Part 1: On The Road Again...

After trying to hitch a ride on the side of I-84 for two hours I determined that maybe I should get rid of the beard, a little late for that. On the bright side when the state patrol checked me for outstanding warrants I came back clean. I know what you are thinking, does this mean the deliveries will be late and the answer is no...read on

I was coming back from delivering Southern Idaho and visiting my father when about 20 miles from La Grande I noticed that the truck was slowing down. I optimistically decided that this level road was pitched up in a way that was slowing the truck down and kept driving. A couple miles on I noticed that I was smelling a strong diesel smell but thought I had just spilled a little on my clothes when I had last filled up and kept going. Finally when I checked in the mirror and saw gray smoke blowing out behind me I decided it was probably time to stop, I made it to exit 278 and took the off ramp. When I climbed out of the truck I logically deduced that the diesel spraying over the engine was not normal and I should shut off the engine. Once the engine was off I saw that an injector line had broken right in front of the injector.

I was greatly relieved, a relatively simple fix with a new injector line. Unfortunately I didn't have one with me for the 4th cylinder and so was going to have to come up with a plan B or C. Plan B was to call a tow truck but as expected on a Sunday evening that was very expensive, $600 for the 13 miles to La Grande $1,700 to Hermiston and $2,100 to The Dalles. I visited with a state trooper who checked on me and it sounded like I had about 36 hours to get the truck moving before they would have it towed away. I decided I needed to get home and get the parts to come rescue the truck. I had the crew coming in the next morning at 6:00 to make applesauce but that I would have time in the afternoon to get the parts, tools and ride to fix the delivery truck. I called Jenny, my wife, and she agreed to come and pick me up (this was about a 3 hour drive one way so I was very grateful).

The state trooper said he would check back on me in a couple of hours to see if I was still there and if so would give me a ride into La Grande. With time to kill I decided to try my hand at hitchhiking. I started walking towards La Grande on the theory that if you look like you are making an effort people will be more likely to help you on your way. I started walking about 5:30 and putting my arm out whenever a car would pass by, after about 15 minutes I was starting to regret that my wardrobe choices leaned towards homeless chic. After walking for an hour away from the truck it started to get dark and I decided that if my odds of getting picked up were low when people could see me they would only get worse when they only saw me at the last second in their headlights.

I headed back to the truck still putting my thumb out because why not. I reached the truck and waited for the state patrol to return. I didn't have to wait very long before he was back and offering a ride into La Grande. It was very kind and I was grateful for the assistance. First he checked me for weapons and I had to put my Leatherman® in the trunk of his car and after that he wanted to see my I.D. I handed over my drivers license and then he called it in to check for outstanding warrants. I guess he was trying to figure out where to drop me off. When my I.D. came back clean he complimented me on my fine life choices and remarked that it was rare to not have an outstanding warrant (I feel like this really speaks more to the people police officers spend most of their time with then to the general population.)

I got to spend time in the back of a police car for the second time in my life (not what you are thinking, the first time I ran out of gas and got a ride from the sheriff's deputy into Troutdale, Oregon). We had a fine conversation on the tough work schedules of train engineers, small fruit canneries and police training during Covid. He dropped me off in good order and it saved Jenny an extra 30 minutes of driving for the evening. Jenny met me about 30 minutes later and we headed home, arriving about midnight.

I was able to meet the crew to make applesauce first thing and then got the part arranged for the truck. With the help of some friends, I made it back out to the truck and got the new injector line installed. The truck was back to the cannery by 9 PM and then I loaded it so it was ready to go the next morning. Fortunately, Michael is helping with deliveries this year and so I didn't have to take this next load out. As I am not in jail, I look forward to seeing you when I am making deliveries to your area.