Except for a few posts here and there, Easin’ Along has been on a blogging break since we returned from California in the spring. I didn’t plan to take a break, but a series of mishaps and breakdowns forced our fifth-wheel trailer into the shop for an extended visit and, therefore, no road trips to share. After paying a sizable ransom, the fifth wheel returned home last week, and Helen and I decided we needed some time away.
Our favorite campground in Cherokee, NC, had vacancies along the lovely and always roaring SoCo Creek, so we booked three nights. After church on Sunday, we packed some food, put Mortimer in the back seat, and headed out. Hopefully, we would soon snuff out the bad karma that had followed us from California. Twenty miles from Cherokee, we learned that this was not going to happen quickly; we had a flat tire on the fifth wheel.
After several attempts (and more than an hour spent searching for a mobile tire repair shop near Waynesville, NC), AAA came to our rescue and sent a delightful couple to mount our spare tire. After examining the flat, Spencer (tire repairman) walked up to let us know that dry rot had taken its toll on all of the trailer tires. We needed new tires as soon as possible. He wished us good luck as we traveled the twenty miles to the campground. Did I mention we had bad karma?
Fortunately, we arrived at Happy Holiday Campground without incident and were assigned a fabulous campsite a mere four feet from the creekside. The sound of rushing water moving past our camp chairs helped to repair some frayed nerves. Even Mortimer succumbed to the sound.
Helen arose early the next morning and enjoyed coffee beside the creek while I moved the satellite antenna around in a vain attempt to find a television signal. The antenna never located a satellite, the campground Wi-Fi signal was very weak, and neither situation was sitting well with two hopeless “glampers,” so I decided to spend some time searching for a tire dealer in Cherokee. That effort bore fruit, and I drove three miles into town to pick out some tires.
Before I left, Helen and I decided that three days beside a creek was not long enough to ward off the evil spirits. While I went to the tire dealer, she walked to the campground office to see if we could add two more nights to our reservation. I suggested she also ask if we could move a couple of campsites down, where satellite reception might be more favorable.
The manager at Cherokee Tire suggested four heavy-duty tires as replacements, but he wouldn’t have them in stock until the following afternoon. I made an appointment for 3 pm on Tuesday and drove back to Happy Holiday. Helen had struck pay dirt in the office, and we secured two more nights. We would move to site 94 on Tuesday, after the tire change, where a large opening in the trees allowed for a better shot at a television signal. Things were looking better already.
We spent the majority of Wednesday performing an exorcism of all the evil spirits inhabiting the fifth wheel. Helen cleaned and reorganized several years of accumulated “stuff” in the drawers and cabinets, while I cleaned out one of the exterior storage compartments. We also decided that our trailer needed a name change. The original name we chose was Dora (as in “the Explorer”) when we bought the trailer. Helen insisted that I scrape the two decals of Dora from the side and rear of the trailer while she came up with a new name. Since we were in Indian territory, she decided that the name Towanda, an Indian word meaning “love” and “acceptance,” was perfect for our reborn fifth wheel. Towanda, it is.
Thursday was our day for a hike along Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hiking trail is about a two-mile round trip along Deep Creek and includes two lovely waterfalls. The creek is a popular tubing site and, as we meandered along, camera in hand, a group of young and excited tubers scampered past us carrying large inner tubes. Before we reached the end of our trail, the tubers were floating past us and would soon return for another go over the beautiful green water. You gotta love mountain creeks and streams.
Friday was a wet one. Several storms passed over us, limiting our outdoor activities. Helen chose to work on her puzzle, and I spent time with my nose in Sycamore Row, a John Grisham novel Helen found for me. By now, we had tossed our frayed nerves and tense knots into the creek, the trailer was reorganized and embellished with a new name. Saturday came all too quickly, but we could return to Knoxville with a renewed vigor for better camping ahead. A few days of creek cleansing had worked wonders.
Before I let you go (and before I forget it), we did go to the casino on Friday night to test our luck. Helen had a great time, as usual, while I floated along just above and below the break-even line. I was having fun as well, so breaking even was just fine with me. On the way to meet Helen at the front bar, I stopped to play one more slot machine; eighty cents a pop. Three pulls in, I realized that my luck might have finally turned around after all, and I easily covered the cost of four new tires.
