Layover in South Jordan

Shortly after leaving Fruita it started to rain and a flash flood warning was issued in the area for the next two hours.  Luckily for us, there was no flooding to be had and after an hour or so of rain the clouds parted and the sun peaked through.  I spotted a few small herds of antelope with nice mature bucks, although no one else in the car seemed too impressed with my spotting abilities, I was proud of myself. After an uneventful few hours of driving we left the high plains of Western Colorado and again started back into the mountains of Southeastern Utah.  The area was unfortunately smokey due to the recent wildfires but the mountains were still beautiful.  Price Utah, although small, was set in an absolutely beautiful setting.  I knew it was too small and isolated for Kileigh’s liking but it is a town I will keep in the back of my mind for retirement someday.

Driving the winding mountain roads could be dangerous so it was best to take it nice and slow.  Unfortunately, as we were coming down the western side of the mountains a highway patrol trooper sped past us with his lights on only to round the corner to see why.  A semi truck had been traveling too fast for the narrow winding roads and had driven off the road and down the side of the mountain.  There were already citizens and another trooper there so we said a quick prayer that no one was injured and continued cautiously down the road.  A dozen or so ambulances, fire trucks, and other first responders continued towards the accident site from the towns below as we made our way out of the mountains.

As we neared South Jordan the dark skies above opened again and the rain fell down in buckets.  To make driving conditions worse, the interstate was under construction and it was almost impossible to tell where your lane was located due to the lack of painted lines.  After a nerve wracking twenty miles or so we pulled off the interstate and Kileigh checked us into the hotel.  It was still slightly raining so instead of hauling our possessions through the rain we decided to grab dinner at a nearby BBQ restaurant.  It was quiet a treat since this was the first destination arrival that happened during daylight hours.  R & R BBQ was just what we needed.  After dinner we checked into the room and, as customary, headed to the pool. The cold pool was too cold but the hot tub was nice and relaxing.  The kids were pretty tired so swimming didn’t last too long before it was time for bed.

With the little ones sound asleep, Kileigh and I made a decision to change our route and head north towards Montana before going to Oregon. We decided that we needed to line up more meetings with employers, schools, visitors centers, etc in Oregon and it would be a nice break to stay with family and see old friends for awhile.   Claire has been counting down the days until we get to Montana and is really excited to see our family there so we decided to keep it a surprise for the kiddos.

The next morning we woke up early, filled up with fuel, snacks, and drinks and hit the road.  We decided we would go through Yellowstone National Park as it is one of our favorite summer destinations and we only had a six hour drive to complete that day. We pulled into the Flying J in McCammon Idaho to use the restroom and stretch our legs quick before making the final push to Yellowstone.  

With everyone loaded up in the car and ready to roll out, I put the key in the ignition and when the motor cranked, a loud bang followed by continuous thumping came from the engine.  I quickly shut the Expedition off and Kileigh and I both looked at each other in frustration.  I popped the hood and could not see any broken belts, leaking fluids, or other obvious causes so I called around to a few local mechanics.  With the shops in McCammon backed up for the next few days, I called AutoTech Auto Repair which is located in Pocatello, approximately twenty miles away.

I would quickly learn that we could not have broken down in a better spot.  I spoke to a very kind gentleman and told him our situation.  He informed me that he would arrange a wrecker and make sure we could all make it to town along with the vehicle shortly.  While we were waiting for the wrecker we had numerous locals see our Texas license plates and ask if there was anything they could do to help us out.  It really was great to experience all things considered, as so many friendly and concerned people offered to take time out of their day to help complete strangers.

When the tow truck driver, Billy, arrived he checked out the car and said it sounded to him like we blew a spark plug and that it should be a fairly affordable and quick fix and with any luck we would be back on the road in no time.  Billy was a very kind man and filled us in on Pocatello and the surrounding area.  He reiterated to us numerous times to make ourselves at home in the truck and to let him know if there was anything he could do to make the situation better. When we arrived at AutoTech there was an open service bay and the Expedition was unloaded right away and the mechanics went to work diagnosing the problem.

As we hung out in front of the shop cussing our luck and starting to stress more, a very kind woman came and asked if she could give us a ride anywhere or help out in any way.  She informed us that her husband ran the chamber of commerce and she was very familiar with the town and could give recommendations for lodging, meals, etc.  She offered to go to the chamber and get us a map of the town so we could get an idea of places we could walk to if we wanted.  She returned a short while later with a map and brochures and took the time to highlight areas we might be interested in.  We thanked her for her help and told her how much it was appreciated.

By this time it was 4:30 and AutoTech closed in one hour so Kileigh and I were coming to the realization that we would be spending the night in Pocatello.  While we were deciding what we should do, the mechanic informed us that we had indeed blown a spark plug and if he could find the necessary parts he and his crew were willing to stay late to get the job done so we could continue our journey.

Kileigh and I felt better about the situation and were hopeful that the parts could be found.  With no wheels  and empty bellies we decided to grab an early dinner at Tom’s Gyro’s  and Burger’s, which was within walking distance of the shop.  It was a quiet dinner as we were all a bit worried that we may be stuck spending an unplanned night in a hotel.  Henry and I finished dinner and decided to head back and check on the status of the car while the girls finished up.

When we got back to the shop I was informed that the parts had been found and the spark plug was being put back in at the moment so we would know shortly if it was fixed or not.  After a few tense moments, I heard the car start up and the mechanic came in to tell me that the problem was fixed and we were ready to go. Kileigh and Claire came back just in time to thank the guys at AutoTech for their kindness and hard work before they all started cleaning up the shop for the night.  Pocatello was not on our list of places to check out, but after meeting the truly caring and friendly people, walking around the cute little town, and seeing the beautiful setting it is located in, it made us really appreciate the hidden gem that it is.

Due to the four hour delay in Pocatello we wouldn’t be driving through Yellowstone and instead would be heading straight to Bozeman Montana to visit Kileigh’s mom and her boyfriend.  We were all a bit nervous since we seem to have hit a streak of bad luck, but the show must go on, and as I like to tell Claire when she asks “are we there yet”, we get closer to our destination with every turn of the wheel.

Kileigh and I both would like to tell the kind strangers of Pocatello and McCammon, Billy the tow truck driver, and the guys at AutoTech thank you so much for your compassion, hard work, and generosity for making an ugly situation a lot less painful.