PART 2 - REPAIRS

Denis made it back safe and sound from Phoenix after picking up the AC compressor from the dealer.  He is a driving machine maniac and drove 670 miles round trip without incident.  Thanks be to God.

The nights are cool and the campground is quiet so we both had a good night's sleep.  We located a Catholic church less than five miles away, St. Anne's, and attended the 9:30 mass.  What a beautiful, little parish and the people (primarily Spanish) were warm and welcoming.  They recognized us as visitors and gave each of us a blessed St. Anne metal. 

We enjoyed a quiet day of reading, walking and watching our beautiful baby granddaughters on Facebook video.  I love hearing Kiev say "grammie" and get all excited.  The baby, Kloe, is eight months and daringly trying to stand on her own.   We look forward to seeing them soon.

Denis got up at 6:00 this morning to call the warranty company (2 hour time difference) to provide them with all the information they needed to file the claim for service provided by Big Sky Tire & Repair in Deming, New Mexico.  That's all set.

Sam, the service tech, showed up at 8:30 this morning to install the new compressor and belt.  Less than two hours later he was finished and we were able to drive safely to the repair shop.

If it appears to be out in the middle of no where,  that's because it is

These are the old parts

They are charging the dash AC and things seem to be going well.  We ate lunch while we've been waiting and hope to get out of here soon.  Denis would like to put in at least 3-4 hours which would get us out of New Mexico and into El Paso, Texas.

I know some of you were waiting for Part 2 of this blog and I wanted to get it out fast.  We're not off to a great start for our return trip to New England and hopefully, this will be the only glitch along the way.  Fingers crossed. 

Thanks for stopping in to say hi and God bless you.

LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA

We left early Monday morning from Bear Cave in Buchanan, MI for our morning appointment at Solar Energy Systems in Nappanee, Indiana.  We've been smelling an electrical burning smell where our inverter is located and Denis called Winnebago for some trouble shooting.  Our house batteries don't seem to be charging properly and we suspect the inverter.

Anyways, long story short, the experienced techs at Solar Energy discovered a burnt out circuit board not the inverter.  Pretty lucky it shorted out and didn't catch fire.  The techs said they don't see this very often but it can happen.  They had the circuit board in stock and the warranty covered most of the expense.  

Burnt out circuit board

While we were waiting for the repairs to be made, I walked the area and discovered we were in Amish country, hint, the horse and buggies going up and down the street. We were next door to the Newmar factory.   I found a big building in the industrial area run by the Amish with all kinds of crafts and a wonderful restaurant for lunch.  It ended up being an unexpectedly nice day.

After a night at a Walmart, we arrived at Thousand Trails Hershey, PA.  This is a very nice, quiet park and we love seeing so much green.  The resident Canadian Geese have hatched their chicks and they are just little fluff balls, so cute.

Mom doesn't let me get close without becoming protective and aggressive

Yesterday at the park it was sunny enough to sit outside and soak in some rays, however, today it's cloudy and rainy.  Good day for laundry and a bit of house cleaning.

We've been addicted to watching the PBS series Downton Abbey every night now that we have Verizon's Unlimited streaming.  Loving it.

Thanks all for stopping in to say hi.

YUMA LAKES RV RESORT - ARIZONA

Woke up at 6:30 this morning because we wanted to get to LaMesa RV for service by 8:00.  When we left the sun was just started to pop up over the mountain range and it was pretty.

They told us they would try to get the work done by noon.  We were having routine maintenance done, like lube, oil and filters plus they inspect to make sure everything looks good.  While we were waiting we checked in at Yuma Lakes RV Resort.  We found a nice site next to Tony & Mieke.  We did some Tai Chi, went for a walk around the park and bumped into Jim & Sharon.  Then we went to WalMart to pick up a prescription and I found some pretty towels that have an Arizona theme with matching rug and liquid soap dispenser.  They look pretty in the guest bathroom.

We didn't hear from LaMesa by noon and with hunger setting in we found a Chinese restaurant.  We haven't been out to a restaurant since we've been gluten and dairy free.  Ordering wasn't easy and we ended up with steamed broccoli, white rice and steamed chicken.  The chef was in shock that we didn't want seasoning but at least it was a safe choice.  The waiter kept bringing over sauces hoping that maybe we could find something we could use to make the dish tastier.  It was a little bland but it filled us up and we were satisfied.

We went back to LaMesa after lunch and they were just finishing up.  They found that our generator panel was loose because of a missing screw and the front Winnebago emblem panel needed to be secured with apoxicon glue.  They replaced the water pump and now we have much better water pressure.  Denis was pleasantly surprised with the cost because they were having a special on oil changes and some of it was covered by the warranty. We ran into some glitches with our extended warranty and it took much longer to get the paperwork done and we didn't get out of there to almost 4:30.  Long day.

