Fulltiming Road Runners

…I’ve taken so long to write another blog.  Probably because we are trying to play catch-up after our colds knocked us down so hard.  I’m pretty much over it, but Thom is still coughing up flem and generally feeling tired.

We’ve enjoyed having Marv and Deb back and it was fun to spend more time with their friends Rick ‘n Sheree (who left for Parker today).  Our new friends Sue and Chuck are still parked out by us and we’ve enjoyed getting better acquainted.  We just keep meeting more and more people we don’t want to loose touch with.  We sure enjoy and appreciate our lifestyle which allows us to find all these new friends.

The weather here has been just a fraction from being perfect.  It’s been warm (highs in the mid 70’s), a slight breeze during the day, and clear, beautiful, blue skies.  This is supposed to last for at least a week.  The only thing that might make life better is for me to go back, check my tax forms and find I made a mistake and we don’t have to pay, but get money back instead.  (dream on).

Our toilet had another leak… this one leaking fresh water thru the vacuum valve into the toilet.  We had to turn off the water to the toilet until we could get a replacement valve ($50) to put on.  Marv and Thom got that done yesterday.  We’re at the point now where if one more thing goes wrong with the toilet, I’m gonna say “Just replace the whole toilet!”

We bought our 5th wheel in 2006, moved into it in August of ‘06.  We had the manufacturer put fluorescent lights in the ceiling in our bedroom and living room instead of incandescent because they are more efficient energy users.  NOT FOR US!  Right from the beginning the bulbs in the bedroom would blow every few months.  We’re at the point now where none of the 3 fixtures in the bedroom work.  The ballasts have all blown.  Come to find out, we are putting out 14.3 volts straight into the fixtures… they can’t handle that kind of power so blow the bulbs/ballasts.  I don’t understand electricity at all, so I may not be explaining this correctly, but I’ll do the best I can.  When the problem first started a few months after we bought the 5er, the service tech called the manufacturer because he couldn’t find the converter.  He was told there was no converter because we had a Zantrax 3000 inverter.  Today in a conversation with the manufacturer of the trailer, Thom was told all the units they made had a converter in them.  They told us where the converter should be and Marv took a gander… nothing there but a transfer switch.  There electric engineer is supposed to call us tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.  It will be interesting to see what they come up with.  The 5er has been out of warranty for 1-1/2 years, but this issue has been going on since shortly after we bought it.  I have copies of all the work orders.

I’ll be sure and let you know what the outcome is.  Knowing our luck, it will be a couple of thousand $$ out of our pocket to fix the problem.  I guess we’ve been lucky that we’ve been able to make things work (and not blow up) these last 3-1/2 years.

There is a gorgeous campfire going outside, with great friends gathered around it and I’d love to be a part of it.  I’m going to say goodnight and go join Thom, Sue ‘n Chuck, ‘n Marv ‘n Deb!

Ya’ll stay healthy ‘n happy.

Toodles.