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Sometimes
Luck is with You
Travelling around BC is not without an unplanned adventure every
once in awhile. Unfortunately sometimes pre-trip maintenance is
just not good enough when the event happens. Then, by chance, it
seems that someone or some power is looking out for you when an
unplanned change in your schedule happens.
Fort
Fraser
Not enough can be said about the generosity and support from the
people of Fort
Fraser. This small village is located just west of Vanderhoof
and east of Fraser
Lake along Hwy 16 - the Yellowhead. These people can really
come through for you when you're in a jam.
Rising
Heat Gauge
Imagine you're driving along the highway and you notice the heat
gauge on the motor suddenly rises. You pull over to check the oil,
look for visual clues, then head off. All of a sudden the gauge
increases more and the fan belt makes squeaky grinding noises.
Leaking
Coolant
Next thing you notice a gas station and pull in. You get out of
your car, open the hood and notice coolant spewing out the lower
radiator area. Have you experienced this?
Canadian
Tire or Wal-Mart
It's not so bad if you're travelling next to a large centre with
a Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart handy with tow trucks readily available.
But in Fort
Fraser, a quick blink and you're through the community of not
more than a gas station, a pub, a motel, and a church.
Good
Friday
Not only that, the day happens to be Good Friday with absolutely
no parts store open for possibly the whole weekend with the closest
store being in Vanderhoof.
The time is 1 p.m. and the plan of driving to North
Vancouver is slowly looking like it's going to be off for a
few days until the stores open the next week.
No
Mechanics Available
Now stranded in the now-typical gas station with no mechanics available,
what do you do? All of sudden one friendly local comes by and troubleshoots
the problem, "Ya that's the water pump." Then he tries
as he scratches his head to figure out where in town to get one.
"Too bad everyone's away". He feels bad that he can't
take one off his buddy's car. "He's away - I should ask."
"Do
You Need Help?"
Then a cashier, now cognizant of our problem asks, "Do you
need help?" "My husband's a mechanic, perhaps he can help
you."
Endako
to Fort Fraser
She phones him on the store's phone. After a quick conversation
it becomes apparent that he knows a place where you can find the
part. It turns out his friend Bill may have your part. After using
the store's phone, Bill thinks he might have a used water pump.
James, the mechanic, phones back to Bill and picks up the part in
Endako,
then drives 30 minutes to Fort
Fraser to fix your problem.
Petro-Canada
James efficiently does the job while chatting with the local Petro-Canada
owner and a few of the friendly locals. Then he says the part is
$60 and that will be an hour for his labour. Not only did James
do the job, but he also had to drive back to his home in Endako
30 minutes away. Man, this is incredible service, especially on
Good Friday!
"This
is Unbelievable"
You put in the water, check the oil then start the vehicle and the
temperature is normal. This is unbelievable; the time is 3 p.m.,
you're back on the road. In two hours you have a major breakdown,
find the problem, find an honest mechanic, meet very friendly people
and get the vehicle to run better than ever.
Thank
you, Fort Fraser
Thank you, Fort
Fraser, from now on a stop at the 24-hour Petro-Canada for gas
and snacks is a sure thing!
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