Because of course

 I’m really glad that Greg is on this first stretch of my run down to Texas. 

My 12-volt battery system batteries have been not working since I got the oil changed in my RV. The shop that did the change didn’t realize they were running the batteries down. Granted, the batteries were 4 or 5 years old already, but running them down to zero truly killed them. 

I had plugged the RV into shore power & they came back up to half power. So we hit the road. 

On our first night, they died again. So….off to buy two new deep cycle battery the time of $270. Ugh. 

We stopped to top off the diesel tank before we hit California.  I had a nice .50 cent discount, so we got out of there for $120. 

Don’t let anyone tell you that living in an RV is inexpensive. 😄

On the highway again and we start up the Siskyou Mountains. Only to overheat. 

Sigh. 

Now we’re hanging out in the side of the highway waiting for the engine to cool down so we can see if we can figure out what il the issue is. 

Greg has been a truck driver for 15 or so years, so he’s been a godsend so far. 

So Many Unknowns

 T minus 4 days.  And there are still so many unknowns.

1. Will the glass company have the new windshield installed in time for me to get the last bits into the RV and take care of the last punch list items?

2. Where am I going to grab the money from for the glass repair bill? And the final bill for the RV park where I'll be staying in Texas?

3. What the hell is wrong with the 12-volt system and can I figure that out before I leave?

4. How difficult will it be to get the motorcycle carrier on the RV, and then my motorcycle on the carrier? I'll have help, thank goodness, but this is a new experience for me.  Only time I've ever transported a motorcycle via a vehicle was over a decade ago, and both times the motorcycle was on a flat surface.  Once in a trailer, once in the back of a pickup truck.

5. What am I going to forget?  What will I have brought that I don't actually need? How much money am I going to spend to get to Texas? Aaaagggghhhhhhh!

Deep breath.  I'll get through it all.  Just keep moving.

My next ride

It's odd, this space I'm inhabiting. Getting ready for the newest adventure.  Not having an income source beyond unemployment.  And now that's ended.  Just in time to take off.

Feelings of uselessness (crazy because I've been doing so much), guilt for not working (gotta be a good consumer in our Consumerist society), anxiety about this next step (well, that one makes a bit of sense).

The only direction now is forward. Head down to Texas, back to another school.  This time it's RV Tech -fixing RVs for a living. 

It feels like a bit of an odd step for me.  I've been in this one place, this same house for 20 years now.  That's longer than I've ever lived anywhere.  Have I become accustomed to being here? Can I not envision being somewhere else?  How odd.  I've moved around all my life, somehow it's different this time.  Passing time? Because I'm older? The general Unknown? I can't seem to pin it down.

But for now..... here I go!

I've got my own RV - a 36' motorhome diesel pusher that I've been remodeling for the past year. 

I've got a better photo of her somewhere, but this is what I've got on hand for the moment. She's awesome.  No name yet, so I'm open to suggestions.  

She's a 1996 National Dolphin 635 diesel pusher.  Cummins diesel V5.9, 12 valve engine. Allison 6-speed transmission.  Disc brakes all around, one solar panel to keep the 12-volt system charged up, propane generator. One slide-out, queen bed, shower, kitchen, living room. Here's one inside photo - of the bedroom:

New floor & wallpaper, all surfaces painted. I'm gonna have to scrounge up some Before photos one of these days.

I've had a great time working on getting her insides so pretty and updated.  Now I get to learn how to keep her innards working!  Fortunately for me, she's mostly functional already.  I may need to buy a new battery or two for the 12-volt system, and I do need to figure out why her landing gear isn't working.  (Excuse me, her stabilizing feet - not landing gear.  Guess that's a leftover from my trucking days.) Otherwise, she's in good shape.  Or at least good enough to get me to Texas so I can figure out what needs to really be fixed and how to do so!

Now I'm down to the last days of my time at home.  Gotta get everything gathered that I will need for a few months, tie up some loose ends. I've got eight days until departure day....!

Again....

 Tap, tap.... is anyone out there?  Let's blow the dust off this thing.