The adventure continues.
So.
We got up and left a little behind schedule
on Saturday. Not bad. I was hoping to leave
around 8 and I think we pulled out a little
bit after 9:00.
Headed north with my new prescription
sunglasses - everything was so crisp and clear!
(But the depth perception is off... I feel like
I'm 10 feet tall and driving a semi...)
We stopped at the first rest area just after
Titusville and checked the straps and everything
looked good.
Drove through Jacksonville, headed to Tallahassee
and the next Love's station.
And then I started seeing what looked like
dust or maybe smoke from Kyle's right rear.
I called and he said he thought he cut a tire.
So he pulled over.
Climbed under, and then came running back
to me to grab some bottles of water.
Something back there was on fire.
After about 6 or 7 bottles of water he got
it mostly out, still smoking and smoldering,
but no actual burning.
Looked like he lost the bearings in the wheel.
And a bunch of mechanical words I didn't understand.
We were about 3 miles from the next exit
where there were a couple of service stations,
so we creeped along at 4 mph, stopping now
and again to put more water on it,
and finally made it to a service station.
It was pretty small though, so we crept back
out onto the road and up a little to a larger
Sunoco station.
Still fairly small, but they were using the
back as a place to drop and exchange
semi trailers, so there was a fair sized
parking lot.
Rod got on google and found a mobile
mechanic who works on trucks and trailers.
He said he had just repacked the bearings on
another trailer this week, so he came on over.
I never spoke with him, but he seemed to
be a nice guy - he did a bunch of stuff
and then left and came back with his welder
and did a bunch of other cutting and banging
and stuff. (Mechanical stuff I didn't understand...)
Had a buddy come and bring him more stuff.
Went and bought some parts.
Did some more stuff...
Six hours later he said he couldn't fix it.
I'm not sure who was more discouraged.
Probably him.
Anyhow, he and Kyle chained the axle to
the trailer and with his blessing we
limped along about 45 mph on back roads
the 58 miles to Linda's ranch.
Got there about 10:30 and dropped the
trailer - unloaded the Cat - and left it all,
hopefully out of the way, in the big yard
until Kyle can get all the stuff he needs.
He and Rod will drive back up there and fix it
probably next week. I think the last part
is supposed to be here next Monday.
Anyhow.
We left Linda's, made it to the Loves just
before you get on the highway,
and pulled in there and bedded down for the night.
Beau was up and walking around until
about 2:30. Which is kind of annoying
when I'm trying to sleep in the drivers seat,
he is supposed to be sleeping in the
passenger seat, but he's climbing back and
forth between the front and back seat
over and over and over.
He finally settled down and we slept until
about 5:30. I got up and took him out,
then we napped until 6:30 when Kyle
was up and ready to head south.
We got here about 11:30 Sunday morning.
Took a nap, and then got ready for another
day of open house.
Oh, while we were waiting for the mechanic,
Rod texted that he had LOTS of people
looking at the house on Saturday,
and then the A/C quit.
Sigh.
This morning I went to get my new glasses
adjusted (they corrected for an astigmatism
that it appears I don't really have...??? more
words I don't really understand...)
Anyhow. While I was there, an old customer
from the motorcycle shop days sent his guy
out, put in a new capacitor in the A/C
for $70 and it is good as new.
My new, updated glasses will be in
either later today or tomorrow.
But I have to teach tonight, so I won't go
get them until tomorrow anyway.
We have an appointment to show the house
Tuesday at 2. Her Mom was here on Saturday
and did a FaceTime walking tour with her.
She is driving up from Ft. Lauderdale to see it.
Fingers crossed!
And I just got off the phone with the home owners
insurance people for WaKeeney and changed it
from a vacant property policy to a replacement
value policy. She was very apologetic that Kansas
just implemented a new wind/hail deductible,
and the price was going to be $155.96 per month.
I tried not to laugh at that.
We have a 5% of the value of the property
deductible for wind storm damage here.
And my payment is over $7,000 a year.
So..... I'm thrilled.
Anyhow.
Now I'm going to go make dog food,
and maybe some raisin bread.
Hope Mothers Day was lovely for all!
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