Even before we
started out on this expedition, we knew we’d have to schedule at least two, and
maybe even three, oil changes along the way.
Alan has always been a stickler about vehicle maintenance, and both
times the percentage of oil life remaining on the truck dropped to a certain
level, he started pressing me for more details about our schedule. Our first oil change was done in La Grande,
Oregon, while we were there to have work done on the trailer. On an earlier pass through central Alaska, we
had already identified an express lube business in Wasilla as a good
possibility for an oil change; upon our arrival in Palmer on the 22nd,
we were down to 9% oil life remaining. I
believe that’s 1% above the point when we start getting alerts to “Change Oil
Soon.” (How’s that for timing?!) So, one of the most important items on our
list of activities for the Palmer-Wasilla area was an oil change. Once that was accomplished at Wasilla Lube
Express on Swanson Avenue (nicely done, we’d go back), we enjoyed breakfast at
IHOP, and then headed out to a place that has been close to my heart for almost
20 years.