Saturday, June 11, 2011 The Joy of Towing

I woke up this morning and planned to drive about 300 miles. By lunch I had made it north to Fayetteville, NC and after a call with my Mom, I decided to pull over at exit 49 to dine at the Cracker Barrell (one of my favorite RV road stops). Mom had mentioned that friends from PA, Dave and Judy, were in Fayetteville visiting their daughter and perhaps I could catch up with them. Well, as it turns out the Cracker Barrell must be everyone’s favorite RV road stop and all the RV parking spaces were filled. No worries, the hotel across the street has a back lot. I parked there - taking up a few spaces as possible with a 55 foot rig - and after getting permission from the front desk, headed over to the Cracker Cracker as it is known in the Hershberger household. After a filling meal I sauntered back to the RV only to discover a loud beeping noise when I started the ignition. Beeping noises are never a good thing (ask Gary about the time last summer when we pulled off the road because the carbon monoxide alarm was going off – as Gary was frantically jumping around outside waving his arms trying to get the alarm to shut up because it was more than a little annoying – a state trooper pulled over and tried to talk to Gary. Now when my husband is in crisis mode you can not ask him questions. He just ignores you. And I thought it was just me….For a few minutes I was not certain if the police officer was going to help Gary or arrest him…but that is my perspective. I am certain that Gary’s recollection is a little different. Ask him next time you see him). Turns out the beeping noise was the least of my worries. The dashboard was showing an error message. Something like “J1939 transmission not received.” What does that mean?!?!? Well, I called Gary (remember he is several hundred miles away and not thrilled to hear that his wife is alone with a dead motorhome) and after hearing the issue we went into crisis mode. I checked the engine and all I could find was that we were low on engine coolant so off I went to find the Workhorse chassis manual and see what I needed. Gary was on line finding me an Advance Auto store (Kudos to the guys at Fayetteville’s Advanced Auto for helping me find the proper coolant and motor oil. Gotta love guys who help a damsel in distress – and YES, I did play the girl lost in an auto parts store role and they were more than happy to help.) Meanwhile Gary is on the phone with our RV dealership hotline who tells them that while the engine coolant might be low, the issue is bigger and will need a tow truck. A TOW TRUCK? UGHHHH Well, that is why we pay the AAA RV Plus membership. Thanks to Jeremy at AAA Automotive towing and recovery service (I am grateful that I do not yet need the recovery service, just towing PHEW) and to my husband for finding a Chevy dealer who can repair this sensor thingy that is causing the RV to turn over but not shift into gear I should be able to be on the road later on Monday. I am grounded in Fayetteville for a few days as I watch my RV towed off into the sunset (pics below)...more pics on my Facebook page. I am grateful that the issue happened while I was parked and not while I was driving down the highway – thanks be to God and thanks be to each of you my faithful friends.

Friday Night June 10, 2011 We Don’t Need No Stinkin Lists…

Ok, so I made it to Walterboro, SC – about 340 miles from my starting point today. I am staying at the New Green Acres campground just off route 95….I wonder where the Old Green Acres is?!?!? Anyway, when we loaded up the bus I did not create my typical lists of what to pack. I did not review what was already in the motor home. I just grabbed clothing and toiletries, and kitchen supplies and other random stuff that seemed absolutely necessary and decided to leave a week earlier than we had planned. Don’t ask me why I did this because I don’t think I can give you a single response. I only know that it felt like the right thing to do. I did not have anxiety about the trip, which is out of character for me. I just figured I would buy or do without whatever came up. I am a resourceful mid-40 something, right? RIGHT! OK, so I loaded up bag upon bag of stuff that seemed - as I already said - absolutely necessary - and now that I am parked for the night I need to unpack this stuff so that I can find the bed I need to sleep in tonight (OK, so I could have chosen to sleep on the couch, but those of you who know me know that this was not an option in my DNA makeup and I did drink 3 glasses of caffeinated iced tea for dinner…so on with the unpacking). Now, in my defense, and those of you who know me well know that if I need to defend myself from the start that this is one to add to the “stupid Traci stories to tell at the wake,” I did not have my lists. I am a planner by nature. I make lists for plan A and for Plans B, C, D, and E. It is what I do. But – I did not make or refer to lists this time and now that I am half way through the unpacking I see the error of my ways. I NEED SOME STINKIN LISTS - a reference to two of our favorite movies. After unpacking the third deodorant and the fourth bottle of shaving cream, I think, really? I don’t think I use a single bottle every six months so why will I need four bottles for a two month trip. Perhaps leg hairs grow really fast in Canada – time will tell. Moving over to the clothes bags... My God! What was I thinking? I may not need to wash underwear for four weeks given the amount I packed. And I am wondering where did all this underwear come from anyway? At home I swear I can not find a pair for seven days in the week? I think I just grabbed the entire drawer and I must have stumbled on a lost treasure trove of tidy whities. Heavens, some even had the tags on them – if I find any thongs then I know the gremlins have been here. I consider those items on par with nylons as a man made device created to torture the female population…but I digress. Lists – gotta have ‘em! Till next time dear and faithful friends, May God Bless You in your travels, and remember to keep those lists on hand!

Friday, June 10, 2011 Sing it, Willie!

It is mid afternoon on Friday, June 10th and I am leaving Clermont, FL wound up and ready to hit the highway. My darling and doting husband is doing his best to put on a brave face as his wife gets behind the wheel of our 36 and a half foot class A motor home towing a Jeep and 2 bicycles. All told I am driving about 55 foot of vehicle weighing a little over 10 tons ( I remember thinking that I am grateful that we decided to not to load in the kayaks – though as I type this I can not imagine why the extra 30 pounds or so had me concerned. Perhaps it is just the thought of the fully loaded jeep – I am not sure). Gary will join me en route later in the month and he seems worried about me out there alone. I; however, can not wait to be all alone – we have a saying at our house that you are never truly alone – be it the child, the spouse, the dog, company, neighbors, etc…… Anyway, it seems difficult for him to see me leave on my own, and yet I am surprised when we talk on the phone later in the day that he finds it both frightening and a bit exciting to see his wife behind the wheel of the “big rig” (hey, if it turns you on, it turns you on I say! After 27 years together I cherish the little things in our relationship). Back to my original thought…out on the open highway and I am thrilled to be here. I leave you with a story that amused me – yes, my friends, I AM easily amused (SHINY – Shane will understand). A week ago Gary and I were at a campground and an older model Class A Wanderlodge pulled out at 7AM. As he headed up the exit ramp (remember it is 7AM) the bus’ outdoor speakers loudly played the first few bars of that Willie Nelson hit, On the Road Again. I can imagine that this was not to the amusement of most of the campground, but since we were on our morning walk (part of the Global Corporate Challenge – more on that in another post) we were rather amused. So my dear and faithful friends I leave you with this clip (care of Bing videos) and blessings to you and yours on this day that He has made.