Cancelling Mesa Service, Setting Up, Little Surprise and Recovery Day.

Our Location today is Dome Rock BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona, U.S.A. 

After criss-crossing part of the state of Arizona yesterday we were more then happy when our 231-mile trip came to an end especially when the last hundred miles were driven in the rain. We were lucky to have become familiar with the West Dome Rock Road enough that we were able to park not too far from our last site here. Using a flashlight out the window when Kathy spotted a Campfire Pit through the rain she knew that would make a good place for us to park. We only leveled the trailer side to side and managed to get it perfect on the first shot. By the time we got the inside ready for the night and spent a short time on our Computers we were exhausted enough that when we went to bed we fell asleep almost instantly. 

I woke at 6:00 MST but not having anything pressing turned over and fell back to sleep for another hour. I had everything ready for breakfast and had managed to see the cloud covered sky slowly transition to partly sunny enjoying the warmth on the windows. With the Ninety-Seven Percent Humidity, the 43 F (6 C) was feeling much cooler. 

Once we had finished breakfast we needed to make a number of phone calls with the first being to Leisure Trailer Sales back in Lakeshore, Ontario. Since it was Stephanie that had found the Authorized Jayco Dealer in Mesa that we went to yesterday I gave her the rundown. She apologized that they hadn’t fixed our problem. We are now scheduled to stop in at Leisure Trailer Sales when we get back to Ontario so they can try to fix our problem without putting us out of our Home for too long. 

The next call was back to the Authorized Jayco Dealer in Mesa that we had gone to yesterday to inform them we’d be getting our trailer fixed back in Ontario. The thought of us being out of our Home in a strange area for up to a month was not too appealing to us.  

Even with the Solar Panels flat the Batteries were charging nicely.

Kathy had some things she wanted to rearrange in the closet so while she did that I went outside to unhook the truck from the trailer and to level it off. As I was about to put my rear levers down I spotted something under the trailer. Since it had been raining so hard when we pulled into the BLM last night I managed to drive over a Shrub without hitting it. We had better be gone from here soon or we’ll have it trying to grow through the floor. 

What's not to love seeing this out your front door.

The Fifteen to Twenty-Five MPH Wind had me feeling the cold even though by this time there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was going to climb on the roof to tilt the Solar Panels but when I saw the Sun was nearly overhead decided they were working just fine. 

After we made Pork Roast Vegetable Wraps for lunch Kathy suggested I set up our Computer Tables. Since our Remote Charge Monitor was indicating that the Batteries were fully charged I turned on the Main Inverter to charge all our Battery-Operated Electronics.  

When we have long travel days like yesterday it takes its toll on Kathy so she needed an afternoon Snap to recharge her battery. I got caught up on my Online reading before she got up to make Macaroni & Cheese for Supper.  

We have a few things we’ll try to get done tomorrow before we move again on Wednesday. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

Office Jokes, Quotes, and Anecdotes 

The cumulative time that office workers spent waiting for elevators in the last twelve months. 

Minneapolis/St. Paul…..3.1 years

Detroit…………………2.7 years

Denver………………...2.3 years

Tampa/St. Petersburg…1.6 years 

IBM Smarter Buildings Study, 2010

Long Day, More Work Than Expected and Back Where We’re Comfortable.

Our Location today is Dome Rock BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona, U.S.A. 

After getting up at 5:30 this morning to bring our trailer to an authorized Jayco Service Dealership we didn’t think we’d be where we are. We were on the road by 6:30 only to crawl through the Phoenix rush-hour traffic. When the GPS brought us to the address we had been given it turned out to be a out of business corner store. Going online Kathy quickly found another dealer with the same Phone Number we had been given. That thirty mile trip took three hours to finally reach our destination.  

We’ve been having issues with one of our slides and I thought that it could be as simple as the Controller. We spent most of the day in their lounge so their only technician that works on slides could look at it. It was disappointing to hear that the slide will have to be removed in order to fix it properly. The worst part is we’ll have to be out of our trailer for over a week. We have some thinking to do over that. 

