Southwest Trip Fall 2010

September 9, 2010  The day didn’t start off too well, but ended up OK. We had our first “mishap” leaving the yard at home. I was driving the RV out as Mark and Bill were supposed to be watching me. Bill was making sure I didn’t drive off the bridge and Mark was watching the rear. Well I scraped the passenger side back corner on the garage roof, bending 3 of the roof panels and putting some scrapes in the fiberglass of the RV and a slit in the seam tape. It didn’t slow us down though as we left Geneva St at 8:17.

We headed on the Turnpike for I-75 and I was driving along and a guy in a U-Haul drive came up beside me and was motioning to my roof. I learned on our spring trip to pull over quickly when another driver gives you that kind of signal. We thought the antenna was up or the ceiling vent was open. Bill looked all over, climbed up the back ladder but said it all looked good, then realized the cover for the water heater vent was missing. It’s about 14 inches square and must have flow up and the guy thought it was off the roof. We are not 100 miles yet and already 2 problems. As things come in 3’s of course there’s another issue. Bill installed our EXPENSIVE tire monitoring system and it showed only 7 of 8 tires and a couple of them are a little low on air. We’ve decided the vent cover is not major, just looks crappy, so we will deal with it when we get to a Camping World or similar camping supply place. Bill called the manufacturer of the pressure system and they go through all the steps on the monitor and it still doesn’t read 8. So when we stop for morning break, Bill takes the one off and we check the air and he puts it back on. At the same time we pump up the other low tire. Still the cap won’t register so Bill will call tomorrow and tell them to send a new one to us in Branson.

When we stop at Flying J for fuel, we see a sign for a Camping World down the road. They tried one cover that didn’t fit and then the guy realized he had a special order one in back that had not been picked up and it was ours! Our luck is changing! One problem fixed. Tomorrow we will get some silicone and repair the tear in the seam tape.

We love our campground, Sunset King Lake Resort in Defuniak Springs. We got set up and put away the last minute things that were just set in, sat outside and relaxed a bit then had grilled leftovers for dinner. We took Xena for a long walk down to the lake. It’s really nice with rental cabins all along and boat slips you can rent by the month or day. They have a small restaurant that Bill wants to have breakfast at tomorrow. The campground isn’t full but has a big crowd. Some for a convention in the area and some are pipefitters here for some big job.

I am bummed that apparently you have to pay for internet and I can’t post my blog or do my email. Will ask about it tomorrow, but looks like you have to register and pay! Bill went to bed early as he didn’t sleep well, too nervous about everything. I’m tired too, but from driving and getting settled in.