Tarnation

Up near 745am the sun was already out in full force. Despite waking somewhat late, everyone else slept even later. As a result, I was able to enjoy an hour or so of alone time with coffee and internet before setting out on my Saturday run.

Near 9am I headed out shirtless. It was sunny, and already plenty warm and humid. About a quarter mile into my run I happened upon dad turning onto our street presumably to pick-up Glenn for breakfast. I acknowledged him but continued on with my 3 mile run.

Worked up quite a sweat! Mindy and dad were conversing on the deck when I returned. Glenn was up quite yet. It wasn’t too long, however, before he was. We hung out for a while before I headed up for a shower. I planned to join the two of them for breakfast at Bob Evans.

Thinking we left the house around 1030am, heading to the Bob Evans on Riverside Dr. just north of Trabue. The company was good, the breakfast just so-so. I ordered the “farm breakfast” which came with hot cakes, bacon, home fries, and eggs. The bacon was about as thin and small as possible. One would think they’d serve top notch meats. The staff was most pleasant, so I tipped well. In the spirit of offering constructive criticism, I think Bob Evans should reevaluate their breakfast offering lest they’ll be left for dead in the near future. Definitely nothing special about it.

Called Tommy during breakfast asking if he was up for a visit to his brands new sit-down Pickerington Domino’s store. The three of us were anxious to see it. He sounded eager to show it off. Agreed to call once we were less than 30 minutes out. By design, I called Tommy once we were on the road. We headed towards downtown first where we stopped at Milestone 229 so I could purchase a gift card for neighbors Pat & Lisa – a gift for their 30 year wedding vows renewal. Dad & Glenn waited in the car while I ran in. Our friend Mary was working the bar. Took just a couple minutes to complete the transaction. We headed off towards Pickerington.

Once on the freeway, the clunky vibrations I could feel in my Accord since having the tires rotated Thursday afternoon only got worse. In fact, they were so bad that I was almost afraid to continue driving it. Both dad & Glenn agreed that it was bad enough for concern. I called the Honda dealership from the car. They agreed to see the car right away if I could bring it back in. We actually continued towards Pickerington for another couple miles before I was convinced that driving it any further than I needed to was a bad idea. We got off I-70 at the Bexley exit and turned around heading back to the west. I called Tommy apologizing for not coming out. He understood.

I didn’t want to trouble dad & Glenn so I stopped at home first before heading to Germain Honda in Dublin. Before going on, I planned to visually inspect the tires once again and even check the lug nuts on all four tires. I envisioned one of them being excessively loose. But for that to impact the handling more than one nut would have to be loose.

One quick look at my driver’s front tire told the whole story. Stuck to the tread of the tire was a large glob of fresh pavement about 10” long and about ½” thick. I showed dad and Glenn. Surprised I didn’t see that Thursday evening when I did a quick visual in the Wal-Mart lot on my way home from the office. I fetched a scraper to attempt to scrape it off. Easier said than done. Very gummy- sticky. Dad suggested trying WD-40, which brought a smile as well as a nod of approval as I suspected that would indeed help.

Sure enough, after spraying a liberal amount of WD-40 the tar that remained wiped off with relative ease. All that remained was that in between the tiny water displacement grooves. Dad agreed to go with me for a test drive. Before that, however, we discussed how he and Glenn might transport one of our new kayaks down to Mom’s on Monday. We determined that with the passenger seat down that the kayak would fit in the minivan which meant they could avoid having to leash on top. Sweet!

Dad and I headed east on Trabue Rd. and I am happy to report that all obnoxious vibrations were gone. Opted to turn into the condos just west of the river and south of Trabue. They’ve been there for 5-7 years but I’d never taken an opportunity to check ‘em out. Quite nice! A couple lovely ponds back there too. There were a pair of mating white swans swimming about along with one baby. And within maybe 75’ feet of the swan family was a gaggle of Canada geese. That encounter should dispel the myth that swans will drive geese away.

Before heading back home, dad asked if I’d seen the single family homes just east of the condos but still west of the river. No, I hadn’t. We toured that small but luxurious subdivision too. Very nice homes that I’m guessing fetch in the neighborhood of 500-700K. Exceptional landscaping and lovely stone work.

Headed back to the house. Once back, I gave Germain Honda a call sharing what I found with the Accord. They were nice enough to offer immediate service, I owed them a call back.

Had a couple hours before the wedding vow renewal at the Shultz home. I decided to head out to the boat, which was still out front, and take a look at the idle adjustment. Dad offered to assist. Cool! By then it had gotten extremely humid if not hot. I wore just a pair of shorts. Dad looked on from the ground while boarded the boat after starting the engine. Started easy enough but we both agreed the idle too slow, almost to the point of stalling.

Using the engine’s manual several years ago, I adjusted (tweaked) the idle once before, but apparently not quite enough. I couldn’t readily recall where/how to do so. After giving the engine a once over it was fairly obvious where the adjustment could be me. There’s a rather large set screw at the throttle body attachment to the carburetor. With the boat in neutral, I turned the screw clockwise maybe an 1/8 – ¼ turn. Not much if any improvement. Dad suggested I turn it more, since it has no bearing on the fuel/air mixture. Sure enough, turning it another ½ turn or so made a huge difference in performance.

