Ice In Texas

I received the ice maker I ordered for about $42 bucks or so.  Now to see if it will work.  It looks the same, that’s a good start.  No electrical plug.  Guess that means I take the one off the old one if that is possible.  Also I have to use the old metal lift bar.  I think I can do this.  I got the old one out again and took it a part.  See the burnt part…. 

I put the new one in and in a couple of hours we had ice.  Yes we have zero deductible on our extended warranty but who wants  to go thru that hassle.  Yea.  You know, in 40 some years of RVing and 15 years of that full timing, this is only the second time an ice maker went bad.  Two different brands too.  Hey, $40 bucks and some grunting to get it out..well worth it.  Yes, we have a zero deductible on our extended service plan.  What repair guys are starting to do is charge the customer a diagnosis fee because the after market warranty companies don’t usually pay for them.

Next was to make our old Magna Shade fit our Winnebago.  It’s about 4 inches two long so I just folded it under for the time being.  I had to go to the barn and find some old real strong magnets.  No problem.

It will get all smooth when the sun hits it.  Maybe I can get Sue Glick to take it up a few inches.

Here’s some food for thought.  The Escapees are having their anniversary celebration on the 4th of July.  They want to charge $3.00 for a hamburger or two hot dogs.  Why do they want me to pay for their celebration besides being cheap.  It don’t make common sense to me.  What do you think?

See ya……

RVing On A Motorcycle

Yes, a motorcycle is a recreational vehicle, at least mine is.

Mark and I finally are going riding.  The rain has been very unpredictable.  Today was a 40% chance of showers.  We figured if it wasn’t raining when we were going to leave….. that was good enough for us. 

At 7AM we met up and it wasn’t raining.  We both brought raingear because we just knew we were going to get soaked.  The rain was coming from the north so we went East.  We stopped for an early lunch at a little grocery store/grill in Mila, TX.  Milam is on the border of the Sabine National Forest and Toledo Bend Reservoir.  We just about finished our hamburgers when the rain came.  It poured down.  I ran out and got my helmet and got pretty wet.  About 15 minutes later it settled down into a light drizzle.  We got our rain gear on and continued East into Louisiana away from the rain. 

After crossing into Louisiana we turned North and followed the Toledo Bend Reservoir up.

On the way up I ran out of gas.  AND it was on purpose.  I carried a one gallon can of gas because I needed to run out of fuel.  This was to test my fuel gauges.  I have three of them.  As it turned out one on the tank was useless.  The two digital ones were more accurate but still about 15 miles off.  When you only carry 6 gallons of fuel that is a lot of mileage at least for me.  So anyhow, I put the gallon in and changed out of our rain gear. We went another 13 miles and fueled up all the way.  It took 5 gallons and we were on our way again.

Above the Reservoir we turned left and went back into Texas.  Next stop was Nacogdoches visitors center to get rid of some excess water that we had no need to carry.  The restrooms…..

Then we went South West and this is getting boring.  We ended up in Livingston on our lot about 4 PM.  Here’s Mark on his antique BMW.  It’s not as old as Mark so who’s the antique.

We went right about 400 miles or so.  This is the longest ride we’ve been on together in one day.  Previously it was 375 miles in one day on our one week tour of California and Nevada earlier this year.

We both went our ways until another clear day.

My trike is wet road dirty.  It went into the Barn until I’m ready to wash it along with ALL the others vehicles that are dirty.  Damn that’s a lot of stuff to wash.

See ya……

Little Jobs & Confederate Flag

O.K. – One time about the confederate flag…..I say  blah blah ……..That’s my two cents.

Then I attacked the door screen again.  Did a little more Dremel work on it and got the screen in nice and tight.  It went in the barn for later this year.

Then I cleaned up the underneath RV freezer from the defrost yesterday.  Basically just water.

Time to move the Harley out of its dark cage and let the sun shine on it.

Opps, it’s 9 AM time and it’s time to go inside and get out of the muggy.

For lunch I drove the trike to the “Hq Cluster” lunch at the La Colona.  I  do it every Thursday with them if we’re in the area.  Just fun and talking about other stuff not related to RVing usually.  It looked like rain so I decide to take the trike back to The Barn.

So, did you ever have these camping experiences similar to this….now I just smile at it.  I think some of us are still doing it at times…and the toys are bigger.

See Ya……………

It’s Back

7 AM this morning and this bright light was hitting the side of our coach.  I went outside to see what was happening.  It was that ancient mystic sun that came back to visit.  Now it will bake us along with the high humidity to make us feel at home in Texas.  I can feel my pores opening up to let the sweat out.  Ahhhh, Texas in the summer.  Time to get busy….

