...to get an old lady out camping by herself. I bought a 2014 Thor Vegas--a small motor home--a week ago, and did not have to drive it two-and-a-half hours home for my first foray. Brother-in-law Ken did the honors, as well as prompting me on good questions to ask. When the Iowa Campgrounds opened the next day, I couldn't resist an impromptu trip with our old camping group. We planning for social distancing, no communal meals, and masks.
I cleaned the rig, disinfecting surfaces, and stocked it with much (but not everything!) that I had taken out of the travel trailer before selling it. By noon Tuesday, I thought I was ready to go. The battery was deader than a door nail. Ken came and tried to jump it with no luck. A call to a local repair shop produced successful results, and by 4:00 I was ready to hit the road. Now, I should point out that I have no experience driving something that size (25 ft), although I have driven a Suburban (20 ft.) I relied on the backup camera, side view cameras, and mirrors a lot.
Neighbor Joy came over the help direct my back up to avoid destroying the neighbor's fence across the alley or the light pole by our drive. I made it out of the alley and through town. I had mapped out a route in my head to avoid any four lanes. I should have used a map.
The route I envisioned took me over the four lane on paved roads to Highway One, a nice smooth highway with much less traffic. That route does exist but about 7 or 8 miles further south. The one I took changes into a winding, hilly, twisty gravel road a couple of miles beyond the four lane. I finally made it before dark, but was so stressed that Ken agreed to park it for me. He also helped with some other first-time glitches. Vince and Ken helped me tune the TV in so I could get weather warnings of the severe storm that moved in later in the stay.
So I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself but obviously can't take all of the credit. Even my first supper was leftover meatloaf (a recipe from Joy) on homemade bread from another neighbor Colleen. I did roast the beets that I had as a side dish myself. The evening finished with a lovely sunset.
I cleaned the rig, disinfecting surfaces, and stocked it with much (but not everything!) that I had taken out of the travel trailer before selling it. By noon Tuesday, I thought I was ready to go. The battery was deader than a door nail. Ken came and tried to jump it with no luck. A call to a local repair shop produced successful results, and by 4:00 I was ready to hit the road. Now, I should point out that I have no experience driving something that size (25 ft), although I have driven a Suburban (20 ft.) I relied on the backup camera, side view cameras, and mirrors a lot.
Neighbor Joy came over the help direct my back up to avoid destroying the neighbor's fence across the alley or the light pole by our drive. I made it out of the alley and through town. I had mapped out a route in my head to avoid any four lanes. I should have used a map.
The route I envisioned took me over the four lane on paved roads to Highway One, a nice smooth highway with much less traffic. That route does exist but about 7 or 8 miles further south. The one I took changes into a winding, hilly, twisty gravel road a couple of miles beyond the four lane. I finally made it before dark, but was so stressed that Ken agreed to park it for me. He also helped with some other first-time glitches. Vince and Ken helped me tune the TV in so I could get weather warnings of the severe storm that moved in later in the stay.
So I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself but obviously can't take all of the credit. Even my first supper was leftover meatloaf (a recipe from Joy) on homemade bread from another neighbor Colleen. I did roast the beets that I had as a side dish myself. The evening finished with a lovely sunset.
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