Wednesday, June 28

Uh-oh.  This is bad.

The crew and I are in the Perfect Tow Vehicle going up the ramp to board Interstate 90 to Superior, Montana.

Lately, when we ride in the PTV, a chorus of birdsong emanates from the engine area. Since there aren’t any birds under the hood — I checked — I’m pretty sure the PTV has a loose belt.

Reggie, Roger, and I are camping at Quartz Flat Campground.

The Best Little Trailer waits for us back at camp.

It’s ten miles to Superior.  My phone is still kaput.  Being a risk-taker (or a fool, if you want to get right down to it), the crew and I set out this morning in hopes of making it to an auto service place in Superior before a belt comes off or breaks.

Once we’re on the interstate and there’s no turning back, I realize we aren’t going to make it.  The birds have flown, so to speak.

Nervously I coax the PTV to keep going.  The tick-tick-tick of her flashers adds to my anxiety.  Vehicles pass us like we’re standing still.

Time for prayer.

Dear God in Heaven, do NOT let us break down on the interstate!  No, no, no, not on the interstate!

Normally, I don’t tell God what He shouldn’t do, but in situations like this one, my prayer protocol tends to fly out the window.  I get kinda’ bossy.

God, HELP us!  

To my surprise, we come to a sign that says there’s an exit coming up in a half-mile.   It’s the exit for Lozeau, a tiny village which I’d forgotten existed.

Oh, we just have to make it to that exit . . . .  

I cheer the PTV forward.

“Come on!  You can do it!”  .

Like a horse run to its limit, the PTV staggers down the exit ramp and halts at the stop sign, engine heaving.

 If I can just get us off this ramp . . . .

Diagonally across the road is the entrance to a bar and grill/steak house that looks out of business.

That’ll do.

The PTV is on her last leg . . .  or tire.  Whatever.  She groans and clunks her way across the road, while I muscle the steering wheel.  Power steering is totally gone.

Whew!  We made it!  Thank you, God!  Thank you!

I pop the hood.

Peering inside I see the serpentine belt being very serpentine in places where it shouldn’t be serpentine at all.   I remove it.

What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is not a serpentine belt.  What we have is a jump rope.

Reg and Rog peer anxiously through the window of the PTV.

Behind us, vehicles fly by on the interstate overpass.  In front of us, a  paved road goes down a slight hill.  Pine trees on both sides.

Lots of pine trees.

Hoo-boy, now what do I do?

To be continued . . . .

~ ~ ~

Let’s take a little break, shall we?

You deserve some photos!  Canine crew photos, of course!

Photo 1:  Reggie and Roger play tug-of-war with a stick.  (Notice the leashes on the tether which runs between two trees.)

Photo 2:  Close-up of the action!  I declare a tie and proceed to untangle the leashes.

Photo 3:  Roger works on his prized elk antler while Reggie picks apart a pine cone.  This is good stuff, folks.  Hang on, there’s MORE!

Photo 4:  A camper walks toward our campsite (and somehow the quilt moves closer to the tree.  Oh well . . . another blog blooper.)  Roger and Reggie spring to their paws!

Photo 5:  The crew fires a fusillade of barks.   (Translation: “This is an outrage! People are not allowed to walk past our campsite!  Go away!”)

Photo 6:  Who ya’ gonna’ call?  Camper-busters!

In the next post . . . 

Reggie, Roger, and RVSue leave the PTV and trudge down the hill.

Will they find the help they need?  Will the Perfect Tow Vehicle be made perfect again?  

Don’t miss the next episode! 

rvsue

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