I have been living my life as a full-time Nomad Traveler since January 2018. During this time, I had one travel companion which was Richard, my brother in August 2021. Therefore, I was beyond shock and taken aback when I answered my phone in October and heard: “Hello, my friend, when are you planning to leave Sioux Falls for the winter?
On October 4th, I replied.
Okay, I will be arriving at your Sioux Falls Airport on Frontier Airline Flight F-9727 at 2:08pm on October 2nd, the caller said.
Stop lying Delores, I replied.
I am not lying my friend. I look forward to seeing you at the airport on October 2nd at 2:08pm, she repeated.
Okay, I will be there on the 2nd, I replied. Although both of us are retired we had never discussed taking a trip or spending anytime together after I sold my Maryland home in our old neighborhood and moving to Sioux Falls SD on January 17, 2018.
Meanwhile the drive back to Why Arizona would be my first drive in my motorhome since having Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery to my right shoulder on May 9th, Therefore, I was excited and looked forward to having Delores join me on my return journey to Why Arizona. But I still wondered why now? We hadn’t seen each other since January 17, 2018.
Upon her arrival Delores fell into step beside me as I performed my annual routine of packing up the motorhome for highway travel which included grocery shopping at Wal-Mart to restock motorhome dry/can food cabinets, as well as to stock freezer and refrigerator. Then we rearranged clothes closets and drawers. This process ended with us securing doors and drawers for clothes, medicines, tools, outdoor equipment including chairs, tail-gate dish, outdoor rug, tire levels, water hoses, sewage dump equipment, external electric cord for utility hookup and three portable propane tanks
On October 4th at 9:00am, I drove my motorhome from its spot where we had homestead for the last 6-months to a level road position so we could attach the jeeps towbar to the back of the motorhome and secure it for travel. I hugged my neighbor and we headed for the nearest service station where we brought breakfast and filled up the motorhome’s gas tank. Shortly thereafter, the State of South Dakota and its Nebraska border lay miles behind us.
It was a great day to travel. The sky was a vibrant blue, the sun was bright, air brisk and the highway was wide-open before us. There was Little to no traffic on the highway as we left Sioux Falls, entered Nebraska, and continued our travels during the following three days.
Usually, it’s a three-day drive from South Dakota to my Why Arizona desert location. However, instead of using my cellphone as my GPS, I purchased a new Garmin GPS on October 1st and loaded information as directed via the device and internet instructions. The darn device turned out to have a mine of its own. No matter what I did, it was determined to force me to use the west-coast to reach my destination. Although, I continued to enter an east-coast address. Meanwhile, every time I changed directions and headed East; the device would add additional miles to our trip.
The hardest trips I have ever taken were on the West-Coast which is a route I avoid like not taking Castrol or other laxatives for constipation. Image the gas usage and wear and tear on your vehicle when you are driving a 30-foot motorhome with a Jeep Wrangler in tow climbing mountain after mountain.
I have only had two parked on the side of the road events in my lifetime which were caused because I miss judged my distance and ran out of gas. But I never had and always dread the possibility of having a roadside breakdown because something broke on my vehicle. As a result, I am adamant about having my vehicles serviced prior to getting on the highway. This is what I did in September prior to leaving Sioux Falls on October 4th.
I was so irritated with the function of my newly purchased Garmin GPS from Wal-Mart, as well as increasing constant shoulder pain from my previous six-month old surgery and could only take a Tramadol once I pulled into a place off the highway for the night. Delores immediately picked up on my frustrations and not only became my animated passenger seat dancer, singer and motorhome hill climbing Fanclub cheerer. It is now October 7th . I have been driving up and down 6000-7000 Latitude mountains for four days. Pulling off the highway into truck stops before dark to eat dinner and go to bed.
We had just cleared Payton AZ, a small, congested town with crawling traffic thru short timer set traffic lights. At this point we had been driving for two hours when I noticed my motorhome wasn’t climbing mountains as before, also I was smelling heat and steam from where I sit behind the steering wheel. I finally said, Delores hold-on, I need to pull off the highway because something is wrong with the motorhome.
