The Farmer's Magnificant Journey to Washington - ALMOST!

Farmers Dozen - Road Trip

July 1, 2006 we were on our way to Vancouver Washington, for a baby blessing at the Chatman's home.  Outside of La Grande Oregon, our 15 passenger van broke down.

Farmers Dozen - Road Trip Colage

The above colage was made by Kaitlin, documenting the trip.

Farmers Dozen - The hot van

We were riding with the heater on, as the van began to over heat.  Just a little hot in July.  The bright smiling face in the back, is our friend Mary, whom we were taking home to her family in Washington. 

Farmers Dozen - Side of the road

We broke down and called a tow truck, which we waited for on the side of the road.

Farmers Dozen - The gang

All of us had to get out of the car so it could be towed.

Farmers Dozen - Getting ready to be towed

The van is so big they had to pull it up on a flat bed.

Farmers Dozen - Thumbs up

We are excited!  (Kaitlin is taking the picture and dad is talking to the driver.)

Farmers Dozen - It's a convoy

We then were divided between 3 vehicles, since there were 13 of us, paying for each truck as if we were being towed by 3 tow trucks.  The van lead the way, followed by 2 more trucks.

Farmers Dozen - La Grande

We were towed back to the city of La Grande.  This was on a Saturday, with Monday being the 3rd of July.  Getting the parts we needed became problematic with the 4th of July and with La Grande being a small town.  We ended up having it towed back to Fruitland later that week.



Farmers Dozen - Chinese Restaurant

We spent 3 hours at a Chinese Restaurant while waiting for the diagnosis and plan of action.

We might have been a little bored?



Farmers Dozen - The Two Vans

We then had to rent to 2 vans to drive back home and then had to return them back to La Grande!  It was a mess.  La Grande is about 3 hours away.

Farmers Dozen - Shoes

A side note to this little adventure was the fact that most people wore shoes with the knowledge that they were on a road trip.

Farmers Dozen - Claire

This little girl chose to get in the car without shoes.  Now as a mom, I constantly say "If you are in the car you should have shoes on".  That isn't unreasonable is it?  When you are in the car this means you are going somewhere, whether it is a block a way or a trip 3 states a way.  This was not exciting news to me, being that we had to use public bathrooms, which I myself try to avoid at all costs...but barefoot??? blah...

Farmers Dozen - Road Trip

Notice, no shoes...Needless to say we did not make it to the blessing...

Farmers Dozen - Kaitlin

This was our photographer!