Over the Golden Gate Bridge and thru stately wooded hills landed me in Larkspur, home to cousins Jim and Carrie who welcomed me in to their lovely, quiet, in-the-woods hillside-with-a-mountain-view home. A visit, a shower, a Wow! halibut dinner! Visiting with Travis. The day ending with a quiet sleep in Lulu complete with owl hoots and distant coyote howls.
Morning found us on a wonderful woodland hike right out the front door!
Saying easy good-byes Lulu and I drove from north of the San Francisco Bridge a bit east and south just outside of Oakland to Moraga where Jackie and I had a date for a 6 o’clock dinner and visit. Arriving a few hours early to beat big city traffic, I parked Lulu in a nearby park and enjoyed the afternoon with sun and reading The Cold Millions (good book!) At 6pm, time to head to Jackie’s, Lulu started right up, but WOULDN’T REVERSE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE! Uh oh. She’d given me a few signs that something wasn’t quite right, but now she was adamant. A quick review of nearby auto shops, a phone call, and Moe the owner of Lamorinda Auto from half a mile away showed up. He was more insistent with her, and she backed up ever-so-slowly with his heavy foot. No towing, we got her to the shop. Jackie was and has been ever-so-accommodating. An hour late for our rendezvous she picked me up, fed me, visited with me and dropped me back at the auto shop where Lulu was tucked in amongst other vehicles awaiting attention.
The culprit and known weakness in these vehicles: the transmission.
The mechanics were brave and strong. I have a new awareness and respect for the term Grease Monkey.
A day to find a rebuilt transmission. Another day to get it delivered, pull the old and try to insert the new. Another day to retrieve and switch out a casing from original transmission to the rebuilt so it’ll fit back into Lulu. Then the afternoon and Sunday off. And as I write this, Monday, they’re working on getting everything back in working order.
With nearby mechanics, no supply chain delay, phone conversations with dealerships helping me feel confident in this non-decision event, with money to pay for it, family and friends near and far with advice and support, Jackie being nearby in case of any needs, Safeway a block away, hair cut, a good book to read, a bike to ride, trails to walk and the ability to continue living in Lulu while all is getting fixed, what more could one ask for! Fingers crossed the fix will be a good one and will last the lifetime of my relationship with Lulu!
That could have turned out much worse!