| Spotlight on: ARTHUR & ROSEMARY RENFREW This is their 1968 Buick Sport Wagon pulling their revamped 1973 Airstream Safari travel trailer. They made a trip that involved over 4000 miles. And although they experienced several 'mishaps' along the way, it was a maiden voyage they'll always remember! Read their story as told by Rosemary, ride along and enjoy! |
With our 1973 Airstream Safari, 23ft. travel trailer now finished being revamped, we were just about
ready to leave on a long planned trip up north, which we'd postponed due to a series of events, but
also so that we could put a more cost efficient transmission into our 'new' used 1968 Buick Sport
wagon. (Our friend kept telling us that we shouldn't go on this trip; that all these things were
happening to delay us from going and that something bad would happen if we went!!)
The transmission was installed the day before we left, so we didn't get to try things out beforehand, to
check for any 'bugs'. That proved to be our first mistake......
For some reason, unbeknownst to me, Art wanted to take our dirt bike with us, so he strapped it onto
the back of the camper, (by the way, we NEVER got to use it!) We loaded all we thought we'd need,
including Christmas gifts, adjusted the weight inside and out, put on the equalizer hitch and checked
out other necessary things like oil, brakes, etc.
Leaving in the middle of the night is ALWAYS an adventure....for Art....but a royal pain for me, as I am
DEFINITELY NOT A MORNING PERSON!
We usually alternate driving every 2-3 hours, but Art was SO wired and excited over our new
'excursion' with our 'vintage vehicles', that he ended up driving the entire 2 day trip himself.....only
difference was that it turned out to be 4 days...but seemed more like 10!
There were more 'thumbs up', cheers, heads turning, picture taking and "What in the heck kinda car
is that?!" along the entire way. Reveling in all this limelight, Art was experiencing euphoria until a
series of unexpected and frightening incidents started to happen.
We were just talking about how the tires were getting pretty hot and we were so lucky not to have a
blow out, when there was a loud bang and a metal scraping noise. Pulling off to check things, our
tires were fine. However, the dirt bike had apparently become dislodged after going over some pretty
rough road and the rear end of it broke loose, snapping the new chain that held it on. Thankfully, Art
always adds another safety tie, which managed to keep the entire bike from flying off and crashing
into the vehicle behind us at 70mph!
OK, so we manage to fit the bike in the side door of the camper. Aside from this making one super
obstacle course....the term 'togetherness' brought on a new meaning, especially when we tried
sleeping 3 in 1 bed, (Art, me & Dozer, our 80lb. American Bulldog!)
I heard the echoes of my friend's warning and I verbally repeated it to Art. Maybe we should go back
home and plan on leaving another time? No, that's being superstitious!
Getting ready to take off again, we noticed that the temperature gauge is nearing the 210 mark. Not
good. We cautiously go a bit further to a gas station, fill up and had to wait for the engine to cool
down enough to check and replace the water in the radiator. (This was one of the main reasons our
trip took so long. We had to stop more often and wait longer for the engine to cool EACH TIME,
before attempting to start out again)!
With each stop, I questioned whether it was such a good idea to keep going. And each time, we
re-assured each other again and continued on.
Nearing Virginia, a new noise surfaced. Hmmm....couldn't really tell from inside the car, but it couldn't
be the transmission. Could it???? No, sounded more like a baffle in the muffler. It finally got loud
enough to warrant a stop and really check it out, as it was sounding much different now. Pulling into a
Ruby Tuesday parking lot, we called our transmission contractor and arrangements were made to tow
the car some 50 miles away. He fixed the problem..... (WHEW)....or so we thought. (I knew we
SHOULD have listened to our friend's admonishing)!
You've heard of "southern hospitality," right? Well, we experienced it first hand those 2 days that we
stayed in the Airstream at Ruby Tuesdays. They hooked us up with water and electric, provided us
with ice for our huge cooler which was full of meat and gave us food and drink, before we went off on
our 'merry way'!!!!! They really restored our faith in our fellow man. This had to be THE most
relaxed part of the trip and it was WAY better than spending a night at Walmart. (You don't get all
those amenities there!) LOL
Things were going along pretty well except that darn temperature gauge 'had it in for us'! Over the
210 mark now, Oh, whora, whora, what next? So we nursed it for the remainder of our trip. As we
neared our son's home in Oxford, CT, the temperature was rising dangerously high. We pulled off
onto a flat patch of dirt, turned off the motor and then heard a loud bang, saw steam and we literally
both fell back into our seats. A hole was blown in the radiator after much abuse and over 250 degree
temps! (Now, we both agreed that, "YES, WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME!")
Our son came to meet us and bring us to his home, laughing and shaking his head: "What did I tell
you? That car can't pull a trailer! It wasn't made to do that. You should have bought a new or newer
used car instead of this 'Brady Bunch' car." (As you can tell by his tone, 'Role Reversal' has set in
with our kids!)
Being refreshed and with all things anew, we headed up to VT to see some old friends. But wouldn't
you know it? It wasn't done with us yet, the alternator and voltage regulator went! OMG, I JUST
WANT TO GO HOME!
Our trip had to be lengthened to over 2 months. It took that long for everything to be repaired or
replaced. Returning home to FL, was basically uneventful, as our old car had now been pretty much
overhauled with a myriad of new parts, although we both were still wondering what was going to
happen to us next.
