Thursday - evening - iPhone entry 

I was beating the tires on the trailer with a hammer this morning and one of them reported back with a “I am half flat” thud. I figured I could make it to a truck stop and I figured right. Filled the tire up to 105 pounds and hoped it would hold until I had more time to deal with it. 

A few hours later at the plant in Gurdon. Got out of the truck sitting on the scale and saw …a flat tire. This was a different tire on the trailer, I had checked all of them, it was perfectly fine this morning. It had a large metal spike in it. So the ordeal begins. 

I unloaded the truck, had agreement that I can drive it to the Loves 20 miles away and that is exactly what I did. When I got in there, they told me 4 HOURS before they could get to it. Screw that. 

I drove a few more miles to the TA truck stop where they got right on it. Fixed both tires and then tried to put them back on….

3 of the studs that the lugs screw onto were completely stripped. They tried screwing new lugnuts back onto it anyway, no go. They then discussed among themselves about whether they could put the wheels back on with 3 of 10 lugnuts not tightened and said nope. We cannot put those wheels back on there. 

Further, the Napa is now closed so we can’t get parts today. 

Yup. I’m stuck in Prescott, Arkansas until who knows when tomorrow, for they don’t know if the Napa will have the parts and  if they don’t, they’ll have to go to a trailer shop in Texarkana. It is likely I’ll be stuck here well into tomorrow before it’s repaired. 

I tried to get them to put it back together for the trailer is empty and could easily make the 70 miles to our yard. I understand, tho, they can be held liable for any accidents and so they refused. 

I qualified for a loan at the local John Deere outlet. They quoted me 2 prices and payment plans for 2 tractors, but the loan length was far too long at 84 months and payments higher than I want. It is an interest free loan, yes but I’m not willing to get into eternal payments. Maybe 4 or 5 years but 7? No thank you and I told them as such. I want used at a much lower price, that’s what I want. I don’t need to be getting into 35k worth of tractor. 

So I have texted them back my desires and they can either accommodate for me or not.

My dear mom sent me more money today. Totally out of the blue. It is almost enough for another septic system. 

It’s what I need first before considering expanding the park, I’m going to sit on the money for awhile, however and ponder this situation. I will also have to install another 200 amp electrical setup with meter as well. However, I can set it up myself only paying an electrician to hook the lines up from the power pole. Which also poses the need for the power company to install yet another telephone pole. Now, they will do this and no money up front, but it’s 2 month lead time. 

Just not there, yet, it will cost many thousands of dollars more than just a septic system to install more lots just because I will need the setup for electricity plus buy under ground cable, pipe, pedestals, gravel and whatever else I’m not thinking of. I would actually want to set up electrical first since there is a long lead time for pole installation. 

I may just hold the money and save towards down payment for a loan. 

Anyway, I decided to stay at a  nearby hotel. Pretty spartan but it’s not a dive and better than sitting in that truck for at least 14 hours if not more. I’m guessing they’ll still want me to drive clear to lufkin tomorrow if this thing is fixed in time to make it down there. They’re not going to care that I’ll be wearing same clothes for 2 days and all the rest of my dislikings for having to tolerate junk equipment. 

What I could really kick myself about is not bringing my laptop. I was going to start bringing it because I get so many calls for spots and I really need to see my reservation software to make sure I’m not giving bad info and having more people show up than I have lots available. 

I have nothing with me except a coat, a charging cord and the tablet. This room has, amazingly enough, an excellent satellite lineup including HBO. 

Well, I can only do so much of this in a phone before I get tired of trying to type out the words with one finger so I’ll end this here.