Sometimes you think your world is chaotic. Then, within that chaos, you find more chaos…like a subchaotic structure that is there only to remind you that chaos is not something you can adapt to. It’s something that represents constant change and constant challenge.
So now that I’ve gained confidence that I can take my 49 year old firetruck anywhere and adapt to its quirkiness (like not having a working generator), I decided to take the rig out to the firehall to show it off to those whose POVs are not BRTs (if you don’t know, ask a volunteer firefighter). Things go great…all the newbies are ga-ga over a rig with a manual transmission, no A/C or FM radio and with a siren that assaults your ears. Then, as the evening wears thin and the firehouse goes dim, I climb in my antique apparatus and start her up.
One of the nice things about shiny new trucks is that they start when you turn the key. Not always so with heavy vehicles pushing 50. Mine didn’t start, and would not despite herculean efforts. The Chief gave me a ride home when, thankfully, all the newbies who thought I was so lucky to have my own antique apparatus, were safely tucked into their beds.
The next day found me at the firehall starting up the BRT quite easily after a night on the charger. After several dozens of minutes on the road, heading home, I hesitated climbing a steep hill and suddenly found myself with a rather limp clutch pedal and the annoying inability to change gears. In fact, I had no ability to do much else, other than coast to a stop. On a steep hill. After a brief period of WTFing, I realized that my transmission was doing something bad. I tried to reposition it downhill to avoid screwing up traffic but, as chaotic forces were at work, I eventually ended up in the middle of the road. Imagine a big, old firetruck straddling the centre line on a busy mountain road… Needless to say, I spent the next hour on traffic duty as I directed cars, trucks and buses around the apparatus with one in four drivers stopping to ask what the emergency was. Those who offered to help were screened for their skills at fixing heavy truck transmissions.
Eventually the Peterbilt tow truck arrived and, after some harrowing moments trying to direct traffic around the tow truck and BRT, I was safely ensconced in the cab of the tow vehicle wondering if a penchant for country music was a requirement for those who drive vehicles with more than 4 wheels.