Truck Fixed and Dumb Move

 

It’s been a while since posting, when I have to work a full 40 hours, I am just too tired to do anything worth blogging about.

Going back to last Sunday, I must mention that Gypsy (On the Road Again) came for a visit. Of course she got the tour and liked “My Spot'’. We got caught up on what went on this summer since the last lime we met and what our plans are for the near future.

Wow,  Time just flies when you let life just happen.  Yesterday, Friday, I had an appointment to have some work done one my truck.  When we went to the Empire Mine near Nevada City, the blower for the A/C stopped.  There was still cold air, so the compressor still worked, thank God for small favors!  Last week I finally found someone that wouldn’t charge and arm and a leg to figure out what was wrong.  The dealer would charge $134.00 just to diagnose what it was.  Not going there!   So, last Friday, I went over to “Your Neighborhood Garage” in Rancho Cordova where Carl, Jesse’s electrical guy took a look ( no charge) and thought that it was probably the ignition’s electrical switch.  Later on while I was out an about, I got a call from Carl.  He had been checking out records and said that 8 out o 10 times that replacing that part would fix it, so if I wanted, I could purchase the part from the dealer directly to save some time, replacing it would probably take about an hour.  That’s exactly what it was and how long it took.  I would recommend “Your Neighborhood Garage” to anyone.  He just charges for parts and labor and is knowledgeable and friendly.

From there Angel and I went out to the DMV in Folsom to drop off the license plates for the KIA Sedona that I no longer have.  Who knows why they sent them to me!  Then I did a bit of grocery shopping at WinCo. 

I also stopped at Folsom Lake RV to ask a question.  I went in  with Angel and left my purse and locked the truck.  While there I decided to get the electrical adapters.  (Ted has a 20 amp  generator for our trip to Pismo Beach)  Of course I had to go get my wallet, but I did a dumb thing.  Not realizing it, I set my keys down on the seat and locked the truck again.  Fortunately, I have Coach Net.  One of the fellas at FLRV called them for me.  There would be no charge and they would be out in about an hour.  Gee, that’s a dangerous place to leave me for a whole hour with everything RV.  I restrained myself, Derek brought me a cappuccino, I tested out one of those 0 gravity chairs and only a half hour later my truck was unlocked and I was on my way.  This was the first time that I have used Coach Net and I was definitely impressed with their service.   After all that we went home and the rest of  day we didn’t do much of anything.

I am trying to come up with a way to keep things from popping out of some small shelves while towing. The spring type rods are too big, I’m experimenting to make something that will do the same thing.  Today, I ran around looking for maybe thin wood to cut down or foam core board to cut to size. 

I went out to IKEA to get an LED floor lamp to use instead of the overhead lights.  That’s another dangerous place for me.  I always check out the “as is” room. I have gotten some really good deals there, just a pillow and pillow covers this time.  Has any one out there used rugs on top of there carpets?   I was thinking about putting carpet down to help keep the carpeting clean the one on top could be taken out to clean rather than risk getting the sub flooring wet.  Any thoughts?

I had every intention on washing the truck this afternoon, but didn’t, maybe next week. Now it is late and time to go to bed.

                     

Good night  all and thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

Just Hangin’ Out Here in The Spot

 

First of all I would like to remember all the families that lost loved ones ten years ago on 9-11-01.  I pray for all of you and those who responded to that horrific disaster. 

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This weekend has been a slow one for me.I haven’t done much.   I did move some containers from the basement into the shed to get some weight out for when we go to Pismo Beach.  Saturday we went up to High Hill Farm on Apple Hill just east of Placerville CA.  I have holding on to some blown out goose eggs for several years that I was going to give to an artist there.  Every time that I went there I had forgotten them.  What’s weird was that when I got there,  she no longer has the booth.  Oh No! Now what?  So off I went looking at all the other vendors there.  Then  this lady came looking for me to tell me that Dorrie, that’s the lady that does the eggs had come up for the day.  Wow what a coincidence.  I searched her out and gave her the eggs.  It seems that with the economy she only does them out of here home now.

The other reason to go up there was to get one of there Apple Pies, Yuummm.  That I did, but now I would have to share it,  I’m not about to eat a whole pie by my self.  That is exactly what I did today after church  The newlyweds, Karen and Pat came over to check out My Spot.  

The rest of the day I have been reading, catching up on blogs and listening to all the jets flying over and the “bombs” going off.  The Capital Air Show was going on this weekend about a mile and a half from the RV Park. 

I will have to get to bed a little bit earlier tonight, because I start my new shift at work tomorrow (it’s a half hour earlier than what I have now).

