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Published: April 2nd 2007
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Jesse, me and my mum
Heres a picture of the 3 of us at a frozen waterfall just out of jasper. Its been a while since ive written, but to be honest not all that much has been happening. Id gotten into the habit of working 11 days in Fort Mcmurray then spending my 3 days off with Jesse in Edmonton. But about 3 weeks ago i got a visit from my parents. My dad has work to do in Florida and so he and my mom went there via Edmonton. They were here for 3 days and I tried to show them as much of the sights as i could.
The other thing that has happened since i last wrote is that id bought a new car. I bought it over a month earlier from British Colombia and got it sent to Edmonton by train. Of course i had no idea the railway union would go in strike the day after it got loaded. By the time it got to edmonton and i had a weekend off it was about 4 weeks. You can drive the distance in 12 hours.
High on the list of things i wanted to show my parents was jasper national park so that is what we did on the second day. I rented
My New Car
It came off the train absolutely filthy. Look at my big grin. Look at that big shiney bumper a vehicle as i knew my car wouldnt be registered and insured by the time we went. The weather was great for the trip. Weeks prior in both edmonton and Ft Mac temperatures had been -10ish, but for the 3 days they were here it was sunshine and positive temperatures. Jesse came along for the trip, and after an early departure we reached the town of jasper by lunch. We showed my parents around the town, before seeing some of the sights. We even saw a couple of baby deer. Any animals that hibernate would still have been sleeping.
The next day I took my parents to the mall, before we had dinner with Jesse's parents. Both our parents got on well, and my mum was kind enough to bring along photo albums from home. Thanks mum. I took my parents home well after my bed time, and wished them well, as they had to be at the airport at 4am for their early morning flight to Jacksonville.
Now i hear you say "Is that the best story youve got from the last 2 months" and "It seems like youve really grown up" and those of you who
My New Car 2
Roaaaaaaaa, Roaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Roaaaaaaa. It wasnt running at this stage, but i was making car sounds. i had to get my cruising stance sorted.
are more astute will realise that I left one day out from my parents visit. (and that i just used a big word)
I got an early flight to Edmonton, and spent the morning getting all the paperwork sorted for my new car. I picked up my parents from their hotel about lunch time giving them time to sleep in after their long flight. They were under the impression i was taking them to the West Edmonton Mall, but as we started leaving town they finally asked "so where we were going?" To get my new car i said. So between a refinery and a rail yard on the outskirts of town was the freight centre where my car was being held. It wasnt that hard to find it, as it was the oldest car in the yard by a good 35 years. Id gone and bought a 1968 Plymouth Fury III. Now i may have promised friends at home that id buy a reliable car, or even one that isnt older than me; but it appears i just cant do it.
The bad news is that id been taken for a ride by a used car salesman.
My New Car 3
Jesse in the front of the car, before it got taken to the repair shop I foolishy bought the car without checking it out, and assumed because he was a dealer and said he had given it a thorough inspection and told me it had no problems that it would be all good. When i first saw the car it was filthy from its train trip, and it had to be jump started. Sadly im used to this, but was told that it had started the day earlier under its own power. And she roared to life. A sweet 5.2l V8. So the plan was for me to drive it home and my dad to follow in our rental car. Well i got about 100m. The steering was loose, the brakes were bad, i had no wipers, and the car stalled at the first set of lights never to start again. Jesses dad Rick told me earlier in the day that id i needed a hand to give him a call. i figured what better time to call in a favour than now. So he came out in his truck, which is about 20 years old and has less of an exhaust system than my beast.
We hooked up a tow rope and eventually
Me at work
Getting warmer. I don't need all those layers. See all the cranes in the background (I count 13) We have 4 on our site alone. towed it half way across Edmonton. What a great way for my parents to meet Jesse's dad. So with no wipers and a lot of road spray i could see the trucks brake lights and that about it. Nothing like driving with our head out the window.(sadly ive done this before too.) So we got to Whyte ave, the main shopping street in Edmonton and near the uni. We were there at 3.30pm just after schools out, and were at the front of an intersection turning left (it the longer turn here). The truck in front, me in the middle, and dad in the rental behind. The light goes green, we get a break in traffic, the truck pulls away, and the rope snaps. So i jump out, as does Rick and we tie the rope togeather holding up traffic for only 1 green light. So next green the first 2 vehicles get around on an orange light, and dad runs his first red. (no ticket as of yet)
Now i didnt realise this until later. Honestly. But its illegal to tow vehicle with a rope in Canada. Your meant to get a tow truck. So when we drove through road works, and had the rope come off 3 rimes, i though nothing of it as we casually drove past 2 cop cars. Thank god they must have been occupied with something more important.
And it gets better. We got off the main roads and into the suburbs. We were in traffic again creeping foward slowly. Rick started driving over a crosswalk, and a girl in her early 20's came towards the crossing (you see where this is going). She was going to cross in front of the truck then decided to cross behind it as it was creeping foward. I waved my arms and yelled out the window but she had her ipod going. Next thing you know she trips up on the tow rope right on her front. Didnt see it coming. I felt bad and asked if she was ok, and she went off on her way.
So we finally got it back to Jesses place and my parents met Jesse's mum. I grabbed a few beers from the fridge to calm the nerves. In the end dad ran 3 red lights, a very dark orange light, and failed to give way twice. What a day.
I now have only a handful of days left in Fort Mcmurray. We got the big thaw last week, and 2ft of snow has turned in to a whole lot of mud. Im going to our office just out of Edmonton for the next 2 months. The office wont be as much fun, but at least im back on a 40 hour week and i get every weekend off now. Hopefully when i finally get my car going ill have more adventures to write about. It currently in the repair shop working through a long list of repairs.
Have a good easter everyone
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Nicky
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When you get your car going....... hmm
When you say finally get your car going, I only have thoughts of your mini which never got fixed and sat in your parents garage, the esky and then the combi both of which went maybe 50% of the time but never legal.... You tripped some girl over with the tow rope... That would have been great to see. Hehe Keep the stories coming and progress reports on the car!!