I don't know where else to put this on the site, so I'll post it here...if this is the wrong section, I apologize.
So, I have a saved search for Weber and webber on a CL app on my phone.
On Monday, this popped up.
(http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y348/jason_crowder1/Retro%20Webber%20grill_zps2mt23xug.png) (http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/jason_crowder1/media/Retro%20Webber%20grill_zps2mt23xug.png.html)
In Colorado.
It would be a 775 mile drive one way to pick it up. So, I let it be for 24 hours, thinking someone else would pick it up. On Tuesday morning, it was still there, so I sent an email to the seller, offering them more if they would hold it until Saturday. Within minutes they agreed, and even said they would remove the posting! I was very happy. They said if they didn't hear from me Saturday by noon, they'd repost it.
So, my plan was to drive all the way to Denver Friday after school, wake up early Saturday, go pick it up that morning (Near Pueblo, CO), turn around and come home, hopefully by midnight Saturday.
You may be thinking I'm crazy, but I've done a lot of drives for my Weberitis...and I LOVE road trips. I know some hate them, but for me they are relaxing. I put in audiobooks, get some snacks and head out. Plus, driving here in the west can be BEAUTIFUL. Once you get 2 hours out of Vegas, the scenery changes, and especially if you're heading north, the traffic clears out, and you're cruising.
My 12 year old daughter even asked to come along, and with her getting older QUICk, I thought it would be fun to spend some time together.
We left Friday at 3:20, and after getting out of Vegas, settled in. Got Culver's Frozen Custard in St. George, UT...Good times! All is well.
Now, if you've ever driven I-70 west, you may know America's longest stretch of Interstate WITHOUT SERVICES is from Salina UT to Green River, UT. 106 miles of NOTHING. For those who know, you gas up and use the bathroom before hitting this stretch. I took the Prius on this trip to save on gas money, and even though I still had 4 tics on the gas guage when we got to Salina, I filled up, to be on the safe side.
9:30 pm, 40 miles out of Salina in the middle of the mountains, we hit the pothole. Not huge, but deep. Immediately, my front driver's side tire bursts. I pull over quickly. CRAP.
This is not a good place to break down. I had no cell service, and Green River is still 70 miles away. My daughter (also a type 1 diabetic) starts to freak out. I tell her it will be fine. Changing tires is no big deal for me. So, I jack up the car, remove the tire, and STUPIDLY, decide to put it in the trunk before putting on the donut spare. As I put it in the trunk, the jack gives way, and the car collapses on it. The jack is stuck under the car. SHIT.
About 15 minutes later, another car hits the pothole, busting their front driver's side tire. They are about a quarter mile down the road. I go down, and oddly it's another guy from Vegas in a Toyota Corolla. We have similar jacks. After helping him change his tire, he comes back to jack my car up to remove my jack. He does, and he also helps jack my car back up again, using two jacks to maintain support.
I put the donut on, and it is FLAT. $%(#(#*%
There is no way I'm driving either way through the mountains on a flat donut. Fortunately, he has cell service (Sprint for the win), and I call for roadside service thru my insurance. Long story short, they say cannot locate me, though I am shouting at them my mile marker (95 on Eastbound 70!! Do you think I'm making this up!!!) After 20 minutes on the phone, they say they'll send a tow.
The other guy leaves, I thank him and wish him good luck, and we are left to wait.
At 12:45 am, the tow arrives...apparently from Castle Dale, UT which was the "nearest" tow, according to Progressive. Castle Dale is 40 miles north of the interstate, 45 miles from my location. He asks if I want to just air up the donut, but I say no, as I don't want to go through this again if something goes bad. We get in the truck, and have a 1.5 hour ride to Castle Dale. Drop off the car in a NAPA Auto Parts store lot. He then takes us to Castle Dale's only motel, the Village Inn. The office was closed. He knows the owner, calls them up, and 15 minutes later, they arrive and we get a room...Lucky 13.
Get to sleep after 3am.
The next morning, I see the closest Walmart is 30 miles away. My wife says if I want to still go get the grill, fine, if I just want to come home, that's fine too. I decide to email the seller and tell them my situation, and that I would still pick it up, though it would be Saturday night. My daughter, who is AWESOME, was still up for the adventure.
Air up the donut, and while driving to Walmart in Price UT, get this message from the seller:
"My sincerest apologies but we had some sale items set beside our garage the past few nights and your Webber grill was one of the items that was stolen on Thursday night. Sorry for your wasted time."
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! If they would have messaged me this Friday morning, that would have been nice. I had messaged them Friday afternoon telling them I was on my way but never heard anything.
Got the tire fixed, drove 379 miles back to Vegas and got home at 3:45 yesterday afternoon.
Weberitis. Gotta love it.
Anyway, someone in Pueblo, CO has stolen a treasure and don't even know it. If it pops up somewhere in the coming months, you know the backstory...sorry for the long post. Have a good day!
