Summer Roadtrip Day 13: Return home

This morning Steve got up early to further inspect the car while we were waiting for transmission shops to open. The hope was to be able to find a shop that could do the work as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

We ultimately decided it made more financial sense to rent a U-Haul and towing dolly and tow it home ourselves, tmrather than spending 3+ more nights in the area 

We took an Uber into Santa Fe, picked up the truck and trailer, and left Pojoaque shortly after noon.

We took the interstate through the outskirts of Santa Fe and then also through Albuquerque (so we didn't really get to visit either), since our goal for today was just to make it home, and night sightsee.

As we drove through Albuquerque, we were hit with a deluge of rain!

Once we were outside of Albuquerque, we stopped at a gas station for a late breakfast/lunch. These burritos were not as easy on the stomach as those in Cheyenne!!!

We drove in and out of rain for most of the way through NM, with a dark cloud seeming to stay over us.

We were happy to enter AZ and return to sunny weather.

We were about 100 miles from home and I needed a bathroom break (thanks to the gas station burritos!!).

When Steve tried to start the van (to keep the battery charged while the hazard lights were on for towing) he discoved the van's battery was completely dead. Then he urgently needed the bathroom, so locked the U-Haul and ran inside.

After returning to the U-Haul, I asked him to open my door. He started looking for the keys when I spotted them inside the truck

One locksmith later....

And one stop to install a new battery in my minivan...

We finally arrived home around 10:30 pm (and to a very happy dog!) 🐕