A Vegas couple found themselves stranded last week when their trip home took an unfortunate turn. Their quiet trip to Beaver Dam State Park encountered an unexpected obstacle that left them raving about the service at The Y in Panaca.

Rich and Nola Feimer are avid campers with a deep love of the outdoors. At the park, they enjoyed trout fishing and crawdad fishing. “Beaver is one of our favorite campgrounds because even though it’s remote, the park is always so well maintained,” Rich said in an interview. Although they often camp in Beaver, the couple decided to head out to the main road just after dark to begin their journey home.

A few minutes into the trip, the couple heard a distinct fluttering noise. The passenger-side tire had a crack in the sidewall. “We always travel with a spare tire, so it was no problem to replace the tire,” Rich said. He recalled turning to Nola as they continued driving and reassuring her, “We’ll be fine as long as we don’t need a new tire.” They drove for another ten minutes before they heard a noise that broke their hearts.

With the driver’s side rear tire now shredded, Rich said they knew they would be stranded. The couple spent the night on a 20-mile dirt road with no services. “Our only option was to spend the night on the road,” Rich said, “but that wasn’t a problem because we always carry extra food and water.”

After a canned dinner and a movie on their phones, the pair prepared to sleep in their car. As they settled back into their seats, they noticed movement in the darkness around them. Rich said the experience was peaceful and full of surprises. “When we turned off the TV, we noticed the meteor shower. There were shooting stars everywhere and you could see the silhouettes of the wild horses around us.”

All night long, Rich and Nola wondered if they would meet anyone and how they would get home.

At dawn, Rich decided to repair the first flat tire with the torn sidewall. “I only had six patches, no vulcanizing glue or patches,” Rich recalled. “I did my best with the patches and managed to reduce the leak to a slow leak.” Knowing the trip could tear the tire, the couple decided to make the grueling mission back to the highway to get help. The bumpy patch required a stop every mile or so to pump up the slowly leaking tire.

Just as the sun was rising, the couple’s efforts caught the attention of a Union Pacific truck. The driver told the couple that if they made it to the Y gas station in Panaca, they would find help.

After a few stops on Highway 93, they arrived at The Y gas station just as it opened. Rich says the 10-minute drive took them nearly an hour.

When they arrived at the gas station, they were greeted by Shane Fisher. “As soon as we asked for help, this guy with a goatee and a crooked little finger took care of the rear wheel super fast,” Rich said. Since the Feimers live in Vegas, they expected higher prices. “They could have really ripped us off there, but they weren’t even interested.”

The couple says they are indebted to Shane and The Y. “I also expected to have to pay the price with my firstborn. Shane just wanted to take care of us and get us on our way. They are very polite, kind and compassionate people and they provided us with fantastic service,” Rich said.

After traveling home with a spare tire and a spare, Rich shared his experience and appreciation on social media. Although the trip didn’t go as planned, the Feimers say they’re looking forward to their next adventure in Lincoln County and Beaver Dam State Park.

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