A Cracked Rim: The Unexpected Gifts of Life on the Road

Departure from Hilton Head Island

Our departure from Hilton Head Island didn't go as planned—literally. We were packed and ready to hit the road. Then, one of the rear motorhome tires looked low. Whiskey checked the pressure. All seemed fine, so we proceeded. Fortunately, we only made it around the corner to fuel up when Whiskey noticed the inside rear tire was clearly low. That quick stop turned out to be a huge saving grace.

We unhooked the Jeep and rushed to a nearby tire and auto repair shop—a practical neighbor to the resort. Unfortunately, they were too busy to help us right away. Whiskey put on his trusty jumpsuit and started removing the wheel himself. That's when "The Engineer"—our resort friend turned hero—showed up with an air compressor and a mechanical expertise that truly saved the day.

Assistance from The Engineer

With The Engineer’s help, we discovered a more serious issue: either a broken valve stem or a cracked wheel, neither of which could be fixed the same day. So, back to the resort we went, extending our stay by hopefully just two nights. We parked in a new site and made the best of it with drinks at the beachside Tiki Hut. The unplanned extra night allowed us to join friends for a spontaneous evening at Poseidon’s dueling pianos—an unexpected but much-appreciated fun night out after a stressful day.

The next morning, a mobile tire service arrived on schedule. They replaced the valve stem, but when the technician sprayed soapy water on the area, bubbles revealed the truth: The Engineer was right. The wheel rim was cracked. UGH.

Whiskey immediately tracked down an in-stock replacement wheel at a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter service center—two hours away. He headed off in the Jeep and returned later with the new wheel in hand. Whiskey removed the damaged wheel again and took it, along with the new rim, back to the local tire shop. There, they mounted the tire on the new rim, aired it up, and balanced it with weights. Victory!

At the resort, Whiskey installed the tire—thankfully with the help of a cordless impact driver loaned by another helpful neighbor (a friend of The Engineer's, of course). It truly took a village.

Grateful for the Support

We’re grateful for all the helping hands (and tools) that got us back on the road. Most of all, I’m proud of Whiskey—his mechanical know-how, strength, and persistence carried us through, even when unexpected challenges arose. Life on the road isn't always smooth, but it is definitely memorable. There’s more coming later.

Rerouting the Journey

With the cracked wheel saga behind us and a new tire finally in place, it was time to hit the road again. This time, we needed a different route. Originally, we planned a scenic trip north with three Harvest Hosts stays lined up. Unfortunately, those all had to be canceled due to time constraints.

Instead of four shorter travel days, we had to pivot to three longer hauls. Not ideal, but we were grateful to be moving again on six solid wheels. We adjusted and persevered, reminding ourselves that flexibility is a crucial rule of RV travel.

One of the unexpected highlights of this new journey was a night spent mooch-docking at T&S's house just outside of Richmond. We’ve stayed with them a few times over the years. They welcomed us at the last minute with true southern hospitality. This time, we not only had a peaceful overnight stay on their beautiful property, but they also sent us off the next morning with a bottle of Virginia wine and a horseradish plant for our garden. These gifts perfectly capture the flavor of friendship and local love. Sometimes, the best stops are the unplanned ones.

From Richmond, we pressed on—determined, road-weary, and completely unaware of the intense driving day ahead. As we climbed into the mountains of Pennsylvania, the wind kicked up violently. It shut down the cruise control when it hit the RV broadside.

It was a two-handed, white-knuckle drive for Wine, while Whiskey caught up on deferred paperwork. For hours, we focused tightly, gripping the wheel as the rig swayed through mountain passes. It wasn’t fun or pretty, but we made it through.

Rewarding Experiences Along the Way

That night, we stayed at a charming Harvest Hosts location: Orange County Distillery in New Hampton, NY. We parked on a grassy hillside overlooking a peaceful pond and the distillery's old barn. This serene setting was a lovely contrast to the chaos of the road. As the wind settled, we wandered to the barn, where craft cocktails were served and a food truck provided delicious sandwiches. The whole scene—rustic, welcoming, and relaxed—felt like home.

But the universe had one more twist in store. After our pleasant evening, we returned to the rig only to discover... we were locked out. No keys. Not in our pockets, nor in the Jeep. Then we remembered: the magnetic key box.

Years ago, we’d tucked an extra set of keys in a magnetic case and stuck it underneath the rig—just in case. Well, it was that case's moment to shine.

Whiskey crawled under the motorhome, and—hallelujah—the keys were still right there! Crisis averted. No broken windows, no crawling through tight spaces. Just relief, laughter, and a gentle sunset as we settled into our cozy hillside spot, Bell playing happily nearby.

The final leg of our journey the next day was smooth sailing. We made a strategic stop at the Danbury rest area in Connecticut, one of the few free RV dump stations in the region. From there, it was all easy miles back home.

As we pulled into our driveway in Wolfeboro, NH, we were greeted by blooming daffodils waving in the spring breeze. Just when we thought the journey's sweetness had come to an end, a local friend welcomed us home with a gesture that reminds you what community really means: a homemade dinner and baguette ready to heat up, along with a cheerful pot of daffodils for the kitchen windowsill. After days of tire drama and long, wild hauls, that simple kindness felt like a feast for the soul.

Grateful for working tires. Grateful for good friends. Grateful for the keys under the rig. And most of all, grateful for safe travels. Home at last.

Here is a video of our two departures from Hilton Head and the travels home.