The real test however was transitioning between forward and reverse without stalling. Worked like new! Awesome! I was very pleased. Once small problem remained, and one that has plagued the boat on and off before. That was a loose v-belt, the one that turns the alternator. For some reason it often works its way loose. The early warning sign is a squeal coming from one of the pulleys and belt. The other belt just outside of it is never a problem.

Adjusting the problematic belt tension is that there isn’t an easy way to get decent leverage on the alternator. To provide greater access I removed the engine housing box which is pretty easy but still couldn’t get good leverage. Dad suggested I make something based on the problem which was fine but that certainly wasn’t the solution I needed right then, something quick. I ended up simply pulling the alternator as far as I could by hand and tightening the bracket. That worked, but I’ll need to come up with a better idea for next time.



Mindy came out to give me a time check. It was 130pm and we needed to be at Pat & Lisa’s before 2pm, or the start of the wedding vow ceremony. I was a hot, sweaty mess. I wrapped up the impromptu boat maintenance feeling really good with all I’d accomplished then headed in to get cleaned up. While I showered, Mindy saw to it that the kids got ready. Dad and Glenn offered that they were simply going to hang out on the deck while we headed to the neighbors. We had plans to go to Comfest later that evening and Glenn was going with us.

Good crowd at the Shultz’s, mostly family. Learned they were delaying the ceremony until 330pm due to some unforeseen travel delays for folks coming in from Norwalk and Canton. Enjoyed a couple beers while socializing with other guests, many of which I’ve met multiple times past. Pat wasn’t too happy that his antagonistic neighbor was mowing his lawn with the wedding vow event taking place. He felt it was an intentional provocation. The two of them have been feuding for two decades now.  Pat would get the last laugh however since the ceremony’s start time was delayed.

Pat’s best friend, Joe got ordained just for the occasion. He even got the shirt and collar. He was the real deal! Ceremony was really nice, taking place on the pergola Pat built just for the occasion. Their grandson. Oscar was a hoot, still just 1.5 years old. He joined them on and off in the pergola while the exchanged their vows. Very cute!

After the formal exchange we enjoyed lots of good food. I kept my consumption to a minimum so I wouldn’t be sluggish walking comfest later. Speaking of comfest, we headed home around 5-530pm to head there. Glenn was on the deck playing guitar while Jacob, Bella and a large contingent of friends hung in the backyard playing ball. They were staying home. Didn’t want any part of the comfest experience. Their loss.

There had been a lingering chance of scattered showers all day. Well, for that matter, every day for the last week or so. At the time we left there didn’t appear to be much of a threat though the brilliantly sunny skies of earlier had become a bit milky. However, by the time we got through Grandview and then into Victorian Village and in the general vicinity of comfest it began to rain. We must’ve circled looking for a parking spot for 30 minutes. By then the light sprinkle turned to a downpour. Frustrated with our inability to find parking and now the heavy rain, we opted to bag comfest in favor of a Grandview brew tour.

Our first stop was Zauber brewing, one of the newest microbreweries. Still in the process of installing their large brewing equipment so they’re existing on small batch brewing which we’re told is gone in one day. Until the new equipment is fully operational they’re relying on guest draughts. I had an IPA, but it wasn’t much to write home about. Each of us had only one before agreeing to move on.

Our next stop was the Ohio Tap Room where they sell growlers of Ohio beers – no pints - and literally just a stone’s throw from Bob & Mary Ann’s house. I sampled Brew Kettle’s latest – Black Rajah, a black IPA. Yum! I would’ve purchased a growler but they blew the keg.  Mindy conversed with a young mother there with her infant son in a chest carrier. Turned out being a nurse that did a turn working at brother Craig’s practice. And Craig’s their pediatrician.

It poured buckets while we hung at the Ohio Tap Room. Thankfully the storm was brief, 5-10 minutes tops. Before we left, I bought a growler of Bodhi. It was my best option. Woodland’s is within eyeshot of the Tap Room. I suggested we pop in there for one more beer before heading home. Reluctantly, Mindy agreed. Spotted our friend, Josh, sitting on the patio by himself under the canvas awning just barely avoiding yet another downpour.

Pints there were happy hour prices - $3 each. We each had one and joined Josh on the patio. He had been at comfest most of the day. Years past his bands played the festival but not this year. I think he was happy to get to take it in as a fan. He seemed to have a good buzz going too. Once our pints were drained we offered to give him a ride home, which wasn’t that far, just off NW Blvd and King. After dropping Josh we headed home. By then it had to be closing in on 830pm. Mindy and I poured ourselves a beer and then walked back to Pat & Lisa’s, just as we threatened we’d do after comfest. 

Of course the party was still raging on. We hung with them for another hour or so. I’m guessing until almost 10pm. Ours still back at the house with Glenn, we figured we should head home and check in. Jacob had an overnight guest, Tyler, who is Lisa’s nephew. We hung out for maybe another half hour before calling it a night. A good night’s sleep was a priority.