Friday, November 19, 2021

On The Road Nov. 2021

Where Are We Today 
Glen Rose, Texas

Here we are almost two weeks on the road since we left home and it has been a good trip so far with only one minor hiccough. When we arrived at Eagles Landing RV Resort in Grove Oklahoma, we had a problem with our front landing gear. When I put them down, they went as far as touching the ground but would not raise the trailer off the hitch. When I tried to raise them back up, they wouldn’t move, hmm!

Opening up the compartment where the pump and valves are located, I couldn’t see anything out of place. Not sure what we were going to do, Pat suggested that I put a call into our RV dealer, CanAM, back home. After connecting with Peggy, our service rep and explaining the problem, she connected me with Andy, one of the owners. He told me of two possibilities that could cause the problem and the solution to fix it.

You can see the wire that came off. The tape was wrapped around both, that's why I couldn't see it at first.


On a side note, CanAm has been awarded 2021 Canadian RV Dealer of The Year by Life Style Magazine, we are proud to be associated  with this dealership. Here

After the call, I started to investigate the switch and then the valve that operates the front jacks. Eliminating the switch, I turned my attention to the valve. Removing some electrical tape that covered the two electrical wires that supply power to the valve, I discovered one was off. Could it be that simple, sure enough, when I put the wire back on, the jacks worked as should, thanks Andy.

When we reached Tres Rios RV Resort in Glen Rose Texas, I needed to clean the burner of our BBQ, one of the jobs that should have been done before we left home. Using a tool bit from my Dremel tool, I was able to open up the clog with grease holes in the burner. Now with even blue flame all around the burner it cooks so much better.

Holes filled with grease


All cleaned out

Before we left home, I had purchased a weather station, which needed to be put together. Here was a great place to do that and set it up. My old one gave inside and out temperature, wind speed and humidity, the new one will do all of that plus wind direction, rainfall and barometric pressure. So far, I have had it sitting on the picnic table but will do a more permanent mounting when we reach our destination.

New Weather S

Station


Monitor
All together sitting outside

In a couple of more days, we will be at our first stop in Arizona for a week, then eventually onto Pilot Knob RV Resort in Winterhaven California. As of January 7th, 2022, we will be in Quartzsite, LTVA La Posa South, until the end of the month. Here we hope to meet up with our RV friends who we haven’t seen in a couple of years, and anyone else who wants to join in. We will be back passed the dump and water stations, where we were last time. Looking forward to meeting up here with Nancy K, Tom & Deb, Doug, Ken & Shirley and anyone that wants to join our circle. Of course, if we meet before, that would be great also. After that we will be moving into a camp ground in Quartzsite for the month of February.

Wrapping up for now, thanks for stopping by. Until the next time, take care and stay safe.

 

Our Route To date

Friday, November 5, 2021

Wrap Up

Where Are We Today
The Ridge, Priceville Ontario


Our journey south for the winter of 2021/22 is about to begin, after having to spend a winter here in Ontario, we are excited and so looking forward to getting back to Arizona.

Walls going up


I finally stopped working on Oct. 29th, a whole month later than originally planned. We had started building a new shed, 30 ft x 50 ft back in September. A structure with 14 ft. high walls and then the 6/12 pitch roof. The walls were built in sections and then raised with a fork lift into position. The roof was built on the ground in two sections and then lifted into place by a crane. Next the roof was covered with steel and then the same for the walls and finally the gable ends.

All the walls up and braced


First half of roof built in on the cement floor.

Second half built outside on the ground

First half being lifted up in place

Second half being lifted into place

An hour and a half later

Steel going on. That's me in the lift.

As “Chillin with Patsy “has reported that we have been putting away and closing up “The Ridge” for a couple of weeks now with just a few items to take care of this week. The closing up of my “Hangar” and cargo trailer after getting two planes ready to take south with us, covering a plant, taking down the flag pole and putting away the recycle bins. Finally, today, Friday, November 5, 2021, we packed the last of the items in the storage compartment of the trailer and the items that ride in the back of the truck.

Roof steel all on.

Although these tasks went smoothly, the week wasn’t without some anxiety and concern over our Black Beauty. I took her into our mechanic for an oil change on Monday, they gave the truck a going over knowing that we were about to head out on our trip south. They found that the front brake pads although still safe were getting to the point that they may have to be changed before coming home. I wasn’t surprised knowing the kms. on them, so said to go ahead and change them.  They also found oil leaking from behind the vacuum pump so we had that changed as they have to tear so much apart to get at and also replace the original drive belt as it was getting worn and covered in oil from the leak. All that done and had her back home on Tuesday. Wednesday morning went out, started her up and the check engine light came on, back to the shop where they found that heater in the tank for the DEF fluid wasn’t working, of course this is the first cold morning of the season. Being swamped they said to leave it and they would have it ready for the end of the week, keeping their promise, we had it back by 11 this morning, a heavy sigh of relieve and smiles all around.

Windows are in and the wall steel going on.

Getting our last propane tank refill in town, giving Black Beauty a much needed wash and fill up with fuel we are ready to hook up in the morning and leave “The Ridge”. The first stretch of our journey will be short, just about a 45-minute drive down to the town of Alma, Ontario to the Alma Community Centre where my daughter Krystal and soon to be son-in-law Matt will be having their wedding reception. We have permission to stay in the parking lot overnight and leave from there Sunday morning. From there we will travel to CanAm RV in London to park in their lot overnight Sunday and leave early Monday morning to cross the border at Sarnia.

That’s the plan anyways, you know how Jello jiggles, stay tune to see how it all turns out. Of course, you will probably read all about it first in Patsy's post.

Gable steel on the south end

Thanks for stopping by, until the next time, take care and stay safe.

 

The north end gable steel and it's all done.


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