Mama said there would be days like this..

Cars of beauty and art:

 1930 Cadillac with a V16 engine

And this was one for the books. 

Last night I did not find out what time the mechanic would be in at the Truck stop, so I went up there at 5 AM. No one was in, so I started walking a 100 step pattern, then a 400 pattern by the time the mechanic came in I had walked over 5 miles and it was 8AM. A trucker was standing there and made the statement out loud, ‘Sorta foolish to open a shop at 8 in the morning.’ I was first and explained what our problem was, he said I will be over in a few minutes, I have to open a spot for you.  I will come right back and lead you over.  

An hour later he came over. We moved the coach. “Go up in the lounge, it will only take a few minutes to check it out and I will come up.”   It was approaching noon when he came up. Bad news. I can’t do it. It needs to go to the Cummins place in Montgomery.

So sherry got on the phone. We all have got the messages: if it is a flat tire press 2, if it is lockout press 2, if it is road assistance press 3.  Then with 3 you again press at least 3 more buttons, then you get a human. Sherry gave the explanation. ‘No problem we will get you a place.’ We will keep you updated.

An hour goes by, Sherry goes thru the same routine. This time they are sending a tow truck, Jones Wrecker service.  In a half hour Sherry gets a call from Jones I am on my way what am I towing?......... “WHAT?”  I can’t tow a motor home, you better call them back.

Same routine it is mid day. Wait an hour….nada.

Sherry calls again gets the lady she likes. I promise I will get you a tow. 30 minutes later, Alexander Towing is on their way, 39 minutes out.  We are really doubting this and at 39 minutes I said, “I will go outside and meet the tow truck.” Exactly at 39 minutes he shows up.

Now it is late,  but Good Sams has found a mechanic just 8 miles up the road, “Hammer Lane” in Valley Alabama. “They say they can get the job done for you!”

Tow driver ‘Josh’ hooks up. Removes our drive shaft for towing. He checks everything twice does a great job. WE are off I am almost in Sherry’s lap, sitting on the console. And making room for Josh to change gears. HE drives us right to the place. The mechanic directs Josh where to park us. 

After a great job of backing us into a spot, he started to unhook, when the secretary comes running out yelling NO! NO! STOP. The mechanic goes over to talk to her. The Owner said, “If that coach is dropped on this lot, your job is done here,” the owner’s wife on the phone to the mechanic.  She hates motor homes.

Take it to Opelika RV in Opelika, AL.  Sherry does the routine again. After a few minutes the lady at Good Sams says they are closed and suggests we get  to a safe place  and we will tow you in the AM.  Josh says his boss must be contacted to okay the further tow since he was directed to come to Hammer Lane.
I asked Josh if there was a mech in La Grange (where he is from), for Cummins, he said no. I asked about Atlanta Cummins. He calls his boss.  Insurance will not cover the extra $1000. So we agreed to cover the tow.  Josh backed the coach a good 1/10^th of a mile out away from “Hammer Lane”. 

He asked if we minded it he walked over to a service station for a drink and asked if he could get us something. We declined.  He apologized when he came back, he had been tied up on a conference call with All-State, him and his boss.

So tonight was are overnighting in La Grange at another truck stop. It is too late to contact Cummins or get there. We leave in the morrow at 9AM.  What a day!

Nite Shipslog