2021/07/10 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 23 - Homeward Bound

 We got moving and headed over to family to have breakfast. - THANKS!

I stopped at Desert Oasis Rest Area for quick stop.

The necessary gas at Flying J.

 Made it home and put everything down the drive way.

Mom M seems to have no ill effect from the heat stroke and everybody else is good.

This was a good vacation having the whole family together!

2021/06/24 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 07 - Made it to Mississippi

 We left close to 9:30 today.

Next stop is for the necessary gas.

We had time, so we stopped at Vicksburg National Military Park.  We drove most of the grounds with the RV and trailer.  We did not do all the grounds, we ran out of time and A needed to be able to turn her paperwork in to get her JR badge.

We made it to Lindeaire RV Park and setup camp under the trees.  But what a dump.  I would not recommend this park to anybody. My 30 amp connection was not grounded, and I had to park so I would not get stuck in the mud.  They had several modular homes that were totally run down falling apart with no windows or doors.

We headed out to dinner - Aladdin Mediterranean Grill.  We stopped at Joann Fabrics to do some shopping.

Back to the RV to relax.

2021/06/18 - Friday - Vacation - Day 01 - Hit by Semi / Flats

 We left a little of 10

Did our stop at Pilot for the necessary drink for the RV and eat lunch.

We crossed the state line in to AZ.  About mile 7 a semi drifts from the fast lane into the trailer taking out the trailer tire, but luckily did not hit so hard to also hitting the 4Runner on the trailer.  I thought he was going to take us out, but I was able to keep everything on the road.  There was a couple behind me that see it all and pulled over behind the semi.  He was claiming that I hit him.  We waited for the highway patrol.  Once the investigation was done - the highway patrol gave the semi a ticket for unsafe lane change.

We then started to change the tire on the trailer.  The officer left and short afterwards somebody else stopped to help us change the tire.

Getting close to Tonopah, a RV tire goes flat.  So on the side of the road again to change the tire.

We pull in to a Pilot near Tonopah and I can hear tire hissing air.  so after filling up we pulled to the side to change the passenger front tire.

Next is where to stop for the night?...

I pulled into a TA but to see if they had any tires but they did not and during the time of waiting they found a place to stay for the night.  The temp was still above 100...

Almost 10pm we are finally at - Leaf Verde RV Resort for the night.

2020/07/02 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 21 - Longest Drive

We finally left E place a little after 10.

First stop was at a Flying J's for the necessary gas for the RV and lunch for us.

Next stop yep Flying J's again.

Then the topping of the tank at another Flying J's

We finally pulling into the road to our friends place around 5:30.  I unloaded the van from the tow-dolly.  A drove the van up.  The road had a lot of washboards so I had to go slow, the tow-dolly did a lot of bouncing.

We didn't stay up to late, but we had a good time chatting.

Update:  The RV had a major issue around midnight.  A woke us up that the AC was a glowing fire.  We double checked and we could smell the burning and see the black scorched marks in the AC unit.  It did not trip the breaker, and it does not work any more.

2020/06/28 - Sunday - Vacation - Day 17 - Exploring

We left shortly after 9.

We got gas for the RV about an hour later.

Stopped in Eugene at one of the places that Cheryl like for tea stuff and got a few things.

We stopped at a rest area for lunch

We made it to KOA in Central Point for the day

We went for a drive to find out any information or a visitor center for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.  At the top of the pass on SR66 we found a very small building that was open but nobody inside, but it did have information regarding the Monument.

We had dinner Ashland and then went back to the RV to relax.

2020/06/22 - Monday - Vacation - Day 11 - One the Move

We got moving a little later then normal.

We said our goodbyes and finally got on the road a little after 10. 

We took the Edmonds to Kingston ferry.

We made it to the KOA and they did have an open spot for us for the next 4 nights.  Unloaded the van and we headed out to do a little exploring for the day.

The tip of Washington is closed but we went about halfway to visit a co-op but it was disappointing, very small and it had a lot of commercial items we can find in other stores.

On the way back we stopped for dinner and a place that is far from any town.  It was very good and big portions.

Back at the RV we get things organized and ready for the next few days.

2020/06/15 - Monday - Vacation - Day 04 - Snow

We left on our usual time of 9.  Our first stop was at a DMV, but they wanted me to wait in a long line just to use the kiosk, so I left and headed over to a different kiosk to get the necessary tags for the RV.

