Car Meltdown and The Trip Through Hell

Hello friends and happy Monday. It is good to be back this morning, I have missed my blog and you all during the break and will enjoy catching up with everyone.

I'm sure you are wondering about the Title and would like to hear all about my recent trip to the "Hot Place"! Get a cool cloth and I will tell the condensed version of the event.

I show this photo to remind myself that all is well now and I am safe at the City House.

The story starts Friday at noon.  The car was packed and gassed up with a new oil change and good report from the Auto mechanics....all was well and off we went.

We knew it was to be hot, actually in  the low 90's and perhaps hotter closer to Portland.  I was not worried  though, as the car has always handled running the air-condition very well with no over heating.

I am sure you have all been in those rush hour traffic jams where you are just letting your food off of the gas and idling, then back on brake.  I bet you have never done that for 3 HOURS...!!!!

My eyes where glued to  the bumper of the car in front of me and my temperature gauge.  If it were just me in the car I would have rolled down the windows and suffered, but I had the two dogs and with both of them getting up in years, well, that was not an option.

When the gauge would go above 200 degrees I would turn off AC until it went down again and when we stopped all together, I would have to put it in neutral and give it gas.

The last two hours weren't as bad but the car was so hot by then that the car didn't cool down that much.  I was almost to my exit when the temperature gauge started climbing fast.....not a good sign.  So, I had to roll down the windows and turn on the Heater, yes, but I had no choice.....Well, that kind of worked for a few minutes, until....cool air started coming out of the heater.....that, my friends, is never a good sign.

The gauge was heading to the danger zone, I was almost to my exit and I prayed "Lord, please let me get off of the freeway and please let that light be green so I don't have to stop".  I might add, that the light has Never been green before....It was green this time and I took the left on to the Expressway and prayed again. "Lord, please let me get to that next light and be able to turn off and get to some shade."  At that, a burst of heat, came out of the vents the light turned green I made a right turn and there was a service station with shade...My warning light on the dash (check gauges) came on as I turned in and pulled into the shady spot and turned off the car...."Thank you Lord"!

People in the Mini Mart were there to help, my daughter-in-law came and got the dogs while I waited for  the tow truck. My sweet hubby drove down that night after putting in a long days work.

It ended up being the radiator....I guess they can only take so much heat and then they give up.  So it is now having a radiator transplant and hopefully will be good as new...Note to self.....Don't do this again!!! 
  

To celebrate our safe arrival and answered prayer (thank you Lord) and that also because you were all so good to sit through this long, hot, story, I will be giving one of you a years subscription to Country Living magazine.  Just leave a mention in your comment and I will announce on Wednesday....I will have to limit this offer to my U.S. readers only.

I will be getting around to visit all of you soon to see what you have been up to.  Have a great Monday!

xo