We're used to spending time in RV service bays

See how patient & relaxed Denis is

By 5:30 we were all settled in to our site, made a big green salad with the left over turkey and a glass of wine.  That ends our day and we're tired.  Just enough time for a move before heading off to bed.

Thanks for stopping in to say hi.

ALL EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW TOILET

Time to throw away the old and bring in the new toilet.  I really expected Denis to run into all sorts of problems replacing our toilet because typically that's the case with RV living but that didn't happen this time.  It was a little tricky replacing the tubing and water shutoff but other than that, hubby finished this project in no time at all.  Good job!

We shopped around for a Dometic 310 Series Low Profile toilet on line and found the best buy at Dyers RV Parts.  Our old toilet had a rim that was difficult to keep clean.  The new one has no rim, has a spray nozzle and flushes much cleaner.  The bonus is Denis can replace the seal from inside the toilet.  So to say we're happy with our new toilet is an understatement.  

New flange

Going to love the sprayer

Finished project

We're spending some time in Florida, catching up on doctor's visits and enjoying the sunshine before heading north.  Thanks for stopping in to say hi.

$60 TO REMOVE A SCREW

Over the last couple of days, Denis has been trying to remove the gas filter from the coach.  The filter has never been changed. We've been getting a warning light plus sometimes when we're driving the engine slowly shuts down and we have to pull over, wait a few minutes then start the engine.  So I say Denis has been trying to remove it because one of the three screws won't cooperate.  Last night we had a mechanic come over and after a 30-minute struggle he was able to remove the screw and we were $60 poorer.  First thing this morning Denis was able to put in the new filter and, hopefully, this will solve our problem but we won't know for sure until we do some driving.

Saw this baby at I-Hop - Only grandparents would dress their granddaughter like this

We met friends at the Olive Garden in the Villages for lunch.  Most of us ordered the all-you-can-eat soup, salad and bread sticks.  There were no complaints about the food or service and we had a nice time.

The blurry photo is the result of asking someone from the Villages to take our picture, sorry!

If you remember, we picked up my niece on Saturday from the airport.  I guess things are not what she was promised and she's asked us if we'd help her escape. We'll be picking her up tomorrow morning and she'll be staying with us until her flight leaves on Saturday.  Can't wait to hear her story.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

COACH REPAIRS AND ONGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY

This has been the year of coach repairs.  Denis just put in a new central vac Dirt Devil and ordered a new vent hose to replace the cheap cloth one that was originally installed and has holes in it.  The new Dirt Devil has a Hepa filter and is supposed to run quieter with more suction.  We'll see.

Looks just like the old one

Brand new out of the box

There's always a job to do, thankfully, Denis has the patience to get the job done

Yesterday my Splendide washer quit.  Today, Chris, from Chris' Appliance Repair, spent a few hours fixing it.  The circuit board was burnt out.  Getting the washer out of the cabinet is always a chore but Chris made it look easy.  If you need an authorized warranty repairman for your Splendide in the Yuma area, I would highly recommend Chris.  He checked all the wiring, hoses, drum and lint buildup.  He suggested we put in a house outlet for the electric plug because our plug show signs of extreme heat.  I know that plug gets mighty hot when I run the dryer so I think that is good advise.

With our continuing chiropractic treatments we're both feeling much better.  We love the infra-red heat therapy, electrical impulses and roller beds.  Tomorrow we're going to start massage therapy and bet that's going to feel wonderful.

When we were in Mexico, I wasn't able to call my dad for those two weeks.  It was nice to talk with him and, thankfully, time is irrelevant for him.  He uses a wheelchair all the time now because he's unstable, tires very quickly and the doctor's are afraid he may fall.  They say he sleeps a lot but still likes to participate in the afternoon activities, especially sing-a-longs.

Dad before going into the Soldier's Home

Denis' mom is turning 87 this month.  She's doing great, still driving and tries to get to mass every morning.  What a change from a year and a half ago when she was in the hospital.  I love her zest for life.

Daughter Christi with mom-in-law, Jeannine

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

VISITING THE SACRAMENTO RIVER DELTA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

We squared up all the paperwork and insurance with Henderson's Line-up this morning.  Finally, we're able to move on.  We drove a few hundred miles crossing into California.  Driving along Interstate 5 from Oregon to California through the Shasta Mountains was not exactly relaxing.  Lots of semi-tractor trucks and when you're not climbing hills, you're going down 6% long grades.  We were happy to pull into a Walmart around 5:30 PM for the night.

Drove through hail and sleet - glad to be heading south

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

We drove 150 miles to Isleton, California (the Sacramento River Delta) and pulled into a nice sunny campground. It's wonderful to see palm trees, grassy sites and full hookups. We've never been to this area and we're pleasantly surprised.  Within walking distance we discovered lots of marinas, restaurants, pubs with local entertainment and beautiful views of the water.  The Sacramento River originates high in the Klamath Mountains and flows 400 miles to San Francisco Bay.  It drains about one-third of the state's annual water runoff, about 22,390,000 acre feet of water a year.

