nocureforgravity

We didn’t get as many great photos on this trip as we would have liked, due to the weather, but here’s where to see them all.

Here also are some other photos, of an afternoon we recently spent at Balboa Park.

On Sunday morning we woke up around 8:15 am, after a somewhat restless night (the lack of clouds and rain meant that the temperature was quite a bit lower than the night before). The only water we could hear was the creek rushing along next to us. Other than that, we listened to the frogs finish up their nighttime conversation, and the birds pick up where the frogs left off.

We got up and started our day. We heated up some water to make oatmeal and tea for breakfast, and ate as everything started to get bright and sunny around us. Then we proceeded to clean up and pack up.
Continue reading “Cleveland National Forest Day 3: Blue Skies Smilin’” →

As we were hiking on Friday, we pondered how to make sure we got back to civilization at a decent time on Sunday, given that we would lose an hour due to Daylight Savings. Dave suggested that we “spring forward” on Saturday instead of Sunday, since it wouldn’t really make a difference either way. I thought it was kinda a weird headgame, but I figured it’s all a construct anyway. So, when my alarm went off at 6 am on Saturday, I sprang it forward to 7 am – and then promptly went back to sleep.

We woke up around 9:15 am (Pacific Daylight Time) to the sound of a steady rain falling onto our tent. We laid there for quite some time pondering the situation, wondering about the possibility of waiting out the rain in our tent versus proceeding with our plan despite the weather.
Continue reading “Cleveland National Forest Day 2: Unavoidably Wet” →

Friday, March 31 is Cesar Chavez Day here in California, which meant that I (as a quasi-County employee) got the day off. So we decided to take a three-day weekend to go backpacking, hoping that it would work out better than last time.

To play it safe, we planned our trip for nearby Cleveland National Forest, which is just barely north of San Diego County.
Continue reading “Cleveland National Forest Day 1: All Alone” →

I am very happy to post this last blog entry about the car troubles we’ve had for the last week and a half.

We drove to Needles last night in record time, arriving at the Motel 6 right at midnight. When we went to check in, there was a sign that said, “No Vacancies without Reservation”. We walked in and told the night manager that we had a reservation. He said, “Miller?” and we confirmed. I said, “Are we the last ones?” and he nodded grumpily. Bedtime for everyone!

In the morning we got up early and were at the Ford dealership by 8:30 am. Ray the sales manager was very nice, and was very apologetic about all the delays. The problem with the car had been the clutch as expected, and they replaced all the parts involved. They were also nice enough to wash the car. Ray gave us the keys, we paid the bill, and we headed back to Bullhead City to return the rental car. Everything went smoothly after that, and we made it home in about five and a half hours.

All told, a three-day weekend of backpacking that was supposed to be basically free instead was a 12-day adventure that cost us about $1500.

At least it’s all over now, and my original comments about the bright spots continue to hold true:

1. Neither of us got injured.
2. We didn’t have any interaction with law enforcement.

“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Job 2:10b

Happy news! Dave got a call from Colorado River Ford in the middle of the afternoon, saying that our car is now fixed and ready for pickup.

We’re planning to leave this evening (after the traffic clears up) and drive to Needles and spend the night there. Hopefully in the morning we can pick up our car, take the rental car back, and get back to San Diego before class (5:30 pm).

I’m cautiously optimistic. More to come!

Dave talked to the service manager at Colorado River Ford yesterday afternoon to find out if the car had yet been fixed or not, and the service manager wasn’t sure. The car was still on the lift, and he didn’t know whether it had been put back together, or if it hadn’t been taken apart yet.

Apparently the mechanic working on the car had to go home early, for family reasons. The mechanic’s notes were locked in his toolbox.

I don’t know why the service manager doesn’t have keys to the mechanic’s toolbox.

So we decided not to drive up on Monday night (which was a good call, because it was pouring down rain). We figured we would call in the morning, and if the car had been finished on Monday, we’d drive up today.

We waited until about 8:30 am to call (because they don’t open until 8:00 am), and Dave was on hold for about 20 minutes. Finally, the person who he talked to (who wasn’t the service manager) told him that the transmission had just been taken out. So, no trip to Needles today.