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!

We have our new RV!! She is called Kyalami!

We picked up our Dutch Star yesterday and so far we love it! It is so bright and airy inside, and so roomy. In the Seneca we lost about 6 feet in the front due to the engine and the cab. In this new RV we can make use of the whole inside space. It is awesome! We have a real bedroom, not just a small cubicle at the end of the vehicle. Michael is thrilled with all the room in the large bins underneath.

Timmy has made himself at home already, choosing to sleep under the dinette table. He also likes the sofa back where he can sit and look out the window.

We are planning our first weekend away over the Canada Day weekend when we go to the Lake Whittaker Campground in Kettle Creek Conservation Area. Come back for a report on that trip.

The Seneca looking very forlorn on sales row.

I am back!!

Well, it has been far too long since I posted to the blog. I (Dee) was quite ill for a week (tummy bug) and am only recovering now. Then we had to come home to Ontario and I just had to take things easy for a couple of months because my knee was giving me trouble. We have been doing the rounds of doctors, dentists, eye specialists etc.

In the meantime we have traded the Seneca in for a Newmar Dutch Star. Here are the pics of the new rig. We have named the RV "Kyalami". which mean "Our Home" in Zulu.

This is one of the reasons we upgraded. The Seneca has a queen bed which is squeezed into the the back corner, I am having terrible trouble with my knees and back and found it exceedingly difficult to get in and out of bed. I can now get in and out with ease and when I have my knee surgery, I will even be able to use a walker inside. 

I have had a cortisone shot in my knee and I am feeling on top of the world. My tummy troubles are over and I have a whole new lease on life. Hooray!

Camping World, Syracuse

My sister's home is very close to Hagerstown so it is very easy to jump onto the I 81 North. From there straight up to Syracuse and Camping World. We pulled in to the parking lot, asked permission to stay overnight, plugged in to their electrical outlet (30 amp). Did a bit of shopping in the store for some back tank deodorant and turned in for the night. We were up early the next morning and headed for the border.it took us all of 10 minutes to get through. Being a Sunday, the 401 in Ontario was very quiet.

Cedar Beach Park is not open yet, so we cannot go in. Instead we will reverse into the driveway of the Whitby house until Cedar Beach opens.

Visiting my sister in Keedysville, MD

We spent a few days with my sister in Keedysville, Maryland. She is doing a lot of renovations to her house, including a new fence around the back of their property to keep her recently adopted Chesapeake Bay Retriever in the yard. This does mean that we do not have as much room as we had in November to park the Seneca, but there is still enough space for us to get into the driveway if we keep our big slide in. We did not do anything other than a bit of outlet shopping and a new Apple computer for me. If you remember correctly my computer screen backlight died. I was coping with it by hooking up the small TV screen to the computer. This worked very well for the interim. I will get the old computer repaired and give it to our grandson. So a few quiet days with my sister, we picked up the temporary drivers license for Michael, much to his relief. I was pretty much under the weather for the stay, sleeping a lot and not really feeling up to par.

Wedged in between the fences on my sister's drive way

New veggie gardens

The chicken coop

Our Seneca parked in the driveway

Sam, looking beautiful on the back porch

Woof, woof, Timmy come and play.