A small milestone this weekend, I replaced my car. After 15 years, 501,250 miles and one major hailstorm, it was time. The once beautiful white Infiniti served me well. We spent 10 years together my hour and 1/2 commute to Cleveland, TN and 2 years of monthly travel to Mt. Airy, NC. In this car I have traveled to countless backpacks, day hikes and overnights in Asheville, Abingdon, driven highways, back roads and even some dirt and gravel roads. On various occasions, the car has been packed full of gear, plants, family and friends. Lots of fun and laughter in this car.
Somewhere about 5 years ago, I quit repairing body damage on the Infiniti. The missing paint on the back bumper is a souvenir of a disagreement I had with Tom, one of the service writers at Harper. I was so angry that I backed into a stone wall at the dealership while trying to leave. Then there is the long dent on the driver’s side where an elderly lady in a gray mini van hit the Infiniti in a Target parking lot. I was not in the car at the time, but watched the lady speed out of the parking lot before I could catch her. Of course there is the rusted space on the front passengar’s bumper where a 20’s something didn’t look both ways when pulling out of a gravel turn around on a narrow road. I remember sitting in the snow waiting for the police on that afternoon. The list goes on.
Recently age has caught up with the Infiniti. The stabalizer bar needed to be replaced, the car was not responding as it should to the steering wheel and the check engine light was on. John and I had been out test driving cars on several occasions but I hated the process and waffled back and forth about another car. Then April 27th arrived bringing with it baseball sized hail.
The insurance company made the final decision for me. They gave me market value for my damaged car, much more than any dealership would ever offer for a trade-in.
So this (above) old, scratched and pitted mug has given way to the pretty, shiny mug below, a new Rav4. Well, maybe not brand new, but new to me! The Infiniti was towed away by the insurance company this afternoon, leaving a little more room in the driveway for the Rav4.
Sunday John and I went on a day hike in the Smokies. We hiked about 6.5 miles out and back on the Lumber Ridge Trail. It was really just a workout type of hike, a chance for us to get away from our usual workout routines. We gained and lost some 1600′ overall, not too bad.
The day was sunny and warm but the trail was mostly in the shade so we remained as comfortable as one can hiking up the side of the mountain in high humidity. We found a few great views along the way and saw only one other couple. Very pleasant.
Dappled sun on the trail??!!
A few flame azaleas were still in bloom
Rhododendren is still in bloom!
Tree damaged in the April 27th storm
