Day 5

The next morning I packed the truck and prepared to leave. Before taking off, however, I took a little time to check out the misaligned generator, and to make duct tape repairs on the damaged tarp. After removing the generator, I found that the bracket was actually a custom-made job which appears to have been cut with a gas torch, and there was a small blob of molten metal on the backside with prevented it from mounting flush with the engine. I took a metal file and removed as much as I could, and also cleaned all terminal connections. I remounted the generator and sprayed all connections with some anti-corrosion battery stuff. The alignment is still not perfect, but I think it is a little better, and it should reduce wear on the belt and generator bearings.

From Portland I proceeded to Washougal to find the parts place. It was about a 20 mile detour from my route to Seattle, but I think it was worth it. After finding the address, I still wasn't sure that I had the right place until I spotted a small sign propped up in the window sill of the building which featured a yellow smiley face and said "Happiness is Chevy parts and accessories". Finding the front door locked, I had to knock to get someone to come open it for me. The place was totally set up for catalog sales, and there was no counter or cash register or anything for walk-in sales, but they were happy to help me.

Based on the advice of several people that I have talked to about this trip, I bought the following items as spare parts:

ignition points
condenser
ignition coil
wheel bearing dirt protector cap
generator brushes
starter brushes
spark plugs
fuel pump

I wanted to buy the following items, but decided it would be too expensive:

starter
generator
voltage regulator
carburetor

I wanted to buy the following items, but they were not in stock:

water pump
alternator & bracket (replaces generator & regulator)
speedometer cable adaptor to transmission box

From there I proceeded to Seattle and Kristin's house. Unfortunately, my late start plus rush hour traffic put me behind schedule, and I didn't arrive till around 8:30 PM. It turns out that Kristin lives about 25 miles north of Seattle. Kristin, her husband Jeff, and her son Charlie were very nice and waited till I arrived to take me to eat.

Their driveway tilts to the side on a hill, and my rear wheels complained and rubbed against the side of the bed as I pulled in to stop. We drove to a TacoTime fast food Mexican place, and I ordered the Enchilada plate and a burrito. We drove home the long way around Lake Stevens which was nicely sprinkled with evening house lights around the edges.

Kristin and Jeff run a school at their house. The school is downstairs and they have separate rooms for different types of activities, along with a playground out back. I like the idea of owning your own business, but I'm amazed that she can work at home with her husband and child every day and maintain such a good attitude. I think it would be nice to get away now and then to different places and faces.

In the morning I went down to the school for a snack with the children. The children were dressed as pirates, and everyone was preparing for the annual Aquafest parade, which would take place in the city of Lake Stevens later in the day.

Now I am about to leave for Bellingham, where I have a ferry ticket reserved for Haines, Alaska. The ferry leaves Friday, 6:00 PM and travels about 1000 miles for two and a half days, arriving at 4:15 AM Monday morning. Apparently it is possible to set up a free standing tent on the deck, and they will have a cafeteria and showers available.

I will continue to write while underway, but until I arrive in Haines on the other side, I will be unable to send any further messages. Hopefully, the next time you hear from me, it will be from Alaska.