Today started out as a simple and easy driving day. We packed up after a long night of rain in Greenbrier State Forest in West Virginia and headed to Grayson, Kentucky.
When we got to Grayson, KY we pulled into a local grocery store for some supplies. When we came back out, Carla noticed that the propane tank and battery case were pushing into the box of the trailer. We checked underneath and found that a frame member for the tongue of the trailer had broken. Carla commented that she thinks it has been like that for a while. The break had rust on it, likely from driving in the rain.
Murphy's Law with a Pedron twist plays its hand again.
We needed to find someone that could weld the frame. We went into a local AutoZone and asked if they knew anyone that could help us out. One of the guys suggested Hall Brothers Truck Repair.
I called the number for Hall Brothers, talked for a moment with the wife who gave me his cell number. I called the cell and told Tim Hall the situation. He said he was over at the KMart around the corner working on a big rig. Come on over and he could take a look at it.
We drove over to the KMart and found Tim. He introduced ourselves and he took a look at the trailer. He said he could fix it, but he had to finish working on the rig and that would take an hour or so. No problem!
While we waited for Tim the girls headed in and did some shopping at KMart. Time finished with the rig. He asked us to follow him out to his place where his welder was. A few minutes later we were at his shop.
He dragged out a jack and his partner Chris pulled out the MIG welder. He tacked the broken frame back together and then cut out steel plate to weld over it to hold it in place. Chris dawned his leather welding covers and crawled under the trailer to do the welding. A little spray paint to protect the frame and it was done.
While Chris was welding Tim showed us a motor home that he built out of an old car hauler big rig. He had a shop build the shell including the pop out, but he did all the inside work with the help of a cabinet maker. Beautiful rig!
We were on our way a few miles down the rode to Grayson Lake State Park. Oh yeah, he didn't charge us anything for the repair. Would not take our money!
So if you're ever in Grayson, KY and need some work done, look up Hall Brothers Truck Repair and give them some of your business!
Music of the day: J Geils Band, Moulin Rouge
Books completed: Mackensie finished Artemis Fowl, Josie finished Eclipse
9:30 travel time for 248 miles (including trailer repair).