Wind, Windows and Awnings

[Recumbent]

On Memorial Day we were on I-40 east bound and exiting to arrive at Oasis RV Park in Amarillo, TX at about 5 pm and it was starting to rain then hailed. By chance we were able to quickly pull into the Loves Truck Stop at the diesel bays to protect truck from hail. The hail stopped but rain started coming down hard and fast. Then suddenly a large wind came and rocked both the Monte and Truck and sucked all the Loves doors open while blowing some small tumble weeds across the lot. We were glad to still have our seat belts on. After about 10 minutes it settled down and we dieseled-up, and were so glad to have gotten under the Loves pavilion. While paying the employees in the Loves were guessing that the wind could have been a down draft or micro burst, but who knows. We drove over to Oasis park next door and parked and then found the wind had broken one small back window, and one side window, had unrolled and twisted one slide topper bending the metal, and pulled our patio awing out bending one metal arm and twisted the material. We patched the broke windows with Pink Grape Fruit glazed cardboard box and Gorilla Tape to keep rain out. Three days later we stopped at the Montana RV dealership in Nashville, TN and they did and estimate and forwarded to our Insurance and we drove on home to Rock Island, TN. Parts and Labor $4,596. The parts have been ordered with an estimated 4 to 6 week time frame, and have received a check from our insurance company for the full repairs less $100 deductible.

[sambam]

Happy you were able to avoid serious damage, but it's amazing how quickly the costs run up. Nice to read a positive insurance story once in awhile. Too bad you have to wait so long for parts, but to have the check in hand already, outstanding. Good luck with your repairs.

[bigskyjimmy]

That is CRAZY!! holy moly! 4 years fulltiming and never had something like that happen, like was said before glad to see Ins took care of it, Makes me think twice about going thru Texas anytime soon,,YIKES

[JandC]

Sounds like insurance paid pretty fast. What company do you have your RV with? Even though your unit had damage you have to consider yourself lucky I guess. Sounds like it would have been much worse if you would have still been out on the road or on the exit.

[Art-n-Marge]

Hmmmm, in my world $4,596 is serious damage no matter if it only costs you $100. Recumbent, I'm very happy for you that this is being taken care even if it is a while later. Going through that whole event had to be nerve-wracking, and then to find damage. I would consider this quite a freakish happenstance and I hope it doesn't stop your traveling.

bigskyjimmy, give it some time and I hope you change your stance. Going around Texas can be quite the detour and those detours could be through tornado country.

[DQDick]

I would also like to know what insurance you have, sounds like a great company. Detouring around Texas leaves you with OK, KS, Nebraska and the Dakota's. If you've watched the news lately, large hail, high winds and tornado's can be found anywhere in the mid-west now days.

[Recumbent]

We are members of Farm Bureau and have Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance, our experience with Farm Bureau has been excellent through out our lives.

[DQDick]

We had the same experience with Farm Bureau until we sold the house and went full time. Sorry to say, they don't do full timers.

[JandC]

This bad weather is just the luck of the draw no matter what state you are in. We just did 3 weeks, 3,500 miles, through 8 states to get to Seattle. We haven't had a drop of rain land on us the whole way! Probably have all rain on the way back, who knows.

[Recumbent]

Thanks to all for the nice comments, we now wait for parts to arrive and the work to be completed before heading to the Mid-Atlantic Rally on July 30th.

[Captain Joe]

Great story....glad everyone is ok.