November 30, 2002
I don't know who "Murphy" is... but "Murphy's Law" certainly ruled my trip from Branson, Missouri to Sacramento, California! Almost everything that could go wrong did... and it turned out to be quite an adventure. Here are some of the highlights.
I left Branson early Monday morning (Nov. 11th) and drove directly to the auto repair shop for an oil change and fluid level check. I'd been parked for almost six months so I was a little leery about everything being in good working order. The mechanic gave me a clean bill of health so I headed north to Springfield, Missouri where I took a second opportunity to become "road ready". My generator is a 6.5 Onan so I made an appointment at the Cummins/Onan distributor for a full "service and tune up". My first three years on the road, I was traveling in "Lucky" who didn't even have a generator, so it's a real treat to be able to pull into a rest area, push a button on the dash and have all the comforts of home. But because my generator was running a little rough on my way to Branson last Spring, I didn't want to start this long journey without having it fully checked out.
Two hours (and $200) later, they pronounced my generator ready to go - so now my journey was officially underway. It's hard to describe how I felt... I was so excited to be footloose and fancy free again. I could drive as far as I wanted... stop when I wanted... start up again when I wanted... I was truly free! But at the same time, I was a little worried. I've always avoided driving my RV in snow or ice and I certainly didn't want to start now. That's why I made a point of leaving early enough in November (hopefully) to beat the winter road conditions. I even took the longer southerly route (Interstate 40) hoping to increase my odds of avoiding dangerous winter driving conditions. I have to admit, I was still a little worried about my engine breaking down. Even though the mechanic checked all fluid levels, belts and tire pressure...that didn't mean something else couldn't go wrong. After all, "Faith" may be big and beautiful... and have all the comforts of home, but she is16 years old and there are MANY things that could be worn out. And believe me, nothing is cheap to fix in an RV. But that's ok...after all, it's a small price to pay for the freedom she gives me. Nothing but wide-open spaces... Just me and this awesome country we live in. Just me and my thoughts... and my memories... just me and my dreams.
Actually, when I look back on the thousands of miles I traveled in "Lucky" (without even a spare tire - let alone a dollar in my pocket), I'm in "hog heaven" right now! And even better yet, for the FIRST time I actually have company. My little kitty friend, (Tinkerbell) makes a huge difference. I find myself talking to her just as though she were another person. "OK Tinker," I would say. "Do you think we ought to stop for lunch now or shall we drive a little bit further?" Or, "Uh-oh Tinker, I think we just missed our exit. Maybe we'd better turn around." Well, you get the gist - and it sure made driving all those long and lonely hours MUCH more enjoyable. And what a wonderful traveler she turned out to be. She's only 5 months old, but from the first time I started up the engine, she wanted nothing more than to lay on my lap, purring contentedly as I drove. But it wasn't long before she preferred to ride up on the dash where she could see everything. She never once got carsick, nor was she bothered by the extremely bumpy and noisy road conditions. I thought the road construction would never end. Crash... bang... clank...boom... (uh-oh...wonder what fell over this time!) But no... it didn't bother Tinkerbell at all. She was truly enjoying the adventure every bit as much as I was.
Speaking of construction, I only got lost once...and that was during one of those construction zones that sent you on poorly marked detours. It was late at night (my first night on the road) and I had just discovered that I had a problem with my headlights. They seem to point straight down - so they only light up the first 6 feet in front of me. I couldn't see a darn thing... including the signs telling me which way the detour went. I must have missed a turn because I ended up...well, I'm still not exactly sure where I ended up... but I drove and drove, just looking for a service station or a store; someplace where I could ask for help... but there was nothing. Finally, I saw a car parked on the side of the road so I pulled up behind him, got out and asked him for directions to the turnpike. He was all alone and looking very depressed and haggard. In fact, he told me he was parked there just "thinking"; with nowhere to go and nothing to do. He really perked up though when he discovered that I was lost and needed his help. He told me that he didn't know why he had stopped there on the side of that road... until I came along. Now he was sure it was to help me. He not only sent me in the right direction, (I was a long way from where I should have been), but he used his own car to block the traffic so I could turn my 33 foot RV around in the middle of a narrow road. We talked for a little while, (He was obviously sad and Iwanted to lift his spirits a little) and by the time I drove away, we were BOTH feeling much better. I was on the right route and he had made a difference in someone's life. Amazing how good it makes a person feel to help someone else. That's the greatest feeling of all. So... whenever you feel sad or discouraged, just focus on helping someone else, and suddenly YOU will feel better. It works every time and I was honored to be the one this man helped. I'll never forget the smile on his face as he stood there in the middle of the road...blocking traffic so I could turn around. I guess we all need to feel "useful" and tonight he truly helped a lady in distress. Thank you my friend!
