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Vacation?
By Torreoria on 14/05/2009
This is a true story.
Each year, my son (Colin) and I have a week vacation in Corpus Christi. It's a 5 hour drive to the Gulf of Mexico and Padre Island. Surf, Sand and Sunburn!
One evening, we decided to stay on the beach till after dark, to have fun chasing blue crabs that were coming onto the beach for whatever crabs do at night. I tried to get an awesome pic of the moon shining on the waves. There were coyote eyes glowing in the flashlight beam and this had Colin scared so our late night beach adventure was cut short.
We get everything in the truck, hop in, close the doors and I ask Colin, "let's sit here for one minute and look out at the ocean". I wasn't wanting to leave just yet. I tried to absorb and record the moment in my mind. Then I tried to start the truck but it wouldn't start. I suddenly wanted to leave, very much so. Looking left then right, there was nobody for maybe a mile. What to do? Single mom with a 10 year old child, very scary. After an hour or so, a truck went by. I flagged them down with the flashlight, kept my distance and asked them to notify the beach patrol to come out.
Another truck went by another hour or so later and I flagged that one down too. It was a young couple. They also said they would talk to the beach patrol. A half hour later, they came back, told us nobody answered at headquarters then offered us a ride .
I looked at my son. I looked at the young couple. I accepted a ride to the beach ranger headquarters. Colin and I hopped in their truck bed for a trip of only a few miles. No rangers answered the door. As I walk from the door to the couple standing in the parking area, a car pulls in. It's a student and he explains that sea turtle eggs are hatching and the rangers are gearing up to release the hatchlings. No help from them. I thought, what a wonderful opportunity to be able to watch such an event but also of our predicament.
The young couple offered us a ride to our hotel. I accepted. It was 20 miles from the beach to our hotel. We were both thinking of a nice shower, food and sleep. I have a moment of time burned into my memory of riding in a stranger's truckbed, hitchhiking with my 10 year old son, my telling him to NEVER do anything like this.... EVER!
The couple refused the bit of money I had. I thanked them as I dropped a $20 bill inside the truck, unseen.
Next morning, the hotel owner offered us a ride to a mechanic about a half mile down the road. I learn that a wrecker would cost $300 just for coming to Padre Island but would be much more to drive to the beach. He offered to find a friend to tow my truck in with a strap for much less. I took the offer. The hotel owner told me stories of how that beach is known for drug smuggler traffic, of how very lucky we were that it wasn't bad guys that I had flagged down.
Ever been stuck in a hotel room with an energetic 10 year old? It's not fun. I wanted to go home. After a day and a half, the truck is repaired. It was the fuel pump that had gone bad. I call Mom and let her know we are headed for home. Three hours later I stop for gas, call Mom to let her know we are 2 hours away. She says my stepdad wants peaches from the roadside stands, to get some. That area is known for the peach orchards. Down the road I stop to find all businesses had closed for the day. I had left Colin in the truck while I went to the door of one small store. As I turned to walk back to the truck I see fuel dropping onto the ground below my son. The truck could explode! That picture is burned into my memory.
I jump in the truck and drive, looking for any sort of help. The only business open was a small gas station. The attendant was a young lady that called her boyfriend to come over. He crawled under my truck to find the fuel line had been rubbing on something during the last 3 hour drive. The mechanic hadn't put it in its proper place. He took a piece of innertube, wrapped it around the fuel line then tightened zip ties all along that. The leak was fixed! We could go home!
I had $5 left but the boyfriend refused it. I put the truck in drive but nothing happened. The shifter had no resistance. The truck wouldn't go into a gear. What now?! The boyfriend once again crawled under the truck, told me to stay on the brake. There were clunking sounds then the truck went into drive. He stands up, tells me some pin that holds the shift linkage is missing... to not stop or take the truck out of gear and I should be able to get home. As we once again are on the road, I call Mom to let her know the latest. I used the $5 to get Colin a burger at a drive through. Two hours later, I put that truck into park, got out and kneeled on the ground while Mom laughed nervously. Colin stated that we had an adventure. I told our story to my parents. It contains hitch hiking, drug smugglers and a possible explosion.
