One More "Bump" in the Road!

I must have jinxed us! Talking with folks at Williamsport, PA and I said, "IF" nothing else happens . . .

And it did!

Left out of Williamsport about noon Monday, trucking east & then north, headed to Cooperstown, NY. The Baseball Hall of Fame induction is over and done with, so things have slowed down in that area. Got north of Scranton, PA and just pulled through a toll booth, when the truck just lost power. Roger went to accelerate and nothing. It was still running, but with the trailer in tow, he couldn't go but 15-20 mph - and that is NOT GOOD on an eastern U.S. interstate! Not good on any interstate, but we limped along on the shoulder.

I thought he would get off at the first exit, but no, he thought it might clear out, so he kept on going. Wouldn't you know it was a steady uphill climb! He kept thinking that if he could just get some speed up, but no chance. We went on this way about 5 miles more, then he called it quits and pulled in to a rest stop. Called AAA and they sent a tow truck.

We unhooked the trailer, and Roger decided to give the truck a try on its own. Got up to 50 mph, but by that time, they called and said they had a second tow truck coming for the truck. If you have ever seen one of the tow trucks, you realize you need more than a 'step stool' to get in to one of those things! With my bum shoulder, it wasn't going to be a simple task for me!

But with Roger's help, I made it in- and out! By the time I did, my dignity was long gone, but thankfully I will never see these people again in my lifetime! One truck headed off with the trailer to the 'yard' of the towing company, and the other truck headed to the nearest Chevy dealership with our truck and us. Got there about 4:20 - just as the service department was closing.

Since it is still under warranty, they called Enterprise for a rental for us. I'm thinking . . . finally something easier for me to get in and out of! Not to be. The only 'car' they had available was a Dodge Ram truck, with no step. With my short legs and bum shoulder, it might as well have been another tow truck! With no choice in the matter, we took it and Roger pulled over to a curb so I could climb in. We drove straight to the tow lot to get enough clothes and toiletries for a night in a motel - and a step for me - before beginning our search for a motel.

If you have never been in Scranton, PA - what a maze! Thankfully we had enough forethought to get our friend "Sylvia, the GPS" out of our truck. Headed to the Days Inn, hoping to find a room with a recliner, since sleeping in a bed is still tough for me. No luck there, so we tried calling around to the various motels. No recliners. Even tried a Residence Inn, thinking a 'longer stay' place would surely have nice comfortable recliners. Nope. But they did call their 'connections' and found a Host Inn in Wilkes-Barre, about 15 miles back down the road.

With nothing but time on our hands, we headed back south. Nice motel, and Roger was just positive he had seen a Cracker Barrel advertised on a billboard just one exit down from the motel. He was set! So finally about 7:30 we headed out on our next adventure. Well, there was not a Cracker Barrel to be found, so we settled for a very mediocre meal at Chili's. Normally we have really liked their food, but Roger ordered a 'country fried steak' and it came with a little dollop of gravy about as big around as a tea cup on the meat! Also had a huge mound of potatoes, and one little 'dollop' of gravy sitting right atop the potatoes. I looked at that and said, "That's all the gravy? We're gonna need some more!" He then came back a few minutes later to tell us that it would be a minute, for they were 'heating' up some more, which means he just opened another can! Oh, there are just some things you miss about the South!

"Home" for the night, and it passed about like any night in a motel. Strange bed, strange chair, strange everything. Our 'home on wheels' may have its problems, but I much prefer it to moteling it every night. Know it would be better if I was feeling better. The thing I'm struggling the most with is my loss of independance. Seems like Roger has to help me with everything from washing my hair to getting dressed. He never complains, but I do.

We're hopeful they will be able to diagnosis the problem quickly and get us back on the road by noon today. Stay tuned.