Despite 100 degree weather and muggy air, the winds, rain and amazingly lite up skies have found the southern part of Idaho.
Day 10 in Burley Idaho, not sure there is much more to see... I have gone to driving 79 miles round trip to take the kids to Barnes and Noble along with a nice lunch. Yes, I think we are loosing our minds.
There is a light at the end of this very long tunnel with a different truck and a 6 inch lift to the 5th wheel. We had hoped to be on the road by Friday night homeward bound but we are looking at Saturday afternoon if we are lucky. Either way we will should be back in Auburn/Kent by Monday evening.
More to come as we know more too!... Take Care Everyone - The Idaho Transplants...
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Something small under the hood!
We have all heard the joke about over compensating for something small under the hood. Well it turns out that my "BIG 1 TON" truck has a "small 5.1 engine" that can't haul the 30 foot 5th Wheel we bought. Though the dealer told me it was able to haul it appears he either did not know what he was talking about or flat out lied to me. The local truck & RV icon of Burley is madder than one can explain over how wrong it was for Butch Motors to do this to me. They have a great truck that is less expensive and better condition than mine that will work. And they are willing to move me into the blue truck for me including moving the hitch, break controller and power for exactly what I owe on my truck. But the owner at Butch Motors is not willing to return their phone calls to trade dealer to dealer the trucks. It is a win win situation for Butch Motors as he got the down from me on the blue truck, would be getting a better truck than the blue truck in the trade and keeping my monthly payments coming in. So we will have to see what today brings.
Alternatively the RVers of hear have strategized how to haul us home to Auburn. But we can't leave until Sunday due to their schedules. As we weren't due home for another 20 days, I have the new challenge of finding a place to park our home. Thank goodness for internet and cell phones.
The wonderful people of Hayburn and Burley Idaho (the two towns neighbor each other) have been amazing. From the local EZ Motors truck dealers and the local bankers to the lifeguards at the public pool, everyone has been kind, understanding, and helpful. The best was when the lifeguards at the pool heard were had tickets to the White House, Congress and so forth... this one just burst out laughing and said 'and instead you are stuck here in Burley Idaho, I am so very sorry." I just laughed with her. Because at this point it is just comically.
We are managing though. The manager of the Chamber of Commerce RV park and the daughter who helps manage the park, has taken us in like family and we have joined the clan of Arizona snowbirds that stay here full time through the spring and summer. We had a great BBQ the other night. The kids are playing on their Wii and scrabble too!
We are going back to the public pool (we can even bring our own picnic to the pool) to swim for 4 hours. I can read a book and relax while the kids wear themselves out. There is a city of rock that is suppose to look like the Flinstone village that we might venture too but the weather has decided to escaluate to 100 for the 3rd day. So the pool is the better option.
Alternatively the RVers of hear have strategized how to haul us home to Auburn. But we can't leave until Sunday due to their schedules. As we weren't due home for another 20 days, I have the new challenge of finding a place to park our home. Thank goodness for internet and cell phones.
The wonderful people of Hayburn and Burley Idaho (the two towns neighbor each other) have been amazing. From the local EZ Motors truck dealers and the local bankers to the lifeguards at the public pool, everyone has been kind, understanding, and helpful. The best was when the lifeguards at the pool heard were had tickets to the White House, Congress and so forth... this one just burst out laughing and said 'and instead you are stuck here in Burley Idaho, I am so very sorry." I just laughed with her. Because at this point it is just comically.
We are managing though. The manager of the Chamber of Commerce RV park and the daughter who helps manage the park, has taken us in like family and we have joined the clan of Arizona snowbirds that stay here full time through the spring and summer. We had a great BBQ the other night. The kids are playing on their Wii and scrabble too!
We are going back to the public pool (we can even bring our own picnic to the pool) to swim for 4 hours. I can read a book and relax while the kids wear themselves out. There is a city of rock that is suppose to look like the Flinstone village that we might venture too but the weather has decided to escaluate to 100 for the 3rd day. So the pool is the better option.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Back to Burley - Hang Here Until Monday or Tuesday!
So our morning departure made it 28 miles down the road and the truck started to slightly chug and loose its pep up medium grades. My gut said stop and go back. So we did. We turned around, called Larry (our friend and manager of the RV park we were at) and he concured "come back" and WE will go back to the dealer on Monday. So here we are back in Burley.
