Florida

We got our repairs done at Alliance Coach in Wildwood, FL.  It was quick and efficient.  In addition to our seam coming apart above the rear of the bedroom slide on the passenger side, they also found a place above the front passenger slide.  They were refastened and recaulked.  Our air problem was discovered to be a defective pressure switch that was leaking so that was fixed also.  That was theirs, and on our side we had noticed a bit of a leak on the Aquahot (our furnace and hot water heater) where the line from the reservoir joined the top of the Aquahot just under the cap, enough so it had leaked about a gallon or so before we noticed any moisture under the coach.  We fixed that and while we were at it did the annual maintenance as well.  New fuel filter, new nozzle, and cleaned the combustion chamber.  Another chore out of the way.  Now we are at Royal Coachman, an Encore park in Nokomis and will see my mom later this morning.  It's nice here at this time of year, as it is almost deserted. We are sitting on a great site, shady, big, and the satellite works great!  Thanks, Harvey and Jean, it's your normal site.
Did some more research on adding more solar to our coach.  I was hoping we could just piggyback some more panels to our existing system, but on further study and talking to several RV solar companies we are in agreement that we need a new system that is set up much more efficiently than Monaco did when they built the coach.  Monaco put the existing controller way in the front of the motorhome about 30 some feet from the batteries instead of right beside them and undersized the wiring.  We would have to start over with new collectors, new controller as our's is too small, and rewire everything to include a new hole in the roof.  Expensive proposition even with a 30% solar tax credit.  We really want to boondocks a lot more after I retire, so we are contemplating whether to do it or not, or to just use the generator more?

Florida bound

Finished up a meeting at work today.  We plan to leave tomorrow morning for Florida at 5am, specifically Alliance coach where we have an appointment to repair a spot where the roof meets the side.  The seam is pulling apart and needs to be refastened.  This will be the third area on the motorhome that this has happened.  I guess Monaco, the manufacturer is a bit challenged with their method of fastening this seam!  Also while we are there we are having them run a new air line between a small air compressor and an air tank that is used for our leveling system.  The leveling system in our coach checks level automatically numerous times during the day and relevels if necessary.  The air compressor replenishes air to the system if it needs it.  We have a small leak in that line that causes the compressor to come on about 5 times a day for about ten seconds.  No big deal, just aggravating.
We can't say enough good about Alliance.  It is the only service center we trust, and is probably the foremost authority on any coach built by Monaco.  Caroline Champion and Brett Howard run a top notch facility that we recommend for quality work for any coach, and particularly a Monaco product.
After the repair we will head on down to Venice, FL to visit my mom, our son, Jason, and our very good friends, Ray and April.
We are hoping to kayak, bike ride, and of course drink a little wine while we're there.

Curve Balls

We received very sad news today, my beloved step brother Garry passed away yesterday.  A very young 56 with a loving family.  He will be missed.

No Germany

As most of you have probably figured out, Jan did not go to Germany.  The planes were full.  Not complaining, because when you go standby, that's just one of the hurdles.  She's going to try later, perhaps in Oct.  I have to fly tomorrow, back to Las Vegas and Denver, then a meeting on Monday, and off early, early on Tuesday to Florida to get a repair done on the motorhome and on down to see my mom and our son, Jason.  We've booked two weeks with me having to commute back for one trip, and I'm hoping to extend that by a little bit.  We're anxious to see Joyce, and our friends, Ray and April also.  We were supposed to have seen Ray and April on their return trip home from Vermont, but they were some of the folks who got seriously flooded out, and their plans changed drastically.
Joyce has had a lot going on in her life and we want to catch up with her.
We think we are going to leave the kayaks in Florida, we don't use them here on Lake Allatoona any more.  It's such a big lake and busy with power boats that it's really not too comfortable.
I am going to try to rent a recumbent bike while we are in Florida this time.  I am very intrigued by them and want to give it a go.  Are any of you familiar with them?

Dropped it!