We stopped at the Mesa Walmart to buy groceries we were running low on. After cashing out we stopped at Customer Service to see if we could spend the night. There response was we could but we shouldn’t be surprised if we got a parking ticket. Really! 

We felt crowded in the entire time we were in Mesa almost caged in. As soon as we’d put our groceries away we pointed the truck westbound and thought we’d spend the night in a Truck Stop but each one we checked out was filled to capacity. Trucks that weren’t pulling trailers were filling the RV parking areas. Apparently the big storm that was bringing heavy Snow to the Flagstaff area was also responsible for the heavy rain we were getting. That was what caused most just to pull off the road for the night. 

Since we couldn’t find any place to park we just headed to where we have gotten to feel Safe and Comfortable. This will give us a chance to figure out what we need to do with this slide issue. Late Night so we’ll see what happens tomorrow. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

Ask A Silly Question: 

If all the world is a stage,

where is the audience sitting?

Finding Lost And Found, One Last Look, Surprising Happy Hour.

Our Location today is Phoenix International Speedway, Avondale, Arizona, U.S.A. 

It was probably the Truck Stop sound of all the Generators that were running that had me up before 8:00 this morning. Since our arrival at the Rally with all the cold night time temperatures we really haven’t been in much of a hurry at getting up to have a chilly start to our day. This was different because it was the last day that there would be Trash Pick Up for this Rally. You read that correctly Trash Pick Up at a Rally. We have never experienced that before so unlike our neighbours who have taken advantage of this on a daily routine we waited until today. That meant putting on cold clothes before heading outside to place it ahead of our RV. 

As we enjoyed our breakfast we were watching a steady stream of RVs pulling out heading to places unknown. By the time we had finished our morning reading and chores there were large areas of the parking lot with no RVs left. 

The other night when we were leaving the concert by “The Swingtips” we had only walked a few feet when I realized the Lens Cap was missing off the camera. With Kathy watching our chairs I immediately returned with a flashlight to where we had been sitting to find Nothing. Yesterday had returned in the morning and found Nothing again. Later in the day I had inquired with Security if a Lens Cap had been recovered or turned in and the answer was No. Kathy wanted to do some rearranging in her pantry this morning so she suggested I give it one more try. 

Arriving at the Security Office they suggested trying the Good Sam Hospitality Tent which involved walking nearly to the far end of the Rally. When I inquired at the tent they suggested trying the Good Sam Rally Office in a trailer half way back to the gate. When I got to the trailer it was being closed down by Raceway Employees. When I mentioned I was looking for a lost article they directed me to the Rally Ticket Booth which was also doubling as Lost and Found just outside of the gate. Finally reaching the Rally Ticket Booth as soon as I mentioned I what I was looking for the clerk said he found it himself. That meant he had found it within seconds of us leaving the Concert and nobody else had stepped on it in the dark. 

Back Home Kathy was happy to hear the good news. Minutes later we worked together to make a Scrambled Egg Omelet with Maple Cure Sausage and Toast for lunch. Needless-to-say it was all delicious. 

As soon as we’d finished cleaning the dishes we decided to take one final walk around the RV Rally. We found a number of RVs marked as sold and locked but we actually saw one that was so popular it had the names of six couples that were ordering that particular model. There were a number of Vendors Trailers that were already gone. Inside the Vendors Tent there was still plenty of activity happening but you could see the tired look on most of the Vendor’s faces. 

When we walked by the Camping World tent Kathy was almost disappointed to see the one Camping Chair that she found really comfortable not being displayed. When she inquired the one salesperson looked and found one in the bottom of a box. There was no arm twisting involved, that chair just followed us Home where Kathy immediately tested it out. 

Kathy testing her new chair.

As we were sitting outside we watched in horror as a beautiful A Class motorhome was heading for the exit with his Batwing Antenna in the up position. Luckily enough people were waving it down that it stopped and lowered it before reaching the gate. 

