Chapter One Just the Right Trailer
Vince had been looking online for months after he sold the family trailer at the coast for something more portable to replace it. Two months later, after many false starts, he announced that he had found the trailer-love of his life in Reedsport, Oregon.
“Look at this one, Marsha. What do you think? I think it looks pretty good. It’s got new tires.”
“Muh huh,” Marsha commented, then went back to her own side of the table and started working again.
Undaunted, Vince purchased the trailer, and worked out the details of the vacation. On the appointed day, they left only one half hour late by Vince’s careful calculations, at 6:30 a.m., on their travel adventure. The 13 hour drive on the first day proceeded without incidents. Between sleeping off the remains of her cold, Marsha kept copious notes as Vince dictated the mileage along with the current temperature and exact location and time, adding a few side comments of her own. “It’s 2:46 and we are through the worst of Mt. Shasta and Shasta Lake. It wasn’t nearly as scary as I remembered. Only 24 miles to Yreka.”
Nothing disturbed Vince on his planned vacation. Even the Oregon fog and misty weather couldn’t dampen his good mood as the miles drew him nearer to his dream. Fortunately they weren’t paying for the trailer by credit card. The American Express card had been given a “frog alert” in Redding, but Vince quickly cleared that up. Arriving at the home of the young couple that sold the trailer in Reedsport before dark, Vince had met his first goal, Get there before dark.
Vince, Marsha and Kalev looked the trailer over. They liked it. Neither of Vince nor Marsha mentioned or even really knew what the strange smell was inside the trailer. The title and money exchanged hands, and the couple headed north 20 miles to their hotel in Florence for a good night’s sleep before picking the trailer up and starting their vacation back to California.
Even cheerful after 13 hours of driving Vince remarked, “Look a historic bridge. How cool! Later he added, “I think it was the ocean air.” Vince cautiously broached the forbidden topic of possible defects in the trailer. “Maybe it’s just because it’s been closed up for a while.”
Marsha reminded him, “The ocean doesn’t smell like that. Maybe they forgot to empty the holding tank.” Hoping not to dispel the lingering optimism, she quickly added, “It will disappear.” They reached The Old Town Inn in Florence, Oregon. Vince quickly checked into newly remodeled Room 104 tired but not worried. “The clerk told me they have the best doughnuts in the world,” Vince announced to his ever-dieting wife.
Little did they both know that they would have far more dangerous threats to Vince’s unbounding enthusiasm later in the journey.
Do you think Vince will be able to maintain his good nature throughout the trip? Have you had a vacation during which nothing could irritate or upset you? Tell me about it.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
40 responses to “The Accidental Vacation”
[…] I borrowed and modified Tyler’s title for a series of blog posts, The Accidental Vacation, The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler was probably one of my favorite books of all time. The […]
LikeLike
[…] https://tchistorygal.net/2013/09/17/the-accidental-vacation/ […]
LikeLike
[…] The Accidental Vacation […]
LikeLike
So I am WAY behind on your trip and supposed to be preparing for our own journey that begins tomorrow….but now I must know more! The bridge is awesome!
LikeLike
I am so behind in reading, too. I was without internet, then when you are processing pictures and writing posts, it seems like that’s about all the time you have to spend! I’ll be by this week, though! 🙂
LikeLike
I am barely back….so there’s no rush. Catch up is going to take me a while, too!
LikeLike
🙂 We’ll both be working on it! 🙂
LikeLike
Well I know some of the answers, can’t wait to read more, but will have to wait until after my own adventure today.
LikeLike
oooo another adventure. We will have to chat soon. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight I’m going to bed as soon as I answer the rest of my comments. 🙂 Lots of love! 🙂
LikeLike
I’m thinking dead animal or other types of animal leavings. hmmm. Things always “get to me,” so I can’t recall a trip where something didn’t affect my mental state–not in a good way. 😮
LikeLike
Ooooh that would be awful. When I was in Italy with my first husband, we had gone to Greece by ourselves on a side trip. When we returned we had a message that a little friend of ours had drown while we were away. I could hardly read the note. I kept telling myself that drown just meant gone under for a second, and come back up. It was the worst vacation ever. Nothing else matters when a life is involved.
LikeLike
Yes, I agree completely. So sad.
