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.
