What a whirlwind week!

We've been here in Atlanta for just a week and we leave tomorrow morning to head to north Georgia and it feels like we just got here.  We have been to the dentist, had lunch with our son, seen good friends, are looking forward to getting together this evening with some other good friends, managed to get a lot of errands done, got the dinghy in the water, and even have had to deal with a little problem.

We wanted to take the opportunity to get the dinghy in the water since our campground here is right on Lake Allatoona.  So we drove down the hill right to the shore of the lake and went to work.  We were very curious how long it would take to set the boat and motor up as well as get it torn back down and stored away in the truck.  We were very pleased, and we realize we still have some modifications to make so we can make it even more efficient.  Nonetheless, out of the truck, inflate, mount the motor, load up the boat and off we go-----30 minutes!

Almost there

Ready to roll with our cool wheels

Just need to roll it in!

It worked very well and the motor started on the first pull, as it should, and we spent a very pleasant 1 1/2 hours tooling around the lake on a beautiful day.

A happy camper!

We brought it back and found out we had it broken down and packed away in 15 minutes. This is huge, we wanted this combo to be easy enough and quick enough to warrant the expense, so far we are very pleased.

We have a little problem that popped up.  We have air leveling on our coach, which means it uses the air suspension to level after we pull into a campsite.  It is totally automatic so we just push a button and hiss, hiss, hiss, and we are level.  Also the system comes back awake from time to time to recheck level, and if needed it readjusts.  Now since we aren't making more air, it adjusts by lowering the coach's high side.  Every coach has a certain amount of leakage, it is normal.  So after the coach reaches bottom on a corner, a small electric air compressor comes on automatically to restore the air.  Everything was working perfectly, the readjustments and the compressor running now and then, but we noticed at about the 4 day point we hadn't heard the compressor lately and  we were slightly tipping, made worse by the fact the site we are in is way out of level.  I checked the fuse first, good, then went to bypass the on/off pressure switch to force the compressor to run thinking it was just a bad switch......and nothing.  Hmmm.  Out comes the meter, recheck power is on both sides of the fuse, on the wire from the panel, and then to the compressor, and nothing?  Must be the ground, check it, all good.  Well, how the heck could this happen when we haven't even moved, so the diesel mechanic, Jan if you didn't know, crawls under with the meter, and checks for power and connection where the wires are up between the rear drive wheels.  Good ground, good connections, no power!  So we are kind of in a mystery as to how this happened just sitting here, but we are just going to run a new wire to the compressor from the panel, should be an easy job, famous last words, and we'll be good to go.  We'll do it later as we have a lot more fun stuff to do before we leave tomorrow.  We are also fortunate we have hydraulic leveling jacks as well so we are nice and level.  More to follow on this.

On our way!

After a couple more last minute goodbyes, we snuck out (Ha, with a loud rumbling diesel) at the stroke of 9am.  We had determined we wanted to go a different way to our first required stop in Atlanta, so up US 19 we went into GA, and stayed at the Albany RV Resort.  An overnight stop, not much of a resort, but we got a big pull through and took a walk around the park noticing how it was almost entirely permanent people, and surprisingly the bugs were so bad we almost ran back to get inside.

The next morning we continued north to Guntersville, AL, actually Langston, up the lake from there.  Now one thing we all experience after washing our rig is how long can we actually stay out of the rain.  Even if you have been experiencing a drought where you are, if you wash, then move, it will usually bring in the monsoon rains.  We were watching the weather closely as we approached the lake, pretty sure we were going to get soaked, there was a very nasty line of severe thunderstorms just to our west as we made our way to Windemere Cove RV Resort, this time an actual resort.  As Jan was checking us in I was watching this very black, swirling cloud getting closer and closer.  She came back out, we got parked, and as we shut off the coach, the rain, the thunder and lightning hit, we even left the slides in until the worst was over.  We won this rain battle this time:-)  Finally an hour or so later, after rocking and rolling, the worst passed and we were able to get completely set up.  This place sells lots, and is pretty empty right now, nicely manicured grounds, a clubhouse, a pool, walking trail, we are parked right on the lake on a nice concrete pad, and although the rain continued until the next morning, it cleared up and although very windy, it is a very pleasant place kind of in the middle of nowhere.  It is 20 miles from Guntersville.

The view pulling in with the darkening skies

In our site with the rain coming down

The next morning, the view from our site

Looking back up the hill

Sitting near the lake after my walk

We are also going to spend tonight here and see if we can find a good place for lunch in town, then tomorrow head over to our old digs at Allatoona Landing outside of Atlanta for our visits, doctors, and to see our son.  Yes, it's nice to be moving again!