Apr 12, 2012
What next?
We had a great 5.5 hours of sleep. We were ready Wednesday when the shop opened at 7AM, only they weren’t ready for us till 8:15AM….I guess they are on Mexican time!
Ben's Truck Repair, Exit 647 & I 5, in Red Bluff, California
Of course they did not have the water pump in stock so Colin drove to a Cummins shop in Redding to pick it up. We also needed a new fan belt which was not in stock but we had one, in one of our many bins full of stuff for ‘just in case’ scenarios like this one.
While Colin drove to Redding I continued my love affair with Verizon and read emails. Very sadly I received news of the sudden passing of Judy Raber, our RV neighbor at Tres Amigos RV Park for 4 months this past winter. She died Monday, in Jackpot, Nevada, of a heart attack, at the end of a day’s drive heading home to Canada. Her husband, Avy, will miss her so very much.
This was Judy's favorite photo of all my sunset shots. Before she left Tres Amigos, she asked for a copy of it. It was taken November 30, 2011. Venus and a crescent waxing moon. I know you are up there Judy!
Colin got back with the pump about 10AM. At 11:10AM, after putting the tow shield back together and on the car, the hitch back on, etc. he took it off again because he was driving back to Redding!! The first pump was defective!! It took the technician an hour of fiddling to decide it wasn’t going to work. I am sad with a heavy heart. Colin is concerned about getting through the mountains today as he has an appointment Thursday in Seattle and on Friday morning we have an appointment for the RV in Vancouver, but there is nothing we can do but wait.
So Colin is back with the second pump at 12:20PM. However it is lunchtime….so we sit and wait and watch the techs having their lunch just outside our RV window…..tick tock, tick tock. Still no action at 1PM. You have no idea where this is going….but hey I sure do :(….oh oh was that non smiley face a hint?
So lets fast forward this a bit…..
~Repair cost $388.78….reasonable we think
~driving out of Ben’s at 1:55PM….Colin is still hearing ( and me too ) a distinct sound at 1400RPM….can’t hear a thing says our tech guy…
~ on the road and freedom….6 miles later Colin steers us to the side of the road…major overheating….I call the shop…3 times before I see the whites of a techs eyes! Air bubble….I don’t even want to go there….. did I say that???
..this is the guy with the 3 gallon burp problem.....
~yup an air bubble, about the size of 3 gallons of liquid cuz that is the amount of antifreeze that was added, road side I might add, after 3 calls ( said that already I believe ) and of course the rain started right about then….and though it was only 2:30PM I had no vino in the casa….big sigh.….but I am a big girl!! I did not write that. Oh yeah…the CHP are back knocking at the door….we are just fine sir….happens to us about every 12 hours or six miles…not to worry we have it totally under control. Adios to you also, sir!
FYI….I really am trying to fast forward this BUT the title is “What happens in the RV stays in the RV”….non..oh well, blame it on the vino blanco.
We received an email from the girls...." next year, please just leave us on the Isla"!!
~bottom line…no charge for the one hour roadside service and 3 gallons of antifreeze……”excuse me…you thought I was going to actually pay you…again….nada!!”
Family meeting....we have had it....except Caeli who just sleeps through it all....I think that if I was totally in charge of today.... it might have gone just a tad quicker!
~pressing on….rapido….22.5 hours after the first engine incident we were on the road heading home. Mr. 3 Gallon man nicely followed us for the first 6 miles just be sure we really good to go.
~ quick stop in Redding for diesel fuel….we were going for the Valero at 4.35/GAL and in the middle of turning around I found the ‘Handy Spot Market’ giving it away for 4.20/GAL using VISA….yahoo….they also filled any wine requests…I was very happy.
~so with 4 empty bladders we headed North as in home to Canada @ 4PM
..within 30 minutes we went from rain, to hail to snow but we pressed on!!
~hopefully you are fully aware that I am leaving much of the good stuff out as I know your have limited time. Your loss!!
Heaven on earth...no just the Klamath River rest area in northern California. Time to water the girls and feed them, now they will sleep till morning. Colin adds more antifreeze to the system...sorry no more details as to the whys tonight.
What next you ask……?????<<<<<<>>>>>????
Our hearts are torn....this young dog is starving, very timid yet knows people. His collar is tight around his neck and has been bitten off.........we feed him....he is familiar with kibble as he devours what we feed.....wish we could help him more...but just not possible!!!
Hopefully one of the many truckers at this rest area will become involved. Pressing on….we get thru the Siskiyou Mountain Pass @ 6:55PM. This is the highest elevation on I 5 at 4310 feet. Another quick stop to add antifreeze ( we really think that Ben’s fellows didn’t add enough….obviously ).
Got thru Grants Pass about 8:30PM….dark now….we pushed on just a bit more to Roseburg,, Oregon, exit 125 and the very welcoming Walmart.
Time 9:30PM
Miles travelled today….well very late in the day…279!!
Wow….must be a million frogs out there…just waiting to lull us to sleep.
Whatever have we planned for tomorrow or what will it bring us….no more surprises….PLEASE!
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What a stressful day, I hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly.
Jean…we hope it continues smooth to the border….thanks!
Kevin…thanks for or thoughts re Judy! We will be okay as in the huge picture of life what we are dealing with is NADA!
Connie…..thanks for picking up on the humour, I was really trying…much better than tears!!
Croft…..you are likely right on the money.
George…much more vino my friend.
Terri…DONE!!!…thanks for the idea…we were so wrapped up in our problems that we were not thinking….
Angie….milles gracias….
Mary….sometimes almost isn’t there but it had better be….stay tuned….
Marty….OK…you the boss lady.
Susie and Roger…thanks for both of your comments,it means a lot to know you are there for us.
Elaine….you can’t live in fear…life happens and you just roll with it.
Bob….venting on the blog is great. I had no idea you were/are an RVer…..we still would not trade this for anything else…well maybe Vienna….???? Now there is a thought.
What a horrible day you had! I sure hope tomorrow is a better one you, Colin and the puppies! Very sorry to hear about the death of your RV friend, our thoughts go out to her husband and family.
Kevin and Ruth
Oh, Contessa – even thru it all you’ve written an entertaining blog today! Praying for a smooth rest of the trip for you guys!
Hate to say it but it does not sound like it is fixed yet!
Wow and other interesting day for you guys. Too bad you have such a tight schedule. More vino for sure!
Could you maybe call the CHP or local police to help that poor dog before it starves to death? Poor thing.
Hola Amigos,
you guys have had an interesting trip back, I hope the rest of the trip is smooth and less stressful.
Hugs & lots of blessings.
sounds awful, somehow the journey home is always the pits for me as well. You almost there.
Okay, that’s enough trouble for this trip! Smooth sailing from now on, hear?
Let’s hope today’s travel was uneventful!! So very sad about Judy. I can still see her, Avy and Ex roaring down the beach on their ATV. I know this is also weighing on you and compounding what has been difficult few days.
Terrible! However, if you are able to leave say mid-afternoon or even 4:00 you can make 7-Feathers in about 4+ hours depending on weather over the Siskiyous Pass and north of Grants Pass city. Good luck KenB
So sorry to hear about RV problem,s , hoping rest of trip is uneventful!! So sorry about Judy, whow you just never know, how old was she and did she have heart problem,s?? Drive safe!!!
god love you all….everyone is having trouble travelling home I’m petrified to leave SC and head home next week…I pray with all my heart you are trouble free the rest of the way home…hugs
So sorry to read of your Isla friend. We never quite know what lurks in our veins.
I know all too well about the fun to be had with water pumps and cooling systems. Not only that, it’s always better if one’s spouse is not along for the ride. That only happened one time, (with the spouse, that is) and it was the same deal, hadn’t put in enough coolant (or properly burped the system) and had to stop at the side of the 400 somewhere north of Toronto. Sorted it out, but we turned around and went home. The spouse wasn’t willing to carry on.
Thankfully we’ve had a line up of new vehicles over the last 10 or 15 years, so that kind of problem hasn’t reared it’s ugly head. *knock on wood*
At least you can vent a little in your blog. That’s a good thing, yes?
You guys are awesome…thank you so much for helping that dog. Many would feel bad but not try to help. Thank you.