Thursday, July 1, 2010

On the Road, seeing sites and dealing with adversity

When traveling especially, thousands of miles from home many hazards lie out there. If you know of them and make some plans, they don’t blind side you. For instance before we took our trip to Alaska we all (the two couples going) discussed the things that might happen and what we would do.


(MY (our) GREAT GRAND DAUGHTER ELSIE MAE (2YRS), a Fantastic site near Clearfield, Utah)
(Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City)
We had decided if a death occurred back home, the one(s) most closely associated would fly back for the funeral, the others would camp near a major air port and wait. We had three able drivers (four in a pinch) and if one became very ill, and they could fly back to the Charlotte area, the other couple would drive the motor homes back to NC.

( On the Road)

If one of us died, we knew to contact a funeral home in the nearest town. They in turn would arrange for the body to be flown back to Charlotte. Arrangements of the other three would be played by ear from that time on. We figured everyone would fly back until the funeral and arrangements were taken care of. Storing everything until someone came back with arrangements to move the motor homes.

That is the concerns of health problems. What about a major breakdown? An engine or transmission? Well some folks with extra money buy catastrophic insurance that will take care of everything from hospitals to rebuilding the RV. I think the premiums are too high, so we don’t have that insurance. Any damage we will have to cover. The chances are slim, and I believe in odds, and they are in our favor. I have never driven thinking, ‘This engine may blow!’

(And you thought it did not exist!!! It is in Illinois.)

We do, however, carry road assistance service called ‘Good Sams’, for a $100 a year. Yeah, lucky me, when I drove this 26000 lbs of vehicle into soft dirt in Tellico Plains, TN earlier this year, we more than got our money’s worth. Sherry called and they sent a wrecker out. Same with flat tires. So we carry that type of insurance.

Of course there are accidents that might happen, but that is something you cannot plan on, so if there are no major injuries, that will be played by ear.

We all, the entire human race (yeah that means you), live by faith. Believing we will live forever (yeah you, too). I have thought and thought about that. If you plan to live until tomorrow or next week, then basically, you think you will live forever, because tomorrow or next week never comes.
On Stock Island, just north of Key West, there is a bar with a sign painted permanently on the side, “FREE BEER TOMORROW”. The man has never given out a free beer. You do not plan to die today do you? It is always tomorrow or sometime in the future.
So until tomorrow,
NIte Shipslog

PS: (A saying attributed to Will Rogers)
There are three kinds of men:
The ones that learn by reading.
The few who learn by observation.
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.



9 comments:

Paula said...

Good thinking to plan just in case.

Paula said...

Oh I forgot to say that is a darling picture of Elsie Mae. She looks like she is contemplating her next move. (What to get into)

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It's good to hear you are prepared in all cases. I am sitting here watching some tent campers set up and am being very thankful that my camper is all set and I have all the luxuries available. It's just beautiful here in Ohio today.

Jen said...

I never really plan for emergencies like that, I just deal with things as they happen. I've locked my keys in my car in Yellowstone at dusk, popped my only spare mountain bike tube 100 miles from the nearest bike shop...everything worked out all right.

Anonymous said...

An entry that leaves me a bit wordless, as I realised, that I never thought about such things at all.
A great Friday for you all.

shirl72 said...

Our family has had many situations just like this. When you were in Cuba. Kat in Asheville
I guess when you have had traveling families
like us you try to prepare for everything.
Our family is getting smaller.

Shirl

Fred Alton said...

It's good to think ahead. I've learned a lot by reading - especially your blog. Hope I never have to learn some things...

BTW - I finished S'gar last week! Love your writing style Jack! Waiting now for that next novel...and looking forward to your next visit.

betty said...

I cannot believe Elsie Mae is already two years old, Jack/Sherry! She is absolutely adorable!!! It just seems like she was born and you guys all went out to see them!

wise to think ahead just in case catastrophe happened while you traveled. You just never know so better safe than sorry. My mom had pre-arrange/pre-paid her funeral and I remember one time she came to visit us. She handed me a business card with the funeral home's name/number on it and said if anything happened while she was visiting, just to call them. I appreciated that she let me know just in case.

you are right; we never know how many days we have here, only the Lord has our days numbered indeed!

betty

Lucy said...

That child is adorable. I know you are thrilled to be on your way and it is good to have plans for everything.