Tuesday 23 January Day 5

We got up to a cold RV, it seems like there is a leak somewhere or some gas appliance was on a lot because all our propane is gone.  Fortunately we have our little electric heater plus it is a clear sunny day. The plot for today is to wash the car, pick a bunch of oranges, (it’s called Orange Grove RV Park for a reason – oranges galore, help yourself, & that’s in addition to free coffee and donuts in the office).  Also I took the RV to their Propane tank area to get the propane tank refilled. It took 14.3 USG and was totally empty.  We got everything done and pulled out headed for GVP at 11:45.  There is a Pilot station we always go to at the junction of Hwy 395 & 215, the price is good, (for Calif), and we can get a lunch snack.  There is also a road opposite the entrance with very wide levelish dirt side areas to park.  We pulled in at 2:15, gassed up 56.6 USG for $167.00 ($2.94 per Gallon), had our lunch & out at 2:50.  We got to GVP by 4:20 at 49227 miles. 

As soon as we got backed into our spot Sheila took of to get her nails done – fingers & toes – they are really good manicurists here & the price is half what she would pay at home.  I had a shower in the RV and got busy catching up on emails, blogs, and the daily diary now that I have the computer on power & WiFi.  I’m quite tired from all the driving so it’ll be an early evening to prepare for Water Volley Ball in the morning.

I will keep an eye on the gas and run each of our 4 gas burners, (fridge, hot water, auxiliary propane heater, and furnace), individually to see if we can find out which one is malfunctioning then I will call for a mobile repair truck. 

195 miles covered, 4 hrs on the road

Monday January 22 Day 4

We pulled out of Willows at 9 AM then a gas & food stop at 48777 from 1:00 to 1:40. Other than the gas stop, I drove non-stop to Orange Grove RV Park.  We arrived at 3:45 @ 49032.  A cpl of times when I was passing a line of 4 or 5 big trucks I proved the bit about the max speed for the RV is 75 mph is correct because a governor cut in to keep it at 75 mph, no faster.   We got our free donuts & coffee (me) and parked in a power/water spot, (slightly cheaper that a full service & we don’t need the extras for one night). Then we took the RV up to the washing area to de-grunge it a bit.  Back to our spot for supper & set up Sheila with the TV, (no cable just put the antenna up & got good clear picture on several channels), while I try to catch up on my journal, blog, expenses and clearing the email files.

372 miles covered, 6 hrs 5 min on the road

Sunday January 21 Day 3

We pulled out of Seven Feathers @ 10:20 @ 48365. A gas top up as we are approaching Calif., (higher gas prices), at 11:35 @ 48432 & back on hwy  @ 11:50 then 10 mins down the road a stop at Fred Myers to get my annual phone card, (no tax in Oregon), In at 12:00, had lunch and Sheila got a Starbucks Chi Tea, total $11.92, and back on the hwy by 1:00 heading for the Siskiyou pass.  We hit the summit by 1:25, 4310 ft, and then the Calif border at 1:30, then exit 783 CA, so CA is almost 800 miles top to bottom. As we went down into CA we started to get mixed snow & rain then all snow, the outside temp was 31 F, freezing! It was starting to build up on the window but blew off due to our speed and the wet windshield. The snow continued for 70 miles inside Calif. Before abruptly stopping and then the temp went up within a few miles we were into the 40’s then 51 F. Weird weather. Arrived Willows and parked at Nancy’s Airport Café at 5 PM at 48659 miles. We had a very nice supper and brought some home even.  Their seniors menu is more than we can finish and the price is right at around $10.00 for the main meal complete with potatoes, vegetables plus a salad bar and dessert and a beverage.  For a dollar they will split a meal onto 2 plates, we may try that one day.  Back at the RV we started the Gen so we could se if there was anything on TV.  We watched one show – 60 minutes – that was about the author of “The Spy who came in from the Cold” and “Tinker, Tailor, Sailor, Spy” and other novels.  He was an operative with MI6, Britain’s spy agency so his writing is accurate.  Then we turned in as we need to get an early start tomorrow, i.e. on the road before 10 AM.