We thought that we’d surprise Jan and Bill and show up for Happy Hour. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to find their neighbour Curtis sitting outside his own trailer saying they had already gone back to Casa Grande because Bill has not been feeling well. Instead of leaving we enjoyed talking with Curtis until we started getting some strong Wind Gusts. We’ll be attending the Escapade in Tucson so we’ll be seeing Jan, Bill, Curtis and the rest of the gang when we get there. 

Back at Home Kathy started getting things ready for supper while I prepped the truck for towing, loaded the Generator that we didn’t use and put away everything I could outside to make our early departure in the morning possible. 

Back inside the trailer after I washed up I helped prep the Brussels Sprouts for Kathy while she made the Spanish Rice and cooked the Breaded Pork Chops. 

This entire area was filled with RVs yesterday.

Looking outside it is easy to say that Sixty Percent of the RVs have already left the Rally. We have to be at a Jayco Authorized Dealer tomorrow morning when they open so we’ll be setting the Alarm tonight to get there on time. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

Words of Inspiration 

I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Still Learning, Tasty Competition, Great Show and Fireworks.

Our Location today is Phoenix International Speedway, Avondale, Arizona, U.S.A. 

With the temperature dropping down to 37 F (3 C) last night and the fact that we weren’t running any kind of heat, it didn’t take more than a few seconds without the blankets off before they we were pulling them back on. What did surprise me was that it took two extra strength Tylenol to help me close my eyes and my mind down so I would not think about any useless things. I even stayed in bed for a while after the Sun started peaking around the window shades this morning just to be certain I was well rested. With the 7:00 am to 11:00 pm Generator Run Time it still makes you feel like you are camped out at a Truck Stop which does infringe on your ability to rest and to sleep. 

As soon as Kathy was up I turned the one Inverter off and the other one on so that I could use our Big Buddy Catalytic Heater to warm up the inside of the trailer rather than using the inefficient furnace. By the time that we had finished our breakfast and done our morning chores I barely had any time before heading out the door. 

Good Sam joined the party.

It’s not the first time that I’ve attended Product Seminars on RV Disk Brake Conversions and since I’ve been working on Brakes and Old Cars since before I started grade school I was interested in this one. I know the advantages of Disc Brakes over Drum Brakes and on a trailer Electric Drums Brakes. The Stopping Distance that has been proven by testing done by the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) have proven it, which means there will be less wear and tear on the Tow-Vehicle’s Brakes. Time has really brought the pricing down on these kits and if you can do the work yourself that’s even better. We have all experienced someone cutting into our lanes as we are towing and then standing on the brakes without warning. Those are called White Knuckle Rides that you pray you will stop before you hit them. We could be shaking up our plans for next winter on what adjustments we make to our trailer. 

I got back Home just in time for Kathy and I to head out to the Barbecue Cook-Off over behind the Vendors Area. We thought that they only started at Noon but they actually started selling tickets for Samplers at 9:00 this morning. Kathy and I cheated and bought ten tickets but only used one ticket at each competitor and we shared the Sample. We definitely had our favourites picked out but by noon many competitors were starting to run out of their Samples. By the time we had finished those ten Samples there was no need for lunch other then a soda when we got back Home. 

When we got Home we once again needed open windows to cool the trailer down. It was only 63 F (17 C) outside but with no wind and bright Sunshine things were finally warming up. We spent time researching other products that had caught our eyes and we were surprised to see a few at a fraction of the cost by buying them Online. 

We were once again out the door by 5:30 this evening as we returned to the Entertainment Area but we made certain to dress for the cooler weather tonight. We however did really mess up tonight by not getting there sooner. We missed hearing the Winners of the Barbecue Competition and the place was packed with onlookers for that reason. It would have been nice to see if our choices were the same as the Judges but we missed out on something else in the process. We couldn’t put our chairs where we could get good pictures.  

Once all the Awards were given out, the Door Prizes pulled and a few more Announcements were made the stage was turned over to “The Real Tones”. This mixed band sang songs from the Fifties to the early Eighties. There was a larger area set up as a Dance Floor tonight but there were still people dancing all around because the Dance Floor was full. 

