The Plan:
Meet up at the Church and depart at 10:00 to Woodstock, NH, for our annual camping trip; ETA 13:00.
The Revised Plan:
Josean is my ride, and he did't get the day off work. We would not make the convoy.
He would pick me up at 18:00; ETA 21:00.
Time to Burn:
Rather than go to work, now that I was available for it, I took advantage of this opportunity and had Lama drive me to the DMV. Needed to renew my ID. Expired in February and I never got off my but to renew it. After that, Lama took me to Pito's on Broad St.; delicious.
But I digress, He brought me back home and I started packing. Josean was latter than he thought, actual pickup was 19:30; ETA 22:30.
Actual Events:
At around 19:50, Josean gets a call from the Pastora (already at camp): Chris had car trouble and is marooned at a weigh station 1 mile north of Exit 3 I-93 North in Salem New Hampshire. He was a little past the half way mark. Massiel was with him. Everyone else was at the camp. We just got on the highway and have Maria following us. The pastors are trying to figure out wether they will have the car towed to Woodstock, NH or back to Providence, RI.
At 20:21 I called 611 for details of my roadside assistance coverage via AT&T. I wanted to let the Pastors know their options. They have AAA but we were closer and already in route. They will change a tire, gas it up to 3 gallons, or pay $50 of towing.
While in route I also looked up and forwarded contact info for AutoZones near Chris and near the camp site to the Pastors. They decided to use assistance through AT&T and have it towed to an AutoZone near Chris.
I made the call when we reached Chris at 21:03. Was on with them for 16 minutes describing situation and location. Apparently 2 out of 4 on the nuts holding the front right tire burst off while on the highway. Chris noticed it and stopped at the weigh station to take a look. Most of my time with Linda (the woman who answered at roadside assistance, I was on hold while she tried hunting down a local tower and repair shop. I could have done that, but they are baying $50 for the tow so we do it their way. She couldn't find anyone right away and said she'd call me back.
21:33 Linda called back to tell me she couldn't find anyone and asked if she could call the police as they always have someone on standby. WARNING: They may or may not accept their method of payment so the cost of the tow ma be entirely on us. What am I going to say, no?
21:39 Linda calls back and says she was able to reach the police and that a "wrecker" was being dispatched.
So we waited. Started watching Percy Jackson on my MacBook. Pastors called asking about when we could expect the tow to arrive. We didn't have an answer, and frankly, I didn't think Linda had one either. While on the phone with her she let slip that "Google is running slow today." Ok so your methods are literally the same as mine.
Around this time, Chris gave his GPS to Maria, Massiel joined her, punched in directions to the camp and left. No need for them to keep waiting with us. I had to stay because the coverage was through me. Josean had to stay because he would be our ride.
22:20 I called roadside assistance to see if they could give us an ETA. One dropped call and 12 minutes latter I got a, we can't confirm, "you'll need to call the local police." Why am I paying you at this point?
22:34 I call 911, they patch me through to state police. They confirmed situation and location, so they were aware of us, good. The trooper assigned to us was called away on another emergency, will get to us when he can, bad. A trooper? Where is the flatbed? Dispatcher gave me a few numbers for "wreckers" they use.
22:42 called the "wrecker." He'll send one of his drivers right out. ETA 20 minutes.
22:51 State Trooper arrives, sees us approach him, he gets on the speaker and instructs us to wait by the cars. Cautiously unnecessary, but then again, I am not in his shoes, I don't know procedure, and I imagine he didn't take kindly to being approached by 3 spics in a now darkened weigh station. Chris told him we called in a tow already. Trooper said we were all set, returned to his car, ran Chris' plates and left.
BY THE WAY: Had Chris not indicated that we had already called a tower, the trooper would have called one in. Adding an extra $50.00 for the tow because the State makes them do so much paperwork.
23:14 called the "wrecker" again. Where are you guys? They were just around the corner. Towed it to a local Pep Boys parking lot. They were, of course, closed. The plan was to come back in the morning.
00:20 we got some grub at Wendy's and struggled to stay awake for the rest of the trip. Josean had a full day of work, so did Chris and I was still hurting from the DMV. I gave them my last two peaces of gum. I started slipping in and out of consciousness. I quoted movies to try and stay awake.
02:30 made to the camp. Josean an Chris slipped into the already constructed youth tent. Thank you brothers. I however prefer to sleep in my own tent. This isn't some homophobe thing. This is a "I brought my tent and I intend to use it" thing. So I started pitching my tent in the dark, as quietly as I could so as not to wake the brothers who were snoring like polar bears.
03:13 I am in my tent and ready for bed.
Moral:
Hope for the best.
Be ready for the worst.
Do what you can at every instance.
And never let the cops call in a tow for you.
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