Day 2: Brake is over
by Andrew JohnsonLast night, we made an appointment to get the brakes looked at. Turns out they weren’t properly installed in the first place, so we had a completely new unit. Which is not so bad, given the importance of having the ability to stop periodically during our drive across country. The people at the garage were extremely friendly and professional – they said they had traveled cross country many years ago and people had shown them kindness along the way and they want to pay it back. One of many angels on our shoulders on this trip. Now we’re in business – brakes work, trailer feels OK (or at least as good as it could be given the weight), gas tank’s full, UPS has come…
It finally hit us that we were leaving Syracuse when we left Binghamton and didn’t get on 81 north to go to Syr, but went south instead….That was strange indeed….And driving 81 south listening to a wonderful CD that Stacey made for us ( and overnighted to us in Bing) all about fond farewells and holding those who are near and dear, even closer in your heart was quite an emotional experience…It has finally hit us that we are leaving for awhile…….I understand how it felt for those we left….
We finally pull out at about 3pm heading for Connecticut for a visit with Lenny (Andy’s brother) and his family. So far, Alex has been a real trooper throughout this entire move. Things were going along smoothly until about 60 miles from his house – we had to make a pit stop at a dive gas station: I didn’t see the storm grate with the deep depression and ran over it. The FT make it OK, but the sound I heard when the trailer ran over it was something out of a Road Runner cartoon. Sure ‘nough, one wheel had popped up, hit the fender, which wrinkled the side of that stupid trailer. Still too much weight in that thing. We hobbled on to Connecticut without incident but it is clear that we’re asking too much out of this trailer.
Lesson #2: Always allow a “little extra” in the travel budget for unexpected expenses.
Share This