DOH! Jason... that just sucks. Apparently, wasn't meant to be. Hopefully whomever took it gets whatever they needed from it.
Wow. An MBH, no less. That just sucks. :(
@Bob BQ, I was pretty bummed at first, but I definitely focused on the positive! My daughter and I were safe! At least I hadn't driven all the way to Denver...that would have been far worse...and finally, my daughter and I both agreed it would make for a good story:)
Holy shit dude. That's a CRAZY story! Glad to hear you and your fam is good though. Damn, what a story....
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That's a crazy story, but atleast you guys made it home safely.
Wow. That sounded harrowing. I know one person that will be checking his spare tire before long trips in the future. I'm not saying I do but I think I'll start.
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Wow man, that sucks...
Glad everyone is well though
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New member alert - "so I came across this really old baby blue grill anyone know what it is worth?"
So sorry for that, weberitis is so bad for you, you might need some therapy.
Quote from: HoosierKettle on February 05, 2017, 09:50:54 AM
I know one person that will be checking his spare tire before long trips in the future.
Had the same thing happen last week. (Not the glen blue part...) Picked up a screw in a tire, and the donut spare was nearly flat. Limped to a service station for air. Didn't have $1.50 in quarters and the attendant was not sympathetic. (When did they start charging for air?) Fortunately a guy in front of me had the coins. I'll pay it forward some day. That's two things to remember: check the spare, and squirrel away a fist full of quarters.
Holy crap! What a bummer. Glad you 2 are ok.
The funny thing is that I have a mini air pump in my other car (the Hyundai Tucson I've taken on every other Weber road trip). If I'd just moved that over to the Prius...anyway, like I said, we're choosing to look at it as an adventure.
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It is an adventure your daughter will remember the rest of her life for sure. The kind of story that resurfaces many years later. "Dad, you remember that time we went to pick up a Weber in Colorado?"
Wow!
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So I am looking at the trek to get that grill.
Detroit to Atlanta - shorter
Detroit to Omaha NE - shorter
Detroit to Portland, Maine - shorter
@crowderjd hats off bud, I wish you would have scored on that one.
Wow! That was a helluva adventure.
Great story.
I know that section of I-70. My car broke down there a decade ago on our first attempt to move to california.
I had to cut speaker wire out of my stereo system to manually wire up the radiator fan to the battery.
Moved back to IL 3 months later :(
@Lightningboldtz that does put my craziness into perspective...the longest days drive I've done is 1100 miles...my usual self imposed limit is 300 miles so I can go and come back same day without having to stay in a hotel...but this was different. Also, driving in the west is different than the east. The worst drive I've ever done was actually Ann Arbor to Boston (wife's parents to wife's uncle). Too many cities, cops, and low speed limits. Utah's speed limit is 80 which means I usually cruise at 85. Thanks for the perspective though!
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If there was a one that got away thread you sir just won it....that sucks would've been a great story if you ended up with it. Well it really is still a great story!
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Quote from: LightningBoldtz on February 05, 2017, 10:06:38 AM
New member alert - "so I came across this really old baby blue grill anyone know what it is worth?"
So sorry for that, weberitis is so bad for you, you might need some therapy.
Looking for mint rare grills. Will pay shipping if the price is right :D
Sorry Crowder. That sucks :(
I feel your pain. In fact I am crying now.
Quote from: weldboy on February 05, 2017, 12:21:38 PM
If there was a one that got away thread you sir just won it....that sucks would've been a great story if you ended up with it. Well it really is still a great story!
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+1 Atleast you did not have to go to Denver and back for nothing. And both of you are safe home after that mishap. This reminds me of my 3200 plus miles drive to Denver and back last year.
i'm a weberitis traveler too. i've never done 1500+ miles RT though!
the seller is what i call a CL asshole.
glad it ended safely.
great story, in a effed up kinda way.
what a mess and an adventure. you are the man..i live the tenacity. VERY good to hear you and your daughter made it back home safely.
Bummer, but I like your positive attitude.
MEMORIES made... She'll tell that story every chance she gets.... "OH yeah, WELL, my dad....."
sorry you got skunked bud!
Good on you looking at the positive side of the story. Could have been a much worse turn out.
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Glad you and your daughter are ok. This reminds me to get new tires on the Camry soon. I dont chase Webers I let them come to me, but I do drive insane miles for a chili cookoff.
That's incredible, and a memory you and your daughter will never forget! I hope the thief gets his due from that stunt... damn.
Sorry it didn't work out for you but as other have said, at least you had an adventure with your daughter. I'm sure she will unknowingly take many lessons from your trip.
I'd be tempted to make a trek like that for the Culver's alone! They're nowhere near my neck of the woods, but I love the burgers. Give me a Sourdough Melt any time.
Yup...I love Culver's and miss having it here in Vegas, but the one in St George is their westernmost location so we usually stop there when passing through.
Damn!!
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Wow, that is one hell of a story. The good news other than you and your daughter being fine and back home safely is that you have some major kettle karma heading your way!