Travels with CC and Dixie: Louisiana VROOM, Mississippi BOOM!, Alabama ZOOM

Following our BBQ lunch in Texas, we finally got out the east end of the mammoth state and into Louisiana. We were soon in the watery Bayou, lakes and rivers areas of bridges, ships, crawfish ponds, Live Oak and Cypress trees. Crawfish season was in full swing and we passed many refrigerated trucks loaded with the crusty critters. Late afternoon, we stopped for the night at Frog City RV Park for a good walk and rest. Dixie was happy to be surrounded by soft green grass again.

Bungee jumping anyone?

We Vroomed out of Louisiana and were rolling through Mississippi by late morning. We were cruising at 65 mph. on the I-10 when BOOM! Off went a bang like cannon shot. The front right tire beneath my seat had blown out and luckily, Chris was a able to get us safely to the shoulder. There was a tear in the sidewall from bead to tread where it blew out seen below. We left the motorhome and sat far away from the highway’s edge to call for help. Chris had the flashers going and set up two ‘warning triangles’ but it was scary how many vehicles blasted right by without changing lanes. Apparently police issue a summons for $1,000.00 to anyone refusing to move over for any vehicle at the roadside with flashing lights.

Dixie just chilled in the grass, no worries for her.

Chris called COACHNET to report the problem and explained that we needed a new tire. We were told it would be about a ninety minute wait but Snider’s Tire Truck arrived within half an hour. He confirmed our belief that we were lucky not to experience many common side effects of blowouts that often “take out” the fibreglass wheel well beside the tire, bend the rim, set gas lines on fire or even cause drivers to lose control and crash. We were also happy to have it happen, midday, not on a holiday, not during rain or snow, not on a bridge or in a tunnel but in an area where we could safely await help.

After the tire was replaced and filled, we followed “our hero” back to the station where we purchased a second tire and had it installed on the left. It made sense to spend the money and get some peace of mind as the signs of wear and tear on the tires was pointed out to us. Blowouts are a concern to all RV owners; Chris has our RV weighed on 4 corners every year and checks our tires and tire pressure regularly and knew to speed up when the tire blew to help with steering our motorhome to safety. We were lucky to have pre-booked a campsite in Alabama and Zoomed in there with relief at 6:00 pm instead of our estimated 2:00. As the reality of the event washed over us, we reached for a couple of beverages and hit the sack early, relieved and exhausted.

Mobile Alabama

USS Alabama

The Escapees Park, Rainbow Plantation in Summerdale, Alabama was a quiet, treed respite for two nights before hitting the road again. We were a thirty minute drive from the Gulf Shores bike trails so we headed over for a long ride along the luscious Alabama pathways. We were also able to restock our groceries before heading back to camp. where we washed all the desert and highway crud off CC then relaxed for the evening.