your trip won't end until you acturally arrive back at home!!

so shinya had given it his best shot on the salt flats and got his personal record of 109 mph, we decided to head back. we were exhausted...

instead of return back from bonneville by way of salt lake city to stop by at k's place, we just took highway 93 to vegas. (sorry k, we'll be back soon!) after a 9-hour drive, we got in vegas and made a pit stop at the huge truck stop.

just then, it happened...a tremendous aomount of green liquid was erupted from the bottom of the van...didn't look like a hose anymore. shinya found out that it was the radiator, we collapsed in relief. what if it stops on the country lane 93? we had to stay over night in the darkness with rabbits and deers for sure but this is vegas, baby!!

yes, it was the radiator!
it was old. that's all well and good.
thank our van to hold out til vegas!!

it was already late so we decided to stay overnight. our plan was to AAA the van to auto parts store in the morning, get a new or better radiator, and shinya will replace it himself. he got all the tools. not a big deal, shinya said.

tow-guy somehow didn't wanna take us to the parts store but drop us and the van at the repair shop, ment no harm because the outside was hot, the vegas hot! the pro took 6 hours for 2-hour job and we could not go a single step out from the f-king-cold-white-squere-waiting-lounge because the outside was stinking hot and all we could see from there were an adult mega store and a seven-eleven. aarrgghh

ok, at least we got a brand new copper radiator. let's go home...

no, no, it won't be...but looks like the van
is not moving with its hood up again
on 15 freeway a way before baker...

de ja vu?

why not use it? we've got 100 miles AAA free ride,
moving forward to barstow with no hands!!

our destinaiton? autozone in barstow.
DIY rules!!

how could we get overheat with the brand new radiator? it was working properly. shinya had already figured it out. the pro used the old cap for the new radiator!! that's all. what we've learned? there are no pros, do it yourself!

we got a new cap.
of course, shinya had to repair
the heater hose again...
another de ja vu moment.

as it happenes, this autozone was located on route 66 that means it will lead to our workshop. the workshop is, too, on route 66 /foothill blvd. so...we took route 66 instead of interstate 15!! much more fun and mellow. had a great time!

はい、恒例のお家に帰るまでが遠足～
ボンネビルからベガスまで何もない真っ暗な田舎道をひたすら9時間走ってベガスについた途端に、バンのラジエターが死んだ。ガスステでよかった・・・とんでもない量のクーラントぶちまけてしまったの。夜遅かったから朝まで待ってパーツ屋までバンをトーイングしてラジエター買って自分で直すという木村さんって男らしいじゃない。翌朝、朝からとてつもなく暑いベガスの熱風にやや気持ちがしぼむ木村さんは、呼んだトーイングトラックの運ちゃんに散々こんな暑いのに炎天下で自分で直すより修理屋に直行したほうが早いとそそのかされて、即座に予定変更、いきなり乙女じゃない。2時間で終わると言うプロの修理工は平気で6時間かけた挙句に終わる前にルンチタイムとってんの、ざけんなよ、こっちは腹ペコだけど周りにあるのはアダルト・メガストアとセブンイレブンいい気分だぜ。でやっとラジエターの交換が終わって帰るわけだけど、心なしか水温計が高め。でもここは砂漠のベガスだもの、そんなもんよね。高速乗って第一関門の登りで匂ってきたものね、あの甘い香り。その後は水温計の針がスピードメーター並のアゲアゲアップ。でもね、工事中でね、路肩が見当たらないの、1列しかないのよ、この登りは！止まる訳にはいかずに何とか路肩が見えた頃には水温計の針は一周回って振り切り100を差していたっつーの。原因？新品ラジエターにスカスカの古いキャップ閉めちゃったのね。圧が掛かる訳ないじゃないね。もう一回トーイング呼んで次の次の町のパーツ屋に行って下ろしてもらった。新しいキャップゲットしてまたまた破れたヒーターホースを修理する木村さん。行きも帰りもヒーターホース。帰りは偶然見つけたルート66途中下車の旅でゆっくりと帰ってきたのです、無事に。