a great time, and so did we! We saw lots of Prong Horns (No, they are not antelopes. Antelopes are in Africa, Prong Horns are in the USA.)
Birds, coyotes, and deer.
The lakes in the Warner Valley, near Plush, Oregon had a lot of water this year.
The last night in SE Oregon we did camp at an RV park that was about 5 miles from the Barry Point forest fire near Lakeview. That night we could see the flames from that fire and the next day the winds changes and it became too smokey to see. It was eventually a 93,000 acre fire burning a lot of forest trees.
That is about it for this Pic-of-the-Week. We have been in Salem now for over a week and looking forward to getting out and doing more traveling.
Until next time (whenever that may be)
Tus amigos de Baja,
Ben, Harriet, Sam and Zoey.
6 comments:
Wow, I am so sorry to hear about all the problems! But I at the same time I am happy you shared! Too often I read your blog and think, WOW! I wish I had a nice life like that! Too often we think that others don't have problems! Just ourselves...
Be safe in your travels, your pictures are beautiful. I tend to complain a lot and God just opened my eyes with one simple sentence: "Very seldom do we ever talk about the not so pleasant things that happen in our lives, choosing to concentrate on the good things in our lives instead."
Thank you amiga! God is good! Even in the difficult times!
I vow to start concentrating more on the good!
Wow, what a trip! Glad y'all made it thru OK.
what beautiful scenery you've shot while traveling, too. Stay safe!
Enjoy that almost new truck...hope the head gasket holds til you can get,back to your woody!
it is true, and I am guilty of often just trying to be happy with good things and privately deal with bad things... some people only produce negative blogs, and I understand what you are saying.... but this is part of the adventure, sad that it became such an expensive adventure, but I always say: it could have been worse.... thankfully all is fixed and you know things will be safe to home! enjoy the rest of your summer!
They say, bad things happen in 3's. Glad all is replaced, fixed, and smooth once again. :D
I know they are Prong Horns but habits get the best of me and still call them antelopes. I sure hope you don't have any more truck problems. We have definitely had our share in the past....and hope it stays in the past.
Enjoyed the blog.
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