Now that I was back on the right road again, I decided to fill my gas tank and then stop in the first available rest area to settle down for the night. While I was filling up (takes a while with an 80 gallon gas tank) a clean cut, well dressed man in his early forties approached me. He said, "I couldn't help but notice your license plates are from Arizona...and so am I. Where are you from?" I explained that I wasn't really from Arizona but I did spend a lot of winter time there and loved the state. He said he was a chiropractor from a town outside Phoenix and gave me his business card. In return, I gave him the VERY short version of what I was doing on the road. He asked me if I had time for a cup of coffee and I said, "Sure, but why buy coffee when I have a coffee maker in my RV. I'm just going to the next rest area, so if you 'd like, we can visit and have coffee there." Then I realized I'd better add a little something, so I said, "That is... if TALKING is all you have in mind. I'm a Christian lady... first, last and always and I'd never consider any more than just conversation. So, if that's ALL you have in mind, feel free to stop at the rest area and we'll have some coffee."
I didn't really expect to see him after that, (thought maybe he had MORE in mind) but I hoped I would because that is what I do on the road; sojourn with my brothers and sisters... listening to them and encouraging them by sharing my testimony. It's a tough time we live in and so many people are confused or have been turned away from the truth by well meaning but "pushy" religious people. It's my hope to shine the light of my faith for them...softly and with love...and maybe plant a seed that will eventually bear fruit...the fruit of joy and faith. So, even though I KNOW it's risky for a woman alone on the road to talk to strangers (especially in this day and age), I have spent the last four and a half years doing just that...and it is MORE than worth any potential danger. After all, I know what a small piece of the puzzle this life on earth is, so I have no fear...other than the fear that many of my brothers and sisters will never find that peace. That's my job... planting seeds... and I don't plan to miss a single opportunity, dangerous or not.
I pulled into the next rest area but the parking spaces were so far from level I was afraid I'd fall out of bed during the night (ok...I'm exaggerating...) but it was bad enough that I decided to drive another 35 miles to the next one. It was close to midnight by the time I got there and my neck was really hurting from the tension of trying to see the road. If only I knew how to adjust those headlights... but I don't, so I guess I'll just drive during the daylight hours from now on. (See... now that's what I call freedom!)
I hadn't been parked in the second rest area for more than 10 minutes when I heard a knock at my door. Well, I'll be darned...it was my chiropractor friend from the service station. I figure he must have really wanted to talk since he found me at a different rest area than the one I had told him. Naturally, I invited him inside and offered him some coffee. Then we talked...and before long I knew that he had been sent to me for a reason. He was a very nice man...a good man who had been married for 30 plus years to his childhood sweetheart. Their children were now adults and had moved on, leaving only he and his wife in the home. Apparently, he was having the all too typical case of middle age insecurity. It's so very easy to understand... the kids are grown, the romance is gone and what is left? Well, I happen to know that there is PLENTY left...but without faith...without the understanding of the "big picture", it sure would be easy to get lost... So, here I was being blessed with yet another opportunity to make a difference in someone's life.
I'm absolutely positive that the way our meeting turned out wasn't what he had been hoping for. He even admitted it to me. Here he was on a business trip, far from home and he meets (in his words) a beautiful woman who he hoped to share a little quality time with. After all, who would know? Well, I guess meeting me wasn't exactly what he had planned... but he's certainly lucky it turned out that way. Here was a good man who was about to make a terrible mistake. Adultery is a sin...and a betrayal of love. A handsome, successful man like himself would have had no problem finding a woman willing to share his fantasy.... but not this woman! Instead I counseled him about his marriage. We talked about how to put the romance back into his relationship - rather than finding a new one. We talked about God and about Jesus...and the many challenges life on Earth holds for us. By the time he left, I think he was actually relieved that he would not have to live with the lie he would have been forced to tell his wife. There is no easy cure for his feelings...but perhaps I planted some seeds and I can ask no more. And guess what? He gave me a free adjustment and my aching neck and back felt much better. See...every time I try to GIVE....I end up RECEIVING.... And such is the way of life.
