What You Need - Always One Thing More

My van died.

After arriving in White Springs, FL, I had to drive back 1.5 hours to Green Cove Springs for my DMV appointment.  That is a story in itself, which I don't have time for at the moment, so we will skip that saga.

Just as I pulled into my campground where I am attending the Suwanee Bicycle Association's Annual Pedal and Paddle event, my van died.  I was pulling to a stop by the ranger station.  And it sputtered and quit.   

I suspected the transmission because I could start the van just fine, but when I put it in drive it would jerk, sputter, and then silence.

I called my friend Mari Towle who until a few days ago was my next door neighbor.  She is here at the festival and she was very supportive and came and helped me take the important stuff out of my van and transfer it to hers for transport to my camping spot.

It ended up to be the transmission.  I would have fixed it to get a few more years out of the van, but due to a shortage of parts and labor, the time line for getting it installed was mid-June.  That just won't do.

Some people here have said, just go home and shop for a new vehicle.  Ummmm, this is my home. Today I will talk to the ranger about being on this site for a week if I can.

Complications

When deciding what to bring with me and what to leave in storage I said, "No, not that." to a lot of things.  Decision after decision of what to carry with me, always keeping in mind the weight and space I would be living in.

When going through my important papers I decided to bring the title to the Weeroll, but not the title to my Van.  I know, right?  Doesn't make any sense at all, now that I look back.

I decided to bring my sales-tax papers for filing book sales taxes, but I voted against carrying the death certificate for my late husband George.  Why on earth would I need that?

It matters now because I will be selling my van for scrap or trading it in for a new vehicle.  George's name is still on the title.  

Assistance

It could not have happened in a better place on my trip.  Here, I have friends and people who tow campers around me who can advise me on vehicles.  I got an offer from a bicyclists I just met to use her local home (she still resides in Tampa) while I shop and deal with the paperwork, legal, insurance, etc.

Within a phone call are a few folks in Inverness that can help me do the research to find the right truck.

Grief

As I was unloading stuff from the van before it got towed away, I was saying a silent goodbye.  I don't think of myself as material, but I really am with some things.  I loved my van.  I just got it all fixed up.  New tires, new shocks, new transmission cooler.  It looked great, I had the storage of my stuff accessible from the sliding side doors and the back hatch.  The height was just right so that I could load the trike and the bike by myself.  That is essential.

I knew how to operate it... I never learned the bluetooth to my phone or some of the stuff.   But I could put up and take down the stow and go seats in minutes.

Shopping

You know how I feel about my ability to make good shopping decisions.  Not!  A little fear is good.  "Feel the fear and do it anyway," is my motto.  And I know that after going through a tough time I will come out the other side stronger and happy.  

No pictures today.  Cell service is ... weak.

Remind me to tell you about the DMV.