Living on the road sometimes means crossing some speed bumps!
If you are living in a house and something breaks, it is easy to look in the Yellow Pages to find a electrician or plumber. On the road, repair issues are more complicated. One has to realize—preferably in advance—that things won’t always go smoothly and have some savings to cover those days. Sometimes things just break at an inconvenient time. We discovered the camper house batteries were DEAD the night before we left. Luckily, we had two batteries saved from the demise of the golf cart this summer. Problem fixed without too much sweat or tears.
I had a little medical issue while in Quartzsite, AZ, involving a decision to go to the ER in Parker, AZ, and having to decide whether to have Larry drive the 40 plus miles or travel by ambulance. While everything turned out just fine, it was unnerving for a few hours. It won’t change our plans—we will continue to travel and stay in places not “next to a hospital.” It was just another speed bump.
And if two “issues” in 7 days hadn’t discouraged us, 50 miles from Antioch, we discovered one of the front heavy-duty tires had developed an aneurism. Aneurisms aren’t good conditions in people and not much better in tires. We limped slowly 50 miles to the Antioch Fairground. We drove the car to three different business to find someone who could order and install new tires on the camper truck to replace the ailing tire—along with the other five. When one tire fails at 35,000 miles and five years—can the others be far behind?
We found what we wanted. And I am sure Les Schwab was thrilled too. We could buy two used golf carts for the price of 6 tires. But, would we have more fun? Probably not!
Luckily, the tire didn’t blow out leaving us stranded along the freeway. It was just another speed bump on our travels.
We expected things would go wrong and we provided some safety nets for those days. No, our nerves are NOT made of steel, and yes, sometimes we suffer the butterfly flutters in our stomachs. Our nerves are often rubbed raw, usually in heavy traffic in the big cities (or a tire aneurism) and when the rasping is done, we start looking forward to the next bend in the road or destination. After all, it is just a speed bump—not the big red STOP sign!
More real life experiences are waiting down the road and we are heading that way. We can manage the speed bumps—they just slow us down and give us the opportunity to reflect how lucky we are being able to travel.
When we count our blessings on Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the freedom to wander—even with Larry’s medical issues. We give thanks for being able to pay for Medicare, health insurance and the SkyMed Medical Evacuation insurance. We thankful for our two doctors who make our lifestyle possible by working with us—we don’t fit the standard mold of patient. And most of all, we give thanks for our family and friends--who understand the wanderlust urge. And we are thankful we haven’t come close to seeing the big red stop sign! Even with a few speed bumps slowing us down, it is still a great life!
Here are a few photos from our past week:
Our poor tire after it was deflated. You don’t want to see this on your tires, especially carrying the load we carry! I forgot to take a photo when it was really sticking out.
This is the Quartzsite, AZ, desert in November. Stay tuned for a photo of what it looks like in January—with 300,000 RVs parked in the BLM Long-Term Area around us.
Ever wonder how those big RVs are towed? They use a BIG tow truck! Sure glad we were able to limp on in to Antioch! This is the same rest stop where Larry noticed the tire needed to be replaced. Think maybe the rest stop has bad karma?
This sign in Bakersfield, CA, was almost as scary as the thought of needing a tow truck! No, we aren’t in Texas anymore! Diesel was $3.60 in Livingston, TX. Regular was $3.13 a gallon when we left on the 4th.
We will be headed back to Quartzsite, AZ, on Nov. 29th. Larry and I wish you a very love-filled Thanksgiving holiday. If you aren’t able to be with your family or friends, find someone else to share your blessings with on this important holiday—you will be glad and they will enjoy your company.
Remember, speed bumps are NOT stop signs—they just a warning to slow down.
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