So, another day... a few hundred more miles... and my journey continues. Other than my headlight problem, all was well... The green rolling hills of Missouri faded into the flat lands of Oklahoma. Not much change between the scenery there and the Texas panhandle (boring drive if it wasn't for Tinkerbell) but I was hoping to reach Amarillo, Texas before stopping for the night. That meant once again driving in the dark...(darn those headlights anyway)... but there was a rest area just the other side of Amarillo. The wind was awful! I could barely keep my RV on the road and every time a truck passed me, I had to grip the steering wheel with both hands and hang on for dear life. But just 60 more miles to go before I could rest.
Apparently that was not to be... because suddenly, with no warning whatsoever, my engine just simply quit. It was as though I ran out of gas; it just died. "Oh no Tinkerbell... what are we going to do now?" She didn't seem too upset, but I was. The shoulder was narrow and it was cold, dark and very windy. Every truck that went by made us shake, rattle and roll. Thank God for AAA and for cell phones. I called for a tow truck but found out it would be several hours before one would arrive. Oh well, I thought. I'll just start my generator and wait.... Nope, even that was not to be. My generator wasn't working! So much for wasting $200 having it serviced! (Now Gayle...at least you're not standing on the side of the road with no money for repairs. It could have been much worse!)
So we waited...and waited...and waited some more. After three hours, a tow truck finally appeared. It was SO cold and SO windy, I put on my long heavy winter coat, held Tinkerbell tightly in my arms and headed for the tow truck. After climbing two tall steps (while holding on to "Tinker, which made it difficult), I opened the door of the tow truck. Considering the young age of the tow truck driver, I suppose I should have expected it, but I was completely unprepared for the blaringly loud music which assailed my ears as I climbed inside. It was like being at a concert and sitting right in front of the speakers. Oh well, at least it was country music. So what the heck... Tinkerbell didn't seem to mind, so why should I? She merely curled up on my lap, rolled onto her back and waited for me to scratch her little tummy. What a sweetheart!
The ride to Amarillo in the tow truck (60 miles), took well over an hour and naturally all the repair shops were closed. He dropped me off at one he highly recommended and I prepared to wait until they opened in the morning. Sure wish my generator was working. Now my in-house batteries were dead too, so I didn't even have enough power to use my furnace. Before you think I'm complaining, I must remind you that the furnace never did work in Lucky...and I've been carrying my down snowsuit for 4 years without ever once getting to use it. (I LOVE to ski and you just never know when the opportunity might arise)... But now I was sure glad I had it, because it was 10 degrees outside, and not much warmer inside. Of course, some of the credit goes to Tinkerbell who snuggled up next to me during the night and kept me warm)..
Early the next morning they went to work on my RV and it turned out to be my distributor. Apparently, I needed a new distributor, cap and coil. Unfortunately, (because I am still mechanically ignorant) I have no choice but to believe what the mechanics tell me, but I sure wish I did. Bottom line... after replacing those three items, Faith once again purred like a kitten... It cost me $500 and a full day of travel time, but at least I was on the road again. But what about my generator and my 12 volt charging system? Oh well, they were luxuries I COULD live without. So, off I went.
