On Friday, I was at one of the high overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains taking photos. After getting some shots, I returned to my parked car and I inserted the key into the ignition. When I turned the key, the card did not start and I heard the dreaded sound that no motorist ever wants to hear:
"Click."
Ok, that can mean a number of things: battery dead, alternator not charging, started gone, belt broken or any other one of a number of things. When I opened the hood of the car, many good Samaritans offered to help me get the car started.
They were very friendly and accommodating, and what I should have asked was: "Does anyone have any jumper cables to give us a boost?"
Instead, I did just about the stupidest thing that I have ever done. I asked them to push the car out of the parking spot, and that I would roll the car down the mountain until the torque converter in the automatic transmission was turning fast enough to turn the engine and start the car.
The helpful folks suggested that might be risky, but not wanting to put anyone out, I said that I was certain that the car would start. So they pushed me out of my parking place and I began to roll down the mountain.
Down the steep and winding road on the mountain!
However, the car did NOT start. And to make matters worse, my engine was NOT turning so I had no power steering and no power brakes. I knew right away that I was in trouble, because momentum was building and I had to push the breaks as hard as I could to retard the velocity of the vehicle!
After all attempts to start the engine failed, I had to look for a "landing strip." That would be a place long enough to stop the car using what available brakes I had plus the emergency brake.
I finally saw my opportunity, a long pull-off and so I made my move. It took all of the strength I had to stop the car with only 25 feet left to spare. But I did it and we were fine.
We just sat and waited until a park worker happened by to empty the trash can! I asked if he had jumper cables. He did, he helped us, and of course, refused any compensation. I shook his hand and thanked him for his kindness to strangers!
Turns out, it was just the battery after all. So off to Wal-Mart in Franklin North Carolina where I switched the battery in the parking lot and returned the old one for recycling. Ordeal over!
But I learned a valuable lesson. The first good Samaritans were ready and willing to help me get the car started. I should have accepted their kindness. Instead I decided to "go it alone" with nearly disastrous results.
The moral of the story: People are generally good, and it's okay to ask for help. That's part of living in a society!
All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required. Visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North Georgia Photos.
Featured @ Club Chaos
This spot is reserved for Melodious who needs to get her bloggers butt back to work (LOL). Richard, have you heard from our fave workaholic? ;-)
Wow, what a lesson Richard! Did you leave the moral of the story blank on purpose:o)? Glad you were safe!
C...
Thanks for the feature. I haven't heard from Mel in weeks. We need her back ... desperately!
Brenda...
Oops, I did. THX for the heads-up ...it's fixed now!
Good morning RW,
I think I was on that road not too long ago. Although I think that all of the roads in the Smokies are winding and downhill both ways. LOL Glad to see that you are ok. That is one lesson that will stick with you for a long time.
I miss Mel, too.
I am going to call her. We spoke a couple of days ago. Chicka is mad busy but I miss her virtual humor. You are soooo right. We need Mel and Mandycap to put in an appearance. Besides, how can Melodious be the boss of me if she stops bossing me around? I need a keeper (LOL) ;-)
Richard, okay, so now we all know that you're human! I made bad decisions no and then, and kick myself for it afterwads. Glad to hear everything turned out okay for you.
Good morning Don. How is my fave sweetie pie? I have to go lurk on your blog later. Can't remember the last time I shared a comment with you. I am starting to think I am running the streets with clients way too much. It's interfering with my blogging habits (LOL). ;-)
Lina, I tend to make bad decisions too. A few of them were well beyond being a "duh?" moment (LOL).
Well, there are bad decisions and then there is just "STUPID!"
Oh no. I'm so glad you were able to get out of that one safely. Unfortunately, we all have these momentary lapses in judgement.
At least it was just the battery and glad to hear that my fellow North Carolinians were so good to you while you were visiting!
Have a wonderful weekend...
There is definitely a lesson in that episode of "A Day Trip with Richard!" Maybe you should start a weekly series...seriously I am glad to hear it was a battery and that you did not take a wild off road trip! Yep, I have had my moments as well!
