A final salute to a fallen soldier

After not having driven my Ranger much after buying the Passat back in May, Noah and I decided to take it out to Post Canyon so we didn't have to take separate vehicles. Oops.I let him borrow my short-travel bike so we didn't have to worry about fixing his brake caliper first. $68 in the tank later and we head out to Post Canyon. Very first run Noah ends up bending the front brake rotor on my short-travel bike on the big U-turn skinny in Family Man (3rd time for that bike on that skinny, regardless of rider). I drop $45 at Discover Bikes in town for a new rotor and we head back to Family Man. I get in two more runs through Drop Out and Middle School and call it a day (Noah wasn't feeling on his game after bending the rotor and wasn't comfortable not riding his own bike).

The icing on the cake? Eight miles past Cascade Locks, the engine on my Ranger dies (guessing the fuel pump because it cranks fine, just won't turn over, and we more or less just started coasting from 70 MPH down I-84). $233 tow bill later and I'm home. I just spent a sizable amount in Whistler last week, so all the financial outgo yesterday is going to really hurt until next payday.

I'm sure the repair on the truck is probably just a small part that needs to be replaced, but considering I'd have to get it towed someplace to have it worked on, and that I'd have to spend yet more money on this truck, I've decided that after 14 solid years, 3 transmissions, 236,000 miles, and several thousand dollars in repairs over the years, I'm going to say thank you for all of the years of service and offer my final salute to a fallen soldier.

Green Ranger, I salute you!


The Ranger last summer at Mike Estes' place in Hood River after a ride - Noah to the right