Second Opinion | Walking to Lunch

We got our car back from the BMW dealer on Monday. This is the shop where the service advisor told us it's basically time to pull the plug. Well, much like when a doctor or lawyer gives you bad news, when a mechanic gives you bad news it's reasonable to seek a second opinion. The car's at a trusted independent shop now getting a look-over from another expert.

Because one car's in the shop I'm home without a car yesterday & today. Hawk takes the other car because she's got to work at the company office 4 days a week. I'm fine being car-less at home occasionally. I work remotely and thus don't have to commute. But being car-less does require a bit of planning because it means I can't go grocery shopping or go out to lunch.

I should say I can't drive out to lunch. I can still walk! And I did today. I walked to a restaurant about 1/2 mile away and ate at a small table outside on the broad sidewalk. The weather's nice.

Update: the mechanic called back this afternoon. They agree with the dealer. The car has engine problems that will cost a few thousand dollars just to diagnose, let alone fix. Sigh. It's not worth it. 😞

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles to Spokane

Aboard WN1855 at Oakland Airport (OAK)
Thu, 13 May 2021. 7:30pm.

Today's a day of planes, trains, and automobiles... and shoes. Not only am I using all three types of vehicle transportation today— a train to Hawk's office, driving from there to Oakland airport, then flying to Spokane, Washington— but I'm also burning shoe leather. I started today's journey by walking to the train station. It's almost a mile from home.

BTW the train was just about empty this afternoon:



Pre-pandemic this train would've been SRO.

Alas our flight this evening isn't as spacious. The agent says it's almost 90% full. The chance of Hawk and I sharing a row with an empty middle seat seems poor, so we've decided to split. She's up front, having taken a medical pre-board; I used my A-01 boarding card to snag an exit row aisle seat. So far it's actually comfortable... though there's still a 2 hour flight in front of us.

Once we land in Spokane we're still not there. We'll bed down tonight in the town of Colville, in remote northeastern Washington about 90 minutes by car north of Spokane. Why not stay in Spokane where there are nice hotels instead of driving late at night? Driving out to Colville tonight positions us better position for hiking tomorrow. There are a few waterfalls up there we'd like to visit, and getting a leg of driving out of the way tonight before leaves more daylight Friday to enjoy the great outdoors.

Gotta go now; aircraft doors are closing momentarily. For the first time in 448 days it's time to fly!