August 28 – “Almost Made It”

The LaMarque crew left around 10:30 or so after a few rousing rounds of some video game.  It was really noisy in there, so I assume they were having some last-minute cousin fun.  When they were safely on the road, we loaded up as well, hoping for an uneventful return to Galveston.  Little did we know …

 

Actually things started out really well.  We stopped for gas in Waco so we would have plenty to get to get us to Buc-ees, our traditional stop.  No issues there.  Freddy rode with Chris again, this time she was a seasoned veteran traveler.  She curled up and made herself comfortable for the long haul.  I grabbed a pop tart and a root beer for my trip back.  I should be able to stay awake.  All seemed well.  Let’s roll.

 

And leg one was completely … boring.  Nothing went wrong.  We pulled into Buc-ees and filled the truck up with gas.  The pump Chris pulled up to didn’t work, though.  But she didn’t really need any, anyway.  I went to the bathroom and grabbed a barbeque sandwich while Chris took Freddy for a walk.  Then Chris took her turn, and Freddy and I sat in the truck air conditioning.  Chris ate some chicken salad, and pretty soon, we were off. I have to say I was more than optimistic.  And very ready to be home.  What do I know …

 

All went well for a time.  Even getting into Houston was not at all difficult.  Very little traffic.  All looked well for us to be home in plenty of time to pull the wood off our doors and windows before curfew at 8 p.m.  I mean, after all … we left at 11:30 a.m.  What could go wrong?

 

Just as we changed lanes to make the exchange from I10 to I45, one of those TXDOT signs warned us of a stalled car that was causing a backup.  It wasn’t kidding.  Before long traffic skidded to a halt.  We moved, but ever so slowly.  Time stood still.  And then …

 

I think I noticed the smell first.  Not exactly something burning, but something.  I checked the gauges.  No real change.  The temperature seemed to be a little high than usual, but that happens in stop and go traffic.  And then I noticed the tiniest bit of steam wafting from beneath the hood near the windshield.  Uh oh.  About the same time that pesky temperature gauge made an appearance.  Slowly it crept, hotter and hotter.  Then it dropped back down again.  Then hotter and hotter.  The problem was, the “drop back down again” never got as low as it was before.  Yep.  I was in the middle of a full-blown overheating situation.  What to do?

 

All of those little tricks I have learned over the years flashed through my mind.  I turned off the AC and rolled down the windows.  I stopped short of the other trick I have used before – turning on the heater.  Not sure why that’s supposed to work, but … not today.  I called Chris to let her know what was happening since she was in front of me.  We finally decided to take the next exit and try to find some place to stop and let it cool down. 

 

It took a while to get all the way across the freeway, but we made it.  And then we found ourselves on the streets of downtown Houston.  No idea where.  Was this a part of town we wanted to be in?  Oh, there were very few people in evidence, what with Corona and Laura joining forces.  But was it safe to stop and sit for an hour waiting for the truck to cool down? 

 

After a random turn or two, a police car pulled in between us.  I was now in front, and Chris suggested I just get out and ask the officer for help.  I have to admit I did feel a little safer with him back there.  Then a second one pulled up to the stop sign on a side street.  Then another.  And another.  Why the big police presence?  Did we miss something?  Is this THAT bad a part of town to be in?  And then we turned another corner.  We just happened to be right in front of the downtown police precinct.  Safe …

 

But still overheated.  And no place to park.  Turn another corner.  Look!  Several random places over there in front of that big building.  Yes, that one.  The … Chevy dealership … service department … that is open.  You can’t make this stuff up.  We parked and I went inside to see if they could help.  One of the desk service reps said, “Let’s go take a look.”  Come to find out, he just started working at the front desk.  For the previous five years he had been … a master mechanic. “Just got tired of slinging a wrench.”

 

OK, I’ll shorten this massively long missive now.  He checked everything out and came up with several possibilities.  After it cooled down – and he stayed with us the whole time – he found out that our problem was actually the least expensive of all.  The radiator was almost completely empty.  Thing was, there was no evidence of a leak anywhere.  “Doesn’t mean there isn’t one,” he explained.  But very strange.  He took me to the parts department so I could buy some antifreeze.  He even poured that in for me.  And then he went back to get some water, because it wasn’t full enough for him.  And then he went back and filled the can up again so we would have some on hand in case it happened again.  The truck started up and the gauge stayed right where it belonged.  To top everything off, we asked him what the best way was to get back on the freeway headed to Galveston.  He looked at us a little quizzically.  He pointed to the road the dealership was on.  And he said, “Follow that road.”  Cryptic instructions until we realized that all we had to do was literally follow the road for less than a mile, and it became part of I45 South.  No turns required.  The guy’s name was Mark.  At Knapp Chevrolet.  Gotta recommend them highly. 

 

We had no further issues on the way home.  Just the specter of removing boards from our windows after standing around in 100 degree heat in inner city Houston for an hour.  And as we turned onto our street … the boards were gone.  Already down from the windows and stowed in the garage.  Thanks to our son Nathan for that one.  You have no idea how much that meant to us. 

 

So, folks, it’s good to be home.  And now we watch the ocean for the next one … Hurricane Nana.  Really?

 

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 

Father, thank you for the road you blazed through the freeway traffic so we could escape and seek help.  Thank you for the comforting presence you showed by dropping us right in the middle of police-ville.  Thank you for giving that Chevy dealership the good sense to build right where they did.  Thank you for Mark and his expertise and willingness to help.  Thank you for Nathan and his heart for doing good.  Thank you for home.  Amen.