CnC: Bird - Fuel - Tyres

What a Day! Some are diamonds - this wasn't.

Started out well enough at Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The rain had gone, the skies clear and we were on our way to Glacier NP to see how far we could get. Rumour - and their website - told us it was partially closed - the part in the middle that lets you get to the other side.

We travelled to the Montana border for a photo stop. Then visited Kootenai Falls and watched a rail refurbishing machine at work. Just a normal touristy day.

Then we hit a bird. Not just a little bird, but a full size buzzard. There was a deer carcase beside the road and a couple of birds flew away as we approached. One went the wrong way and under full brakes we collected him in the right of the fairing. Never swerve for wildlife. We pulled over for inspection and surprisingly found there was no damage whatsoever.

Jack was following and thought it looked pretty spectacular.

We decided to go back and see if the buzzard was alright. He was sitting stunned beside the road and his left wing was bent at a funny angle. We didn't want to touch him as that beak looked viscious and I didn't want to lose a finger. As we watched, he stretched out his wing and got it back in place. He looked OK so we left him there to recover.

We were following Lake Koocanusa which goes for many miles. Many many miles. With no fuel outlets and the gauges were getting low. We went in to the red and knew we only had forty or so miles to runout. Still nothing in sight.

Finally, we came to a town and an Exxon station. I took 5.998gals and Jack 6.150. So we had a spare 20 miles or so. Why was I worried?

What next? Jack was in front and we saw him moving side to side on the road. Suddenly there was a burning rubber smell and he pulled over into a side road. Sure enough his rear was way down. He had a repair kit so it was just a matter of locating the hole and fitting the plug. Couldn't find anything in the tyre. So we pumped it up and listened for hissing. Heard something but then about 20 cars went by one after another and the hissing stopped. Damn. Pump up again. Slowly spin in the quiet and I located escaping air. Jack took a closer look to see two small holes. How do you put a plug in that? He dug around in his trailer and found an ancient can of sealant. Put it in and pumped up again. Sealant started coming out all around the tyre. Huh?

Jack then decided to go to a little town just down this side road called Olney. Population about 100. A fire station, some timbergetters, a shop and Thad's Tackle Shop & More. Oh and the Union Pacific railroad with several trains an hour blasting the crossing.

Thad is a great bloke and helped us out. We got another can from the shop and tried again this time using Thad's air. Leaks all over. Thad rang the nearest Honda dealer for us. Yep they have a tyre. They're 35 miles away. No they do not deliver.

So we removed the wheel, made some space in our trailer and Jack and I travelled in to Kalispell. Managed to get a 70 series tyre for an exhorbitant price plus fitting and back we went. Fitted the tyre much to the joy of Thad. More entertainment than he had seen in six months.

We thanked him for his help - he loaned us tools as well. So here's the plug. If you are ever in Montana near Olney just a little north of Whitefish and you want to do some fishing, look in at Thad's Tackle Shop & More and "Get Hooked Up With The Best" (406)881 2819. You can't miss it - it is next to the shop.

Underway again but it was now after 5pm - so into Whitefish and found a Super8 motel.

Now here's something to ponder.

Yesterday afternoon Jack went and got the meals and returned with Fat Tire brand beer. Today he got a Flat Tyre.

This evening Charleen went out for eats and came back with Skinny Dip brand beer.

Can't wait for tomorrow.

Meantime - piccy time: