FOR SALE!!!!!

 ONE BRAND NEW FIFTH WHEEL

CHEAP!!!

Just kidding, BUT you've heard the old saying if it can go wrong, it will ... especially if it's in MY hands.  It started out a nice morning, cool and calm.  I loaded everything into the truck and off we went to Discount Solar.  Bill went with me for much needed technical support and kept Cooper occupied.  

Right off the bat, I forgot to put the jacks down first before hitting the "down" button.  I'm instantly frazzled, like sticking my finger in an electrical socket!!  We got unhooked just fine, no problem there and drove back to the RV park to the sound of something rubbing at about 16 mph.  What the heck?  We couldn't figure out what it was, even when Bill got in the back and listened closely.  

There's possibly a trip in my future to the Chevy dealer in Blythe.  Bingo is going to be SO happy if I'm late!

Patsy and Bill were kind enough to babysit Jonathan.  Gibbs was pretty fascinated, and apparently barked at lot, which makes Jonathan talk even more.  I think Patsy has videos, so check out her blog.  It was going to be a five hour wait, so Cooper and I sat on their couch while we talked all things Canada.  

Gibbs was such a good boy, but couldn't understand why he couldn't play with Cooper.  He's a bit rambunctious, that youngster.  I'm amazed how well they get along though.

We even went to Carls Jr. for lunch.  I thought Cooper was sick ... he just laid on the seat beside me.

Woohoo!!  A Carls Western Bacon Cheeseburger ... and it was delicious.

On the way back home, they showed me where Celia's Garden was.  I was surprised it was so BIG!!  

I'll come back and take a longer look next time.  Maybe I'll even try to spruce up this old western town.

THEN ... things started to go downhill.  I finally made a decision ... surprise ... that two panels and two AGM batteries would be just fine, after all, I'm probably not going to be doing this for another ten years.  Discount Solar called to say it was complete and they would walk me through everything.  Awesome ... time to head back to the RV Park.  

You know those times when you really need to back up straight in front of people?  I couldn't back up straight to save me.  Too many good looking men watching.  (My rig is the one on the left in this picture).

As I was ready to pull away, one guy said WAIT ... your steps are down.  Oh good grief!!!  Now I'm really frazzled!!

It only gets better.  We got back to the park, I dropped Bill off and was escorted to my space.  The first problem reared it's ugly head.  The hitch wouldn't release no matter what I did.  I walked down to Bills and he came to help.  I finally got completely set up, air running nice and cool, bottle of cold water in my hand, smiling about my new solar.  

Let's watch TV ... but wait ...  I can't get the small satellite controller on the right to turn on.  Everything else works, but not that.  It crossed my mind (only because he just told me) that they put the old converter on a separate breaker, which was turned off.  It's just there in case the inverter doesn't work and I need to charge the batteries.  

I called and you know what they said ... bring it back down.  Are you kidding me?  Okay, I unplugged everything, hooked back up, loaded up the dog (Jonathan was still at Patsy's) and off I went BACK to the shop.

Clay had to take everything apart ... dish box, satellite controller, radio, TV ... and try to figure out how to rewire everything.  Finally ... it's done and I'm headed back to the RV park.

For the second time, I couldn't get the hitch to let go.  Now I'm hot, I've got a headache and I'm not far from screaming.  I take the long walk of shame BACK to Bills door once again and ask if he wants to buy an RV.  

He came to my rescue yet again, but I of course forgot to unhook the plug to the truck.  Yup ... ripped it right out of the plug, and the controller almost pulled out of the hitch.  It's a good thing Bill was there, cuz I would have said a lot of very BAD words.  

At long last I've got the rig set up, Jonathan is inside with Cooper and I turned on the satellite box.  Uh oh ... it's not over yet ... I can't get anything unless I authorize the box, which requires a password, left at home along with all 150 others.

Four aspirin later, I'm writing my FOR SALE ad!!!  Man I'm hoping I got it all out in one day ... I've never had this many things go wrong.  And I still don't know if there's really anything wrong with my truck.  We don't hear the noise constantly, so it's probably not anything mechanical ... maybe the heavy winds rattling something?  I never heard it before because I always have the radio on and the windows up.  

Possibly, just possibly, Jerry Shannon will stop in today to say hello on his way to Phoenix.  He knows all about diesel trucks, so if I'm really lucky, he might help.  If not, it's no big deal, I'll just take a quick trip to Blythe to have the code read.  Better safe than sorry!!   

Here's the cool part.  The app for the battery system is now on my phone.  Just click on it from my cozy recliner and I know exactly where the batteries are at.  Pretty cool.

So today I'll grease the hitch, pray a lot and keep my aspirin bottle close at hand.  But here's the thing, my mini problems are truly nothing.  Patsy and Bill's friends were dry camping next door to us while having a satellite dish installed.  

Out of the blue, things started going south electrically.  Absolutely nothing would work on their new rig.  Something is wrong with their control panels .... jacks, slide, fridge .... everything.  

That gave me a wakeup call ... my problems are SO SO minor!!!  I sending them good luck prayers so their rig can get fixed on the quick!!  And I'm counting my blessings!!