294 miles covered, 5hrs 25 min on the road

Saturday 20 January Day 2

We are still getting off & on rain showers in the morning. Got up early, (after 8:30), had my coffee while I tried to figure out why the power was not on, discovered a popped breaker, reset it, and the A/C came on in the bedroom. I turned it off.  Sheila had thought she was setting the heat but the bedroom unit only controls the rear A/C.  It blew out as we were running several lights, the electric heater; Sheila probably had the regular furnace on as well and maybe warmed tea in the microwave, a bit too much on the circuit.  After she was up & had her breakfast etc etc it’s off to the Safeway to get stuff we couldn’t bring across the border, away Elks 10:00 @ 48108 and finally out Safeway at 1:10. Away southbound down Hwy 5.  Flying J gas stop @ 48178 @ 12:30, split a 12 inch sub for lunch & out 1:20. Change to Sheila driving at @ 2:00 to 3:20.  Into Seven Feathers Casino parking lot, (we skipped the RV park to save the money, but I miss the hot tub), at 5:10 @ 48365. We planned to go further but light was fading & I had enough of driving the RV towing a car when all I can see are headlights around me.  It’s very hard to judge how far behind me they are when I need to change lanes.  With the car we are probably over 50 feet, (that’s about 17/18 meters or more), Sheila went to the casino while I puttered around in the RV and got supper a bit prepared.  Sheila may go back to the casino but I’m tired.  We are running the generator to use the microwave for supper & to power the computer as the computer battery is shot & it dies after ½ and hour.   

257 miles today, 5 hrs 10 min driving time

Friday 19 January, Day 1

The fridge board arrived at West Coast RV and "B" had it installed and we are set to go. Out at 11:15 & off to Golden Ears Bridge. Then just east of Harris road there was am accident back up. Just before the bridge entrance a car had gone off the road and was in the ditch, another car was on the side of the road with front end damage so it looks like someone changed lanes or severed & hit the other car forcing it off the road.  Ambulance was there so likely some injuries.  About a 10 minute delay. Arrived at the border at 12:45 at 47870.2 miles, (note all distances will be in miles). Clear border at 1:15. Smooth going until around Everett then solid traffic and a slow crawl, (at around 10 to 20 MPH),  through Seattle on interstate 5. The traffic stayed thick and slow all the way through Tacoma, Olympia, and past Fort Stevens.  We stopped for a tea break 5:45 to 6:15 as we weren't going to make Kelso for supper or in day light. Finally into the Elks RV park at 7:45 at 48108 miles.  It was not a fun drive with the heavy traffic plus off & on rain and the clouds making it like evening even at 2:30 in the afternoon.  Had a light supper in the rig and the over to the Elks for their WiFi. No problem getting on the computer remembered the confection from last year.

covered 238 miles from the border in 7 hrs 10 mins less the break of 30 mins so 6 hrs 40 mins on the road. 

Day 0 + 1 Thursday Jan 18, still at home

After the sleepover crew left I went down to the RV to start up the fridge and stow a cpl of things.  Couldn't get the fridge to go, also the gas to the stove was very restricted and would go out after a minute or so.  I phoned "B" at West Coast and took the RV over.  He discovered that the control panel was not working properly so ordered a new one, in Fri AM. Hopefully we can go there with the RV & the car & head south as soon as the RV is ready. By the way after the drive to West Coast RV the stove works fine.  "B" thought is was a blockage when I talked to him on the phone & I guess there was & it cleared driving there. So now we wait again.

Day 0 Wednesday 17 Jan 2018

2018, A new year & a new trip. Getting ready to go.  I picked up the RV from West Coast RV ready to go and parked it in the cul de sac on the level section of the street.  Hopefully we can load and depart tomorrow sometime. Being a shorter trip this year we don't have as much to pack.