Life in Portland, 2008

Click on any of the little pictures to see it at normal size. Click on the '=0=' after the picture to see it in giant size (about 2 minutes to download on dialup connection and larger than screen size). This could be useful if you wanted to really look at one part of the picture or to make a print.

=0=	=0=
On my way back from the training at Sheridan F.C.I., the squeaking sound which my car had been making got much worse. I got gas just before Newberg but as I was heading along Route 18, I lost all power from the engine and coasted over to the side of the road shown above. I walked to the Texaco Food Mart and asked about a repair shop they would recommend. I called for a tow and had my car towed to Doran Automotive (also above) just about a mile away. The tow guy was nice (as it was dark and he had settled in for the evening before coming out to help me) and dropped me off at the coffee shop here. I waited there for an airport shuttle which drove me to Portland airport where I took a cab home. What an evening?	=0=
=0=	=0=
After having my car stolen twice, I was really tired of car problems. It turns out my water pump had seized (had been sqealing) and I had lost the timing belt. Friday afternoon I headed out on an express bus from downtown Portland to Sherman and the Shari's. There I switched to a local bus company which went on to Newberg. Much cheaper than the shuttle and cab for sure.	=0=
=0=	=0=
I walked a mile or so from the Thrifty's to Doran's, but then learned that while my car was running fine, it was leaking coolant so they needed to keep it until Monday to get that right. They sent me with a loaner mini-van that was not in such good shape. I was happy to exchange it for my car (shown here in their lot) on Monday. Let's hope that I have worked through my car troubles for now. After five years of no car problems, you don't really appreciate a problem free car, but now I sure do.	=0=