After I left Amarillo, I pulled into a truck stop to spend the night and for some reason, my generator actually started! (Thank you Lord, because it was 11 degrees outside and I surely would have frozen without the furnace.) I listened to the local news broadcast and they predicted "record setting cold with a chance of snow flurries". I really would have been worried but the weatherman seemed positive that there was no way it would stick. I still didn't like the sound of it...but what was I to do but wait for the warmest part of the day and drive on. The next morning, I took my time until it warmed up a little and left the Texas truck stop about 10:00 A.M. My generator (which had so kindly worked the night before) refused to start in the morning so I knew my reprieve was over. There was no way I wanted to get stuck in the snow with no generator, so I planned to drive all day and then stop in an RV park for the evening. I don't like to spend money on RV parks because it seems like such a waste. I prefer driving a few hours in the morning and then stopping in a rest area for lunch, a nap, reading...whatever, and then driving a few more hours in the early evening...and then stopping at another rest area for the night. But with no generator and no furnace, I would have no choice but to drive as far as I could each day and then stay in RV parks at night so I could plug into electricity.
About an hour after I left the truck stop, it began to snow. I was just entering New Mexico when it started and I kept repeating to myself, "it won't stick...it won't stick." But guess what? It not only stuck - it became a white out! My windshield wipers couldn't move fast enough to keep the snow from piling up on my windshield. The entire world was white. I couldn't see pavement, grass, signs on the side of the road or anything. In a matter of minutes I was slip sliding away...and it scared me to death. I'm a snow skier so I've driven in a lot of snow over the years but I also believe in being prepared. I always had studded snow tires or chains. Usually I had front wheel (if not 4 wheel) drive...whatever it took to decrease my chances of mishap. But here I was, driving a 33 foot long RV, no snow tires, no chains, and NO EXITS to get off the freeway. Interstate 40 between Amarillo, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico is about as rural as this country gets. I wanted (needed) to get off the freeway, but I couldn't....there was no where to go! I don't believe I've ever gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were white...but I couldn't see a darn thing. I even tried rolling down my window and using my hand to clear the snow from my windshield but I couldn't reach far enough. Oh boy...what was I going to do? What could I do...but keep driving at 20 miles an hour...afraid to stop... and afraid to go on.
Finally I saw what I had been looking for; a freeway exit sign, (or what should have been a freeway exit sign). Unfortunately, it was completely covered with snow and not a single word was legible. Should I exit? Was it a country road to nowhere? I couldn't even see the exit road itself because EVERYTHING was white...where did the exit begin? What if I ran into a ditch trying to find the road? I decided to keep going...it wasn't worth the risk.
Finally, I came upon another sign and this time, I could read part of it and it looked like the name of a town. Hip-hip-hurray! A town! Surely they would have an RV park... It was only noon and I hated to waste another day, but anything was better than driving in this! The problem was that all the side roads were completely covered in snow and the land was so flat you couldn't tell where the lanes were. Then I saw a sign...the most beautiful sign I have ever seen. It said "Camping, 1.7 miles". I was so happy I began to laugh and cheer and carry on like a schoolgirl at a basketball game. "Hey, Tinkerbell," I said happily, " Looks like we're going to make it after all!"
But unfortunately, the arrow beneath the "camping" sign was covered by snow so I couldn't tell which way to turn. I didn't dare stop because if I lost momentum on the slippery surface, I might not get rolling again. 1.7 miles... but in which direction? I couldn't see a town or any buildings at all (like I said... it was white-out conditions), but I figured we had a 50/50 shot at guessing correctly so I turned to the right... and prayed. When my odometer said I had gone 1.8 miles... I began to worry. There was at least 6 to 9 inches of snow ON the roads... so turning around would be more challenge than I cared to take on. But then I saw a store - and other cars...and my shoulders literally dropped 6 inches from where they had been hunched up with tension as I let out a deep sign of relief. This must be the place, and even if it wasn't, at least I was back in civilization. Finally, I saw the camping sign, but it looked more like a shabby old motel than an RV park... but who cared! At least I could get out of the storm.
I've never been so happy to see an RV park in my life. I did have a heck of a time figuring out where the entrance was because the snow was so deep it covered everything, and I didn't want to drive over a high curb hidden beneath the blanket of white. It was simply a matter of guesswork, so I gave it my best shot... and managed to find the entrance. I jumped out of Faith and ran for the "office" but still I was completely covered with snow by the time I got inside. Whew! What a day.... The ONLY weather I had been dreading... the one thing I had tried hardest to avoid for 4 1/2 years on the road... was upon me at last, and I survived! I can't tell you how happy I was. Now I just needed to get parked and hooked up to power and then, as far as I was concerned...my day was done! If I was really lucky, they'd have cable television and I'd be a couch potato until the snow storm passed!