Great lesson to share with everyone . . .that move would have worked perfectly if you were driving a 1976 F-150 Standard pick up truck
Hi Richard. Glad everything worked out.
Funny picture you coasting down the mountain side without power steering or brakes.
Sounds like an exciting afternoon!
Ken
Richard,
It's a guy thing. Have done the same thing several times in a manual tranny, never tried it with an automatic though.
Good ending, good moral.
Rich
Jeez! Glad you were okay - sounds like a scary ride. We live on the lake and wind up helping people with their boat problems & other dilemmas all the time. I've never felt put out - always happy to help.
Great message Richard. I too am often reluctant to ask for help because I feel like I'm putting them out. I'm trying to get better at it by always keeping in mind how good it feels to help others -- now why in the world would I deny someone that opportunity with me?
Tanya in Montreal
P.S. Glad you're safe and sound...has your heart rate returned to normal yet : )
Coming down that mountain is crazy even with good brakes and power steering. I wouldn't have wanted to be in your shoes! Glad you made it safely. Next time...accept the help when it is offered lol.
Richad: I am so glad you are okay. I had to chuckle when reading about your journey down the mountain with no brakes. Accepting help is neever a bad thing.
Richard,
I'm glad to hear the ending of your story turned out okay..results could have been disasterous! Chris is right..accepting help is never a bad thing!!
Frankly Richard, there are times when I wonder what the hell you are thinking, then I remember that make some of the same bone headed decisions myself. Glad you made it down the mountain safely my friend.
"CLICK"... Such a simple sound but it conveys so much meaning. I've been very fortunate in my life. When I needed help, good people showed up... I did the downhill coaster with an automatic before... my lord, that's a tough one... I'm happy you got it off the road safely.
Richard - Sounds like a Disney ride with consequences. Glad everything was easily resolved. That would have had my heart pumping !
Stacey-Ann...
Hopefully, I'll do better next time! lol and thanks
Debe...
Well of course they were! It is a very friendly state! Thanks for the comment.
Gary...
I'm still surprised that the car did not start! lol and thanks.
Fernando...
You are right about that my friend! Thanks for the comment.
Ken...
It was very exciting, that's for sure! THX
Rich...
I've done it before and it worked ... don't know what went wrong. THX
Richard, this is one lesson that is good to learn from anothers' experience instead of ones' own. Thanks! Glad you were able to find a landing spot and more help.
glad to hear it all worked out for you I recently had to replace my battery and with all the systems in the cars today I guess it is better to let the people that work on them everyday do it. I'm sure I would mess it up if I tried to fix it myself.
I'm a firm believer that people are inherently good inside.
And, about doing something then asking later why did I do that?...Happens all the time!
The difference is some learn from it. Some don't.
Goodness. That was a close call.
Safety first. Safety first.
Close call is right.. I always cary some jumping cables in my car... I like to be the life saver when someone needs a boost. :)
Hi Richard -- Thank goodness for happy endings. That sounded like a prelude to a Stephen King novel. Not that it's related (free association baby) -- but I started going down a very steep hill during my first time out snow skiing and when I started gaining momentum, I couldn't stop and I was too afraid to try and do something so luckily I just zoomed all the way down without falling and I was flying like crazy. I was SO scared. But...as always, you got exceptional photos -- the colors are absolutely brilliant.
What a Guy. For the life of me I still do not understand why we 'guys' just don't accept and ask for hel right from the beginning of a problem. If you find out the answer please call my better half and explain it to her cause she keeps asking.
We are all connected in the world, I'm sure you went out of your way to help someone out which to you did not seem like a big deal at the time..but to the other person it made a world of difference. That happened to you as thank-you. I've run into many times where I could just wrap my hands around a buyers neck but never end up doing it. I've never yet failed to receive my reward.
I think Cameron hit the nail on the head (and I'm sure my wife would agree) - asking for help is one of the hardest things in the world for me. Glad you came out on the other side. Hey Cameron - maybe we should introduce our wives!
