Of washing machines, tires, turning flashers and heat cores....

On Monday the 3rd, we checked into Keystone RV campground so that we could be there when they wanted to instal the used washer/dryer that we had bought online? Well, they couldn't take us on Tuesday! so we had to wait until Wednesday. They installed it without a problem, but for double the quoted price. Still it was a lot cheaper that what we would have paid in Ontario. While were there, a tech gave us a "courtesy" 27 point check. Well, wouldn't ya know, he found that we needed 4 new rear tires and he just happened to know someone who could provide them....no thank you sir. We have Family Motor Coach membership and they have a Michelin Tire discount program.

The dryer vent gets installed first.

We have a hole in our RV!

Ahh! My washer dryer is installed!

After the washer/dryer had been fitted, we drove the 20 odd miles to my sister's house in Keedysville, Maryland. It is always lovely to see my little sis and her family. We stayed until Saturday morning and then drove to Shadrack campground in Bristol, TN. On the way there we noticed that the left turn flashers were not working.

Parked across the back of my sister's driveway.

My sister's very loooong driveway.

There were two other trailers at Shadrack Campground, and it was very quiet and peaceful. This is a Passport America campground and cost us all of $15.00 a night including taxes. we had full hookup so I took the opportunity of doing some laundry in my washing machine Awesome!!

From there were went to a Michelin tire dealer, TCI, about 34 miles south of the campground. They were very helpful, but did not have any tires. Also, they were unable to resolve the turning flasher problem, but they referred us to an RV dealership a bit further south. We got to Tri-Am RV after a quick stop at Pilot for a diesel top-up.

When we pulled into the dealership parking lot, Michael noticed that there was anti-freeze trickling from the heating core up front. WHAT NEXT?????

The RV dealership was unable to help as they do not deal in motorhomes, but they referred us to Interstate Repair in Strawberry Fields, near Knoxville. So off we set once again, this time armed with a bottle of anti-freeze in case we overheated.

At Interstate Repair we told Jack, the owner/manager what problems we had. He phoned around, but was unable to locate a new heater core. He wants to rebuild the one that we have. Not sure that we want this, and so we went online to see if there was a Newmar dealer anywhere around. Guess what! There is one only 27 miles away, so we will go there tomorrow. We are presently parked in the repair shop parking lot with a 30 amp hookup.

Our beautiful view at Interstate.

While we were at Interstate Truck repair, the owner told us about a set of 4 Michelin RV tires that he has on hand. They are used, but if the price is right, we may buy them. We'll have a look at them tomorrow.
So in all, it has been a very frustrating day. Tomorrow a cold front is moving in with the possibility of some snow. Ugh, we have to get south!

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A freezing night in New York State

Our trip east on the 401 was uneventful and it was a breeze getting through the border. Where are you going? Do you have any fruit and vegetables on board? Are you carrying more than $10,000? OK, have a good trip.

We ended up stopping at a Passport America campground in Cortland, NY. Because we missed the turn for Camping World in Syracuse. Cost was $11. Gotta love that membership.

It went down to -5C overnight, but we were toasty and warm inside with the propane furnace and a small fan heater on all night. We also have an electric heating under pad on the bed. Needless to say, Timmy, aka the most spoiled dog on earth, also has a heated underpaid! The campground was called Cortland Country Music park. It was OK. Very small. Electric only and small sites. We were allowed to park across a couple of sites so we did not have to unhook.

The pond in the middle is a stopping off place for Canada Geese, so goose poop was everywhere. However, we managed to dodge most of it.

This morning when we were ready to go, one of the jacks would not retract properly, so Michael has to crawl underneath to spray it with silicone. Et Voila, the jack retracted and we were off.

It has been warming up nicely as we travel south. Tonight's stop is at Keystone RV in Greencastle, PA. They are also a Passport America campground.

 

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How do you say NOVEMBER???

We say it like this...TIME TO HIT THE ROAD!

We pulled out of our home park yesterday and took the short drive to our daughter's house in Whitby, Ontario. All of 49 kms. We are now set up on the driveway. Luckily when the family bought this house last year, it came with a 50 ft long, almost level drive. Last year we did park in the back yard, but we have decided to stay on the paved drive this time. Don't want to get stuck in mud now, do we???

