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!
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.
I made the call to a mobile repair guy for the busted stud.
I took the trailer tire over an America’s Tire and got a that replace. They had that done under 30 minutes!
Back at the RV, while waiting for the repair guy, we did laundry.
The RV repair guy (Mobile RV Specialists) arrived and repair the trailer, he is also going to repack all the bearings. I feel you can’t just repack one, might as well repack all and the last time they were done was in 2007. He did have to leave to get a new stud and lug nuts.
Total time to complete the repair and maintenance was about 3 hours.
We made a decision about staying here another day. Also the weather was not looking good – the monsoons was kicking up and it looked dark in the direction we needed to go.
We went to Walmart to get a few things that we have run out of. We did stop at In-N-Out to get some drinks and the kids got some animal fries.
Mom made dinner and we are enjoying a relaxing afternoon and evening.
Our first stop was just down the road from camp – gas.
Our next destination was a major climb from the Phoenix area. Along the drive I kept a keen eye on the transmission temperature, I also watch the tire temperature. The rear passenger trailer tire was getting hotter then it has every gotten – 161 degrees.
As we were getting closer Prescott, I noticed that the trailer tire (that was having the heat problem) was causing a pulsating feeling in the RV. I was going to pull into a America’s Tire, then I remember that they are closed on Sundays.
We pulled into the RV park we had chosen, but they did not have anything that I could fit in. I had to back out into traffic to get out of the park. I did get directions to another park that should be able to accommodate me.
Once, at the next RV park, they had room for me for the next two nights.
We got the RV setup and unload the van. We then started to get the bad trailer tire – the tire had started to bubble and delaminate. Eric and I started to get all the lug nuts off, but I broke one of the lugs off – !#$%^&* – great.
I have made several phone calls and hopefully I will get somebody to come and fix the lug (with a new lug nut).
We then drove into Prescott and we stumbled upon a western street demonstration / fair. We watched that for about an hour.
We did head on out to go see Tuzigoot National Monument. Amanda did get her Junior Ranger booklet with covers Tuzigoot as well as Montezuma Castle and Well. We did walk the ruins and enjoyed the view (and the flying ants)
We returned back to Prescott and had dinner at the Palace Restaurant & Saloon.
This morning we got up early so we could be at Discount Tires at opening time 8:00, and we managed to do that!
It only took an hour to get the tire changed (they had to go get the tire from another store), so we where on the road at 9:00
We had lunch at the Largest McDonalds (which sets over the freeway)
All day, I have been watching the Smart Tire System (especially the temps) but all have been looking ok. All of a sudden we hear this loud POP, I looked out both of my mirrors and can see tire shrapnel on the driver side, but I could not feel any problems – then I notice that it is a semi trailer tire that had exploded (the semi was passing me at the time).
The good news is we were all good on our tires!!! hurray!!!
We stopped for the night at KOA in Illinois, but we thought we had enough time to go see the arch. So we unload the van and headed on down. We got there and found out it was all sold out. Amanda was able to do her Junior Ranger program.
Finding a place to eat was interesting, we drove around and finally found a Burger King to eat a late dinner.
Once back at the RV, I loaded the van, but I will secure it in the morning.
Next stop Louisville.
Well I finished the last item to get ready for the RV. I put the necessary connection for a set of tail lights that I put onto the van when it is on the trailer. I also checked all the tires on the trailer and the RV.
The RV is mostly loaded and is ready. Its getting late, and we still have to go to work in the morning…
We slowly got things ready to go around the RV. I help a friend trying to get his satellite TV working.
We said our goodbyes and heading down the road.
First stop was at Kramer Junction to fill up the RV with some go go juice. Everybody else got lunch and I ate a lunch-able that we already had in the the fridge. I also noticed the the Jeep was dripping radiator fluid – it doesn’t like being bounced around so the whole must be getting bigger.
I stopped at a new RV dump location, but they wanted $10 , so I left and stopped at the other place that is only $7.
I took a little different route today to getting home, I decided I didn’t want to take the 210 because of the winds – I was getting pushed around good, so I dropped down to the 60.
On the way down to the 60, Cheryl called and said that they heard a pop, but all my tires were good. About 10 minutes later, I get a warning from the SmarTire system about the front driver side trailer tire low on pressure. I finished transferring onto the 60 and exited the first exit, so I could double check the tire. By the time we stopped the pressure on the tire had dropped another 8 pounds.