Next stop was at a Walmart at the next town up the road.  We then stopped at a Costco Gas to fill up the RV.

Once we reached I-5, the next rest area we stopped for lunch.

We stopped in Weed to get more gas for the RV.

Once we stopped for the night, we unload the van and headed further north to Crater Lake.  By the time we got to the top it was foggy and snow/ice was blowing around.  We could not see the lake and the East Rim Drive was also closed, so no going all the way around.  After taking several photo shots, we headed back to the south entrance area and had dinner.

Back to RV to relax and get ready for the next day of driving...

2020/06/14 - Sunday - Vaction - Day 03 - Steps Issue and Family

Got up shortly after 7 and we did the normal morning routine.  About the time to leave at 9 and the steps would not go back in.  I tried a few things but nothing was working to get the steps in.  So go find the owners manual in our big folder of RV stuff.  Found the manual and quickly looked at the instructions.  Instead of trying to go through each of the steps, I got some wire out and powered the motor to get it to move the steps up.  All of this took about 45 minutes.

Next stop was for gas and have lunch.  This flying J's did not like my card so I complained to the attendant that was out and about, but I will have to call the card company tomorrow (because they are closed on Sundays)

Next stop is for the night at E's place.  We had to trim some branches from the tree so they were not rubbing the RV.

Cheryl started a load of laundry.

I spent about an hour trying to find the problem with the steps. I finally found it, it was a wire that broke at a connector for the magnet that indicates when the door is shut or not.   And because I had thing out to help me find the issue, I went ahead an unloaded everything out of the front passenger storage area.  It needed some organization. By the time I finished putting things back, it was time to leave for dinner.

Dinner was at Cool Hand Luke's.

Back at E's place to relax.

2020/06/13 - Saturday - Vacation - Day 02 - Kings Canyon

We got up a little after 7.  We got things ready for the day and finally left shortly after 9.

First stop was to top of the tank for the van and then proceed over to Starbucks to get our breakfast and drinks.

About 5 minutes back on the road, I asked if we have the cameras, NOPE, so off at the next ramp and headed back to the RV to get them.  That only delayed us about a total of 25 minutes.

We finally made it to Kings Canyon National Park.

 - Big Stump - but we only pulled in to the parking lot and determine we did not want to walk to it.

 - General Grant Tree - we walked the loop and A took a lot of pictures

 - Panoramic Point - we walked out to the vista location and what a vista

 - McGee Overlook - seeing the old burn area down the valley

 - Junction View - looking down and seeing the Middle and South Forks of Kings River

 - (Before Kings Canyon Lodge) - stopped and take pictures of a water falls that some times the wind would not allow the water to reach the ground

 - Roaring River Falls - short hike to the falls and A took lots of photos

 - Drove around at Roads End Permit Station

 - On the way back, drove a dirt road

 - Grizzly Falls - very short hike to get close to the falls

 - Heading towards Sequoia, we drove as far as Kings Canyon Overlook before turning around.

 - Redwood Mountain Overlook

We made the decision not to do Sequoia National Park because it was already getting late, so we headed back to the RV.

After getting things taken care of at the RV (letting Turquoise out and feeding the animals) we headed out for dinner.

I loaded the van back onto the two dolly and we got a few things ready for tomorrow drive.

2020/06/12 - Friday - Vacation - Day 01 - Full, had to find a different location

We left the house shortly after 9 almost on time.  First stop was at a pet store to get some necessary can food for the dog and cats.

The next stop was at Camping World in Bakersfield to get Cheryl some new pots/pans that all stack neatly together and takes up less space and the cupboard will be neater.  While leaving the parking lot the new tow dolly made some clunking noises.

We stopped at the Flying J's outside of Bakersfield to get the necessary go go juice for the RV.  After filling up the RV, I pulled over in the parking area and had my fill for lunch.

The plan was to stop at the KOA in Visalia, but they could not accommodate use for two nights, so A.M. made several phone calls and finally found a place about an hour further up the 99.

We made it to the Arena RV Park and they only had accommodation in the overflow area (along side a building), but it does have full hoockups.

I have been noticing that the bathroom faucet would only trickle out the water, so I took the head off and cleaned the restricter and now it flow good.  While doing the cleaning, I did get A.M. good when the head was not on correctly and when I turned the water on it squirted hear.

I unloaded the van and we headed to a Black Bear Dinner that we have not eaten at before.  They had opened up inside seating and of course with social distancing.