The weather has really taken a turn for the worse, with rain, howling gales and just plain misery! We plan on leaving on Sunday morning to take advantage of the quieter travel as we will be driving east to the border crossing at Gananoque. On to Camping World in Syracuse for our first stop. Our second stop will be at Keystone RV in Greencastle, PA. We have bought a used Splendide Washer/dryer combo and we are picking it up there. Then a few days with my sister in Maryland. After that?.....who knows. Maybe we will go down the Natchez Trace if the weather cooperates. Watch this space!

Our intended Route:


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Summer trip to Cambridge and Southampton

**Please be patient....I am having difficulty uploading some photos.

At the beginning of August we pulled Kyalami out of our base camp and took her to Valens Conservation Area. South African friends in Cambridge had their parents visiting from Durban and it was their 40th wedding anniversary. We were invited to come down for the surprise party. The closest campground is Valens and we were able to get a large pull through site. The sites have water and electricity and as we did not require sewer for 1 night it was just perfect. We were situated in a pine forest and as most people had gone home after the long weekend, it was nice and quiet. Our son, Greg, came with us as he wanted to experience being a passenger in the RV.

Greg enjoys the drive from the passenger seat.

Our site at Valens Conservation Area

Greg was fascinated by the distorted reflection in the back of the rear view mirror.

Lunch at Armens with Russ and Trixie (Russ took the photo)

The blackboard menu

Greg enjoys his vegetarian wrap.

Our site at Holiday Park

Squeezed in

We only stayed there one night and after the party we packed up and drove north west to Southampton to visit some other friends, Trixie and Russ. They have a seasonal trailer up at Holiday Park and as this is their last season up there, we decided to make the trip up. Our site there was very tight and not very pretty at all. we managed to squeeze in and eventually got hooked up. There was an issue with the sewer as the previous occupants had moved the pipes and we were not able to get our sewer hose to the drain.
We had a very pleasant two days there, spending some quality time with our friends and doing a lot of eating and chin wagging. Greg had taken his bike up and did quite a lot of riding up in that area.

Russ, Trixie, Michael and I took a walk around some Indian gardens nearby and found a couple of Cutesy signs planted in among the flowers. the gardens themselves were quite wild, but the situation was just beautiful on the bank of the Saugeen River

It was a very nice short time away. Great times spent with good friends.

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Stuck in the mud!!!!

This past weekend we travelled west to Lake Whittaker Campground just south of London, Ontario. We were booked on a 30 amp site (111) in the poolside area. We enjoyed the drive there in the rain, oohing and aahing at how quiet and smooth Kyalami (the RV) is. My dishes did not even rattle.

We arrived at the campground in rain, found our site and checked the ground. It seemed solid. we both weigh less than 190 lbs. The RV weighs about 35,000 lbs. Guess what! You got it, we reversed into the site, put the jacks down and started sinking! Panic stations! We asked the park staff to try and help us get some boards under the wheels which we did, by jacking the back up with the jacks on wooden boards. Alas the wheels just spun on the wet boards. After trying for about 45 minutes, we realized that we were not going to get out on our own power so called Coach Net. We had bought the roadside assistance the week before and so glad we did! They were fantastic! A heavy duty tow truck arrived in about 30 minutes, hooked up the front axle and winched us out. whew!

Now we had a problem. Couldn't go back onto our site and the campground was full. The manager very kindly allowed us to park in the parking lot for the group camping area. No hookups, but that was fine as we are completely self contained, with a 7500 W Generator, fresh, grey and black water tanks. It took us a few tries to find a level spot, but we eventually got parked and were very comfortable. We got some very funny looks from those people who did not see us getting hauled out.

Wheel jacked up and boards placed under the wheels

Trying to get boards under the wheels

The holes from the back leveller jacks. 

The tow truck has arrived.

This thing is BIG!

We are sitting half out of the site, before being hitched up to the winch.

We're out! Quite a mess left behind.

Leveller hole.

The wheels were just slipping on the boards.

Parked in the Group Camping Parking lot.

After a wonderful weekend with a group of South African friends we left on Tuesday morning and drove to Strathroy, West of London. The reason for this trip is that we needed to go and see the furniture company who built the new LCD TV into the front of the RV. We need to get into the back of the TV to put an HDMI cable in. Michael had tried to get the TV out, but was unable to figure out how to do it. It took three carpenters almost an hour to get it out. It was in there so tight! We do know how to do it now.

Kyalami at the wood shop in Strathroy

It took 4 men to put in the HDMI cable. 3 to hold the TV and cabinet and 1 to put the cable in!