Deja Vu
The traveller has reached the end of the journey! Edmund Burke
This is a story of a man and an engine. I will begin with the first time we tried to retrieve it from the seller.
From March 2016 - A few weeks ago Monty bought an engine with hopes of building his own airplane so we can fly when we want. The only problem was he bought it in Ohio. Okay, now we have to go pick it up. No problem, we have the Dodge one ton truck and we decide to go this past Thursday. Pack up and we head off.
First stop, Mexico Missouri (4 hrs from here) to visit the Zenith Aircraft Shop where the plane kits are made that Monty wants to use. We meet a very nice man who gives us a tour and we get to see the plane we want and touch and sit in. Exciting. Back on the highway towards Mansfield, Ohio where the engine is located - 14 more hours to drive.
We cross Missouri, get through the busy St Louis traffic and 40 miles later, near Pocahontas, IL, BAM!! What a loud noise we hear. Flat tire?? No, the 4 wheel drive contraption blew apart. Stopped on the side of the road. Great, now what??
Of course, it's getting dark. Where are we?? I call AAA, thank you Lord we have that. Spotty cell service so I have to lean out the window to talk. Within an hour the rescuer shows up and we are taken to the repair shop in Highland, IL. I feel like we are in the movie The Out Of Towners, the original. No car, need hotel in a small town, it's cold and I'm hungry. They will look at the truck tomorrow and we're trying to figure out what to do. No taxi service. I guess when I put my head on the desk, he felt sorry for us and they loaned us a car to get to the hotel nearby. Drew us a map and off we go. We found the hotel, got something to eat and went to try and relax.
Morning comes and we go back to find out the damage and costs($$$$$$$). Can't get a major part till Monday. We decide to rent a car and drive home. Find the one car rental place, pay a penalty to go one way and off we go. Oops, backed into a fence and now there's a dent in the back. At least we have insurance. This shitty trip can't get worse. We head home and deal with the pip squeaks at the rental location. Give our insurance info for damage and just want to go home. We get here and plop! Exhausted. Monty will probably go back next weekend to pick up the truck. I may stay home and avoid any more excitement. And the engine?? No word on retrieving it. But if he decides to go get it, we won't drive the truck.
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2020 Update: We decide to try to get the engine once again, 4 years later. Of course we have to take the truck, it's the only vehicle heavy enough to haul. Recently Monty mounted a winch onto the back of the truck to help him get it onto the truck bed. He also has the makings for a crate. No room in cab for bags so they go inside a large heavy duty trash bag. So stylish! We get started early on Saturday morning, headed for a town north of Columbus, Ohio.
We are approaching the area where the truck broke down on the first drive, doing okay. We get close to our exits so I start watching the map and directing Monty. We get off at Collinsville, IL and go into the La Quinta Hotel. They don't have a reservation for us. Okay, who did I call and get a room with? I go back to the truck and search my call history. Call the latest number and it's a Comfort Inn in Greenville, IL. Oh brother! We have a small "discussion" about how I lead him this way and where is the Comfort Inn. He thinks we are headed for Pocahontas but I didn't find a hotel there. Greenville is another 45 minutes down the highway. It's getting close to dinner so we stop at Bandana's BBQ before we get on the interstate. Very good.
Back on the road. We are hot and tired ready to relax. When we are approaching Collinsville, it seems rather remote and not much around. We see the Comfort Inn on the opposite side of the interstate, drive into the lot and go in. Yes, we are in the right place. I realize that the hotel is in the middle of farmland. No other buildings. Very isolated.
We get our key and unload the truck. Hmm, Monty smells something at the back of the truck. There is a leak at the front seal on the differential. It is 90 weight oil dripping onto the pavement. Great, how bad is it? Do we take the chance to keep driving another 6-8 hours tomorrow? Need repair right away? I check Google and see that there is a local mechanic. Really? I don't see much here but a McDonald's and a lot of farm land. He will decide tomorrow.
Room is nice, bathroom good size. Thank goodness they have a blackout shade since the highway lights are shining into our room. King size bed. Oh no, too soft and sagging in the middle. One of those ravines you roll into if you aren't careful.
Morning comes. We get up early to have our complimentary breakfast. Not very inviting. Mostly danish and cold items. Coffee terrible.
We pack up and Monty has decided to just give up the engine and go back home. He will let the seller know that he will not be picking it up ever. Sell it, trash it, don't care. There seems to be a reason we just can't get to Mansfield, Ohio. Do we keep entering a devil's triangle and it damages the truck? Whatever it is, we are heading back home.
After the unappealing breakfast, we drive for a while and turn into a Denny's. Very busy and a long wait. Get seated and order. Again, cold eggs and toast. Coffee so-so. We just can't catch a break on this trip. Back into truck and start on down the road. We are now in search for the elusive unsweetened iced tea. On most of our trips it seems that it is hard to find unsweetened iced tea the further north we go. There aren't Quik Trips everywhere (a Tulsa industry). We happen to see a QT off the interstate on the Missouri side. Really?? A QT? We excitedly go in to get our iced tea. No cups, nothing on the grill. Hmm. Thinking it is a Covid thing, I go to the counter and ask for a cup. Cashier says, "we don't have fountain drinks at this location." OMG I have never heard of such a thing. Back into the truck. Several miles down the road we end up at my favorite place to stop for iced tea. Sonic (another Oklahoma invention). Ahhh, we get our unsweetened iced tea and all is well. Let's get home!!
On the way we stop at Uranus Fudge Factory near Robert, Missouri.
It has been a long day and I think, boy we went an awful long way to find a good BBQ restaurant. And did we really have to stop at Uranus? Of course, that is what made the trip memorable.
Vow: we will not be driving the truck on this highway ever again.
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