Today we left for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We will be visiting on ‘Homeschool Day’.  The admission for parents and kids is free!  Poppa was available to watch Roly for the duration.  Our plan was to drive up and stay at a local motel the night before, visit the aquarium and then drive home after it closes at 5p.  That plan took a little detour but disaster was averted.

We left a bit later than we wanted to.  Nothing serious.  We were just settling in to some audio books as we passed Buelton when Toby (the driver) says : What is that, is that us?  I turn around in my seat and look out the back window to see a large billow of grey smoke emanating from our van.  I had Toby pull over right away (in the triangle of space between an onramp and the freeway.  I look / feel under the car and I come away with lots of oily liquid on my hand and there are spatters all over the back of the van.  I lift the hood and check the oil dipstick, and it is dry.

We called AAA and the plan was to have the van towed to Carp (riding in the tow truck), get the Honda and start over.  Yaya had come up to visit with us for part of the weekend.  Toby had the idea of asking if Poppa/Yaya could bring us a car in Buelton.  Toby called and explained the situation.  Before she could ask, Poppa had suggested that he and Yaya bring us a car in Buelton!  Yay.  Poppa to the rescue, again!

The tow-truck arrived early and dropped us off in Buelton.  Because we pay for the AAA ‘Plus’ membership, we have 100 miles of towing included.  The tow-truck took our car to Tom Watts Automotive (about 60 miles).  The tow driver said that towing is $7 per mile without AAA.  Poppa called right after the tow driver left and said ‘I see your van on the tow truck’.  A few minutes of transferring luggage and we are back on the road heading north to Monterey.  Poppa and Yaya saved the day!