Michael
Richard, I have made the same, exact, "Stupid" mistake once before, so I really enjoyed your post. Next time I bet you'll except help from the first good samaritan!? Have a great Evening.
Hi Richard. I'm glad that you eventually resolved it with safety in mind. Whenever my battery is dead and am away from home I call AAA :-) ~ Lana
My heart was racing! I am glad it all worked out okay. And yes, it is hard to accept help sometimes...
Richard, great story. I felt like I was in the passenger seat with you be it we just travelled many roads just like that on our journey to Myrtle Beach.
Glad your safe...
Richard - well fortunately you were OK if not a bit embarassed by your decision. Been there done that. Sometimes it's hard to accept help even when you know you should.
Jeff
Richard, Can you please explain to me why it is that men have such a hard time asking for or accepting help?
Richard, I had to have a client of mine jump my car. I think my boys had been watching movies too much in it before I left for a showing. How embarrassing for the car not to start after that. But, I wrote an offer...
Glad your story turned out well.
Your story reminds me of when I was about 25 years old and had a great job at a publishing firm. It was the late 70s and feminism was on fire. Whenever I had to do something physical (like carrying boxes of sample books up to my office on the 2nd floor) and some nice gentlemen would offer to help, I always said "No thanks, I can do it myself."
So I tottered upstairs in my 4" heels barely able to make it - but darn it, I did it myself. I look back at that (more than 25 years ago) and think that I should have graciously accepted their help. It would not have diminished me at all.
Richard, glad you are safe. Seems you made a bad decision, but learned two things: 1) that people are good and willing to help and 2) you will accept help the next time. BTW,That's a beautiful photo.
Wal-Mart. They sell clean underwear and have a public toilet to change out of your old ones.
Richard, I'm glad it all worked out. Most of us like to help others and it's OK to ask for help. We're all in this world together!
To all...
Why can't men ask for help? It's in our genes. Asking for help is an admission of failure to take care of our own. As long as there was an opportunity to take care of it myself, that's the route I chose because it is inbred in my manly nature!
Who knew that modern cars can't be started this way? I really thought that the car would start.
So to all of the men out there, you know exactly what I am saying. lol
To all of the women, please understand that we can't help it so your forgiveness is a must in these spams of stupidity! ;)
BTW, I took that photo just before I started the descent. Oddly enough, I don't remember any fall foliage on the way down!
Cameron...
Tell your wife we're hopeless!
Gregory B...
You are CORRECT sir!
Whew! Glad you were OK! And yeah, we have to learn to say yes to help when we need it.
Doncha wonder about our brains some days?? This could have had a TERRIBLE ending...God is watching out for you, my friend!!! I've got a long list of less than brilliant choices, too, but we can discuss that another time. So glad you are here to tell the tale!
We all think we can go it alone and we sometimes don't take the help that is offered without any strings
Your story brought back one of my own to mind ... when I was a teenager learning to drive, my dad would often let me take the car out by myself to practice (we lived outside of the normal police zone and this was common for our area). Growing up I was fascinated by my dad's love of sportscars and I often pretended I was driving while sitting in the back seat. Once or twice I noticed he turned off the ignition and "coasted" down a hill -- maybe to save gas. So this one afternoon at the age of 15 I took my mother's car (power everything) and was about to start down a steep sloping hill when I noticed the gas tank was almost empty. Thinking I was very clever, I turned off the ignition just as I approached a pretty sharp curve ... oh no what's wrong? Why won't the wheel turn? Why won't the brakes work? Thank God I figured it out just before plunging down the steep forested hill ... that was a close call! I shook life a leaf all the way home, and never told my parents ....
Richard, Richard, Richard...when you said you had those nice folks push you down the mountain I couldn't believe it! I could just see you zipping down the road with no steering and no brakes! I'm glad you made it safe. Now...if only I hadn't ever made any dumb mistakes in life!!!
Richard, glad you found the off ramp. I feel you! I was of the mind that "I got it" but as I get older I'm all for some help.
Gotta watch the The Great Smoky Mountains.
