Monday, October 29, 2012

Part two

Where the h did I leave the car? I knew it wasn't at the hotel, and my last memory was of a 7-11, but not one I could locate on Google.  I set out at 6 am on foot to retrace my steps, but 2 blocks away I realized I had forgotten the keys, so back to the hotel I went.

If you are ever stranded may it be in Baltimore.  Positively, the nicest, friendliest, folk on the east coast of the US reside in Baltimore.  The hotel valet took pity, and drove me around after his shift ended to all the nearby 7-11's until I found my ride, waited as I promised the manager to rid his lot of my beast quickly, and returned me to my lodgings. I felt half the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders.

And now for part two of the story.

I found our new wagon on EBAY.  95% of station wagons in the US are mom cars.  They see daily duty doing mom stuff. Hauling kids to school, going to the grocery, running errands.  Rarely are they abused, do they see horrendous weather or sustain any damage beyond a parking lot ding.  Generally they are well maintained as well. They make for great used cars.  Ours did duty in suburban Washington DC then Boston. I went to Beantown to claim it.

Mrs. T does not usually allow me to make travel arrangements.  A lifetime of life as road warrior tossed aside for one or two travel mishaps. But she was sick, so I booked my flight for early AM.  Convinced my flight was at 7AM, I was surprised to find when I arrived at the airport that it had left at 6.  The gods and United took pity (I was wearing a tie), I arrived in Boston a mere 2 hours late.

The wagon was love at first sight.  Everything was better than expected.   Within two hours I was on my way home, the car drove like a dream I was happy, traffic was light, all was well with my world.  The car broke down in Baltimore and rolled to a stop at a 7-11.  Remember that as you watch the weather headlines.

Toad

10 comments:

Shelley said...

Oh, this is too funny/terrible! I'm surprised you're allowed out on your own. That said, we've missed a flight (by 24 hours), lost the car, etc., just not all on the same day.

Toad said...

Every now and then I'll have a great laugh over this if only to avoid copious weeping

Anonymous said...

No!! What a terrible story. Is the car still in Baltimore? Are you home? Eek.- KT

Toad said...

yes, yes

OP said...

Toad, I am so sorry. I'm sorry that I don't live in Baltimore (not really, So. Tex is okay)so that I may be of help. That said, I wish you God speed on getting it home. BMW clubs are everywhere and have great resources. The BMW Club Roundel magazine is a good help. I have numerous friends in Cental Texas who are BMW afficinados but alas of no help in MD. Let me know if I can help. You have my email.

Toad said...

Many thanks Op. I suspect that nothing will be done this week, so no news is great news.

Brohammas said...

I once found Timothy Busfield drunk and lost sitting on a curb of a 7-11 in Salt Lake City. He said he had just been out for a walk. I loaded him in the car and drove hime the three miles back to his hotel. I'm sure he has no memory of it and now I am wondering if he had really lost his car in Baltimore.

Suburban Princess said...

Oh dear...it's never a dull moment...

Pigtown*Design said...

you shoulda called me!

Patsy said...

My brother-in-law bought a Porsche on ebay and drove it back from Minnesota during a snowstorm.

His story has a happy ending - hope your story does too!