Nothing goes quite to plan. Eddie, the big chestnut horse who was here this summer, has headed off to Ashton, near Ottawa, so his person Elli can ride him in between her studies at Ottawa University.
The plan was so simple... we'd ship him up to Oakhurst Farm for her. After all, we know the way, the roads are great through the Park, the scenery is nice, and we've got great friends at Oakhurst we can visit while we're there.
The truck and trailer were just (that morning) back from being checked out and getting their Safety check. All was well. Squeegee the pony came with us to keep Eddie company. Squeege is a seasoned and mellow traveller. Eddie bites his nails and frets if he's on his own...
Barb came with me, so there would be a second person in the event of the unforeseen.
Which occured at Barry's Bay. We pulled over to refuel (the most fun feature of the truck is that you can simply watch the gas gauge drop... seriously. It never passes a gas station if it can avoid it.) All was hunky. Even dory. Until we tried to leave.
This was the chapter where we learned the starter had packed it in, and the truck would NOT move. Three cheers for Jim and Matt, who showed up almost immediately from Bay Auto, and then spent several hours lying on their backs in the pouring rain under the truck, in the bay of the gas station, while Eddie nibbled hay and nuzzled up to Squeegee, Barb went exploring Barry's Bay to find us a lunch, and I more or less sat and fumed.
With the unexpected hesitation, the trip took a lot longer than we'd hoped... but at last the mission was accomplished, Eddie was settled in his new "digs", and Squeegee was headed home again. Mr. Murphy seemed content that we had tested and proved his First Law, and the trip back was uneventful. And Elli was overjoyed that her horse was now within reach!
We're expecting both of them back here again in the spring, when classes finish. And we're expecting the truck to Start when the key is turned!
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