That’s about it for now.  I hope that you all have a better week coming up and that those effected by the floods get dried out soon.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

The Labor Day Road Trip

 

“Old Sac” wasn’t enough, Road Trip!   John and I decided to go to visit the Empire Gold Mine State Park in Grass Valley  on Hwy 49 north of I 80. 

                                

          Inside the Visitor’s Center they even have water available for dogs who visit. 

       

There were two tours that we went on.  This is the actual Mine Tour. This is the shaft that the miners would ride down.  It has since filled with up to the natural water table after it was closed, no longer producing gold.  They say that 80% of the gold is still there.

                               

John is standing in front of one of the shafts that Mr. Bourne the owner would take his guests to show them “The Mine”, so that he wouldn’t have to take them to the real one.  They were satisfied so they would go back to “The Cottage” and their other activities.

      

The other tour is the Cottage Tour.  How would you like to live here.  Mrs. Bourne preferred living in their home in Napa.  With the mine going 24/7, it was too noisy and dirty.   This cottage cost them $25,000. to build back then.  You can probably multiply that by 20 for today’s prices.

   

                             The rooms and the grounds are beautiful.

   

                              

                         This is how Angel got around when we went inside.

We enjoyed these tours too.  There was a lot of walking and a lot of it was up hill.  I really got my exercise.  After looking at displays in the visitors center, we decided to go find Cousin Jack’s to try the typical Cornish miner’s meal, pasties.  I had been there before and liked what I had then.  John had the Chicken Combo with Chili and I had the Greek Jenny with Spinach and Artichoke Hearts. mine was good and John liked his too.  Angel sure does like the dog biscuits.

                                          

Another great day.  Home from here and early to bed.  We both have to get up early.

Thanks for joining the tour with

Susan, Angel and Company (John)    http://whatsupwithsusanandcompany.blogspot.com/

Labor Day Weekend

 

The third day of my holiday weekend was one of chores, more research and blog catch up.  It had been awhile since I sanitized My Spot with my steam cleaner, so that and vacuuming one end to the other  occupied my morning and early afternoon.  Later John came over to help me with a telescoping flagpole.  A couple of pieces are stuck.  We also made plans to do something together on Sunday.

After church on Sunday, we went down to Old Sacramento.  Earlier in the day John went down there to see if he could get tickets for the Sacrament River Cruise for later in the day.  Success!   He got tickets for the 5:00pm cruise. 

This was the weekend that Sacramento celebrates Gold Rush Days in “Old Sac”.  There are no motorized vehicles.  They cover streets with dirt and there are only horses, mules, wagons,stage coaches, gun fights and people in period costumes.  We went down a little bit early so that we could get something to eat and experience Sacramento’s “glory days”.

   

We had just enough time to get some clam chowder bread bowls before we boarded for the cruise.

   

    Leaving the dock passing the Delta King.                  Looking back at the dock.         

The Delta King is permanently moored and is now a hotel and restaurant with meeting rooms for special events.

It was an hour long with a nice history “lesson”, going north passing a few sunken boats, Discovery Park, the old and new Water treatment Centers, the Sea Scout Training Center and all the way past several restaurants along the river including the Virgin Sturgeon.  Some of the other structures that we passed were the swing out railroad/auto bridge that was opened especially for our ship.

                   

Along the way. there were all kinds of people in boats and wave runners showing off, jumping wakes and spraying the big boat.

                 

One guy lost his hat and circled back to retrieve it before it sank.  There were fishermen with a regular umbrella for shade.  It was really hot.

                                        

We chose to stay in the air conditioning for a while and then went outside in the shade for the return trip.  Just before we docked you can see the Tower Bridge, one element of Sacramento’s skyline.

                             

      

John was checking out how the Captain “parked” the ship at the dock moving sideways.   All in all, it was a very informative trip.  I had ben on the trip before and still learned more about Sacramento history.

After the cruise we went on board the Delta King to relax and have a drink in the bar/grill.  The Delta King’s sister ship, the Delta Queen, until recently was moved via the Panama Canal to ply the waters of the Mississippi River.  On the way back to the truck we just had to go through a couple of shops.  It was fun and interesting and we both enjoyed our Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for coming along with

Susan and Company   (John took Angel’s place)  Thank you, John, for a great afternoon!

Yea! Short Work Week

Monday, normal, Tuesday, hour and a half training-off the phones,  Wednesday, they decorated my desk and signed a birthday card. 

I took Thursday off for my BD.  I didn’t have too much planned except for an early dinner with a friend, Kyle.  We met at Rubio’s and had Chipotle Shrimp Salad and ate out on the patio where even Angel could come.

