Yeah! Publix!

As we were driving from New Orleans to Gulf Shores, Alabama, on Sunday, a message flashed on the dashboard of the car to check the air pressure on the right front tire. Then a graphic came on that showed the tire pressure of each tire by position and the front tires showed the left front had 37 psi and the right front had 33psi. On a travel day, the first item on our checklist is to check the tire pressure on both the Airstream and the car. That morning they had checked out as appropriate - 33 psi on the front and 44 psi on the rear tires.

We stopped at the next TA Stop along Interstate #10, and added air to the right front, but the warning light remained on and the graphic kept showing a discrepancy. We discussed that we would have to monitor the tire and drove on with some trepidation. Then, as Frederick was directing the backing-in of the Airstream at the RV Park and observing the angle of the tires, he discovered the problem; a screw in the tire tread.

See the Alabama white sugar sand on the tire? Oh yes, and the screw. 

You may remember that we bought new tires in Moncton, New Brunswick, back in September. We have travelled 8,000 miles since then. 

Fortunately, when we bought the car back in February, we also purchased a Wheel & Tire Protection Plan which covers road hazards. We called the nearest Mercedes Dealer, which happens to be in Pensacola, Florida, and they ordered a new tire which came in today. When we went there today, we also decided to have the 30,000 mile servicing done (the 20,000 mile service was done in Halifax, Nova Scotia) before we began our trip north for the holidays. 

Since there is a Sam's Club 5 miles from the Pensacola dealership, we dropped off the car, picked up a rental, and went shopping while the servicing and tire change happened.

There's our car, behind Chris, waiting its turn. Chris lived in North Dakota for a while and was able to pronounce Dakota properly. 

We took advantage of being in Florida and stopped at a Publix grocery store on the way back. Sure do like Publix!

It turned out to be a busy and productive day. We did the laundry in the morning, had the car serviced and a tire replaced, and did the grocery shopping. That doesn't leave much to be done tomorrow. Maybe we'll be able to walk on these beautiful beaches.