After a wonderful visit to the dentist office, we decided to take the bike out for a ride.  The weather was nice, not too hot so we headed for Dahlonaga in north Georgia for lunch.  After finding the majority of the restaurants closed on Monday we each had Suicide dogs at a little cafe on the square.  We won't get awards for healthy eating, but man, they were good!  Chili, cheese, kraut, and cole slaw makes one hell of a good combo.
After getting back on the bike we headed out of town through a small parking area.  I had to make a real tight u-turn, and halfway through at about 1/2 mph, the bike tipped and I couldn't stop it and over we went.  Really pissed me off!  Neither of us got hurt, and the only damage to the bike was on one luggage carrier.  So now I can't say I never dropped the bike.  We stopped at the body shop on the way back, and they are going to repair and repaint the carrier.  Oh well, sometimes you're the windshield, but this time I was the bug.

Atlanta bound

Leaving Las Vegas in about an hour or so bound for Atlanta.  An uneventful layover in Lost Wages, didn't even gamble.  Had a good walk and a good dinner, the weather was beautiful, high 80's, no humidity, and clear blue sky.  Boy, it's hard not to like the west.  It's not looking good for Jan to go to Germany, funny amidst this horrible recession, the planes have never been fuller.  Every leg I flew on this trip and the last trip were full!  Airports are full, restaurants are full, hotels are full, I really don't understand it.  I know people are hurting but it sure is hard to see it from this perspective.

Back at work

Back at work, sitting in a hotel in Denver.  There is a lot of turmoil at work right now with all the merger rumors circulating.  Lots of people are quite upset.  I guess it's human nature to think the worst.  We are supposed to hear something more definitive early next week.  Keep fingers crossed til then.
Had two quick days off, doctor's appointment and Fantastic Fan repair.  It's not often you can give kudos to a company for their customer service.  We had one of our fans stop working, the lid would not raise.  I poked around and saw the worm gear that the motor turns to raise and lower the dome lid came apart and with the torque from the motor, the mounting flange for the motor broke off.  Called Fantastic Fan's customer service and in 2 days I had the parts I needed, instructions for replacement, and best of all FREE!  This company is truly Fantastic, over the many years we've had motorhomes, Fantastic Fan has always been there with free parts and great advice and help, no matter the age of the fan.  The other vendors should take notice.

Back again

Finished my trip yesterday with no problems.  I am very thankful we had no incidents in the US over the 9/11 weekend.  Weather is hot once again here in Atlanta but it's supposed to cool off tomorrow.  I flew into Houston yesterday and could see first hand the extraordinary drought they are experiencing.  Everything is brown, even more than normal, and the lakes and rivers are way down.  I know Kelly and Todd in Longview are very dry as well.  Hope fall brings some rain to them.
Jan and I got our flu shots today and were told we should get vaccinated for shingles as well.  Having seen my mom and father-in-law get shingles and see how uncomfortable and in pain they were, we're going to do it.  Now we just have to find a place to get them.  Jan's been checking flights for her upcoming trip to Germany and has her fingers crossed she's going to make it.

Sept 11th

I'm out flying on this infamous day.  Left Orlando this morning to fly to San Juan and now back to Tampa.  I'm glad to see people flying and the airports busy, and not deserted in fear of another attack.  I think the best thing we can all do on this day is remember and continue to live our lives in the face of these terrorists.  I was thinking about where we were 10 years ago.  We were on a motorhome trip with our friends Ray and April and my in-laws Vern and Viv, three couples each in our own motorhomes.  We had visited Glacier National Park for several days and were getting ready to leave to drive over to Coeur d'Alene.  It was about 6:30 am local time and we were each getting ready to go.  I had already taken down our satellite dish, but Ray still had the news on while they were eating breakfast. When he came over and told me a plane had hit the World Trade Center, I poopooed him and told him it was probably just a little plane going near them and he said no, I think it's an airliner.  I got the dish back up then and we all gathered to watch the second jet hit the second tower, and the rest is history.  I hope none of us will forget the astonishment, pain, and anger we ALL experienced that day.  I know that 10 years later a lot of people think this will never happen again and have dropped their guard, and also their allegiance to our country and their patriotism that we all shared after the attack.  I truly hope we can bring it back and be proud to be Americans, and realize there are still many, many people in this world who want to do us harm.