Nice little town. Not too big or wild and crazy. The kids were great. We settled into the RV more today. We unpacked the last 2 laundry baskets. The kids worked as a team and put togeth the little computer desk and desk chair we got to make "our office". They even managed as a team with a neighbor to move our the older less comfy recliner that was bulky and in the way. What a difference it made to take the recliner out. It also looks really nice to have a more "office" space. J's laptop now has a safe home and the our printer is out of the closet and secured to the desk. AND yes the desk is secured to the wall. When the other recline turn in for travel and the slide is back in, the desk and printer are nicely snuggled in as well as secured to the 5th wheel. The removal of the other recliner also helped free up some space so that the other more comfy recliner can be pivoted and used to fully recline. (J's likes that).
We also took some family time to go see G-Force. What a funny cute movie with a surprize ending. We also took a family walk with the pups. Tomorrow we are going to go swim in the river and finish putting together the balance of my room. I will also find some time to start working on the rapidly approach new school year.
Take care - Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. And a heartful thanks and gratitude for all the RVers who have helped me out and made sure were are RVing OK.
Nice little town. Not too big or wild and crazy. The kids were great. We settled into the RV more today. We unpacked the last 2 laundry baskets. The kids worked as a team and put togeth the little computer desk and desk chair we got to make "our office". They even managed as a team with a neighbor to move our the older less comfy recliner that was bulky and in the way. What a difference it made to take the recliner out. It also looks really nice to have a more "office" space. J's laptop now has a safe home and the our printer is out of the closet and secured to the desk. AND yes the desk is secured to the wall. When the other recline turn in for travel and the slide is back in, the desk and printer are nicely snuggled in as well as secured to the 5th wheel. The removal of the other recliner also helped free up some space so that the other more comfy recliner can be pivoted and used to fully recline. (J's likes that).
We also took some family time to go see G-Force. What a funny cute movie with a surprize ending. We also took a family walk with the pups. Tomorrow we are going to go swim in the river and finish putting together the balance of my room. I will also find some time to start working on the rapidly approach new school year.
Take care - Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. And a heartful thanks and gratitude for all the RVers who have helped me out and made sure were are RVing OK.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Another day in Burley with a NEW Plan
It was not until Noon that we got back Izabella (the truck) and she is running better. She got pickup and no-chugging. So we are going to venture out tomorrow for some more Turtling America.
If I did not mention earlier (Phil our neighbor and friend from across the street) called us Turtles because like a turtle we carry our home on our back. Therefore Jordan and I have decided we are "turtling around america".
Because of all our delays, additional expenses, low gas milages and such, we came to the decision that we can't make the East Coast this trip due to tight funds (no real emergency fund anymore) and limited time to get there and back. I feared getting there and not having the time or limited resources to make it all the way back to Washington in time for orientation/back to school.
Therefore we decided to explore more of the West Coast. We are only 650 miles from the Grand Canyon and 800 miles from the largest oldest Petrified Forest in Arizona. After figuring expenses and time line, the kids made a decision to go ahead and travel south.
Our new plan is to leave for Kaysville, Utah for a fun day of exploring another water park and other fun places. Then head another 300 miles south and stop just north of the Grand Canyon. The next day head to the Petrified Forest for a 2 day exploration. Back up the Grand Canyon for a 4 days explore. Finally on into California for a 4 days explore. Hopefully meeting up with my Aunt Sandra and a trip to either Universal Studios or Disneyland for a day.
We will then drive North to Seattle through California (San Fran and Redwood Forest) up through Oregon and into Seattle. We have 24 days until we need to be back in Kent for back to school preparation. We are more settled into the RV with more things put away, unpacked and organized.
With our new travel plan we have more exploring time and less hard long driving. Plus I have time to work on my Master degree papers and some school and yearbook prep work. Which will be nice to get a little more prepped for the new school year.
We will be updating you from Utah tomorrow night. Have a great day!
If I did not mention earlier (Phil our neighbor and friend from across the street) called us Turtles because like a turtle we carry our home on our back. Therefore Jordan and I have decided we are "turtling around america".
