One of the truisms that you have to embrace before beginning life as a Full-Time RVer or Nomad, is that unexpected events occur, and you need to be ready to handle those little emergencies, emotionally and financially. And when they come in clusters, your resolve can be put to the test.
During my ‘transition’ phase immediately after hitting the road, a blown radiator after backing the rig into my site at Black Rock Mountain State Park in Georgia was the first ‘Surprise’. Once my ‘New Life’ phase began, more ‘surprises’ popped up. Just after posting my last blog entry, my trusted Dell laptop decided to take a ‘permanent vacation’, hence the delay between that one and this one.
Tough to run out and get a replacement when you’re boondocking along the rim of the Badlands National Park.
Before leaving, I did drive the loop inside the park, taking a few photos along the way. The drive reminded me of my time here with Bentley, my big lab who was my companion the first time I came to the Overlook, and the second visit with Deborah, see previous post years ago.
While I did plan on stopping in Rapid City, South Dakota, to resupply at their Walmart, a new laptop wasn’t on my list at the time. I also wasn’t expecting to discover my gas cap was missing when I filled the tank in Box Elder, SD a few miles before reaching Rapid City. That discovery added a stop at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, where a very helpful woman made sure the part listed in her computer was the right one, seems there was a glitch in the software that pulled up 2 different parts for the same description of my vehicle.
After investing in a new computer, I went back to Box Elder, and decided to stay the night at a very nice Love’s Travel Center to set up the device and download the programs I use. The next morning, we hit the road departing South Dakota and entering the ‘Cowboy State’.
There were more places that I had already seen or experienced over the years here, including Devil’s Tower, but I wanted to go there again, and get a new hat, as mine was beginning to fray along the brim. Unfortunately, when I got inside the park, all cars with trailers were directed to an area where we would have to drop the trailer, and proceed to the visitor center by car only. I wasn’t wanting to go through that work just for a new hat, so we enjoyed the view coming and going, and drove to Gillette, where I had spent a whole month working as the morning host at one of the radio stations there. The city looked more run down on this visit, and after getting fuel, I kept going along I-90 to Buffalo, WY, where I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fairly new Love’s Travel Center, where we spent the night. I was inspired to make my first ever ‘Review’ with ‘The Dyrt’.
The next morning, it was off to Sheridan, as I had decided that I would finally visit Yellowstone National Park, something that I had never done. I did take the advice of several others and opt to take the I-90 route into Montana and then down back into Wyoming to enter the east entrance through Cody. thus avoiding the added stress on my car’s engine through the many elevation changes and switchbacks the route through Wyoming presents.
After another visit to Walmart on what was becoming a very hot day (98 degrees) I traveled through town, topped off my gas tank at a ‘Common Cents’ travel center, and as I was just about to enter the onramp to I-90, I noticed my gauge for the engine was pegged in the red. Deja Vu, All Over Again.
I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say, the process to have my roadside assistance service get a tow truck and repair facility lined up on a hot Saturday wore on my patience.
In the end, the initial call at 9am, resulted in the Firestone Complete Auto Care receiving my car from Ted’s Towing, while another tow from a second unit dropped my trailer at the Walmart parking lot a block away. Sam from Firestone got to my problem quickly and 2 hours later, my car was fixed, tested, and by 5pm, we were back on the road. I found out that their solid reputations have been genuinely earned. So if you ever find yourself in a similar situation while kin Sheridan, Wyoming, you know who to call.
So, what’s next? Smooth sailing, or more challenges to overcome? We Shall See.
