1 April 2002, Snowbird West, AZ: From Needles we turned south on Route 95 and picked up I-10 at the Arizona border. About 50 miles into AZ, a car slowly passed up with the driver and passenger giving the Puck smiles and waves. As the car drifts into our lane in front of us, the driver never sees an 18-wheeler retread in his way. His car tires send the retread airborne and cartwheeling directly toward us. A sudden swerve keeps the rubber missile from crashing through our windshield, but we get a glancing blow all along our port side, just like Titanic. The driver's side mirror is knocked off, the retread hooks the rear bumper of the Wagoneer then delivers a brutal blow to the Puck. A nasty 2' x 3' dent in the aluminum skin, covered with black rubber.
A bit shaken up, we head off a random exit in a few miles and, by chance alone, arrive at Snowbird West RV Park. True to it's name, this neat park has been home since October to seniors from points north. Since it has already reached 90 deg. in this stretch of AZ, many have pulled out and begun heading back north (except for the Canadians). Of those who remain, we were immediately approached by the nicest folks starved for new faces. Here our new friend, Dick, has volunteered to scrub off the retread marks from the accident.