LikeLike
Nothing that terrible happened on this trip, just to ease your mind. 🙂
LikeLike
Good!
LikeLike
I’m hoping there isn’t a dead body hidden in that trailer. Vince sounds very well balanced and ‘unruffleable’. Just the right kind of guy to take a road trip with. Hope your cold didn’t spoil your pleasure. 🙂
LikeLike
Actually, the relaxing has healed me. I’m much better now. I thought I was never going to be well again, but a couple of days on the road, and I’ve been right as rain! Thanks Sylvia 🙂 BTW Vince is pretty ‘unruffleable’ – sometimes!
LikeLike
Ooooooh – an adventure with a cliffhanger….
I can’t wait!!!
Hope the smell is gone by now.
I usually have a vacay without incidents of irritation. Vacation or road trip beats going to work – any day – LOL
LikeLike
Well I loved my job, but I have to admit, it would be impossible to beat this with a day at my desk! 🙂
LikeLike
Here’s to much happy travelling… Barbara
LikeLike
Thanks Barbara! 🙂 So far… well read on… It is so beautiful! 🙂
LikeLike
Your new home away from home is HUGE! I hope you have many wonderful holidays in it.
LikeLike
It looks huge in the pictures next to our small truck, but actually it is 15 feet shorter than the one Vince sold. We couldn’t haul the other one, and he wanted to go somewhere other than always going to the coast. I think we will get a lot of use out of this! 🙂
LikeLike
I think it’s still twice the size of our little caravan. You are travelling in palatial style. How lovely.
LikeLike
Just call us Queen Marsha, King Vince, and Princess Kalev. You might want to address Manny as Prince Manny! He just doesn’t know he is heir to a palace yet! 🙂
LikeLike
I think I will keep that news until later. Manny and Justin Beaver might get too excited. They were very busy at Waterloo today.
LikeLike
I can’t wait to read about it! 🙂
LikeLike
Very little irritates me when on vacation.
Because I’m on vacation!
LikeLike
Perfect! 🙂 That must be what it is for Vince. He is not used to relaxing!
LikeLike
:-), Ralph!!! I had to go back and look carefully at that photo.
I’m glad the smell went away, and I like that you have left us cliff-hanging!
Yvonne
LikeLike
I’m going to have to go back to it, too! 🙂
LikeLike
Hi MVBFM. I have been stalkin…….following your adventure on Google Earth and found all the places you passed through. What a lovely trailer !! Why was the owner peeing on the corner of it while Vince was inspecting the tires ??? Is this an American tradition ?? 😉 Ralph xox 😀
LikeLike
hehehe MFR, Peeing? I missed that somehow. So did his wife and two daughters! So today we are just a tad bit north of Klamath, CA. Did you find us? It is gorgeous here! I finally got caught up on all my have to stuff. I have a phone conference in 9 minutes, and I’ll have to use my gmail phone. There’s no ATT service here! 🙂
LikeLike
Yes. I see you. Route 101. A long way from home !! Have fun. xox
LikeLike
Yes, we are sleeping right on the highway, and traffic is so light up here that it’s quiet and calm. If you want tranquil, we can come here, but I tell you, unless you like mountains, trees, boating, water, scenery… Oh yeah, you live in beautiful Spain, you love that stuff! 🙂
LikeLike
My. You are living dangerously sleeping on the highway. Much safer to sleep in your trailer 😉 xox
LikeLike
tee hee. Figuratively, I’m on the highway. We are probably about 100 feet away. Maybe 200. I’m not much good at distances! 🙂 xox 🙂
LikeLike
My dear lass, this is absolutely enthralling. By the way, that bridge is heaven. I just LOVE it. A little redolent of St. Augustine. My favourite city, St. Auggie. This was too groovy, an absolute grin. Must learn more from this saga. I see V really likes to plot out a trip. Me too, most indubitably!
LikeLike
Dear Starry eyes, This is turning out to be a marvelous vacation. Such beautiful country with lots of environmental issues. You’d love it!
LikeLike
I hope the smell dissipated and you get much enjoyment from the trailer. My father bought a mobile home in the late 60’s and we traveled across the country about 3 times. Lots of great memories.
LikeLike
The smell is gone already. It didn’t take long, really. We are having a great time, but wait till you hear why! 🙂 Good to see you, Lisa 🙂
LikeLike