As we got ready to exit on Rt 335 from I-57, we heard it. A thumping, somewhat grinding sound from the left side of me (sitting in the second row, right side). A slight burning smell also.
Pull over, says hubby to our son, the driver.
Jared had just been manipulating the cruise control, but pulled over safely to the shoulder.
An hour away from home, on our way to Eric and Laura's wedding in KY, and now this!
What's the problem here??!!! Engine starts, but shifting gear resulted in stalling.
We weren't going anywhere. Off in the distance, to the right, is the exit to Monee.
To the left, is McD's. And bathrooms. I needed to go. Sigh.
Called
Geico. Very, very nice black lady on the phone.
Within a half hour, a confirmation from Superior Towing (driver Tom).
But no Taxis in the area. Huh?! Let's call non-emergency Police for help.
Over an hour later, Monee Town Police shows up.
Two minutes after that, Illinois State Police shows up (Officer Powell with an assistant, license plate 5-43).
Monee Police is a no-go. It's against their regulations to take us anywhere except to the nearest gas station.
Tow truck can only fit two more people. State Police could also fit only two. But there were 6 of us!
Rules were bent and winked at...off we ALL go. Must go backwards 5 miles to a Dodge dealership - hallelujah!- in Matteson. Meanwhile, I am being transported in the back seat of a Police car.
Two hours of waiting at Denny Guests' Southoak Dodge. Problem: blown out/bad ignition coil.
It was an original part. Bound to break, sooner or later. A nice office lady made us feel better by giving us Coke with ice. Finally... 4 hours after break down, the car is fixed. Kentucky, here we come!
Officer Powell said if we had stalled around Kankakee, there would have been no one (meaning, car service) around for many, many miles. Realized later that had we passed Kankakee, in the backwoods area of Illinois, we would have ended up sleeping in the van while awaiting help 'coz NOBODY would have found us till the next day. The area was similar to the "Deliverence" movie in remoteness (I could be exaggerating here, but that's what it seemed like to me). It would have been worse than trying to find Janice's dad's wake.
Finally made it at the hotel (Fairview Inn) at 9:15 pm. Had we not been delayed, we would have been here by 4 pm. Now, there was no time for the pool. At leasts there was wi-fi. Plus, below was the glorious view outside our rooms' windows. We don't have this around our town. Yet.
Our morning meals were also included in our rate (unlike our friends who rented from Marriott).
Breakfast:
Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Jimmy Dean Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
Ham, Egg, Cheddar Quiche
Otis Spunkmeyer Apple Cinnamon Muffin
Dannon Light Fit Strawberry Yogurt
Orange Juice
Hard-boiled eggs
Coffee
