I’ve previously shared most of our November, which was a fantastic experience. Helen and I spent two weeks in Edisto Beach, SC, in perfect weather. The sunsets were spectacular, and I enjoyed capturing many of them and one very colorful sunrise. It is always hard to leave, but we booked two weeks for next November, and I hope they’re just as good.
We spent the next three days in Charleston and camped at James Island County Park. Collin, who had just finished a term as a commissioner on the Parks and Recreation Commission, pulled a few strings to secure a campsite for us. This was necessary because we camped during the annual Christmas Light Festival when many campsites are filled with volunteers and visitors who arrive in the thousands. Helen, Mortimer, and I drove through the Light Show and captured pictures of some of the displays.
Our good fortune continued with a three-day soccer tournament, during which teams from throughout the Southeast came to James Island to compete for championships in various age levels. Our granddaughters, Bennett and Cason, were among the competitors.
Cason’s team played hard through two games. The games were fun to watch and very competitive, but they fell short of the finals when matched against a strong team from another state.
Bennett’s team is outstanding. The girls have played together as a team since early childhood, and I swear they can almost read each other’s minds. They pass the ball exceptionally well and play defense with a passion. In this tournament, they played two levels up, meaning that their opponents were high school juniors and seniors, while Bennett’s team consisted of eighth and ninth graders. The age difference didn’t matter. In three games, Bennett’s team scored over thirty goals while allowing none for the opposing teams and were crowned division champions. Both granddaughters made Helen and me very proud grandparents.
We departed Charleston the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with our fifth wheel in tow. It was a lovely day…until we passed Newberry, SC, on I-26 East. Suddenly, I got a message on the dashboard of my truck that it was losing power. Then, the engine died. I coasted to the shoulder of the highway as Thanksgiving traffic blew by. Next, we waited over four hours for a tow truck to haul our vehicle to a Ford dealership in Spartanburg, SC, and another tow truck to take the fifth wheel to a campground in Gaffney, SC. If this wasn’t bad enough, we also encountered a problem with the leveling system on the trailer and couldn’t get the jacks to move up or down. If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.
Fortunately, we had two angels driving the tow trucks. They spent several hours getting the leveling system into a position where we could lower the jacks enough to use the trailer for the night. It wasn’t perfectly level, but it was better than a Motel 6.
The following day, we decided to rent a car and drive to Knoxville to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Unfortunately, almost all rental agencies were out of stock due to the flood disaster in North Carolina, which consumed the cars available. We called several different Enterprise Car Rental Offices only to be turned down. Out of desperation, we tried one Enterprise agency a second time. A different agent answered. She still had no cars, but she told us she drove by a small rental agency on her way to work and said she thought they had two cars on the lot. We called and rented the last of the two. Helen and I loaded Mortimer into the backseat of a Nissan Rogue and went to Knoxville by way of Hot Springs, NC–the interstate was still under repair after the floods. Thanksgiving with my family was a lovely affair.
After getting the weather forecast for Gaffney, I decided to return to the trailer because it had not yet been winterized, and the temperatures were predicted to fall to the low 20s. I spent the next eight days there waiting for truck parts and trailer repairs. Thanks to the Almighty for sports on television and Walmart (six trips); otherwise, I would have gone nuts.
I made it home on Sunday, December 8th. I love our trailer, but home never looked so good. Even Mortimer seemed cuter.
This is a November wrap-up, but I wanted to share our light snowfall earlier this week. We only received a dusting, but it was pretty nonetheless. November could have had a better ending, but despite the setback, we consider ourselves blessed beyond measure and grateful for all we have experienced this year. We plan to journey back to California in mid-January, and we invite everyone to join us as we travel.
In the meantime, Helen, Mortimer, and I send our very best wishes to everyone for a blessed Christmas season. May joy and happiness fill your New Year and all of 2025.
We’re Easin’ Along.
What an adventure you had! So sorry it happened after such a lovely time. You are so right, GodAlmighty took care of you and your crew. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and happy new year. Anne-Todd
Anne-Todd,
Agree that the timing wasn’t perfect, but it worked out in the end…albeit slowly, very slowly. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hugs and best wishes for a very Merry Christmas. Joe
That sounds like quite the ordeal—dealing with car and trailer troubles while traveling is stressful enough, but during the holidays, it must have been even more challenging. It’s a relief to hear you made it home safely and could still enjoy the comfort and joy of Thanksgiving with family. Sometimes those moments of togetherness feel even sweeter after a journey like that. Hopefully, things are smoother for your travels moving forward!
