Spring Break Gone Bad

In 1992, Escaping from college and heading to the Northwest with two hot ladies seemed like a great adventure.  We were sophomores at Colorado College and Heather (names changed to protect) really wanted to see her boyfriend in Spokane, WA.  Jodie was along for the ride, much like me.  Heather was full of energy, brains, and HOT!  I should have seen the train wreck coming when she first invited me along and then finding out the trip was to see her boyfriend.  However, escape and a road trip to somewhere I'd never been intrigued me sufficiently.

Heather had us all psyched about taking off and escaping, so much so, we loaded our bags the night before so we could take off right after school ended.  After class finished on Wednesday (hump day most places, here the end of the block) we loaded into the minivan and headed SOUTH!  Heather forgot to mention that we were spending the night at her mothers in Pueblo, just 2 hours south of the Springs.  So, Jodie and I have a laugh about the hurry up and stop day and blow off the whistles we hear in our heads.  (Or at least mine.)

We take off bright and early and come up on our first mountain pass, snow is on the ground but the highway is just slushy so far.  Heather has no fear and we head uphill.  The going gets a bit more difficult, slush turns to snowpack and slick conditions.  A chain up area appears and Heather dives in there, eager for me to put on the snow chains.  Crawling under the back of the van, I attempt to put snowchains on for the first time.  The first one goes on rather easily and I roll over to put the second one on.

After a bit of struggle with the now frozen chain, I loop it on to the tire, and realize I need a flashlight to see the linkage.  I ask for a flashlight, and I see daylight.  The van is rolling forward and I'm underneath.  Luckily, under the back of the van and not in front of the axle.  I scream, the van lurches to a stop, and I get up to have Heather start yelling at me about slowing her down.  She doesn't even ask me about the chain, instead she tells me the chain is on and I'm in no mood to argue at this point. 

I crawl into the back of the van and we start forward.  After a short bit, the clunk clunk noise starts and we all openly wonder what the noise is.  I suggest the right tire chain isn't on (trying to be polite) and Heather comes to a stop and the two of us head to the rear of the van for a look see.  There is no chain to be found and we both scratch our heads and hope the chain fell off.  Back to the van we head and no sooner does the van get to cruising speed and the clunk clunk noise begins again.

Being fearless college students, the ladies decided to drown the annoying sound out with music.  REM started the day and all was copasetic.  The tape ended and Heather popped in Enya and her music style rolled us through.  I'm in the back of the van watching the scenery going by and wondering if the trip will get better or worse. 

I fall asleep and wake up to ....  Enya wailing steadily and the ladies up front, happy as clams.  Groggily, I ask if we could take a break, use the bathroom, stretch our legs, smell the flowers, etc.  I was ready to have a diversion of any sort.  Heather pulls the van over at a gas station, tells me proudly that we can fuel, pee, and stretch all in one stop.  I thought this was to be an adventure but it was turning into an efficiency test.  On and on we roll, Spokane or Bust!

In what seems a miracle, we arrive in Spokane on a beautiful day, I promptly grab my backpack, find the bus station and agree to meet back in a week.  I head off to the Olympic Penisula and truly enjoy the rest of my trip, so much so that the return ride isn't nearly so bad.  Heather had to replace the rear axle and we all agreed to change the music often!  I never went on a trip with either lady again.

Hope you have better spring break trips, I sure have!