2014 August - Away From Port Susan for a While

August 2014

Ty lying in the sun is getting ready for the road trip

“I’m ready to go, what’s the holdup”

We temporally left Port Susan the first week of August to help out Deb’s family down in Pismo Beach. Her step-father, Jim, is scheduled for a knee replacement and her mother doesn’t drive. We’re going to stay with her and lend a hand while Jim recovers.

We left the motorhome and drove down, stopping at our house for a few days as we when by.

View from the front window of our home

During our stop over I went over to my son and daughter’s home and helped Blake set up Claire’s new bed.

Clair on the loft bed made up and ready for the night

After a brief stop at our house, we continued down to Pismo Beach.
A few photos during our stay at Pismo.

From the backyard

The Pier and Beach at Pismo

End of Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach

It doesn’t take long to make G-Ma’s house look like home

After just a month, Debbie’s dad’s knee, amazingly, has healed enough to allow him to walk and drive, so we're heading north

But wait,

Grandma needs to visit the grandkids so we’re home for a while again.

Now in addition to cat pictures, some grandchildren pictures.

They have a special bond

2014 JULY

I started this blog to record Debbie’s and my wandering in the Horizon. I started out making a post every day with a lot of pictures and a little bit of narrative.  I discovered it was difficult to keep up a daily post and very difficult to catch up when I missed a day or more. 

Then we stated traveling the same routes and staying in the same places so repeating the same pictures in a new post seamed pointless.  Also we spend some time, a month or so, at home parked at the side of the house, when we pass by it, a couple of time a year. During this time we visit friends and family and the holiday season.

Why go to AZ when we have sunset views like this parked at the side of the house!

As I continued to take pictures and snapshots I realized I still had a lot of  documentation I could do.

Now I’m almost a year behind or more and the task to catch up seams to be insurmountable….But I’m going to try, and instead of one post for each day I’m going to do a “big gulp” at a time.  So here is the start back in July 2014.

JULY 2nd

Stopped in a Casino parking area to drop the tow. 

We are about fifteen miles from Port Susan at this is the last convenient stop before we enter the wilderness on a two lane shoulder-less road. The entrance to Port Susan, past the ranger station, is narrow and arrival is easier disconnected. We also check the restaurant in the Casino for lunch.  Sad to find out the food quality is has gone down and the prices have gone up.

JULY 18th

We have been here at Port Susan for a couple of weeks and have settled in. Gazebo cover is on, outdoor furniture is out.

Sammy drops by to welcome Ty back

 

Ty cleans up and then relaxes with the family

And that finishes up the month of July, 2014

July 15,2014 - Dinner at the Wards

This evening we went over to Jim and Helene’s for a stuffed barbequed hamburger.  Jim has an appliance that forms hamburger patties with a filled center.  There were several items to stuff that we got to choose for our patty.  I chose grilled onions, cheese, and bacon.

Jim grilled other vegetables including green grapes. The hamburgers were very good. The green grapes were hard to describe, but they were different.

Woodpecker–July 8, 2014

A couple of woodpeckers flew into the back of out site and I got a picture of one.

We have just been hanging out and enjoying the warm weather. It’s been in the high 80’s low 90’s in Seattle, but here it hasn’t gotten above 78 or so.

Port Susan–July 3, 2014

We arrived here yesterday afternoon traveling through Seattle around 11:30 am on I5. At that time we avoided the worst of the traffic.

We setup and relaxed.

 

Ty exploring the area.

Ty’s  resting, apparently everything checked out .

Finally Leaving Phoenix–Jun 30th 2014

The jacks have been fixed for a few days now and seem to be working fine, so we’re finally leaving and heading north again.  I tested them  each day with my fingers crossed and so far so good.

We left for Hee Hee Illahee RV Resort just on the north side of Salem , OR. around 9am. We arrived around 2pm. The resort is nice. The sites are long and level. Green lawn between the sites. It was in the high 80’s when we arrived.

