After a lovely weekend at Big Bear we got up Monday morning, secured a few things and started the engine. A glance back at the clock told us we were getting the early start we wanted...it was 7:24. We moved out of our spot, moved toward the Irwin's motorhome in front of us, then crossed over to the gravel drive. That. Was. The. Plan. However the execution failed. Suddenly something happened, our coach suddenly ground to a halt, leaned over and wouldn't move.
At 7:34. 40 seconds we climbed out, walked toward "the problem"....and stared aghast. We had a back tire sunk in a sink hole! When I say sunk, I mean sunk....nearly to the frame of the coach. Thus began an audience of those who were up and barely at 'em. We could look in the hole, lots of water way, down, there...LOTS, way, down, there. And did I mention deep?
Before calling in a tow truck the guys suggested lifting the coach up with the rear jack. That worked, the coach rose to a level NEARLY even with the ground. Now the second stage of the "before we call the tow truck" plan was to fill the hole. LOGS were carried and thrown in...they disappeared in the murky water. More logs, and more logs, gradually the men attempted to fill the hole. The coach came down, smashed them below tire level by inches. Even more wood was needed, this after probably 12 logs were in the hole!
With the jacks down, the tire hovered over the log filled hole.
Leo participated too, he held up the motorhome so it wouldn't lean too far over. It worked!
Herculean efforts never did quite work to get us out. A tow truck was called, sent from Perris (not Paris) and would take three hours. So much for our early morning departure.
Pat made us tasty wraps for lunch, others departed. Finally we heard the tow truck coming to our rescue. Two men surveyed the situation and decided that they had to get the tow truck in back of us and left and push. It worked!
A few pictures for the record later.... we were off AGAIN at 12:38 in the afternoon. Thanks everyone, you were all such good sports for hauling logs and tossing rocks in the gaps.
After we moved, the entire hole was exposed. Where are all the logs that were thrown in? They are there, somewhere in the depths. Scary how deep this hole opened up. Judy's theory: when the snow plow clears the road, a LARGE pile is left over this spot. It slowly melts over time and this could have softened the ground enough that when we went over it, we sunk.
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