Earlier in the day I did a few errands and got a written quote from Holley Generators for installing a 5500 Onan Generator. Wow, it isn’t cheap.  I also tried finding somewhere locally to install Solar.  More choices. Generator, (will always have to have to be able to get fuel just to keep the batteries charged) or  go with solar  and of course follow the sun which I intend on doing anyway (and have a small generator to charge them only when I have to).  What ever I do has to be while I am still working.

On Friday, a road trip was the order of the day.  I made some of my trail mix mini muffins to bring to the friends that I would be visiting at Dillon Beach.  I made a picnic lunch of an egg salad sandwich and was on the road by 9:30am. I arrived at Lawson’s Landing about two hours later.  This was the first time that I had actually gone in, I knew where it was but never wanted to spend the $8.00 for the day use pass.  After paying at the gate I began searching for Renate and Kevin.  There are no sites set up, all boondocking, park your rig or tent wherever you want.  They belong to a car club that goes there every Labor Day weekend.  Someone gets there the Monday before and lays out some caution tape to claim their spot.  Every day another rig or tent comes in and sets up and pretty soon the whole group is there.  They leave the center open for games and socializing, Modern day of “circling the wagons”.  There are a few people there that sell their wares.  I bought a telescoping flagpole and a windsock.   Later I bought some wind chimes to hang from my awning.

                                       

                 

Renate and I drove over to the pier where some people were throwing out crabbing nets, although no one had caught any while we were there.  There were a  lot of birds hanging around, mostly gulls and pelicans.  I took a few pictures, not too many turned out good.

                 

Angel’s not crazy about the water, forgot all about it when she figured that she could get up close and personal with a gull.  It was funny to watch.  Of course, she never even came close,but not for the want of trying.     

                                 

We stayed until about 3:30 when the fog started to roll in.  I made good time until I got on Hwy 12 where nothing was moving.  There must have been an accident.  I saw an ambulance and police.   The only movement there was, was when people would do a turn out and go back to find another route to wherever they needed to go.  It took at least an hour to get to I80. Even there it was not moving very fast with all the holiday traffic.  I was able to check out the traffic on my I pad.   It showed red off and on all the way to where Hwy 50 splits off in West Sacramento, so I was expecting it.  That 2 hour trip took over 4 hours.  Boy, was I tired.  Lesson learned, never travel on a holiday, get there early or stay put until it is over.

That’s it for this post.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

Eventful Weekend, RV Basic Training, Dinner

Thursday

Getting  ready to take “My Spot” on the road.  I took today off so that I can go through some of the stuff in the shed.  I was able to empty  three crates.  Off I went to donate some things to St. Johns Women’s Center.

Right across the street was Holley Generators.  Lionel gave me a written quote on an Onan 5500 Generator installed and some specs on various Honda Generators.  He says that if I go for the Onan, it will take three days to complete the job.  That would mean staying in their lot during that time.  I still haven’t made up my mind on which way to go.

Has anyone ever camped directly on the sand at Pismo Beach?  I understand that it can be quite windy.  Someone has suggested that I might want to block the wind from getting under the rig especially if I have a generator.  Sand should not get in the vents.  It would also help if we want to sit out side.

Friday

This morning I started securing everything inside for tomorrow’s trip.  I know it might be a bit premature, but since I’ve never done this before, I will need to go everything, cabinets and loose things.  Most everything in the cabinet should be fine, but I added some bars and padding around some things that might move while moving.  The things that are loose, I will put into tubs that can be left on the floor.  I’ll wait until tomorrow to strap the furniture down and clear the floor where the slides come in.  that shouldn’t take too long.

Ted will be coming in tonight and will help with the last minute things in the morning.  I think that I am becoming a bit nervous about towing  this HUGE 5th wheel.  I keep thinking, “What have I gotten my self into?” 

                        

Saturday’s Saga

I really have gotten myself into something.  Last night, Ted came in late and after visiting for a little while we both went to bed.  We would be getting up early to finish securing the rig for travel.  When we finished, there still was time to go to IHOP for breakfast.  As usual, I couldn’t finish my meal, so I brought it back to the refrigerator (for another four meals later).

When we got back, we started to go through the process of hitching the fifth wheel to the truck.  That’s when Karen Anderson arrived. She was our instructor from RV Basic Training.  Once we we hooked up, we went inside for the Power Point Presentation and were given the Manuel for Fifth Wheels.  After that and Q/A’s, it was time to do the pre trip inspection.  With that finished, I got behind the wheel and pulled out of the RV Park and down the road we went, heading for an open parking lot. 

