JULES IS BACK, STARTING UP EVERY TIME

Was there ever a more convenient auto breakdown?  Jules is back and, thanks to Classic Auto Works, now starts every time. 

We got a call late Tuesday afternoon that Curt had pinpointed the source of our problems: a defunct starter.  If we wanted to give him the green light, he could order it before 5 pm and install it by mid-morning the next day.  We said “do it”!

Sandy called around 10:30 am on Wednesday; the work was complete, so we walked the mile to Classic Auto Works.  The work was completed in less than a day (THANK YOU, Curt, for fitting us in); the bill was very reasonable (only 1 hour charged for labor); and the starter has a lifetime warranty.  It couldn’t have been easier, and we were barely inconvenienced. 

After we picked up Jules, we did a little sightseeing drive combined with a pleasant walk in Avila, a very small town a few miles north of Oceano.  I had read a bit about the Bob Jones Bike Trail in Avila, and knew it would appeal to Odel as it winds along a golf course.  Our weather continues to be wonderful (particularly when compared with much of the country), and we wandered the trail without jackets, watching golfers attempt to best what looked like a difficult course.  The scenery was purely “old” southern California: rolling hills covered with huge oaks and giant, scented eucalyptus.  Birds flitted in the brush and trees; waterfowl floated the stream that challenged the golfers. 

Heading home, we made one more stop – the small farmer’s market near the Pismo Beach pier.  Though there were scarcely a dozen booths, we came away fully laden: fresh eggs; guacamole and ceviche; cream cheese/garlic spread and cream cheese/chipotle spread (which I melted onto our spaghetti squash at dinnertime); fresh fennel, carrots, a small head of bright white cauliflower, a bag of freshly picked mixed salad greens and a ripe persimmon (to go in the salad).   All snapping fresh, beautiful bright colors…hurray for locally grown!

Whenever we have repairs made, we try to stay in the area for at least 24 hours.  Since we aren’t on a schedule, we decided to extend our stay here at the Oceano Elks Lodge (click here to read our review) for another day.  As soon as the sun warms things up – which will be late morning, as it was 28 degrees here last night – we’re heading off for a day at Morro Bay.  It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the big rock!