As you may or may not know, Fabgrandpa and I live full time in an RV and work at the Grand Canyon during the season. It is time again for us to make our migration west for the job. We hooked up the trailer to our new truck for the first time today, and set out with a destination of Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas. It is right across the river from Memphis, Tennessee. We’ll be staying three nights here so that we can go down and do Beale Street again.
We LOVE the blues, and live blues is the best ever! Our first date way back in 1991 was at The Blues Harbor Club in Underground Atlanta. I think I fell in love that night, while having dinner and listening to the blues with my handsome guy.
FabGrandpa had a goal of leaving by 9:00 A.M, and we actually got on the road around 9:20. He is in his own little heaven driving the new truck. It has a computerized diagnostic and information system on the dashboard, that figures the MPG automatically. I know this feature has been in vehicles for a long while now, but we have been driving a 1997 truck since 2001, so this is all new to him. For a guy who loves numbers, he is, well, orgasmic!
Although we only drive about 55 mph while we are towing our trailer, we were making good time. However, the trailer seemed to be “wiggling” around back there, something it didn’t do when we towed it with the other truck. We pulled over to the side of the highway for a potty stop, and discovered that there had been a blowout on the trailer!
That tire was not only blown out, it was worn completely off the rim! So, from now on, if that trailer starts wiggling, we’re stopping to see what the problem is! We have talked about getting on of those tire pressure monitoring systems several times, but never acted on it. I think now is the time to just do it.
This is where I am so glad I have that Droid phone that I got back in November. It has the greatest Map app on it that functions as a GPS. It shows us as a little blue arrow on the road, and shows us moving along the road as we drive. When we pulled over and discovered the blowout, I had no idea where we were, except that we were on the entrance ramp to US Hwy 78 near Holly Springs, Mississippi. I looked back up the ramp, and there was an Exxon gas station over there.
Instead of walking back up there in 86 degree heat, I opened the GPS app, went to the nearby places tab, touched “gas stations” and there was the name and phone number of that gas station. I touched the phone number, and the phone dialed the number. When someone answered the phone, I told them I was in the RV on the on ramp to Hwy 78 with a flat tire and needed someone to come and change the tire. They gave me the phone number for Ricky’s Towing Service. I called Ricky, and less than 10 minutes later, someone was there changing our tire. Incredible! Even more incredible when you consider that I had no idea where I was!
James from Ricky’s Towing Service got the job done in just a little bit, charged us only $35, and had us back on the road in about forty minutes. We’re going to have to find a tire store in the morning, but I sure that Map app will find it with no trouble.
We finally got to Tom Sawyer about 4:45 P.M., and got the very last site with a concrete pad! At least that was good luck! There is only a small part of the park open right now, because the river flooded. They are working to get the sites that were flooded cleaned up and repaired.
It was still hot when we got here, so after we got set up, we went inside for some A/C and a cold beer!
And just because the rig looks so good:
Sally in WA says
That map app is great! I’ve already used it myself. Your truck and trailer look great together. I’ll bet even with the tire blowout, FabGrandpa and you still have a big ole’ grin on your faces. Safe travels as you head west.
Ali Workentin says
Glad you weren’t stuck on the side of the road any longer with the heat. And $35 sounds like a good price for changing out a tire.
Have a great night of rest and be safe on the road tomorrow.
I had thought, for some reason, that you weren’t going back to the North Rim this year so thanks for the reminder.
Froggi Donna says
So glad the damage wasn’t worse…we love our Pressure Pro system, it tells us immediately if we have lost (or are losing) pressure in a tire.
geogypsy says
Dang, that new truck has all the bells and whistles, except for that tire pressure thingy. I’ll bet Jim’s in heaven. And the phone is a great tool, although I haven’t played with the GPS app, yet. Have fun in Memphis.
Linda Sewell says
Glad you got fixed and on your way again in no time. The new rig looks Vonderful my Dahling….hogs and kisses….love you my Seester 🙂
HalfCrazy says
Hi there!
I love how you tell a story, Fab Grandma! By the way, that tire was blown up REAL BAD! I’ve never seen a wreck like that in tires, until now.
Electronic maps nowadays are extremely convenient and are fun to use. Now you never have to worry about getting lost in the middle of nowhere again!
And in the last picture… yes, they look good together.
Judy Bell says
Safe travels on your journey to AZ. When I read your posts so many of the words are highlighted that it can be distracting. Just wondering what the reason is for so much highlighting?
Marilyn says
What a mess that tire — or lack thereof — made. I’d say $35 was a bargain! Memphis is a fun town…be careful & enjoy. Hope I-40 doesn’t beat you up too badly. Safe travels!
Sallie (FullTime-Life) says
Safe travels Karen….. I hope that will be your only problem. I want a droid phone ;>)