Back at the RV, we organized the pot and pan cupboard and put the new set in and got ride of some of the old ones.

I did forget the power cord for my work computer, so A.M. is ordering it and it will be delivered to L.M. place so I can still do my necessary work.  So between now and getting to L.M., hopefully I can do what I need quickly without running out of power before getting there.

The train track are just across the street from the RV park and it sounds like they are going to go right trough us.

I noticed that there was water around the kitchen faucet, so I cleaned that up, but I wanted to make sure it was not a leak and sure enough it is, so now we have to stop and get a new RV faucet for the kitchen sink.

I was hoping that E.M. would join us for the weekend, but he decided not to drive down and join us.  We will see him on Sunday.

2019/06/20 - Thursday - Getting ready to go

Well, getting everything done did not happen. But what did get done I am very happy about.

Things we got done.
- Two new tires for the front.
- Oils changed (engine and tranny)
- Got CB working
- Replaced the trailer break controller
- Replaced the ABS sensor
- Put in an power cord so it can feed the power at the couch

Thanks to D.M. for getting several of these things done!

I did make a decision not bring the bikes, so removed the bike rack.

So we are not leaving today, we will leave in the morning.

2019/06/13 - Thursday - Brush off the Cobwebs

Well preparation are happening and we are excited for this year vacation.  Doing this post to brush off the cobwebs and making sure things are still working in the blogger world.

Getting the RV ready is not done yet.  Still need to put away all the laundry.

2018/07/12 - Thursday - Vacation - Day 21 - Drive and Hot Tires

We left our friends a little after 9.

We stopped for gas.

We stopped for lunch at a rest stop - but it was not much of one, it was at the top of a pass and it only had a pit toilet, it was basically on an off-ramp.

Stopped for more gas.

it was getting later in the day, and I started checking the temperatures of the tires.  I noticed the driver inside dually was at 170, so I slowed down form 60 to 55.  That did bring down the temperature to 168.  About  30 minutes later the tire was back up at 170, so I pulled off to cool down the tires.  We looked and found a campground in the town so we drove to check it out.

At the campground nobody was at the 'store front' but they had a way to register and pay, so we did.

Drove the van back into town to get dinner and try to find a laundry mat, but they all close to early to be able to do any loads. 

We had dinner and then back to the RV to relax.  While at dinner, I made a phone call to the location where we were going to stay but they are full, so now I am not sure where we will stay for the night tomorrow.  I guess we will wait and see.

2018/07/10 - Tuesday - Vacation - Day 19 - New Tread and Friends

We got moving a little early - 8:45.

Our first stop was a rest area for the necessary bathroom break.

So because we were getting into Salt Lake early, I made a decision to stop at Discount Tire first.  We got there at about noon.  We replaced three RV tires (the one that bubbled, the one that blew and the spare that we put on that looked to have the start of dry rot)  two of them was covered under the cert, the third one I got tread/mileage credit.  Looking at the tow-dolly they needed replaced, so I went ahead and got both of those replaced.  That took a little over two hours.

We finally made it to our dear long-time friends.  I got the RV down the very tight driveway.

We all went and we treated them to dinner at Black Bear Dinner.

Amanda and Mom M and two of the kids (adults.....) went to go see a movie.

2018/06/27 - Wednesday - Vacation - Day 06 - Education, HOT & Muggy

Regarding last night.  Power was finally restored about an hour later.

Today we got started on the road about 8:26

First stop was for gas.

The next stop was at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.  We spent about 1 1/2 and Amanda got her 78th Jr Ranger badge. After returning to the RV we had lunch.

Next stop is our stop for the next 4 nights so we can participate at the National Square Dance Convention.  Things are very hot and muggy currently.

We did got out and get some things (shopping - Costco and Walmart), returned to the RV and put those items away.

Out we go again for some dinner.

Back at the RV we relaxed.

2018/06/25 - Monday - Vacation - Day 04 - Graffiti (Petroglyph) and Lonely Road

We left at 8:39.

Our first stop was at Flying J's for necessary gas.

Next stop was at the visitor center at Petroglyps National Monument.  Amanda got her 76th Junior Ranger Badge.  We went to Boca Negra Canyon and did part of the hiking trail to look at the petroglphs.

Back on the road, we stopped for lunch at one of the rest area (without services) along I-25.

Stopped for gas just before crossing into Colorado.  I was not expecting that much of climb between NM and CO on I-25.  I liked all the trees and the views.