Richard, I would have tried the jumper cables first thing. Always go with the simple first. This shows you have an advanced brain which allows you to overlook the simple. Next time think of my simple brain and you won't go wrong.
Oh my goodness -- that was a close call it does seem like. All the best.
Richard, so glad you are safe and sound! Your pictures turned out beautiful. Seems like when ever I need help there is never anyone around even though I do carry jumper cables. You are brave to even think about coasting down the side of a mountain, I don't personally think I could have got way up there to begin with. Always in the future, let them help when offered. There are many good people in the world today that is always willing to help.
Automatic transmissions don't bump well... and that could have been QUITE BAD. But you already know that.
I had my clutch slave cylinder take a dump in the parking lot of Clingman's Dome. I drove back to Stone Mountain with no clutch... matched shifts and cut it off at stops... It would have been WAY easier without the RVs.
Richard, sounds like that could have been a disaster. Without power steering, I bet it was scary. Glad you're safe.
Richard,
Glad you had a good outcome. A very interesting and captivating story and a good lesson for all us to recognize. My Dad taught me a phrase that comes to mind that must date back to the turn of the century. Not this one but the last century, lol. This might not be 100% but as I recall it, it went like this and I have never forgotten it. " Experience keeps a dear school but fools can learn in no other". Sadly too many of us learn most of what we know this way. But I can guarantee you this. If I am ever in a situation similar to yours, I will not allow your experience to go wasted. I learned from your experience. Thanks for sharing this so none of us ever have to repeat your scary experience.
PS, People are all good ( mostly) aren't they. This was told like a true storyteller Richard. Well done!
Richard ~ If you EVER need help in Franklin, NC I'm here. I would have come and helped you. Thank God you were ok, the mountains can be dangerous at times. Don't leave home without your Active Rain Peeps phone numbers! :O)
Just call it your annual stress test and write off the battery as nerve pills.
Firstly, great photos. Secondly, I am like you. Don't like to put people out, when I would be the first that would have jumped in and helped. Crazy ain't it.
Richard -
Next time, I guess, go by your gut - although that downhill trick DID work for me!
Once!
On my '67 Chevy, in 1973!
Be careful!
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Richard - Glad to hear that everything worked out well in the end. I find myself more and more often these days saying the following phrase to myself, "Well, THAT wasn't very well thought out!"
That was a great story, and I was white-knuckling it downhill!! WOW -- nice photo though!
That's one gorgeous picture Richard. Glad it was the battery that was dead and not you!
Richard, at least you got the great shots. There's no more beautiful place on earth than the mountains of Tennessee in October. Thank goodness your mistake didn't get you killed. Glad you're OK and learned a lesson as well. Happy October.
I generally do not think of myself as a sexist person, but I think this not being willing to accept the help of others is a guy thing. My back was once thrown out for 2 weeks because my husband asked me to help him move a television set out to the car. I noticed the young, strong, burly neighbor mowing his lawn and said, "Why don't you ask Rob to help?" My husband, unwilling to do so, said, "Let's just try it ourselves first." Funny thing about lifting tremendously heavy objects...once you figure out it's too heavy for you, it's too late. Glad to hear you're getting in touch with your feminine side, Richard! We're all in this together.
It's not easy for some of us but ,we must LET people help us ! It blesses them as well as us !!!!!!!!!!!!
Scary indeed. Glad that landing strip was near there. Made my palms sweat reading this. Close call.
Oh Richard How terrifying! I am glad it worked out ok. Remember that when someone offers help you are helping them to feel better by allowing them to help. Thanks goodness you found the pull off in time.
Richard - WOW! Glad you are OK!! I learned long ago that I KNOW NOTHING about mechanical objects! When I hear clicks or bumps or noises of any kind, it (whatever mechanical object is making the noises) goes to the person who understands these things! I have had too many times when I have attempted to fix the mechanical object and have made a simple problem so bad that I have to replace the mechanical object. So, yes, there are many people willing to help out there, but, how would I know if what they suggest would work? If you think about it, if I were the one broken down in the mountains, and you had suggested that I use the mountain to help me start the car, I may very well have thought that reasonable.......And you have already detailed the outcome.......So here is my good Samaritan suggestion.............AAA on Speed-dial on the Blackberry!