Once I had safely pulled both the motorhome and jeep-in-tow, onto the shoulder of the highway. I pulled the hood release and exited the motorhome side-door to check under the hood because vehicles were travelling 80 or more miles an hour as they passed us on the shoulder. Though due to shoulder pain it was a struggle to unlatch and lift the hood. Once done, I discovered smoke and heat seem to be coming from everywhere. As a result, I called AAA.
Upon describing my situation and location, my Sioux Falls AAA provider transferred me to a dispatcher near my highway location. Upon explaining the smell and smoke under the hood plus telling him I had a jeep with a dead battery in tow.
“Sounds like you might have a busted water pump. Ms. Brown do you feel safe where you are because I can send a police officer to your location”, he said.
If drivers stay on their side of the road, I am okay, I replied.
Okay it’s going to take a while for me to find a tow provider to transport you because, I need one to tow a heavy load, and this is the weekend so most shops are backlogged, closed, or soon will be closing for the weekend. I don’t want you to worry Ms. Brown, just hang tight; I promise I will get you off the top of that mountain, he said.
While waiting two tow trucks swung in ahead of us. Looked at both the motorhome and jeep; but determined their vehicle couldn’t tow both. At 5:00pm a larger tow-truck pulled in front of us, and a smiling driver quickly jumped to the ground from the cab of his truck and ran around the front of his truck to the shoulder where Delores and I stood.
”Hello ladies, I am Dennis, like Dennis the Menace. Which one of you ladies is Edith Brown, he asked laughing”.
“I am Edith, and this is my friend, Delores”, I replied.
“What is your planned destination”, he asked.
“Why, Arizona”, I replied.
Okay, that’s on the East side. I can tell you now. Looking at the puddle on the ground I am willing to bet, you have a busted water pump and Payton is booked up by RV repair service needs. So, if I tow you back; you will be waiting at least a week before anyone can even look at your rig. Then they might have to order the part which could take another week. Although, it’s going to take a while I suggest I tow you forward to Mesa AZ which is a larger city and closer to your destination. Also, your chance of getting your rig repaired would be a hell of a lot faster. So, Ms. Brown which way do you want me to tow you?
Mesa AZ is fine. Luxury RV, which is on Main Street, has serviced my motorhome in the pass prior to my return trips home to South Dakota, I replied.
Okay, let me get to work getting you hooked up so I can get us off this got dam mountain tops; we aren’t safe with these fools behind the steering-wheels, Dennis said.
Delores and I stood on the shoulder of the highway watching Dennis hookup my motorhome to his truck and install skaters which took a while because of foolish highway drivers. Further, it was added danger for all of us as Dennis tried to get back onto the highway. Drivers wouldn’t move over though high beam lights were blinking on the top and sides of the tow truck. As well as on the rear of the jeep and sides of my motorhome.
It was around 7:00pm when we arrived in Mesa Arizona. Luxury RV was one-minute from a large shopping center lot which had signs posted, “Over-night parking not allowed”. This is the best and closest place for me to drop your vehicles. It looks like a manager might still be in Ross’s Dress Store, I am going to explain your situation as a traveler and see if he/she will let me drop you here at the curb across from their store until you can get your vehicle repaired across the street at Luxury RV on Monday. Hang tight ladies, I will return shortly, he said as he jumped from the cab of his truck and ran across the parking lot to Ross’s.
Upon his return. “It’s a go ladies; just stay put. Let me review the area before dropping your vehicles. We don’t need any other dangers, he said”.
Once my vehicles were dropped; hookups, tow lights and skaters were removed. Dennis helped Delores and I from the cab of his truck and I completed the required paperwork; he called in my credit card number to his office for clearance. I signed the tow document.
