Springfield, MO Pit Stop

 

It was time for a new adventure. It has been six years since our last real vacation. We have chosen to venture West again. Our proposed midway stop will be with Jan (a close friend from college years) and her mom in Kalispell, MT.

We began our weekend with a trip to Water Valley for the Watermelon Carnival where the Boomer’s sang our 50’s and 60’s music. As we came back into town, we stopped to visit with Mr. Olin. He had invited us to pick some pears at his place. As it turned out, the Eubanks were there also, so we were able to get in some visiting with them as well. It was a nice treat to be able to visit. Once home, we finished packing and did a few more updates to the trailer. We were finally in bed around midnight, and Nathan was up again by 3:15! By 4:15, we were pulling out. WHEW!

The first hour or so went fine, but the darkness combined with a lack of sleep was setting in, so we stopped in Trumann for some breakfast. By Hardy, we decided it would be best to pull over and sleep a bit more. After an hour's nap, we had our second wind. We headed north out of Hardy up into Missouri.

We stopped in Mansfield to stretch a little and show Andrew the Wilder Homes. We had arrived too early to be able to tour the house and walk through the museum, but we drove around and saw the farmhouse that Almonzo had added to over the years and the Rock House that Rose had built for her parents later on. Then as we left town we stopped by the cemetery and saw the family’s graves.

We were excited to be arriving in Springfield around lunchtime. We stopped at our favorite eatery – Mexican Villa. (Nathan and I used to eat there in our college years.) We like the original location on National because of the little jukeboxes at the tables. Although they were not in working order today, they had the place filled with music. It was an encore to yesterday afternoon. Andrew was shocked. Every new song that played was one that he knew or was familiar with.

We always look for adventures on our travels. On this trip, we are wasting no time. The car had begun overheating off and on, so Nathan pulled into a parts house. He purchased and replaced the thermostat in hopes that would solve the problem. A very generous employee offered to let Nathan use his personal tools to complete the job. I know that car repair is not what any of us had in mind, but it is a great reminder. No matter how much planning and preparation, we are not in control. HIS ways and HIS thoughts are higher than our own. The car had been running in perfect order prior to today. We are giving thanks for HIS provision. We have no idea what he may have been protecting us from down the road. Once Nathan had the car back together, we noticed that it was still running hot and the fluids weren’t fluctuating in the reservoir. ☹ We think the water pump may be out, and that is A LOT more involved on this car than the thermostat. Nathan was able to limp the car to a shop that came highly recommended by the guy at the parts house, so this is home for tonight. We are testing out the camper and breaking it in in the parking lot of A-1 Custom Car Care tonight. Generator is running, air is blowing, and I’m looking forward to getting some sleep!

Pics to come.