Belts and Squeals and Magic

Yesterday we enjoyed the first super-sunny, warm day of our trip doing miscellaneous repairs and attaching weatherstripping to the air leaks we found in Santiago after awaking in the WalMart parking lot in Twin Falls, ID.  It was almost glorious!  We were able to open some windows to release some of the stale air.  It is probably stinky air after 2 days of no showers :)  Who are we to say?

My mom reminded me of a town in Idaho that carries the name of her father's family ... Filer.  Well - lucky for us it was only 6 miles outside of town.  We went in search of Filers in Filer (pop 1,620), but sadly none were listed in the phone book and noone in town knew of any.  Oh well.  At least we got some pictures of stuff that tout the Filer name :) looked SO cool to see Filer Police cars and Filer High School!

Time to head to Boise via Interstate 84, we are only using the interstates if weather, time or money ask us to.  SQUEAL!  SQUEAL!  SQUEEEEEEEEEEALLLLLLLL!  Snap.  No more squeal.  Our alternator belt snapped off as we accellerated onto I-84.  What now?  Was it really the belt?  Maybe it was a rock.  It was nice to not have the squeal anymore (I must admit).  "Just get us to Boise, Santiago"!

Santiago didn't get us there, but dropped us off in Wendell, ID just 30 miles outside of Twin Falls right between an auto parts store and a mechanic.  Oh ... and just so happened to be across the street from Java Go ... the town's only coffeehouse (and salon - great idea).  Cindy @ CarQuest was able to find the right belt (we tried 3) and Raphael @ Gonzoles' Auto Repair put it (them) on.  Whew.  We were on the road again by 11:30 toward Bliss.  Yes ... Bliss is a town in Magic Valley, ID.  Magical people, indeed, and a perfect place to be stranded.

SPECIAL thanks to Pompy (my stepdad) ... he foot the bill for the repairs!  THANK YOU!!!!!!  We would have been sweeping the highway for days to earn the money for that.  Now we can be in Eugene with Jakie for Thanksgiving :)

Right now we are in the RedLetter Book Store & Cafe in Boise getting caught up.  Look for photos soon :)

Wind & Sunshine, Lisa