Note to Self...

July 26, 2009
Note to self... when traveling with any member of my family to Orangeville, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT under all circumstances drive a suburban on Highway 6!!! Three years ago, my dad and his sisters were in charge of the Peacock family reunion but for some reason my mom and siblings couldn't go. So, Jeff and I hopped a ride with my dad in the suburban to help with all the festivities. Things were going pretty smooth until we hit the top of the canyon and the suburban overheated, with billowing smoke coming forth from all tubes, pipes, and whatever else is under the hood of a car. It wouldn't have been so bad, after all we did have a trailer in tow loaded with food, had it not been for the 130+ degree heat! Luckily my cousins found us stranded there with no air conditioning, no cold water, and thinning patience...not to mention what I think was heat stroke that Jeff was starting to get. Then my Aunt and Uncle came by and thus began the six hour ordeal to try and figure out what was wrong with the stupid car and if we could fix it. We waited and waited for it to get cool enough to finish the drive to Orangeville and ended up pulling into camp after 11 pm (missing the wienie roast), a mere 10 hours behind schedule (ok, so I really don't remember how long it took to get there but it was triple the time it should have taken).

So...this year rolls around and everyone makes it safe and sound to the reunion. No breakdowns, no cursing Highway 6, and no overheating. We joke about it all weekend, pack up camp, and head out. Pretty soon we notice a white suburban and boat pulled off the side of the road. And my cousin's car (yes the same ones who rescued us). Not again!!! Apparently Nick's dad needs to invest in a new boat-towing vehicle because we were about to embark on the same journey we had three years prior. Thank goodness it wasn't blistering hot this time around! We wait and wait, then limp along the canyon stopping several times to let the suburban steam and sputter antifreeze until it cools down. Jeff entertained the entire family by fake barfing in front of my mom and I'm sure making inappropriate jokes to keep every one's spirits up. Pearl and I supported the family by staying out of the way with a movie and treats. By 11:30 pm we had made it out of the canyon, a good three or four hours later than anticipated. By the time we got home, Jeff and I were both so tired that we didn't unpack a single thing from the truck (another note to self... do not forget to take out a sippy cup with milk in it), well expect for Pearl, which is a first for us. I'm thinking next year we all need to invest in some new rides, or at least we need to buy a new, bigger, full size pickup so we can haul our family's sorry butts out of the canyon!