Monday 4 May, 10am, Logan, UT -- Brett schedules 2pm appointment at Salt Lake City Volvo dealership.
noon, Logan, UT -- Dusty & Lisa's preacher, previous auto mechanic, agrees to look at Brett's Volvo. Brett thinking, "It's not that bad. I'll just spend a little more on gas." Doesn't want to pay for repairs. Needs a second opinion. Second opinion is unpleasant: "Take her in, she needs repairs," says preacher. Just before leaving for Salt Lake City, Dusty calls, then Lisa. They want to come down to the city too, wait around with Brett while the car's getting repaired. They follow him in their car.
2:10pm, Salt Lake City, UT -- Brett is late to his repair appointment. One block from the dealership he is rear-ended by a frazzed 18-year-old who is late for some appointment of his own. 18-year-old says, "Oh man, why didn't you accelerate at that green light!? Oh man!" Brett did accelerate. His car was heavy and has tuberculosis. Luckily Brett took bicycles & hitch rack off of his car before he headed South. No damage beyond a few scratches and the mental strain of talking to an 18-year-old.
2:20pm, Salt Lake City, UT -- Car is checked in for repairs. Dusty & Lisa pick Brett up to go find lunch. Eat at Nepali Super Buffet. Brett makes a glutton of himself. Dusty & Lisa pay.
3pm, Salt Lake City, UT -- Call from dealership. Repairs will cost a pretty penny, replace most of the ignition line. Spark plugs, distributor cap, sundry wires.
4pm, Salt Lake City, UT -- Brett and Dusty & Lisa walk around downtown. Explore Mormon Tabernacle. Feels like a foreign cathedral. Brett begins to feel sick. Not about the tabernacle. About the Super Buffet. Waits to see if Dusty & Lisa feel the same. They do not. They are cheerful.
4:30pm, Salt Lake City, UT -- Call from dealership. "Repairs are done. Come pay your pretty penny." Brett and Dusty & Lisa walk back to their car. Brett is nauseous beyond the point of self-delusion. Now is looking for a quiet corner of the city to launch his lunch. Port-A-Jon behind a fence. Opened manhole cover. Flower bed. Tabernacle wading pool. They arrive at their car. Brett bends over concrete tree enclosure. Says, "Oh man." Female pedestrian rapidly turns back the way she came. Brett heaves up Nepali Super Buffet. Dusty stands by. Says, "Oh man." Lisa gets a glass of water and a Pepto Bismol.
6:30pm, Logan, UT -- Dusty and Brett ride bikes around Logan. Dusty points Brett in direction of marsh and farmlands. Brett makes pleasant loop past lowing cattle, through plowed fields, beneath snow-topped ranges. Lisa prepares pleasant simple dinner. Brett leaves kayak and packet of resupplies for when he passes through Logan on bike tour. Sleeps like baby.
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