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Published: March 4th 2015
Reading in the Parking Lot
The Firestone store staff and management were lovely to us as we waited for the tow truck.Two day delay – Almost 1.5K in expenses – BUT a great time was had by all!
First the bad news. Our “Sunday Drive” taking the RV from Pine Island to Turtle Beach took a detour. We were almost to Siesta Key when we smelled something “chemical-ish.” Ever the optimists, we were sure it was someone else’s vehicle. We held on to that thought until acrid smoke started stinging our eyes and Wes felt the brakes becoming “spongy” and then non-existent. This on a major highway just outside of the busy city of Sarasota, Florida. Wes gimped us into a Firestone store where the staff was wonderful; but not skilled at tackling brake repairs on a 34 ft. motor home. Calls to both “Good Sam” and AAA eventually produced results. First arrival was a very nice mechanic who assessed the problem but said the work would have to be done at his “shop” twenty some miles away in Bradenton. Next step was getting a REALLY BIG tow truck. Good Sam (a member supported emergency service for RVers) couldn’t help. They had located the mechanic – who couldn’t do the work off-site - and would you believe their “members” are allowed
We Could Have Camped Here!
Yes, we could have but NO WAY! Lovely people, very professional, skilled at large vehicle repair but we couldn't accept their kind hospitality. only ONE ”incident” per day. This is why we have AAA, but that service (understand this is late in the day on a Sunday) took so long to connect us with a local towing service that Wes made our own arrangements. We pulled out folding chairs and our books and could do nothing but WAIT for the mega tow! At least with the RV we had our own bathroom.
Eventually a huge “semi-style” tow truck arrived. The driver was highly skilled. He moved our RV into position and took off north on Route 41 with Wes in hot pursuit. Now why would a truck driver speed through caution lights when he KNEW we had to follow him? Suffice it to say it was a white knuckle ride. And suffice it to say that the “shop” looked like a great residence for a junk yard dog. It was located in a scary neighborhood. It was getting dark. It became obvious that Wes and I were NOT going to dry camp in this neighborhood.
On to Anna Maria Island, a picture perfect barrierisland over a lift bridge from Bradenton. Time to ask “Seri” to find us a room. It is
the height of the season. No vacancy signs abound. We hit it lucky when one of the inn keepers we called suggested we try the Driftwood Motel.
The Driftwood was perfect. Granted we didn’t need the full kitchen and two queen size beds; but the location was FAB with restaurants - Hurricane Hanks, Lobstahs and Minnies Beach Cafe - and beautiful Holmes Beach - with it's "talc soft" white sand - all within an easy walk. The pool was perfect and we surprised ourselves by just relaxing. Really, we did NOTHING but read our books, swim in the pool, enjoy great restaurant meals and take in a FAB sunset. We had been to Anna Maria prior so didn’t need to avail ourselves to the free trolley that trolls the island. We spent two nights and really enjoyed the spontaneous “break” in our itinerary in a very special spot. We really did take a lemon situation and made lemonade.
Kudos to the tow truck driver, the mechanic, and the inn keeper who stayed open for us.
Post Script - About those expenses: $500 tow truck; $400 parts and labor; $400 hotel (plus we had already paid
Something About That Salt Air
Wes took this with his phone. My hair is usually straight! for Turtle Beach - non-refundable), and $150 for meals. Good thing we threw our swim suits and tooth brushes into duffle bags or we would have been out more dough.
Wes is working with AAA and our insurance company to recoup some of the expenses. The mechanic in Bradenton gave him the defective brake line. It seems to us that our RV garage at home should have noticed that the line needed to be replaced. You can be quite sure that Wes will have a chat with him when we get home. But as they say "no body died" and we had fun. We're probably lucky that this was the first major break down in ten years of motor coach travel.
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Peggy & Gerryy Oswitt
non-member comment
Yacht Haven Park & Gulfstream
We are here for another year. Peggy did not like a condo I found on the ocean, so we will RVTHAT it, but we have to have a residence outside NY as inheritance taxes in NYSA could take $1.2 million if we don't move here. Come to Gulstream to see our new Bill Mott $35,000 claim next Friday or Saturday. His name is XAVERIAN? Gerry