Yesterday, we packed up and left the Comfort Inn in Gardiner, Montana, the town at the north entrance to Yellowstone. There, stands the Roosevelt Arch, welcoming all.
Bye, Yellowstone!
We once again, left at dawn so that we could take one more pass through the Lamar Valley to view the wildlife. It took us a little out of the way to go that way instead of heading straight out from Gardiner, but we were giving ourselves plenty of time to get home by Sunday evening. We came upon the same field where I had trouble spotting the wolves. It seems that many different animals had been feeding on a buffalo carcass. Today, instead of the wolves, it was a bear. We pulled over and sat with the binoculars and telephoto lens. I think, because the bear was bigger, I easily spotted it. We lingered for some time, even getting to see another bear approaching the carcass. He would not challenge the grizzly that was eating but just skulked around, waiting. We pulled next to an RV where a couple had a big spotting scope set up. They offered to let us look through their scope, and of course, we took them up on it! We could really see the bear tearing at the carcass, leaving ribs sticking up where the flesh had been torn away--amazing. After determining that we would not see a fight, we got back in the car to begin the long journey. Tim pressed the ignition switch only to hear a loud clicking noise. We both got a sick feeling in our stomach. It sounded like a dead battery, but with all the electronics on today's cars, we weren't sure. The couple behind us, who was also packing up to move on, realized we were in trouble. They didn't have jumper cables, but offered to go on up the road and see if someone did. They took off, and we sat...and waited for what seemed like an eternity. We were siting in the middle of Yellowstone with no cell phone service, at least 45 minutes to an hour away from any possibility of car service (back in Gardiner). It was a helpless feeling. About 10 minutes later, a Park Ranger pulled up. He didn't have jumper cables, but offered to try and find us a tow. While our first Ranger was on the radio, trying to get us a tow, a second Ranger overheard the call and came with jumper cables. We were on pins and needles as Jeremy connected the jumper cables to his vehicle, then ours. We gave it a few minutes to charge, then gave it a try...
Thank you, Jesus! The car started! It was the battery. The Rangers told us they didn't think there would be anything in the small towns just outside the northeast entrance to the Park, where we were headed. Sooooo, we headed back to Gardiner. We had a good amount of gas in the tank and knew we could make it there. We were looking for an auto parts store, preferably, a national chain, but to no avail. There was one little repair shop that didn't look open yet.
Since there was cell service in Gardiner, we were able to scout out the next town north, Livingston. It looked like it was big enough for some parts place. We googled both Auto Zone and O'Reily's. There was an O'Reily's in Livingston! As we followed our google map directions, it took us to a very small O'Reily's store. We passed a foreign car service center and a CarQuest parts store. The O'Reily's was in a rougher part of town so we decided to go back to foreign car service center to see if they had (and would sell to us) a battery. Tim went in and came out empty-handed. They did not have a battery but told him to check CarQuest--they would probably have one.
We drove across the street, and Tim walked into CarQuest. He walked out with David, the employee from CarQuest. We left the car running (with me in it, of course) just in case they couldn't help us and we had to move on. David stuck his head under our hood and said, "Oh yeah, it's a blah-blah-blah-blah battery. We have those." (Okay, so he didn't say blah-blah-blah-blah, I just don't remember how he described the battery.) He went back in then a few minutes later, Tim came back with a battery and a couple of wrenches. David let Tim borrow the wrenches so he could install the battery right there in the parking lot. We had been praying a lot since the car wouldn't start--individually, and collectively, but after Tim got the battery installed, we sat in the car, prayed for it to start, and pushed the button. Success! It was just the battery! I don't know why we weren't meant to go the route we originally planned, but we gave thanks that our diagnosis was correct that it was a dead battery and not any major mechanical problem.
We got a little off schedule but ended up spending the night in Casper, Wyoming, last night. Today, we got up a little later than usual, and took a route through Nebraska instead of Kansas. Unfortunately, Nebraska is no better than Kansas. We will get home tomorrow sometime in the late afternoon, early evening. That makes me happy! (We were going to go to Oklahoma Joe's for BBQ in Kansas City, but found out it is closed on Sundays. Boo!)
So, any suggestions for BBQ in KC?
So, any suggestions for BBQ in KC?
2 comments:
In all of your travels, is that the first time you all have had car trouble? Boy, what a sick feeling to hear that click, click, click sound. Glad it turned out so well. No cell service is a helpless feeling, indeed! Safe travels home.
The only other issue we've ever had was during the trip to the Northeast. On our way home, we lost he air conditioner--only a minor irritant!
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