For those of you interested Only in TRAVEL, I (Jack) wrote the blog between MARCH 2010 and October 2010 during our travels west. We saw the most beautiful places and had the best time in our big truck and little trailer. See Blog Archive below.

Sep 5, 2016

I Do My Best Thinking When I'm Asleep

It's been a hellish four days with a refrigerating passing out on me every other hour, and me reviving it several times after losing everything perishable.  Should I shut the gas off? Should I leave the gas on? Why isn't it switching over automatically? Turn the gas off--electric getting to fridge sporadically. I had checked all fuses, tried hooking up on another site, etc. The only thing I thought it could be was a fuse that they had put in upside down. I changed it. I turned it back on for a little while, then it died again. I went to the Camping World next door (that was pure luck).

I googled to find out that the largest flag is in the Smithsonian.

I brought with me my surge protector thinking they might be able to test it for me. The salesman said, you're taking a chance with that kind of surge protector--you could lose all your appliances and went on with a big techy explanation of why. This is what you need. You need this. Your fridge won't fail with this, and a good idea would be to buy a remote thermometer so you can monitor the temp without opening the door. Okay, how much. $300.00. I have no choice. Having had the slide be an electrical problem while in Atlanta, I've been leery of anything electric in the trailer. I am convinced it was all wired
incorrectly.


I hurried back and put the new protector on. All is well. I can leave and head north. Yippee! It was hot out so I went in and laid down with the fan and TV on. Everything stops. No electricity. Uh oh. I called the office and I told them that something was wrong with the pole at my site. The electric is out. She said there have been no other reports, it must be your unit. I went outside to walk around in circles to get my brain spinning and I ran into another camper who asked me if my electricity went out. I blessed him, and said yes, then went back in to call the office again, and this time she said reports were coming in, but the man who fixes these things was not on the premises-it's Sunday or a holiday--I can't remember which. So I told her there are two little dogs in the RV next door to me and the people went to Santa Fe so you had better find someone. I could picture myself ruining their day by breaking a window to get in. Lord knows what that would have cost and how they would have reacted. Forty five minutes later the electric on row G was back on (that's me). I knocked on the door of the coach next door and the little ones were barking away. Not long after, their owners returned. I was right. I told them that if the outage lasted much longer I was going to break in, and they said, "Thank goodness." This never happened to us before. Marian also said that the coach was well insulated so she didn't think it would get that hot inside. It was hot out, yesterday. I missed many an outing because I wouldn't leave my dogs in the trailer for the same reason.
Chance (and Mattie Dancing Around)

Okay, another nightmare over.

I went back in and the outlet near the kitchen sink was out and so was the one by the bathroom sink. Must have flipped the GI switch, said I to myself. I checked the bathroom. That's strange, no GI switch. Back to Camping World to ask whether there is a special trick I should know about. He said if I were you, I'd bring the trailer in Tuesday, and let us check it out. Dollar signs and time were running through my head. So, now there are some outlets that work so I, fortunately, and just in case had brought three Belkin power surge extension cords with me. Wires all over the place. English Muffin for dinner made with the toaster on the floor hoping it wouldn't blow the extension cord. It didn't.



Last night Marian and Tom, my next door neighbors, asked me to come over for a while--very nice people from Florida--I brought some dip and chips with me. I have found it unusual for couples to bother with a single person.
I had the camera on the wrong setting. Must have moved it by mistake. That's why the pictures are dark 

Okay, back in the trailer. I put on a CD, lay down and watch "American Sniper", a powerful movie. I go to bed dreading packing up and going to Camping World when I wake up. I guess I was dreaming. "Hey, Nancy, check again for a GI switch." I get up, flashlight in hand, look at all the outlets--none. But wait the plug may be hiding one, and sure enough there was only one by the door. I reset it and it came on. I went to the other outlet that didn't have one and it went on. Could it be that everything is working??? Yes! If everything holds for, today, I'm leaving in the morning and heading north. Where? I don't know. Some place green and cool.

10 comments:

  1. I wouldn't know where to start if I had an electrical problem. I'd just be in tears. Even with a good connection and the air running, we don't stay away very long if Skittlez is in the rig. I don't trust them in the heat. Thank goodness it's cooled down here and we are probably through with the really hot summer weather. Hoping you are headed north.

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    1. It was driving me nuts, and it made me angry when I found out it was a park problem. No pool and the wifi is iffy. I'll be glad to leave. The prices are crazy when the balloon festival is going on--I think it's in October.

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  2. Exactly why we do not travel with animals. I have enough to worry about. What surge protector did you have that the Camping World guy said was terrible? We have a Progressive Industries and love it. I must say that I have never had the experience of good service at camping world they do always seem to be looking for things to fix or to sell you. You are doing great on your trip! I am very impressed.

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    1. I do miss Jack. I had/have a Progressive. In fact, they both may be Progressive. I'll have to look tomorrow. I don't care for Camping World, either, but it just happened to be next door. I do feel like this one protects me better, but what do I know. I can only go by what the guy said--he seemed to be honest enough. Either that or they saw a white haired old lady and punked me. LOL I'm just glad it wasn't the trailer.

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  3. Glad you figured out what the problem was and can be on your way to cooler places. I can only speak from our own experience, but we would never have work done at Camping World after more than a couple bad experiences. We do buy some things we need or want from there now and then but never service work.

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    1. I really didn't know where to go in this strange place, and when I asked at the office they just sort of rolled their eyes and said (in a DOH tone), there's a camping world right next door. I'm glad I didn't have to get any service done. Thanks for stopping by Betty.

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  4. I can't believe what you have maneuvered out there on your own, you're very resourceful. Glad everything seems good for you to head out tomorrow. And I'm not surprised a couple invited you over... you forget that you're a very fun, interesting person and are very good company :) Always nice to meet new people and hear new stories. Sleep tight!

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    1. Aren't I lucky to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law? Does she sound a little impartial to you? She's a doll. My son is very fortunate. In fact, both of my sons are very fortunate. Lisa, my eldest son's wife, is an incredible person, and I can barely remember life without her in it.

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  5. I have to agree with the others your doing a great job on this trip of trials and tribulations. I would head norht to much cooler areas. I really don't ever want to have to do business with Camping World they are the worst and most expensive. And the people running that rv park are the pits too. Wonder how much longer they last .
    Be Safe on the road

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  6. The check gas light is back on on the fridge. It did not switch over when I traveled up here. So, I'm back to square one. I'm not going to worry about it. There are "helpers" all over this place. A gentleman stopped by this morning and asked me about the huge surge protector I now have. He asked me about it and I relayed my story. He said, "I hate to tell you this, but that guy was full of baloney. He said the one I had was okay--probably something wrong with the fridge." He paused and said, "Well, it can't hurt to be too careful." I think he was trying not to make me feel bad. Very nice people here.

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