Good morning, Tandy,
Being home for Thanksgiving dinner with my Mom was a much needed break in the sordid ordeal, even though the holiday break slowed down the shipping of truck parts. Oh well, at least I had Walmart and two good books in the fifth wheel. Thanks so much for checking in. Sending best wishes for a very Merry Christmas to you and your family. Joe
Wow, Joe, a momentous month filled with fun and family, and well, fraught! I’m happy to read you were able to take care of the truck and trailer and procure a rental! Those experiences are frightening! And why do trailers break down on highways? I’m glad you stayed safe!
Enjoy your holidays and a Merry Christmas to you and Helen. By this time next week, we’ll be in Scottsdale AZ!
Hello!
The two angels who took care of us on the highway were special people, and added a little bit of sunshine to an awful experience. We had a delightful time at the beach and in Charleston. It’s funny, now that I’m back home my only memories are the good ones. The truck is at home and the trailer is in storage, and the memories of the beach are still vivid. Best wishes to you and Hans for a lovely Christmas and a fabulous start to the New Year. Enjoy Scottsdale, and travel safely. Joe
Merry Christmas to you two travelers. Sorry for the rough time, but Happy all is well.♥️💕💘
Hi, Ginny,
It’s good to be home. The worse part of the experience is that I missed the Christmas Concert at church which always sets the tone for the season. Merry Christmas to you and John. Thanks for stopping by. Joe
What an unfortunate turn of events at the end of the month. Glad it all worked out and you guys got home safe.
Looks like you had some fun times despite it all. I love the drive-through Christmas display.
I hope December is going well for you. We have a lot going on – mostly fun stuff. Take care.
Hey there,
Can’t wait to read about the fun stuff! The Light Display is amazing. It covers a mile or more and cars line up for hours to get into the County Park. December is starting out better, and it’s always busy. Helen is treating her high school gal pals to a wine lunch today, so I have to disappear (or hang around to drive them home). Best wishes to you and Malcolm for a blessed holiday season. Please stay in touch. Joe
“Even Mortimer seemed cuter.” You’re too funny, Joe! So glad you (and the truck and the trailer) are home, and you can get back to actually enjoying the holiday season! In reference to your granddaughters, I do love seeing young women who are competent and confident in their sports skills – and those two young ladies definitely are. It impacts their lives in so many positive ways. Good for both of them. Merry Christmas to you, Helen and your families! I’ll bet Mortimer makes out like a bandit on Christmas morning!
Good morning, Mary!
I’m home and the holidays have me in much better spirits. Mortimer is on the floor under my feet, waiting on breakfast. I’m very proud of all four of my grandchildren. They play sports because they love it and not because they’re forced into it. Their parents stay busy, but realize this period will fly by so, they enjoy it while they can. Thanks for checking in on me, I appreciated it greatly. All the best to you, Alan, and your family for a blessed Christmas season, and a wonderful start to the New Year. Joe
We love the holiday lights at James Island County Park! It’s so much fun to stay there during the holiday season. So sorry you had problems with your truck and then trailer issues. Ugh. It always makes for good stories, but it’s such a relief when those events are in the rear view mirror! Mortimer looks like he’s wearing a sweater, lol. Merry Christmas and wishing you and Helen all the best in the new year! 🙂
Good morning, Laurel,
We enjoyed the Christmas Light display very much. We have taken the drive through the display several times, but it was an amazing experience to camp there. Thankfully, our camping pass allowed us to avoid waiting in line to return to our campsite. The truck and trailer problems were a real downer, but you’re right, it’s much better when those issues are in the rear view mirror. Most of the campers in the Gaffney campground were workers helping with the cleanup after the floods. I saw a lot of damage in your area and couldn’t believe some of the damage around Asheville. I hope things are back to normal in your neighborhood. Thanks for checking in. Sending hugs to you both for a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year. Joe
I think any one who trailers is afraid of breaking down like you did. I’m not sure how well I would handle it. (probably freak out a little and then get to figuring it out). At least you were able to get both towed and in the shop. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.
Good morning, Christina,
Incidents like the one we experienced are always in the back of my mind. We had a tire blow once while traveling in Florida, but this is the first time we were stranded and waiting on repairs. Oh well, it’s behind us now and we are looking forward to our next adventure. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful Christmas, and please stay in touch. Joe
Joe, The Christmas lights look fantastic. I’m glad to read you got home safely after the truck and trailer issues. Wishing you and Helen all the best in the new year.
Natalie,
If your travels haven’t taken you to Charleston, I highly recommend it around Christmas time. It’s lovely anytime of the year and the food is fabulous, but the Light Festival at the County Park is amazing. Truck and trailer are back home preparing for a trip to the west coast. Hopefully, we won’t have another experience like the last one. Thanks for checking in. Enjoy your weekend. Joe