I've been reconnected with the world! Yeah! I hadn't realized how dependent on the Internet I had become until it disappeared for a week. My new best friend, Jay, from Embark the Internet company, came today and played with Moose, drank coffee, told me stories and told me of many, many places I must visit while in the state of Florida. During his two hour stay he managed to also fix my Internet. There were a bunch of things wrong at the road, outside the house and the modem was broken. He even told me where there is a 'clothing optional' beach by Cape Canaveral. . . hmmm. . .

O.K., so obviously I got out of Georgia. Here's the rest of the story. I listened to the wonderful input I received off the TCCT list (Twin Cities Combined Training electronic bulletin board). I had requested help from anyone who had made a long distance trek with equines in tow. Overwhelmingly, people suggested I purchase U.S. Riders Travel Insurance. So, I did and they saved my butt. For $119/year they will tow you and your trailer (with the horses in it) to a shop to fix whatever is wrong. If necessary, they will find overnight housing for you and for your horses. I dialed the 800# on my membership card, Lana came on the line and with her sweet southern voice took the situation over. Within minutes she had Mark on the phone asking me questions about what happened, details about the truck, size of trailer, type of hitch, etc. He said that it sounded like the main belt that runs all the fluids through the vehicle came off or broke, so power steering went out and engine coolant didn't flow to keep the engine from overheating. Mark took my cell number and said he was on his way.

Moose and I made friends at the station and kids were in line to pet the horses while we waited for Mark to arrive with towing equipment. I already had a couple offers of places to keep the horses overnight if necessary. I tell you, if you are going to break down, do it in the south. People are so friendly and willing to take a stranger in as their own. Mark arrived with parts in hand. He had diagnosed the problem correctly, but, my truck had an additional whoops. The die cast aluminum housing which holds the main belt had internally decomposed due to age and metal fatigue. I could personally relate very well to my truck, so I held no malice towards the old thing. My Chevy is a 1998 and this part is evidently manufactured to live less than 10 years. He was surprised I hadn't had trouble earlier.



An even bigger truck came and hoisted my little 3/4 ton onto it's flat bed. Mark backed his truck up to mine, I hooked up the trailer and climbed into his truck. He laughed and said that was his first time backing up to a trailer. I suppressed the urge to say, "What?? The trailers usually come to you? " I realized he meant he hasn't pulled a trailer before. As we drove through hilly, under construction, no shoulder, traffic -filled roads, I decided to squelch my mental images of upside down trailers or horses' legs skyward in their mangers due to too-quick stops.



Mark and his crew went to work on my truck. They had it pulled apart, diagnosed and a driver dispatched for 'new' old parts within minutes. Fast moving for Georgia, I thought. Fast moving for anywhere. Moose thought we had landed in Disney World. Mark had a 1 1/2 year old Golden Retriever and a 17 week old Great Dane. He played in the rain and muck nonstop for 4 hours while they put me back together. Harley, the Golden, had only two modes; run and 'hump.' Not exactly what I wanted my puppy to learn. I renamed Mark's dog Horny outloud while the neighboring businessmen stood visiting with me and watching the 'humpfest.' It was quite comical.



A man in the office was talking to the owner, Mark. I guessed that he was Mark's father. I introduced myself and said I thought I should meet the father of my savior. That's all it took. I was brought in to the family. Mark found housing for the horses, if necessary, and a place for me to stay. Mark's dad, John, showed me pictures of his wife. She was Ms. April in a local breast cancer fund raising calender. I briefly shared my story. His wife is a 20 year breast cancer survivor, but, recently found out she has ovarian cancer. Good prognosis, so he says. I pray that is true.



Truck was fixed and tested. Hugs all around. Picture taken with my automotive savior and off I went four hours later. Horses had been surprisingly quiet. They had that resigned look on their faces, like "I know you are driving us to Mexico to the slaughter." I felt bad, but, was thrilled that they weren't kicking the doors off the trailer. As soon as Lea saw we were getting ready to go, his switch flipped. I slammed the doors, waved goodbye and barreled out of their toward the worst of the Atlanta, GA rush hour.

I hit Georgia at 4:30 PM and crawled for an hour and a half through the city. My second most common piece of advice from former MN/Ocala travelers was to avoid Atlanta during rush hour at all costs. A good piece of advice I wasn't able to take. Once through the autoclog I estimated my Ocala arrival at around 10:30 or 11 PM. Then I remembered the time change; one hour ahead; arrival time around midnight! It shouldn't have made a difference, but, I suddenly felt overwhelmingly fatigued. I opened the windows, slapped my face, sang to Moose, anything to keep awake. I had five more hours of travel ahead. Suddenly, I remembered a care package brought over by my good friend and neighbor, Nancy. In it were all of my favorite things. The top two were chocolate covered coffee beans and wine! The wine would have to wait, but, I dove into the coffee beans. I usually limit myself to 5 or so. But, I've decided that junk food has NO calories when one is traveling across country, alone, with horses in tow. I chowed on the delicacy until my eyelids snapped open and I knew I could make it the rest of the way.

I crossed into the state of Florida around 11 PM cruising at 74 MPH (which is really 70 MPH in my truck) feeling like all was right with the world. Blue lights were flashing in my rear view mirror. I was not worried, I wasn't speeding. I pulled over one lane. So did the flashing blues. I pulled over another lane, ditto. I saw the pattern, didn't like it. I rumbled to a stop and retrieved my license and insurance (which I had fortunately gotten a duplicate of days before the trip as it was missing). The police officer asked in a Southern drawl, "Ma'am, do you have any livestock in that trailer?" I replied, "No, just my two horses." "Um, Ma'am, that's livestock." 'How insulting, I thought, they are pets! Don't let prima dona Lea hear you say that, buddy.' What came out of my mouth was a runny, jumbled apologetic explanatory mixture of babble. 'I had researched this trip so well! I thought I had everything down on how to do this! I have all my paperwork. I didn't know I had to stop! I saw the inspection site. I thought it was for produce! For big trucks, not me! I broke down south of Chattanooga! Can I help you? I'll open the trailer doors! They have current Coggins, I have health certificates. . . ' It went on and on. I stopped short of pulling the cancer card, thank God. The poor officer was saying, over and over. "Ma'am, you're not in trouble. Ma'am it's fine. You're not in trouble. I'll just have a look."

It was all fine. He had me sign a written warning and handed back my paperwork. I started to relax. Then I noticed that my insurance cards were missing. I asked him if he had handed them back. Yes, Ma'am, I did. I don't have them, I said. (Fill in minor hysteria here) The very nice officer (probably a bit afraid I was about to have a complete breakdown) retraced his steps. He'd dropped my insurance cards ON THE FREEWAY! My turn to give him a bit of a hard time. He apologized but didn't rip up the warning. His parting words were, "Ma'am, you've only got one hour to go. Have a good stay." (While thinking, I'm sure, another crazy Minnesotan on our Florida highways! God save us!)

The last hour was uneventful. My GPS had agreed with me, my atlas and my mapquest directions all the way down. Until the very last turn. A right turn instead of left had put me in strangers' driveways at midnight backing up into the pitch black night and reversing direction. I crawled from driveway to driveway until I recognized the farm from the pictures. I was 'home'! The gate was unlocked! What great good fortune! I settled the horses in their stalls, found my overnight bag and headed to bed. The caffeine packed, chocolate covered coffee bean adrenaline rush kicked in. I laid staring at the ceiling until I remembered Nancy's gift basket. Always the forward thinking one, that Nancy is! I found a bottle of wine AND a wine pull! I had a glass of Chardonnay and read myself to sleep. Nance saved my life twice on this trip, so far!