It was going to be a weekend to remember; my first time camping in over a decade. The date was set. The plans were made. We were headed to the Painted Hills with another couple. Not only did I need to psych myself up for the overnight camping trip without indoor plumbing (GULP), but we also had the 2+ hour trip into the boonies.
The morning of, my husband got called into work. What an unfortunate monkey wrench! We were traveling so far, and only camping one night. Hours delayed, we did finally met up with our camping couple. Instead of our original start time of 7am, we hit road just before noon.
Nearly two hours of driving later, we made a left turn onto a gravel road. Our travel had been smooth sailing. At the end of this gravel road was our destination. THAT’S WHEN IT HAPPENED! Hubby was braking and we were instantly swallowed up in a dense cloud of smoke. In a blink of an eye, we were disabled on the side of a gravel road, in the middle of nowhere. We got out of the truck and watched as our friends drove further and further away in their own dust cloud.
Rescue was eminent; our friends would eventually notice we were not longer behind them. But for the time being we were stranded on the side of the road with no cell service. Instinctively, we sprang into action. Hubby went forward to retrieve the mini travel trailer wheel that had catapulted an impressive distance down the isolated road. I went backward collecting up random parts strewn across the gravel and I traced back the spot of the abrupt wheel dismount. Hubby and I met back at the truck. He had the wheel. I held the random wheel housing parts.
Soon after our friends appeared. The boys sprang into action as the wives set up chairs in the shade. Once the damage was surveyed, and the jack was placed, we were given a job. The boys could put the inner wheel housing back together but we were missing one spacer. I was sent north, my wife friend was sent south. Unfortunately we both came back empty handed. But our boys did not! One of them found a small discarded piece of plastic PVC pipe on the side of the road.
Mamas, the PVC pipe was the EXACT diameter of the missing spacer. The boys used a travel saw to cut to the perfect width. I was in awe of their ingenuity. It was like watching my very own episode of MacGyver. (Apologies to my younger audience that don’t get this reference).
Finding a random, 6-inch piece of plastic PVC pipe on the side of a desolate gravel road, coincidence? That was no coincidence. It was divine intervention. You know what else was divine intervention?… Hubby getting called into work! Our four-hour morning delay was now starting to make sense! God knew what ‘adventure’ awaited us. I believe He delayed us so this would happen when there was no traffic on the road, (because who goes camping late afternoon?) Thank you God!
Our trailer was now jig sawed back together. It was late and we had had enough ‘excitement’ for the day. We turned around and headed home.
The second part of our ‘adventure’ day was about to start! Spoiler alert, there is a very good reason car parts are not made of plastic PVC pipe. We had a smoking hot wheel. This came as no surprise; it was just a ‘MacGyver’ fix to get us back to civilization. PLEASE hang on till we get to cell phone coverage. We traveled with reduced speed and made frequent stops. Once we were back in cell phone range, we were able to call for help. We sought respite at a country gas station gravel parking lot.
While waiting for the spare part to arrive; the boys barbequed chicken. I was grateful the gas station owners did not seem to mind. Sunset, dinner and entertainment, what more could a girl ask for?
We were given a lot of lemons on this day, and we made a lot of lemonade! I will remember that day for the calm and peaceful confidence I felt as a damsel in distress. I will forever marvel at the ingenuity of the boys, and their resourcefulness. I was entertained, well fed, and made memories I will cherish for a lifetime. But the thing I will remember the most is God saving us with a discarded piece of PVC pipe.
Mamas, how do you view set backs? Do you tend to make lemonade or do you suck on the lemon? What kind of company you keep? Does your inner circle help you see the bright side? Life is going to have lots of moments when the wheels fall off and you are stuck in the boonies? How will you respond? Do you have a MacGyver and a chef onboard? (If not, I strongly encourage you to add them to your posse). The company you keep when the unexpected happens will dictate the outcome of your detour. Choose wisely.
“Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable.” Proverbs 20:6 NLT.
Ice Baby Ministries 