Heres my result of one way plane tickets to pick up a car...
Hello all.
As some of you might know. Jane and I fly in to Millwakee to go get a 62
dodge parts car that was to be in driveable shape.
Jane and myself got back form our long weekend Tuesday at ~ 1:00pm.
Well the trip to Milwaukee started out okay but quickly turned sour….
At the airport the outside check in computer crashed, as he was tiring to
check us in. Inside there was a snotty 20 something girl behind us that
insisted on using the kiosk check in when she was next in line for the
teller and was told not to use it by her boy friend and the teller. The
teller checked us in and mistakenly put one to the girls baggage tickets
on my Tool Box, thus my tool box when to Seattle Washington instead of
Milwaukee.
The seller of the car came and picked us up at the airport. When we got to
the house and saw the car I was disappointed to find more then the “good
for its age” rust. I know I’d find more then promise but this was
horrifying! They’re a 1-foot square missing under your feet on both
sides!! And it’s been there a long time as the carpet was worn away! Next
a look at the front end and hey there’s a missing headlight, “Oh ya but
you don’t need head lights” Say what! Mr. I’m driving 1100 miles I need
head lights. Also missing was a big area behind the lower lights in the
fender like 14 inches back on both sides. So off to Checkers to get
headlights and wiper blades and duct tape. Got the lights and tape no
problem but the wipers were a no go, needed ANCO brand refills, as the arm
is spot-welded on. Okay Rain-X for now stop at Wal-mart latter for the
Anco refills. Back to the houses. Car runs but not great have tune up
parts but no tools, seller has little so I pass on the tune up. We pay and
get out of there.
Off to the tire shop as the tires are junk not a little worn….JUNK. Prayed
we’d make it that far we did. On the way the car stalled four times and
once it was warm the trany at red lights would fall out of gear then as
you stepped on the gas it would slam in and learch and leave a pile of
rust behind. The fluid level was good and it smelt fine before we left.
Pull in to Mr. P’s tires to find a very energetic guy to help us. Jane’s
not looking good so I ask her she says we need to tow it cause we have no
tools and there tornado and hail warnings. So I have the guy mount two
used tires so we can us one of those dollies to tow it. Off to U-Haul
(should be called U-are screwed) we get there they tell me it’s too wide
for a dolly. Okay pall give me the trailer. Sorry we don’t have one but
the downtown one does. Okay I’ll go there but wait they don’t have any
trucks! So Jane drives a F350 with the 14-foot box and I drive the 62 Dart
over to the downtown local.
After an hour wait at the second u-haul we get a new looking trailer! Oh
but wait there’s no wires for the lights. Oh Mr. U-haul…. oh I’ll just
twist them together for you…. what no tape! You’ve got to be kidding
right! Nope have a nice day….
Off to the gas station as the trucks blinking LOW FUEL…. but it should
have a ¼ tank.
Okay all loaded up. Head in to down town Milwaukee. WOW what a nice city!!
Not crowed like Boston or any other big city. Well labeled and laid out
streets. Find the hotel after driving by twice while looking for a parking
lot that will take us. We do with little problem, just promises the guy
were not moving it until we leave the next day.
Call the airline, Were is my box? Well sir it should be hear on the 9pm
flight we’ll call you. Okay. Off to dinner We’ve not eaten since 4am. We
walk down to the 3rd Street Pier. Very nice up scale fish and steak house,
but do to strange weather no out side dinning tonight. Nice view of the
river and down town. On the way back it pours rain were drenched.
Umbrellas are still packed Doh………..
Sunday: No word from the airline. I’m pissed! There ~ $600 in tools in
the box and it’s cost me a lot for the dam u-haul. I asked to be called
ASAP but no word comes. Off on a 1.3 mile walk to breakfast at Miss
Katie’s Dinner. (food network show $40 a day was there last month) Nice
place great food and CHEAP. A definite must when we go back.
Nice clean city, I noted very few people out and about, but all are
friendly with “Good morning” ECT.
We head for home. Were making good time. Drive past Miller park for Jane
the ever Baseball fan. Then past the home of the white sox when the phone
rings, Mr. Leary we have your bag in Milwaukee. Well that’s fine but were
not there anymore! In to Indiana and massive wind and rain and traffic
stops. We hear tales of a massive accident we can see the lights. Almost
four hours latter were moving again but we tired no way well make Buffalo
today not even Cleveland, so we stop just over the Ohio boarder. Fill up
with free food and head out. We make it to Buffalo at 4pm is windy and
cloudy, we drove up to the American side of Niagara Falls. But can’t find
a place to park!! We drive around the block five times when a guy who
looks home less on a bike rides up and tells us where to go. We get there
he’s there! Kind of creepy but it turns out he owns the lot! Half price
cause it looks like rain. It holds off until were almost back this time
we’ve got the umbrellas. Then it’s a mad dash for the Mass boarder and at
11:45 we pulled in to Lee Ma. And the super 8.
Monday: Wake up breakfast at Joes in down town Lee. Joes is a small dinner
that was the setting for Norman Rockwell’s painting of the Run-a-way. The
boy with a bag sitting at the bar next to a cop. Then it’s a 3-hour ride
to home drop off the dealer plate along the way, as we don’t need it with
the trailer. Drop off the car at the garage and then home to drop off the
luggage and up to Keene NH to drop off the U-Haul. Then a dash to
Lexington MA to pick up Jane’s car at Mom and Dads.
So would the car have made it? Yes I think so but it would have required
work to do it and with out tools it would not have been a pretty site. Was
it worth the money? Depends on how you look at it. We’re safe, we had fun,
and I got my parts.
So my $500 car cost me closer to $2600 by the time it was back in Mass.
