Where is Frank Churchill?
Where is Frank Churchill?, There I am, my curricle up to it's floorboards in water. Stuck.
I have always thought the people who use GPS and get into trouble were fools. I just joined the club.
Driving via GPS directions as the Google ones failed, I found myself driving down a very narrow, winding road. Key features of Hogsback Road, rocks, puddles that extend across the full width of the road,
after five or six I stopped worrying I'd get the car stuck. Last one looked like the others but it had hidden depths. As I drove in I knew in seconds that a tow truck would be in my future. I had considered not using this road after 500 m or so, but it was too narrow and windy to turn back. There was a sign that said unassumed road, I drive down them all the time in my job. This road was far more unassuming than I'd ever been down before.
Road service was called. I had Brambling with me, it's was very hot. I couldn't run the engine as I didn't want to get water into something critical. So I rigged up some shade with tape and a map.
I wasn't keen on wading out of the car. This was at 3 pm. CAA promised a tow in 35 minutes. An hour later I called, now the truck wouldn't be there til 5 pm, that was after a 30 minute wait on hold. Both of us were overheated, so I tested the waters. Waded out and found it was very difficult to walk - feet were sucked into mud. Managed to lift Brambling onto dry land and we hiked a bit uphill to see if there was anyone to help us - give us shelter and more water. Bram had been drinking out of her bowl, but I hadn't been able to lift her and get more things from the car. Brain wasn't working well at this point.
After reaching a spot in the road that was another huge puddle, I turned back. As we came back to the car I could hear people and vehicles. Saved! by a group of 4x4 truck drivers who were on the road for fun. They had the car out of the pond in a jiff, at about 5 pm. I had to bail out the car before one of drivers with lots of help managed to turn the car around on the narrow road. Seems if I had taken the left fork a bit earlier none of this would have happened.
Back on the highway I found the tow truck. I sent him on his way with thanks, but then the car started to make nasty noises. Flagged the driver down and asked him to tow it to friend Gary's garage not far away. He agreed, but said Brambling couldn't drive in the tow truck. I refused to put her in an un-airconditioned car for the 20 minute drive. The heat would have killed her, never mind the anxiety it would cause her to be alone in a car. I told him what I thought of his 'rules' and said he could take the car and we would find our own way thank you very much. Tow truck driver told me his truck cost $80,000. Obviously a few dog hairs would damage it permanently - so much guff.
Fortunately, there was a farm not far down the road. Jill was very welcoming and let me use her hose to soak Brambling. It took three soakings before she had cooled down. Panting with her tongue on the ground, I was very concerned about her. She's ok now, thank goodness.
Gary's son spotted me on the road, called his dad and they called me and said they'd come and get me. Dear brother wasn't home, so this was a huge help. Gary checked the car over and advised me to get it washed and use the power washer to get rid of all the mud.
Home now, dear brother fed me and heard my tale. I stopped in town and ran the car through the auto wash, then used the power wash to get rid of the mud underneath.
So much for a pleasant afternoon with fellow SCA foldk