day 6—warning: low battery

The next morning, the battery was completely dead. “This would happen on New Year’s,” we joked as we stared at the dead battery for what felt like the hundredth time. By now, we’d grown accustomed to the persistent beeping, as though it was our little New Year’s soundtrack.

We decided to go into Moab to see if we could track down a mechanic. The thought of getting professional help seemed like a distant dream, but we were hopeful. Breakfast at Cactus Jack’s was our first move.

Cactus Jack's

While we ate, Trent browsed through handymen and RV repair shops on Google. He sent them texts, hoping for a response. However, given that it was New Year’s Day, we weren’t expecting miracles, and the responses were slow, if not nonexistent. The beeping, the dead battery, and the lack of replies—all of it felt like a cosmic joke.

We concluded that our early January plans to explore Southern Utah wouldn't pan out. With the van issue still unsettled, we needed a new strategy. Therefore, we reversed our itinerary, traveled north, and aimed straight for Salt Lake City. At the very least, we'd be closer to a major service center, and perhaps, just maybe, there would be fewer unreturned messages.

We arrived at a Hyatt in Pleasant Grove, a refreshing respite from the unpredictability of the past few days. The stark contrast between the desert and the mountains was striking. The familiar, flat, red expanse we had come to know was replaced by jagged slopes covered in snow.

The once arid land was now blanketed in a soft, white coat. The shift in landscape felt like an omen of new beginnings, even though the road to reach it hadn’t been smooth.

By the time we checked in, we’d made an appointment with RVXUtah for the next day. The beeping battery was behind us, at least for the time being. In the meantime, we were content to savor the simple pleasures of a hot shower and a reliable roof.