Hey everyone, it's story time with Seth! I know, I know...you're begrudgingly thinking...why does Seth have to write another novel for a review when, does anyone really care!?
Welp, I guess, I gotta do it. So, here at Kal Tire located in Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada...I need to mention them, specifically my savior - Arthur Morgan - and relay this story...
I have driven all over North America, from South Florida to Fairbanks, Alaska, through Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories and the upper regions of Canada. I have pretty much been fortunate through my journeys until this one day back over the summer of 2023.
About 5 miles south outside the small town of Cache Creek, I got a severely flat tire, to the point my car wasn't movable. I barely had cell reception, no one was going to assist me, AAA was nowhere to be found.
Do you think I had a spare tire? Of course NOT. Jack? NOPE. Seriously, I was in way over my head and I thought to myself...is it time for Seth to finally, "pay the piper"?
I checked on Google Maps and there was this gas station, Kal Tire, open until 5pm and it was still only 3pm. There was a chance for help!
I called up and a nice gentleman named Arthur answered the phone. I explained the situation. He asked what the measurements were on my tire. I had no clue. Arthur said, hey, he'll be over shortly to assist. I was sort of shocked, could I actually get lucky and scramble my way out of this mess? Just please, Arthur, come ASAP was the only thought dancing through my head.
20 minutes later a small 2 door Mazda pulled up to me and I smiled wanting to thank strangers now ready to assist me. Because...I had Arthur in his tow-truck coming to rescue me!
But actually, this was Arthur, and his cousin accompanying him together. They examined my damaged tire and immediately took it off. They had the replacement with them and it appeared to be a matching one.
Now Arthur explained to hop in his car with his cousin and get the replacement tire glued or patched onto my rim, and we'd settle the bill at his station.
So I left behind my car and all my possessions on the side of TransCanada Highway 1 and headed over to his gas station - Kal Tire. It was a helpless feeling but I was compelled to trust Arthur. Well, actually, I had no choice. I was at his mercy. What else was I going to do? Sleep on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and wait for 911?
And this part got scary. But I want to be transparent...
We drive away and now sitting in the back of this 2-door compact car had me feeling somewhat claustrophobic. We passed through the entire town of Cache Creek without stopping, and now I'm looking left and right and pondering...where is the gas station!...
Holy moly I thought in my head..."am I being kidnapped"? "Could this be the end"? "Have I messed up badly"?
All this while my parents' voices pounding the table in my head..."we told you to be careful but you never listen to us!"
Now...I'm all of a sudden feeling lightheaded and nauseous. It was this out of body moment in time, that I think, may live with me forever.
Finally! We arrived at Arthur's body shop. Getting out of the car was an indescribable relief.
I was then happily greeted by his dog and that fever pitch tension was immediately broken, lol.
Arthur left me briefly sitting in the front counter waiting area while he connected the new tire to my rim. It took maybe 15 minutes.
Then he politely asked for $120 - Canadian. I gladly accepted. Btw, $120 - Canadian = $80 US, a bargain that I've never been happier to pay for!
And I was able to pay by credit card which does the automatic Canadian-US exchange rate for me.
Finally, we returned back to the road in Arthur's car (without his cousin) so I got to sit in the front seat, lol. Getting to chat with Arthur and learning a little bit about his life, hearing his story and being a native of Cache Creek, BC since he was young. And just...getting to hear the human side of someone who was my hero on every level, I couldn't thank him enough.
Arthur put on my new tire. He even checked my oil to make sure I was safe to continue on my adventure. And we mutually said goodbye.
Arthur, he won't know this...
But all this time I couldn't have gotten luckier. Really, without him and his honesty and kindness, I had no one else to turn to. I explained a little of this to him (while trying not to become emotional) and all he asked from me in return was...assist someone else who may be in the same difficult circumstances as I had confronted. And I promised to keep my word on that.
Thank you, Arthur Morgan. I will never forget you.
And it's an incident like this that helps me keep things in perspective. Never take things for granted. Life is short. Live happily. Make the most of moments with loved ones. Thanks for coming along on my rollercoaster storytelling. read more