Things You Just Can’t Plan For Part II

So, on our trip to Mesa Verde, Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West Skywalk and Monument Valley last September we truly thought our troubles were behind us (after that crazy night in Alamosa and the Little Stinkers cab company).

Not quite.

After having a lovely time on both the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon we set out for Grand Canyon West Skywalk. It was not a short drive but very doable and I was hoping it would be worth it.

Well, we might never know. 

On our way to Grand Canyon West somehow we ended up on a sand and gravel agricultural road complete with cattle guards. It was washboard rough and there was no traffic and there were 40 miles to go.

Rumblings started among the passengers. Questions were asked of our driver. Weren’t we going to a well-known destination? Where was the traffic to and from? Something didn’t seem right. It was time to re-evaluate. Just as that decision was made…out went a tire on the back of the bus.

What to do? What to do? 

Here’s what we did as it was our only option: We limped along slowly on this sand/gravel/cattle guarded road and came to a convenience store/gas station at the junction of sand road and a blacktop road. Triple A for motorcoaches was called.

Folks went to use the restroom and purchase items in the little store and I jumped on a rafting bus to see if they could take us on up to Skywalk. Out of luck. They were headed the other direction.

Then a limo happened to stop at the little oasis. I asked their driver if they could take us. She said she was full and she was. The employee at the gas station was making calls on our behalf to see if someone could pick us up and take us to our destination. I was making calls to Skywalk and was never able to talk to a person.

What do you do when you are stuck at a gas station waiting on the auto club to come and fix your tire?  The obvious answer is BINGO! We moved picnic tables that were outside the gas station into the shade and played some very cutthroat BINGO!  Time passed quickly and before we knew it,  the dude came to fix our tire. 

Soon we were on a blacktop road headed toward our destination for the night…not Grand Canyon West and Skywalk….guess that’s for another trip!

Roadside BINGO….complete with restrooms and refreshments. Who could ask for more?

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