As much as everyone wanted an Encore the band just couldn’t do it because at exactly 7:30 there was a Fireworks Display that ran for about Fifteen Minutes. This is where we had better seats because everyone had to turn their chairs back towards the mountain putting us near the front of the crowd. 

Even though Kathy still found it chilly outside tonight there was no breeze and the temperature was still 61 F (16 C). Back Home tonight it still sounds like we are in a Truck Stop because everyone around us is running a Generator. Tomorrow is the last day of the Rally so we’ll see how things go from there. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

You Might Be a Redneck If 

Your bangs flap when you belch.

Temperatures Higher Back Home, Gathering Facts and Cold Watching Hot Entertainers.

Our Location today is Phoenix International Speedway, Avondale, Arizona, U.S.A. 

Don’t exactly know what happen but I spent most of the night staring at the ceiling. Kathy said she would only wake long enough to pull the covers over her head because she felt that cold. We didn’t hit the freezing mark but when I finally turned on the Computer this morning and saw the temperature was Twelve Degrees-Fahrenheit warmer back in McGregor I could only shake my head. 

I showed that to Kathy after she had already started bundling up before we had breakfast. She even had me turn on our Big Buddy heater to take the chill out of the air. We didn’t hesitate to spend extra time reading at the Computers and having a second cup of Coffee/Tea while we were there. We also managed to get a few inside chores completed before sitting down to have a Chicken Salad Wrap for our lunch. 

Determined not to spend the day inside we tried doing another sweep of the RV Show and actually found a couple of useful things that we gathered information on. They may be useful but we will wait to work them into our budget. Like we’ve mentioned before “We don’t want to break the Bank”.  

One of the real reasons for going back was scouting where the Night-Time Entertainment will be held. After asking numerous workers where it would be held someone finally pointed us in the right direction and the best part was we had to walk past it to get to our trailer. We had taken the same route Home yesterday but the stage had yet to be erected. Taking a different route into the RV Show this afternoon we weren’t even close to where it was. 

By the time that we got Home this afternoon we had to open the windows to let some of the 95 F (35 C) heat out. All that walking had worn Kathy out which meant she needed a Snap to recover. The Weather Network was showing our temperature to be at 61 F (16 C) but it was still Four Degrees-Fahrenheit warmer back in McGregor. Someone better stop playing with the outdoor Thermostat and give us back our warmer temperatures. 

Perogies and Ham Steak.

For supper this evening Kathy grilled a half a Ham Steak to go with the Perogies that she cooked up. She then cut the half into half giving each of us a quarter of that Ham Steak. Because she cooked it as a last-minute choice she didn’t get the chance to soak it in water first. Because large amounts of salt were used to cure the meat it was overly salty to the taste. Other then that it tasted great with Dijon Mustard on it. 

It started getting Cold out there.

By 5:30 we were out the door headed to the Entertainment Area just outside where the RV Show is taking place. We were surprised how large the crowd was by the time we got there so we didn’t sit too far back. Shortly before 6:00 the Chairman and President of Good Sam both came out and welcomed everyone and thanked all who had worked so hard to make this Rally a success. After a few more announcements concerning the rally they introduced the band The Swingtips. 

The Swingtips.

This band was formed as part of Disney Entertainment playing songs from the Twenties all the way to the Early Sixties. When it was time for them to leave Disney they remained as a group and started touring the U. S. entertaining crowds with this brand of music now for Twenty Years. They have also played the musical scores for a few recent movies that needed music of those Eras. They did a great job even getting a quite number of people up to dance to those Classics until 7:30 when they wrapped up for the night 

When Kathy and I left the trailer earlier we thought for certain people would think we were wimps for wearing Hoodies under our Jackets. When we got there, we saw we were underdressed compared to many. By the time we got Home we were chilled to the bone. This area only reached 61 F (16 C) today but what was making everyone feel so cold was the high Humidity and the light North Wind. 

There’s a lot more fun going on for the next couple of days so we’ll see what happens. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

The World's Great Proverbs 

One man's loss is another man's gain.

