Roadside Car Issues

Roadside car issues.  It happens.

Your worst possible fear of packing up and taking a road trip, is the broke down car. 

I have a reliable car. It is a great car. But, sh*t happens. 

I decided I would take the Panhandle research trip on my own, which doesn’t bother me at all. I was happy to be on the road and in the quiet, working and researching. I just got my little suitcase and took off. 

If you do the Panhandle trip, and you drive the Caprock Canyon and through the desolate areas that surround it, you will understand this story more. 

I had been on the road for about 4 hours that day. I made it into the Caprock Canyon State Park, basically illegally because the sign said the park was full because of Covid, but I could see it was empty. So I proceeded on. I just wanted to see it and make sure it was something to add to the booklet! 

As I twisted and turned down the road and I found it basically empty as I expected. It was amazing. I made it to the end of the road, and got out and took a small hike. I sat on a big rock and soaked in the sites… a beauty to behold. 

And then I almost died of heat exhaustion(July) and headed back to the air-conditioning in the car. I looked down as I sat in my car with the air conditioner on high, and what do I see except the low tire pressure light on… 

What? These tires only have 20,000 miles on them. 

So here I sit, with a quickly approaching flat tire, in a park I am not supposed to be in, with no one in site. 

So I drive. I began the drive to the closest town, 22 desolate miles away in the blazing dang heat. 

Oh yeah. No cell service either. 

I very slowly get to the little city of Quitaque, Texas and guess what they don’t have? Yep, Discount Tire. But I do find the old school gas station, Jakes Automotive. I pull in and ask him if he has any air he could put in the tire or Fix-A-Flat. He said he did and so we fixed it all up. He was the kindest man and I got to meet his wife and grandson, because they had walked on over from their house to see him. He has owned the shop for 35 years and raised his 4 kids in this little town.

I hit the highway again and wave goodbye to my new friends. I am ready to head to Lubbock, a mere 75 miles away with a Discount tire to get this baby fixed! 

I make it five miles, air is quickly disappearing, again. My girlfriend is on the phone, who’s uncle happens to live in Quitaque, Texas and owns the grocery store across from Jakes, instructed me to turn my little tush around and to get my spare put on. She said if Jake could not help her uncle would be right over. How small is this world? Although, I knew I could put my own spare on,  she said it was a dangerous highway and I would melt on the asphalt. This is where I turn around and head back to sweet Jake, for help to put my spare on.

He laughed when I pulled back in and had the spare on for me  and out of there in no time. he charge me $7.50. What? I tried to give him $20.00 and he looked at me and said, ” No mam. I said it was only $7.50.”

I had to travel to Lubbock at 55 miles an hour, but luckily, I had no destination in mind and was not in a hurry. More time to see the sites I suppose. 

Point of this long flat tire story:

Please pack items in case of issues. Prepare. Be safe and put your thinking hat on before the trip. 

Suggested items to pack:

1. Working Flashlight
2. Jumper Cables
3. Phone Chargers
4. Light Sticks
5. First Aid Kit
6. Fix a Flat
7. Tire Inflator 
8. Blanket 
9. Hand-Foot and Body Warmer
10. Ice Scraper