In 2004, we bought our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. It has never been a
FANCY van, nor has it ever been that reliable. But it always seem to hold itself together for one last trip, or when our other cars broke down. But on August 2
nd, she finally passed away. It happened on the ONE trip that we didn't have our kids. So in a small way, it was a blessing that it happened. She broke down just as we passed out of Idaho into Montana. We limped her along for about 25 miles, then she was done and wouldn't go an inch farther. It is a really curvy, busy stretch of freeway, and it happened to be the one spot that our phones didn't have any reception. So
Rayce decided to walk to the next town, or until he had phone service. I stayed in the van to babysit the thousand dollars worth of tattoo equipment we had with us. I was in there for 2 1/2 hours before
Rayce got back, and not a single soul had stopped to see if everything was okay. He had walked about 4 miles before a family stopped and gave him a ride (in the back of their pickup) the other 4 miles to town.
Rayce brought back with him a tow truck, and they towed us the 8 miles to the next town. This is actually really sad pictures for me to post for two reasons: #1 I really do love this van, even if it has always been a pain in my butt and #2 because now we are vehicle-less. (Well, technically we have other vehicles, they are just 600 miles away and we have no way back to them)
Getting towed off the freeway
Back in the town of St.
Regis, Montana
The town only had one
reenky dink motel, and it was all sold out, so
Rayce and I slept in
HOTEL LA' VAN. It wasn't the best night of sleep we had ever had, but at least it was a place to lay our head.
Rayce's Dad was our life saver!!!!!! He got up at 4 the next morning to come and get us home (to Shelley) Don't know what we would have done without him!!!
It is never good to break down, but we do feel blessed that it happened on the ONE trip that we didn't have our kids, they were already down in Shelley. So now it is the quest to find a
replacement van. We knew we needed to buy one before the baby came, but we just didn't think we would have to do it so soon.
Back in the town of St. Regis, Montana
The town only had one reenky dink motel, and it was all sold out, so Rayce and I slept in HOTEL LA' VAN. It wasn't the best night of sleep we had ever had, but at least it was a place to lay our head.
Rayce's Dad was our life saver!!!!!! He got up at 4 the next morning to come and get us home (to Shelley) Don't know what we would have done without him!!!
It is never good to break down, but we do feel blessed that it happened on the ONE trip that we didn't have our kids, they were already down in Shelley. So now it is the quest to find a replacement van. We knew we needed to buy one before the baby came, but we just didn't think we would have to do it so soon.
1 comment:
Ugh I am so sorry, that had to be an awful experience! And yes you are so lucky you didn't have the kids with you. At lest you get a new van, that is way exciting!
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