As I was checking out (I hate that expression when used about me
because I personally am not ready to “check out”) of the hotel this
morning I saw that they had available, for the guests to use a rummikub
set since I really love that game I took it as a positive sign. For part
of the day that was not to be.
I headed to Bryce Canyon which I feel is incredibly beautiful and as I said when I first visited it 5 years ago. “Only God could have created such a beautiful place and that’s coming from an atheist.” It still continues to captivate me when I look at it. The video is from Fairyland Point. Forgive me for the times my finger partially obscures the view but please have sound turned on when you watch it.
From Bryce I headed to Zion National Park. 5 years ago I wasn’t impressed but driving through Zion today I couldn’t imagine what was wrong with my senses not to have appreciated it back then.
As I left Zion the day turned around 180 degrees.
My check engine light went on and the nearest
BMW dealers were either back in SLC or ahead in Vegas. I figured I
needed a dealer because if a part was needed I didn’t have the time for
a regular mechanic to get the part sent to him.
So I called the BMW dealer in Vegas and set up
an appointment with them for Wednesday morning.
Despite the light being on the car was
performing normally and gas mileage was also good. I called my son Neil
and told him what was going on.
He then went online and found there was a place
that only services BMWs only 20 minutes from the hotel I was heading to…
Bavarian Werkstatte (BW).
I then called cousins Ed & Deb to tell them what
was going on and that I’d probably be late for our dinner plans.
Ed said he’d call BW and see if he could get
them to see me.
He worked his magic and even though they were
fully booked they said they'd squeeze me in to do a diagnosis and make
sure there was nothing seriously wrong with the car.
And then the second whammy... while he and I
were talking one of my tires went flat.
Now there were two problems and I certainly had
to have the tire taken care of so putting off or ignoring the engine
light problem was off the table because I couldn’t drive with a flat to
Vegas.
I slowly drove 17 miles with my run flat tires to BW. With only a few
hours until they closed and literally a full load in their meticulous
shop they were able to get a tire for me and diagnosed the check engine
light problem as nothing serious and I could wait until I got home to
have it taken care of… it was the fuel tank vent valve.
Don't ask me what that is other than what I was told (it's there to
protect the environment). So what had the
potential for screwing up dinner plans for tonight and might have
impacted my plans for tomorrow in Vegas (seeing The Wizard of Oz at The
Sphere) were averted. Cousin Ed drove back and forth from his home to BW
4 times about 30 minutes each way and was responsible for getting them
to see me.
Neil was responsible for finding this place.
They are the heroes of today's drive.
Dinner plans with Ed & Deb were salvaged and Ed did another hour of
driving to go to the restaurant which was very good.
As I looked at the picture of me and Ed I get
the impression that tomorrow at The Wizard of Oz I might be mistaken for
one of the Munchkins.
