While loading our RV on New Years Day, we experienced a fine example of Ohio’s motto, “if you don’t like the weather, stick around for the next change”. From glorious blue skies as I drove from the storage lot to our house, to the rain that soaked me 45 minutes later as I re-installed the batteries, to 3 or 4 more similar cycles that had Susi proclaiming, “It’s me. I cause the rain. Every time I carry something out there it pours again!”, to the dusting of snow that fell in the late afternoon, we felt our motivation and excitement building to get on the road. With snow showers threatening, we got underway at 6:30 the next morning to try and stay ahead of the storm. So, while family and friends hunkered down around TV with subs and pizza to enjoy an orgy of six college football games, we ran south full blast until…
the road totally iced up between Cincinnati and Louisville, slowing traffic to 20 mph. Fortunately, the threat was far worse than reality, and a few miles later we were in the clear again. Though we hit a few more squalls of flurries and slick roads, it was the relentless wind that kept our attention glued to the road. The nastiness did push us to extend our first day’s drive for thirteen hours to ensure better conditions thereafter.
About 520 miles out, we sought a Walmart store, our familiar overnight refuge from the road when when we are simply trying to cover a lot of miles. As Susi turned left into the parking lot in Jackson, Tennessee, she exclaimed, “Oh, damn”, and we heard a sickening crunching sound. Fearing the worst, I jumped out to check the Forrester we tow, thinking it had been dinged by another car. Relieved to find not a scratch, I came back to the RV looking puzzled, until Susi explained that we had hit an overhead bar. It turns out that this Walmart is posted “No trucks”—which they enforced with a barrier hanging 12’ 4” above the driveway—3” lower that our required clearance.
We took a few moments to get our adrenaline levels under control, then pulled close to the gas island where there is plenty of light. I climbed up on top for an inspection and found myself crawling to keep stable against the wind. Fortunately, it appears that the crash was more noise than damage. The tallest appendages are two air conditioning units, which showed minor scrapes but no cracks. With temperatures around freezing, we have not yet tested the A/C, but I’m guessing that it will work just fine. All that we lost is an insignificant “toy” of a solar panel that isn’t really large enough to help charge the batteries anyway.
Susi and I were happy to get out and walk about a 1/2 mile to stretch our legs and get some dinner at Chili’s, which proved to be full on this holiday Monday, so we jumped up on stools at the bar. With a friendly, attentive bartender we settled in for a relaxing dinner. We really didn’t expect any different when a sprightly senior citizen sat down next to Dave. Of course, the Rose Bowl game between Wisconsin and Oregon was on TV right over our heads, and Susi soon responded to one of his quiet mumbles, asking, “Do you know a bit about football?”. Well, did he ever! Buddy Patey, a regular according to the barkeep, proceeded to regale us for the next hour with story after story of his joys as an official at both the college and pro levels. He proudly identified three of “his boys” who were officiating the Fiesta Bowl as it came on TV, since he’d finished up his career supervising all the officials in his beloved SEC conference. Among his favorite memories were six bowls and even a couple national championship games he had worked. Some of the titles on his calling card included SEC Technical Advisor, Retired; OVC Supervisor Emeritus; TSSAA Supervisor, Retired; College Football Hall of Fame; TSSAA Hall of Fame; Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame; and CCA Commissioners Officiating Hall of Fame. Buddy worked in human resources, was Vice Mayor of Jackson for a time, and knows everyone in football, as he punctuated his stories with names of one famous player and coach after another, including many glowing remarks about Jim Tressel. This vital, dynamic, 86 year-old has obviously enjoyed his “blessed life”, and we are thankful for the chance to enjoy a delightful dinner with him.
Susi and I are thankful, too, for our own blessed life, that allows me to write this as we roll across Arkansas toward Hot Springs National Park with Susi chiming “33, 34, 35…44, 45”, counting out the hawks roosting along the road.
If you’d like a visual of our progress, take a look at our Tucson 2012 Google Map.
About the signage, Jeff… what was really missing was a sign for Walmart visible from that direction. As Susi was turning based on GPS directions, I was frantically searching to make sure it was indeed a Walmart, which was not obvious because we were approaching from the rear. Otherwise, I could have been the “second set of eyes” that might have seen the overhead barrier.
Thanks for caring for the house!
I am glad that the RV didnt take much damage, Walmart should have posted a bigger sign? All is well at the house, 50 degrees today, hopefully your weather is condusive for smooth sailing too.
What an adventure! I hope you have fewer trials during the next few months…but each challenge presents an opportunity for a fun story.
I guess there are several ways to enjoy football! And when you don’t have a specific team or player to defend, the people and the stories of a passionate person are always interesting! Sounds like an interesting dinner.
Keep laughing!
“Contagious laughter”… I like that!!! I’m going to have to add the to the “bag of tricks”. I am already laughing at the idea that I can just melt away and not see those who don’t “catch it”!
Thanks!
I agree with Susi, “Damn”, and I hope the AC works as needed. Last summer I believe a week or so passed before Susi and I discovered the various alarms and beeps and monitors that could be turned off before turning in for a good night’s sleep. Top on the list is tire pressure monitor. You really don’t need to know a tire is a pound or two shy of perfect pressure at 3 a.m.
I just returned from Laughing Yoga. I rely on laughter being contagious and usually the group laughs with me, but sometimes I laugh and they look at each other quizzically. You might try this on your stops while you are making tracks; if it doesn’t get people laughing at least you won’t have to see them again….