Missing October

For those of you who are not up-to-date, we have been having some problems with the van... one main problem, actually, which is that she needs a new engine.

This is obviously a fairly unfortunate situation because replacing an engine is an expensive, time-consuming process and our time here in North Carolina is limited. 

On the other side of the coin, can you imagine our good luck? We have travelled 9,000 miles so far. If the van had had this problem at any other point at all we would have been totally up a creek. But instead, the cylinder went out in North Carolina at a time when it was possible to send her in for a week or more to get fixed without causing us any trouble at all, except the expense. It is that kind of thoughtfulness that makes October the best van in the world.

We both agreed that she definitely deserved a fancy new motor. 

The first step of the process was to find a shop that would be able to fix her. Let me tell you, finding places that will agree to do anything with an old vanagon are few and far between and the fact that we are in North Carolina (a state which has approximately 3 vanagons) did not help any. Eventually, I managed to find a place to take her in a town called Jacksonville, which is about 40 minutes away.

Step two was to locate a motor. I did this the same way that I do pretty much everything nowadays: I looked online. After finding a good company, we ordered the motor and arranged for it to be shipped directly to the shop in Jacksonville. Later, they would have our old motor picked up and brought back to them, thus allowing us to get refunded for the 600 dollar "core charge."According to the tracking information, the new motor should be at the shop by Monday.

And finally, step three was to get October to Jacksonville. This ended up being the easiest step because, as it turns out, the shop that agreed to fix her also provides towing services. So on a very sad Wednesday morning we bid fair-well (for now) to our trusty van.

If everything goes as planned, we will be able to pick her up late next week... just in time for our trek to Boston. And she should be better than ever with her brand new engine, new clutch (we originally planned on fixing the clutch in Boston, but it turns out the majority of the expense is in labor because you have to take out the engine... fancy that, our engine will already be out, so we are saving 500 dollars), and repaired exhaust leak (very minor problem).

That's how you turn a major-bummer situation into an opportunity to make the van 100 times more reliable for our trip back across the country when a very special passenger will be on board. Speaking of the baby, a couple of you asked about my due date: its May 21. 

8 weeks seems like an eternity. But we will wait patiently.

And for additional updates on the baby-front: He has begun hiccuping. A lot. It is a very strange feeling. And he is still rolling and tumbling just as vigorously as always, even though my pregnancy reading says he should be settling down now because he is running out of space. Obviously, the lack of space doesn't bother him. He kicks the most during our nightly reading sessions, I think that's his favorite time of day.

Well, I will let you get back to your wonderful day now. We are praying for spring flowers and warm weather for you.