Uh Oh. Part Deux

The sunrise as we left Colorado

Written by Karen

While we were staying outside of Denver, we noticed our temperature gauge on our VW Vanagon was getting a little squirrelly. So, knowing that we couldn't be really overheating a mere two minutes after turning the ignition key, we took Chinook in for a little mechanical TLC.

After a full day of intense pampering and mechanical tweaking at the VW day spa, we were told that Chinook was in fine shape to take on the vast grasslands of Wyoming.

Full of good cheer and endless optimism, we left Denver with many happy memories of good times spent with friends and family while we were in Colorado and headed north.

We left the cities and towns of Colorado and entered the lush green rolling hills of Wyoming.  Spring comes quickly here - slipping in through the wooden back door - and leaving just as quickly. It wouldn't be long before the vivid spring greens that surrounded us with color and fresh smells would turn dry and brown.

We commented to each other that it was fortunate that Chinook was in good mechanical shape - all rested and relaxed from the mechanical ministrations from his day long spa day - because ranches (and people) were few and far between out here.  And in this heat....

And, then I - because I was driving at the moment - looked down and gasped in disbelief.  Our temperature gauge/red overheat light was blinking at the very top of the range.  At the same time, Adam noted that he could smell coolant.  Not good.  Whatever was fixed in Denver was fixed no more.

We slowed down our speed a bit to try and take some of the heat off of Chinook's engine as Adam read the map for the closest town.  We limped into Lusk, Wyoming and promptly overheated.  When Chinook overheats, he does so in spectacular fashion: tall eruptions of coolant steam filters upward out of the back side vents and a pool of coolant dribbles out of the back.  And then Chinook, like a recalcitrant toddler, absolutely refuses to move any farther.

Lusk, Wyoming is the least populated county in the least populated state. It is also small enough to walk through and it is small enough where everyone knows everyone and everything that goes on.  It didn't take too long for people to notice that Chinook had decided to stay put for a few days in Lusk.