The Continuous Adventure of Piglet

("Oh nooooooo," said Jonathan Brown)

I Got up early, suited up, saddled up the piglet and was off.  My first stop was in Cusseta, Al to a cousin who was to leave for about two week in Atlanta so her family could get some closure on something that has been going on for the last six years.  I’ve agreed to stop by and keep an eye on things while they were gone.  The ride was enjoyable and uneventful. Once I reached my cousin’s place, I was shown what to keep an eye on and given a house key.  My cousin received a call that the litigation was postpone until March because of the impeding “sheet storm” and the fact that our governor Deal doesn’t want to be caught with his britches around his ankles again like he was two weeks prior.  Well, that means no house setting: Yet.
So, I left and made the trip to Wadley, again without incident, ( I know, I know; ya’ll are biting your nails in total suspense wondering where the “adventure” part is, but hold still; it’s coming).  Covered a lot of ground in class, trying to make up for the last “snow day” and was told that the class will test the next time the class meet, whether it’s Wednesday or the next Monday.   I left quickly so I can get home to transcribe my notes into something that is readable, (even the chickens complain that it’s unfair to compare my “writing” with their scratching) and about three mile west of Roanoke...

Wait for it... wait for it... stop holding your breath...

Piglet started to loose power. I know that feeling; the friggin’ spark plug cap done came off again.  I thought I had that FIXED.  IT’S NOT MY FAULT.  CHEWIE GET YOUR HAIRY PAWS OFF MY NECK...  uh, wait a minute... flashback to The Empire Strikes Back... not good.

However, a quick look and sure enough that cap was off.

So I pulled over (it was either that or sit stalled in the middle of the highway) and looked.  From all the trouble, I had with it popping off before, the end was finally fried and it was falling off.  Yeah, Yeah, Yeah; I should have replaced that wire assembly when I replaced the spark plug but nooooooo; nothing never goes wrong with the wire....

However, I think; Hey, everyone been wanting to see Piglet on a rollback, now’s the time.  So, I looked for my insurance cards for the Road Side assistance number, no card.  What now...  Apparently I’ve left the card out, again at the Piglet Pen, along with the parking pass for school.   

No problem; I looked on my phone and found where I made the last call for road side assistance and recalled that number.  Well, no card, no policy number, and I was told I would  have to front the money (and make a claim for reimbursement), to the tune of about $200.  It took a moment or two to find my phone from where I dropped it in the grass and by then the other side had hung up.  Well, instead of recalling them, I started calling all the other towing services in the area.

My insurance services were much cheaper. 

Ok, I then decided to walk into town and see if I can get the parts to fix Piglet.  It was only three miles or so and being a mighty Silver Comet hiker it would take me hardly no time, about 2 & 1/2 hours.  I got my wookie satchel, tool pouch, helmet, set the Piglet father off the side of the road at the fence line and set off for town.  I only made about half a mile before a kind soul stopped to see if I needed a ride and took me to the needed parts store.

In the store, I at first asked if there was the off beat chance that they may have the exact part I needed and when that fell through I was able to find what I could work with and then set out for the walk back to piglet.  I’ve haven’t gotten too far before a transplant from “nawlins” stopped to give me a ride back to Piglet.  He had came up to work at KIA until they wore him out, (young kids just can’t work 12 hours a day 7 days a week, weeks on end without a day off for some reason) and was now working as a welder at a local company and was much happier for it.  He mention that his cycle wasn’t running and after describing its symptoms I told him to check the starter relay.  

It wasn’t hard to find Piglet because there was a Sheriff’s Deputy parked there with the blue lights a poppin’ like there was a K-mart special or something going on; “Attention Shoppers, we now have a brokedown scooter on special at our blue light”.  My ‘nawlins’ buddy asked if I needed him to stay until I was sure I could fix it but I thanked him and allowed him to continue onward with his journey.  I stopped and spoke with the Deputy for a moment and told him what was going on and he told me that he had ran a tag check to see if perchance the scooter had been stolen and the thief had abandoned it.  He had also called for a tow to take it into impound.  They’re quick in Alabama; I realized that I seldom seen a broke down car on the side of the road in that state.  He said that he was calling back to cancel the tow but would stay to make sure I was going to get the scooter going.  A few minutes later a pickup with a utility trailer showed up, the tow guy.  Oh, ye of little faith.

The good news it that with a little bit of Southern Ingenuity, I got the coil wire rebuilt and with a crank the Piglet squealed into life once more.  I thanks them both for standing by in my hour of “dire” need and sent them on their way.  Then I resuited up, quick system check and once again I was tearing up the highway; at 45 mph.

I made it into Roanoke and stopped at the Wal-Mart for some cheep go-go juice for the Piglet and rechecked to make sure that new wire was going to maybe make it home.

I made it home in time to pen Piglet up before the sleet started.