Wednesday, February 27, 2008

One hour. That's all I get.

That's right. We are only good for about one hour of hiking. All my river blogs represent approximately one hour visits. The tougher the slogging, the shorter the trip.

Fortunately, that is about all Ellie can take, too.

The slogging tougher for her.

pb
Little Pond

Friday, February 22, 2008

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

This is the place to start your blog-rounds on a Friday...

You have your marching orders: Enjoy it!

After all, we almost lost it.

Play it in a popup whilst you are working the keyboard. Blogging, that is.

Thanks, Norm.

pb
Little Pond

Sunday, February 17, 2008

A thing of beauty. A joy forever?


Well, no. Let's just hope it lasts until I can get the pipe replaced. There isn't a mechanic in the world who would replace just the pipe, because the muffler is also patched. They all smell a much more expensive job.

The wires are from my even-more-temporary earlier patch.

There is actually another length of strapping on the other, unseen end. I snipped some "darts" into it to cinch it tight. This end connects to the resonator in a much wider connection.

All done on my back on the floor of the garage in almost freezing temperatures. The camera is almost too close to take the whole at once, and I was too weary to take more than seven shots. Lying on my side and looking into the electronic viewer/moniter. This is the best.

Let's hope this is the end of the whole messy saga.

pb
Little Pond

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Update to Pride Goeth: Help, anyone?

The patch was indeed moved by all the jostling. It was otherwise intact.

Replaced and augmented, the new patch should hold until the weekend. But now I have other chores and must rest before I work tonight.

I'm thinking of cutting up a 22 oz (.65 l) beer can with tin snips and fastening it around the patch with metal strappings. That should outlast the Geo itself.

Other suggestions? Include autoparts store, where applicable, please.

Thanks.

pb
Little Pond

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Pride Goeth...

Yep. The new patch has already been done in by the nasty potholes on I-86 from Elmira to Corning.

At least the forecasters are promising better weather for working on the exhaust system Valentine's Day.

Back to the Drawing Board.

How romantic!

pb
Little Pond

Saturday, February 09, 2008

I knew it was coming, but

I did not expect to hear the Geo's noisy engine blare out loudly that I was coming up over the hill to Big Flats. A hole broke open somewhere on full throttle.

The sound was so bad, I was afraid to be ticketed, and I aborted my trip to the Arnot Mall.

Back home, with ol' Flipper up on the ramps, I knew what I had to do. I grabbed some foil and duck tape, and a little wire, and fashioned a patch over the hole. Then I hopped over to Advance Auto Parts and bought some self-sealing wrapping tape to snug in and cover it all.

The pipe is definitely fixing to rot right out, despite the fact that she's only got 80K on the odometer. Upstate New York winters are very hard on Flipper's underside.

But VeggiGirl needs to replace her old heap first, say, this very week. The Geo is the oldest, but will probably outlast all the others, body putty, wrapping tape, aluminum foil and all.

Keeps me busy, while the kids keep us poor.

pb
Little Pond

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Hello, asthmatics!!!

Inspirational Lighting now has rechargeables!

I can't wait for the Christmas Stuff!



Update: My lone commenter seems a bit impatient: the following links to previous posts, both here and at Pats Pond, should offer some clarification: Both here, and here.

pb
Little Pond