Bustling Week

Our days are replete with packing, planning and farewells as we make preparations to get underway.

Many of our service issues discovered on our recent shake-down cruise have been addressed by Camping World. It seems that we never get everything completed before something else develops, but this appears to be the nature of RV’ing. RV’s are much like boats in that they require continual maintenance. We are always checking for leaks – both from the outside and from the plumbing. Because it is a home that is often in motion, it is necessarily one in which items persist in coming loose and is a concern. And beyond these apprehensions we have the normal everyday duties concerning the operation and cleanliness to keep us engaged.

 I am amazed at how many items from our coach ended up in the house and now need to be repacked. Not just clothes but all the little items we think of during the summer that we retrieve from the coach for use in our home. Tools, electronics, books, documents, kitchen utensils, cameras, pet items, office supplies, etc. all have to be sorted out and placed back in our traveling home. It is also certain that we will not be on the road a day before we discover some things that we have forgotten. Oh well.

Last night we met Kathy’s folks, George & Gloria, at Camping World for a meet and greet with Marcus Lemonis, CEO of the company. There was food and a remarkable drawing where RV items were given away. Mr. Lemonis must have given away $100,000 in shopping certificates, RV discounts, generators, grills, awnings, service contracts, and such. George and Gloria walked away with a $1000 in merchandise. It was very interesting. Tonight we will spend the evening with the folks again as we will go out to eat and then say our farewell. Tomorrow night we dine with Glen & Rita, Kathy’s sister and Brother-in-law.

If everything goes as planned we will pull out on Thursday or Friday and point our rig west. We aren’t sure about what we will see and do between Rochester and the Grand Canyon but this is part of the adventure. After all, we aren’t following an itinerary but are embarking on a voyage of discovery.

   

A New RV Adventure

It has been a great summer in our new Rochester, NY digs. I (Hal) have certainly enjoyed being away from the Florida heat and humidity. While it does get warm here it is not as humid as Florida and the nights are much cooler. Kathy has been busy with the grand-kids and has appreciated being near her family.

In July I made a trip to Alton Bay, NH as my dad was visiting the family cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee. Our dear friend Larry Sanborn met me there and we enjoyed an all boys getaway. Golf figured greatly in our agenda and, as we were batching it, going out to eat was a common occurrence. Larry then rode back with me to Rochester where he visited with Kathy and I for a week. We all visited friends in Canada together using our Winnebago as a base by camping on Grand Island, NY near Niagara Falls.

This side trip in the RV served as a shakedown cruise to check out all our systems. It was fortunate we did this as we discovered several issues (as usual) the most serious being a major leak from the slide when we had a rain storm. Yesterday I retrieved our rig from Camping World in Churchville, NY where they addressed everything they could without ordering parts which would take too long and delay our trip.

Yes, I said trip. We have decided to leave NY early and travel out West. Neither of us have ever visited the Grand Canyon so our plan is to explore Arizona and the Southwest. If possible I would also like to do Death Valley, Yosemite, and Sequoia. We have friends to visit along the way in Chicago, Mesa, Phoenix, Tuscon, Reno and we might try, if the timing works out, to do the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque. 

We are going now because school will be in session, which will lessen the crowds at the National Parks, and hopefully, the weather will be cooler. This promises to be quite an adventure and will be the longest trip we have made as yet in our coach. This trip will also be interesting in that it is unscripted. The only certainty is the Grand Canyon. Other than that we will free-form this excursion as we go. No schedule equals no stress and pressure to stay on track. Where we find ourselves is where we are meant to be, and wherever we we decide to divert to will not serve to disturb any preconceived timetable or destination. It sounds like fun. We hope you'll come along with us.