We're back home in Steung Kach now, and I've been busy repairing the Honda Cub and trapping rats for relocation and a new chance at life elsewhere.
The Cub Gets A New Throttle Cable 👨🔧
While in Phnom Penh I picked up a few parts for our Honda Cub, most importantly a new throttle cable because the previous was extremely worn and occasionally stuck, causing an unwelcome surprise full throttle.
In addition to the throttle cable I purchased some third passenger footpegs, basically some threaded aluminum bars that replace nuts that hold the rear shock to the swingarm. They only cost 50 cents and give the third passenger a place to put their feet. It's very common to see much more than three people sharing a motorbike in Cambodia, but usually additional passengers have nowhere to put their feet, and ultimately end up just dangling them above the road surface.
I've never replaced a throttle cable on a Cub or similar moto before, so I was quite shocked with how many parts had to be unbolted and removed just to replace a fairly simple part. On this day I really missed my Vespa back in the USA because I am much more familiar with working on older bikes. Well, at least I had Monkey-B as my bolt and nut organizer, and she also provided some much needed conversation.
As repairs go, once I had dove fully into this job, I discovered lots of other problems in the process. The most concerning was the slide in the carb was a little sticky, and this was partially causing the occasional surprise wide open throttles.
I didn't think to purchase a carb rebuild kit, so I really didn't want to do any disassembly, but I did unbolt the carb and turn it a bit to see what was causing the stickiness. Peering down inside showed me nothing, but I still took a few cotton swabs and tried to clean the hole where the needle slides through. Surprise, surprise, that fixed the problem somewhat, but the carb will need to rebuilt and cleaned in the near future.
Rat Relocation 🐀
Anytime we leave home for even a few days, it's an open invitation for all rodents to enter the house and take over. Sure enough I saw signs of rat-ivity, so a piece of al dente bowtie pasta proved irresistible, and this guy was caught in broad daylight while Srey-Yuu and I watched silently.
The timing was perfect, I had just finished the moto repairs and wanted to test the bike. I tossed my little rat homey in the front basket and we headed up the mountain to find a place where this little guy/girl can find rat homies that shun life in the houses of humans.
It's always a joyous moment setting a rat free, and I like to think the feeling is similar-ish to relocating wild animals like lions or wildcats. Well, in this case I certainly don't have to worry about being attacked when I open the door to freedom, but I did tell Stuart Little to enjoy the new forest life.
Nutsara Visits 👶
Nutsara now has two big front teeth and is eating solid foods. She can walk nearly anywhere, so she comes to visit much more often than before, and her presence always brings smiles.
Monkey-B fell down on the floor, and while trying to get up, Nutsara mistook this for time to lay down, so she joined Monkey-B on the floor, and her big brother quickly joined, not wanting to miss out on any action. Alright, that's all I got for today folks, nearly 3am now, guess my time management sucked today.
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Looking at your DIY repair, it totally bring back the memory of myself working on the KE20 when I was very much younger days.
I can't say it's needed for the foot rest bar, and often there isn't really suitable at all due to the position overlapping the already installed passenger foot rest bar 😂 we used to take out the original foot rest bar at the back so we can have more leg room. The leg dangling is not exactly that uncomfortable, considering the boys likes to hang the end of the flipflop touching the ground while cruising makes a beautiful symphony 🤣 yes, we do need to apply considerably more force to straighten the legs, clamping the floppers at certain angle to make the percussion works. Sometimes the pilot join us too 🤣
I got absolutely nothing to comment on Remy, I'm glad he only visited your family, and you guys relocated him instead of sending him to heaven/hell. He did reminds of me of this 1 vegan recipe I've never tried in my life
When the girls ask me why I added the extra footpegs, I reminded them how many life-altering leg and foot injuries there are in Cambodia 😂. I am familiar with the flip-flop dragging while riding with too many passengers too, it's also a favorite hobby in Cambodia. I have even seen plenty of solo drivers dragging their flip-flops just for the sounds.
Funny you share ratatouille, I worked in a French for several years once upon a time, and that is a dish we never made nor sold, but I know it from the cartoon of course. I never had a rat in my hat tugging on my hair, only a very demanding husband-wife duo of bosses.
I often stay up like that to post, only because the house is silent, I am not working and I am usually busy doing busy things... I cannot think when there is so much activity.
Kudos on the bike repair!
Why don't you have a cat? You probably wouldn't even need to feed it. :) I get the heebie-jeebies from mice. Rats may throw me right over the edge. Lame, I know.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and hey! The rat-location was pretty cool and Stuart Little thanks you.
The night is a productive time for some of us I guess. A quiet house is such a help for me because I get easily distracted with all the things constantly going on around here. We don't have a cat, but our neighbors do, and anytime I catch a rat in the house and put it outside for a night, I always find a cat pawing at the cage and terrorizing the little things in the morning.
Awwwww. Usually, mice will stay away if there is a cat in the house. Terrorizing it is no bueno.
I have many distractions, so waiting until night and everyone is sleeping is my best time. Thanks, Justin! Have a great day!
You had so many errands for that day. You did it very well. Salute for your enthusiasm in doing something. Thank you for sharing this one. Stay safe and God bless.
There is is always something to keep me busy here on the mountain. I think the rat had a night of terror because I had to keep it outside the house for a night in the trap. When I walked outside in the morning, I noticed the neighbor's cat pawing at the cage.
You are so industrious then. Your family is so blessed to have the head of the family like you. Same as here in some of our places there are rats also and the cat will chase them.
Awww kids will be kids.
In Suriname we had a toad problem and I relocated those pests with my broom 🤣.
Haha, you are bringing back Suriname memories. I've never seen anywhere with so much frogs and toads, for Cambodians that is a free all you can eat frog BBQ 😄. I grew up eating frog legs as a kid, but it's now a bit rare in most parts of the USA.
Funny enough, it's not a staple in Suriname while part of the problem would've been solved by it. I would like to try frog legs one day though, but by someone who actually knows how to prepare it 😅.
Of course I'm not a good person to ask as I've been vegan for far too many years, but if I remember correctly, the process is very simple. Basically just remove the legs and cut the skin off, then use them like mini chicken legs. This is actually how I was tricked into eating them as a kid, my parents told me they were baby chicken legs 😁. I do remember frog hunting as a teen with a flashlight bucket, and frog gigging pole, basically a mini trident.
Well damn... hahahah I would've cried back then I think, because as kids we don't explore as much with food.
Yeah, I've seen online those legs being fried like fried chicken 🙈.
Always an honor to have a visit from you my friend.
Yay! 🤗
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yeah...now Nutsara can chew almost all solid food. She's a cute girl
She is too cute, full of curiosity and very cheeky.
Most kids are all mischievous, but it doesn't matter, it's time for them to try everything while they discover their true character