Travelogue Chapter Ten

Tuesday, June 4th 7:44 p.m.

Not a whole lot of new stuff to report. The rear tyre on the bike didn't last as long as I thought it would. I went out after sending Chapter Nine and it was flat. Apparently I wore it down to the point where the plug (that was put in when it was one week old) could no longer hold back the air. I really have to wonder what it was that compelled me to return to San Diego on Saturday afternoon. I *really* wanted to stay in the hills until Sunday. I was *really* looking forward to camping in my secluded campsite again. I *really* wanted to do some more fishing on Sunday. Yet, for some reason, I didn't. I just kept going... I even kinda asked myself why the hell I was going back so early... I guess I knew.

I was pleased to find a motorcycle shop close by. National City Motorcycle is in the "City of National City" according to the title in relief above City Hall. Relatively just around the corner from the base. Still a little too far to walk carrying a motorcycle tyre so I begged a ride from a guy who I knew in Guam. He was willing because I think he's plain bored out of his mind. I called up the shop and the guy on the phone said, "Come on by anytime. We close at 7 p.m. so as long as you get here a few minutes before 7 p.m. we'll get it done for you." For those of ya'll still on Guam, that's called "Customer Service". I must say I am impressed. Add that to the fact that they are open 6 days a week (not closed on Monday's) for 12 hours a day and I think I've found a nice place to do motorcycle things. They've got a bunch of old bikes inside the shop. There's a very old motorized bicycle. I think it said "Vega" or possibly "Vespa" on the nameplate. (Has Vespa been around that long?)... an old "Lay on your belly and go like hell" bike... A Honda with a manufacture date of "11/71" that looks as new as the day it came off the line and several other nice bikes to look at while a tyre is being changed. Now that Baby has a new shoe I think I'll leave a little earlier this weekend and try for King's Canyon...

This school isn't like any other that I've ever had. It is different in that I already have all the information. I am here only to learn the "secrets" of how to impart that knowledge on others... One of the more difficult projects we do is "Multilevel Repair". We take a multilevel circuit card and borrow down to the third level, repair a circuit run, build it back up with epoxy (no bubbles allowed, not even micro-bubbles) and repair another circuit run on the second level, build it up even more with epoxy then resurface it.. all of this is done in an area on the circuit card that is comfortably covered with a dime. Some of these cards have 8 or 9 layers but are only 1/16" thick. It certainly makes it difficult to continue to drink my coffee as heavily as I do. A 40x microscope turns my slight caffeine tremor into an 8.4 earthquake. Anyone who's seen the movie "Blazing Saddles" will remember the scene in the Sheriff's office where the Fast Gun says "Yah... But this is the hand I shoot with..." That scene plays in my mind several times a day... Considering how much more difficult this would be with a hook rather than a hand, I guess I'm doing fine...

Welp... It's getting on about 9 p.m. (no, it didn't really take me over an hour to write this, I been in and out) and I am getting hungry... I sure wish the Galley and my Stomach would get in synch... After all, I'm paying $250 a month for the privilege of eating there (whether I actually do or not) I just wish I could do it more often. The food isn't the worst Navy Chow I've ever eaten. It isn't the best, either. That would have to be the Galley at Sub Base in Pearl Harbor in the early 90's... THAT was some food. The thing that torque's me off the most about the galley was their decision back in 1992 to stop providing Whole Milk. "Too fattening and unhealthy!" is their reason... Know what I had for lunch Sunday? Fried scrambled eggs with ham and lots of cheese, deep fried hash brown patty, oatmeal with butter in it, bacon, and a salad with gobs of 1000 Island dressing. Good thing I wasn't able to find anything but 1% LowFat Milk at the beverage bar. That could have been an unhealthy meal... Lunch today was BBQ Pork Spareribs, Mac & Cheese, peas with butter, and the requisite salad with cheese, olives, croutons, chinese noodles and, of course, gobs of 1000 Island dressing... I can just feel the pounds melting off not drinking that terrible Whole Milk...
I guess I'm done ranting now... Time to go to the bowling alley and see what they got on the grill tonight...

On to next chapter

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