Just Resting and a timely repair

We did not do very much this week other than rest and read. 

During our first two weeks in San Diego we had a flurry of visits, appointments, grandson activities, and shopping. I felt a bit overwhelmed by all the traffic on the roads, and noise constantly assaulting us. I thought I didn't mind, saying the trade-off of being near family was well worth it, but once we were back in a quiet park setting I felt much better.

Typical of many parks, the Summit Campground in Sweet-water Regional Park is fairly empty during the week. It is too far from the San Diego attractions such as Sea World and the Zoo for out-of-town tourists, but fills up with more local weekend campers on Friday through Sunday. 

My ankle is healing nicely and I have been riding my bike for short times at least twice a day. I don't agree that you "never forget how to ride a bike". I have had to relearn how to get started, when to shift, and most importantly, how to stop. The last being something I was just out practicing this morning.  Since the park is fairly empty, and the roads are very smooth, this is the perfect place to refresh some of those long-forgotten skills. The grade of the road is also excellent for using the leg muscles that have grown weak over the years, with short easy ups and downs.

I have only fallen off once. I do have a helmet!

Some of the other bloggers have had unfortunate mechanical problems with their rigs or tow cars this spring.  Breakdowns are a fact of RV life, and sometimes they can be a major headache.

We were very lucky this week.

Picture from Web, our jack looks like this though.

One of the leveling jacks has been a bit "fussy" from time to time. We knew from a previous occasion when one of the other ones failed, the extended warranty we have would cover the replacement in part, but not until there was a complete failure.

How were we lucky? It failed to work when setting up at this park site. It was a Saturday afternoon, but because we had a two-week reservation we knew we had time to deal with it. Good thing we were not out boondocking with a weak or nonexistent phone signal.

On Monday after calls to our warranty company and to our roadside service provider, we were put in contact with a Mobile RV Repair company that is also an Atwood authorized dealer. They came out to look at the job on Tuesday, and returned  to install a new jack on Thursday.  Total bill was $1480, of which we had to pay $433. Nice! When we had one of the other jacks replaced last year we had to pay the full bill up front, and wait for several months for reimbursement from the insurance company because the repair place would not bill them. 

It is so nice when things go smoothly.

We are looking forward to another nice weekend with our daughter and the boys. I'm going over to her house this afternoon to do my wash and cook dinner. Nice to be able to give her a little after-work break while we are here.

U-Turn

Monday: another change in direction!

Last May we had an unfortunate connection with a neighbor's tree that resulted in a big dent in the top rear corner of the Alfa. We had it fixed at a well-rated shop in San Jose. At the time we felt that although it looked pretty good, the price they charged our insurance carrier was way high. We also had them fix a few other smaller things, and were not pleased with their prices.

The repair looked pretty good. From the back, the Alfa  looked like new.

It hardly ever rains in California between May and October. This year we didn't have a big rain storm until mid-November. At the time we really didn't go up and check for leaks. Perhaps we should have.

On about the third morning of this trip, as I was looking up at the ceiling from the bed, I noticed a rather large water stain in the corner.

Because of the way the shadows are cast, you can hardly see it when standing in the bedroom. And when the slide is in, it is covered completely.

When I first spotted it, we decided we would take it back to where we had it fixed, when we returned home. 

But this morning Craig suggested we head back south and take it to Alfateers in Fontana. We were about 150 miles away, but we knew we would be so much happier with their work than fighting with the other guys. Plus there are several other minor things that need attention, including an air whistle on the passenger side, some places that need re-caulking, and tank sensors that are not reading correctly.  

We called to see if they could take us, and headed on over. They can't do anything until tomorrow, but we are now safely parked and hooked up in the parking lot. 

