Gallup I

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 "Shit shit shit shit what the hell happened" I asked myself as I saw belts flying out from under the hood. I was trying to do an Italian Tune Up on the poor Miata coming over the Rockies, 90 miles an hour uphill in 4th, pushing the engine to just below the red. Turns out, I'd put so much audio gear in the alternator couldn't keep up and the belts finally said "fuck it, I'm out". I didn't realize this until years later though, long after this ship had sailed.

The timing belt held. Thank fuck, although the Miata wouldn't be phased by that. But the water pump, the alternator, the other belts, well, they were checked out for the evening. And I still hadn't crested the pass, so I couldn't coast downhill to the desert. "Shit shit shit." The temperature was climbing, the fan was blowing, and nothing was helping. I finally gave in and pulled to the shoulder.

"Goddamn. It's 3 am and I'm short a car on the wrong side of the pass." I called for a tow, the driver showed up, pulled the car onto the bed, and asked where I'd like to go. "Hell, somewhere with a parts shop I guess, but I reckon nothing will be open until morning." He knew just the place, and we drove awhile, then he dropped me off in a hotel parking lot. I checked in, got to my room, and went to sleep for a day or two.

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