It has been 2.5 years since our whole family went on a real vacation together.  We knew this was the year to try to go, as the boys still live at home, and have a little flexibility.  We couldn’t take a cruise because they still require vaccinations and do not have all the features up and running yet.  We were afraid to do a road trip because some places still have restrictions.  We decided the easiest place to vacation would be Florida, and decided we would visit Universal Studios.  John and I were last there in 1999; the kids have never been there. 

Our plan was to splurge and stay our first night at a resort hotel on property and to enjoy the amenities.  We would then move to a rental about 45 minutes away for the balance of the trip (7 nights).

Nan and Noelle joined us for the adventure.

The day before the trip, I had driven Tab to see her friend and I didn’t like the way the car was sounding.  I got to the garage just before they closed and based on their quick on-the-ground assessment, they told us to come back in the morning.  This ruined our plan to leave at 6AM.  I cancelled my much desired dinner at Toothsome’s Chocolate Emporium, but I really had no other option.

Early this morning, John went back up to the garage.  They quickly assessed the vehicle and found nothing wrong with it.  We were happy to hear that, though still wondered about the noise.  We got on the road by 11AM.

Just outside Savannah, John suddenly exclaimed, “The wheel is coming off!” and I proceeded to throw my hands in the air and just started praying LOUDLY.

John got the van off into the inner shoulder…

where we would remain…

for two hours.

He called 911 while I called AAA.

This is where I will just do a brain dump:
•AAA was beyond useless.  I’ve been a member since 1999 and I have never been so sad, angry, helpless or frustrated.  When they weren’t acting obtuse, they were disconnecting us, lying to us, suggesting we get an Uber (from the Interstate!?), and more.
•The local police came.  They got us a Samaritan truck from GA-DOT to help keep the oncoming traffic from demolishing us.
•The Samaritan reached out to State Police who were the ones who eventually saved the day as AAA continued to waste our time and give us ulcers.
•It was close to 90○F out and the windows in the van don’t open.

John and I were making decisions and calls in an extremely stressful situation.

–Where to tow the van?
–What do do next?  Home?  Continue on our vacation at an exorbitant cost?
–How can we get ANYwhere?
–How do we fund plan B – whatever it is?

Calls to Hertz and Dollar told us neither had any cars at the SAV airport.  The Budget website said the same thing.  No Cars!

But my Priceline app?
They let me rent two vehicles?….  Is this legit?

The State Troopers finally just started to make things happen – to heck with AAA and their “Roadside Assistance.”

They got a truck.
They got a van.
They got us all out of there.

Interstate 95 South in Richmond Hill, GA.

They drove us (it was a ride we will never forget – prayers and jokes) to an area with a few hotels and fast food restaurants.  There was so much confusion.  Like – do we get a hotel?  Do we find the cars I rented?  How do we get there?

The tow truck operator was a gentleman, for sure.  He lowered our van so we could get our luggage.  Decisions had to be made.  I had to leave two egg bakes… We grabbed the beach bag.  Etc.

John went with the tow truck and the rest of us walked across the street to Burger King.  Dazed.  Confused. Alive. 

Yeah – I think this is where we started to realize being alive was clearly the best part of the last few hours.  Thank you God. 

The kids were great.  They were clearly affected by it and each sorting through the pieces. 

Noelle jumped into action, and bought some food for those growing hungry as I tried to make heads and tails out of what was going on.

She and I downloaded Uber Apps to our phones and programmed them with my credit card.

I communicated with John,  and Noelle and I each ordered an Uber as he was on his way back.

This photo was taken at 5:12PM.

John returned as we waited for the Ubers.  We prepared to split into two vehicles.

As the first one approached, the poor driver looked horrified at the number of humans and the amount of luggage.  John was not about to have any doubt settle into the man’s mind.  He started loading up the car.  Johanna and Katriel mushed in the back with the seat 1/3 down.  Marie, Tab and I lodged in the back of the Honda Pilot.  Nigel sat up front.  We all had luggage all over us.  John, Nan, Noelle and Stewart waited for the second driver.  Our driver told us it was highly irregular for there to be two Ubers in that area.  That’s a God thing.

At this point EVERYTHING depended on us getting rental vehicles.  Direct calls to vendors yielded nothing, and we wondered if the reservations I’d made in the Priceline app would amount to anything. 

The drivers deposited us at the airport, and when we went in we were met with this:

One vehicle was reserved from Dollar and one from Avis.  I got in the Dollar line with at least 25 people in front of me.  John got in line for Avis with close to 90 people in front of him.  There was one woman working at Dollar and 3 at Avis.  At one point the woman at Dollar had to leave to use the ladies room. 

Slowly, we crept up.  I called the hotel to tell them we would be late.  Very late. 

Finally, after one hour, I had a set of keys for a minivan.
It would be another hour before John had a set of keys for a full-sized car. 
We’d worked to get all our luggage into the vehicles. 

At 8:20PM or so, we rolled out of the parking garage at SAV airport.  We still had at least 4 hours to go.  My van had, Johanna, Katriel, Noelle, Stewart and Nan.  John had Marie, Tab, and Nigel. 

Florida – here we come….