Our RV Adventures

This morning started out sunny but deteriorated into rain later in the afternoon, but we still had a good time today.

I fixed coffee about 10 along with a warm muffin, and then we just enjoyed the view out of our windows of the surrounding woods.

About noon Jan called to check in with our son Chris. The family was on their way down to Galveston to spend the afternoon and eat dinner. Then around 1:30 I called our friend Nick Russell to check in and update him on the park here.

Around 2 we drove the 20 miles north to Bend, OR to have lunch and look around the area.

After checking our GPS for nearby restaurants, we headed over to the Old Mill Shops along the river to have lunch at Red Robin. We first ate at a Red Robin in Michigan last year with Nick and Terry, and it was just as good this time.

We both had delicious burgers and steak fries and enjoyed the view looking out over the Deschutes River that flows through Bend.

Then after our great lunch we walked down the block to the Central Oregon Visitor’s Center that we’d noticed on our way through the parking lot. The lady was very helpful in giving us information and brochures on things to do and see in the area.

Leaving the riverfront area we drove into downtown Bend to check out some of the old homes along the river. They’ve done a great job revitalizing the riverfront and converting the old factories and warehouses into shops and apartments.

Then before heading back to the park we checked out several bakeries to get some bagels, but they had all closed early in the day. We’ll try again tomorrow.

Coming back south we started hitting some rain, unfortunately not enough to really wash the car clean, but it helped.

After getting home and settling in, we put in the DVD for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 and sat back with bowls of popcorn to catch on Pt. 1 before Pt. 2 comes out later this year.

Not sure what we’re doing tomorrow. We’ll see.

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Thought for the Day:

What was the Best Thing BEFORE sliced bread?

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Originally posted on June 7, 2010

We pulled out of our park about 8 am, heading first right down the street to take on about 140 gallons of diesel. And for a change, the price had gone down.

When we got here, the price was $2.97, then yesterday the price was $2.91. Today it was $2.89. And this is the first time in a long while that diesel is cheaper than unleaded, if only by 4 cents.

We left the station and pulled on to I-15 South about 8:30, heading toward Monticello, UT, about 270 miles away. We had a great time spending a few days with our friends Pat and Judy, and they did a fantastic job showing us around Salt Lake City. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch up with them again soon.

The first thing I starting checking after we got on the road was whether or not my PacBrake exhaust brake is working, or at least activating.

I know it’s not working, or at least it doesn’t seem to slow me down any more than just the downshifting than happens. But what I didn’t know is whether or not it’s actually moving into position.

But now I do. Last night I mounted a video camera in the engine compartment under the bed and ran the cable to a small monitor up on the dash.

In the first photo you can see the PacBrake valve in the rest position.

In this photo the valve has moved.

So now I know that the air actuator is working and moving the valve. I think this means that I have one of two other problems.

The PacBrake is a butterfly valve that is installed right after the turbocharger and provides backpressure to the system when it closes. So this means that either the valve is not closing all the way, or I have a leak in my exhaust system.

So now I’ve got to try to figure out where to go next with this.

Actually I was really hoping that the PacBrake wasn’t activating. That would mean that I had a bad relay or a bad air solenoid or actuator, something that would be easier for me to fix.

Oh, well. Back to the drawing board.

About noon we hit a 25 mile stretch of I-70 so we stopped in Green River at an Arby’s located in a truck stop so we had no trouble parking.

Along the trip today I noticed that my engine temps were running hotter than normal. Usually my water temp runs rock steady on 175 degrees, with occasional excursion up to 180-185 on long hills.. But today I’m hitting 190 – 195 on the hills with one 199 observed. I knew I wasn’t low on water, so what was wrong?

Then it suddenly dawned on me that it was about 95 degrees outside. This is the first time we’ve seen 80 degrees this year, much less 95. Most of our travels this year have been in the 50-60 degree range. So now it made sense. One less thing to worry about.

During the trip we saw some great scenery along the way. These photos are in no particular order.

This is Wilson Arch, about 25 miles south of Moab, UT.

