Well we made it. This was a trip movies are made from.... Was due back June 21 made it home July 3. Here was a right up i did on it on FB:
I am home from a trip that .... I love to hate..... Or hate to love......
To recap: step-son Dan, wife, and I were heading to Florida to see my daughter and new grandbaby. Before we headed out, my mom called and asked if we were interested in the diesel pusher motorhome they had. Well, that was a no brainer. I work 400 miles from home and live in a camper when up there.
So we modified our plans a bit. We would fly into Ft Myers, pick up camper, head to Mims/ Daytona area and spend a week with Michelle and Karley. Then head to Disney for 3 days and then home. All was going according to plan until day 2 at Disney. Walked to the back of the camper and saw coolant on the ground. Quick check and the radiator was wet (more about this on a later date) so had to find a shop and somewhere to park it to pull it out and get it fixed. A few calls and we were parked in Michelle's inlaws front yard. Out it comes. This is by no means a small task. This thing filled up all of the back end of Michelle's Explorer and took two people to lift it in and out. Long story short: 3 shops, 5 days,15 gal of coolant, and a boat load of cash, and it got fixed. In the meantime, wife and Dan had to fly home. Paula's mom can't be left alone, so I am now on my own.
Started to head home. 200 miles in and 2nd stop for a check and I have a fair amount of coolant all over the back end of the camper. Not overheating, so I make a beeline for a campground. I let it cool, thinking the worst, and it turns out to be a small hole in the heater hose. Bandaid it to get me to a parts store 5 miles away and off I go. Well, I think a piece of hose and a barb fitting, and some more coolant and I am good. But size? Crap. Let me cut off a piece..... Man, the motor is hot. I'll guess its 5/8". Make the repair . Put back in 6 gal of coolant.... But wait, I cut the hose. Damn. Another barb and more coolant.
I am on the road..... Almost..... Need to feed the whale. $125... Click ...the pump is off.. cheap fuel, lets fill it. Slide the card again....Declined.....WTH. Damn fraud protection. 20 min later, we are filling again. I am off. By now it's 1st of July........ I was due back on June 21st. Good thing I don't have a real job.
Make it to Shreveport, LA, looking for a fuel stop on I 49. Not looking like a fun area. I find a truck stop. I go in, start the pump and I am looking around. I am like the only person out here, no trucks in the lot, but I see three guys in the lot. They are moving toward me......crap! The attendant can't see me, there is a whale behind me..... and, yes, I am armed. I clear my holster from my shirt and put my hand on my gun. I make eye contact with the center guy, who is 20 yards away. They stop, and then head in three different directions. I am done. I am out of here. I walk into the store and tell the attendant to call the cops. He says it will be 45 min to an hr "if" they send someone, and "this happens all the time." What?!!! He walked me to the camper with a 12 gauge. On my way out, someone tried to stop me..... Full throttle and a bellow of black smoke from the tailpipe of the coach. He dove out of the way. I hit the road...... WTH Just happened?! Did I step out of the real world at that exit?
75 miles away I find a full truck stop and roll in. And pass out..... Wake up ready to hit the road. Go out to do my walk around...... Flat tire..... REALLY?.....Good news it was one of the timed out ones. Bad news... 3 hrs until they get to me. Stroke of luck 1.5 hr later, I am on the road. 1380 more miles to go. Stress got me ...only got 500 miles in. 980 miles to do on Thursday. One sore butt, but 11:45 pm I am home.
So love or hate the trip......
The bad- well, I am almost $6000 over budget for this trip, and only one of the 4 tires needing replacement got replaced. So add 3 tires at $450 each to that total. Didn't get to do the slow return home, make a few stops, visit a few people along the way.
The good- The camper will improve my life in Elko and add new memories over the summers travels. The visit to Disney with/for Dan.
The best part..... I got to spend 11 more days with my daughter and granddaughter. Reconnected with my daughter Michelle and bonded with Karley. I will never let 3 yrs get between us ever again..... I miss you two dearly.
Thanks to Kim and Mike , Michelle's in laws, for the use of their front yard. James, for the help pulling and installing the radiator. Thanks mom and dad for the camper. Thanks to my wife who, even 2300 miles away, held me together and helped me get home.
So hate it......I can't.
But I could use a drink....who's buying? I can't afford one right now. I'll tell ya my story of almost getting it stuck in a tunnel in Mobile Alabama! Lol
Have not move pic from my phone yet but. here is Site 549. I loved it and it is in a pet loop.
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