Mark came over yesterday and checked my measurements on the screen door for the mobile.  Doors on mobile homes are sometimes different than that of a stick/brick built house.  They’re about 2 inches shorter.  That means you can’t just run down to Lowe’s to pick one up and insert it the tracks around the doors and there you got a screen door.  Nope.  I went down to Lowe’s and got their $40 screen.  Took it back to the mobile and started to measure.  I needed to get two inches off the top.  Mark gave me a few other suggestions and had to leave.  That was yesterday.  So first thing this morning I broke out my home repair kit….a rubber hammer is high on my list plus my Dremel.

I removed some screen and then went for it.  I cut each top end off and hammered the top piece back on and there it is.  Now I will have Carol approve it and then remove it.  I have to finish putting the screen back in and a few screws.  Then it goes into storage for our return in cooler weather.

 

I took the screen door out and just setting out front.  I will try and work on when it’s not so muggy.

Next was to measure my window and my Magna Shade for the windshield.  It came off the Dutch Star.  It’s width is fine but it’s about 4-5 inches to short.  I ordered some super super magnets and that’s it until they come in next week.

Then it was time to defrost the outside/underneath freezer.  I just unplugged it (12 volt) and took the lid off.  Later I will get the water out.  I like these easy jobs.

It’s 9 AM……   Now I have to shower and change my clothes.  I stayed outside about an hour to long.   It’s muggy as all get out.

Yesterday I moved the motorcycle trailer so as to be out of the way and can get the trike out easy.

We put the Jeep in storage (insurance thing) and won’t be driving it all anymore.  It stays out of the barn until we get ready to pull out and head North.  We got Carol’s 2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid (30K miles) out of storage and cleaned up. 

Carol decided she rather drive the Mariner up North rather than the Jeep.  Plus it gets very good fuel mileage.  Our trips will be in the 200-300 (or less) mile range now vice the 400 plus.  I will tow the Harley/trailer behind the RV.  Damn, who’s going to get me something to drink and eat going down the raod?

Here’s part of my work area to do what ever.

I cooked some chicken on the barbie that turned out pretty good.

Might get the trike out tomorrow and give it some touch up cleaning.

Let’s see how early I can get up and outside.

See ya……………….

Jeep 4 Wheeling While Full Timing

That’s what we were doing exactly 3 years ago.  We had bought the brand new Jeep about a week before in northern Utah.  First day out.  Hey, we had fun…

Where are we?  We’re here!!!!

Tree huger

Which way do we go…

Follow the cows?

You lead, no you lead…

Another fine mess you got us into……..let’s see, I’m taking the picture and Sandy must be looking for the little girls room.

Peaky boo…………

And here we go…………weeeeeeeee…

We are at Hatch, Utah here.  This is Ed & Sandy’s coach with us to the right.

Then Denny & Susie as the sun went down.

As always, when we get together with good friends we have a blast.  Let’s do it some more…….

See ya……….

Broke Down

Not this year.  This time in 2010 we were in the Phaeton and it left us stranded in Western Maryland.  We pulled into a rest area and the 360 Cummins was choking all the way.  It had no power.  Couldn’t even pull out the parking space.  Called Coachnet but they couldn’t come out for hours and a 100 miles away.  When they did come it was after midnight.  They towed us to a Freightliner/Cummins truck dealer.  It was evident that they don’t work on RVs but we were stuck.  It took us a day and a half to get out of this placed.  They reprogrammed the ECU finally and we were on our way.  Hey, these things happen.  That Phaeton left us stranded twice – both times engine related problems.  Anyhow, it’s an adventure.

This was a very nice rest area and was dedicated to Nam Veterans    

They only gave this hookup….

Since we didn’t have reservations anywhere or had to be anywhere it wasn’t really that bad except the service of course.

Yes, it’s Father’s Day today and I got my two Happy Father’s Day from our kids Kraig & Kristy.  Thanks guys!

See ya…………..

Flash Bach Two Years

Two years ago about this time we were in Gillette, WY getting ready for the Escapade.  We weren’t having good weather back then either…

That’s hail…  

That big tree blew over right in front of us.

So, it could be worse for those that are in some bad weather.  We’re just wet and sweaty here in Livingston.

See ya………..

Rained Less in Alaska Last Year

Still raining here in Livingston.  I think I would rather be in Alaska than here when it rains like we were last year.  This is Ed & me.  I’m the good looking one.

This time last year we were up and around Fairbanks.

We went on the boat called the Discovery.  

Got to see a float plane land next to us on the stern wheeler and take off.

Got to see this beautiful coat that was hand made.

Carol thought these cans that said “Hills” was ours.

She’s ready to retire.

here’s part of the “gang”…….

We’re starting to get the Alaska Itch again.

Damn gout has returned but now to my right foot instead of the popular left foot like before.  It’s so bad that I’m having trouble walking.  Try walking without putting any weight on one foot and if you do you get a shot of real pain.  It’s that time of month for me to have some type of medical problem.  I skipped last month some how but every month this year about mid month I have some type of medical problem.  Well, it’s really very minor compared to Denny & Don.

See ya………….