Apr 09, 2022

Unexpected events

Thursday started off with a huge glitch which is why I did not post last night, I was exhausted. The same engine trouble light come on just as we started the RV and there was no power. It was just after 7AM and Colin called Cummins in Las Vegas. The decision was made to send a local Ely mechanic to check out the RV.  We had no choice but to wait. We certainly did not want to be towed back to Vegas. After 40 minutes Colin called again as we had heard nothing. Meanwhile when restarting the RV the fault light was gone and we had power to drive.  However best to play it safe and the work was warrantied ( parts & labour ) by Cummins for year. We had to wait for Cummings to get back to us, it was back and forth for a bit. The local mechanic was supposed to call us. It was getting on with the day and Colin was leaning towards just getting on the road. We were equally distanced between Las Vegas and Elko ( north of us ) where there is also a Cummings facility. About 10AM I turned on the computer to check emails and saw that we had a message from DNS in Ely, they had called 50 minutes earlier. Our US cell has not been working efficiently this trip but perhaps Colin was already on the phone and missed the call. Fortunately with Telus our voice messages get emailed to us.

Camp Cummins, as you can see the girls had their outdoor area. We also had 50 amps which was great.

We had quite the set up everyday. There was another sofa like this facing me. Sometimes the girls just slept in their beds or on the floor. This day they asked to come up, they really did ask, it was very apparent. I think they slept for three hours this time.

Another RV in for repair had a Hawaii plate, interesting.

Colin was out walking the girls so I called back and they said that the mechanic would be there in ten minutes. He arrived very quickly and checked  the engine out thoroughly with the computer. All seemed normal. Then he checked the engine batteries. One battery had a connection that was not as tight as it should have been. He then wired brushed all the cables explaining that they have to have good electrical contact as the slightest resistance to the connections to the batteries could cause the computer to show faulty. He has seen this problem in many semis over the years.

Love seeing the spring blossoms.

Finally on our way at 10:50AM. We were several hours behind schedule but we felt confident that the RV was in perfect driving condition. The drive from Ely to Jackpot seemed to take forever. Shortly after getting onto I84 Colin decided we should top up the tank just in case. I saw a sign for a Maverick showing diesel for $5.09 per gallon.  We have seen nothing that low since. While he filled and walked the girls I made sandwiches for us to eat as we drove. It was after rush hour when we passed through Boise, so no delay there, but that is when the wind began to pick up.

The sky closer to the Oregon rest area. We certainly have a dirty windshield.

Sadly a semi not too long after Twin Falls cut indirectly in front of us and threw up a stone. I see a new windshield in our future.

We arrived at our destination for the night only 2.5 hours late. It was along day for us as we had driven 434 miles.  The Ontario, Oregon rest area has been great spot for us for several years but we are usually there early enough to get the perfect spot where we can put out both slides. Not this night. We had already decided to keep the livingroom slide in because of the wind and likely would have to keep the bedroom slide in. We have done this in the past but not with a large piece of furniture, dog crate, in there. I can barely get by to put the slide out or in. Just as we were discussing the situation another RV pulled up next to us. Turns out that they were spending the night and also wanted to put their slides out. So both RV slides would be protected. The couple were from Utah and the gentleman later told us that his wife had brain cancer and that she had asked him to please take her to the ocean for one last look. That certainly put all of our travel issues in their place. We were nice and warm all night.

First time the girls have shared the bed on the stool between us. Usually Ciela uses this bed and Carlie sits on me and a very few times on Colin.

This morning was only 39F, not as low as predicted and certainly not as cold had been the morning before in Ely at 28F. We took our time but were on the road by 8AM. The girls have been so very good about being cooped up because of the repairs and the long travel days but I think that they are ready to have the freedom of their yard to run in. I wonder if they dream about running on the beach?  Do you think they even remember the beach?

So much snow still on the mountains. By the way all of these phots were taken by my cell phone are not very good but better some photos than none.

