Our technical ISI 119 mm bottom bracket problem (the centre of the rear pedal crank) which disintegrated and stranded us in Kootaney Bay is looking at sourcing the part from a Cranbrook shop. They have it. Now, we have to get to Cranbrook, get the part, bring it back, and have Robert install it at Summit.
Yesterday, I spent the late morning and afternoon asking truck ferry riders if they could give us a lift to Creston. A charming woman, known simply as 'The Saint' tried to help, but the EcoRocket wouldn't fit into her SUV. Undaunted, The Saint too charge and drove me first to Creston, then to Cranbrook in the hope of finding a U-haul to rent. In the meantime, Utopia got a nearby truck to rent back at camp. At this point we were about 200 km apart. I no longer needed a U-Haul, truck and decided to stay in a Cranbrook motel for the night, say farewell to The Saint, and bus it back to Creston in the morning.
So, this morning, Utopia loaded our gear and the EcoRocket onto the the shipping truck and transported it from Kootaney Bay to Creston. Meanwhile in Cranbrook, I woke up to discover that the only bus service between the towns - Greyhound - went on strike at midnight. It's good to have a sense of humour in life, kids.
So, Major Dude walked to the western edge of Cranbrook and stuck his thumb out to hitch hike. Hitch hiking is not the best idea to do kids, and I only recommend it in extreme circumstances. This was an extreme circumstance and within two hours I caught two rides into Cranbrook. Yeah!
Now Captain Utopia is off in a Rent-a-Wreck car to pick up the parts in Cranbrook and drive back to Creston for the repairs.
All in all it's been a very different 48 hours for the Econauts. If all goes well, we may get back on the road to Cranbrook - cycling this time - and east toward the Crows Nest Pass.
Special thanks to Ralph and Helen for your kind hospitality and engineering advice - the brakes failed again at the end of the day, Ralph.
At last, I'd like to pause and consider the trust and fine spirit of The Saint who took this complete stranger into her care and concern, driving for hundreds of kilometres, making every effort to help us solve our problem.
Aloha, Saint....
-- Major Dude
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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