The Truck’s Mission Out West

You can grab my book here. None of these free stories appear in the book.

Yes, it’s taken a loop of trips to AutoZone, Walmart, Tire Warehouse and Home Depot with a stop at Rawlings (for variety), but the truck has new tires and new shocks.

It took two trips to buy a special tool to disconnect the fuel lines from the old fuel tank.

The first tool snapped in half upon use. Bought the more expensive one the second time.

It took hours of wrestling with wrenches and cutting fingers on metal edges but the hole-pocked old tank is out and the new, gleaming one is in place.

The truck is almost ready to make the 2,000 mile drive out west.

THE MISSION

The mission: Get this work truck to 40 acres of land I own out west with a friend.

We’re building a lodge out there.

This F150 has to bring supplies from town to the land.

After this trek, it will only have to make short supply runs.

Asking this truck to make this cross country journey is like saying to a pro fighter: do one last championship fight then you can open a gym, put out an online course, and dink around with some exhibition matches.

I still don’t have a spare tire. Maybe I should figure that out before I leave.

Tonight, I’m testing my tent and sleeping bag in what will be a 48 degree weather.

The tent is a simple two-man deal from Walmart.

The bag is rated for 30-40 degrees and I snagged an insert to bring it 20 degrees lower.

Should be cozy.

Still, I’d rather discover you shouldn’t bargain hunt for outdoor sleeping gear sooner than later.

After all, this polyester stretched over aluminum will be my lodging for a full week or more.

Back on foam pad and sleeping bag in between me and the nearly frozen ground, I go over the to-do list for the upcoming trip.

1. Find a spare tire

2. Pick up propane & camping food

3. Pick up landscaping tools and big measuring tapes

4. Have a pro mechanic give the truck a final check over

Bunch of other things I can’t think of at the moment.

I’ll find out when they become problems.

Solve them then.

Good night from out here in the backyard.

To be continued