Because of all our delays, additional expenses, low gas milages and such, we came to the decision that we can't make the East Coast this trip due to tight funds (no real emergency fund anymore) and limited time to get there and back. I feared getting there and not having the time or limited resources to make it all the way back to Washington in time for orientation/back to school.
Therefore we decided to explore more of the West Coast. We are only 650 miles from the Grand Canyon and 800 miles from the largest oldest Petrified Forest in Arizona. After figuring expenses and time line, the kids made a decision to go ahead and travel south.
Our new plan is to leave for Kaysville, Utah for a fun day of exploring another water park and other fun places. Then head another 300 miles south and stop just north of the Grand Canyon. The next day head to the Petrified Forest for a 2 day exploration. Back up the Grand Canyon for a 4 days explore. Finally on into California for a 4 days explore. Hopefully meeting up with my Aunt Sandra and a trip to either Universal Studios or Disneyland for a day.
We will then drive North to Seattle through California (San Fran and Redwood Forest) up through Oregon and into Seattle. We have 24 days until we need to be back in Kent for back to school preparation. We are more settled into the RV with more things put away, unpacked and organized.
With our new travel plan we have more exploring time and less hard long driving. Plus I have time to work on my Master degree papers and some school and yearbook prep work. Which will be nice to get a little more prepped for the new school year.
We will be updating you from Utah tomorrow night. Have a great day!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Broken down in Burley, Idaho
Well it wasn't the greatest day of travel - AGAIN! I am still waiting for the "enjoyment" to begining. I figure eventually is has got to happen.
It turns out the "O2 sensors" are malfunctioning because the exhaust system is clogged. Two of the O2 sensors are practically new. As we attempted to drive from Boise, ID to Ogden, UT, it just become too hard to push it through. Deciding to err on the side of caution, I chose to call it quits in a little town called Burley, Idaho.
Not a large or funfilled, high attraction city, but still filled with extremely nice helpful people. Not even an RV park in town or within 10 miles that we could find with a pool or full hookups. So we chose to "treat ourselves" to a night in the Super 8 Motel with a pool and free breakfast. While the 5th wheel hangs out in the back lot of the GMC dealer.
There is not a water park, nor an amusement park option but I am sure we will find a movie theater or bowling all to go to for some fun while they work on the truck. The truck will be ready by Friday morning around 9 am if not a little earlier. The ordered the parts today and will start working on the truck Thursday around 11 am. For the day we can use a loaner car to get into town to keep the kids occuppied.
Tomorrow night we will "camping" in the back of the GMC lot in the 5th wheel. As silly as it sounds, the GM/Owner of the dealership is having the manager of the service department move a few trucks around in the back lot to line up the 5th wheel near a plug option so we can have electricity and AC for the night tomorrow. The manager of the service department is even going to make some time Thursday to help teach me to "back up the 5th wheel" myself.
According to the main mechanic, the service manager and GM/Owner, they believe that once we can get her able to "breath" she will be better able to handle the mountains. As they explained the issues, it made me think of when I have an asthma attack and can't take a deep breath. Our gas consumption will improve and we will be able to get back up to better speed.
Once we get on the road, I am hoping we will be able to make up a little more of the distance. I am glad that I chose to stop here. Not only have they been wonderfully helpful and accommodating but also will make the haul out of Utah and through the Rocky's more reasonable and less nerve fraying.
The kids have swam for the afternoon. I got a nice long hot shower. The pups are sleeping in the beds. We had a "designer" dinner of reheated pizza and top-ramon (the kids just love that stuff). I am sure tomorrow night's dinner will be a little better. I am thinking spaghetti and meatballs. Plus maybe I can find some time to bake some brownies to thank for the wonderful guys at Bonaza Motors of Burley, Idaho.
It turns out the "O2 sensors" are malfunctioning because the exhaust system is clogged. Two of the O2 sensors are practically new. As we attempted to drive from Boise, ID to Ogden, UT, it just become too hard to push it through. Deciding to err on the side of caution, I chose to call it quits in a little town called Burley, Idaho.
Not a large or funfilled, high attraction city, but still filled with extremely nice helpful people. Not even an RV park in town or within 10 miles that we could find with a pool or full hookups. So we chose to "treat ourselves" to a night in the Super 8 Motel with a pool and free breakfast. While the 5th wheel hangs out in the back lot of the GMC dealer.
