Idaho45guy
07-17-2020, 03:44 AM
I had to go pick up my daughter, her husband, and three grandsons today at SeaTac airport in Seattle on the other side of the state. They are moving back to the US after being stationed in Japan for four years. They arrived today via military transport and were absolutely exhausted after the 12-hour flight with three toddlers and a cat.
I had reserved a 15-passenger van from Enterprise over a month ago for the trip, and three days ago, they called me and informed me that they couldn't have the vehicle I reserved available. Due to the car seats for the toddlers and the large amount of luggage, the 7-passenger minivan that my daughter purchased locally a month ago didn't have enough room.
So, I was forced to drive my 4Runner to carry the luggage, and my dad drove the minivan to carry the passengers.
2 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a bulged disc and ordered to stay home and do as little as possible. Just moving was very painful. Doc strongly advised me against doing any driving at all, and said a 600 mile trip would likely make things much, much worse. The plan was for my dad and I to share driving duties with the rented van, so I could rest on one of the bench seats when things got too painful. Well, Enterprise totally dropped the ball at the last minute, so I had to drive the entire trip in a 4Runner with a stiff suspension and 10-ply tires.
Got back a couple of hours ago and... My back feels fine. Adjusted the seat a bit and used lumbar support and made it over and back with very little discomfort. Tired as heck and my rear end is sore, but seems my back is no worse than it was when I left.
No issues other than the rear bumper cover of the 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan coming off at 75 mph... Seems there was a prior repair done to it and a couple of clips on the bottom and underneath weren't replaced. Looked fine and was fine until it got up to speed and there was enough force from the wind to rip it free and fold it in half. We pulled over and got it put back in place with duct tape and zip ties. It was fine the rest of the trip, but it's going back to the dealer for a new bumper cover at their expense.
264941
Their luggage filled my 4Runner...
264942
13 hours later, back home. A truck-based SUV with heavy mud tires and roof rack does not get very good gas mileage when ran through the mountains at 70mph full of luggage...
264943
I had reserved a 15-passenger van from Enterprise over a month ago for the trip, and three days ago, they called me and informed me that they couldn't have the vehicle I reserved available. Due to the car seats for the toddlers and the large amount of luggage, the 7-passenger minivan that my daughter purchased locally a month ago didn't have enough room.
So, I was forced to drive my 4Runner to carry the luggage, and my dad drove the minivan to carry the passengers.
2 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a bulged disc and ordered to stay home and do as little as possible. Just moving was very painful. Doc strongly advised me against doing any driving at all, and said a 600 mile trip would likely make things much, much worse. The plan was for my dad and I to share driving duties with the rented van, so I could rest on one of the bench seats when things got too painful. Well, Enterprise totally dropped the ball at the last minute, so I had to drive the entire trip in a 4Runner with a stiff suspension and 10-ply tires.
Got back a couple of hours ago and... My back feels fine. Adjusted the seat a bit and used lumbar support and made it over and back with very little discomfort. Tired as heck and my rear end is sore, but seems my back is no worse than it was when I left.
No issues other than the rear bumper cover of the 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan coming off at 75 mph... Seems there was a prior repair done to it and a couple of clips on the bottom and underneath weren't replaced. Looked fine and was fine until it got up to speed and there was enough force from the wind to rip it free and fold it in half. We pulled over and got it put back in place with duct tape and zip ties. It was fine the rest of the trip, but it's going back to the dealer for a new bumper cover at their expense.
264941
Their luggage filled my 4Runner...
264942
13 hours later, back home. A truck-based SUV with heavy mud tires and roof rack does not get very good gas mileage when ran through the mountains at 70mph full of luggage...
264943