Too Many Blood Donors, Looking Around Tents And Trailers and Dropping In On Happy Hour To Meet Fellow Bloggers.

Our Location today is Phoenix International Speedway, Avondale, Arizona, U.S.A. 

With the typical “Generators must be off by 10:00 pm” rule we both managed to sleep like a couple of logs. Having gotten up early by the alarm yesterday morning might have also helped in our ability to sleep that soundly. We had gotten prepared for the worst and had also set up our Honda but thankfully didn’t have to turn it on. Because we both use CPAP Machines to sleep at night the first thing I did this morning was to check our Remote Battery Monitor. When I saw that we already had a reading of 12.7 Volts the next thing I did was to open the window shades to see the Sun was shining in all its splendor. 

After having our breakfast we didn’t waste too much time at getting out the door. Being a regular Blood Donor the last time I donated blood was while we were in Casa Grande in November where there was a clinic being held. While we were in Quartzsite the closest donor clinic was back here in the Phoenix area. 

Using our GPS to travel this maze of roads we were soon travelling the backroads and highways of Avondale. It took us thirty-five minutes after leaving the Speedway before we arrived. Kathy had planned on sitting in the truck reading while I went in to make my donation. Walking in the front door of the Southwest Blood Services building I was quite impressed at the large size of the clinic and how filled it was with donors. When the receptionist told me if I didn’t have an appointment they couldn’t take my blood today I was shocked. The best they could do was schedule me in for the middle of next week. Even though I did not make an appointment next winter I will be more mindful of doing so. I also encourage anyone wanting to Donate Blood to do so as it will help to save someone’s life. 

Heading back towards the Raceway we made brief stops at Walmart and Hobby Lobby for things needed by Kathy to complete a project. It was noon by that point and there was a Five Guys burger outlet across the parking lot so we walked over for lunch. It didn’t take long for Kathy to remember the Shelled Peanuts there for the customer’s consumption. She also remembered how I ordered my burger stacked with Jalapeno Peppers. 

Turning the GPS back on we were soon nearly back at the Speedway when I spotted the price of Diesel at $2.379 a gallon. That is the cheapest price we’ve seen in a long while and with our tank needing to be refilled the truck just seemed to park itself next to a pump. 

Today’s forecasted temperature in Phoenix was supposed to be 72 F (22 C) but we were getting strong winds out of the west. Arriving back Home it didn’t take long for us to change into warmer clothes so we could attend the RV Show. We looked around the Merchants Tents only picking up some supplies we were running low on at reasonable prices. We also looked around a number of RVs thinking about if we were no longer Fulltiming but we don’t see that happening for a long time. 

By the time that we walked back Home we were nearly froze. Turning on our computers for the first time today I wasn’t shocked to see the temperature was only 61 F (16 C) with winds gusting to 28 MPH. We were soon scrambling to close the windows that we had opened not too long before. 

Last night after posting our Blog it occurred to me that we didn’t give our site location other than the Phoenix International Speedway. When I sat down to get caught up on my Online reading it really hit home that I should have, especially when I opened Bill and Jan RVing in the USA and found out that they were also parked here at the Good Sam RV Rally. Jan however wasn’t as forgetful as we were and listed their site as L#58.  

While Kathy rested and warmed up I took a short walk to see if Bill and Jan might be home. Arriving at L#58 I stood by the road while there was a group enjoying Happy Hour. Jan saw me and waved me over and asked if they could help me. My response was “That since we follow one another’s blogs, It’s about time we meet.” There had been a number of things that had come up in recent months causing us not to meet before today. After brief introductions with everyone there I learned that there will soon be another Blogger in the group as they begin their travels to Alaska this coming year. We plan on meeting again when there is less wind or we’ll get together with them at the Escapade in Tucson. Would you believe I left home without the camera so I had to borrow this picture from Bill and Jan’s blog of Jan and I. Feel free to visit their blog to see how their day went through any of the Links.

Jan Mains and Myself.

Back Home Kathy was just waking from a Snap because of walking in the blowing wind really tired her out. We talked of my visit before, during and after supper and she is looking forward to meeting them as well. 

