I faced the day with fear and trepidation, but knew that after months of fretting I would have to overcome them. We had planned to get an early start, but kept procrastinating dreading the moment. We finally got ourselves out the door with keys in hand to go get the little trailer of horrors.
Our history with the "thing" has been a love hate relationship. We held high hopes of now being able to move on with a fresh new relationship. After all spring is a time of renewal and we wanted very much to be able to start fresh and new in this relationship. We were optimistic that love, trust and commitment would come. We would even be willing to give it a "new" name like Little Trailer of Adventure or such.
Once we arrived, I backed up near perfect to get in position to hook up. Next thing I know, Albert is at my window with a look of questioning and let's say, not joyful. Did we bring the key to the ball lock? OF COURSE WE DIDN'T! That would have been the right thing to do. We had forgot every other key to the silly thing and I made real sure we had THOSE keys.
So back to house we go. That is not a short trip and especially not one you want to make with a 5.7 Hemi and gas prices lurking around $3.90 per gallon. But, we tried to enjoy the ride by taking the back way home through the country and enjoying the nice, finally warm, spring day. By the time we got back to the trailer we had reconciled ourselves to the fact that no matter what we are going to forget something! I will also say that one of those keys now resides on each of our key rings.
After several tries of backing up perfectly again, I left Albert to figure out the hitch while I went in and made sure there was nothing that would go flying when we took off. As I came out the door, I heard grumblings. Uh oh. Nothing ever goes back together as easy as it comes apart. He has a bad leg and was struggling with being down on his knees. I am standing there encouraging him and trying to be sympathetic, but he is the one who chose to quit physical therapy over my advice not to. After a few moments of gloating, I did realize he was having a hard time and found something soft for him to get down on the ground with and make him a little more comfortable. I was no help in remembering which bar went in what or which chain hooked where. Not my department so I chose to encourage him in between his venting.
Finally he stood back and said he thought we were ready to go. Now it was my turn to maneuver the thing out of it's space. We had watched one person take out a boat and so we decided to try the same technique. Should have thought that one through a little longer. The trailer is now on the opposite side of the lot, truck is at an angle and husband is yelling and waving arms "No turn that way. Turn that way!" Rolled up the window so I couldn't hear husband yelling and decided to figure it out on my own. Right is left, left is right. Light bulb moment. I had read to position your hands at the bottom of the steering column so repositioned. After moving forward a few inches and back a few inches, I successfully made the turn and it was headed for the gate. Husband was running behind yelling "Don't forget me." Hmmm, never crossed my mind:)
We were finally on our way. Now we started the debate of freeway or myway. My way won. I wanted a chance to get the feel of the thing before I challenged people on the freeway. Besides there is a lot of construction right where we had to get on and I had visions of being stuck under one of the downtown bridges. I do realize that eventually I will have to get on a freeway, but then maybe not. I am the back road queen. I call them shortcuts. Albert calls them baloney. Regardless I knew it would get us home and I was comfortable with it.
Off we go bouncing and along thinking we had conquered the world. Then came the first STOP sign and Five o'clock Friday traffic. Albert was yelling go, go, go forgetting I had 26 extra feet of vehicle to get across the road. I waited patiently for my chance. While making the turn I realized I had backed up traffic a little. Maybe 10-15 cars. Surprised nobody honked or I just couldn't hear over GO GO GO. Either way we made it. That was the only hurdle we had on the way. I got in the lane I wanted in and stayed there. Albert kept watching the white line on his side and was quick to tell me how close I was getting. I never crossed it, but yes I was close.
Then we got home. We live on Belt St freeway. That is what I call it since it is a shortcut to WalMart, is located between two major roads, two strip malls and a high school. Need I say more. Albert decided we should take the cross road located almost in front of our house and just shoot right into the driveway. We were not going to challenge the traffic in order to back into the driveway especially at 5 o'clock go home time. So he instructs me to wait while he puts out boards so I won't have to jump the curb as we have a small driveway and he figured the back wheels would catch it. He failed to tell me that he hoped I would turn mostly on the driveway and not through 6-8 feet of the lawn. Whoops!
It was in the drive, but a little crooked. Husband immediately starts yelling and waving arms. I roll up window and figure it out on my own. I did listen when he was advising me on how close to the steps I was since we have such a narrow driveway. Finally I heard "That's good turn it off." I turned it off and just sat there for a few minutes letting the realization that I now had a big honking trailer in my driveway and eventually had to back it out onto Belt St freeway. But then I realized that was another day and would face that giant when it presented itself.
We then proceeded to de-winterize the trailer. Instruction books in hand we proceeded. While Albert did that, I loaded up for our trip the next weekend. We are officially road ready. Well, the trailer is road ready. I have a week to mentally get there. I will be soooooo ready for a vacation by then.
I now realize there will always be something to challenge us on this thing and we might as well enjoy the trip. We are living our dream. Granted it seems like a nightmare some of the time, but it really is a cute little trailer and I am sure it will take us on a few adventures. I am looking forward to finding all the back roads that avoid freeways:)
No comments:
Post a Comment