Today did not go as planned – and Vince handled it very well. We were here this morning & then we needed to take dad into Anchorage to pick up a van (it has front end damage) that he got for parts for my van….All this went fine & there was 50/50 chance he could start the van and drive home. The animal hospital had my cell # and was to call me when it was time to pick up Hickory, we knew we had until 5:30/6 to pick him up. We got to the junk yard & got the van – the guy started it & drove it out to dad, no problems! It was just 3:15, we were doing really well on time & very happy about this. I was supposed to stay right behind dad – easier said than done, but I was managing. We got on the highway & weren’t even to the Muldoon exit when I noticed dad was smoking from the left side, but the exhaust was on the right…so I called dad & told him. The heat gauge was fine & he couldn’t smell anything so he decided to keep going — he ended up taking the Arctic Valley exit & pulled over. We hoped we could make it to Eagle River to get some water. …. not so …. Dad took off down a frontage road (? I don’t know we were parallel to the Hwy, but couldn’t see it) & was following but there was a large work truck between us. A couple miles down the road I saw dad pulled over again.

The only usable fluids I had were a gal of windshield washer fluid & the kids’ water bottles. As fast as he poured those in they poured out on ground on the opposite side of the engine. Dad called Zach & he was able to drop what he was doing and bring the truck & trailer in to pick up the van — Zach to the rescue.

As time ticked away it became obvious I was going to be taking Vince by myself to pick up Hickory….we were all nervous & it was a very quiet ride from the Ft. Rich exit to Palmer. But we did it, I didn’t get sick when she was telling us stuff, we got him in the van and drove home all by ourselves. For those who don’t know me – this is huge! We got home, Dad & Zach were here and Jane & the kids were here – so Hickory still got a grand welcome. 🙂

The kids checking out Hickory in his kennel. Vince is in the kennel with Hickory while he checked out all the corners.