We have all had them. You know the type of day filled with a succession of not so good events that make you glad to get home and have it over with.
The plan started simple enough head out early Saturday morning to Newport and bring Shearwater home for the winter.
Couple of minor hiccups Friday my crew had to cancel because he came down with a bug that morning. No big deal have loaded the boat a number of times solo so not a major problem. Got home after work and went to change wiper blades refills, wrong type drive 30 minutes back to town two parts stores later have the problem resolved and back home to finish loading and prepping. Load tools, jack, blocks, grease gun, air compressor yada yada like to be prepared if problems come up.
Off to Newport at 3:00 AM some rain some fog typical late October day. Fill up with diesel in Newberg and it dawns on me I forgot the boat keys. Head back home get keys and start over, could have been worse and I have lots of time.
Uneventful trip to Corvallis onto hwy 20 and Newport. Few miles out of Corvallis some guy is flashing his brights and honking his horn at me as he goes by in the other direction. Odd I think my brights are not on whats his problem. Found out about 30 seconds later as I round a corner and see three deer crossing the road. Missed two and nailed the last one. Wet road dark out yes ani-lock breaks do work but could not avoid the last one. Result one dead, deer smashed grill and broke turn/running light fixture. Feel bad about the deer and the truck has only broken plastic from the encounter. drag the poor critter off the road and continue on.
Get to Newport around 7:30 and my trailer is missing from the storage area. Panic is replaced by logic as I realize that there are no trailers in the prarking area. OK drive around South Beach and find where everything has been moved to. trailer found a short time later but no way to access because of barricades around enclosure. Office open at 8:00 so no big deal go ahead and do maintenance while I wait. Grease bearings, jack up and spin wheel to make sure breaks are not locked or rusted to the drums and air up tires. All is good but whats's this puddle by the coupler? Fitting has been busted off master cylinder and tin housing is damaged.
Get access to the trailer around 8:30 no one knows how the damage happened yada yada yada. At least the lights are working and while I would like to functioning breaks I'm not about to attempt to fix in Newport.
Made the decision to load and not spend the night as planned.
Boat started without problem (been almost 6 weeks) whats that knocking sound??? Once in gear and running seems to be OK . Loading was painless, enough a wind push from the South that the the side bunkers came in handy but no problem.
Loaded, washed and slime sprayed off by 11:30 time to get out of dodge.
Things got better light traffic stopped a couple of times to check tires and hubs all OK.
Almost home and check the mirrors only to see a flat tire DAM DAM DAM. No place to pull over so had to limp a mile or so with the flat to a spot so I can get off the road. Tire is ruined by now but I can see my house. Change to spare was painless glad to get home at last.
Somewhat of a PIA day but could have been much worse. On the bright side I feel that my bad luck quote and been filled for a while.
stevej
The plan started simple enough head out early Saturday morning to Newport and bring Shearwater home for the winter.
Couple of minor hiccups Friday my crew had to cancel because he came down with a bug that morning. No big deal have loaded the boat a number of times solo so not a major problem. Got home after work and went to change wiper blades refills, wrong type drive 30 minutes back to town two parts stores later have the problem resolved and back home to finish loading and prepping. Load tools, jack, blocks, grease gun, air compressor yada yada like to be prepared if problems come up.
Off to Newport at 3:00 AM some rain some fog typical late October day. Fill up with diesel in Newberg and it dawns on me I forgot the boat keys. Head back home get keys and start over, could have been worse and I have lots of time.
Uneventful trip to Corvallis onto hwy 20 and Newport. Few miles out of Corvallis some guy is flashing his brights and honking his horn at me as he goes by in the other direction. Odd I think my brights are not on whats his problem. Found out about 30 seconds later as I round a corner and see three deer crossing the road. Missed two and nailed the last one. Wet road dark out yes ani-lock breaks do work but could not avoid the last one. Result one dead, deer smashed grill and broke turn/running light fixture. Feel bad about the deer and the truck has only broken plastic from the encounter. drag the poor critter off the road and continue on.
Get to Newport around 7:30 and my trailer is missing from the storage area. Panic is replaced by logic as I realize that there are no trailers in the prarking area. OK drive around South Beach and find where everything has been moved to. trailer found a short time later but no way to access because of barricades around enclosure. Office open at 8:00 so no big deal go ahead and do maintenance while I wait. Grease bearings, jack up and spin wheel to make sure breaks are not locked or rusted to the drums and air up tires. All is good but whats's this puddle by the coupler? Fitting has been busted off master cylinder and tin housing is damaged.
Get access to the trailer around 8:30 no one knows how the damage happened yada yada yada. At least the lights are working and while I would like to functioning breaks I'm not about to attempt to fix in Newport.
Made the decision to load and not spend the night as planned.
Boat started without problem (been almost 6 weeks) whats that knocking sound??? Once in gear and running seems to be OK . Loading was painless, enough a wind push from the South that the the side bunkers came in handy but no problem.
Loaded, washed and slime sprayed off by 11:30 time to get out of dodge.
Things got better light traffic stopped a couple of times to check tires and hubs all OK.
Almost home and check the mirrors only to see a flat tire DAM DAM DAM. No place to pull over so had to limp a mile or so with the flat to a spot so I can get off the road. Tire is ruined by now but I can see my house. Change to spare was painless glad to get home at last.
Somewhat of a PIA day but could have been much worse. On the bright side I feel that my bad luck quote and been filled for a while.
stevej
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