Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 4: August 25th, 2010 Pittsburgh (Chevrolet Dealer)

Today, I am already able to sleep a bit longer. Around two in the morning I needed the bathroom. But then, I am able to immediately fall asleep again and wake up not before six in the morning. First, I think it is four. But then I realize that the sun is rising. Then I remember, that Helen’s clock has a problem: At six o’clock it chimes only four times!

Around seven I get up, when I hear that Helen is also getting active. Then I take a shower and prepare again three eggs for my breakfast. I prefer this much more than cereals. Then it is time for waiting again, respectively checking how my delivery is going. To my happiness I see, that it is already in delivery. This has worked out!

Then I check my emails and also look for the radio conversion in my Cherokee back home. At least I know now, what to look for at Walmart and maybe Pep Boys.

Because my Chevrolet dealer has not called until eleven and Helen needed to go for a hair cut appointment to Wexford, I call them. Past noon my truck should be ready. I ask if this means 12:30 or 1pm and they tell me that it will most likely be more 1pm to 1:30pm.

Okay, so Helen first goes for her hair cut while I look what else can be modified on an S10 like fender flares and winch mount. And I use the time to feed my GPS with coordinates of my trip.

After her return, I have a sandwich. Then we drive over to my Chevrolet dealer. Around two I am there and ask first, if my car is ready. It is ready, but I first visit the guys from the part store. There is a big helo! It seems like they have really grown fond of me. If I would ever need parts from them, I am sure, they would do everything that I will get these parts.

After a long conversation I walk back and look for Jay. Currently, he is talking to a Harley driver. The bike is really impressive. It has an installed radio and everything! Then we talk about my trip and my car buy in Germany. Then I say good–bye and pay. It looks like they have only done what I have asked them to do. It seems like there was no issue at inspection.

Then I drive over to Ross Park Mall and look for the T–Mobile Shop. Of course, I park exactly at the other end of the mall. But that is still okay. The guys over there are really trying to get my problem solved and slowly, they figure out what has happened. I had my Gold Status. But only after the next refill, they would have put this status into my account! So, my minutes expired in November, although the web site stated something different. My phone number has been assigned to someone new in the meantime. So, my money transaction also went to the old number, really great!

After a long discussion they put in $10 on my new account and for the $30–$40 on my old card, they have put at least $25 on my new card. This way, also my great phone number is lost. Now I have a real shitty number. But at least I have a mobile phone now — and I can use this card in every other mobile phone.

In the meantime, it is already half past four and I start my long drive back to Cranberry. There, I first visit my Walmart. Originally, I planned to mix my coolant water by myself. But I am not able to find some distilled water. Therefore I take the readily mixed one, whatever. Instead, I am able to find my radio and cable adapter for only $20 all together. But I am not able to find the antenna adapter.

Then I continue to Pep Boys. There, I look for some Synthetic Transmission Oil from Mobile 1. But they only have 3 bottles left. The others must be ordered, but will be delivered by tomorrow afternoon. I tell him, that I will most likely not be able to show up before Friday or Saturday. That is not a problem, because they are reserved on my name, perfect! And he even did not need a down payment, which is even better!

Then I drive over to David to see, if they have delivered now the correct radiator. To my surprise, they have not picked up the old radiator yet. I have no clue, what went wrong here. But at least, the new radiator fits. I check all the parts. Hopefully, everything will fit. It seems that my adapters for the transmission lines fit, at least something!

Then I think about what other parts I may need from Home Depot. After I have noted everything down, I drive back to Cranberry and buy countless adapters and hose clamps. All in all, I plan to replace the whole cooling system.

Around 7pm I am back from my shopping trip and quickly do my bookkeeping and sort all the document chaos. Helen already had her dinner. Therefore, I drive over to Lone Star by 8pm all by myself. This time, they are way more busy and my server is pretty much stressed out. The service is okay and my steak is way better than yesterday! This time, I even took the 11oz and not the 8oz like yesterday. Instead, I have not received any peanuts today…

Before dinner I send the first two text messages to my parents and my dance friends. Around 9pm I am back home and finalize my bookkeeping. Then I start writing my diary. Finally, I check my emails as last task for today. Then I start the odyssey with rewriting my mobile phone before I go to bed.

The next day is in preparation…