Our worst travel day, yesterday (Saturday, August 7th), this is what happened…
We were staying with Mike’s Aunt Betty in Lewistown
Montana. While hitching up the camper to
the truck, Mike stepped in dog poop. (A
sign of what’s to come.) He walked our dog Abby, earlier that morning and we
forgot to pick up the poop. After cleaning
up his shoe and hitching up, we headed out on the road. About eight miles down the road from Aunt
Betty’s, we hear a noise (like something blew up or off) and the truck
jerked. I thought it was a tire, but
Mike thought it was a head gasket on the engine as he started to see black
smoke coming out the tailpipe. So he
pulls over, checks the engine with a quick glance and didn’t see anything. He decides to take us a little further down
the road to get us safely off the road.
As he was driving, he noticed the truck not driving correctly and the
turbo sensor indicated that there was an issue.
We reach a big turn off area on the road to check the engine again. This time he noticed the pipe from the turbo
on the engine to radiator disconnected so he was able to fix it.
As we continued our trek to Butte, we kept the radio off and
questioned to ourselves and each other every noise we heard. Through Bozeman we noticed that the truck was
not feeling correctly. At first we
thought it was the road, then Mike thought we lost a balancing weight on a tire
as he experienced that before, I thought it was a tire. We stopped in Whitehall for a rest stop and
gas up before going over the mountains.
Mike checked the tires to pacify me.
He didn’t notice anything. So we
continued. Not long on interstate 90, a
lady (or angel) in an all-white class c camper towing a small all white car,
pulls alongside us then pulls in front of us, slows down and flashes her lights
and is pointing out the window. Mike
passes her but as we pass we see her waving at us and pointing at a tire, so
Mike pull off the next exit, Pipestone.
We just made it off I 90, we stopped on the shoulder at the top of the
exit and Mike could see our driver side rear tire barely on. When we got out we saw with horror that our
tire was only on by one of eight lugs and lug nuts. Seven lug studs have been sheared off (gone,
nothing holding them on). This lady or
as I call her an angel stopped to see if we were ok. I think she was so afraid for us and
others. She saved us and others from a
possible accident. (I say lives but Mike
says I exaggerate.)
Mike tried to tighten that one lug to get us down the exit
ramp to the bottom on level ground, but the tire said “uh no” or it would have
fallen off. Mike could see how it was
wobbling and not safe. We called Coach-Net,
our roadside assistance company, to send a flatbed truck and bumper pull hitch
to come and get us and take us to Butte.
Mike called his Mom and step-dad that live in Butte to possible pickup
lugs and nuts at the auto part store and bring them to us to fix and limp to
their home. When they arrived Mike and
his step-dad Jerry determined that they couldn’t fix it on the side of the road. We were towed (truck and camper) to
Butte. The camper was parked at the
Walmart parking lot and the truck to the auto shop across the street. Now we wait to see how much the truck repair
will cost and take.
I say and believe the hand of God was over us, for numerous
reasons… we just renewed our Coach-Net membership last month; the engine made
us more aware of noises and signals around us; the lady in white spotting our
tire is an angel from God; we got safely off the road and on the flatbed with
one lug; the tow vehicle could take both our truck and home; it happened when
it was still light out until 9 pm so it was safer to deal with this issue; it
happened 30 minutes outside Butte, close to Mike’s Mom; Mike’s Mom had an extra
vehicle for us to get around until our truck is fixed; I kept my peace during the
whole situation yesterday (today I cried thinking about it and gave God
praise); and on and on. God is with us
and He is good.
Be safe out there.
Watch other drivers and make them aware of issues you see. Have a good roadside membership. Our membership with Coach-Net covers the tow
for the truck and camper. Safe travels and God bless.
Glad you guys are safe! You are so right, God does put Angels around us
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
DeleteA little devine assistance there!
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteSuppose, you are driving your car on the highway and your car stops suddenly and it does not start. Then, first of all, you might try to sort the things yourself. If it works, you are lucky, but if it doesn’t, seek help from a tow company. If you are looking for a tow company in Delta then you can contact TTN Roadside Assistance. Delta tow truck
ReplyDelete