Sweet Home Alabama. Big signs, stating this, line the highways as we drive. So did this become Alabama’s logo first and the song copy it ?  Or, did they write the song and then the state adopted it?  Who knows.  I do know they are a friendly state.

There is a very nice Escapees park in Summerdale AL.   It is close to Gulfshores where we wanted to spend some time on the beach.  We thought we would stay a week.  The weather was forecast to be nice all week.  A slow, restful week sounded good.

After setting up camp, we headed to the local Walmart.  About a mile in and the van started having trouble shifting gears.  Larrie stopped to check the fluid level and discovered no transmission fluid.  After looking under the van he saw where it all had gone.  We “limped ” our way in to Walmart where he bought fluid and I bought groceries.  We then went back to the campground to wait until Monday so we could have it checked out.  Why do these things always happen on weekends?

Monday morning Larrie went to the local Chevy garage.  A short time later he called to tell me the good news.  We needed a new (rebuilt) transmission.  And, there were a few more things wrong with the engine too.  They could order the parts and we would need to stay in the area for 2 weeks.  Oh yes, the cost to repair would be $5,200.00.

For those of you who know Larrie well, you know how much he loves his van.   He bought it new in 2003.   He drove it while still working for Xerox.   It had taken us on many vacations.  It made numerous trips to Pass Christian, MS for Katrina mission trips.   We had loaned it out many times .  We took out seats and used it as a truck.    The van had traveled 165,000 miles.   And for the past 10 months it was part of Austinsonwheels.   It had served us well.  But, at this age and this many miles do we really put that kind of money into keeping it on  the road?

 

It didn’t take us long to answer that question.  We had talked out this scenario before we started our adventure.  All the what if’s?   As much as we didn’t want to, it was time to shop for a different vehicle.

We now own a 2013 Chevy Silverado.   It only took 60 plus years to be a truck owner.

 

It wasn’t our plan to change vehicles after only 10 months of a 3 year adventure.  But, we are grateful.   The transmission on the van could have left us on the side of the highway, in the middle of nowhere.  Instead, we were at the campground, made our trip to Walmart, and drove it into the Chevy garage without it dying.  In all things, God is good.

JKA