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  They were originally made in a factory in Grass Valley, California, where the first production line was established, before moving to Oregon.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.