Moving 100+ Goats Across Country |
Written by Administrator-GL | |||||
Saturday, 17 April 2010 | |||||
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ON THE ROAD..At this point I'm starting to doubt the mechanic...We were scheduled to meet the rig at the rest stop ... We didn't make it..my van overheated.. lost the belt again.. Matt put in a new one and it was dark and yes still raining We got ourselves on a dead-end road and I can't back up a trailer...so Matt had to back up both vehicles..one at a time one then the other.. about 2 miles back up the road.. this was not pleasant *S* A Highway Patrolman stopped to let us know the neighbors..(on this desolate dark go nowhere road) were complaining we were blocking the road.. and, No .. he didn't offer to help.. 2 hours later we were at the rest stop and NO RIG! I was horrified! MY BABIES!!!We tried the pager number and the cell phone but the pay phone wasn't letting us do it..Out in the parking lot was the Highway Patrolman who so kindly helped us a couple hours before.. *S*.. He did however tell us that my babies and the rig were up the road waiting for us.. The drivers were worried wondering what could have possibly happened to us in 40 short miles We stopped at Little America in Flagstaff to resettle and decide when we would stop and sleep.. all this on 3 hours of sleep the night before.. it was 1am when we stopped to sleep.. just out of Flagstaff... Rimrock is only 45 miles from Flagstaff.. Are you getting the picture yet?.. *L* The kiddies were fine.. and wondering what was going on by now.. and little Vitters on the bottom.. looking thru the goatie windows atcha We did fine the next day and were making good time until Matt's truck lost his rear wheel.. I knew he was in trouble when he got on the radio and asked if the road was bumpy.. I don't know how he did it.. but it was a miracleEvery one of the nuts came off and sheared the bolts off.. it was no more than centrifugal force keeping that wheel on the brake.. Even the Highway Patrolman was shaking his head when the truck broke down..and had it towed across the NM border 10 hours later.. we were still waiting for the truck to get fixed.. Hadn't made Gallup yet..it should have been a 5 hour trip at most We got back on the road.. AFTER I got my van looked at.. the lugs were loose on it too.. same mechanic.. went in past Albuquerque and slept that night.. the kids were still fine.. even tho it had rained on them thru the little goatie windows..
gave him a shot of Tylan and put him, Booters and sis, Ellie, in the van with us.. Next day.. I guess this was Saturday by now..we did make good time... until
we hit OK.. when Matt lost his steering.. another stop and fix the truck
routine... The Arrival..Well.. I sure wish I would have taken more pictures of the actual trip.. now that it's all over, but at the time... it seemed like we'd never get here *S* But we did.. the good Lord was watching over us and He answered many prayers It was so pretty ... you could really see the changes.. (keep in mind...I had NOT seen the new place) ..for that matter- I had never even been to Missouri My son, Matt had made the trip to talk to the realtor and chose the place himself...after looking at about 12 places- this was it. So this was the first time I would see my new home...and I was loving what I was seeing! Now I'm thinking how in the world that huge rig is going to not only make it thru this tiny road but up into the driveway The realtor met us here and drove back to the Hwy to get Ellie so she could check the situation out..it's an awfully sharp turn into the place for a 70 foot rig After a few attempts.. it was decided that the rig would have nowhere to turn around to unload the kids.. it had to be backed in..so down the road to a place Pat could turn around and back it in.....I had bought cattle panels and the realtor had someone put them up for 2 goat yards near the house..good thing since the last thing we needed to be doing now was building goat yards.. We had to stop taking pictures here.. the flash was spooking the kids In retrospect I wish I had not listened to whoever was telling me not to take more pics.. :( Why Not?.. the trip hadn't been easy yet so why should it have changed now? In the house to find the phone which I packed last.. got the phone plugged in to call a tow truck..we walked away for just a minute.. JUST long enough for Boopie to find the phone cord and chew it in half OK.. start looking for another phone cord..we finally found one(Their cell phone wouldn't work in these trees)..called the tow truck- an hour and a half before he could get to us..ok..in the house to find the coffee...and wait A knock at the door..a neighbor on his way home from church..(it's 12:30 now)..he had a tractor and it would be no problem to get Pat unstuck.. Halleluah!! Call and cancel the tow truck and in 10 minutes the rig was unstuck.. a few scratches on the sleeper tho.. made me sick, these people had been so wonderful about everything and now the truck is scratched up we got the kids watered and settled and were done for the night.. Ellie and Pat slept in the truck to leave the next morning. I really wasn't looking forward to them going.. *S*.. Ellie got a kick out of the goats.. (so did Pat but he wouldn't admit it.. hehe).. At one point Ellie was saying she couldn't believe she was starting to know the goats by name and personality..we named one of the new babies Claudie- after her brother-in-law We already have a Patrick.. I cried when they left.. you would not believe how wonderful they were.. I truly believe with someone else I would have lost goats on the trip. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 04 August 2017 ) |
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