And here we go ...

We're off and running ... the new journey has finally begun... but not without a little drama.

Planning to leave Tuesday around noon, we had to wait for a FedEx shipment that was promised that day. Little did we know we'd be the last delivery on the guys 500 mile route. He'd been on the road so long he had a 3 day beard. Anyway we got underway at sundownbut and about 30 miles down the road I had one of those feelings that only those who own a big old coach could know. Something wasn't right. I found the next rest stop and did a quick look-around and found the air line to the toad's braking system had disconnected ... meaning the toad brakes couldn't help me stop. Not a huge deal but something that needed fixing. A little scraping with my Swiss Army knife and presto...it was fixed. Do you suppose I'm psychic? So on we went into the night. I hate driving the coach at night for some reason ... maybe it's because I can't see as well but whatever it is I'll take daylight driving anytime.

We motored along through Lansing on towards our first stop ... Battle Creek. We planned to visit friends and relatives and thought we'd just park the rig at the new Fire Keepers casino. Easy to find off I94, we'd figured they'd have a big parking lot that was safe and level. About 15 minutes before arriving I started the generator just to exercise it a bit. It roared to life and all is good... I thought. Then a couple of miles down the road I noticed something new. My transmission temperature gage was spastic, bouncing wildly from side to side. No correlation between the generator and gage but just something more to worry about.

Arriving at the casino I mistakenly passed the two entrances I should have gone into but did manage to turn into the employees parking lot. I pulled to the rear only to drive down a dead end lane ... which meant I needed to unhook the toad and back out. I started the process grumbling to myself when the casino security drove up asking if I needed any help. After registering my dismay about the size of the RV parking sign (the one I missed) I said said yes that he could help direct me so as I wouldn't back over an embankment. He was more than helpful and led me to the proper parking area. He cautioned me not to use my levelers as it would wreck the asphalt and directed me to a dirt field if I needed to. He also noted that the casino wasn't too excited about rv'ers but apparently tolerated us. They apparently don't like over-nighters. I don't think that was an official answer but the way the parking is set up I could agree with him. Tight turns and narrow entrance ways and few, if any, pull-thrus. While chatting with him the generator unexpectedly stopped. It looked as if I had plenty of fuel (1/3 tank) but just in case the gage was wrong, I backed the rig out of my fresh new parking spot and headed for a nearby truck stop. Topping out with only 130 gallons I knew that the generator could not have been starved for fuel because there were still 70 gallons on board. I cranked and crank on the generator for a half a dozen times but no luck. Figuring it was a fuel shut-off solenoid problem, I gave up and Sharon and I headed for the casino ... planning to win enough money to buy a new rig in the morning. Well that pipe dream didn't happen ... but at least we had the chance to get with our friends George and Paula for an hour or so as they came out to the casino to see us.

About an hour later, and maybe $30 in the hole, we said our goodbyes to our dear friends and those hungry one-armed bandits and headed back to a cold coach. Without an electrical hookup or a working generator it was going to be a cold night. With a sub 30 degree evening ahead it was going to be a little nippy. Saving our batteries to run the refrigerator was the only choice (gotta keep the beer cold and the steaks frozen ya know) so we got ready for bed. It was just an after-thought but I decided to try the generator again and without hesitation it fired to life. It gave no reason for scaring me but just purred along producing all the power I would need. So the steaks, and beer and occupants are all now doing well. Life is good.

And this is just the first day... 100 miles from home. 1000 to go.

Still livin' the dream ...

Phil