In what is now dangerously close to becoming an annual occurrence, I drove back to Minnesota a couple weeks ago. That trip, while exciting because I got to see some friends, did not generate particularly interesting stories. However, the first day driving back to California is vying for the largest rollercoaster of a day I’ve had during a road trip. Let’s explore.
We had a bonfire with several friends the night before I left, so I was originally planning on leaving around 6 or 7 the following morning. Then, as I was casually perusing my route for disc golf locations, I came across Spearfish Canyon Disc Golf Course, in the far west section of South Dakota. I ended up leaving just before 4 in the morning so I’d have time to play a few holes.
It is a stunning course, with a lot of elevation change. The trees don’t get in your way too much, and really help to frame some lovely shots. A little over a third of my way through the 27 holes, I caught up to a group of two guys from Minnesota who were also playing for the first time, and they asked if I wanted to play along with them. Just a little over 2 hours later and we had played the entire course. It was a great fiend, and an excellent reprieve from a long day of driving.
Anyone who has driven through Wyoming is aware of the high winds that sweep across the roads. Sometimes they have to close them down if the winds get too bad.
It just so happened that my car got caught broadside by a gust of wind in just the wrong way, getting in between the chassis and a plastic undershield, ripping the plastic pins that keep the undershield in place. As I drove along I started hearing this funny plastic tapping noise; it was inconsistent, and very obviously plastic. I eventually stopped off to get gas and saw the plastic piece now sagging on the sides, only held on (somehow) in the middle. In addition, there was something dripping on the ground and, being naive and paranoid about whatever happened, I was worried there was an oil leak.
After being told the local Walmart auto center only had a single employee and the wait would be an hour, I went to two more shops only to be told that the mechanics either leave early, or don’t work, on Saturdays. Not to mention that nearly every other shop in the area closes at noon on Saturday.
I was finally pointed to Tire-Rama, which was slated to close 15 minutes after I got there. They also didn’t have a mechanic, but were willing to give it a look. An awesome guy, probably around my age, put it on this hydraulic lift and confirmed both that the plastic shield had been ripped loose, and that there was no oil leak. Up until this point I was getting worried I’d need to stay over in a city four hours from where I was supposed to be.
But no. Without an oil leak, all it took was a handful of zip-ties to get the undershield in place and I was on my way. The guy in the garage joked those zip-ties would probably hold better than the plastic caps that flew off.
I was driving into this sunset about an hour outside where I stayed after this long day with a wonderful high and stressful low. Just as I was resigned to never get a picture of it, there was a specific “Photo turnout” sign. So I took this picture (and several others). It was just a stroke of good luck.