Jane and I have not had a real vacation since 2008 other than a couple of weekend getaways, usually centered around family reunions of one sort or another. This year, since I have had more time available and she has not summer school for her masters, we decided to make use of the big motor home parked in our driveway to allow us to travel with the family pets for an extended period. The stated purpose for said trip was to visit brother Gary in the Seattle, WA area for his birthday and 4th of July fireworks extravaganza. We also wanted to get out of the Phoenix heat and explore more northerly climes.
We got a one day late start due to the fact that Camping World had to order an additional part to complete the auxiliary braking system on the 2008 Mini Cooper S which I had traded in my little 03 Audi A4 specifically to tow behind this rig. For this trip, I had decided to do something different, and actually plan ahead, months in advance. I booked RV campgrounds almost 2 months in advance since it was around the Independence Holiday. Three weeks before, I had ordered all the equipment to tow the Mini behind the RV, with installation scheduled around my work schedule one week ahead of time. When I took it in to get finished however, I was told that there was a problem getting the lights to work, and after calling Roadmaster, there was additional part that needed to be ordered. I had to pay extra to insure expedited shipping so that it would be ready, but arrangements were made and we could still get out on schedule. The plan was to take it in the morning we were going to leave, complete the hookup, and hit the road.
Last year, I had a laundry list of repairs done to the RV, but seeing as we were going to be heading across the desert in summer, I had also decided for them to do annual service on the AC, generator, refrigerator, water heater, and oil change and safety checks. The great heat wave of '13 was due to hit the day before we left on this trip, so rather than drive across the Sonoran desert at the hottest time of day, we decided to allow for a little extra prep time and leave a day late, early the next morning. We loaded the rig late at night, under cover of darkness, and finished after Sunrise to head out on Sunday, June 30.
The first event, and in retrospect, I should have taken as an omen, was the phone call we received from out neighbors not 1 mile down the road. "Hey, did you know something fell off your motor home as you were pulling out of your driveway?" No, said Jane. We began looking for a place on the highway to turn around, but they said they were going into town, and would meet us at the shopping center and bring the item. Turns out it was the mud flap off the back of the coach which would be protecting our little MINI tow vehicle. This was one of the laundry list items I had fixed prior to the trip. Apparently, not. Back on the road anyway.
Heading up US 93 through Wickenberg, we saw some SO units heading for the Yarnell fire which was quite visible from the road. Later on shocked and saddened to hear about those 19 firefighters who lost their lives later that afternoon. Coming through Kingman, AZ, there was construction on I-40 and narrowed into one lane. There was a motorcycle laying in the left lane, a semi on the right stopped, and the rider who had passed us a minute before laying limp and lifeless about 50 feet down the center divider. There was nothing that could be done, so we headed on again. By the time we hit Las Vegas, it was 118 F and our generator quit working, and so no AC. Even after plugging in at the Las Vegas Motorcoach resort, both roof units which I had serviced pre trip were spewing nothing but hot air. Naturally, being Sunday, no mobile RV service companies would answer their phones. We shut the units down, and made plans to evacuate to a hotel with the cats and birds, but after giving the units some rest, they began working again and I went to air conditioned Target to get some fans and ice.
We did have a shortened, but nice visit with Genevieve and Matthew that evening. This was the lone bright spot in an otherwise miserable first day on the road. More misadventures to come!
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