TOUR AMERICA, 2020: YUMA, ARIZONA – THE GRAND CANYON STATE

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

February 29, 2020

Temperature 89 Degrees

Back Home And Slowly Getting Back to Normal

So after the run with Graybeard from Arizona to Ohio I’m now back home and things are slowly getting back to normal.

But our Itasca is no longer called Graybeard, it is now known as the Spirit of Adventure.  It also no longer belongs to us but is now owned by my

son Paul and his wife Brittany.  I’m confident that they like us will have many miles of smiles as they travel the country in Spirit of Adventure.

What a trip it turned out to be.

This is a picture of the accident damage that yours truly inflicted on a once perfect coach.  I was literally on the verge of throwing up after it happened.  One moment, just a second of inattention and the damage was done.  We’ll know the cost of repairs sometime next week.

The first couple of travel days were easy with no issues.  Then we ran into snow.  Frozen windshield wiper blades.  Bitter cold. Temperatures hovered in the low to mid twenties. Point of fact the last RV park we stayed in we had to leave the jack pads behind, they were frozen to the ground.  Yet, the two seventeen dollar space heaters we purchased before we left saved the day.  They kept the inside of the rig at a tolerable temperature.  Sweat pants and layers of sweat shirts also helped a lot.

What did I learn from this trip?  First and foremost trips in weather like this suck.  There is no other way to put it.  Second, as my son would remind me over and over, it’s no big deal we’ll just take it a day at a time.  So we did and we got through it and survived.  Third, I discovered my son is a born motorhome driver.  He handled the rig with ease on the road, in tight parking situations and everywhere else.

Spirit of Adventure is now at its new home in Ohio.

It was tough leaving behind an old friend that has taken us so many wonderful places in this great land of ours.  Harder still to leave that friend in a cold, snow covered storage lot.  I swear I saw a tear run down the windshield as I turned to leave.  Time now to let my good friend take my son and his wife on their own memorable adventures.  I’m sure he will treat them well and will definitely look after them wherever they roam.

I’m back home now and it is oh so nice to be where the temperatures are much more to my liking.  Today was in the 80’s and there are more days like this to come.  Yipee!

I’m now getting back in the groove in terms of upgrades and repairs.

We solved our hot water heater problems.  For several days after the new one was installed we could only get hot water on propane.  I found out today that there is a secondary electrical switch outside in the hot water box that needs to be turned on.  A flip of the switch and we now have hot water either by electric or propane.

The new surge protector has been installed.  I can monitor what its doing via Bluetooth on my phone.  I like that.  I also like the fact that it is finally in place.

I got the battery box to freely slide back and forth.  It only took a can of slide out lube and it was moving in and out without an issue.  I checked the water in the coach batteries, all OK.  I checked the chassis batteries and they are so – so.  May have to replace them.  As of now I have both chassis batteries on a three step charger.  I’ll check tomorrow and see what gives.

I did discover we need a new muffler.  What’s the old saying?  Nothing lasts forever!  We’re getting there.  Piece by piece anything is a cinch.

I scrapped and repainted the entrance steps today.  They look so much better and don’t gross me out anymore when I approach them.  Must remember, first impressions matter so who wants to see a set of rusty steps when they first approach Elvira.  Not me that’s for sure.

I began installing LED Lights inside throughout the coach.  Everything is done except the fluorescent lights.   Since they need to be rewired I’ll take a couple at a time.

So it goes.  It feels good to be finally making some progress toward getting the items done on my punch list.

So we continue our journey down The Road of Retirement.  It’s been quite an adventure as of late.  It’s been full of ups and downs.  Great time with family, my sister included.  The one thing that I can honestly say, It sure is great to be back home with my sweetheart.  Well, time to get some shuteye.

Thanks for checking in with us.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Catch you again tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!