There is not a water park, nor an amusement park option but I am sure we will find a movie theater or bowling all to go to for some fun while they work on the truck. The truck will be ready by Friday morning around 9 am if not a little earlier. The ordered the parts today and will start working on the truck Thursday around 11 am. For the day we can use a loaner car to get into town to keep the kids occuppied.
Tomorrow night we will "camping" in the back of the GMC lot in the 5th wheel. As silly as it sounds, the GM/Owner of the dealership is having the manager of the service department move a few trucks around in the back lot to line up the 5th wheel near a plug option so we can have electricity and AC for the night tomorrow. The manager of the service department is even going to make some time Thursday to help teach me to "back up the 5th wheel" myself.
According to the main mechanic, the service manager and GM/Owner, they believe that once we can get her able to "breath" she will be better able to handle the mountains. As they explained the issues, it made me think of when I have an asthma attack and can't take a deep breath. Our gas consumption will improve and we will be able to get back up to better speed.
Once we get on the road, I am hoping we will be able to make up a little more of the distance. I am glad that I chose to stop here. Not only have they been wonderfully helpful and accommodating but also will make the haul out of Utah and through the Rocky's more reasonable and less nerve fraying.
The kids have swam for the afternoon. I got a nice long hot shower. The pups are sleeping in the beds. We had a "designer" dinner of reheated pizza and top-ramon (the kids just love that stuff). I am sure tomorrow night's dinner will be a little better. I am thinking spaghetti and meatballs. Plus maybe I can find some time to bake some brownies to thank for the wonderful guys at Bonaza Motors of Burley, Idaho.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
5 hours of Water Park Fun!
What a blast and great decision to hang in Boise, Idaho for an extra day. It was not only great to have the morning to sleep in (what me sleep past the sun rising - wow) and get some erns done in town as well as cook our first lunch (pizza) and our 2nd full dinner (steak, corn on the cob and biscuit). But best of all we headed with our new found Canadian Friends to the local water park, Roaring Rivers.
What a great day... I even made up for all the "boring" driving that someone is bummed about. We spent the after noon racing all over the park with Breanna (sp? sorry) and her family slipping and sliding, splashing and screaming. What a fun day!
The park was not very full (I am sure Weekends are packed) so the lines were not long. We got in on 2 for Tuesday so the price was less than $14 a person after 3pm. They had this great fast moving "endless river" where you could swim, float, walk and more however long you wanted. There was water falls, current flow and about 6 entrance/exits. There was also these great twisters, spirals, drops, and so many other rides. According the Jordan, Allyson and Breanna - we road every ride at least 3 times. The wave pool was extremely popular thought I personally was nausated by the endless waving. Oh well.. I loved the river.
Amazingly enough, E and Z were well behaved alone in the trailer for the 5 hours... not a torn up piece of paper, not a chewed on item, not even a pee spot. They must of be so happy running from window to window and "bed to bed" that they lost track of time that they forgot to get into mischief.
It was another smooth hitch up to. Backed her in the first time perfect, locking pin even popped in perfect without any "wiggling or forcing"... so that makes it 3 perfect hitch up in a row. The learning curve is getting smaller. Unhitching and hitching up is going smoothly. I get my 2nd change to dump the tanks (this time at 0500 - so diet coke will be have to on my side). Let's see if that can go perfect a second time too.
The challenge will come in Atlanta at Stone Mountain. The only full hook-up option is a back in space. Since we will be there for 4 nights and 5 days, I said OK - but they have to either back me in or help me back in. The reservation person said they were giving me a "fat space" for my slide and room to learn backing in. We will see just how energetic I am about this opportunity.
The site we are in at Boise right now is 15 down from the one they gave us orginally. Although a pull through, my little 'reservation man" *(Jordan) needs to learn to advise facilities that we have 3 slides. We could not clear our slides on the original slot due to the trees on the side of our slot. So we found another space. We have been amazed just how "trusting" and "honor system" many of the parks are. It seems to me (and others have commented too) that when the offices close at 6pm and a camper is coming in late say even 8pm and pulling out early in the morning and are expect to "drop" the cash in the nightbox, it could be possible to stay and not pay. Which made me think wow, just how trusting and honest the RV goers are. Which is in my humble opinion just wonderful and amazing in today's crafy world.
