OT Hello from the Hood River Inn, Calgary this isn't...... Options

[GWN7]

It's amazing what quick service you get at some service stations when you come flying down the hill and pull up to their front door when your car is on fire. Everyone runs out with a fire extinguisher to help. ....Ya...I wish that's what happened..... One kid about 17 said "Hey Mister, your cars on fire" ....Like I didn't know that already.........asshole.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif)

Picture this... plums of white smoke so thick I could hardly see the road errupting from under the dash. 200' drop into the service station over 1000'. I slam the brakes on and bail out. I should have driven it right into their service bay and then bailed out..........then mabey help........They did let me use the phone to call a tow truck. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

Tow truck drivers are like cab drivers, they get payed to wait. After visiting every place that could be thought of in the Dalles that might be able to take a look at what's left. After hearing "Hey, bubba looky at thiss....it's got a chevy (cheby second time) in it" (now spit tobacco juice) twice. A location was found that might be able to do something tomorrow. The shop owner worked for one of those Italian car comanys that people pay way too much for there cars.

Anyways.....the bar becons ....did you know Hood River is the Windsurfing Capital of North West. Watress.....more ice in my next glass.....

[GWN7]

The drive up the river was great. Except for the 107F temps in a Black car with Black interior.....can you say melted. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

I drank 9 bottles of water and didn't have to stop except for gas. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/huh.gif)

US Customs was a treat. I pulled into the duty free shop at 6:30. Sign said open till 7, but they were gone and then the car didn't start. I had stopped for gas about 2 miles back and I think the optima dosen't take a full charge. It's either that or the guys that I payed $650 to fix the wiring who didn't tighten up the neg batery cable should be hit with a hammer. (Charging intermitently) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

So I figure I'll walk across the street to US Customs, get the car cleared and call a tow truck. I faxed the paperwork to the border 5 days before (they want 72hrs). I go in, tell the guy why I'm there and the car needs a boost. He asks for my ID, paperwork and the key for the car. Then tells me to take a seat.

I'm sitting there for 20 min and a guy comes in who's exporting a car to Canada. The other guy at the counter looks at his paperwork, checks a fax, stamps his title and off he goes. 4 minuites. I'm still waiting......

Another 1/2 hr goes by and the guy who took my stuff comes back. He says the car has a new windshield and paint and the Vin number is stuck in the pillar post. I tell him that's where they are on theses cars and he could compare that number to the vin under the hood. He says he did.

He says the title I have isn't from the sellar. So I tell him the story of the car. (CA to TX to OR) Never registered in the other states so they never received a title from them.

He asks about the wiring loom in the trunk and spare ignition switch and the fact the ignition is hanging down in the car. So I tell him about the fire and how a buddy took those parts off his spare car so the place that fixed it could finish it, so I could get on the road and the switch end is hanging down because it takes an hour or more to take the collum apart to put it in and I want to get on the road.

He said he saw the bill for the repairs. This guy went thru everything in the car....Tells me to have a seat.....

He starts typing on his computer...another 10 min goes by and he says ok...stamps the title and then I can call a tow truck (he wouldn't let me call one till I was cleared). Hands me my pile of paperwork and I'm free. Just then a tow truck shows up to hook up to a car heading South that broke down. He gives me a boost for free (I gave him $20 to buy his dog a treat). Luck is changing? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

Then I get into the line to go thru Canada Customs. Usual questions when I get to the window. Come in with your paperwork..... I park and go in with the pile of papers I got back from the US side. While sorting them I find a Customs form for some other guys commercial load. I hand it to the gal from Canada Customs and ask her to take it to the US side and ask them if they needed that form.

Told her to tell them it was from the guy with the stolen Porsche. (explain my long stay at US Customs to her) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Pay Canada Customs, they stamp my new papers from the D.O.T. Total time at Canada Customs 15 min.

They asked if the car had air.....I looked at her and said "do I look like a guy who just spent 8 hrs in a car with air?" Melted....... she laughed.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

The cute gal at Canada Customs comes out to look at the car and I give her the $0.10 tour and I'm off.....