As Uncle Rick would say, "Never a dull moment" out at the ranch. Just finished a post yesterday, but I have to write again today. My pick-up got stuck in the mud. I had been on my way out to pick up Matt from work in Davis when it happened. In the first place, on my way in to the ranch earlier in the day I came in on a road that has several dips and it was scary. The dips are such that you have to really slow down the vehicle when you go over them so you don't bottom out. In the rainy condition, however, it's very hard to maneuver them because you also have to give a little gas to get through them once you're in them. I made it through that part. The doom settled over me when I was on my way out to pick up Matt. I was taking a different route since I was afraid of the dips in the other route when my tires started to spin and I was getting nowhere. When I first realized I had been slowing down even though I hadn't released any pressure on the gas pedal, I kept repeating to myself in my head "Just keep going. Steady pedal. Don't stop. Come on! Come on! Come on!" I'm sure my face was wincing with my last threads of hope when the truck continuously slowed to a dreadful stop. Dead end.
My most immediate thought was to get out of the truck and see how stuck I was. I hopped out of the truck into the slop (in my new rain boots) to survey the situation. Not bad. Maybe if I give it a right good shove or two.... or five... I put the truck in neutral and solely tried to heave it forward but to no avail. The truck had rocked three inches forward as I pushed, yet rolled back those three inches when I stopped. I tried to use the rocking to my advantage and gave up after realizing all I was doing was possibly denting the tailgate.
My next stop - call Mom for moral support. She answered and I asked trying to keep a steady voice, "So, what do you do to get your car out of stuck mud?" She had plenty of experience getting stuck in the mud in her time and instructed me to find some wood and try to get some traction on the tires. She said to call Bob and Robyn for help, firstly. Her biggest concern was my safety and she requested that I stay in the truck (after attempting to get it unstuck) with the doors locked while I wait for help. After hanging up with my mom, embarrassed, I called Bob and Robyn. Robyn answered and told me she was having Sarah, Tim and Will over for dinner. I almost didn't tell her my situation because I didn't want to ruin her nice evening. Knowing I needed help, I proceeded by mumbling, "So, would now be an inconvenient time to tell you that I'm stuck in the mud?" Her answer was quick and calm. "No." Within a short minute, we had hung up and she was on her way to meet me and AAA over at the ranch while Bob would pick up Matt from work.
After several attempts to run the tires over some wood that I had retrieved from The Lair, I realized I wasn't going to get out of this mess alone. The tires were only making an awful sound rubbing the edge of the wood pieces because I couldn't get them under the tires enough. I tried rocking back and forth with wood in front of and behind the affected tire. I could rock, but that was it. I wasn't getting anywhere but deeper into the muck. Defeated, I ceased my fruitless attempts and sat in the safely-locked truck in self pity. The night before had been a rough one. We hadn't slept well because of the gusts of wind rocking the trailer. The weather had been so bad that we would be woken up from being rocked in our sleep. The Lair was being hit by the wind on the broadside and I had difficulty returning to a sound slumber after thinking we may well tip over. The following morning, we found that our truck bed liner which we had removed for camper shell purposes had been blown 44 paces into a rice check. A rent-a-fence had been shoved from a square shape into an inward-collapsed shape. Two of the panels had shifted maybe ten feet from where they were originally. Lastly, our worm bin lid had flown off into the rice checks as well even after we had placed our tire snow chains on top to weigh it down. Needless to say, my last 24 hours had been a bit rough and I was indeed feeling very sorry for myself as I sat in the truck flustered.
Robyn and my Mom were frequently in touch with me as I waited for help. AAA and Robyn soon arrived and my hopes rose. Robyn informed me that we were welcome to stay the night over at her's and Bob's place to decompress from the day and the weather should we want to. As she was on the phone with me, the AAA guy was letting Robyn know that he didn't have the right truck to get me out of the mud. He didn't have mud tires and he was certain his truck would get stuck in the mud as well. I chatted with the gentleman a few minutes and let him know I would be willing to leave the truck in the mud until the weather let up or until they had a better-equipped vehicle to help me.
As of now, the vehicle is still in the mud over at The Lair. We stayed the night at Bob and Robyn's. I slept very well being that I had a cozy, warm bed to stay in and a hard day behind me. Bob has offered to help me attach the vent cover to the trailer today as well as see me through with AAA. Amazing people, these Slakeys! We're even being chauffered around to get things taken care of. I was so glad to have had a phone to talk with people as I was feeling so down. I am so grateful for everyone who helped me out on every level. Off to The Lair!
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