Chapter 3 – Budget Krunch or Broken Down in Denver – Disater #3
(Remember this is still the flash forward, we still have to go back to how this all go started in the first place)
Facebook Post – April 16 at 10:16am
Glen Allan Clark After working with Budget Truck Rental “roadside assistance” and two mechanics most of the morning, we’re heading out one more time (with ourfingers crossed and a prayer in our hearts)! Why do I feel like we’re in a Chevy Chase movie?
Linda – likes this.
John – You got Grandma strapped to the top of the truck?
Facebook Post – April 16 at 1:55pm
via Facebook for BlackBerry® smartphones
Glen Allan Clark Broken down in Denver – 04/16/10
John – Geez!
Gloriaelena – OMG OK seriously it’s time to just park it and set up roots there!!
From: Glen A. Clark
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2010 6:13 AM
Subject: RE: Moving to California
Family & Friends –
Here we go again . . .
Friday, we awoke in Wellington, Colorado. After a number of phone calls to Budget, they agreed to send a maintenance crew to where we were to inspect and “fix” the problem rental truck we have been driving from Lincoln, NE (truck #2). The tow truck and crew arrived and were very nice. They added another gallon of oil to the truck, as well as 2.5 gallons of coolant and inspected the truck overall (they also checked out our other truck, #3). They gave the truck a clean bill of health, or at least as “clean” as they could without their computer, which cost $15,000 and was back in their shop (the computer doesn’t leave the shop because it’s so expensive).
With the consult of Jan and Charlie we decided to take the slightly longer southern route through Denver (as opposed to going north through Salt Lake City) primarily because it was felt that if we were going to have further difficulties there would be more options for services. With the OK from the maintenance crew, we left about 12 noon and drove from Wellington to Denver (approximately 70 miles with only a few slight grades to climb). We did this short drive without any negative incidents (no lights, bells or alarms). As soon as we started to climb the initial Interstate 70 grade up out of Denver (and into the Rockies) the truck lights and bells went wild, and this time they were accompanied by smoke and smells of burning substances. We pulled off the freeway at the first available exit and limped into a parking area (which we were fortunate to find) to once again call our “friends” at Budget Roadside Assistance (or Budg-R-Ass, as I now refer to them).
After several calls and waiting over an hour and a half, of course the response from Budget was that they once again wanted to unload the disabled truck and repack our belongings into a different truck (this would be the third time for us to go through repacking a truck on this trip). Robin and I talked about it (briefly) and between us (although mostly from Rob) we told Budget that we were “done” with the packing and repacking and that they should take the truck wherever they needed to, get a crew of “real” movers, unload the truck, reload another truck and drive it out to us in California. Eventually they agreed, and then it was a matter of waiting for two tow trucks (one to take the second car carrier and a much larger truck to tow back the loaded disabled truck). That process took another couple of hours.
Finally, at about 6:00 PM we started out once again to go up and over the Rockies and head into Utah, with one truck, a car carrier with my car, and Robin driving her car (and, naturally, with Zenobia and Joezee riding shotgun in our respective vehicles). We drove without further incident until we stopped for the night in Eagle, Colorado (slightly west of Vail)). We hope to head out in the morning (Saturday) and finally get an entire day of driving done and make significant progress toward getting “home.”
By the way, while all this was going on, the PODS unit (http://www.pods.com/) with the items we had shipped ahead arrived in California. It was a very busy day there, even though we hadn’t made it yet. The PODS unit was scheduled to be delivered between 7:15 and 10:15 AM. Rob’s sister Lynn arrived early in the morning with a couple of workers from the ranch to start the unloading process. Our “landlords” Joe and Carol were also up and at ‘em and ready for the challenge along with our sister-in-law Carrie (with her Dad’s truck).
Unfortunately, the PODS did not get there on time (they said something like, “Schedule changes are not unusual as “things” occur during any given day.”). Lynn and the crew had to wait several hours until the PODS unit did arrive (around 2:00 PM . . . I think). When the truck did arrive, the driver was unable to get all the way up the driveway to the house. Therefore, the PODS was left part way up the drive on a neighbor’s property and then the contents were unloaded and trucked to the house (another 150 yards +/-). So, there were challenges at both ends of our moving ordeal. It is my understanding that by the end of the day the PODS was completely emptied and our furniture and “things” were offloaded into the house and garage. I’m sorry to say that I don’t know who else was there helping, but we are very, very grateful to each and every person that lent us a hand through this trying day (and week).
Wish us luck as we start out on what we hope to be the last legs of this grueling journey.
Best to all,
Glen & Rob
Our Story Continues . . .
Coming next . . .
Chapter 4 – On The Road Again, I Just Can’t Wait To Get On The Road Again!
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