Later in the day I cleaned the windshield and Ty laid on the cooled cement pad.  It’s a where’s Waldo, he’s at the front of the rig at the edge of the natural and the  pink colored damp cement trying to cool off.

Now you can see him.

Later after it cool off a little he came over and joined me on Debbie’s chair.  He just ignored Debbie.

We just stayed here over night so we just left the Jeep attached. Behind Debbie is the office and pool. There were a lot of kids cooling off back there.  We’re headed on up to Kelso, WA tomorrow. 

Our Backyard View–Reminiscing

Before we left Concord for a summer Port Susan, WA.  I took a picture of our back yard. The normally golden hills turn green every spring. Actually, our property ends at the bushes at the bottom. Beyond is Walnut Creek open space which we back up to.

If you look close, near the center, at the edge of the yellow line of mustard flowers, the small speck is a hiker walking on a trail.

At the upper left corner you can just see the north peak of Mt. Diablo.  This is a view from the lower yard where the Horizon is parked. From the upper yard and the main level of the house you can see both peaks.

These photos were taken with my iPhone. I was figuring out the easiest way to transfer them to my Windows laptop.  Below is our outdoor kitchen. The quality the iPhone produces is surprising.

Phoenix, OR–Jun 26, 2014–Its Fixed

HURRAY

The jacks are fixed, so far anyway. Glen from Central Point RV Center called this morning to let us know the circuit board had come in. We got the rig ready to roll, including picking up the leveling blocks we were forced to buy, and dropped off the Horizon at the shop.

We stopped at the Black Bear Restaurant for breakfast. It was identical to the one in Walnut Creek, the menu, the food and service, which was good. After breakfast we decided to drive south to Talent. Debbie found an “antique” store and spent more time than money.

While driving around we went by the Sno-Cat factory in Medford, Oregon.  They were originally made in a factory in Grass Valley, California, where the first production line was established, before moving to Oregon.

New Sno-Cats lined up and ready to go.  The overcast sky gave way to rain a few hours later.

Just before noon Glen called and let us know the Horizon was ready.  We pick it up and came back to our spot at Holiday RV. The jacks worked great.

Debbie brought in a box of coffee and left the empty box on the front seat. It proved too tempting to Ty.

 

We paid for a week beginning yesterday so we’ll stay here until next week and give the jack a good work out before we move on.

Phoenix, OR–Jun 21, 2014–Crater Lake

The Crater Lake web site said the weather was going to be clear today so we decided on a visit.  From our RV park its about an hour and a half drive. Although its been years since either Deb or I had been to the lake, it looked the same.

We walked along the rim path and a Clark’s Nutcracker landed next to usjust off the trail.

We left the path to walk over to the Crater Lake Lodge to see what their lunch menu look like.  It look expensive with a salad at $11 and salmon $34 so we decided we weren’t that hungry.  Debbie walking from the dinning room toward the gift shop.

Debbie leaving the visitor center.

I wonder if he wakes up with a stiff neck.

Phoenix OR–Jun 20, 2014–Not So Bad

We are waiting for a circuit board to be fabricated by HWH which should end our leveling jack problem. They don’t work.

This morning we moved from our level site C18 to an un-level site C3.  We didn’t want to move but it turned out this is a very good spot. Has a great view out the front. Its shadier with more trees and Ty like the view better too.

Ty is staying near the front door, he wants to go back across the drive where he’s found some kind of varmint hole that require watching.

 

This is our view out the front window.

There is a lawn in front of the trees and creek. Here is a shot of Bear Creek behind the trees.

I went out and purchased some leveling blocks and then spent a half hour or longer using them to level the motorhome. I should have grabbed one of the 5th wheel trailer guys to lend a hand.  Finally got it fairly level. Anxious to get our hydraulics working.

Here’s a picture of the RF tire on the blocks.

Tomorrow we’re driving over to Crater Lake.

