Day 6, Sat. I was out of bed, well rested and ready to go at 5:45. While doing my morning vehicle check/walk around, I noticed the muffler had seperated at both ends and was being held up by the baffles. Where do you repair a muffler at 6 am on a sat morning in Greencastle?
I went to the nearest convenience store and started looking for something to McGyver it together until I could get it fixed. After walking around the store for about 10 minutes, the clerk had an idea. He reached into a drawer and pulled out 2 metal straps (looked like huge pipe clamps) and a screwdriver. I pushed the pipes back into the muffler and used the straps to hold them together.
I got on the interstate at 7 am, 1 hour behind schedule and headed towards Scranton. I'd drive 175 miles and stop for gas, 2 L of water, kick the tailpipe together and back out on the interstate. The day went by following this rhythm. I was most impressed by the scenery in the Hudson River Valley when I entered NY state.
but I didn't stop, my goal was distance today. My next problem occured when I arrived at my first toll plaza. I caused quite a few puzzled looks
and double takes when I stopped, jumped out of what was supposed to be the passenger side, ran around to grab a ticket, ran back and drove away. The looks on the attendants faces when I pulled up to pay were equally perplexed. I got some funny comments as they had to lean in through the left window to get the toll.
I arrived at the big stop in Hampton, ME to meet up with a LRO Jim from Brewer. We had coffee and, of course, talked land rovers for an hour. Jim and I left Hampton in convoy (2 rovers) and drove the back road to Brewer before parting company. I started up the Airline route to Calais and the border.
While on this trip, from the day I landed in Houston until now, the weather had been spectacular. I had traveled with the windows / vents open and the rear canvas flap rolled up. That changed on the airline. I had to stop halfway to Calais and close the windows / vents, button up the canvas and even put on my coat. I continued on to Calais and stopped just before the border to fill both fuel tanks and a couple of 5 gallon jugs to the brim. US customs took about 10 minutes, a quick check of the VIN on the title to the VIN on the rover and then over to CBSA. The
customs officer asked if I had anything to declare and I answered proudly: Yes! this vehicle
. He then told me to park it and report to the officer in the office with my paperwork. The processing took about half an hour and I was on my way after paying less than $200.00 in fees.
I was back in
and on my way to St John from St Stephen before 2:30 am (moved my watch ahead 1 hour in Calais). I had to stop 45 minutes before St John and add a sweater, gloves, and a hat to my attire, I was definitely back in Canada
. Crossing the border had given me a bit of a pick up . I decided to go for home as my goal. I bypassed St John, Sussex, and only stopped on the highway outside Moncton to fill the right sided gas tank from the jugs ( I drove all the way using only 1 tank). I started to really relax when I entered
. I was now in my home territory and could stop or get help anywhere from here to home
.
I went through the Wentworth valley, (no sense paying the Cobequid toll) and passed Truro, New Glasgow, Antigonish........Then it happened! While passing Dagger Woods and 30 miles from home, RED/BLUE lights in my rear view. They can't be after ME I thought, just pull over and let them by. NOPE, its me they want
. The officer came up to the left window and peered in with a puzzled look on his face and then moved around to the right window. The usual....license, reg, and proof of insurance....and back to his PC to leave me sit and try and figure out what I had done
. I know for sure it couldn't be speeding! People driving by were really staring now
. The officer returned and explained my transgression. I had placed a temporary permit in the front window but neglected to remove the rear plate from Tx
. He asked if I had the tools to remove it. Yes and I did in about 30 seconds! The mountie returned my particulars and then proceeded to chat me up for about 10 minutes. He ran my license, class 4A (ambulance) and his father is a paramedic in Ontario. Thank you license, saved by the paramedic angle (again). I was off again and arrived in my driveway at 12:45 pm
. It had taken me 4 days to drive the lightweight from Houston,Tx to Port Hawkesbury, NS.
What a test drive for the lightweight! I used 1 L of oil and the muffler was the only casualty. I immediately started making my changes. I changed the canvas in the rain 1 hour after arriving home. The military top was removed and the canvas (almost new...if you can say that about a 30 year old top) from my last S3, with the roll up sides, was installed.
Stay tuned rover fans, there's a post script to follow later!
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