I hear it's still pretty chilly on the beach :-)

All RV Needs, Medford OR

Although we don’t have a lot of RV experience, we understand that there will be breakdowns.  Parts will fail, and repairs must be dealt with. Having something break on the RV and having to go to a RV repair place is much like being injured or getting suddenly sick and needing to go to an ER or Urgent Care center.   Everyone feels better if they've had time to ask someone’s opinion. A recommendation is always comforting.  Given that the service center we went to because someone at the RV park suggested it is too busy, we feel better because they recommend another shop

It seems there are a dozen RV repair or sales facilities in Medford Oregon, big and small.  Tonight (Tuesday) we are plugged in, in the parking lot of “All RV Needs” service and sales. 

This is a new shop.  The owner worked at a dealership (Courtesy) in Klamath Falls.  He fit us in this morning because the service writer from Courtesy called him on our behalf last week.  As we sat around waiting for news on the part that we need, I overheard the service writer estimating and booking a steady flow of customers for work two weeks out.  Rigs only break down when they are in use. 

The small broken part in the slide was found quickly by the service tech.  But it took most of the day to figure out how to order a replacement.  The FAX machines at All RV Needs and Alfateers in Fontana, CA both work with other FAX machines, but absolutely refuse to talk to each other.  Finally, Craig had Alfateers scan the necessary drawing and email it to us.  He then identified and ordered the needed part.  We're having it sent overnight and it should be here for the fix in the morning.  We hope.  We also had a new water filter ordered and that too should be here tomorrow. We called all over Medford for the brand and model of filter we needed. None were available. 

We are parked in the last spot on the lot that has a power connection.  We did have to drive across town to get a 50 amp extension cord. The shop would have loaned us a 20 amp, but we have wanted to buy an extra heavy cord anyway.  Now we have one if and when we need it in the future.

Today was the first really hot weather we have run into. The air conditioners seem to be cooling the rig down nicely, and tonight we will probably watch a movie.  We are done with pre-planned agendas, for this trip, and are going to try  inventing our course on the fly...

Exhausting day!

Some days are longer than others!  Today was one of the more exhausting days that we've had for some time.


We started out early by driving the Accent and my van over to the RV repair place and picking up the Alfa.  We left the van there and drove the Alfa and the Accent across town to the hitch place and had them finish the Blue Ox installation.  They hooked up the Accent and we headed back to the RV repair place to drop it off again so they could install the Air Force One.  Craig says he could have installed both, but he wanted to have authorized installers so that we could feel good about the result.


On the way we stopped at a large parking lot and did a series of practice turns around some large plastic water bottles (our version of traffic cones).  We both drove and we each took a turn outside watching to see how the toad tracked behind the Alfa. It was fun. 


We then dropped the Alfa and Accent off and returned home in my van. We will be able to get the car back in a few days, but they are still waiting for our new back decal for the Alfa.  Might as well leave her there.


We have also asked them to do an air pressure test to see if they can find and fix two "whistle" noises in the front windshield.  They are quite annoying.


It was just past noon when we got back home, but neither of us felt like doing any work.  Craig has finally agreed to buying some safety equipment for the window painting project.  I don't know if it is because he is tired of me nagging, or because he has had a number of people tell him he should, as comments or in person, or if he has just gotten a bit scared when he was out on the ledge.  I don't care why.


We spent some time this afternoon looking at safety harnesses online, and then decided we should go and talk to someone at REI that might give us some advice about such things.


At the same time, Craig was reading the morning paper and mentioned he would like to see "Snow White and the Huntsman."  We don't go to movies very often, but since the movie theatre and REI are in the same shopping center, we decided to do both this afternoon.  


The movie was OK.  Not great, but OK.  We did get some information from REI, but they were unable to give us any advice as to what to do.  (Liability reasons.)  We will probably be ordering some rope and a harness over the weekend.


Exhausting! But it felt like progress.

Good-By Prius, Hello "Little White Thing."

Tuesday was both a happy and a sad day.  After a hectic weekend of locating and test driving four sub compact cars from the Motor Coach Magazine dinghy car list, we made our decision and purchased a white, 2012 Hyundai Accent Hatchback.

