Disaster Strikes

After our meal we opted to take Route 66 as far as it would go before it connected to Highway 40 at Ashfork.  Imagine my surprise when 5 miles out of town the car began to slow down.  I pressed the gas and nada.. nothing.  The good news was there was no traffic.  The bad news was there was no traffic.  I restarted the car and gave it gas and it went along just fine albeit with a malfunction light on.  We went for three more miles until the car slowly began to lose power again.  Ugh!  I called Avis and attempted to explain where we were.  The man on the other end evidently had no idea what Route 66 was!  He asked for a mile marker.. ummm.. none.  He asked for an exit. Again, none.  Finally he asked or landmarks.  At this point I said, "Well,  I see cows."   I don't  think that amused him but it did make me feel better.  Besides the Bessies were all, "Moooo Moooo Moooo"  so I thought I'd give them their 15 seconds of fame!  I told the man that I thought I could make it to the next exit and we set off again.  We had 10 miles until we hit highway 40.  He stayed on the line the whole time with me and I have to admit I am impressed that Avis's first question is always, "Are you in a safe place."   It'd be interesting to say no to that question, start screaming and have a chainsaw run in the background.   The things that amuse me.. I tell you! We were in a safe place if you don't count the man eating cows looking desperately at us over the fence.  Probably wanting to get even with us for eating their uncle or aunt or whatever a few moments before.
 At any rate, even thought the malfunction light didn't go off we did make it to highway 40, only to discover that not only were there no services at that exit but we had to go around construction.  Sigh!  We were all hot, tired, stressed and crabby so I told him we had 20 miles to our hotel and he said something along the lines of, "Oh good cause the tow truck will take at least two hours to get there."  EXCUSE ME?  If I'm stuck here on the side of the road you better call the Roadrunner or Speedy Gonzalez or a cop or something. Two hours my big toe!
At any rate the car made it to the hotel and we unloaded it.  The thing with road trips is that you don't have to pack light and we didn't!  A millon trips to the car later..... the car was unpacked.  The new car was coming and would be there around 10.  Then I get the call... road construction... Sigh.. new car didn't get there until 12 in the morning.  The tow truck driver looked wiped out and I really felt sorry for him.  We got rid of the black Kia Sportage and are now in a Dodge Journey.  Which is really humorous since I had driven one before when my car was being fixed and don't particularly like the brand.  Still it runs and we haven't lost any time so it all worked out in the end!

 I forgot to mention, while we were making our way down 66, we discovered that the Burma Shave signs still exist or were recreated.  My favorite read, " Thirty Days", "Hath September" , "June July", "and the speed offender", "Burma Shave".