She's Dead, Jim

Ugh.... What a day.

I came into town to run a few errands, and on the way to the local post office, my car died at a light.

Ugh.

I think it's either a problem with the battery or the alternator. I checked the connections, and nothing worked.

So, next step: call someone I know for a battery jump, or perhaps a tow, or at the very least a ride home.

But guess what! I misplaced my cell phone yesterday (I'm sure it'll turn up) so I've not only got no way to call someone (from the car, anyway), but more importantly, I've got no phone numbers of anyone to call given that I really only know two people in about a 3,000 mile radius who are at or above a friend level appropriate for calling for use of some jumper cables and a running vehicle.

I rolled my car into a parking spot (thank goodness there were a few on the street right next to where I stalled) and locked the car up.



At this point, I've got two choices:
a) walk the 5.5 miles home (5.5 miles with a 1500' climb)
b) take a self-guided walking tour of lovely down- and mid-town Hilo and wait by Kalewa's car at his work, and wait for him to leave around 8:30 or so.

Since the walk was much less, and it was a nice day, I took Option B. I also took some photos.

It was a good call. Somehow, the library was still open, and I was able to walk right in instead of spending the next 3 or so hours waiting in the parking lot. So now I'm hiding out here in the IT department, using one of their computers, and writing this to pass the time.

How my '73 BMW Saved TheM@'s Life - Twice

As I'm sure you all remember from my post "On the Road Again.....", I've recently acquired a 1973 BMW 2002 (which is still, unfortunately, yet to be named).

When Matt decided to come out to visit, he got a lot of advice from several people he works with.  In fact, Thanh, who has spent a lot of time here on the Big Island, even sent a list of things to do while Matt was here.

At the top of the list: Don't go to the Hilo side of the island or else some local will try and beat the crap out of you.  <---I'm paraphrasing that part a bit, for various reasons.  Since I can see Hilo from my yurt, Matt was obviously out of luck.  I'd heard stories about locals taking issues with people, and trying to pick fights and such, but in my time here so far, I'd never had anyone be even remotely antagonistic towards me.  So I told Matt he had nothing to worry about.

When Matt arrived, we sat down for dinner with Kaleo and Kalewa, and after dinner Matt pulled out the list.  Upon reading the first item, with a bit of a chuckle, Kaleo got very serious and said that it was true, we would probably have someone try and start something with us.  I laughe it off, and said that I'd been here all this time, and I've never had any troubles.  

"You will," she said.

Well, whether I thought she was right or not, I was convinced that she'd jinxed us.

A couple of days later, Matt and I went to the liquor store, to pick up some beer.  On our way out we passed a local guy on his way in.  Walking up to the car, there was a lifted truck with four guys in it (waiting for the guy we just passed at the door).  One guy was leaning out the back window.

"Hey!" he hollars, looking right at me.

I'm thinking, "Crap, here it is....."

"Yeah?" I say back, as now I'm standing in front of the guy, putting the keys in the door lock of my car, trying to figure out if I'll have time to set the beer down without breaking it if the guy (and his three friends) jump out of the truck in a hurry.

"Nice car, man."

HA!  I start wondering what I was all worked up about, and they guy and I start talking a bit.  As I'm told, with a new paint job and some new rims, I'd have a "sweet ride."  Matt and I laughed about it on the way home.

Later in the week we were at the grocery store, stocking up (on beer again, I'm sure) and getting out of the car in the parking lot, these two big guys, clearly into the alcohol already themselves, were walking out.

One of the guys said something to me.  First thing through my mind was that last time it turned into nothing, but that these guys are drunk and rowdy, and NOW we're going to have that confrontation everyone's so worried about.

Once I got past the intoxicated slur, and switched my ear back to Hawai'ian Accent Mode, I realized that the guy was not angry at all, but was asking me if I was selling my car.  Weird way to start a conversation, sure, but hey, given the circumstances, I'll take it.

Anyway, that was it.  Which leaves me to choose between three possible conclusions:

1) The Hilo side of the island has a bad image based upon the way things were in the past, rather than how they are now.  I mean, reputations have to come from somewhere, right?  But in my time here I haven't seen anyone fighting anyone.  People here now are just the same as people anywhere else, and as long as you don't act like a jerk to anyone, they won't act like a jerk to you. (mostly, but that applies to anywhere)

2) We just got lucky, and I've continued to be lucky, and sooner or later I'm going to have to deal with an irate local for no logical reason.

3) My car is just cool enough, but still just crappy enough, that everyone digs it, and by association, me (at least enough to not pick a fight with me).

I'm going with #3 with a smattering of #1 mixed in.

On the Road Again.....

That's right, Jim!
(remember? I'm calling you all "Jim" now? Ok.... I should let that go)

Anyway, that's right!
Cameron is once again mobile of his own volition!





This vintage vehicle vests its vivacious voayager with vim and vigor vis a vis vehicular vivacity. This vagile voiture, though veraciously not velivolant, is not for the verecund. It's ventral vermeil veneer of vesuvian vernition is verily ventorious! This vettura takes the viaggiatory viator..... ok.... enough vaniloquence....I should let that go too.

So here's the sccop.

It's a 1973 BMW 2002.

It's a bit older, but it's got character. It's got older parts (drum brakes, manual windows and locks), but it's also got a taste of new technology (nice sound system, complete with iPod connection). It certainly needs some exterior and detail work, but with some time and patience and hard work, that could all be fixed. But the important parts (engine, brakes, etc.) all work really well. As it is right now, it's pretty quick off of the line, but doesn't much care for long hauls at high speeds. Fortunately, this is an island, and the highest speed limit is 55. It's a lot of fun, and girls really like it, although very few would actually want to have it as their own.

Both Kaleo and Annie (who came to visit) said "This car is so you!" And in rereading the previous paragraph, I suppose they're exactly right.


Here's a 4± minute video of me driving over the Saddle Road on the way to Kona. This road is crazy fun to drive on.