Lovely campground

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

We're seeing lawn signs asking the residents of the Delta to vote against the tunnels.  We asked a local about the tunnels and learned that Governor Brown wants to divert water from the Delta to Southern California.  The residents are not in favor of this because they believe it was wreck havoc with the ecological system, agriculture and tourism.  

Work is done and it's time to relax in the sunshine

SEPTEMBER 28-29-30

We visited the Chinese Labor Memorial Pavilion in downtown Isleton.  The Pavilion was built in memory of the Chinese immigrants that worked for a dollar a day. After the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1968, thousands of unemployed Chinese were hired to build the levees and reclaim the Delta country for agriculture.  The museum across the street provided us with information about the history of Isleton which was known as the Asparagus Capital of the World in the early 1900's.  The historic Chinese and Japanese Commercial Districts are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chinese Labor Memorial Pavilion

The town is trying to raise funds for renovations

OCTOBER 1-2

We spent the afternoon driving from one end of the Delta to the other.  It's a beautiful route through small historic communities, farmland and vineyards. Starting in Isleton, we drove through Walnut Grove which is the only Delta town on both sides of the river, to Locke, which is the only village in the USA originally built and inhabited exclusively by Chinese immigrants, all the way to Clarksburg.

The Districts are extremely rundown and in need to renovations

Drawbridges are a common sight

Kiddie size is just enough for me - Denis opted for the next size up

Funny eh? - Locke was the most impressive - historically speaking

Just a small section of the vineyards

In the 1870's the Portuguese farmers settled in this area - in the 1880's immigrants arrived from the Netherlands

This building is in better condition than most

You may have noticed that I've been lazy about posting a daily blog and this post is a bit unusual for me, did you notice?  That's because days have gone by without much activity on our part and I don't want to bore you with our mundane daily routines (actually, I find it rather boring to write about it). We're enjoying the peace, quiet and solitude of this area without the pressure of having to do something.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

CRATER LAKE - RV REPAIRS - HAIRCUTS - MOVING ON

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013

We wanted to drive around Crater Lake but the day was extremely foggy with intermittent rain (the high point had flurries) and it was that kind of cold that gets into the bones.  We went to the visitor's center and got our passport stamped and watched the film about how Crater Lake was formed. What I found most interesting was this area gets an average of 44' of snowfall and the water in the lake is not fed by any rivers or steams, just rain and snowfall.  That accounts for the pristine, clear blue water.  Did you know it's the deepest lake in the US and the 7th deepest in the world?

Crater Lake overlook

The island is a small volcano

It was 7,700 years ago that the volcano erupted in almost a perfect circle

We decided to go back to the cozy, warm coach and watch a movie. We dubbed the TV mini-series House of Cards with Kevin Spacey, have any of you seen it?   Our friends, Terry and Sharon were coming into Crater Lake later in the day.  We gave them our site number and invited them to stop in when they arrive. We had a nice visit with them over a hot cup of tea to take the chill off.  They're taking the trolley tour around the lake tomorrow and we're heading to the RV repair shop.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

This morning we had the challenge of getting out of our treed site.  Denis did a lot of back and forth moves and managed to get out of a very tight site without mishap.  A quick stop at the dump station and we were on our way.  We pulled into Henderson's Lineup, which specializes in Workhorse and Banks here in Grants Pass, Oregon.  We found a place in their parking lot with electricity where we can spend the night until the technicians get here tomorrow morning.  After settling in, we took a walk around the neighborhood and found a barber/salon with $10 haircuts that we'll need to visit tomorrow.

5 Stars for Henderson's Line-Up - Knowledgeable technicians, excellent service and customer relations

$10 haircuts and $15 senior pedicures

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

This morning the employees starting coming in around 7:30 to start their day.  We had a good night's sleep in their parking lot.  They took the car in to check the alignment and balance the wheels to make sure the tires wear evenly.  That took them a couple of hours and the job is finished.  They have Banks parts coming in tomorrow but we're not sure our insurance will cover for the upgrade from Workhorse.  Hopefully, we'll know more by the end of the day.  The beauty salon seems to be closed on Mondays.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

Another night at Henderson Lineup and we're not the only ones.  There's a great big Newmar Essex and a Patriot Thunder spending the night with us.  Henderson's Lineup is a family-owned business and fellow RVer, John Mitchell, referred them to us.  We left the Henderson's to do their thing while we ran some errands, got our hair cut and went for lunch.  We went to Home Depot, Walmart and Albertsons with our Out of Milk app to keep us on track.  I used Yelp to find a nice place for lunch and found the Circle J Cafe.  The decor was described as funky, the food and service rating was almost five stars.  Denis had the smoked salmon Caesar salad and I had the Angus burger with fresh pesto, mozzarella, onions and tomatoes.  Their sweet potatoes fries were the best. We'd recommend this place for it's quirky decor and good food.