Eric and CJ helped in changing the tire. Once the tire was off the trailer, we could see that a big chunk of the tire is missing on the inside, but the tire was still holding pressure (I will take a picture of it on Monday).
We made it home and got everything put away. The Jeep has dipped a lot of radiator fluids out, so no driving it until I get it fixed.
Well this morning the RV was getting warm, when I looked at the time, it was 9:30 – hmmm lat for us – o-well we slept in.
We finally left to head into the park – Yosemite. It took us about 1 hour to get into the park. I made the turn to head up to go to the tunnel view and drove the tunnel (both directions) and then stopped to take the necessary photos of the valley.
House Keeping store was our next stop – Mom M got her pennies pressed.
Our next stop was at the parking spot for the visitor center. Now it was lunch time. We found both penny press and eat lunch at the Grill (Burgers and Dogs).
Back to the van – we got ready for our hike . We did the lower Yosemite Falls. Eric, Amanda, and I also scrambled up to the base of the falls. Amanda wanted to cross the water, so we started to cross, Eric made the last leap across, then I made it over, but Amanda slipped and fell into the water. She also hit her knee and stomach, but she was ok. We climbed up to near the base, but the spray was a lot more on this side (west side.)
Our next stop was the visitor center. Amanda had completed her junior ranger paper, so she was sworn in as a junior ranger.
We then stopped at the Samuel Adams gallery and Amanda got a few items.
The drive out was a little hectic, but we got back to the RV in reasonable amount of time. We went out to eat at one of the local dinners.
Back to the RV to load the van on the trailer, relax, and I through the ball for the dogs a few time.
Tomorrow is the drive home.
Well, time to get going took LONGER then normal (see yesterday.) Got the RV read, then get the trailer re-attached, and then finally get the van loaded and secured.
We headed on into Creator Lake National Park. Near the lip of the creator, it was sure slow going trying to climb the road. When we finally see the water, we had to stop for some road construction.
We stopped at several location along the west ridge. At the main ridge lodge/ranger station, Amanda got and started her junior ranger program. But the requirements to fulfill is to much – we would have to do two ranger programs and one of them being at 5:30 at the campground – so that means she will not get this one. She did do all but one sheet. We also stopped on our way out of the park heading to Klamath Falls.
Amanda suggested that we stay at Klamath Falls because between there and our next destination, it seems to be no RV campgrounds.
So we are camped at the Klamath Falls KOA.
We did unload the van and we went for a drive. Amanda had already found a restaurant, so we stopped at it for dinner.
Once back at camp, I loaded the van back on the trailer. I also went ahead and checked and topped off all the tires (RV and trailer).
Now it was time to relax.
We left Grants Pass at 9:00. I drove for about an hour before finally getting gas. I always forget that only the gas attendant can pump the gas and almost got in trouble.
Next stop was at Bob Dickman Tire Center to get the driver side rear out side tire sensor replaced and get the trailer tire replaced. That took about 2 hours, but all is good now.
We got to our final stop around 3:30. We got the RV parked and started enjoying talking with Mom M and Luke and Grace. Unfortunately, L & G had to return home.
We went to dinner at TGIF and then stopped at Safeway for some goods.
Once back at the RV, I set up the Satellite. But I found out that my local channel will not display, because we are outside of the spot beam for Dish for local channel – bummers.
We left camp a little later then I wanted to – 9:30.
Our first stop was at Flying J’s for gas and breakfast.
About 12:15 the tire sensor went off for the front driver side trailer tire. The pressure was going down fast and I was about a mile away from an exit! I started to slow down and finally got off the freeway, once I stopped, the pressure for the tire was zero.
Eric helped with changing the tire. Once the tire was off, we noticed that a bubble had developed on the inside and had finally pop, which resulted in the flat tire. I got the spare tire added to the sensor monitor and we were back on the road in a very quick fashion.
We stopped at another Flying J’s for lunch and fuel. I pulled over in the parking lot and ate my lunch (salad) before hitting the road.
We were about to stop for the night, we heard a big thud and I thought I blew a tire, but the sensor never squawked, all my gauges are fine and I can not see anything wrong out my mirrors, so we keep on going.
We are now at Grants Pass for the night. We went next door for dinner and got a 10% discount by showing that we are camped next door.
I check all over, under, and top to see what the noise was. I think I found the noise – it seems to be a flashlight had fell out of it holding place and thumped on the floor in the doorway – so I think all is well for tomorrow.
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