Part V: Missouri to Missouri
It was supposed to be a straight shot from Santa Fe, NM to North Conway, NH. Although nothing really seemed like a straight shot in our van, more like a rumbling chug. We made it to Walmart Joplin Missouri. Hungry, tired and greasy we ate sandwiches. Randy approached in an 80’s Chevy Camper Van. He was a nomad from the Florida Panhandle. “What y’all doing here?” Good question, we’re supposed to be in New Hampshire by now.
We pulled up to a gas station a couple of miles down the road and then Randy pulled up as well. With a 18 pack of Natty Ice tucked between the driver and passenger seat, he asked if we wanted to kick back a few. We got climbers to interview!
A few miles out of Joplin the bus cut out. We sat on the side of the highway. Where was Randy now…..
While we waited a thunderstorm approached. The tow truck driver pulled up in overalls and began to start the process of the tow but not after his own tow truck ramp broke. Now we waited with the tow truck driver for help.
Another tow truck driver arrived and scampered across the two lanes of the opposite side of the highway. Once he got his rig fixed up we pounded the highway through a raging thunderstorm as everyone else on the road pulled over to wait for the rain to pass. At least we had a badass tow truck driver on our side. Our driver lit up a cigarette and never slowed down as we made our way to Springfield, 70 miles away.
