After a great nights sleep we were out of the Freightliner Service Center at about 9:50 am. The motorhome seemed to be handling great maybe due to the change in tire pressures. Things went very well until we hit the seven lanes of traffic heading around Atlanta on I85 heading south. We were in lane 3 of 7 in stop and go traffic when Eduardo Garcia who was in lane 2, driving a bronze 1994 Toyota Corolla, decided he wanted to be in lane 3 in which we were occupying. While we didn't really feel anything we heard a thud and Huli asked me what was that. I said, after looking in my mirrors, I think someone just hit the side of the motorhome. I then stopped and Huli flew out the door and ask Eduardo Garcia if he had insurance. To which he replied " I am so very sorry I did not see you". I think my dainty little wife then ask "how the fuck could you not see a 43' motorhome pulling an 18' car". By this time there were horns blowing and Huli and Mrs. Garcia, Eduardo's mother, who was now out of the vehicle, were both flipping the bird to everyone who was honking their horns. Mrs. Garcia then started adding some verbal expletives to the hand gestures. I heard things like "rotten bastard' and "son of a bitch" and these were the nice phrases. I could hear them perfectly through the microphone that is located at the back of the motorhome.
We waited for about a half hour in lane 3 of 7 for the police. At one point I ask Eduardo, who was now sitting behind us, if he could drive his car and wanted to move to the shoulder of the road. He said no he said we are suppose to wait here until the police come. At which time I went back to the motorhome and took a dump and played about three games of solitaire. Sorry to be so graphic but this is what happened. I still kept hearing horns blow and wouldn't have been overly surprised if something didn't hit us in the back end.
The police finally came and Eduardo tells him the same thing he tells us that he somehow just didn't see us.
The damage on our rv starts at the front passenger door and continues to some extent down the entire side. Most of the damage is scuffs from some rubber or plastic thing on his bumper and could probably be buffed off but there is a gouge above the steps and scratches on the front wheel and a corner of fiberglass by the step that will need to be repaired or replaced. Huli thinks it will total about $15k and I say it will be around $3-5K.
While we continue heading south we hear from our insurance adjuster and he already had a claim number from Eduardo's insurance company to take care of the damage but he also adds they are notorious for being slow payers (Safeway Insurance). He says don't worry though because you have really great coverage and you could just pay your $900 deductible and get it fixed regardless of Eduardo's insurance company. We said we are in no hurry since we probably won't get it fixed until we return to Indiana in May 2014. At this time I told Huli that if we had such great coverage we would be able to get it fixed without paying any deductible. I now think we need another economy size jar of Vaseline to sit beside the one we now have on our shelf for our health insurance.
We got to Florala State Park and Mike and Eileen helped us get into our site since it was dark.
While this stuff still bothers me it doesn't bother me like it would 10-20 years ago. I must be a grown up now. It's just stuff.
Huli posted this on her Face book page and I have already had phone calls from people asking me if we were OK. Makes me wonder why I am still doing this blog. Since Face book has become so popular this may be my last post
What a fucking day.
Jack
A journal written about life, retirement and our journey throughout the United States in a 5th wheel, along with our two Shih Tzus, Tanner and Syndey. Written not for notoriety but for our sons, family and friends, so they know where we are at any given time. And particularly for ourselves. Finally, we get to slow down and smell the roses and we don't want to forget any of it. You are welcome to join us as we go 'Down the Road a Piece'.
