December 1, 2000
What a wonderful Thanksgiving this has been. It was a long, slow drive from Portland, Oregon to Parker, Arizona but as I drove the last 50 miles in sunshine and 80 degree weather, I couldn't help but be thankful. What a beautiful country we live in!
Climbing the Siskiyou Pass was certainly an adventure. The snow that blanketed the mountains had completely melted from the pavement so my trip was ALMOST without danger. I say "almost" because after more than two years of driving my RV named Lucky, I came the closest I have ever come to a head on collision with a huge semi. (All my fault...not his.) I was seeking a shortcut between highways late one night and although the map I was using made it seem clear as a bell, I wasn't exactly sure if I was on the right road. There were no street lights and no signs and the road was extremely narrow with no shoulder whatsoever. I'd been driving for 9 straight hours and I was afraid a wrong turn would leave me hopelessly lost. Just to make things a little more interesting, the wind was blowing so hard that my steering wheel was constantly angled to the right in order to maintain a straight course. Because the road was SO DARN NARROW, I didn't have any room for error as I searched both sides of the road for a sign indicating I was on the right road.
That was when I saw the big 18 wheeler approaching from the opposite direction. I was a little worried because the road was so narrow, but we both stayed firmly in our lanes. But then as he passed me, the steady wind was suddenly broken as he formed a windshield. That made my RV veer sharply to the right without warning. If there had been a shoulder, there would have been no problem, but because the only shoulder was a drop off into deep sand, my two right side tires sunk and threatened to jerk me over onto my side. I couldn't believe it as I suddenly found myself riding on two tires...so I adjusted and ended up on the other side tires...so I corrected again, and was back on the first two tires. It was like being on a swing; rolling left - then right, as I did my best to regain control. My cupboard doors flew open and things began to tumble out. As it always seems to do in critical situations, everything was moving in slow motion and I actually had time to wonder if my old Western Flyer bicycle (secured in the bike rack on the rear of my RV) had been thrown off on the side of the road. I guess the bicycle was the least of my worries because as I struggled to regain control of my fishtailing RV, another semi was approaching, head on. I needed to get back in my own lane fast....or else. I don't know how I did it, because I was sure I was going to hit him, but somehow, I got back in my own lane in the nick of time! (My guardian angel?) I don't think it could have been any closer and I'm sure there is a truck driver somewhere who is cursing me. (Sorry, Mr. Truck Driver...) Whew! That was too close for comfort! Needless to say, I was wide awake and shaking like a leaf as I drove on. By the way, I WAS on the right road and my worrying was all for naught! (It usually is...).
About 60 miles before I got to Parker, I stopped for one last tank of GOLD (opps - I mean "gas") when the station attendant came up to me with some bad news. He asked me to come look at one of my rear tires, which was misshapen and in his opinion, ready to blow. Great! There was no way I could afford another new tire. He said the belt was probably broken and he wouldn't advise driving on it. Oh well...I couldn't afford a new tire and therefore had no choice. I lowered my speed considerably and crossed my fingers....hoping to make it to Parker and the home of my friends, Ray and Judy. My guardian angel must have really been working overtime, because somehow that tire held out and I arrived safely. Then, even more amazingly, (since I had not told my friends about my plight) Ray and Judy presented me with a contribution for Poetry on the Road. I was brought to tears when I looked in the envelope and saw that it was just enough to buy a new tire AND have my oil changed. The Lord works in mysterious ways and very often through us...his children. People are so generous - and so caring. I was aware of that before I left on this trip, but every day I am reminded again and again. We are all brothers and sisters - and I am so very proud of my family!
So, after stuffing myself with turkey every day for a week and sharing my stories and poetry with anyone and everyone who wanted to listen, I thought I'd better get ready to hit the road again. My website still has lots of subchapter S signs where there should be apostrophes and a few pictures that didn't come through, but I communicated with my cousin Russ, who said he would work on that while I was gone. Now the only BIG problem left to solve was replacing my tire. (Simple...now that I have the money. Wrong!) I called every tire shop in the nearest three cities with no luck whatsoever. They can't even ORDER a replacement tire. See, there are four tires on my rear axle and if I replace just one, it must match the other three. The problem is that the other three are a tire that is no longer produced. My RV was stored for many years, so even though there's plenty of tread (almost like new) they are at least 15 years old. The rubber is cracked and hard so I knew I would eventually have to replace them, but I hoped I could do that one at a time as I raised the money. Two months ago, I replaced the front two (which are now radials...the cheapest I could find at $160 each) but fortunately, it didn't matter if the front ones matched the rear ones. Now I have the money for one tire....and can't use it until I can afford to buy all four of them.
Oh well....just another hurdle in the road. I'm thinking maybe I'll drive on very slowly, stopping often to let the tires cool. It's almost Christmas and I want to speak to as many groups as I can during the holiday season, so I certainly can't let a little thing like a bad tire stop me. I have no doubt that if I'm following the path that the Good Lord intended, my needs will somehow be met. How and when...I'm not sure. But I am sure of one thing. Today is an awesome gift and I am both healthy and happy. I have food to eat and a roof over my head while many of my brothers and sisters are hungry and sick tonight. So, "the show must go on"...and it shall.
I'm heading south from Parker to Blythe, through Quartzsite and then on toward Texas. I'd like to spend Christmas parked in the desert somewhere completely ALONE - with only my thoughts and my prayers. But since I plan to perform in both Blythe and Quartzsite, we'll have to see how it goes between now and then.
Happy Holidays!
Abigayle
Thanksgiving on the Colorado River with my friends Judy and Ray, in Parker, Arizona!