My Hitchhiking Story for Laurel
and anyone else who wants to read it.
We were still just dating in 1971 when I flew up to San Francisco early one Saturday morning to join Mike in his drive back to Southern California. Still in the Navy, he had just completed Electricians School at Treasure Island. His next station was going to be the USS Juneau out of Long Beach. This was going to be a fun day trip enjoying Highway One along the Big Sur Coast. We were expected to be back home late in the evening. The scenery was breathtaking as we drove along the narrow, windy road. There were steps cliffs on the right leading down to the ocean below and mountains to the left, in some places covered with coastal redwoods. We took our time and stopped here and there to take in the sights. We were just happy to be together.
Then it happened, the car started overheating. So Mike stopped his car, looked under the hood and realized right away that the fan belt was missing. We were just on a little turn-out, basically in the middle of nowhere. Well, we couldn't go any further without a fan belt, so we decided to hitchhike to the nearest town south, San Simeon. Having never hitchhiked before, I was rather nervous. But we really had no choice. We couldn't go any further and it was too far to walk. Luckily, a very nice couple stopped and took us to a little garage in San Simeon. By then it was very late in the afternoon. We realized that by the time we got back up to the car with the fan belt it would be too dark to install it. So, we decided to spend the night at a hotel in San Simeon.
There was one very big problem with that solution. In one word. MONEY. There was no ATM, neither of us had a credit card to our name, and we only had enough money for one hotel room. Remember, I said we were dating. My parents were expecting me home that night. Instead, I had to call them and say..."Guess what, I'm spending the night in a hotel room with my boyfriend. No worries!!" To say my Dad was mad is an understatement.
By the way, nothing happened that night. Poor Mike, I made him sleep on the floor!!
The plan the next morning was that Mike would hitchhike back up alone, install the fan belt and come back down and pick me up at the hotel. We could be on our way by 10 am at the latest. 10 am comes and goes, 11 am comes and go. Noon came, and I had to check out of the hotel. Still no Mike. I had visions of him driving fast and flying off the cliff unto the depths of the ocean below. I felt very alone. I wasn't sure what to do. I was far from home, didn't know anyone around. I didn't know who to call, I didn't have any money and I didn't know what happened to my boyfriend. Finally, by 1pm or maybe it was even 2pm, Mikes pulls up. Was I ever happy to see him!! It turns out when he got to the car, he found out the fan belt he had was the wrong size. Something, about his make and model had two different size engines, with two different size fan belts. Who knew?? Anyway, this time he hitchhiked north. It was a little further to go, but he found the old fan belt, so he would know the correct size. It was a long very frustrating morning for him, and a long very scary morning for me.
So, that is the one and only time I have hitchhiked. By the way, my dad didnt' stay mad for too long.
P.S Now it's Laurel's turn to tell about skinny dipping!! See comments here.
and anyone else who wants to read it.
We were still just dating in 1971 when I flew up to San Francisco early one Saturday morning to join Mike in his drive back to Southern California. Still in the Navy, he had just completed Electricians School at Treasure Island. His next station was going to be the USS Juneau out of Long Beach. This was going to be a fun day trip enjoying Highway One along the Big Sur Coast. We were expected to be back home late in the evening. The scenery was breathtaking as we drove along the narrow, windy road. There were steps cliffs on the right leading down to the ocean below and mountains to the left, in some places covered with coastal redwoods. We took our time and stopped here and there to take in the sights. We were just happy to be together.
Then it happened, the car started overheating. So Mike stopped his car, looked under the hood and realized right away that the fan belt was missing. We were just on a little turn-out, basically in the middle of nowhere. Well, we couldn't go any further without a fan belt, so we decided to hitchhike to the nearest town south, San Simeon. Having never hitchhiked before, I was rather nervous. But we really had no choice. We couldn't go any further and it was too far to walk. Luckily, a very nice couple stopped and took us to a little garage in San Simeon. By then it was very late in the afternoon. We realized that by the time we got back up to the car with the fan belt it would be too dark to install it. So, we decided to spend the night at a hotel in San Simeon.
There was one very big problem with that solution. In one word. MONEY. There was no ATM, neither of us had a credit card to our name, and we only had enough money for one hotel room. Remember, I said we were dating. My parents were expecting me home that night. Instead, I had to call them and say..."Guess what, I'm spending the night in a hotel room with my boyfriend. No worries!!" To say my Dad was mad is an understatement.
By the way, nothing happened that night. Poor Mike, I made him sleep on the floor!!
The plan the next morning was that Mike would hitchhike back up alone, install the fan belt and come back down and pick me up at the hotel. We could be on our way by 10 am at the latest. 10 am comes and goes, 11 am comes and go. Noon came, and I had to check out of the hotel. Still no Mike. I had visions of him driving fast and flying off the cliff unto the depths of the ocean below. I felt very alone. I wasn't sure what to do. I was far from home, didn't know anyone around. I didn't know who to call, I didn't have any money and I didn't know what happened to my boyfriend. Finally, by 1pm or maybe it was even 2pm, Mikes pulls up. Was I ever happy to see him!! It turns out when he got to the car, he found out the fan belt he had was the wrong size. Something, about his make and model had two different size engines, with two different size fan belts. Who knew?? Anyway, this time he hitchhiked north. It was a little further to go, but he found the old fan belt, so he would know the correct size. It was a long very frustrating morning for him, and a long very scary morning for me.
So, that is the one and only time I have hitchhiked. By the way, my dad didnt' stay mad for too long.
P.S Now it's Laurel's turn to tell about skinny dipping!! See comments here.
7 comments:
Well that sure was interesting! I can't WAIT to hear about this skinnydipping story MOM!
Cindy, how scary, having to hitchhike and then thinking you were deserted. I love this story, you are getting your personal history done! Aren't you proud?
Hey, I loved the sidebar videos. How'd you do that? I laughed right out loud at the sword fight one. Haven't seen any of them before.
A very touching story, and a great memory. I'm like like you Cindy, when someone is late to an appointment, I immediately imagine the worst.
Lynne, yes, those videos are great aren't they? I went to Mormon Messages at http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages . Then I went down to Connect with Mormon Messages, copied and pasted the embed code on to the gadget section of my side bar. It was very easy.
Great story! On my honeymoon our car broke down on the way back to Mesa from Nogales. We had to hitchhike back to town. Thank goodness it was two women who picked us up. I am SO grateful we have cell phones now!
Cindy Price...I think you have told me that story before...at least about making Mike sleep on the floor. I don't think I remembered that you had to hitchhike to get to the hotel.
The skinny dipping was an absurdity that I posted to see if anyone was actually reading the post. Are you kidding me...I am way to modest to do anything like that!!! But then I do have a pool...but this is florida...park lights, mosquitoes, and NO WAY..
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