Thank you, Jackknife!

S

Spill

Joined
Dec 10, 2001
Messages
35
Hello,

My name is Stan and I have been a member of Bladeforums for a long time but I read a lot more than I post. the reason for this post is to share a story about an adventure I had today and to thank Jackknife for his stories because one of them came in handy. Here is what happened.

My wife, daughter, and I decided to drive to Eagles Mere, PA from Harrisburg, PA to ride the famous Eagles Mere toboggan ice slide. When we were about 7 miles from Eagles Mere we were stopped by a member of the local fire police and told to turn around due to a crash up ahead.

Our GPS kept telling us that the only way to get to Eagles Mere was to go the way that was blocked. So we decided to attempt finding an alternate way to Eagles Mere ourselves. We drove around on some mountain roads surrounded by snow covered fields and pine trees for a while.

Then, on one of these roads, our tires started to spin. The road was shear ice and all our attempts were futile. Then I remembered one of Jackknife's stories about rescuing a woman whose car was stuck with branches. So I got out of the car, took out my Case Sodbuster Jr. which rides in the left back pocket of my jeans along with my wallet, and started cutting evergreen branches that grew by the roadside.

I put them under the front tires and we were able to get traction and get going again. We never found our own way to Eagles Mere, but when we got back to the place where we stopped before the road was clear and we continued to Eagles Mere the way our GPS was telling us to go all along.

My wife was impressed with my ability to solve a problem on the spot. So I told her that it wasn't my idea and that I learned it on the Traditional forum from a guy who goes by Jackknife.

So, thank you for your stories, Jackknife. Keep them coming!
 
Well done sir. I'm really glad that your wife was properly impressed.
 
I've used Jackknifes's stories a few times to make quick, temporary repairs on things.
A hose sprang a leak in my car one time. My car started over heating, and when I popped the hood, I realized the hose had a little hole in it where the coolant was shooting out. I waited a little bit for the water to stop, and then picked up a small twig. I whittled it down to fit snug in the hole, and turned the car on. I could see after a few minutes (the car was still hot) that the liquid was still getting out around the twig, even though it was tight in there. However, a few minutes later, it stopped, not because I had run out of fluid, but because the twig absorbed the liquid, and expanded, filling the whole, and giving me a chance to get to the nearest auto parts store to get a new hose.
Another time, my faucet in the kitchen was leaking. I opened it to see the washer needed replacing, as it no longer kept the water sealed in. I took JK's father's technique of wrapping twine saturated in vaseline around the coils. I put the washer back on, and put the faucet back together. i turned it on, and a few droplets came out, then stopped. The oily Vaseline kept the water out, and allowed me to wait until morning to go out and get me a new washer.
Sometimes, all you need is a temporary fix to get you through the day, and some simple, everyday items to get the job done.
Thanks JK for all the great tips.
 
Wow! Quick thinking. Glad it all worked out. Another strong case for why people should carry knives. Traditional only, that is. :D
 
good story
a knife is still and will always be a "good friend" to have handy
Maxx
 
You're very welcome, Stan.

Glad you didn't get stuck out in the boonies in this cold we've been having! The weather has been the pits so far this winter, more severe than normal for the mid eastern seaboard.

Growing up with a man like my dad, was kind of like growing up with a combination of Sheriff Andy Taylor and Macguyvers father. A kid couldn't have a more patient, and resoursefull mentor to learn from. Dad always seemed to have, or be able to come up with a solution to a problem if he thought about it for a bit. I think that's why he smoked his pipe so much, the few minutes he's spend thoughtfully packing the tobacco carefully, gave him thinking time. I can't take any credit for getting you unstuck, that was my dad. But I thank you in his name. He was a good boyhood hero to grow up with.

Carl.
 
Carl,

You are correct. Your father came up with the branch solution. But if you didn't write a story about it, I would still be on that mountain road trying to figure out what to do. So you are just as responsible as your father. Thank you again, Carl. And thank you everybody for your nice comments.

Stan
 
Spill said:
My wife was impressed with my ability to solve a problem on the spot. So I told her that it wasn't my idea and that I learned it on the Traditional forum from a guy who goes by Jackknife.
Click to expand...

That's awesome! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Glad to read you're okay.

BTW, if I were you, I'd keep my wife away from ole jackknife. Just sayin ... ;)

-- Mark
 
"If they don't find you handsome, at least let 'em find you handy!"
- Red Green

Nice job, and nice post! :thumbup:
 
Voltron said:
I've used Jackknifes's stories a few times to make quick, temporary repairs on things.
A hose sprang a leak in my car one time.
Click to expand...

Had to double-check this one. First time I thought it said a horse sprang a leak in your car. Now that would be messy . . .

Great story from the OP. JK has been a great guy to have on the forums.
 
For sure Jackknife's stories are the best, good post. I've taken to printing out JK's stories a few at a time so I can keep them and read them when waiting in my truck.
Paul
 
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