06-07-11 I'm in love with my car

06-07-11
I'm in love with my car
Gotta feel for my automobile
Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar
Such a thrill when your radials squeal
54.9 Miles
Forsyth - in the am I’w typing up a few days posts. I go online and do some posting and it’s doing a light drizzle off and on outside the tent. I twpe till just before noon and decide to more east - get closer to the border. At least Miles Ciy. I hear a lull in the rain and get the car packed. As I do so I noticed my right rear, it was very low. Most of the times in California they would repair the tire for free, or just a small charge (5- 8 dollars) but here it was $18,,00 ($14 if it wasn’t on the card). This is the second time in two weeks that time had gone low. Nothing to do but repair it.
It only takes about 15 minutes total but the y found a nail in the tie and now it should be safe. I get back on the road and it’s starting to rain again in earnest.
I drive out of town heading for Miles City. I’d seen on the internet that most of the FWP camping sites are all closed because almost all the states rivers are overflowing of on the verge and all of these sties are “On water” and built too close to the water to anticipate usee during a lfood period. Along the road the sound of my engine is sounding rough. I’m hoping it’s the sound of my tires on bad road, but I have the feeling it’s not. I pull over and check the oil. Dipshit! I should have don’t that days ago, or hundreds of miles ago. I’m not showing any oil on the dipstick. I put in two quarts. Back to full!
I drive about 35 more miles into Miles City. It is the biggest town I’ve encountered so far in Montana. The engine has started ot sound quieter, less rattling sounds. It’s still raining and overcast most of the way there.
I finlely get to:
Miles City. - Casinos, bars, Albertsons, Wal-mart, truckstops…it’s got it all!
I try to figure out where I’m going to go in Montana
I’m in the parking lot for about 3 hours and then I’m ready to go. I’ve found a campground that’s cheap enough for the night close to town (and not flooded) and I figure a day or two there, then to the border area near Glendive or Baker - then out of Montana and into North Dakota, along the 94 the whole way.
I’ve been listening to some cool jazz on the local NPR station and it’s been relaxing while trying to figure out my options (which are dismally few, camping wise).
I turn the key to head off to the campsite which is the next off ramp up the freeway.
Click-click-clickclick…
Damn.
I’d had my lights on the whole time (as well as my computer, cooler, radio and Garmin. (idiot!)
I imagine I’ll have to end up calling AAA. (do I still have a service call left after that time in Davenport that my niece ran out of gas? )
I ask some electrical crew in the parking lot if their truck has jumpers and if they could start my car. No luck, their truck doesn’t have cables.
I go in to the McDonalds . I plae and order and sak if anyone has cables and could give me a jump. One of the managers, Austin, says he will. I get the car started, thanks to Austin and leave the car running as I get my oder of chicken stip like thins and share it with Mischa in the car while I let it charge.
Then we drive to “Big Sky Camp & RV Park“ for a place to stay. Everything’s great until I‘m ready to pay.
“We don’t take those” e informs me referring to me credit card. “It’s cash or check. We used those untill a few years ago, but the companies wanted too much for us to use them, so we stopped. Only had one person walk out over it.”
“It’s pretty inconvenient for the customer” I try, “But, not for me” He returns. “Of course not for you.” I return.
And return I do - back to the main drag of Miles City. To get $20 cash back from a debit purchase. At least this town HAS a store that will do it - several, actually). I get some chicken strips and Chicken Caesar Salad - $5.
I drive back and pay for the spot, get the tent up and loaded in just before it starts raining. It’s a cold night too.