Hi All. I guess it is a good thing (? prophetic) that I did not confirm my reservation for this GTG, much as I would like to come.
Last Thursday, on day 41 of my 45 day Atlantic Canada caravan, my drive shaft split apart on the Transcanada highway between Cape Breton island and Nova Scotia on the Mainland. It took out the differential and cracked the transmission housing too. I had no parking brake or emergency brake on a big hill for nearly 6 hours until the tow truck finally arrived and towed me back to Cape Breton. I was standing on my brakes until help arrived. The rig was at the small dealership awaiting parts for a week so I stayed in a motel (only choice in this small town) at lots of dollars and rented a car to get about.
My dog was also having a major allergic reaction to something she picked up in Newfoundland during our almost one month there (with no cell service and almost no wifi!) so it was back and forth to the local vet with a steroid shot finally doing the trick (I hope).
I eventually drove to Prince Edward island where the caravan was ending and managed to take in the last two days of the caravan, staying at the rig of new friends. I was glad I at least got to say goodbye to my new friends and also glad this whole crisis happened while I was on the caravan where I could radio for help and get chocks put under my wheels by other fellow travellers so I was stable on the hill. Also had the local police with me
for several hours.
In any case, this is the fourth major disablement of my vehicle in only 4 months and my confidence has eroded, I must confess, along with my pocketbook. I have no guarantee that I will get to Pennsylvania at all, much less commit to attend a scheduled GTG. I signed up a year ago for a Winnebago rally in early October and have recently confirmed that it is nonrefundable (and was expensive) so I am trying to bolster myself enough to get to NYC by then but plan to take it slowly and get more service when I find a place bigger than a Ford car dealership (the place that is currently caring for its needs). In the meantime I got the rig back on Friday but it is still running hot I think so am taking it back the 15 miles or so on Wednesday to address the cooling system again.
I am at a lovely campground, the only one in many miles, that is oceanside and has good wifi so I am trying to get myself pulled together this week and plan to move on at the end of the week. The weather is finally gorgeous and I am trying to remind myself of why I chose to do this in the first place. I am just tired of feeling anxious about automotive issues...
Anyway, sorry I have not booked but maybe my subconscious knew something...? Part of it was just that we were kept so busy and had so little internet access that I never got online or had a phone to call! I really enjoyed the caravan otherwise. Just wish I did not have to drive anywhere for a while...
Hope you all have a hoot and I will make it if I can get there but otherwise know my thoughts and best wishes are with you!!
jan