We’re Easin’ Along.
At least you handle all of your challenges head-on. Sounds like a very cathartic outing!!
It was just what we needed! Boy, you’re up early! Enjoy your day! Joe
Joe, I love your ‘exorcism’ and creek cleansing references. Seems it worked, and your bad juju has passed. Jackpot! Towanda sounds like a strong, fitting name for the 5th wheel. May you have many wonderful adventures, and no more flat tires in your future.
Hi!
Bad juju is an apt moniker for the year we’ve experienced with Towanda. We’re looking forward to getting back on the road next month and will spend two months in Florida beginning in January. Tires should be good to go. Hope you and Malcolm are getting settled in, but if you want a tour of upper East Tennessee, please give me a jingle. Have a great week! Joe
Joe, let me know if you guys are coming close to Stuart/Palm City in January, February. We would love for you to stop by.
Suzanne,
We would love to make that happen. I’ll give you plenty of warning ;-). Thanks!
Congratulations on your big win!
I’ve enjoyed all of your RV adventures for over 5 years now.
Enjoy your fall season and travels in Towanda.
Kathy,
It’s a real compliment that you’ve Eased Along with us for five years. So happy you checked in and I hope you’ll come back. The big win was a real thrill and paid for our trailer tires which made it even more special. We’ll be on the road in October and November. Hopefully, Towanda is good to go! Joe
Congratulations on your luck turning. Quite a series of good fortune, starting with a beautiful campsite along the water. All the best to you and Helen.
Hello,
That creekside campsite was just what we needed to rest and recoup after a series of unfortunate trailer experiences. Things are looking up now and we will get back on the road in October. Hope things are going well for you and Al. Have a great week and please stay in touch. Joe
We’re sad to hear about the travel mishaps picked up on your return from California. We do believe you are on the upside and they are behind, especially with your Cherokee casino win that paid for Towanda’s new “shoes”! 👏🏻😎
Thanks for sharing, Joe.
Dan,
Thanks for checking in. We had a great time in Cherokee and having collected enough to pay for the tires made it even better! See you soon–say hello to Nancy. Joe
Loved reading this, Joe, and glad your luck has changed.
Hey there!
Glad you enjoyed it, and things are looking up for sure! Thanks for stopping by! Joe
Where will you TowWanda next?
Hi,
Big South Fork in Tennessee. Thanks for checking in. Joe
Hey Joe, I’m glad you managed to ward off the evil spirits at Harrah’s. And my wife said she met Mortimer at the Vet’s office this week. I told her that surely that had to be Joe Bruner . She was picking up meds for our little dog.
Have a great day
Good morning,
Well darn, I wish I had known she was your wife. She was very nice to Mortimer and he wanted to follow her out the door. Thanks for checking in. Hope you enjoy your week! Joe
Wow, you hit the karma jackpots on all fronts, Joe! Looks like you exorcised those bad karma demons for good. Congrats on the casino wins and the awesome camping space. Your new trailer name is perfect!
Good to hear from you, Terri! Your trip to Yellowstone sounded awesome. Our trip to Cherokee was short, but a lot of fun (except for the flat tire). Glad you like the new name–Helen insisted we make the change. Have a great week! Joe
Wow, what an adventure! Glad things turned around for you in the end (and Towanda is such a great name for the trailer!). Reading this reminds me of my own “bad karma” moment, been working with some garage door repair guys recently, and let’s just say it’s been a journey. Seems like everything mechanical has its own timeline, huh? Here’s to better luck and smooth travels ahead!
Good morning, Jeanie,
Right you are…everything mechanical has it’s own timeline and, unfortunately with trailers, that timeline runs out far from home. Hope your situation goes well for you. thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend. Joe
Congrats on the casino win, Joe. The creek and waterfalls look lovely. You chose a great new name for your trailer. Have a great week!
Good morning, Natalie,
Always great to hear from you. So glad you liked our trailer’s new name. Enjoy your weekend–I know you’ll be busy! Joe