Adventures in wheels

Misadventires

The story begins innocently enough. I have two coworkers that are also quite good friends. They both ride motorcycles. They both enjoy the twisties. So do I, albeit using 4 wheels rather than two.

So, on the last week of April, 2010 we go out on a grand trip. From Pullman, we head east, go through Moscow, to Troy, down to Kendrick, through the reservation down the Ahsaka grade into Orofino. There, we have lunch. Our grand trip was not yet complete, however. We continued up the Clearwater river, eventually coming to Grangeville, where we finally turn and chase the sun. At Cottonwood, the real fun begins.

For it is here where I pass an RV and the car “feels funny”. A few miles later, I think I exploded a tire and pull over to stop. This is where the wheel and I part company. I see it bounce twice and it’s gone, over a guardrail. My friends on the bikes are long gone, they don’t realize they lost me for a good twenty miles. Fortunately, with the help of a army reservist that is reporting to Spokane the next day, I find the wheel. It’s a little worse for wear and needs to be replaced, but by stealing one lug nut from each of the three remaining wheels, I have enough to limp to Lewiston. There, I buy some cheap nuts. Not even losing a wheel is going to stop me from enjoying the Spiral Highway.

All in all, the trip was good, though next time I could do with just a little less “adventure” and more blissful hard driving.