Nightglow Window

Spring Break 2007 – Day 7 – Big Red Lets Us Down

There's nothing like a traffic jam in the middle of the desert. But here we are, twenty miles past Stateline, stuck in a line of cars that stretches past the far horizon.

We get moving again and the traffic culprit is never discovered, but we're all eager to be home now. The wind returns, an invisible menace. It's a white-knuckle battle to keep Big Red on the road. It's only 315 miles from Vegas to home, but the wind makes it feel much further. Dust clouds billow across the Interstate.

The gusts relent in San Bernadino and we can taste it -- less than an hour to go. But then, at the end of our 1,700-mile adventure, Big Red lets us down.

The throttle cable snaps, and the gas pedal falls to the floor. We begin to lose speed. I'm still baffled by what's happened as we coast to a stop on the shoulder. It's no doubt an easy fix, but I can't see anyway to make it happen -- not here on the shoulder.

We call AAA. Juan, the tow-truck driver, is a nice man and quickly loads the Vanagon on the flatbed. It's an ignoble way to end our trip, though.

"This is probably the last road trip we'll take in Big Red," Christy tells Hannah as we're driven home. "I think it's time we put her down."

Hannah's eyes well with tears. "But why, mama?" her small voice quavers. "Why do we have to put Big Red down?" She breaks down and starts to cry.

It's then and there that all doubts about whether the girls enjoy these road trips evaporate.



Cars stretch out for as far as my ten-power binoculars can see.