Day of Mixed Emotions
Trip Start
Jun 16, 2011
1
10
12
Trip End
Jun 25, 2011
Where I stayed
Manassas, Virginia
Friday, June 24, 2011
We headed out of Pennsylvania on the back roads enjoying seeing the beautifully manicured farmlands that we had so appreciated on our vacation in that area two years ago. We have so much respect for the Amish and Mennonite people and the manner in which they care for their land. We took some time out to try to locate our Mennonite friends while we were in that area but were unsuccessful and so disappointed. After spending extra time in Ephrata, PA we decided to hit the road directly to Washington, DC so that we could visit Arlington National Cemetery.
We crossed into Maryland and as we went around Baltimore were soon into the thick of the most horrible traffic.
Being a small town boy totally out of his element I really must give Terry a lot a credit for handling that mess with the greatest of ease on a motorcycle and pulling a trailer. It looked like peole all around us were looking at us and thinking "ARE YOU CRAZY?".
Good old "Fadie Bell". We had entered Arlington National Cemetery as our destination and bless her sweet heart, she took us straight there.....STRAIGHT through downtown D.C.
In and out of traffic circle after traffic circle and oh how Terry hates those things. But we just laughed about it and kept on trucking errr biking. We made it to Arlington and what an experience it was. We were so glad that we were able to be there for the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What a touching experience.
As you can see we did have some very good times on Friday. But because of the following you will see that we will be home a day later than we had planned. Bless her heart (if a bike can have one) because she certainly took care of us. All joking aside, we both know that if God had not had his hand on us and our bike last evening the night could have and probably would have had a much different ending. Because when that very large blister or bubble came up on our tire Terry could have lost control of the bike at 65-70 mph in very heavy interstate traffic but God's hands were on that bike as it wabbled into the emergency lane at 7:20pm.
Our wonderful insurance company's Roadside Assistance finally got us and our bike to a motel at 2am....boy they are good (no comment). Terry is at the Honda at this writing having a new rear tire installed on our bike to the tune of about $300. They actually had a new one in stock and could do the installation this morning a n d they actually came to the motel and picked the bike up and took them to the shop. Luck you think....I think not, I know that God is still watching over us.
You know we usually spend 3 or 4 hundred dollars on trinkets for our kids and grandkids when we go on vacation but this year all that we looked at just looked like junk for a lot of money so we did't buy anything....nothing just never looked right for anybody. We were talking last night and we both knew right away that God was just making us hold onto our $$$ because he knew we would have a real true need for it before we got home. When you start adding up $300 for a tire, an extra motel room (at a nice motel near the Honda shop), $184 to have the trailer towed in on the same rollback with the bike no less because GEICO can't decide whether they want to cover towing a trailer or not and mainly because their Roadside Assistance person has never heard of pulling a trailer with a motorcycle. But as Terry says we are okay we were shaken up last night but that's gone this morning. I alway try to keep in mind my favorite Bible verse and it's so easy to remember where in the Bible it is because my birthday is 8-28 and the verse is Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Now for Terry's entry from real early this morning or what we were feeling as real late last night.
It's 3:08 AM.....First & Foremost....WE ARE SAFE !!
Had a harrowing experience today. We are temporarily broke down in Manassas, VA, about 30 miles south of Washington,DC.
The rear tire on PEARL developed a huge bubble in the side of the tread as we were cruising along on I-95. We can not drive her any further. Due to the traffic we had to pull her over on the emergency lane with 5 southbound lanes of cars/trucks buzzing by 75-80 mph. We called for roadside assistance. When the motorist assist truck arrived, he followed us up to the next exit 'SLOWLY' (2 miles away) with lights flashing.
Pulled in to a gas station, called for a tow truck which delivered us safe & sound to the motel. There is a HONDA Dealer here in Manassas about 4-5 blocks down the street. Hopefully when they open in the morning, we will take 'PEARL' there for another tire (if in stock). If not in stock, one will have to be ordered and we may not make it back home til monday evening.
We will update this 'entry' more tomorrow sometime.
Please keep us in your prayers again for a quick return to the road and safe drive home.
Good Night
Comments
Sorry to hear of your trouble but I always say there's a bright side to every story. The bright side here is you found your problem before it caused bigger problems. You're both together and safe. Give thanks.
Good luck on finding a tire at the local dealer.
Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Glad yall are ok.. I know you will find something fun to do while waiting... Love you. Have enjoyed traveling with you. Get home safely and God Bless you.
Looking at that bubbled tire freaks me out. For one, I've never seen one that bad, and also, the thought of what could have happened...well, thank God it didn't! BTW, is that Jackie buried next to President Kennedy?