This may have been the best vacation ever because we certainly were glad to be home and not wanting to go anywhere for a long time after.
The End
The truck on Padre Island
My son wayyyy out there
Each year, my son (Colin) and I have a week vacation in Corpus Christi. It's a 5 hour drive to the Gulf of Mexico and Padre Island. Surf, Sand and Sunburn!
One evening, we decided to stay on the beach till after dark, to have fun chasing blue crabs that were coming onto the beach for whatever crabs do at night. I tried to get an awesome pic of the moon shining on the waves. There were coyote eyes glowing in the flashlight beam and this had Colin scared so our late night beach adventure was cut short.
We get everything in the truck, hop in, close the doors and I ask Colin, "let's sit here for one minute and look out at the ocean". I wasn't wanting to leave just yet. I tried to absorb and record the moment in my mind. Then I tried to start the truck but it wouldn't start. I suddenly wanted to leave, very much so. Looking left then right, there was nobody for maybe a mile. What to do? Single mom with a 10 year old child, very scary. After an hour or so, a truck went by. I flagged them down with the flashlight, kept my distance and asked them to notify the beach patrol to come out.
Another truck went by another hour or so later and I flagged that one down too. It was a young couple. They also said they would talk to the beach patrol. A half hour later, they came back, told us nobody answered at headquarters then offered us a ride .
I looked at my son. I looked at the young couple. I accepted a ride to the beach ranger headquarters. Colin and I hopped in their truck bed for a trip of only a few miles. No rangers answered the door. As I walk from the door to the couple standing in the parking area, a car pulls in. It's a student and he explains that sea turtle eggs are hatching and the rangers are gearing up to release the hatchlings. No help from them. I thought, what a wonderful opportunity to be able to watch such an event but also of our predicament.
The young couple offered us a ride to our hotel. I accepted. It was 20 miles from the beach to our hotel. We were both thinking of a nice shower, food and sleep. I have a moment of time burned into my memory of riding in a stranger's truckbed, hitchhiking with my 10 year old son, my telling him to NEVER do anything like this.... EVER!
The couple refused the bit of money I had. I thanked them as I dropped a $20 bill inside the truck, unseen.
Next morning, the hotel owner offered us a ride to a mechanic about a half mile down the road. I learn that a wrecker would cost $300 just for coming to Padre Island but would be much more to drive to the beach. He offered to find a friend to tow my truck in with a strap for much less. I took the offer. The hotel owner told me stories of how that beach is known for drug smuggler traffic, of how very lucky we were that it wasn't bad guys that I had flagged down.
Ever been stuck in a hotel room with an energetic 10 year old? It's not fun. I wanted to go home. After a day and a half, the truck is repaired. It was the fuel pump that had gone bad. I call Mom and let her know we are headed for home. Three hours later I stop for gas, call Mom to let her know we are 2 hours away. She says my stepdad wants peaches from the roadside stands, to get some. That area is known for the peach orchards. Down the road I stop to find all businesses had closed for the day. I had left Colin in the truck while I went to the door of one small store. As I turned to walk back to the truck I see fuel dropping onto the ground below my son. The truck could explode! That picture is burned into my memory.
I jump in the truck and drive, looking for any sort of help. The only business open was a small gas station. The attendant was a young lady that called her boyfriend to come over. He crawled under my truck to find the fuel line had been rubbing on something during the last 3 hour drive. The mechanic hadn't put it in its proper place. He took a piece of innertube, wrapped it around the fuel line then tightened zip ties all along that. The leak was fixed! We could go home!
