After some practice with a buddy's trailer and some rewiring of my back-em-up brain, I was ready for the trailer pickup. It was lighter than my buddy's somewhat laden trailer, so there was more noise and jumping around of the UHaul than I expected. Also, being enclosed, I quickly realized that using my mirrors while in drive was going to be just as key to using them in reverse. This may be the best use of euro side mirrors I have ever had. I can see well beyond the sides of the UHaul from them. There is nothing of use to be seen from the rearview.

Minutes later, I was in front of my own driveway, wife, and child. It was time to show and this time with a crowd. Nervous? You bet. But even though we have a tight squeeze in reversing a trailer, it went very well. Even my little wifey was impressed.

The trip to school is one we have made dozens of time. It is my wife's alma matter and the midpoint we have stayed after Christmas vacations for years. Wouldn't you know that THIS time- hauling a trailer- would be the one that was most hectic. I thought the 30 minutes in traffic for a stalled rig was a the problem. But alas no. The rig had stalled as IT was waiting in construction traffic that saw another 30 minute delay. Just up the road? Yep. More delays. Ug.

The all-aluminum Zionsville radiator I installed ten years ago did great. I never saw temps over 222 degrees. Once the road temps reached 100 degrees, I turned on the A/C instead of letting my hair fly free in the open window cabin. I had raised the rear air pressure on the 315's by about 5lbs. The Android radio's TPMS doesn't like this and there's no way to tell it not to worry except after each turn of the ignition and click of the (fairly obnoxious) warnings. I found this annoyance comforting, though. This is exactly the kind of thing I'd need if my pressure went wonky with a slow leak.

One gas stop at a Costco, and another at what has become my favorite along the route also went without trouble. There's a lot of talk about the brisket sandwich at Buc-ees. Having sampled a few dozen of the best places in Texas I was skeptical. Indeed, while the legendary bathrooms were as clean as a whistle, the brisket was a flat 'Meh.' It was acutually well prepared and not over cooked- which is the hardest part. I think a sauce that I enjoy would have made the sandwich one that I would try again. As it is, I have had my experience and that was enough.

Once at our destination, I found a spot without too much risk and tried out my skills again. I haven't worked in well over a year. But I think I could back up trailers for a little while. It feels good to learn something new- especially just a few years off from AARP status.

So of course, I spend the next 2 days telling everyone I know how awesome I am. A buddy of mine sends me HIS rig and I am then both humbled and shutty'ed. No way I can handle THIS thing:

This is probably as good a time as any to answer the question my uncle- and everyone else- ends up asking. In truth, we could have done it all with a larger vehicle or a truck bed. I don't expect we'll need a trailer like this again, but for now we had the comfort of knowing there was nothing we couldn't take along, even if a few bring-a-longs ended up being thrown away once we arrived.

After a few days of arm loading into the dorm, cleaning, hauling trash and decorating, we had our dinner last night with my daughter, her roommates, and their families. It was time to say goodbye. As I type, my bride is reluctantly packing her bags for the ride home. My daughter's custom-made playlist for daddy awaits.

I am not sure when it will hit us. A very quiet house awaits. No 'Bamb1' means I regain the E53's rightful spot in the garage next to its 4.4 sibling. Writing this little bit has me in mah feelz, so I think I'll distract myself with a few hundred miles in tow. This time, however, it'll be with my ole best friend, my little wifey of over 25 years. We got along pretty well the 1st time we had an empty nest. So well, in fact that we added to it. 19 years later, it's time to remember that feeling with a different kind of baby bird distraction. Off we go then.

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