Back in Lake Oswego--Adventure #2


The final rental at the end of May, a four wheeled (decided to go with stability) model.  Even with a small battery, I could handle the neighborhood hills (Earl followed me in the car since the machine was new and unfamiliar; did I mention he had fractured his leg and was on crutches?) and didn’t appear to lose a charge.  I could even meet my friend Barbara for coffee at Starbucks and not lose much battery power.  So Barbara went for her workout and I headed home.

Going home, I discovered a full charge means on flat surfaces.  There were 3 hills going home. I made it up the first hill slowly but on battery.  By the second hill, I was officially out of battery power.  I’m desperately scooting with my legs to beat the band, to no avail (surprised?).  I have to call Earl to come get me--did I mention he had fractured his leg and was on crutches?  “I’ll be right there with the van,” he says.  But when he went out, the van battery was dead as well.  Fortunately, the Prius was fine and soon I could see the rescue chariot come over the hill.
Heading down our driveway
“Earl, if you could just nudge me to the top of the hill with the Prius, I’d be home free!” I said helpfully.  I don’t understand, but he refused, muttering something about safety, parked the Prius and pushed me to the top of the hill--twice (actually, he was only on one crutch, but has a strong upper body), without even saying what he must have been thinking.  I vowed to have a healthy respect for the hilly terrain of Lake Oswego and never to take battery power for granted again!

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