Flat Tire Slows the Trip

May 19-June 2, 2026                                                Most Recent Posts:
On the road and                                          Pretty Sure Google Killed My Phone
Moose River RV Park                                  Plant Strong in Black Mountain NC
St Johnsbury, Vermont

I left Virginia on Friday May 29th intending to be in St. Johnsbury Vermont on Monday June 1st to spend the summer in a familiar spot much cooler than Virginia.

It was to be 3 over night stops and 2 stops for gas at what was then $4.599 OUCH!

This time instead of boondocking all 3 nights, I stayed the first two in RV parks. with full hook ups.  You can see they were quite aesthetically different.

I was on the home stretch toward my last overnight at the lovely Vermont Welcome Center when the traffic on I-83 pretty much came to a stop.  We crept along and then my TPMS alarm went off saying  leak in driver’s rear inside tire.   I’m stuck in lanes of traffic with no where to pull over or off..

I won’t bore you with the white knuckle frantic phone call time before I could get off and amazingly find at the end of the interstate ramp THE PERFECT place for an unexpected overnight for a 56’ pair of vehicles on a Sunday night. By the time I got there the tire was reading 8 lbs.  It should be 100 lbs. 

Thank you to the town of East Fishkill NY and the NY department of transportation for putting this park and ride in the perfect place for a desperate woman with a rapidly going flat RV tire.   I had no idea where I was going to be able to park when this miracle appeared.

Remember it is now Sunday. (You would think that after all these years I should know better than to do a multi day drive over the week-end.)   I was now able to use the internet and my phone to contact one tire repair place after another each one referring me to the next because 1. they didn’t have road service 2. their road service didn’t work week-ends 3. they didn’t do “truck” tires.   I finally found one and the dispatcher said they could be there in an hour or two but “in full disclosure” (she must have said this 4 times) it would be $325 an hour “port to port” which she explained is from the minute their tech left their facility to go get a tire that would fit Winnona until the minute he returned after finishing the work.  If I could wait until tomorrow afternoon, their morning was fully booked (really?),  it would be cheaper.  OR here’s another number.   I comprehended that she didn’t really want to send anyone out but that turned out to be perfect.

That other number led me to Joe of Dutchess Tire Center who agreed that I’d save at least $400 if they came out tomorrow MORNING.  Joe is a wonderful man who did sent Dustin another wonderful and very knowledgeable man out to look at my problem.

Dustin wasn’t there 5 minutes before saying that he didn’t think the tire was ruined but that the valve stem on the TPMS was leaking.  Sure enough that’s what it turned out to be. 

How would I have known if he had told me the tire was no good and would have to be replaced by the $400 Toyo he had brought with him.  I wouldn’t have but it was clear that he knew what he was doing and was an honest man.  He checked that tire every which way from Sunday.  Took it off the rim, sprayed it with I have no idea and determined that it was fine but he would replace the valve stem and he had one that would work perfectly.  He was there at least 2 hours not including his time to come and go.  The bill was $250. 

If you are ever near East Fishkill NY or Poughkeepsie where their store is and need help, be sure to call them.

Thanks Joe and Dustin for making me a happy camper again.

I arrived at the Vermont Guilford Welcome Center on all 10 working tires at about 3:30 after filling up with gas just outside of Hartford CT.   I probably could have driven the last 127 miles to Moose River but I didn’t want to get there around 5:30 and have to set up after a 291 mile day.   So here I am.

You must be asking yourself, with all the open parking spaces why are those two diesel trucks parked, with their engines or whatever it is running,  right next to that poor RV.   My question exactly!

I got myself some dinner, walked around the lovely grounds for some exercise and inside the wonderful building.

Perfect spots for a picnic.

The very friendly staff are happy to have you spend one night in their parking lot and even filled up my gallon water jug.

Inside are great showcases for towns and business in Vermont as well as unlimited literature, maps and anything else you could possibly want.

Thank goodness I have ear plugs so I got a fairly decent night’s sleep and on June 2nd, only one day behind schedule,  parked in site 15 at Moose River Campground for a summer of hiking, kayaking, bingo and other fun.

My summer backyard.  Pretty sweet spot.    Let’s just hope it doesn’t flood.