Today was Monday. When you’re retired AND traveling, it’s hard to keep track of what day of the week it really is. My only solace is that there are lots of things that are worse in life.
I was getting increasing concerned how the left rear tire on the trailer had been wearing. The outer 85% of the tire tread looked fine, but it was that inner 15% that gave me the willies. I had experienced a trailer tire failure on our trip last summer, so I didn’t want to go through this again. I went to the RV park office and asked for a tire service company recommendation and they gave me the business card of a company that would come on site to do the work.
I called them, and they informed me that they normally handle truck tires and that they didn’t have my trailer tire size in stock, but they would check to see if they could find one and then call me back.
Ten minutes later I received the call I had been waiting for, they found the tire and could be out here to the RV park within 45 minutes.
True to his word he was at our trailer on time. He immediately set to work changing the tire. He had a large compressor in the back of his van and with Marianne still in the trailer he jacked the left side of the trailer into the air to remove the tire.
Now I’m sure most of you have had a tire changed on your car and you’ve watched the mechanic use an automatic device to dislodge the tire from your rim, heck this ritual has been going on for as long as I remember. This time it was to be done entirely by hand using a maul.
It worked fine getting the old tire off the rim and then putting the new tire on the rim. The problem occurred when he attempted to use his air compressor to seat the new tire on the rim. For that. he needed a device that wasn’t in his van, so he had to call his partner to come over with that special air blaster that instantly floods the new tire with air so that it pops and seats on the rim. The tire was successfully inflated and mounted and I was ready to pay him. Oh, oh, he doesn’t accept credit cards, so I had to hit up the Bank of Marianne for a cash loan.
In the afternoon Marianne, her mom, and I head over to a Wal*Mart Supercenter. One stop shopping for groceries, greeting cards, and electronics. Marianne’s mom wanted a new CD boom box and electric can opener. And Marianne decided the house needed a new bathroom scale. We spent an inordinate amount of time picking through hundred’s of funny cards, cracking up on many, and then finally settling on a few for friend’s and family’s upcoming birthdays.
That evening Marianne, her mom and the dogs headed over to David and Leesey’s home in Montgomery to celebrate David’s 63rd birthday. They live in a gorgeous home with a really huge fenced backyard. The dogs were in heaven! Also attending the party were Leesey’s brother, Ed, and his wife Neenee, and Leesey’s mom, Fran. All of us then enjoyed a Chinese dinner topped off by a truly decadent chocolate and peanut butter cake – yum, yum! David seemed to enjoy his Wal*Mart birthday card.
We also got a chance to re-meet their dog, Cyclone, who was now over 17 years old, almost completely blind and very hard of hearing. But when a bacon treat was wafted before his nose, he starts biting in the air hoping he’ll sink his teeth into the treat. Amazingly, Cyclone looks good, spending most of what remains of his life sleeping on his dog pillow. He still goes outside to do his business, but must be strictly monitored. Even though he’s on a leash, a few days ago he walked into a light pole while David was walking him and talking on his cell phone.
That evening we headed back to frog hollow to turn in for the night.
Where is Leesy's other shoe? (She looks wonderful!)
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