New Mexico Archives - Tena Stetler

Sep 14th A Doozy of a Vacation & Road Trip

While the vacation itself it was great, but getting there and back was the road trip from hell. AGAIN. Seems like everytime we take a vacation it turns into this kind of adventure. Never a dull moment. Well, maybe while sitting on I40.

Okay everyone runs across road construction during a road trip, but let me tell you, on Interstate 40, they take that construction to a new level. We spent one and one half hours sitting on the highway between more semi-trucks than I’ve seen in years. Yep, I-40 across New Mexico and Arizona is the trucker’s highway.

On the vacation and road trip out to Arizona the heat was a stifling 95 degrees or more, who would have expected that in September? Not us. But the night was cool when we stopped in a great campground in Gallup, New Mexico on our way to Williams, Arizona. Our friends had purchased a cabin in the area and we wanted to check it out. A good place to rest and recharge, or so we thought. The plan had been in place before COVID19 hit. We deemed the vacation trip safe, since we travel with our truck and thirty-seven foot fifth wheel, practice social distancing, and wear our masks.

KOA campground in Williams was our vacation home for six days. We traveled from there to the cabin where we played Disk (Frisbee) golf and visited. There is more to the game than throwing a Frisbee. In our younger years, hubby and I tossed a mean Frisbee. Yet the modern disks and the course was challenging to say the least. No campfire s’mores due to fire ban restrictions. But lots of fun, hot dogs, burgers, great food and good times.

Now the return trip to Colorado. We hopped back on I40 (should have known better) but it’s the fastest way through Arizona and New Mexico. Historic Route 66 is fine and we did follow that a bit while we were in Arizona. But with a Dodge diesel 3500, crew cab, long bed, towing a 38 foot trailer, it’s a bit challenging. Anyway, back to I-40 we almost made it to Albuquerque, New Mexico when all of a sudden the interstate comes to a complete halt. Again big, long semi’s surrounded us, couldn’t see a thing. After three hours, sitting still, I googled traffic on I40 and discovered a sheriff had been shot during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 and the interstate was subsequently shut down. After a police chase, the perpetrator was arrested. Now you don’t run into that very often, at least we never had. Finally, I40 reopened and we continued on to the KOA in Albuquerque where we spent the night. It was a nice campground.

Next morning, we continued our travels toward home hoping the last leg of the trip would be uneventful. No such luck. I had a niggling feeling that fate had other ideas. As it turned out, I was right! Somewhere between Santa Fe and Raton New Mexico, the check engine warning light blinked on informing us that the **DEF system in our 2015 diesel truck had a problem needing dealer attention and the engine would shut down in one-hundred and fifty miles. It was over two hundred miles to Colorado Springs. Yep, not going to make it. Now what????

Thank goodness for AAA. But I only had regular membership not for towing a large fifth wheel trailer and one ton truck. But the customer service could upgrade our membership over the phone, but same day expedited service was another matter. Yep, saw money rushing out of our bank account. We got all that done, with the help of my credit card. The next obstacle came in the form of finding a tow company with a heavy haul capability. AAA dispatch got right on it, but it was a few hours before they found a tow company willing and able to come out on a Sunday night with the proper equipment. Thank you Hook Towing. The tow truck driver was wonderful. When he finally arrived, we explained exactly what had happened. He was quite familiar with the DEF problem in the diesel trucks. He had an engine computer reset fix he hoped would enable us to limp truck and trailer home. Lo and behold it worked and by nearly midnight we were finally on our way again. We made it home with truck and trailer, dog, parrot and turtle. Life took off again at 5:30 A.M., Monday morning at break-neck speed. No rest for the wicked, I guess. Not that I consider us wicked, just say’n I’m damn tired of this rat race, especially when the rats are winning.

Hope you enjoyed my account of our recent road trip. Tell me about your adventures in 2020. Do you cringe at the beginning of each month wondering what new catastrophe will befall us. Or keep a smile on your face and hope for the best? Me, I’m trying to stay positive. I positively want 2020 gone. I recently saw a cartoon with the stay-puff marshmallow man (from Ghostbusters) stomping through cities. I had to laugh. Is that what’s next for us? LOL

** DEF is sprayed into the exhaust stream of diesel vehicles to break down dangerous NOx emissions into harmless nitrogen and water. This system is called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and can be found on 2010 and later model year trucks and many diesel pickups and SUVs. This system can be problematic. Always us high quality DEF products, since all are not the same.

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The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.

The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.

Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Arizona, camping, DEF Fluid, Frisbee golf, KOA, New Mexico, Road Trip from Hell, RVIng, USA Campground, vacation by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.

Mar 20th Ever Been on A Road Trip From Hell?

I never had such a road trip until the last two weeks. The first day out, we made it to Gallup, New Mexico relatively unscathed. The next day, sustained 55 mph winds with 75-86 mph gusts derailed our plans, nearly derailed our fifth wheel, and put us a day behind, not to mention destroying a window in the trailer. After a pickup truck and trailer were flipped over ahead of us by the wind, we pulled off in Flagstaff, the wind was way to scary to continue.

The next day we made it to Las Vegas where hubby attended ConEx, a construction conference. At the trailer, I did a final check on A Warlock’s Secrets and sent it back to my editor. Should have a release date soon. A reveal of the swoon worthy cover and exciting blurb are on the horizon! I can’t wait for you to read it! We played tourist with friends, local to Las Vegas, visiting the dancing fountains of the Bellagio and attending a performance of the Cirque Du Soleil show KA. Fantastic show! After we finished up in Vegas, it was on to California and disaster struck again.

As we headed down the highway, passing through Bakersfield, a trucker pulled along side us and waved — pointing to our trailer. We pulled off at the next exit to find smoke rolling out from behind the right front wheel of our trailer. Thank God for truckers. Upon further examination the bearing had failed and melted to the axle. Now these bearings had less than five-hundred miles on them. It was Friday at 5:00 p.m., all the parts places were closed, so we limped our trailer on three wheels to A Country RV Park approximately 2.8 miles away. What luck to find one so close! We couldn’t have asked for a better place. The staff were friendly and very helpful!

Saturday morning bright and early hubby started calling RV Parts places. He learned that an axle needed to be ordered and would take a few days to arrive, since the warehouses wouldn’t open until Monday. Being a glass half full type of guy, hubby went outside and re-inspected the damage, made a couple of phone calls and yanked out the trusty tools he always packs on our travels. After a visit to an RV parts place and several hundred dollars, he had the parts to fix the damage. Yea!!

Nope that was not all. As my hubby began work on the axel, I received a phone call informing us a good friend had a heart attack and was being rushed to the hospital. My heart sank. Back to the mechanical situation – a few bouts of expletives from hubby and four hours later we were on our way again.

Finally we arrived at our destination in California, visited a few days with relatives, and traveled on to Riverton, WY to meet up with friends, then home to Colorado without further complications. The daffodils, crocus, hyacinth and tulips in our yard are bravely poking their sprouts above ground. Spring is here along with it a lot more camping adventures (as soon as we get a new window). FYI, our friend survived her heart attack and is on the road to recovery! So as they say, (never figured out who they are… but…) all’s well that ends well. Thankfully! Have you ever had a road trip like this?

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged A Walrock's Secrets, California, Colorado, Heart Attack, Las Vegas, New Mexico, o, Road Trip, RVIng, Wheel bearing by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.