It's always great to get back home from a vacation, but this was one 'vacation' that we'll remember for
a very long time!
(And our friends will NEVER let us forget it either!) ;o)
ready to leave on a long planned trip up north, which we'd postponed due to a series of events, but
also so that we could put a more cost efficient transmission into our 'new' used 1968 Buick Sport
wagon. (Our friend kept telling us that we shouldn't go on this trip; that all these things were
happening to delay us from going and that something bad would happen if we went!!)
The transmission was installed the day before we left, so we didn't get to try things out beforehand, to
check for any 'bugs'. That proved to be our first mistake......
For some reason, unbeknownst to me, Art wanted to take our dirt bike with us, so he strapped it onto
the back of the camper, (by the way, we NEVER got to use it!) We loaded all we thought we'd need,
including Christmas gifts, adjusted the weight inside and out, put on the equalizer hitch and checked
out other necessary things like oil, brakes, etc.
Leaving in the middle of the night is ALWAYS an adventure....for Art....but a royal pain for me, as I am
DEFINITELY NOT A MORNING PERSON!
We usually alternate driving every 2-3 hours, but Art was SO wired and excited over our new
'excursion' with our 'vintage vehicles', that he ended up driving the entire 2 day trip himself.....only
difference was that it turned out to be 4 days...but seemed more like 10!
There were more 'thumbs up', cheers, heads turning, picture taking and "What in the heck kinda car
is that?!" along the entire way. Reveling in all this limelight, Art was experiencing euphoria until a
series of unexpected and frightening incidents started to happen.
We were just talking about how the tires were getting pretty hot and we were so lucky not to have a
blow out, when there was a loud bang and a metal scraping noise. Pulling off to check things, our
tires were fine. However, the dirt bike had apparently become dislodged after going over some pretty
rough road and the rear end of it broke loose, snapping the new chain that held it on. Thankfully, Art
always adds another safety tie, which managed to keep the entire bike from flying off and crashing
into the vehicle behind us at 70mph!
OK, so we manage to fit the bike in the side door of the camper. Aside from this making one super
obstacle course....the term 'togetherness' brought on a new meaning, especially when we tried
sleeping 3 in 1 bed, (Art, me & Dozer, our 80lb. American Bulldog!)
I heard the echoes of my friend's warning and I verbally repeated it to Art. Maybe we should go back
home and plan on leaving another time? No, that's being superstitious!
Getting ready to take off again, we noticed that the temperature gauge is nearing the 210 mark. Not
good. We cautiously go a bit further to a gas station, fill up and had to wait for the engine to cool
down enough to check and replace the water in the radiator. (This was one of the main reasons our
trip took so long. We had to stop more often and wait longer for the engine to cool EACH TIME,
before attempting to start out again)!
With each stop, I questioned whether it was such a good idea to keep going. And each time, we
re-assured each other again and continued on.
Nearing Virginia, a new noise surfaced. Hmmm....couldn't really tell from inside the car, but it couldn't
be the transmission. Could it???? No, sounded more like a baffle in the muffler. It finally got loud
enough to warrant a stop and really check it out, as it was sounding much different now. Pulling into a
Ruby Tuesday parking lot, we called our transmission contractor and arrangements were made to tow
the car some 50 miles away. He fixed the problem..... (WHEW)....or so we thought. (I knew we
SHOULD have listened to our friend's admonishing)!
You've heard of "southern hospitality," right? Well, we experienced it first hand those 2 days that we
stayed in the Airstream at Ruby Tuesdays. They hooked us up with water and electric, provided us
with ice for our huge cooler which was full of meat and gave us food and drink, before we went off on
our 'merry way'!!!!! They really restored our faith in our fellow man. This had to be THE most
relaxed part of the trip and it was WAY better than spending a night at Walmart. (You don't get all
those amenities there!) LOL
Things were going along pretty well except that darn temperature gauge 'had it in for us'! Over the
210 mark now, Oh, whora, whora, what next? So we nursed it for the remainder of our trip. As we
neared our son's home in Oxford, CT, the temperature was rising dangerously high. We pulled off
onto a flat patch of dirt, turned off the motor and then heard a loud bang, saw steam and we literally
both fell back into our seats. A hole was blown in the radiator after much abuse and over 250 degree
temps! (Now, we both agreed that, "YES, WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME!")
Our son came to meet us and bring us to his home, laughing and shaking his head: "What did I tell
you? That car can't pull a trailer! It wasn't made to do that. You should have bought a new or newer
used car instead of this 'Brady Bunch' car." (As you can tell by his tone, 'Role Reversal' has set in
with our kids!)
Being refreshed and with all things anew, we headed up to VT to see some old friends. But wouldn't
you know it? It wasn't done with us yet, the alternator and voltage regulator went! OMG, I JUST
WANT TO GO HOME!
Our trip had to be lengthened to over 2 months. It took that long for everything to be repaired or
replaced. Returning home to FL, was basically uneventful, as our old car had now been pretty much
overhauled with a myriad of new parts, although we both were still wondering what was going to
happen to us next.
It's always great to get back home from a vacation, but this was one 'vacation' that we'll remember for
a very long time!
(And our friends will NEVER let us forget it either!) ;o)
| PEACE RIVER CAR CLUB |
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