Circle J Cafe

The good news is that the repairs are finished and we'll be able to leave here tomorrow morning. With another day of rain, we are both looking forward to finding a place with full hookups and sunshine.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

KEEPING BUSY

Thursday morning we got kicked out of our RV home at 7:30 in the morning and told not to come back until 4:00.  We had to figure out what we could do in the area.  After breakfast and computing time at McDonald's we decided to tick off some items on our Out of Milk app.  If you're not familiar with this app, you can go to Play Store and download it for free on your smart phone.  It's a great app for keeping shopping lists by store name and the best part is that it can be shared with another phone (hubby's can no longer say they forgot what we wanted at the store).

Costco was our first stop.  The camera we bought from Costco just four months ago has quit on us and we were hoping to get a refund or replacement.  Unfortunately, we need to return it to a Nikon dealer.  I think the wild salmon, organic chicken breasts, grapes and avocados at Costco are the best quality.  We had to scoot back to the RV glass repair shop and they let us into the bay to put our food in the fridge.

From there we went to Walmart and I bought a small crock pot and a handheld food saver, two items that I've been wanting for a while.  I needed some sneaker socks and a pair of sandals to replace my worn out Crocs and found them at Dicks.  Tick those items off my list and the last item was a new bathrobe.  Macy's was just around the corner and I found a 100% cotton light-weight spa robe in a size extra-small.  Mission accomplished and Denis was so good about hanging with me for the day.

I mentioned to Denis that our last stop was a grocery store but it was nearing 3:30 and he just couldn't face one more store and I was pretty worn out too.

The new windshield looks great and we settled in for another night in their parking lot.  The next morning we got an early start, stopped for our groceries and then drove about 90 miles to Crater Lake National Park.  This is our first visit here and it's probably a little late in the season but we did have clear enough weather to see the beautiful lake on our ride along the rim to the campground.

Drove into the North entrance along the rim to the South entrance

The campground has limited electrical sites and we wanted to snag one because the temperatures are dropping and we like using our electric fireplace instead of the propane.  We found a nice wooded site but it was a real challenge backing in between the trees.  Denis did a great job without mishap and we tucked in for a nice quiet night without cell, Internet or television.

The temperature dropped to 31F last night and this morning we appreciated our fireplace.  Just as predicted today is foggy and rainy.  I feel sorry for the bikers that came here to ride along the rim. We got in the car and drove a few miles along the rim looking for cell phone and Internet. We're both sitting in the car with our laptops literally on our laps taking care of business.  The fog is pretty thick and I'm glad we got to see the lake and views yesterday because it's not looking too good for today. Guess we'll check out the movie at the visitor's center.

We'll that catches you up on the last few days.  We are still up-in-the-air as to how and when we'll get the coach repairs done but at least we're heading in the right direction, that is, south and to, hopefully, warmer temperatures.  What we know for certain is that we would never recommend Guarantee RV Service in Junction City, Washington and here's why.  Customer's relations and communications is the worst we've ever experienced.  They let you stay across the street in a large parking lot with electrical hookups and they seem to forget you're there.  If you're looking for an overnight place to stay for free, this is the place for you.  However, if you're looking for RV service, I'd stay clear of this place. They have have the fluff but nothing to back it up with.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

TWO DISCOVERIES IN ONE DAY

The RV repair driver was at our door at 8:00 this morning ready to bring our coach into the service bay.  It didn't take them long to discover the problems.  Both exhaust manifolds and the water pump need to be replaced.   Looks like we're going to leave the coach here for what could potentially be two weeks (depends on all the "what ifs" that could happen).

We're thinking of taking advantage of a TT cabin while we're waiting.

Fortunately, we are having some beautiful weather and enjoyed sitting outside today.

Oh, by the way, the Dairy Queen junk food we ate yesterday didn't cause me any discomfort. Denis was kidding with me saying that's because Dairy Queen uses all organic, non-GMO fresh ingredients. Yeah, I believe that one.

We figured out why we were both getting stomach problems.  We make a fermented drink, Kombucha, with black tea, sugar and a scoby.   You can buy it in health food stores and some grocery stores or make your own for a lot less money.  When you make Kombucha it is important to have a quiet environment and our Alaska travels have been less than quiet over all those rough roads.  I think my scoby got sick and the last batch we made was contaminated.  We had to throw it all away and won't be making it again until we settle down this winter.

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.

This is exactly how I felt in school - math was a challenge for me, especially word problems