Car Setbacks (a.k.a. Shit Happens)

All was not completely smooth in our trip across the country and into Mexico,as we ran into several car-related setbacks.

First, the Car Accident

The first came in late August when Lexie was working on getting her driver’s license. One Saturday we decided to get some interstate driving experience in and drive north on I-76, away from the crowded metro Denver area. We were concentrating on watching cars that were merging onto the highway, as Denver drivers have a bad habit of expecting cars already on the highway to yield to them. Driving in the right-hand lane, we came to an entrance ramp where a car and medium sized U-Haul truck had just gotten on the merge ramp. We were opposite the truck so we couldn’t speed up, but before we could even slow down the U-Haul moved right into our lane. Lexie’s immediate reaction was to shift left to avoid the truck, but unfortunately, another car was there. We hit that car, bounced off, and Lexie lost control. Suddenly we were heading for the concrete median at 65 mph. Crash! Airbags deployed. Things didn’t end well for the truck, or for Lexie’s hand, which was broken and in a cast for 6 weeks. 

The U-Haul driver just drove on up the road. I assume he never even saw us.

Chain Reaction

This set off a chain reaction. First, we had to find a new truck. Unfortunately, we had already ordered a custom topper which only fit Toyota Tacomas through 2015, and it was black. So we started looking, all over the country for a low-mileage 2015 Tacoma in a color compatible with black. This consumed valuable time that we needed for packing and finishing up on the house, but we eventually found a charcoal one in the Denver area that had about 50,000 miles less than our older 2012 truck.

 License & Registration

The accident also meant that Lexie wouldn’t be able to get her driver’s license in Colorado, because she could not drive again till she got her cast off, which would be only a few days before our scheduled departure. We would have to figure out that later.

And it created some difficulties in getting license plates and registration for the new car in Colorado since CO had recently switched to a new computer system which had created a backlog.

Next, the Battery

Our troubles in CO weren’t over yet. On the day before we were scheduled to leave, the new truck wouldn’t start. We had it jumped and I took it to NAPA to get the battery tested. The battery was bad, and I changed it out in the NAPA parking lot.

Then, Rear-Ended

For our last meal in the Denver area, we decided to go to Woody’s Pizza in Golden, our favorite pizza place. They make a wide variety of delicious pizzas, and you go to the counter and grab a slice of whatever pizza just came out of the oven. On the way, we were stopped at a red light on a fairly major road, 2^nd in line. Traffic was stopped behind us. The light turned green, but the person in front of decided he wanted to change lanes so he didn’t move until traffic on our left had cleared. As we sat waiting, the woman in a large truck behind us suddenly rammed into the back of our truck. Our truck was half packed, but fortunately it was drivable, with only damage to our tailgate and bumper. Because of our tight travel schedule to make it across the country and catch a plane to Europe, it would be three months before we could get the damage repaired.

The new truck with topper, right before the accident

So we had to drive across the country with a badly damaged bumper held on by a bungee cord.

Our Car Registration Expires

We parked our truck at Lisa’s brother’s house in northern Virginia and he graciously took us to the airport for our European trip. During the time away, our temporary Colorado registration expired, so we had to call the car dealership from Greece to get an extension sent to Lisa’s brother so we wouldn’t be driving illegally when we got back.

Back to Lexie’s Driver’s License

Back from Europe, our plan was to spend some time in our Vermont house and get Lexie the driving practice necessary to pass the test. Then we would both fly back to CO, get the new car registration and take the test. However, since we own property in Vermont we investigated whether Lexie could get her license and whether we could register the car there. We found out we could do both, and now Lexie is a resident of Vermont. We also registered the car there. Vermont DMV took our CO title and told us it would be a few weeks before our registration and title would arrive in the mail (to our Colorado address).

Unfortunately, the weather was abnormally snowy so we didn’t get as much driving practice in as we expected, still Lexie was ready to take the test a few days before our scheduled departure. Unfortunately, she didn’t pass, mostly because the examiner didn’t like the way she parallel-parked the truck. (Personally, I completely avoid parallel parking the truck because I can’t do it.) She actually parallel-parked perfectly, but before she had time to straighten the wheels out, the instructor told her she was finished and to move on – and then deducted points for not straightening out the truck!

It was frustrating, but we rescheduled the test for the day before we were scheduled to leave VT. Then, just as we were getting into the truck to go to the test, the examiner called us and told us that a mistake had been made and that they rescheduled the new test too early, as Vermont has a three-day waiting period between tests. That meant that Lexie still doesn’t have her license, which we will have to take care of this summer.

Cracked Windshield

We embarked on our trip to Mexico in early January, and on the second day on the road, we took a stone to the windshield which caused a crack. We didn’t want to go into Mexico with that so, as we were driving, we scheduled a glass repair while we were staying at our AirBnB in New Orleans the next day.

Troubles at the Border

We’ve previously documented our problems in getting into Mexico because we still hadn’t received our permanent registration from Vermont – read that blog. 

Sidetracked by the Gas Crisis

And, follow our problems in getting the whole way to Guadalajara due to the gas crisis in Mexico here! 

Rising Above

However, even with all of the minor setbacks, we made it to Mexico and have started our new life -- and we certainly have learned how to handle adversity! And sometimes the setbacks provided unforeseen advantages. Because of the accident, we have a newer car that is better able to handle rough Mexican roads. Because of the gas crisis, we discovered a city we never would have thought to visit, Leon.