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Utah... take two

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:57 am
by vdubluvah
I was nervous. What will this rock star think of my bus? Do I have enough tools? Have I studied enough to not talk like an idiot? Note to self… don’t point to something and say “that thingy”.

Ok, the most important thing for me to learn was how to do a tune-up. Yeah, you heard me… a tune-up. So, I know we are going to be adjusting the valves, so let me gather my equipment up before he gets here. Let’s see… feeler gauge. Where is it?? I know it’s here somewhere… oh crap he is going to be here any minute… where are you feeler gauge?? Ahh underneath these thingies… and that thing. I grab it as if it were a testament to proof that I am prepared. Ohhhh crap, the little screw holding all of the gauges together came off and the gauges scatter down the driveway like the toothpicks from Rain man. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I start to gather them up as I hear the sound of a Volkswagen pulling in to the complex. YAY! He made it, I think to myself… I am so excited!! I keep trying to get the gauges in numerical order and finally just put them down… after all, I just need one of the damn things anyway. I can’t help but think I hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come today.

The Rock Start pulls up and steps out in his normal rock star attire… and we make our acquaintance. “Okay, I need three things”, says he. “One, I need a piece of paper. Two, I need a cup of coffee. And three, where is your bathroom?”

Coffee… I knew I was out of coffee, but there might be enough for just one cup… Oh no, no coffee!! Are you kidding me… the man drives clear a crossed the country and you have no coffee… nice one. I thought about giving him the, “Coffee, this is Utah, sir” excuse. But I would be a hipocrit.

Oh wait… there in the back corner of the cupboard, what is that…. Ahhh Sanka… ok, I will offer this up and send my sister out when she gets back from her Dr’s appointment. Colin was such a good spirit about it, he said sure… I just need some hot water. He added the sanka crystals, and it was like a chemistry lab… a little fizzle, poof, and some really weird frothy boiling action, and wah-lah…. Sorry, dude.

Thank God, everything else went without a hitch. I learned and did so much… valves, timing, dwell, tach, carb, rear brakes, front brakes, jacking, tires, and so much more. Everything I wanted and needed to learn and do, and then some.

But… the most important thing I learned was… I CAN DO THIS!

Confidence in priceless!!!

Thank you, Colin.

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:09 am
by jonyem
My first vist with Colin was last year, and I can relate to your sense of feeling ready, and what's he going to think. Then you realize that he thinks you own a VW and you want to learn, learn, learn. And he is willing to teach, teach, TEACH.

I get the sense you and I are similar in experience and knowledge. One thing that makes a huge difference is confidence. Took me a long time, but I finally found mine and with the help on this forum I may just succeed.

Great to read your write-up, and would like to hear how the "nuts-and-bolts" of the visit went.

Next time, don't forget the coffee.
Jonathan

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:47 am
by Hippie
vdubluvah wrote:...Confidence in priceless!!!
That's what it's about. No hired mechanic will do that for you.

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:51 am
by hambone
Great write up! :cheers:
Colin is too much like Poe to be a rock star though. Mad scientist maybe. Dr. Two Brains.

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:33 pm
by Sylvester
vdubluvah wrote:Coffee… I knew I was out of coffee, but there might be enough for just one cup… Oh no, no coffee!! Are you kidding me… the man drives clear a crossed the country and you have no coffee… nice one. I thought about giving him the, “Coffee, this is Utah, sir” excuse. But I would be a hipocrit.
I had our funny coffee incident when I poured Colin a some in his Starbucks cup, and he promptly stepped on it two minutes later. He looked at me and said, "Well, you got a Diet Coke?"

Of course I did!

A visit from Colin is like a Iron Man competition and a National Spelling Bee at the same time.

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:02 am
by Amskeptic
Sylvester wrote: A visit from Colin is like a Iron Man competition and a National Spelling Bee at the same time.
. . . and a Socratic dialogue with Buddha.

Honestly? The Sanka somehow melded with the Motel 6 coffee in my Starbucks cup and alchemically reacted into a pretty decent cup of coffee. I don't know how.

Had a great visit with you, vdubluvah, your touch with the valve adjustments was spot-on perfect. I am only sorry that your front brakes were so happy to start chirping again after our thorough work.
I hope you will win your freedom from "professional mechanics", you certainly have the mental horsepower to tackle any VW issue.

Drove up I-15 past the Salt Lake City metro area:

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. . . and took to the hills east on I-80:
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. . . all the way to Wyoming. Camped near some mining operation. The wind that was to plague me all the way to Minnesota cranked up that very night and draped the car with dust by red sun morning:
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To all the mosquitoes and flying bugs that have ever plagued me, especially in the night, flitting in my eyes, singing past my ears like miniature Star Wars Death Star fighters, drilling for blood, Chloe and I say . . . "payback's a b**ch, ain't it?"
Image

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:47 am
by glasseye
Amskeptic wrote:To all the mosquitoes and flying bugs that have ever plagued me, especially in the night, flitting in my eyes, singing past my ears like miniature Star Wars Death Star fighters, drilling for blood, Chloe and I say . . . "payback's a b**ch, ain't it?"
Image
Now THAT'S more like it. :cheers:

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:33 pm
by Gypsie
vdubluvah wrote: the most important thing I learned was… I CAN DO THIS!

Confidence is priceless!!!
Truly. Good on ya.

Re: Utah... take two

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:16 pm
by BellePlaine
vdubluvah wrote:“Coffee, this is Utah, sir”
That's perfect. Glad your visit went well.