To all...
Thanks for the wonderful comments. I left out one important element to my dilemma. Cell phones don't work in the park, so of course, the car always breaks down when you don't have the option of calling for help!
It was frustrating to see a "no signal" icon on my trusted device. ;)
Nice feature Richard! My gosh, you could have been killed! Congrats on the feature!
Richard! This so could have been your obit! Whenever Im driving down the mountain from Blowing Rock I always wonder about the harrowing tales of the trucker who must have created those deep gashes in the uphill sand mountains intended for runaways... Glad you learned your life lesson and are here to share it with us!
Richard, Oh boy, you got very lucky, very lucky. Those mountain roads can be very, very steep. It's hard to stop when you vehicle is running and in drive. Franklin NC is beautiful, especially around this time of year. My parents have a place 5 minutes from the Wal Mart. Hope the rest of your trip is wonderful and safe. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Wow Richard you could've really gotten hurt or killed or injured someone else while coming down the winding mountain. Good thing is that nobody got hurt and that it was only the battery. I know you mentioned many people stopped to see if you needed help - did any of them suggest jumper cables and you refused or jumper cables wasn't even a thing in your mind at the time.
I'm not a stuntman, but I play one on TV! That sounds like something my Dad would have tried back in the day. I am so glad you didn't end up "splat!" Next time...just let the good samaritans do their thing!
Richard,
You sound like you know a whole lot more about cars than I do, but I've never, ever had a automatic start that way. The older manual tramsmissions might turn-over, but that was very risky.
What;s worse was no brakes, no steering and your increasing speed.... all remedies for disaster.
Glad to hear that it work out well.
The riskiest thing I do these days is press "send" on blog and later regret that I published something, that was "premature".
Brian
Richard - I can't say that I've ever made bad decisions like that, but I've definitely made some choices that I later questioned. I'm glad you solved the problem and made it out safe, we live and learn. I'm sure the next time your car won't start you'll find jumper cables first.
Richard - I kick myself regularly, but I don't mess around with my car! Glad all turned out well, and delighted to see the beautiful picture. Thanks for sharing!
Making mistakes in life is part of how we learn and grow, hopefully the mistakes aren't big ones.
Great story Ricahrd, but all your stories seem to end up like Aesop's fables, they make a great point and a good moral to the story.
Wow. Incredible story. Luckily it ended with good results, it could have been a whole lot worse.
"roll the car down the mountain"
Ummm... I HAVE done that but i's been awhile! Nice story and well told!
Richard - wow - unbelievable story and glad you are ok. Glad it all ended well. I keep a AAA card in my wallet at all times.
Hi Richard...That is the wonderful part of living in a society.
What a scary situation. As soon as I read where you got pushed I immediately thought about the steering and the brakes. Thank goodness you found a safe landing spot.
Kate
OMG Richard, I am glad you are here to tell us this story! YES, we CAN AND SHOULD ASK FOR HELP when we need it -- you would offer it if someone else needed it, so accept it when offered! :-) Thanks for sharing!
OMG Richard, I am glad you are here to tell us this story! YES, we CAN AND SHOULD ASK FOR HELP when we need it -- you would offer it if someone else needed it, so accept it when offered! :-) Thanks for sharing!
Americans need the same way of obtaining driver's license as Europeans do. 3 months traingin course. 100 hours driving lessons and the exam without A B C D choice, but just the answer. It's either right or wrong. There will be whole lot less pollution and car accidents instanteneously.
To all:
BYW, several manufacturers make a device that you can charge up and carry in the trunk of your car that will give your batter a boost when you need it or inflate a time if it's low on air. About $90 and you can bet that I am purchasing two of those for future use!
