Day: October 31, 2012

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Solar Array Monitor Wonkiness

Croft’s troubles with his RV fridge has reminded me that I forgot to share a rather amusing anecdote about my solar array monitor.

I tend to check all my monitors and sensors two or three days a day, more when I’m boondocking, less when I’m on shore power. Last week, I paused to make lunch, checked my monitors, and everything looked good except that my solar array monitor was flashing 6 volts and change.

My first reaction was confusion. Then, I realised that 6 volts and change is half of 13 volts and change. So my monitor was only registering one of my batteries.

Everything in the battery bank looked fine, but I was able to give the new bolt a couple more turns with a wrench. It’s so hard to get in there that I must have told myself, “Good enough” when I made the modification when I needed to put in just a bit more effort.

Hopefully, this will be the last tweak, but it’s gratifying to know that, so far, I haven’t had any major corrections to make to my new system. I look forward to testing the inverter, which I will do on the journey from here back to Hampton Roads. If I have any concerns, I’ll have several weeks there to effect corrections.

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I Am Now REALLY French

I have a decidedly more adventurous palate now than I did when I was younger. I credit sushi for a lot of that since the stuff that comes out of the sea can be very strange indeed.

There is one dish that I have always avoided as it truly repulses me. Every time I see a picture of it, my gag reflex starts. And every time, I think that I gobble down eel. My logic is definitely lacking!

Tonight, my mother made this dish as an entrée (which is an appetizer for my American readers). I decided that it was time. I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at the item in question, took a piece, and chewed slowly.

The picture of this dish sucks as I only had my phone, but, truly, it didn’t look appetizing at all:

What are you looking at? An escargot in garlic and chive butter sauce. Yes, a snail.

I had two more. They were very tender and the flavour was very delicate and mostly over powered by the sauce. In other words, with my eyes closed, they were completely forgettable. At least, I now know that I can be served escargots and they will go down my gullet smoothly, but I would not seek them out. I know my dad used to love them, surprisingly enough for a meat and potatoes man, but now I understand that it was probably the garlic butter he loved.

Next up on my ‘I can’t believe I haven’t tried this yet’ is black caviar. No concern on that end, I know I will love it. I’ve got to make a point to find out what a good affordable brand is and where to buy some.

Now, I am off to try my squid ink pasta!

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Truck Mystery Noise Diagnosis!

I took the truck out after a big rainfall this afternoon and, just like after taking the truck out during rainfalls twice, The Noise came back.

I immediately drove to the garage, left the truck running, and went in to ask if a mechanic would be available. Sure, in a few minutes. Less than three minutes later, the same guy who worked on the truck previously came out. I told him the sound is very loud inside but you can barely hear it outside.

He got in the truck and then asked me to come in to confirm that we were hearing the same thing. I said yes. He burst out laughing.

He asked, “What’s the first thing you do when it’s raining and you get in the truck?”

I replied, “I turn on my blower to defog the windows.”

He nodded, turned off the blower, and the noise stopped. “You have leaves in your blower. Your manual will tell you how to get to it to clean it out. You don’t want to pay me $100 to do that.”

LEAVES. I have been stressed out because of LEAVES.

He added, “The guy in Gatineau with the worst case scenario is a jerk. You have a gorgeous truck with low mileage that has obviously been babied and which is going to give you years of trouble free use. One alarmist, and you don’t trust a truck that got you across the continent without any trouble. Relax and enjoy it!”

And so I shall endeavour to do!