I had $5 left but the boyfriend refused it. I put the truck in drive but nothing happened. The shifter had no resistance. The truck wouldn't go into a gear. What now?! The boyfriend once again crawled under the truck, told me to stay on the brake. There were clunking sounds then the truck went into drive. He stands up, tells me some pin that holds the shift linkage is missing... to not stop or take the truck out of gear and I should be able to get home. As we once again are on the road, I call Mom to let her know the latest. I used the $5 to get Colin a burger at a drive through. Two hours later, I put that truck into park, got out and kneeled on the ground while Mom laughed nervously. Colin stated that we had an adventure. I told our story to my parents. It contains hitch hiking, drug smugglers and a possible explosion.
This may have been the best vacation ever because we certainly were glad to be home and not wanting to go anywhere for a long time after.
The End
The truck on Padre Island
My son wayyyy out there
By George on 14/05/2009
Wow, glad that you are both ok 
Note to self and note to Torr: ALWAYS TAKE SPARE $$ in case something happens, you were very lucky that you didn't run out!
Note to self and note to Torr: ALWAYS TAKE SPARE $$ in case something happens, you were very lucky that you didn't run out!
By Sithofwookie on 14/05/2009
Wow that's way more interesting than any vacation I've ever had 
By Kwaichi on 14/05/2009
Thats why i spend my time at computer, the real world is so dangerous 
no, just a joke; i am glad you both are safe back at home. Now you have a story which you can tell to everyone
Btw dont you plan to buy a new car ?...
no, just a joke; i am glad you both are safe back at home. Now you have a story which you can tell to everyone
Btw dont you plan to buy a new car ?...
By Torreoria on 14/05/2009
This adventure happened eight years ago.
Yes, The truck was replaced.
What I regret is not staying to watch the giant sea turtle hatchlings run for the ocean.
I have more real life stories to tell.
Yes, The truck was replaced.
What I regret is not staying to watch the giant sea turtle hatchlings run for the ocean.
I have more real life stories to tell.
By Colinwarrior on 14/05/2009
Colin is a cool name.
By Chimpy on 14/05/2009
Nice
Btw no reason to be scared of a coyote, they would never attack a human. And since when were there coyotes at the beach?
And did you just happen to be in like the freindliest placei n the country or something?
Great story, sounded like quite the trip
Btw no reason to be scared of a coyote, they would never attack a human. And since when were there coyotes at the beach?
And did you just happen to be in like the freindliest placei n the country or something?
Great story, sounded like quite the trip
By Big Al 002 on 14/05/2009
gawd the whole time i was reading the story i was expecting something horrifying lol...guess everything turned out ok.
btw corpus christi..is the same town the deceased singer Selena is from right?
btw corpus christi..is the same town the deceased singer Selena is from right?
By Firelion08 on 15/05/2009
Excellent story.
I'm glad you got a lot of help from others... who knows what would've happened without them.
I'm glad you got a lot of help from others... who knows what would've happened without them.
By rachellove9 on 15/05/2009
Morale of the story: Have faith people will help. Great vacation. I'm sure your son remembers it.
By Torreoria on 15/05/2009
"Colin is a cool name."
I agree
"btw corpus christi..is the same town the deceased singer Selena is from right?"
I believe so.
"And did you just happen to be in like the freindliest placei n the country or something?"
We were lucky.
"And since when were there coyotes at the beach?"
Late at night, on the Padre Island National Seashore.
"who knows what would've happened without them. "
The choices were to spend the night in the truck and wait for a ranger or a long walk of over 20 miles on a narrow road.
I agree
"btw corpus christi..is the same town the deceased singer Selena is from right?"
I believe so.
"And did you just happen to be in like the freindliest placei n the country or something?"
We were lucky.
"And since when were there coyotes at the beach?"
Late at night, on the Padre Island National Seashore.
"who knows what would've happened without them. "
The choices were to spend the night in the truck and wait for a ranger or a long walk of over 20 miles on a narrow road.
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