Pat Conroy

This is kind of off topic of my blog so to speak, but it really is about us as well as RVing and traveling.  I am a big fan of Pat Conroy's work.  The Great Santini, South of Broad, Prince of Tides, Lords of Discipline, etc are in my opinion, incredible books, engaging, interesting, and able to draw you in with his descriptions and ability to tell a story.  I am only 20% of the way into My Losing Season, and I am blown away.  This book is a story about Pat Conroy himself.  I think those of us who read him understand his own life experiences are his palette as he writes his books, but to hear a description of his life in the starkest true terms in this book make you want to cry out.  It is no wonder he can write with such emotion you can actually feel, as you read what he has experienced in his life.  I think he truly has a gift to be able to put into words the turmoil, rage, humiliation he experienced and still be able to find goodness and honor, and unbelievably humor.
Well enough of the book report.  Tell me what you think.

Success!

I had a moment yesterday after letting the charging system reset itself, to check the voltages and it is working like a champ.  For the first time, I think, I am reading a full charge on BOTH the house and chassis batteries.  It's nice when a repair, replacing the Big Boy, works so well.
We made some progress yesterday on the storage unit, took about 6-7 more boxes of books out to go to the library.  We have more and more room in there.  Just need it to be empty!
Thought the debate last night was interesting, and revealed a bit more about the candidates, maybe even changed my mind about a couple.
Oh well, off to get my eyes checked today, and probably new glasses, it's a bitch getting old :)

Quite a weekend

 It was a great weekend.  Our son, Jason came in Friday evening, three hours earlier than planned which was super.  We were able to have dinner together and visit a bit.  Then on Saturday, after a sensational lunch at a Japanese buffet we love, all fresh sushi, salads, hot items, and more, I received the new Big Boy solenoid to replace my defective one to hopefully rectify my charging issue.  My chassis batteries are not charging properly while I am plugged into shore power, and with quite a bit of analysis and input from other people that have had similar problems, and even a RV electrician, everyone believes the Big Boy is my problem.  The Big Boy looks like this.


This solenoid lives in my rear run box, an electrical box at the rear of the coach inside and to the right side of my engine compartment.  Not bad access for this replacement, wish they all had this much room.  Jason and I got it replaced and tore apart the old one, confirmed that corrosion on the contacts which was what we all anticipated.  The contacts should be bright copper, but this is what they looked like.

We got it all hooked up and I fiddled with the charging profile on the investor and am now waiting to see how it works out over the next few days.

We then went to good friends of ours, John and Dianne's for a fabulous dinner and lively evening of good wine, good food, good cigars, and very good conversation!  We got to see all the progress they have made on their beautiful house John is building singlehandedly.  It sure looks superb, John!

The next day in anticipation of tropical storm Lee approaching we got a few other little items taken care of, including dismantling the blower motor in the Jeep that had a pine needle caught in it just driving me nuts with the tick,tick,tick.......  Thank you, Jason.

We got Jason off early Monday morning in the rain, came back and worked in our storage unit for awhile.  We are determined to get rid of it one way or the other.  Then the real rains came.  Thunderstorms and tornado warnings!  We were lucky again, they all went around us, although there was a significant amount of damage not too far to the northeast of us.

So now back to normal, I even have to go fly today, I'm glad the weather has moved away.

Positive thinking

Worked out well.  The Jeep is back and looking very good from the body shop.  We got the two chairs back from the upholstery shop.  They look and feel good, and half the quoted price!  Alliance confirmed our appointment in Florida for the coach.  Received my new Big Boy solenoid for the motorhome before the holiday weekend, and Jason got on an earlier flight and will be in 3 hours sooner!  Living right I guess:)  Except for the stock market :(

Waiting

Today we are, well, waiting.  Waiting to hear when the Jeep will be done at the body shop where it is being repaired from being sideswiped in Durango, waiting to find out if the upholstery shop where our dining chairs are being redone has finished, waiting to hear if Alliance Coach can do the repairs on the motorhome when we want, waiting to see if any flying is going to come up over the holiday weekend, waiting to see if our son, Jason will get on a plane tonight to come visit.  We are confident all this will come together.
On another note, Jan had an appointment with her orthopedic doctor this morning, the same one who redid her left thumb joint to alleviate the ravages of arthritis, seems she will probably have to have her right thumb done as well, but not real soon thankfully.  With my upcoming retirement, we are doing a lot of thinking about doctors, who and where, any upcoming tests or procedures, glasses, etc.  We each have docs here in Atlanta right now, but neither of us is overly attached to them, so we're giving a lot of thought to switching our doctoring to Florida.  And, of course, what kind of insurance to buy, since I lost that promise as well when I retired earlier.  Lots of choices anyway.