After I was all hooked up and settled in (no small feat under those conditions) I turned on the cable TV and found the weather channel. Actually, I didn't need the weather channel because ALL the channels had "storm warnings" right on the screen and most of the local programming had been pre-empted by coverage of the "FREAK" winter storm. It snowed 9 inches in one day...and the storm only covered 50 square miles. 25 miles east... no snow. 25 miles west... no snow. But here I was, right in the middle of a winter storm...a record setting winter storm. Boy oh boy, I sure have good timing. Oh well, to tell you the truth, (now that I was parked and toasty warm) I actually LOVED it. It was like having Christmas early. I took pictures with both my video camera and my digital camera. I even put on my snow-suit and went outside and built a snow angel. Then, of course, I had to take pictures of her. It was truly a winter wonderland...and I'm glad I had the chance to experience it. (Sure... easy to say now that I'm not driving in it). Later that day, they actually closed Interstate 40 because of white out conditions. What an adventure but I survived!
The next morning, I asked the park manager if there was someone in town who might be able to fix my generator and she suggested the auto repair shop across the road. I drove over and had him take a look at it, but he couldn't figure out what the problem was. He gave me the "universal answer"...you must have a short somewhere.
So ...still no generator but at least I was relieved to see that the roads were clear. Just 25 miles west and there wasn't a drop of snow (except in the distant mountains). The next major town would be Flagstaff, Arizona and since it's at such a high altitude, (which caused Lucky to break down last time I stopped there) I wanted to drive right through during the warmest part (?) of the day. The wind was howling, (gusts of 50mph) so I couldn't relax and let my guard down for even a minute. Every time a truck passed me, it felt like I was being jerked right off the road. I don't like driving so many hours without a rest, but since it was extremely COLD outside, (and my generator was on the blink) I needed to get as far as I could (hopefully out of the mountains) before finding an RV park and stopping for the night. I was so relieved when got to Kingman, Arizona. It was actually WARM outside! I felt like cheering...it was 75 degrees and I didn't even need a jacket. Guess I can put my snowsuit back in the closet...
In Kingman, I stopped at Walmart to do some shopping when the realization suddenly struck me; I don't NEED to waste the money on an RV park tonight because it's so warm outside I won't need my furnace. I can save $20.00 by parking in a rest area.
So, that's what I did. The rest area where I spent the night was just a few miles from the California border and I felt like I was almost home. I had survived snow and wind and breaking down in the middle of the night. I had survived no headlights and getting lost... and now my long journey was practically over! I felt like a horse heading for the barn.
But I think I began celebrating a little bit too early. I may have been almost there... but the most dangerous driving of all was still to come. Just as I left Bakersfield, heading north on Highway 99, the fog hit. It was so thick I couldn't see a darn thing. At least when I was driving in the snowstorm I was in a remote area with few other cars on the road... but here (California) the traffic was constant and there was no room for error. I decided to get behind a big semi (with bright lights on the back of his rig) and just follow those lights. If he drove off the road... so would I. But then he took an exit and I had to find another one to follow... and when he left, I found another one and that's the way my night went. I knew there was a rest area somewhere up ahead (according to my map), but the fog was so thick I couldn't read any of the road signs. So I just kept driving... and tailgating big trucks. Have you hugged a trucker today?
It seemed like an eternity, but I finally found a rest area and called it quits for the night. Gee, is there any kind of weather I didn't experience on this trip? But we made it - and now Tinkerbell and I are parked next to my mother's house in Sacramento. I guess my guardian angel can take a much deserved vacation for awhile and I can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about having to drive anywhere.
So, on that pleasant note, I shall say goodbye for now. I'm flying down to Hollywood and auditioning for my favorite game show (Pryamid) next week so that will be yet another adventure I'll have to tell you about.
Until then, Adios...and best holiday wishes to you all! (Picture below)
Abigayle
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Below: Tinkerbell sleeping in her car carrier as we drive down the freeway. As you can see she's not exactly bothered by traveling. (I took this picture with one hand while driving!)