Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 – Travel Day to Circle E, Trailer Problems

Hi Babe,
Had a good night sleep, to bed early last night and slept through to about 8:30, so I was feeling surprisingly refreshed this morning. I began by heading out to Publix to pick up a couple of things, and to fill up with fuel at the TA truck stop on the corner. I sat down for breakfast there as well, so I wouldn’t have to worry about doing dishes. I was on time and feeling pretty good, but unfortunately, that didn’t last. When I went to close the compartment underneath before hooking up the truck, I discovered not one, but TWO compartments doors were hanging down. One I didn’t even know was there, and when I tried to lock it, the lock was frozen solid. Then I tried the other one, which I remember I had tried to open previously but the lock was frozen on that one, too, so how they got it open I have no idea. It was still drizzling off and on, and the ground was soaking wet, so I got filthy trying to fix it. In the end, I was able to get one lock unstuck with pliers, channel locks and silicon spray, but the other was impossible, so I ended up just strapping it up with a zip tie, another job for me to do. Then I started looking around and discovered the spigot on the side had come off and was hanging 4 inches off of the side, and a piece of trip was coming off as well. More work for me to do!! But that will come later, for now I just got the compartments closed, hooked up, and drove to the boarding place to pick up the horses and Lola, where I arrived nearly two hours later than expected. They were fine with it, I just hate not being there when I promise to be. Anyway, I picked them up and we headed down to the Circle E guest ranch, arriving around 3:00. I made the mistake of stopping the truck instead of letting it run to cool down, and by the time I got registered, my truck wouldn’t start. That’s about the last thing I need now, to have problems with my truck! I figured it had just overheated from that long tough climb to get up here, remember that? I should have left it running. Anyway, I did other things waiting for it to cool, picked a new spot to camp on this side of the road to be closer to the activities and the dining hall, and started to put up the electric fence, which I didn’t realize I could do or I wouldn’t have paid for stalls, and by then, the owner was called and he was able to start the truck by pumping a little device to get more fuel into it. I guess there was some kind of air lock caused by the overheating, so I had him show me what he did so I’d know next time. So I finally started to pull the trailer around to the site, only to end up getting stuck, the ground having gotten very soft from all the rain, and there are no sites on gravel. I ended up having a backhoe help get me out, then I was able to line it up better and get in okay. I let the horses out on their anchors until I got settled in and the fence completed, then settled down for the evening. I’m very glad there is a good cell phone signal here, good enough for streaming, so I watched a movie, and I’ll be able to get some work done. I’m so far behind on so many things now, the unfortunately cost of taking time off for recreation! But it was worth it, this last trip to the Grand Canyon was fabulous! Nice and quiet here, looking forward to a good night sleep. Love you, darlin’! Good night!