Today the roads became rough once we left the interstates shortly after crossing into Washington state. We were heading pretty much straight north and using smaller highways, most only one lane in each direction. Many hours of bump bump bump and lots of wind. The RV was buffeted by cross winds a few times and we had to battle some tumble weeds. A good test for all the new parts. We stopped to make lunch for all of us but the girls refused to do their business outside. They stood there shivering. Meanwhile I got a message from my friend at home ( which was a miracle as I have nothing working on my phone at the moment, my Mexican paid time is long gone ) that  it was snowing! Crazy climate. Turns out that the snow did not stick.
We were right on schedule, maybe even 20 minutes early when we came to an abrupt stop. There were at least ten emergency vehicles in the middle of the road.  Must be a bad accident. We were first in line heading north so we had a good view.  We hadn’t been stopped five minutes when we heard the chop chop of a large helicopter. The fellow behind us got out of his vehicle and headed over to the edge and spoke with an official. He came back and stopped at my window and told me that it was due to an overdose. So who pays for all these emergency vehicles and the Lifeline helicopter?  Which by the way flew south so I surmise either to Wenatchee or Spokane. For a moment I felt ike we were watching an action movie, except that this was really life. We passed the vehicle parked on the side of the road, I think that perhaps a passenger had overdosed, because it if was the driver there would have been some sort of damage.

Loading the stretcher ( on the left ) onto the helicopter.

Excellent pilot, he landed between four light posts in a gusty wind. Take off was easier.

Turns out that we were only six miles south of our overnight stop which was Walmart in Omak, Washington. Omak is about 45 miles south of the Canadian border. We drove a total of 428 miles today, another long day but I don’t feel as tired, perhaps because I am almost home.

This evening when I went to do a final grocery shop of some items that we can’t get in Canada. Waiting for me to return.

I can’t remember the last time I saw a sunset but I will leave you with this.

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11 responses so far

11 Responses to “Unexpected events”

  1. Jim and Barb says:
    April 10, 2022 at 4:59 am

    You are almost there. Just think, you will be sleeping in your own bed and watching the waterfowl on the lake before you know it!

    Reply
  2. Cindy says:
    April 10, 2022 at 5:44 am

    Figured you were almost home! See you soon!

    Reply
  3. Richard P Rousseau says:
    April 10, 2022 at 7:04 am

    Glad that quick fix got you under way and you are nearly home.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It’s about time.

    Reply
  4. Croft says:
    April 10, 2022 at 12:18 pm

    No one can say you two live a dull life!

    Reply
  5. SandyM says:
    April 10, 2022 at 2:10 pm

    Hope all stays well for you and you will sleep in your very own bed tonight in your home. No matter how much one likes to get away from the cold in the Winter it is always good to come home again. What a trip.

    Reply
  6. Maxx Trails says:
    April 10, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    It sounds like your troubles are in the past 🙂 I’m guessing you are now home and you picked a very nice day to arrive back in Kelowna … much better than yesterday!

    Reply
  7. Philip Ernsberger says:
    April 10, 2022 at 10:05 pm

    Be careful, a big bump in the road can cause that crack to spread. I have a friend who recently got a chip, which developed a crack very similar to yous. We have been using the same Nova glass repair man for 25 or more years. I also had a chip, so he came over and repaired my small chip, then tackled the Honda with the chip plus about 8″ crack.It took about 1/2 an hour, but when finished, you could not tell it from a new windshield. If the sun catches it just right, you might see a sort of shiny line for a minute. He wouldn’t give us a price, so we tipped him well. He uses a resin that is cured by exposure to ultra violet light, and recommended leaving it in the sun for most of day, where it wouldn’t get too hot. He did drill a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it from going any further. I was really amazed how perfect it turned out. If you have a large deductable on your insurance, I would consider it. But be sure the repairman is experienced. And maybe ask to see before and after photos. I wish we had taken photos.

    Reply
  8. Creigh Gordon says:
    April 20, 2022 at 5:21 pm

    There’s a really nice city RV park in Omak.

    Reply
    • contessa says:
      April 21, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      Yes we know but we were on the clock plus I needed to get some meal supplies at Walmart. Thanks for taking the time to remind us.

      Reply

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