The Wilsons

Well, it is Monday and I arrived back home on Friday.

During the rest of our stay at the FMCA Rally in Redmond, our internet was very slow. It may have had alot to do with the fact that many people were using their cell phones to connect to the internet and the cell towers were probably overloaded.

We wandered around the park and saw most of the exhibits. We even spent money, probably too much. We now have a "Tens" unit (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), but by another name. We also bought some folding bikes and a brake system for the car (toad).

We helped Jim and Chris Guld in their seminar "Get to know your laptop". Boy, that made us think about how to do things on the computer. But, I think everyone learned something.

I took Sue to the airport on Sunday morning and dropped her off at 6:45 for a 8:00 flight. Honest, she said just drop me off, you do not have to come in. I went back to the RV and got ready to head over to Bend Service Center to have some additional work done. I arrived at 8:50 on Sunday morning and there were only two spots left with power in their parking lot.

On Monday, I got a four wheel alignment. It took about 5 hours to do. The front Tie Rod was frozen. Probably a result of the Motor Home being drive in the winter in Canada with ice melter on the highways. But, in the end, we now have toe-in on the front wheels. I also had the generator checked as it would not run the last day of the rally, a spring replaced in a window awning, a fresh air intake system installed for the engine and a tank flush installed for our gray water tank. All in all, the coach is now in great shape.

I left Bend Service Center and went over to John and Jeanne's place. I have left the Motor Home there for a couple of months. It is cheaper to drive the car 3000 Kms, round trip, rather than the motor home.

When I left their house on Wednesday, I headed for Spokane and Cour de Lane. I got to about 40 miles (60 Kms) south west of Spokane and the car started to act up. Parked at a rest area, I called Ford Road Side Assistance. About two hours later, I was loaded on to a flat deck truck and taken to Spokane. It was after 6:30 when we got there and one of the service writes was still there. Filled out the paper work, and he even drove me to the hotel. The next morning, by 8:20, I had been told what was wrong with the car. It need a new Throttle Body. By 11:15, I was back on the road home. All the surging that the car used to do on cruise is now gone. I got to Calgary about 9:30.

So, I am now back at home and the plan is to be here until the middle to end of October.

I did not take any further pictures at the Safari Rally in Newport. There were just some really nice coaches there. I had scheduled to get the motor home washed on Saturday, but the lady phoned and advised that she was sick. So, time to bring out the brush and bucket. I did not use any soap, but washed the motor home with the brush and then wiped down with a cloth. Not great, but it looks better.

I left Newport on Monday morning and made my way over to Sisters, OR where I meet up with the others that were going to caravan into the FMCA Rally. We ended up being 20 coaches. Sisters is about 30 minutes from the rally. After about 10 miles, after we had made the first turn off the original hi-way, we managed to pickup a police escort. They took us right to the County Fairgrounds, through traffic lights and stop signs. Neat!

So, now I am parked in Lot 16. The Safari caravan leader requested from the parking crew a space to have our happy hour get together. It is right next to our coach.

On the drive through the fairgrounds, I saw Jim and Chris Guld's motor home. They are "The Geeks On Tour" and are scheduled to do quite a few seminars. I drove over and chatted with Chris about the course that used to be called "Computer Boot Camp" Because Sue and I have taught this course, I thought it was time we took the course. Well, it looks like we are going to be helpers, rather than class members.

Today, at 12:35, Sue flies into Redmond.

Not much else at the moment, but hopefully, I will think of more to write.

Day 1 of the Safari Rally in Redmond, OR is in the books. I arrived here yesterday and the Rally started today. We had our first social hour and evening meal. There are 69 coaches with 135 people on the attendee list. We have a 1996 Safari and there are alot of similar vintage coaches here. Most of the coaches look in excellent condition. There seems to be a pride of ownership. By comparison, I think our unit is really dirty. The people around me seem to think our unit looks really good.

Here is one unit that looked quite different. Yes, that is pink and purple.

This is a shot down the street that shows a couple of very nice shorter units.
Here are a couple of closer pictures of the two units.


It is interesting, the second one had a slide.

Well, it has been a long time since I posted. No Sh_t (I'd like to buy a vowel, Alex). I think it was back in April when I talked about being in Glamis. Then Sue posted about our trip home and some info about the dune buggy. Yes, it is over at Dan's and he is redoing the rear suspension and transmission so that I have more wheel travel and better power (new transmission) to the back wheels. He was going to redo the front suspension with a new front torsion tubes. This would give me some more wheel travel for the front. Once he got looking at the car, he advised that he would be able to do an A-arm front suspension. That shoulod give me close to 16" of front end travel. Result - softer ride. I just have to send "mo money".

I have started a trip to the US to go to a couple of RV rallies. The first one in Newport, OR, starting on Thursday, will be a Safari (brand of our motor home) and then I go to Redmond, OR on Monday to the big international FMCA rally. Sue is flying in on the Tuesday and will be here until Sunday. But first, I have gone to Junction City, OR.

I got some new furniture installed today for the motor home. Here is a before picture.
This is a during the install picture with most of the furniture out.
These are the after pictures.

The kitchen table chairs should be ready tomorrow.

When I get better internet, I will try and create some more posts.