Well - it has been a long day... and I am beat. If my mother was here she would be telling me "go to bed little girl, morning will be here before you know it." We are off to Utah tomorrow - Only a 5 hours drive with our rig, supposedly the majority of which is level ground or down hill into Ogden. It will be Thursday's travels out of Ogden that will test my stress levels again.
Good Night - Take care - Nic, J, Allyson... E and Z....
What a great day... I even made up for all the "boring" driving that someone is bummed about. We spent the after noon racing all over the park with Breanna (sp? sorry) and her family slipping and sliding, splashing and screaming. What a fun day!
The park was not very full (I am sure Weekends are packed) so the lines were not long. We got in on 2 for Tuesday so the price was less than $14 a person after 3pm. They had this great fast moving "endless river" where you could swim, float, walk and more however long you wanted. There was water falls, current flow and about 6 entrance/exits. There was also these great twisters, spirals, drops, and so many other rides. According the Jordan, Allyson and Breanna - we road every ride at least 3 times. The wave pool was extremely popular thought I personally was nausated by the endless waving. Oh well.. I loved the river.
Amazingly enough, E and Z were well behaved alone in the trailer for the 5 hours... not a torn up piece of paper, not a chewed on item, not even a pee spot. They must of be so happy running from window to window and "bed to bed" that they lost track of time that they forgot to get into mischief.
It was another smooth hitch up to. Backed her in the first time perfect, locking pin even popped in perfect without any "wiggling or forcing"... so that makes it 3 perfect hitch up in a row. The learning curve is getting smaller. Unhitching and hitching up is going smoothly. I get my 2nd change to dump the tanks (this time at 0500 - so diet coke will be have to on my side). Let's see if that can go perfect a second time too.
The challenge will come in Atlanta at Stone Mountain. The only full hook-up option is a back in space. Since we will be there for 4 nights and 5 days, I said OK - but they have to either back me in or help me back in. The reservation person said they were giving me a "fat space" for my slide and room to learn backing in. We will see just how energetic I am about this opportunity.
The site we are in at Boise right now is 15 down from the one they gave us orginally. Although a pull through, my little 'reservation man" *(Jordan) needs to learn to advise facilities that we have 3 slides. We could not clear our slides on the original slot due to the trees on the side of our slot. So we found another space. We have been amazed just how "trusting" and "honor system" many of the parks are. It seems to me (and others have commented too) that when the offices close at 6pm and a camper is coming in late say even 8pm and pulling out early in the morning and are expect to "drop" the cash in the nightbox, it could be possible to stay and not pay. Which made me think wow, just how trusting and honest the RV goers are. Which is in my humble opinion just wonderful and amazing in today's crafy world.
Well - it has been a long day... and I am beat. If my mother was here she would be telling me "go to bed little girl, morning will be here before you know it." We are off to Utah tomorrow - Only a 5 hours drive with our rig, supposedly the majority of which is level ground or down hill into Ogden. It will be Thursday's travels out of Ogden that will test my stress levels again.
Good Night - Take care - Nic, J, Allyson... E and Z....
Watch our DC - Nic and JEN are coming back 22 year later
So it won't exactly be the sequel but my best friend from junior high and girl scouts (Jen English) is going to meet us in DC for 4 days. WOW! We speak often, email frequently and have visited together a couple of times (wedding, business travels, etc) over the years.
What's really cool is that 22 years ago to this summer, our Girl Scout troop loaded up a bus with abotu 40 Junior and Cadette scouts to go see DC for a two weeks. Jen and I had the time of our life. We say South Pacific Dinner Theater, visited monuments and more.
Now 22 years later we are going to meet in DC with my 13 year old son and his 13 year old friend from school to "do DC again". It will be a blast. Jen is out to find photos from our trip so long ago - her mom keeps EVERYTHING so she is bound to find something.
What's really cool is that 22 years ago to this summer, our Girl Scout troop loaded up a bus with abotu 40 Junior and Cadette scouts to go see DC for a two weeks. Jen and I had the time of our life. We say South Pacific Dinner Theater, visited monuments and more.
Now 22 years later we are going to meet in DC with my 13 year old son and his 13 year old friend from school to "do DC again". It will be a blast. Jen is out to find photos from our trip so long ago - her mom keeps EVERYTHING so she is bound to find something.
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