Well to continue on. We were about 30 miles West of missoula, Montana when the good cowboy rescued us with the use of his Air Compresser. I looked at the spare and even though it was worn I just had gotten off of the phone with Bryant, one of the Buskatiers who were headding out from Kansas to meet us in Cokeville, Wy. so I could take them wild camping at a place where I go fishing. With the knowledge that they were headding West I decided to continue South East to meet with them and figured that I'd buy a tire in Idaho Falls, Id. where we were going to meet up with another friend. This turned out to be a bad choice also.
We drove through Missoula and got about 34 miles past when again I hear, " Whuuuuump wack wack wack!" as now the spart tire had shed it's tread but was still holding air. Again fortune smilled on us as I'd just passed a " parking stop" not a rest stop but still a place to safetly pull off of the road. Again I haulled Roadcow into a 180 degree turn and drove the wrong way down an onramp to park in front of the only tree at the stop. I knew we'd be here awhile and I wanted a cool place for Chris to continue reading harry Potter, and it was quite warm outside, probably 90 degrees F. I have AAA plus coverage and knew i could be towed up to 100 miles for free. Missoula was closest about 34 miles behind us and was the largest town for many miles. I called AAA on the cell phone but was afraid i'd loose the signal before giving my location. I got all of the pertinant info. " I need a flatbed, not a regular tow truck" before the signal was lost. They called back with a 45 min. eta for the tow company's arrival. I tried to call Bryant and tell him of our situation and couldn't get a signal, even b y walking a 1/2 mile up the road. I waited around and thought I should go stand by the road and look for the approaching tow truck incase they gave the wrong location and just as I did this I see a tow truck co ming from the direction I was headed, not where I had expected.I waved, he honked his horn in aknowledgement and he came back when he could turn arround. He pulled up and I asked if he wanted me to pull Roadcow up onto his flatbed? At first he said no, then when he couldn't find an easy place to attach his cable to he agreed. I hopped into Roadcow and felt like I was 4 wheelen with the steep angle of the trucks flat bed. Everybody got loaded up and off we went to missoula. Now this was about 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon and I was worried I couldn't find an open tire shop. ( Oh yes that reminds me why I didn't stoip there inthe first place! I did try but found the Tire store closed). We discussed several topics as Chris read in the back seat. He was a volunteer fire fighter and told several colorful stories. Now when I was riding I saw a 77 Westy Hitop on the side of the road, and also a VW repair shop I need to go back to as he had tons of spares in is yard. We decided that either Sears or WalMart were my only choices to get 2 tires bought and mounted that late on Sunday, I choose WSalMart since I could for sure buy the tires and mount them myself even if their tire center wasn't open. Got dropped off and went in tt order tiree. Was met by Stupid employee #1. What size tire comes stock on your car? I said 185/70/14 but I have 195/70/14 on the back since they are 8 ply and had a better load rating. "We can only put on what you already have on" I said you just said what came as OG equipment! I'd seen what thehy had in stock and the 185's had a better load rating than the 195's, and since Roadcow isn't 4wd who cares about mixed sizes. What a pain, finally took the 195's because it was only 80 lbs difference.
Long story short WalMart let Roadcow slip off of their lift and crushed the rear wheel and tore off the tail pipe. I was so mad I just wanted out of there!
Got on the road East and called Bryant and they had problems also. It seems that Rob's 1960 Single Cab with a new engine had broken a ring and was dowwn on power and blowing oil so they were towing it to a friends house in western Kansas with Bryants 1.9D T-25 Westy. I was told after a good 3 mile run they could get up to 55 mph. This told us we couldn't meet up in Cokeville so Chris and i decided to head back towards Oregon and cooler weather.
Man I twell you I've never seen so many "No Tresspassing" signs in all of my life. Drove through some more beautiful scenery and even found a 34 mile dirt road short cut.I found a nice place to park near a river for lunch.
Everybody got loaded up and off we went to missoula. Now this was about 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon and I was worried I couldn't find an open tire shop. ( Oh yes that reminds me why I didn't stoip there inthe first place! I did try but found the Tire store closed). We discussed several topics as Chris read in the back seat. He was a volunteer fire fighter and told several colorful stories. Now when I was riding I saw a 77 Westy Hitop on the side of the road, and also a VW repair shop I need to go back to as he had tons of spares in is yard. We decided that either Sears or WalMart were my only choices to get 2 tires bought and mounted that late on Sunday, I choose WSalMart since I could for sure buy the tires and mount them myself even if their tire center wasn't open. Got dropped off and went in tt order tiree. Was met by Stupid employee #1. What size tire comes stock on your car? I said 185/70/14 but I have 195/70/14 on the back since they are 8 ply and had a better load rating. "We can only put on what you already have on" I said you just said what came as OG equipment! I'd seen what thehy had in stock and the 185's had a better load rating than the 195's, and since Roadcow isn't 4wd who cares about mixed sizes. What a pain, finally took the 195's because it was only 80 lbs difference.
