Adventures with Myrna
On Friday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, my mom phoned me at work. She was supposed to help dad move a building on Saturday but was called into work for an overtime shift and was wondering if I would be willing to come out and drive pilot truck. I reluctantly agreed and we arranged to meet bright and early in the morning. Dad wanted to be "on the road by dawn." I said, "Okay, but someone is going to owe me."
Mom replied, "We'll just take it off your tab."
****
So I arrived at the Whitecourt airport an shortly after 10 in the morning. Dad and my brother Marvin had to do some set up before we could get going so Mom, Lillian (Marvin's wife), Devon, Cortney (my nephew and niece) and I sat around and waited. And waited.
We had lunch. And waited...
Mom and Cortney left and the rest of us waited. And waited...
By about 3:30 we were finally underway. I was driving the front pilot truck, directing traffic, watching out for oncoming traffic, guard rails and other obstacles. Lillian was driving the rear pilot truck, making sure the dolly (the thing the building was riding on; basically big metal I beams with wheels) wheels were on the road, that the building wasn't going to hit anything, and warning about passing vehicles. Marvin was driving the big truck hauling the building and trying not to hit anything. My dad was driving his Hino (cube van) with tools and stuff and helping direct traffic. We all had radios so we could let the others know what was going on.
The building itself is about 22 feet wide and 36 feet long. That's about 6 feet wider than your average highway lane. The pilot trucks each had a big "WIDE LOAD" sign with flashing lights and Lillian and I each had a STOP / Slow sign. It all felt very official.
We were making really good time and not having any problems until we got into Blue Ridge (a hamlet about half way between Whitecourt and my parents. First Marvin hit a light pole with the building. It didn't cause any real damage; just made it wobble wildly. Then he hit the rail way crossing sign; again no real damage, just some scratches. Then at Christmas Creek (about 3/4 of the way home) the wheel fell off the dolly. Yes, you read right, THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE DOLLY. Over the radio, I heard Lillian tell Marvin, "You just lost a tire." So we pulled over, Marvin and Dad went to Uncle Pat's to get some parts and Lillian and I are back to waiting. And waiting. And directing traffic to SLOW. And waiting.
An hour and a half later, the wheel has back on, Mom and Cortney had reappeared and we were on the road, again. We were done by 7:00 pm.
The only real damage to the building, inspite of its misadventures were the eaves troughs on the ditch side of the building, which are completely wrecked and will need to be replaced.
Stay posted for the next adventure, "Myrna Drives Home"
