The trip back

I was sick most of vacation. Sunday was our last day and I woke up with bad stomach cramps. I took some medicine and went to church anyways. After church we went out to eat. I took my golf clubs just in case. There is a par 3 course behind the restaurant. I ended up feeling good enough to try and play. The longest hole on the 9 I played was 90 yards. So nothing impressive. We left that afternoon and I tried to listen to NFL on the radio. Not real easy. I decided that Beckley West Virginia might be a good stopping point so I had Steph call my parents and ask them to get online and see what was there hotel wise. While she was on the phone a tunnel came up that would've cut the reception so she got off. Dad would call with the info. We never got cell service again. Southern West Virginia had nothing for us and usually we get good service. Not even in Beckley. So we pulled into Beckley and I was wondering if my dad had made reservations somewhere. I was thinking I had to get a hold of him because if he did we'd have to go there so we didn't get stuck trying to cancel or get stuck with the room. I think it's pretty hard to cancel a reservation around midnight. I pulled into a gas station to use a pay phone. It's a Verizon phone. I follow the directions for making a coin call. They don't work. So I try a collect call. It doesn't work either. So I go to the next gas station. Verizon phone again. I tried anyways in case the other phone was broke. Nothing. Next gas station. Verizon phone. I try making a credit card call. Nothing. Next gas station. Verizon phone. I'm furious. Finally I get a credit card call through. Dad had not made reservations. So I just need to pick a hotel. I try the first one only I make a wrong turn somewhere and launch myself down a windy WVA road with no turn around spots. I get back and try the next hotel. It doesn't look that nice. So I try the third one. I go in and ask if there's a room. There is! It's expensive but at that point I don't care anymore (and I had help). Nice bed and a good night's sleep. Next morning on the road again. The brakes aren't working right. Almost not working at all. So we do the entire trip and stop at a parts store. I fixed the brakes after the long trip. They pad had come off of the backing. One of the pads had come apart and part had gotten stuck. But it's all fixed now. Great drive.