Richard, while reading this I was frightened for you! Now, I say this with a smile on my face and a lilt in my voice...."sounds like a man thing."
lol, Deb
When I saw the title of your blog, Richard, I thought maybe you were referring to times like when I dropped my brand new sunglasses on the sidewalk because I was carrying too many things. As if that wasn't bad enough, when I turned around to see what I had dropped, I stepped on my sunglasses. That was a bad decision that I regretted later.
But then I started reading your blog, and I knew where it was headed. Yup, bad idea to roll down a mountainside without power steering. How do I know that? Because I've been there, too.
I assumed you lived through the experience because you were writing about it, LOL. Still, I bet your heart was pounding!
Oh for sure there have been "many times" I haven't asked for help and I should have. There is nothing wrong is asking for help! You be surprised how many helpful people there are around . "Ask and you shall receive.....rembmer that one!"
Thanks for sharing what happened with us all on AR today.
Patricia/Seacoast NH
You had me at "Click."
Very, very funny. I like to always push my self with low gas...it's a very scary thing to do in the mountains, as only so many exits offer gas! Great, funny post.
I had to laugh, Richard. I probably would have done the same thing, being the independent type that I am. I like to do things myself.
But people actually do like to help, and sometimes it's giving them a gift to let them.
I'm glad you found TWO good Samaritans to help you on that fateful day!
Cheers,
Robin
Darn...the regretable situations....then again...there was a learning lesson just for you!
Holy crap, Richard!!! I am SOOOOO glad you are okay!!! It's amazing the lengths we will go to in our attempt to not put people out. In those times, I try to remember how much I enjoy helping others.....and that when I turn down requests from others who offer help to me, I am in effect taking away a bit of their joy.
Again, I am SO. HAPPY. YOU'RE. OKAY.
Sending blessings your way!
Hi Richard, gald it all worked out but it's good to realize when to accept help. I think that many of us would try to do it on our own but it's okay to as for help.
Richard, You made me a nervous wreck reading this, lol. The ole ticker was on edge the entire time. I thought I was going to read that you jumped ship before the car went overboard, lol. SO glad to hear you are alright.
Why do many of us have trouble accepting kindness from others...let this be a lesson to all of us :)
Richard, You made me a nervous wreck reading this, lol. The ole ticker was on edge the entire time. I thought I was going to read that you jumped ship before the car went overboard, lol. SO glad to hear you are alright.
Why do many of us have trouble accepting kindness from others...let this be a lesson to all of us :)
That became a very scary situation quickly! I recently had a similar situation, and I now have this self jump starter thing in the trunk now that I can hopefully jump myself if it ever happens again. Now I have to remember to keep that charged. :)
Richard-What a frightening thing! Glad you are okay and things turned out fine. How nice that you were helped by nice people. Thanks for sharing the story.
I'm glad to hear you're okay. I didn't know you could start an automatic transmission that way. We did that with my bug years ago by popping the clutch.
Glad you were OK. Felt since you were writing the post and I did not see it on the news I could laugh as you told the story...
Wow, that's scary. My father in law used to cut off the engine and "coast" on those same types of roads to save gas, used to scare me half to death when we rode with him anywhere. Glad you're OK!
That is crazy, I am glad that everything worked out in the end. Sometimes it pays greatly to be humbled.
That is crazy, I am glad that everything worked out in the end. Sometimes it pays greatly to be humbled.
Richard - I have a story very similar to this where I broke a Tiffany cup to a punch bowl set my husband and I received as an engagement present. After I refused his help (for no particular reason other than to be obstinate) and I broke the cup, I hung my head in shame and went to the Tiffany site to try to buy a replacement. Luckily they had one and it didn't even cost an arm and a leg, but I learned my lesson.
I'm really glad you came out of this okay. I know the exact feeling you must have felt as you realized the power steering and brakers were 'out'. Holy moly!
Richard...so glad you are okay, but I must say, that was a hilarious!!
That definitely sounds like an aw shucks moment. I hope your wife wasn't with you. You'll never hear the end of it.
Sometimes we have to accept help, our bright ideas might not always be the brightest.
That is an absolutely horrifying story!! Thankfully your guardian angel was with you that day :~) Yikes!