There was no lack of snow up there at the cemetery, as it's 99% shaded.
Saved this for what I thought would be the end of our day, knowing we were going to get a bit wet.....
(man did I end up being wrong!)
When we first arrived at the cemetery we watched an old, duelie (sp?) tow truck on street tires roll by, figured he was off to assist the stuck Scion. One look at his tow truck and I knew he wasn't gonna get far, but figured I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and give him some time to try.
20 minutes later when we were about done in the cemetery, no sign of the tow truck... Turn to my sis, she agrees we should go lend a hand even though she had told her boyfriend she would be back at a certain time. Gotta love her!
Alright, so down the road we go in search of the tow truck. Guess what? He's stuck! Shocking, I know. Gas powered, no low range, street tires. He's just spinning. A quick tug and he's out. Grizzled guy with long hair from Black Hawk, talked to him and he admitted there's no way he could go get the Scion out. I told him not to worry, I could get him out and that I'd escort him out to make sure he got out ok. Up walks the driver of the Scion, obviously a foreigner (eastern European) in his early 20s who spoke VERY limited english. Manage to explain to him that he needs to walk back to his Scion and wait for me there. Comforted him several times, promising I was absolutely NOT going to leave him there, to just be patient and I would get to him. Go back and talk to the tow truck driver, ask if he'd collected whatever $ from the driver he needed to. He said, "I haven't collected **** from him yet, you make sure you collect the **** out of him. I know for a fact he has $250 in cash on him. I was gonna charge him atleast $350 ****** dollars." [wow, what a great guy I'm thinking...] Ask him what he needs from the driver. "$100 ***** dollars, here's my number so you can call me." He then starts rattling off his cell phone number, I obviously have nothing to write it down on. Wow. Ask him for his card which he hands over. I make sure he gets out safely, then head towards the Scion. I realize quickly he is too far away from the cemetery to get him out this way, so get all the way to his car and tell him he is going to have to wait another 30 minutes or so until I can get around to his back end. He seems worried I am going to leave him, more reassuring and we head back the way we came.
Passed this guy on our way back around.
25 minutes later we get around to the back end of the Scion, I backed through the last bit so I could atleast be driving forward towing him out.
Lots and lots of communication issues here, but eventually got it across what I wanted the driver to do. His name is Serge, which I unfortunately have NO idea how to spell.
Got his rear end hooked up, with much hoopla from the driver scared that I was going to damage his car. He was very concerned about this, and brought it up every time we talked. He definitely tried my patience, even several times asking if he should call the tow truck driver and have him come back (no way the tow truck could get back there). But, patience is a virtue, as well as understanding he was obviously from a different country with different social norms. The communication issues didn't help.
Ended up taking about an hour and a half to get him out, as he really had not idea how to handle his car in this sort of stuff. He ended up stuffing his car in an inward sloped corner right next to a tree. That was a sticky situation for sure. Some pics towing him out.
This really sums up my thoughts on the matter...
FINALLY got him back out to the maintained dirt road. Told him to go back the way he came. Guess what? He couldn't remember how he got there. He could only repeat over and over where he wanted to go, Black Hawk. Which sounded more like Bak Hook the way he said it.
Ok. Breathe Smash. Help the guy out. Lead him out the easy way, which spits you out on the paved road that goes up to Alice. Led him all the way back to I-70, where he pulled me over and asked directions to "Bak Hook." At this point he also asked why his car had gotten scratched, and what he could do about all scuffs and scrapes on the bottom of his bumpers and side panels. Patience.... Patience.... It was at this point he asked how much he owed me for pulling him out. He threw quite a fit at the amount the tow truck driver was going to charge him. I calmly looked at him and said, "that is how he makes his living." Patience... Told him the tow truck driver asked for $100 and that he could deliver it to him in Black Hawk or give it to me and I would get it to him. He gave me $100. Asked what he should pay me. I said, he why don't you throw in $40 for gas? That would be awesome, but only if you can afford it. He did give me the $40, which worked out perfect for me.
A few hours late and with enough $ in my pocket to cover gas, we send the Scion owner on his way and air up the tires. Put a call in to the tow truck driver, he asked that I just mail him the $100 and to please include my contact information. Sent that off this morning.
My sister couldn't stop going on and on about how much fun that was! She's never done an offroad recovery. Hats off to her, she was a huge help seeing things from different angles, offering suggestions, helping push the Scion, handling straps and getting good and dirty. She's one tough chick and can't wait to go out again!
We both came away from the day with a great story to tell and some awesome memories. As we both get older, I find the time we have together to be more precious than it used to be. Or, atleast I don't take it for granted anymore. I will not forget this day for a long time.