Momentum. It’s a tricky thing to regain once you lose it. And I have completely lost all momentum, both literally and figuratively.
Daniel and I are currently in Madison, Wisconsin waiting for our vehicle to be repaired. Who knew that a flat tire at the World’s Largest Six-Pack would sideline us for an entire month. But that’s exactly what happened.
Rialta Repair Woes
Our Rialta pictured with four new tires. It took a week for them to arrive. We later discovered, however, that more repairs are required…
We’ve always known that the Rialta was a special vehicle. Winnebago only manufactured the Rialta for a few years with production ending in 2005. The vehicles are unique and that’s one of the reasons why we like ours so much.
But a specialized vehicle coupled with a Volkswagen chassis *and* a pandemic spells trouble.
There just aren’t that many mechanics around who can repair a Rialta. Not only does the shop have to specialize in Volkswagen vehicles, they need a heavy duty lift.
Traveling in 2020 further complicates things. Everything takes longer than expected. Hurricanes and forest fires and COVID-19 have disrupted supply chains and shuttered businesses. The businesses that are open have long wait times.
There’s more to the story of course. I keep meaning to write a blog post about all the crazy things that happened since our flat tire and I just haven’t felt like it.
I’ve lost all my momentum.
An Unplanned Wisconsin Vacation
Our B&B in Madison, Wisconsin
So Daniel and I are taking advantage of this little break to take an unplanned vacation. No blogging or planning or even planning to make a plan. Just lots of relaxation and playing video games and catching up on our favorite shows (we may *finally* even finish watching Lost!).
We booked a room at a cute B&B only minutes from the state capitol. Normally we avoid cities because it’s not terribly easy to navigate traffic in our oversized vehicle. Since we don’t have our motorhome with us, however, we are enjoying city life.
As it turns out, Madison is a charming little big town. The city is sandwiched between two lakes and has miles of scenic waterfront and great parks. There are also lots of restaurants and bars and coffee shops.
I have tons more to say about this lovely city but it will have to wait until another time. I’m on vacation, remember?
Where are we now?
Daniel and I are in Madison, Wisconsin! This photo was taken at the Madison Arboretum a couple of weeks ago.
Date: September 17, 2020
Great American Road Trip Status: Day 74
Location: Madison, WI
For more details on our Great America (Socially Distanced) Road Trip, see my previous posts:
- Day 51: Hiking the Ice Age Trail in Devil’s Lake State Park
- Day 49: A Disappointing Day in The Dells
- Day 48: The Case of the Elusive Rialta Tires
- Day 47: Flat Tire at the World’s Largest Six Pack
- Day 46: A Visit to the Twin Cities: HmongTown, George Floyd Square, Lake Minnetonka and lots of Sculptures
I’ve been wondering. Thanks for the update. Bless you two.