Do you remember the story of the Little Engine That Could? The circus had to get over the mountain and their transportation had broken down. All the engines strong enough to do the job refused to help, and then came along a little blue engine...
We headed South leaving Pocatello behind us. We'd had a crappy breakfast at Denny's and were looking forward to Wyoming and Colorado. To continue South into Salt Lake City would mean testing "Gutless" at elevations we weren't sure she could handle.
Instead we cut East along US 30, continuing to follow the Oregon Trail, this time to Soda Springs. This route of the OT was one of the busiest during the frontier days, used by trappers exploring the mountains and valleys for furs, pioneers heading West towards the Snake River and Mormon settlers looking to establish farming communities. This stretch of road, between Lava Springs and Montpelier, is designated a scenic byway and justly so, mountain meadows dotted with yellows, blues and reds bunched beside clear streams filled with fish, evident by the fly fishermen along the banks. Outside lava Springs billboards advertise the new waterpark. Its colorful tubes and platforms echo the giggles and screams of young fun as we pass by. Other signs remind us of the historical significance of the hot springs found throughout the area.
Not far out of Lava Springs we begin the ascent, slowly climbing, aware of the thermostat gauge. Our speed slows to 30 mph...25 mph...20 mph. The engine's temperature increasing a little each time. At mile marker 19 the thermostat reading shoots into the red zone! Dave pulls over as we watch a semi-hauler creep pass. We process our options, verbalizing alternatives to heading back. In the end our best solution is to return to Pocetello and do the repairs. From a local petrol station, allowing Gutless to cool down, Dave orders a new clutch fan and thermostat from Checkers, who assures us the parts would be in the next day by 10a.
What a way for Dave to spend his birthday, a bad breakfast, a blown thermostat, and another night in Pocettello Idaho. However, all was not lost! Retrieving the Red Lobster gift card from its hidy-hole (thanks to John back in Bend) I informed Davey we'd be eating out, so get showered and put on a good shirt!
What a wonderful way to end the day. A romantic quiet meal out, I had the trout and he had the lobster, then home curled up with the cat, together on the bed watching a movie. Outside the rain fell and the lightening lit up the sky. Tomorrow would be a new day with new challenges and new surprises. Besides isn't this what life is all about, tackling the hurdles and embracing the achievments together?
We awoke with overcast skies, but no rain, and a promise of sunshine. The parts we needed came in earlier than expected and so Dave rode his bicycle the mile to the shop to pick them up. With his head under the hood Dave methodically tore down the area he was working in and then carefully put it back together. As he was nearing the end of the process I heard some strange #%*& coming from the front of the truck.
"I didn't get a replacement casket, Honey will you go back and pick one up for me?"
Dave called a head to Checkers to make sure they had one. I then ran/walked/ran to the part shop. The woman there couldn't find where they had been moved the caskets, then she couldn't find the right casket, and when she did find them she had to double check the type number with the other fellow there. They were kind enough to not charge me, but after all that and running back to the truck it turned out NOT to be the correct casket after all. Dave was not a happy camper. He put the part he was working with in his backpack, got on his bicycle and rode back to Checkers. I got a call to tell me that they never had that part to begin with and when he finally got back to the truck almost 2 hours had past. He had had to ride to the other end of town. With the part in hand it did not take him long to get the rest of the project together.
We got the trailer hooked back up, filled the fuel tanks and headed out, following the way we had started the day before. We started up the infamous hill, everything appeared to be okay. The thermostate gauge was registering normal...traveling at a steady 35 mph we got closer to the original turn-around point. Fingers crossed we dropped to 25 mph, still going good... We reached the 19 mile marker, no indications of a problem.
Now do you remember the Little Engine that Could? All the way up that mountain the little blue engine kept saying "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." and so we were saying the same thing only Gutless was saying with us "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can..." and sure enough we made it to the top and rolled easily into Soda Springs without anymore problems.
"We thought we could, we thought we could, we thought we could..."
Love to you all,
D&V, and Sackett too
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