Karen set out her cones in a straight line and asked me to back the rig parallel to them.  Yea! Sure!  That was really hard,  for some reason I kept drifting to the left.  Ted did it in two tries.  She then set up a course to simulate my site, sans the overhanging tree, the oleander/crape myrtle bushes, concrete pad and the utility pole.  I had to use my imagination for all of those.  I practiced backing in from the left side and the right (blind) side. I think that I did that much better.  (Left side is easier.)

Oh No!  Karen spotted some fluid coming out from under the hood.  Ted checked to see what it was, the power steering cable spewed out fluid all over the engine, hood and fender.  Then he got on the internet to find a replacement hose.  “Sure we can order that for you.”  “No!”  “We can get by Monday.”  “No!”  After checking out Everywhere he finally found one in south Sac. It was the wrong one, but didn’t realize it until he tried to install it. He had called Kyle and she came over to take him to get the hose.  Thank you to our savior, Kyle.  It is good to have friends to recue you.

We finally broke down ( no pun intended) and had to go to the dealer to get the right one.  Once he had that, it didn’t take long to get us going again.

  

In the meantime, while Ted was installing the hose, Karen and I walked over to Carl’s Jr. to get something to eat. -- Fortunately for me I hand my house with me.  ;-)   I think the soda did a number on my digestive system. (too much sugar)  I’m sure Rudee and Phil of Workin’RVers know what I’m referring to.  I know TMI !

 

When Ted was finished, we were back on the road to do some freeway driving and  some “controlled” braking.  I did pretty well keeping in the center of the lane.  It was time to head on home.  Okay, now was the test,  I need to bring “My Spot” home and park it.  Fun Time!    I DID IT!  I backed it into a very tight space about eight inches farther back from where it was before in spite of the water tank and the forgotten mail box on a post, and because I had a couple of Great Spotters (Ted and Karen).

Wow, what a rewarding experience.  I am really glad that I paid the money for the training and would definitely recommend Karen as an instructor.  Thank You Karen!

Once home, while I got everything in order inside, Ted decided to go over to Kyle’s to take a long hot shower.  He was covered with grease and didn’t want to get my shower messed up.

While Ted was gone, my neighbor, John stopped by to congratulate me on my accomplishment.  He stayed for a while and we had a game or two of Pente and he taught me how to play Mexican Train.  It was an enjoyable hour or so until Ted came home. We said our good byes and  soon went to bed.  What a long and exhausting day!  

Sunday     A less eventful day! 

After another breakfast out, his time it was at the Waffle Shop, we went to church.  Afterwards we went to clean the engine and return the wrong hose.  The afternoon was spent napping until we went over to Steve and Kyle’s.   We had a lovely dinner of grilled tri-tip, corn and portabella mushrooms, steamed  asparagus  and a tossed salad. We had a blackberry cobbler with ice cream for dessert. A big thank you to our hosts. 

That was it for our weekend.  Ted left to get back to San Francisco where he lives. before it got too late.  It was off to bed for Angel and me.

Thank you for visiting

Susan and Angel

Jury Duty, Generator(?) Skirting(?)

                                

That’s really all that I did today.  I reported for Jury Duty.  I left early just so that I wouldn’t have to worry about parking.  The last time that I was called, it took forever to find somewhere to park.  Of course, I was one of the first and had to wait only a short time before they opened the door to the court house.  And I forgot that I had some nail scissors in purse, so they got surrendered. (no real loss) 

I don’t know if any of you have served recently, but in Sacramento you call in or go to the internet to check if you have to report and check each day for a week until you are called in.  Lucky me, I had to report today, 1st day.  If you do report and are not chosen, you are done for 18 months.  (It’s one day or one trial.)  They did call me for one one trial that would have lasted for three weeks.  Out of the pool of jurors, they select the jury + alternatives.  Of those chosen there were at least a half dozen or more that couldn’t serve because of  the length of the trial.  I was released along with the rest that weren’t chosen and sent back to the juror’s room to wait to be called for another trial.  There were ten trials that needed jurors. I was not selected for any others and was released by 4:00 pm. 

They have some process, it works, but you kind of feel like it’s a cattle call.  Mostly it’s just move to one place then  wait and see and move back and wait and see. 

While in the jury room, we watched RV the movie with Robin Williams. :)   Not too boring, I also brought a book to read and my I pad.

While there I did a little research on  generators.  I’m trying to decide on whether to get one or two portable or bite the bullet and get an Onan installed.  So many decisions, sometimes it makes my head swim.  Any input from any of you that have permanently installed or portables?  (portable, a possible target for theft?  I know some of them can be heavy, that’s why two smaller ones.)

I was also thinking about skirting around the bottom to block the wind and sand at the beach and later for the winter.   pros/cons/cost ???????

ENOUGH !!!!!     I think it is time to go to bed and probably dream about it all.

Thanks for visiting

                               

Susan and Angel