With cooler temperatures but less wind forecasted for tomorrow who knows what we’ll be up to. By the way we are parked at C#39. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

You Might Be a Redneck If

Any of your family traditions are felonies.

Leaving Quartzsite and Boondocking On An Asphalt Parking Lot.

Our Location today is Phoenix International Speedway, Avondale, Arizona, U.S.A. 

Lucky for us we both slept soundly last night because when the alarm went off at 7:00 MST this morning neither of us wanted to get up but knew that we had to. As mentioned last night we were moving to a new location and we had some chores that needed taking care of first. We had gotten quite a bit taken care of last night so this morning the most time was spent closing up inside.

Our Last Quartzsite Sunrise.

With breakfast completed Kathy finished closing up the kitchen while I did the bedroom and securing our CPAP Machines for travel. Outside we just had to lock into the pin and pull up the jacks and we were on our way by 8:20. 

Sun reflecting off Dome Rock Mountain Range.

Our first stop was at La Posa South LTVA to empty our Tanks and refill our Fresh Water. When we arrived there were two RVs and a pickup with a Blue Boy ahead of us. Would you believe both the RVs finished dumping in less time than that guy cleaning his Blue Boy. After Kathy guided me to my stop it took less time for me to Backflush our tanks then the twenty minutes he was there. 

Moving over to the Drinking Water area I had our water filters hooked up in minutes and while the tank was filling I walked over and disposed of our trash. A couple next to us were surprised to learn that we had such a small sized Fresh Water Tank for our trailer. (Another of my upcoming projects.)  

We were back on Highway 95 heading into Quartzsite by 9:32 MST. It was somewhat sad to be saying goodbye to the town we had called Home on and off for the last three months. By 10:00 we were rolling down the I-10 ramp east bound heading towards Phoenix. 

Just going at a comfortable speed and following the GPS we soon approached our turn off to Avondale. Having recently done a Map-Quest search on our destination I knew that it was located south of I-10 but as we took what appeared to be a fairly new overpass making us head north our GPS suddenly went quiet and the little vehicle on the screen started doing donuts. Not a good sign! Apparently that ramp didn’t exist the last time we updated this GPS. When it finally got a sense of where we were the GPS started getting us turned around. Exactly two and a half hours after we hit the road this morning we arrived at the Good Sam RV Rally at the Phoenix International Speedway. 

The sky starting to clear as we approach Phoenix.

Getting in line with all the other Early-Bird Arrivals we would soon learn that we were not the only ones that had not gotten our Parking Passes for this event. That entailed circling around to join many others going to the office with our receipts where they quickly printed our Parking Passes. 

Kathy by the sign. we are amazed at how big this place is.

With those in our possession we rejoined the line and were soon led away to our Asphalt Camp Ground. The one requirement of this rally is that you had to be Self Contained in other words Boondocking on Pavement. 

There's better view of Kathy.

After towing the trailer 151 miles today the first thing we did after getting leveled and unhooked was to have lunch. With more energy to burn we finished organizing the inside of the trailer before changing to cooler clothing. The temperature this afternoon reached 79 F (26 C) and was being reflected by the Asphalt. We walked to the Registration Booth where we got our Rally IDs. By the time that we got back to the trailer we needed to sit and cool down. 

We are parked out there facing the Mountains.

With all the RVs being Nosed-In pointing south the Solar Panels won’t be as efficient so we are hearing a lot of generators running. We might run ours if the Batteries get too low. As we sat having soup and toasted bagels for supper we were commenting that these might be our last Rallies that we’ll attend like this because we feel we are getting away from staying in RV Parks in the traditional sense. We are enjoying being “Off the Grid” in BLM or LTVA lands where we are not packed in like Sardines and listening to our neighbours talking inside their RVs. 

Soup and Toasted Bagels

We have plans for Non-Rally related activities while we are in the area but we plan on enjoying our time here as well. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

Words of Inspiration 

Love is a great beautifier.

Louisa May Alcott, American Writer