Up and on the road with a visit to the local Harley shop. We were going to the factory for a tour but were informed that it was an hour back along our track.
Next visit was a complex of 70 factory outlet were a few items were bought but a lot of browsing done. On the road now with the hope of getting halfway to Columbus Ohio, Oh well the plans of mice and men.
After crossing the border between West Virginy and Pennsylvania a few time we were about to get onto the interstate when old mate in the car behind kindly give me a holler that we have a flat tyre on the rear inside.
Pulled in behind Burger King and called AAA. They were pretty prompt in sending their local rep from a Towing/Salvage company to the scene.
Now let me explain Kev. Afro/American, 25, bit bigger than me but not the sharpest tool in the shed.
OK we work out the tyre is flat. He then works out how to take off the dress rim but finds out that he is missing the socket to remove the wheels. No worries, his mate is coming in another salvage truck and he has a socket. Matey arrives and we get the nuts loose the RV jacked up and wheels off.
The tyre looks OK so we decided to pump it up. Everything is fine except a leak around the valve. Matey decides it split so he says they don’t have a valve screwdriver to remove it or a new valve. Kev goes to his truck, rattles around and finds a bag of valves, one that looks like it will fit, but matey is trying to get the valve out with a pair of needle nose pliers. I ask him to stand aside, take out the trusty Leatherman and in one foul swoop cut of the valve stem and the remaining air escapes. Well golly say the boys and look in disbelief.
Now Kev returns with a set of bead breakers and commences to sweat profusely in the afternoon heat to break the bead, No he informs us it’s pretty near impossible. He toils away for a while and I ask them if they would like lesson two; 101 How to break the bead on a tyre. They say yes and stand back scratching their noggins. I tell matey to get into his truck and start it. He looks pretty befuddled but obeys the command. I then placed the tyre against the back wheel and told matey to reverse. He was very hesitant but did it reversing onto the tyre and lo and behold the bead breaks. Wellllll should have seen the looks on their faces. High fives all round with a couple of hallelujahs thrown in.
Kev then decides he will start to remove the tyre with the irons but I stopped him and once more he looks confused. I told him to press down on the loose side and I inserted the new stem and once again with the trusty Leatherman pulled it into place. Tyre inflated and everything is fine. At this stage the boss rings asking Kev how the job is going and Kev tells him it’s easy and nearly finished. Boss tells him that’s good as they get paid two hours for this from AAA.
The boys then ask me if I’d like a job and they have the application form in the truck. I asked if the boss needed references and they said I already had two and would get a start immediately.
Plenty of laughs all round and comments that it’s their first job where the customer did the job. Wheel back on twenty in their pocket for a slab between them and everyone is happy.
On the road and during the rest of today’s drive there was absolutely beautiful countryside through alpine country in the snow area.
Lib found another of her goals ticked when we had to follow Amish buggy for a couple of miles through a mountain village.
Due to the delay we decide on an alternate stop for the night and lo and behold we finally arrive at Hickory Hollow Campground. Could not believe it. Talked to a couple of neighbours in the campground and a good restful night after an eventful day.
For those younger members who may not have associated the campsite at first with anything else there is a famous song by OC Smith, The Son of Hickory Hollers Tramp.
Well in the morning I didn’t see the son but I may have met the original and her two nubile teen daughters who run the camp. “Golly, I’ve never had an Australian before” as she downed two asproinwhilst talking to a couple of good old boys on the cell about the good night they had the night before. Quick back on the road.
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