Project "Trouble Code"

My Dad and I recently traded my 2003 Jeep Wrangler TJ and 1948 Bantam trailer (which I originally purchased from him) for his 2009 Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom.  The Jeep has been in our family since 2004.  It runs like a champ and looks almost new!  I have replaced all the fluids with synthetic, added Mickey Thompson Classic II rims, BF Goodrich AT 15x31x10.5 tires, new shocks, sterring stabilizer, 1 3/4" front lift, B&M sort shifter and too many others to list.  The Jeep has had an engine light trouble code for as long as we both can remember.  We had it checked out in the past and thought it was just a gas cap vacuum leak.  When we finally got around to really checking into it, it seemed we had a problem with the evaporation canisiter which is located behind the rear inner fender skirt on the passenger side.  After removing the tire, inner fender skirt and looking over all the vacuum lines we determined they were in good shape.  I followed the lines across the gas tank, along the frame rails and up to the engine compartment.  I pointed out the lines from under the Jeep to my Dad who then traced them down one by one.  Low and behold we found a vacuum connection which had come apart due to an aging rubber boot.  The problem was right in front of us the entire time and we never saw it until now.  My Dad came up with a very ingenious idea.  He used a spark plug boot which was larger on one end than the other, just like the two lines we needed to connect.  He put them on and BINGO, the leak was gone!  After a quick trip to the auto store I used their code reader to reset the computer and we haven't had any trouble since.  I feels really good to know that we saved several hundred dollars by chasing down the problem ourselves.  I know the Jeep will keep on motoring along until I eventual trade him something to get it back again.     

Microphone check one-two, one-two

     Is this thing on?  It's been a long time since I posted my first and only blog.  Funny how life can get in the way of a good thing (that and forgetting your Blogger password...).  I've got a little more time on my hands now that I am on terminal leave at the twilight of my 20 year, 9 month and 19 day Air Force career.  Lots of things have been going on since my last entry.  There's no way for me to go back and capture everything (you can visit my mom's blog at http://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com/
for a recount of my Excellent Summer Adventure with Cameron and Morgan), so I will just have to pick up from the last few days.  I'm off to the gym to lift iron for now but look for new entries VERY soon.  Thanks for following! 

Epic Muni Adventure

     After nearly a month off the muni I decided it was about time to go for a ride.  Not just any ride but an "Epic" ride.  Little did I know how epic it would be.  I loaded up the muni on my new bike rack and headed off to Crooked Creek out at the Pine Log forest.  I've been out there a few times before on my single speed mountain bike but never on the muni.  I knew even before I started that I was not going to like the first section of trail.  There are plenty of tight turns with lots of loose sand to negotiate.  I had just ridden the very same trail not 12 hours before on my single speed.  That might not have been a good idea.  It seems the scent of my two-wheeled mistress and I still lingered fresh on the trails.  Betty, my muni, (aka Betty Bomber) picked up on the scent and was none-too-happy about it!  Needless to say I had several unplanned dismounts (UPD's) in the beginning of the ride.  After a while I settled into a groove and began to flow with the trail versus fighting it.       

     Once past the sandy beginning section the trail heads off into the forest.  Pine needles cover the trail and hide every little bump.  This is not too bad if you anticipate the bumps.  If you’re not paying attention this can launch you into aerial flight.  Takeoffs are the easy part, it's the landings that are tricky!  About 5 miles into the ride my thighs began to burn with the intensity of 1,000 suns!  If you've never ridden a unicycle, it takes at least double the effort of riding a bicycle!  This is one of the reasons I enjoy the challenge of riding unicycles.  Back to the ride... 

     I made lots of friends along the way none of which were very nice!  I was riding along when a seemingly cute little lizard tried to kill me.  He ran right into my path.  Not wanting to hurt the little guy I veered hard to the right, catching a root I would have otherwise avoided.  This root sent me into another UPD...  I swear I saw a little grin on his face as I stood up and dusted off the dirt.  I met my next friend just as unexpectedly.  He came in the form of a 12 foot snake!  Okay, he might have been closer to 12 inches but he seemed like 12 foot at the time.  I was riding along and saw this little snake from out of nowhere.  He scared the poop out of me but I don't think he was expecting to see a 6'4" giant riding a unicycle through his neighborhood that day either.  He coiled up right in the middle of the trail and I whizzed by as fast as I could.  Once past him I stopped and got out the camera phone.  When I went back to take a picture I found him still coiled up and shaking his little tail. That's right, shaking his little tail.  I decided to leave this little critter alone!  The last friend(s) I met were not nice at all.  Someone decided it was a great idea to put a honey bee farm on the side of the trail.  I've always told my kids that if you don't mess with bees, they won't mess with you.  I might have to revise that.  I walked by the bees, not messing with them at all.  Some of them started flying over to check me out.  I'm not sure if it was all the carbon dioxide I was giving off or what but they decided they did not want me anywhere near their honey.  After I watched the first one land on me and insert his stinger into my arm, I knew I better get out of there fast.  There's nothing fast about running on a sandy trail with a 14 lb unicycle in tow while getting stung by bees.

     By this time my quads were beyond burning.  There was not a single dry spot to be found on my clothing!  It was 80 degrees and I was feeling it!  My legs were becoming exhausted to the point I was making careless mistakes.  Thankfully, my kids called me and I took a little break to talk to them. 

     Fortunately, the rest of the trip was fairly uneventful.  Until next time…