Friday, May 1 (Still in Homer)

So the truck has run perfectly for the last 12,000 mileds. I have had no deadlines, no time constraints, nothing to pressure me.

I was supposed to be at the dock last night for a ferry to Kodiak Island at 8:30. 10:30 ferry, but inspections and ticketing, loading, etc. means 2 hour prep time. At 7:45, as I was leaving bar (one beer only) to go to the ferry, the truck basically dies. No idle, exhaust smells like I'd shoved a bunch of plastic in it, lumpy, terrible low idle when I can get it to hold, and other misery.

Spent 2 hours tracking down issues, talking to Tom while he searched ih8mud.com for possible culprits and solutions, and mucking about in the engine. Filters, timing, oil, fuses, everything I could check I checked/replaced.

At 10:15 the truck decides its fine. I get to the ferry in time to see it depart. I have no idea why, but the truck did not want me on that ferry. I will assume it had good reason.

I spent the day in Homer, met a Toyota guy and chatted with him a bit, saw the Pratt Museum here in town, hung out on the beach, generally tourist stuff. Not a bad time at all. I'm on a 10:00 AM ferry tomorrow, provided the truck agrees with my decision, meaning I'll be there at 8. However, as it's May rather than April, the trip will be $80 less, and the daytime boat means I will get great views and make a day of it.

I promised the truck I'd split the $80 with her.

The closest I want to be to a bear. If you see more pics like this, I was not a willing participant.