After 3 days of rather nerve wracking driving, I arrived safe and weary in Arizona. My route differed this time as I headed along the 401 to Guelph to drop off my grandson at university. My car started acting strange, not accelerating properly. We assumed it was ice in the gas line as we left Ottawa area in -28 degree temperatures. However, it did not improve and I discovered that the cruise control was malfunctioning so then assumed the problem was related to that. I made it to Lima, north of Dayton Ohio that evening and because the weather warnings were straight across the route I usually take, I decided to err on the side of safety and followed the I75 south to Tennessee adding at least 3 hours to my drive time. It was a wise decision. The weather did deteriorate but fortunatley into rain squalls (nasty ones) not snow and ice. My car started to really give me concern as it was still not accelerating properly and was drinking gas like a delicious cocktail. Of course being Sunday no service stations were open. I limped into Jackson, Tennessee and had a very restless night as I saw dollars flying away at a mechanic's.
A local mechanic discovered it was the catalytic converter. I was in and out in two hours all repaired. The service was extraordinary and the price was reasonable.. By now, the weather and car repair set me back by 6-7 hours but because it was still early in the day when I got to Albuquerque, I decided to carry on as I knew the roads well and they were clear and dry (many a time I have driven that leg in very nasty weather). I arrived in after 12 hours of driving. Ask me if I was pooped!
Now a week later, I have settled in and am falling into a routine of rising early, writing for several hours, walking for an hour or so on the range then after a good hot shower and lunch snuggle into the settee on the patio with a good book. I vowed that my winter would produce some decent writing and get my novel ready to publish. If all goes well, I hope to have a rough draft of my second done.
Old friends have wrapped their arms around me and welcomed me back into the fold. This morning, I slung my camera around my neck and heading up the mountain for a brisk walk watching the play of light on dried flowers and seeds looking for that perfect shot.