About 2:30 we pulled into Mountain View RV Park in Monticello, UT. The note on the office door said to find a site and pay later, so we did.

I did have to reposition sideways a little or there would have been some serious ‘slide kissing’ going on. Even now there’s not a lot of room.

This park has about 30 spaces, and is basically an RV park in someone’s large front yard. That’s their house in the back there.

Our daughter Brandi called just as we were getting parked. She and Jan talked a good while going over the wedding plans for the 21st.

We had leftovers tonight so we didn’t even unhook the toad. Just one less thing to do before we leave for Show Low, AZ tomorrow morning.

asdfds

For me, this morning started about 7:15 when I got up before Jan and started getting us ready to roll. I took down the sat dish and got everything done outside except for dumping and unhooking power.

About 8:15 I woke up my sleepyhead so she could get ready to go to breakfast at the Hi-Lo Diner, as we’d decided to have one last meal there before we left.

Getting back to the park, we dumped our tanks, said our goodbyes to some new friends, unhooked power, and hit the road.

Right down the block to the Pilot to take on some diesel. In checking my Silverleaf, we did 882 miles on this tank and used 109.6 gallons for a little over 8 MPG. Not bad considered all the hills we’ve climbed since I last filled up in Las Vegas on May 10th.

About 10:45 we hitched up and pulled out down the road. Taking a back street, rather than getting out on I-5 and then right back off, we drove thru downtown Weed and then out of town on US 97, heading north. For the first 12 miles or so we were retracing our route to the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farm, but after that it was all new scenery for us. And very scenic it was.

We gradually climbed up through 5000 feet and then the land started to level out, with light to medium forest cover. About 70 miles before we reached the park, we could see Mt. Scott off to the left, that marks Crater Lake, one of our sightseeing destinations while we’re in this area.

The road, although mostly two lane with a lot of passing lanes, was overall pretty good with no real bad spots. A good day’s travel.

Our friend Nick Russell called about 2:30 to check in and see where we were, which at that point was about 5 miles from the park.

We pulled in to the Bend/Sunriver Thousand Trails about 2:45. To make it easier to find a site, we pulled into a large parking lot to unhitch the toad and drive it around.

Since we won’t have sewer hookups I wanted to try to find a site near one of the 2 dump sites. Looking at the map, we drove to the rear of the park and found the perfect site. Although there are some other rigs within a few hundred feet of us, we can’t see them and they can’t see us.

Perfect!

Here we are all tucked in, nice and cozy.

When we were looking for a site, I was careful to pick one where I thought I could get a satellite view. Here’s what I ended up with for 85% signal.

And as happens occasionally, I sat the dish down on the picnic table, leveled it, and went inside to turn on the sat receiver. And it came up locked on the signal.

Also nice.

Here’s a couple of views of the roads leading away from our site.

Of course, if you’re a little more sociable, the sites toward the front of park are less forested and closer together.

But who wants that?

And, unlike Nick Russell’s recent experience at the Thousand Trail’s parks on the Oregon coast, I have 4 bars of 3G with good Internet service.

All in all, a very nice park.

About 5 Jan and I headed out for dinner. We decided to check out a place called Boondock’s that advertised in the RV park brochure. We always try to patronize these places, and let them know we’re from the park

Inside and out, the place was nice, but nothing fancy. But boy, was the food delicious.

Jan ordered the Captain’s Seafood Platter with Beer Battered Cod, Scallops, Prawns, and Clam Strips, and I had the Pork Loin Marsala with Pears.

When our salads came, Jan looked at it with some trepidation. This is not Jan’s kind of salad, as there’s not a piece of iceberg lettuce anywhere in there.

As Jan said, “These are weeds”. But after tasting it with the homemade Bleu Cheese dressing, and sprinkled with candied slivered almonds and Craisins, she had to admit, “Even the weeds here are delicious.”

Our meals were fantastic, and we’re definitely going back before we leave in 10 days.

Since we’re about 200 miles further north, we’re running into colder weather again, with mid 30’s expected here tonight.

Nice!

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Thought for the Day:

Remember, if you’re going through Hell, keep going.

sdfg