Dinged

Our drive from Torrey to Virgin was costly. About a mile or so into our drive on Utah's Highway 24, we hit a patch of "loose gravel" that lasted, maybe, a couple of miles. Paul took it extra slow and we thought nothing of it. But, after we arrived here in Virgin we saw the scope of the damage.

Rocky has been hammered!

We've towed that squirrel some 30,000 miles without incident. He maybe, and it's a big maybe, had one stone chip on the front as a result of all that towing. But, this little stretch of two lane in Utah mangled our squirrel up pretty bad.

A headlight was busted. And both fog lights. The grill looks like Swiss cheese. The radiator has been really banged up.

Poor Rocky!

Actually, poor Paul! He's the one who has worked so hard to keep this six-year-old Jeep looking brand spankin' new. We've received many compliments. Several folks have told us it looks much newer than it is.

If Rocky could speak, he might say this is just part of being a Jeep. Jeeps get dinged up, especially Jeeps that are towed behind motorhomes. He thinks it makes him look particularly gnarly, like he's been many miles on some really rough trails.

We replaced the broken headlight. And, the fog lights look like something we'll have to order. That'll make Rocky safe, at least.

He may be feeling especially gnarly, but we must admit we're just a bit sad that our little super dependable squirrel has been dinged up.

The good news is he's paid for. And, he's six years old. And, he's a Jeep. And, that's right. He's a gnarly looking one.

Over the last several months, there's been talk around our house about getting a new, improved, four-door Jeep. It would give us more room for friends. And, of course, it would cost money.

But, after this little misadventure, we think we'll just hang on to what we have. We don't want to risk having some new, fancy Jeep getting all dinged up. No way!