Another Sudden End

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Monday, 30 June, 2014



This was to be our last day in Custer. A quick trip to get the camper repaired, then a visit to Jewel Cave, back in time for Sean to swim at the campground, then the turn for home tomorrow. It didn't quite turn out that way.



I mentioned the rough roads due to construction once we neared Custer on Saturday afternoon. Once we got set up at the campground, we realized something was terribly wrong. Somehow we had lost the hub and the bearings off one wheel of the camper. We were lucky we hadn't lost the whole wheel while bouncing through the wilds of western South Dakota. We knew there was nothing we could do about the damage until the repair shop opened for business on Monday morning, so we went about our sightseeing as normal.



So here we were Monday morning at the repair shop, there was our camper jacked up with the wheel and brake and various parts spread across the garage floor. Then the bad news, we need a new axle. So the parts man calls the axle factory. They don't have any in stock, but they can make one and ship it in 7 to 10 days. Unfortunately, the factory is closed all this week, so they can make it and ship it in 7 to 10 days from when they reopen on July 7. Now we are talking at least 3 weeks counting shipping and repair time. We could stay in the camper in the back of the shop for those 3 weeks. Doesn't that sound like fun with an energetic 10 year old? So the decision was made to leave the camper in Custer, SD, and head home. They will call us when the axle gets there and again when the repairs are complete. Then we will come back, retrieve our camper and again go home.



So we left Custer around 1:30 driving to Rapid City and east from there on I-90. We did stop at the Badlands National Park for a drive through before continuing on to Mitchell, SD, where we stopped for the night. By the way, I hate motels. I hate choosing them, inspecting them and staying in them. And they cost so much more than campgrounds. And Kerry gets this peeved look when he finds out how much they cost.



Tuesday, July 1



We've had quite a long day. Kerry drove 630 miles today. We are just outside of St. Louis, having gone through South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri this day. Tomorrow we will be home, sleeping in our own bed, with our own shower and our comfy chairs in front of our TV. Just in time for 4th of July at the lake.

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Photos

Custer, SD
Sean at the end

Comments

[barbara]

Sorry about the trouble....thankful it wasn't worse....glad you are almost home. Love you all!!!!

[Mark]

Camper
Sorry to hear about the camper. But you guys sure made some wonderful memories with your grandson!

[Susan]

I enjoyed the trip. Sorry how it ended.

[Gena]

End
So sorry to hear about the camper---and having to stay in motels on the way home. I don't blame you for going home and leaving the camper---but, what can you do? Tell Kerry to stop taking his "adventure roads".