A somewhat Mustang version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles for me yesterday.
Trailered a GT350 to Montreal and brought back a GT350R.
The adventurous part started shortly after stopping for gas in Levis.
About 10 minutes west if Quebec City, got a flat tire on the trailer.
Nowhere near an exit or pull off so stopped on shoulder as far over as possible.
Had spare tire for trailer but no suitable jack or sockets to take wheel off.
Called for a towing to come change the tire.
Was supposed to get service within 45 minutes.
Instead, about an hour after pulling over, the towing company calls me to say I’m not n their territory so have to call another towing.
So did that and finally got service about 2 hours after pulling over.
But, it was obvious air pressure in spare tire was low so pulled off at next exit to go air up.
Go to a gas station. Their air compressor is not working.
Make my way to another station. Their compressor working but card reader not working.
Have to go inside and get $2.00 worth of quarters to get it to work.
Finally back on road pretty near 3 hours after getting the flat.
Get to Montreal later than expected.
It’s now late afternoon and rush hour starting.
Get to the dealership on Boul. Métropolitain and they are a 4 story high building because real estate is at a premium in that part of world.
So they have cars on upper floors and have a car elevator in the building.
Well, turns out power grid went out just before I got there due to forest fires in northern Quebec.
What’s the specific issue, you’re thinking by now?
The car I’m picking up is stuck on upper floor and elevator not working without power.
So more down time, waiting for power to come on.
It does and get car downstairs and loaded.
At dealership a good hour to hour and a half longer than necessary.
Then consult maps to check traffic to see which way fastest to get back.
Maps suggest Hwy 40 back to Quebec City instead of Hwy 20. About 23 minutes quicker they say.
I set off but when get to exit for either route, there is no backup whatsoever on the route to Hwy 20.
Even deserted one might say, so I make last second decision to take Hwy 20 anyway.
I’m figuring worst of rush hour is over and maps are delayed being updated.
I mean the highway is empty…
Well only made it about 1 km and hit gridlock. Took about 1 hour to cover 5 km across the Lafontaine tunnel.
Then hit a bit of rain leaving Montreal down to St-Hyacinthe.
Clear all the way home after that.
Stopped and dropped off trailer in Edmundston on the way.
Finally got home at 3 in the morning.
Only about 6 hours later then planned when leaving in the morning.
Still a victory though.
Both cars delivered to their destinations safe and sound.
Waiting on side of highway for towing.
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Loaded and ready to head back.
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