8/15/2023 – 8/17/2023
I wake up at 7:15AM to get the van looked at. They bring it into the shop and start tearing it down. They said that I would need more than just new pads. I then remembered that the last time I had it in they said that I would eventually need new calipers and rotors. The initial estimate was around $600. The new estimate is around $1500. I hung out playing games as they worked on it. They took me out to see it as they were disassembling it. They were knocking chunks of rust off the brake system.
Around noon I walked to Burger King for lunch. It was only a half mile away and the staff was talking like I had to walk ten miles up hill both ways. I get there and as I’m eating the manager at Link’s calls me and says he’s sending someone over to pick me up so I don’t have to walk again. I tell him that I can walk and it’s no problem. A minute late the front desk lady walks in as I’m eating and asks if I need a ride. She says that she can wait until I’m finished. I politely tell her no thanks, I’m going to hang out and get the free drinks.
I hang out for a couple hours playing on my phone and then walk back to the shop. They finish the van around 4PM. I start heading down to Huntsville, AL. With all the traffic it takes a half hour before I get up to highway speed. When I got up to around 65 mph my steering wheel starts shaking. I figure it might be the road and keep going. I had to get into the breaks a little bit and it felt like the van was shaking apart. Right away I call Link’s and they tell me to come back right away. They will stay open until I get there.
On the way back I take video of the shaking so they can see what was going on in case they couldn’t replicate. They look under the van and don’t see anything out of the ordinary. They tell me I’ll have to stay another night so they can look at it in the morning.
It’s only 6PM at this point and I’m not going to just hang out at the shop. There is a frolf course that I went to the other day close to the shop so I go and play a round. I stay another night outside of the shop.
In the morning they take the van for a drive. They come back and said they couldn’t replicate the problem. They only take it on a 55 mph road though. I tell them again that it doesn’t start happening until 65 mph and show them the videos. They take it out again and come back what seems like an hour later. They pull into the bay and start taking the passenger wheel off again. The manager tells me that they are going to put a different rotor and caliper on. They front desk lady later tells me that they have been having trouble with getting returned or DOA parts from their distributers.
I finally get back on the road around noon. I don’t have any more issues with the van and I go to Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish. This place had a really good reputation for Nashville Hot Chicken. I was very disappointed. The chicken strips were tough and not very good. I did like the fries though. They don’t even compare to Princes or Hattie B’s.
I didn’t have time before my movie date to get down to Huntsville. I went straight to Atlanta. On the 17th I got up early to get to the 10:45AM showing of the movie. I was able to get through the entire movie this time and my seats were better. I’m happy that I was able to see it in 70mm for the experience. I had probably went the furthest distance out of anyone to see this movie.
After the movie I walked around the mall and then made supper. I decided on braised lamb. It took almost four hours to cook, but it was so so good. I will definitely be making it again.
I looked on my map after supper and saw that I had Monday Night Brewing saved as a place to go. On my way I see a pack of supercars driving the same way that I am.
I get out there, got a beer, and pulled up a chair outside near a group of guys. All the sudden one of the guys comes up to me and starts introducing me to everyone. He then asks how I got into crypto. I tell him that I’m not really and just came for a drink. I see him sink, he was so excited right away.
I talk to one of the guys for a while and then they disperse. I move inside to listen to the band. I stay until close and ask for a sticker. They run around looking for one, but they can’t find any. The bartender gives me a free drink coupon and says to come back again and they will have them. I go over to say hello to the band and we talk for a bit. They give me a can coozie and I leave.
As I’m walking back to the van there are a bunch of people gathered around their vehicles next to mine. I get up to the group and ask what’s going on. They tell me that three of their vehicles have been broken into and a couple laptops were stolen. I check my windows and the van is still good. I hang out listening to commotion for a little while and then leave.