Yesterday was a very eventful drive. We left by 8:00 am and got home at 12:30 am. We managed to have car trouble that looked worse than it was (it was a blown fuse but the symptoms hinted at the engine overheating or transmission problems). I just have to say thanks to all my family members who offered advise and support (some I was caravaning with and others I wasn’t), the friendly gentleman at Rimco Sales and Service in Cortez, CO and his friends at the Express Lube who looked at my car to help get me on my way.
I also want to say thanks to the Utah Highway Patrol officer who pulled me over when I was speeding to get past an impending road closure and who subsequently let me off with a warning (5 years without any blemish on my record just paid off) and explained that the road was slowed by construction but not closed (contrary to what I had been told). It turned out that the road closure in Price, UT that I had been warned about was posted for Tuesday, August 5th – I was racing for a deadline 72 hours too early.
I completely blew out a tire on Friday on the same dirt road on which I blew out a tire last summer. When I couldn’t get the jack to work, my 5-year-old prayed. Two minutes later a guy came by that had been a tire technician for many years, and we were soon on our way again.
Having driven over that same road in a variety of vehicles over the years and getting no flat tires (let alone blowouts), my wife surmised that our current tires were the root of the problem. They would be ready to be replaced within the next 12 months anyway, so my wife has already been out and gotten new tires this morning — ones that are personally guaranteed by a friend that owns a tire store.
It sure is nice to have access to someone who can send help within two minutes. It’s also a great blessing to be able to replace your tires when they are the source of your problem. I’m glad to hear that your adventure turned out as well as mine.