It was sad to drive our red Prius for the last time. It was a very good, solid ride.  In five years and 84,000 miles, it never gave us any trouble.  If it didn't weigh so much, and could have been towed, we would have kept it for long time.

But if we want to ride together in the Alfa, we need a car we can tow.  

Good-by Prius.

Hello "Little White Thing".  I hope we have many adventures together in the future. We know you can't go charging down wild dirt roads like a Jeep, but you have lots of cargo space for your weight, a decent engine for your class, and a price point we were comfortable with.


Speaking of price, we were both a bit shocked by the cost of a tow package!  We haven't bought one yet, but we're leaning toward a Blue Ox and an Air Force.  We got an estimate on a Roadmaster and an Air Force One from the place that's doing our Alfa body work.

The repair estimate was a shocker too! We usually just pay for such things out of pocket without filing an insurance claim.  But as it turned out there was more damage than just the fiberglass corner.  It seems the back panel separated both along the side edge and the roof edge.  And they will need to repaint the entire back end! The  estimate was over $5000. Big Ouch! 


Too bad Alfateers is way down in Southern California.

Our insurance adjustor has been to take a look, and has authorized the work.  It will take a couple of weeks before she is home again. Meanwhile we have to make a decision on the tow package and get it ordered and installed before the Crater Lake trip.


If you have a class A, what tow package do you have? Do you like it?  Any advice will be appreciated.

Too much to blog about

It is now 2:41 A.M.  I am awake and at the table in the Alfa.  I am never awake at this hour at home.  There I have disciplined myself to stay in bed if I wake up.  Oh, I do get up for a few minutes for a drink of water and a visit to the bathroom, but I don't "do" anything like read or look at the computer.


The last few days have been going by so fast, that except for a quick read of a few blogs,  I have had very little time or energy,] for the computer.


Pictures?  Give Craig a digital camera and he will shoot a couple hundred shots in a day.  Who has time to process or even look thru that many images?  I haven't had time to look at the few I have taken.


Is all of this bad?  No.  Living is so much better than sitting around the house dreaming!

Someday, after we get back home, I will have time to review the picture folders. 

But not tonight!


Yesterday morning we left the KOA and drove 20 miles to the Alfa repair shop called Alfateers.  When Alfa went under, the employees formed this repair center company and specialize in fixing Alfas.


We had a very long list of work that we want done.  We decided not to trust what La Mesa told us about maintenance, and are having everything checked out here.  We also are having the seals on the slide replaced, and some EternaBond applied to the top edge of the slide to prevent further leakage. We know the bill will be steep, but we want things done right!


So far they have solved two problems, the electrical and the tank sensors, by simply finding loose wires.  We had a problem filling the fresh water tank, and they found a kinked hose in the line.

As at many RV service centers, we have been able to park overnight with a 50 amp hookup.  This week there are five rigs with their owners staying in them.  We all gather at a picnic area while our Alfas are taken back into the work areas. At the end of the day they are brought back out and reparked and connected up for us.


The other couples have been quite friendly.  Tonight we had a bit of a party celebrating that we would all be moving on tomorrow.  One couple had driven cross country from South Carolina just to bring their rig to Alfateers. They are having extensive remodeling done and a full body paint job on the outside. They will fly back home and leave the Alfa here for several months.  I asked why they came all this way, and couldn't they have gotten the work done on the East coast somewhere.  Their answer was that they wanted it all done right and this was "the place!"


Yesterday we took the rental car and went to the Getty Museum.  Another of my long list of places I have always wanted to see!  The art was amazing of course, but the building and garden design was also a feast of fantastic views.

Banner on the wall

Patio at the Getty

Our repairs should be done tomorrow, and they will be giving her a wash and cleaning the carpets as a bonus free service.  (Nothing is really free, but it won't be a line item on the bill!)

We have a good feeling about this place and the people who work here!

Yawn!  No editing ... just publish and go back to bed!