Long Time Away From Posting, Here’s Why and We’re Back Now!
American Press Travel News–Frederick, MD. July 18th–(today)-TN. tomorrow–Whats up with Bob and Barb (now) “On the Road Again?” Seems that our trip to Maine would be fraught with very deep “pot-holes.” After spending a few days at a family wedding in New York City (which was the high point of our trip from TN.) we headed towards a 7-hour drive to Saco, Maine to meet up with Mike Lee, owner of AL’s Goldfish Lure Co. We were driving our high-mileage Chrysler Town and Country, Limited mini van. About half-way to Maine, the engine-light blinked and stayed on telling us to check engine. Moving along on I-91 at 70-mph, semi-trucks all around us, I attempted to move out of lane to break away from them and suddenly “nothing” happened my transmission was GONE! I couldn’t believe it, (I had no time to see how wide-eyed and scared Barb was) but the burning smell of transmission fluid boiling under the hood filled our van. I didn’t panic, (after several decades, a few with dire emergencies, I learned to never panic) but slowly crabbed over towards a lucky break in traffic, to a glide off an exit that was in reach. Rocky Hill, Connecticut was to be our home for a few days 4-hours short of our Saco, Maine. I finally came to a stop at the edge of the off-ramp, blocking traffic-all manner of trucks and cars. I looked first and my back to very close semi’s and autos, began pushing my van over a curb, onto a grass patch. One young fellow behind me, jumped out of his car in a line of at least a hundred vehicles, and helped me. My faith renewed that we may make it through this disaster with only a great loss of dollars and perhaps some help from our AAA, membership, we called and waited about 45-minutes and a fine fellow showed with a pull-on truck and whisked us away to Modern Tire and Auto, about a mile away from our side-of-the-road site. Well, suffice it to say, the people behind the big front counter desks were incredible! They really had empathy for us. The did a full diagnostic and determine that our transmission was gone, gone gone! Cost for a new one $3900. Our high mileage van didn’t deserve this expense. They did not charge us a dime, they called Enterprise Rental for us, and promised to sell off our van for junk value and they did just that. Mike and Carlos, you fellows really “rock.” Enterprise gave us a full-size new vehicle and we left for Maine (just couldn’t pass up some fresh lobster dinners) saw and stayed with Mike and his great family, visited his small lure plant and store house of a million different lures and other fishing products, slept over and headed back to CT. My dear friend, Veteran Russ Barrus found our title stored at our home in FL. and over-nighted it, so we could legally be rid of our van. Another motel night and we were off to MD. to visit our son and have him assist in finding another vehicle, so we could head back to Goose Holler’, our farm in TN. Enterprise waived the $200 out of state drop-off fee. Note: If you ever have to rent a car or van, call them first-we have always only used enterprise as we have had excellent service and care. They pick you up, listen to your issues and treat you fairly and with care!
OK! So we bought a privately owned Ford Explorer Sport, 4-wheel- on -the- fly, and although it has some mileage on it, we gladly paid 2-grand for it! Heading to TN. Tuesday! Back to posting starting today!! Lots of experiences and stories to share with my faithful and new readers! Boy, do I miss terry, my furry dog-son!!!I hear from Marsha at our farm, he misses us too!!!
Bass Are Smarter Than the Average Weekend Warrior on the Water Really Know
AmericanPressTravelNews.com–Goose Holler’ Farm, TN.–Barb and I have ‘stopped to smell the roses’-our roses! This morning, while relaxing next to our pond in TN., sipping the best coffee in the world, I spotted 3-of the largest Largemouth bass in our acre pond, swimming within 5-feet of the shore, along the wild grass where the frogs, turtles and snakes like to hide. Suddenly, all three stopped. 2-fish spanned out leaving a triangle of fish one closer to the shore the other two about 8-feet out remained motionless. The bass in the middle as if on signal charged the shore with such fury that it launched itself out onto the wet grass directly within 6-feet of where I was sitting at my umbrella shaded picnic table. Fortunately, I had my polarized glasses on. Immediately, a second after the bass spun/slid around, the other two bass waked into the attack on the small sunfish that were chased out into the open. All three bass fed. Now, we have all seen the killer whales, dolphin (mammals) display somewhat of a similar behavior, but I never saw bass do a strategic take-down before. There are many behaviors of many species of fish I’ve observed all over the world having fished everywhere, possible except China. Wished I had my cell so I could have possibly gotten a video, but when incredible things happen, we are almost totally taken by surprise and don’t have set-up time to capture it!
So I can say, perhaps G-D offered me his Fathers Day Gift? I am taking it that way, and sharing it, in any event!
Happy Pop’s Day to all! Bob
Memorial Day, Yes Memories of Those that Gave Their All, for All of Us!
AmericanPressTravelNews-May 29th, -Goose Holler’ Farm, TN.-Bob and Barb “Stopping to Smell the Roses” at the Farm! As my dad was in the Battle of the Bulge, became permanently injured by loss of digits on his feet, but was able to continue to work and build a family, he was truly one of the lucky ones that went to, and came home from war. Besides being disfigured, he never got over his experiences and never spoke of them if he could help it! This weekend is for those that gave up everything for all of us, the world included, to keep us safe from the barbarism of the Germans and the Japanese, who both started a conflict that has been credited for killing over 60-million humans, people who wanted more than anything else to just live in peace and happiness. So this weekend, may the young who do not remember what happened before, that now lets them live free lives, doing great things and some very stupid things as well, and those that do remember the terror that is still going on to day in the Middle East, should thank more than their “lucky stars” ,in remembrance of those that went to heaven for us all. We all need to take a moment and pledge to them with our hand over our heart to the flag that has given us the freedoms, we now so often all take for granted!