Let's begin my ride-
It was going to be nice; me and Martin on a few hour stroll in Michaux. It started off well enough, but less than 10 minutes in, I cut my tire. This sours any day, but it can usually be overlooked. The ride was fun, that is, until it started to rain and the temperature dropped to around 40. We continued along for a few hours, until my tube pinched, resulting in flat number 2. Here I borrowed Martin's spare 29er tube and stuffed it into my tiny 26 inch wheels. I also used the rest of his air. We decided we were cold and had ridden long enough so we made our way back. 2 miles from the cars, Martin flatted, and with nothing left to fix it, he had to ride a flat back. All the while we were freezing and the temperature was dropping and the fog was getting thicker.
After the ride (this is where it gets good):
My ignition was stuck and I could not turn the key in my car. This happened before, but usually after jiggling the key of my lovely Focus I could get it to unstick and eventually start. I eventually got the ignition core replaced, but it was back to haunt me. After about 20 min of trying to wiggle it, I gave up and got a ride back to the apt. (I got back, and we had no hot water for my shower). I looked online and they said you can fix it by hitting the key with a hammer to loosen the tumblers inside. Apparently this happens in 9/10 Ford Focuses. I went up for the 20 minute drive with my roommate who was in the beginning stages of writing a 10 pg paper for the next day and set about hitting my key. Well I hit it hard enough that the plastic began to break on the key, and I still could not get it to turn after half an hour. I felt bad for taking all my roommate's time so we went back.
Once back I was inspecting my key and noticed a small chip inside of it. I had never heard of a computer chip inside a key so I tried to take it out. It broke. Thinking nothing of it, I did the 20 minute drive back up again -alone this time- and tried another go. It was late, cold, still raining, and extremely foggy. I hit the bejebas out of my key for another half an hour and finally got it to turn. Upon turning it, the car would not start. I attempted a compression start, but I was all alone, and could not get enough speed in the flat parking lot. I did end up pushing my car against the woods and into a large mud bog, though.
Out of options, I came back. I read some things online, and apparently there are computer chips in keys that need to be programmmed for you car. Well I broke that...
Today I called AAA. They sent a nice man with few teeth to come get my car. I got a ride from the roommate once again, and everything actually went smoothly. (I should take this time to mention how great AAA is since they covered a whole 3 miles of my towing fee).
So now my car is back in the parking lot, no one is aorund in Shippensburg since it is Thanksgiving break, and I am waiting for my dad to make the 2 hour drive to bring my spare key that we might be able to hit hard enough (not too hard) to make work. IF we get it work, I can drive home and get a new ignition again for a couple hundred bucks.
With Thanksgiving 2 days away, I am feeling very thankful.
As soon as I got out of lab today I hightailed it to the trails. I took the green route, which meant I rode to the trails. Riding to the trails is always better as it is not as easy to forget things, it saves your car and gas, plus packing things up is just a pain. It was a good ride, mostly in the dark...and at Michaux it is extra scary. For some reason I was not scared...