When we turned off of I-25 and start heading more easterly, the US-350 is a very lonely road.

We stopped for the night at a KOA about 5:20.  Once we setup camp, I unloaded the van and headed out for dinner and a little shopping.

Once we got back to the RV we put things away and found out one item we got will not work, so Mom M and I walked back to Wal-Mart to return the item, but I had the wrong receipt so I walked back to the RV (Mom M stayed) and then back so we could do the return.

2018/06/24 - Sunday - Vacation - Day 03 - Going high

I must have dismissed my alarm instead of snoozing it.  So I got up late...  I checked the radiator bottle and added about 18 ounces (making sure it was at the cold line).  We finally left at 8:50.

The drive had a lot of hills and I went ahead and turn the AC off, (we turned on the generator and use the RV AC instead of the AC off the engine). 

We got above the 7,000 feet level and it was much cooler then down in Phoenix.

We stopped for lunch and gas.  All that hill climbing do not do well on the gas mileage.

We stopped for a quick break at the state line of AZ and NM.

Part of the drive I had a good tail wind.

Next stop was for the night at Route 66 Casino RV Park outside of Albuquerque at 5:28 PM (local time).

We went into the the casino to the steak place for dinner being a Sunday they were not busy.

Back at the RV, Amanda is doing school work and we are just relaxing.

2017/07/05 - Wednesday - Vacation - Day 21 - Yellowstone

We left camp about 9:45. 

On the way to Mammoth Hot Springs area the transmission got really hot.  The climb from Gardiner and the entrance of Yellowstone Park to Mammoth Hot Springs (MHS) is very steep.  The transmission almost hit 210.

We finally found a place to park in MHS (had to turn around once.)  We did some walking around. We got our parks passports stamped and we found a place to have lunch.  We picked the hotel restaurant - way to slow.

One section between MHS and Norris Canyon Rd had major road construction!

We finally pulled into West Yellowstone and went searching for the campground we used several years ago.

We pulled into Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park Resort at almost 3:00.  They only had one spot available for one night and it was a premium spot, so we took it.

Unloaded the van and headed back into the park.  Stopped at several places along the way.  We finally stopped for dinner at the cafeteria at Old Faithful, by the time we finished dinner Amanda wanted to watch Old Faithful.  Once it blew, we finally made it back to the RV about 11.

I received phone calls while we were out but could not listen to them until back at camp.  It was work, so I logged on and checked a few things.  All is ok. 

2017/07/03 - Monday - Vacation - Day 19 - National Park - Two

We got up early so we can get to the ranger led program for Amanda's Jr Ranger book.

We were about 5 minutes late, but no issue of us joining and listening to the talk.

We went back to the visitor center and Amanda completed her book so another JR Ranger book done.

We ate lunch along the way to our next location.  Getting close one of the roads was under major construction and it was basically a gravel road.

To get to "Fort Union Trading Post", the drive was is in Montana, but the fort is in North Dakota.  Amanda got another JR Ranger book completed.

We stopped at the "Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Unit" but the visitor office was closed, but we did drive to the overlook. 

We came back to the RV so Turquoise could get some outside time.

We left again and stopped at two different locations and we got some wood to do a shelf in the RV for the computer above the desk, so I can stop worrying about the cats stepping on the computer while I am transferring photos.

We stopped for dinner and then went to Walmart to do some more shopping.

Back at the RV we got a few things ready for tomorrow drive.

2017/06/29- Thursday - Vacation - Day 15 - Duluth

After moving and finally put the van onto the tow-dolly (slippery when wet) we got moving about 9:20.

Before leaving town we got the necessary juices for the RV.  The pump had the instructions for Credit and Debit reversed.  When I hit credit it wanted the debit pin (and the only other option was to cancel), but finally I hit debit and it worked as expected (processed as credit).

Next stop was at "Apostle Islands National Lakeshore" - "Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center".  Amanda worked on the JR Ranger program and got another one completed.  We also ate lunch in the parking lot afterwards.

Looking at the distances and time, we stopped at the KOA west of Duluth.  After setup we headed back into town and went to the "Lake Superior Maritime Center" and we also watch the Aerial Lift Bridge raise so some sail boats could pass.

Well, we are in Duluth so we had to find and do some shopping at the Duluth Trading Company.

We found a place for dinner and then we drove some more to a yogurt place for their dessert.

Back at camp I loaded the van back on the tow-dolly.  Cheryl and I walked around the campground twice and we relaxed.