Interesting ride to work this morning

I decided to get into the office early this morning to catch up on some work.   Aiming for a 6am arrival, I was up at 5 and out of the house at 5:30am.

I discovered that I had forgotten to give my ex the turkey pepperoni that Sophie likes to take for lunch, last night when she picked up Sophie.  So I figured I had some extra time to run over there before heading to work.  (her place is 6 miles in the opposite direction from work)

I arrived there about 5:45, scared the bejeezus out of her woke her up when I tipped toed into the house and said a quick hello to a sleepy Sophie.

Jumped onto I-95 north and just as I approached the 27A exit (huge loop and uphill ramp to Rt 8 north), I reach for the stick shift and it literally wobbles in my hand as if it's not connected to anything in the car!  uh oh.    (I'm in the Mini, by the way!)

I fight to remain calm and figure if I keep the momentum up, I'll make it onto Rt 8 and I find that I can accelerate, so it's apparently in 5th gear.

Remaining calm, I do the mental mapquest to determine if it's better for me to head home (and drive in with Linda) or just proceed to work.  Determining I'll never make it home, as there are too many lights and stop signs that I'd never be able to get started in 5th gear and I'd be stuck, I headed to the office.

The only issues were 2 lights - 1 at the end of the ramp of Exit 11 and the light crossing Bridgeport Avenue.

Fortunately, there was very little traffic at 6am. I coasted thru the first intersection without any cars in view. But a slight incline caused the car to almost stall out, as I was not even close to going fast enough for 5th. 

I talked and coaxed and begged the car to just make it the office.

At the 2nd intersection, the road leveled off and there was a car coming from the right, but I proceeded through.  whew!

It was all smooth sailing for the next 2 miles, as I coasted thru stop signs and a few turns and coasted into the parking lot at work.  There was a lovely smell surrounding the car, but no smoke or anything.

I called A*A and within an hour, they were taking my car to the Mini dealer.

I called Mini to warn them and they said it sounds like the clutch, but they'll take a look and let me know later today.  sigh.

It sure was a pretty nice morning up til then.

But I got a lot of work done this morning!

Comments

[Tina-cious.com]

Your cluth already?? Eek!!

[Deborah]

Whew...what an adventure so early in the am. On the upside, still able to get a jump on work.

[Maria]

Do you have any gray hairs yet?