Phoenix,OR Jun 19, 2014 Good News and Bad News

This morning Glen called from Central Point RV and said he had talked to Frank at HWH and they think the shuttle valve is bad even though I replaced it about a month ago.  When we dropped the RV off I reminded Glenn that I had already replaced the shuttle valve.

He later called and said he pulled the valve and checked it and it appeared fine. He was waiting for a call back from Frank.  Later when I picked up the MH Glen said he and Frank had run some tests on the circuit board and found it was bad. That’s the good news. We finally have the problem identified.  Cummins Northwest in Coburg, Oregon was the first shop to try to fix it and couldn’t find the problem. Next R-Mechanic in Livermore, CA tried to fix it, replaced the pressure valve. When the problem continued, I tried to get them to continue to pursue the problem but they would never return my calls. Then I replaced the shuttle valve. It still didn’t fix the problem.  So I’m tentatively very happy that the problem looks like its been identified.

The bad news is the board cost $700. The next bad news is they don’t have the board in stock and will have to make one. It will take about a week. The next bad news is our RV site is taken for Friday and Saturday nights. The only site available is not very level and has trees that may block the satellite.  We will be able to move back after a couple of days.

Given the option, Ty always will pick the project to sleep on. (Or the clean clothes)

Phoenix, OR–Jun 18, 2014–Day 2

Still no fix for the jacks. We took the MH up to Central Point RV this morning only to learn the master mechanic was called away for jury duty. Geez will we ever get these jacks working?  I added another day to our stay at the RV park.

Around 11 o’clock Glenn the master called and said he was back. He narrowly avoided being selected for the alternate jury pool. The pool was filled by the person just ahead of him in the line. Whew!

Debbie, I and Ty used or day to explore the mining town of Jacksonville. This is a sample of the architecture in the small town.

We couldn’t find a parking place in the shade to leave Ty, so we just drove around the town.  Afterward we went back to the RV park and hung out on the lawn next to Bear Creek.

Debbie holding the leash as Ty explores.

 

Ty found a varmint in a hole in the lawn and made a pounce, but missed.

Around 4:30 we drove back to Central Point and met Glen.  He had found a loose bolt on the motor but it was not the jack problem. He was still waiting for a call back from HWH for help in the diagnosis. If they call back tomorrow, and they have the part needing in stock, and can they get it overnighted, and Glen can get the part install Friday, we may be back on our way Saturday.  That’s the best case scenario, so tomorrow I am going up to the office to see if I can change our to the weekly rate.

Medford, OR–Jun 17, 2014

We arrived at the Holiday RV Park in Phoenix, OR early afternoon. Assigned space C17 we found it was not very level so we moved over to C18 and were almost able to get completely level. Yes the jacks are still not working. They will probable work fine tomorrow at the RV shop!  The weather here is on the cool side and expected to drop down to the mid forties overnight.

Left JGW RV Park after a leisurely morning due to an early (for us) rising, 6am. We started toward Medford.  Mt. Shasta looks like it should be end of summer not the beginning. (Debbie took the picture.)

Ty explores our site.

Tomorrow it into the shop for the third time for the HWH to be repaired, this time by a manufacturer’s certified master service center.  If this doesn’t work then I’ll be heading to the factory in Iowa and camping out until they get them working.

We’ve always looked at checking out Crater Lake as we went by on one side or the other so if the repair schedule works out we will take a day trip over from here.

Redding, CA–June 16 2014

On our way to Port Susan for the Summer.  A short day to JGW RV Park for an overnight. The office was friendly and had our reservation for a pull through site 58, which fortunately is very level concrete.  Because the jacks didn’t work. We just put out one right slide out and an opposing one on the left side to keep the rig balance. Site 58 is near the back of the park away from the freeway noise.  They have some site facing the river that look really nice if we were staying longer.

Ty slept the entire four hour trip including a lunch break at a rest stop along Interstate 5. Ty needed a rest on the bed after his long nap.

Site 58 with it’s cement table and Debbie’s herb box sitting out getting some fresh air.