An epic journey, riddled with peril, has been completed succesfully. The quarry is in now safe in the back 40. The toyota exhibited the final signs of a weak clutch, namely, a bit of slippage under heavy acceleration in 3rd gear, and reprpduceable in 4th gear, making me doubt it's suitability for the task. Luckily I was able to borrow for a day a Jeep Cherokee Laredo 1998 or so with 66k, automatic, straight 6, receiver hitch that was able to do the job. "Your going to pull that boat with that Jeep? Let me know if it works so I can buy one" The trailer had no lights, which were purchased at hoopers and wired by my companion Mr. Smith, and mounted haphazarfly, for great delay. Unfortunately it was discovered that the tow vehicle did not provide electricity for the lights. Proably just a new harness, but it was not my vehicle to tear apart. Straps were required to keep the trailor and the boat attached, as well as a grease gun for the bearings of the trailer. Both were obtained at a local menards. After arriving at hoopers at about noon, by 3:30 only the scary part remained. The Scary Part: We left Hoopers, went right onto westbound 94, north on 694, then north on 35e to the standard route. 50mph seemed to be the top speed, 55 and a once or twice 60 was obtained on the downhills, but as the speed increased beyond 50, stability decreased. dramatically. The transmission liked to go into overdive dropping the rpm's to as low as 1000 on the down hills, giving no engine braking. Most of the time I lumbered along at 2500. On 35 the rear strap gave way (we had one forward and aft) and We pulled over and quickly rectified the situation. Of course metrolanders zipped hither and yon all about my precarious rig, especially saturns, whom seemed th think that their slopping nose would fit beneath my rudder. I did my best to ignore them. It seemed a majority of time was spent looking in the mirrors, as it behooved me to adjust lane position for passing semi's and to watch for trouble with the trailor . The condition of the tires, being weather checked severely, was of particular concern. Bridges caused unease, as the height clearence seemed to be a little over 13' For this reason, fearing the dreaded low railroad bridge south of eveleth, I took 37. Overhead wires in the alley were cleared with all to slim of a margin, the least of which was backing into the yard, where the clearence seemed to be less than a foot. Possibly in the future the mast should be secured beneath the boat. It seemed to have been fated that I should have  giant boat in my backyard.


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