Back to KC....the long way!

After we dropped you off, Roger and I headed back to Kansas City. We were SO HOT, and I couldn't imagine you on foot, with that pack strapped to you in this blaring sun facing the endless terrain of Kansas in the baking, sweltering heat.

We were driving north on 71 hwy. when the car did a "Toyota" on me. The engine began to race, sounding as though it were going to blow right out of the hood......except that unlike the Toyota, I was not speeding up but slowing down.

"Uh oh Roger, I think we have a problem."......
"What's the matter?" He had been dozing, and didn't realize we were slowing down......
"I've got lots of engine, and no moving....I think the tranny just went."

We slowed down and got off the side of the road. I stopped, tried the gears.....almost nothing but reverse....... First gear was still working....a little.

We could see an exit ahead a little way. We pushed and limped her to the exit, then thankfully off the side to a little Conoco station. Under the hood was tranny fluid sprayed all over the place, and an absolutely finished transmission.
The blessing of cell phones made a call to a tow place possible, and after some trying, found someone who would tow us back 77 miles to KC.

THAT was a pricey tow! On getting home, we had to make a decision wether or not to sink the money into a rebuild, or just try to get another car. We were unable to figure out how to come up with money for another car, and decided to bite the bullet and instead try to come with 3 grand for a tranny replacement.
That was no small task either, but one way or another I had to have a car to get to work. If we lived closer to my job I would have just walked, but unlike Jed, I cannot just sprint the 15 miles each way to get there. Yuch! He does the equivelant of me running to and from work every day. How does anyone do that? Not so much for one time, but day after day after day, for about 8 months......not even the weekend off.....I couldn't do it. I could have never done it, even when I danced and was in great shape.
Well bunny, this will cut into the amounts I was going to contribute to your run, but sometimes we don't have choices. We just do what has to be done. And as you have taught me, you just get up after you are knocked down, and you continue on.

Rock on bunny!