“You two ladies are awesome. I have had all kinds of folks in the cab of this truck who had all types of beliefs and mindsets. Some on drugs, drunk, and/or wanting to argue about religion, LBG residents, emigrants, Democrats vs Republicans, etc. However, the three of us talked about where we grew up, how our parents raised us; the dumb things we did as kids; leaving home as young adults, the crappy jobs we’ve had. What the important things are in life, places we’ve lived and visited (good/bad). I swear this two-hour trip was great. If either of you are in this neck of the woods ever again, whether you have a breakdown or not; here is my card please call me. I would like to see you again, hear your traveling stories or tow you to safety”, Dennis said.
I agree this was a refreshing, funny and uplifting trip. Also, the first time I have road in a front seat as a passage in three or more centuries, I replied laughing.
I enjoyed my backseat ride as well as our conversations. It’s the first time I ever had an entire backseat to myself, Delores added also laughing.
See ladies, that’s what I am talking about Dennis said. We shook hand exchanged business cards and said goodnight.
Monday morning upon contacting Luxury RV turned out to be the greatest disappointment. Although this company has serviced my motorhome on five different occasions, the new service manager, Gregg had no empathy or commitment to ensure a former customer got the emergency service needed to get her back onto the highway. Instead, he said, “We don’t have any water pumps in stock. However, you can call this phone number…. He’s name is Drew; he’s a RV Tech and a friend of mine. Upon leaving a message for Drew. I called Liz, Luxury RV Receptionist and informed her of my situation and location, as well as the beforementioned conversation with Gregg. She was appalled, and immediately provided phone numbers for Larry Miller Ford, Earnhardt Ford, Sandtan Ford and Camping World. All were booked up. However, Camping World said they could get me into their service center next Monday. Upon disconnecting from Camping World, Drew returned my call. I explained my situation to him.
Gosh I wish I could help you. I do everything inside motorhomes but nothing under the hood. When I worked at Luxury RV if we got a job, we couldn’t do we sent it across the street to Japan Motor; they are good folks. I bet they will make the repairs you need. Here is their phone number.
On the first ring, “Hello this is Jazz, how can I help you? A professional voice said.”
Hello Jazz, this is Edith Brown I was towed into Mesa from the top of a 7000 high mountain top on Friday night because of a busted water pump, I replied.
Just a minute, I am going to put Danny on the phone, she said.
Hello this is Danny. How can I help you Ms. Brown? I repeated my previous response to Jazz.
What is your location here in Mesa?
I am on the shopping center parking lot across from Ross’s Dress Shop, I replied.
Great. I am across the street from Luxury RV. You are only a half minute drive which can be done without causing additional problems to your motorhome. Come to me, I’ll be standing outside waiting, he said and hung-up.
A guy was at the apron entranceway to the shop waving. Pull on your flashers and stay there a minute he shouted. Another guy was backing a vehicle out of the service bay and parked it in an outside space. Alright, come to us the other guy shouted. We were greeted by two smiling, good-look men; Danny, and Oscar, who immediately popped the hood and surveyed my motorhome.
Upon entering the office, a smiling Jazz offered cold bottles of water and snacks. We were still chatting when Danny and Oscar entered the office to inform me that I did have a busted water pump which Danny was ordering at that moment as an emergency in hopes of getting it delivered within the hour. Also, I mentioned that my jeep battery was dead which they had already discovered.
It does not matter the distance I tow my jeep. My battery is always dead whenever I arrive at my destination, I said.
We’ve got a gadget for that. Your dead battery problem occurs because you must turn your ignition on for your wheels to roll which means your battery is engaged and running during the entire trip. However, if will install a shutoff gadget on your battery which disconnects it; you will no longer have a dead battery problem, Oscar replied.
Please install that gadget on my jeep and show me how to use it, I said.
Consider it done, Danny said.
We were back on the highway in 2-1/2 hours later, arriving in Why AZ at 5:32pm, on October 10, 2022.
As a result, to show my gratitude I sent Peace Lily Plants to Liz and Jazz to spruce up their desk and/or waiting areas and express my gratitude for their help. I also wrote a stellar review regarding my experience and shared the compassion shown to me by Japan Motors manager and staff. However, I wrote a bad review for Luxury RV. But mentioned Liz by name and expressed my gratitude for her concern and desire to help me.
