We almost made it to Flagstaff..18 miles an hour on the grade..
At this point I'm starting to doubt the mechanic...We were scheduled to meet the rig at the rest stop ...
We didn't make it..my van overheated.. lost the belt again.. Matt put in a new one and it was dark and yes still raining
We got ourselves on a dead-end road and I can't back up a trailer...so Matt had to back up both vehicles..one at a time
one then the other.. about 2 miles back up the road.. this was not pleasant *S*
A Highway Patrolman stopped to let us know the neighbors..(on this desolate dark go nowhere road) were complaining we were blocking the road..
and, No .. he didn't offer to help.. 2 hours later we were at the rest stop and
NO RIG! I was horrified! MY BABIES!!!
We tried the pager number and the cell phone but the pay phone wasn't letting us do it..
Out in the parking lot was the Highway Patrolman who so kindly helped us a couple hours before.. *S*.. He did however tell us that my babies and the rig were up the road waiting for us..
The drivers were worried wondering what could have possibly happened to us in 40 short miles
We stopped at Little America in Flagstaff to resettle and decide when we would stop and sleep.. all this on 3 hours of sleep the night before.. it was 1am when we stopped to sleep.. just out of Flagstaff...
Rimrock is only 45 miles from Flagstaff..
Are you getting the picture yet?.. *L*
The kiddies were fine.. and wondering what was going on by now.. Georgie and BooBoo on top talking to mama.. and little Vitters on the bottom.. looking thru the goatie windows atcha
We did fine the next day and were making good time until Matt's truck lost his rear wheel..
I knew he was in trouble when he got on the radio and asked if the road was bumpy.. I looked back and saw him...
doing his best to keep his rig on the road.. I don't know how he did it.. but it was a miracle
Those brand new tires?.. put on by a certified Goodyear dealer?.. well.. they failed to tighten the lugnuts down..
Everyone of the nuts came off and sheared the bolts off.. it was no more than centrifugal force keeping that wheel on the brake.. Even the Highway Patrolman was shaking his head
when the truck broke down..and had it towed across the NM border
10 hours later.. we were still waiting for the truck to get fixed..
Hadn't made Gallup yet..it should have been a 5 hour trip at most
We got back on the road.. AFTER iI got my van looked at.. the lugs were loose on it too.. same mechanic.. went in past Albuquerque and slept that night.. the kids were still fine.. even tho it had rained on them thru the little goatie windows..
Ellie was Great with the goats.. she got a kick out of VitVit always helping her.. *S* I'll tell ya.. I don't know what we would have done without Pat and Ellie driving those kids and watching over us..
gave him a shot of Tylan and put him, Booters and sis, Ellie, in the van with us..
Next day.. I guess this was Saturday by now..we did make good time... until we hit OK.. when Matt lost his steering.. another stop and fix the truck routine...
Now I'm getting a little hostile at the mechanic...stopped and slept somewhere in OK.. before OK City.. now...THAT was quite the drive..
All but one lane was closed for construction.. I like to thought we'd Never get out of OK.. and those toll roads.. You'd think for the money they charge those roads would be better.. oh well.. we didn't stay there long..
but watching that huge rig with my babies in it going thru traffic in a lane I KNOW was narrower than the rig.... whoa..
We made it to MO Sunday... Matt's third gear had been out all this time and he had to drive holding third gear in or it would pop out..
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