Fountains, Cracks and Leaks

Returning home after nearly 4 months in the RV is something we always look forward to. OMG, the space! The fifth wheel has about 300 SF, our home 1900 SF. We spend most of our time outside when RVing so we don't really feel cramped. Still, it's great to be back home where we have our hobby areas, a garage and a full size shower - with 50 gallons of hot water instead of 6. 

 Usually, we return home and find everything's hunky dory. Not this year. First thing we noticed when we pulled up the driveway, was the lower terrace century plant: it looked sick, lots of dead fronds - or whatever you call them; certainly not leaves. All the other desert plants looked fine. I discovered the problem when I ran the irrigation system. The riser had broken off near the sprinkler head, and water was shooting 15' up in the air and into the street. That's the fountain. 

 Next comes the crack. I happened to be in the garage during the water softener regeneration cycle and noticed water puddling on the floor. took the top off the softener and found water spraying from a crack in the plastic thingamajig.    Same thing happened 6 years ago. Rather than have it repaired again for $150+ I got a new one, finished the install yesterday. 

 Finally, the leak. Just finished with the water softener when I noticed the floor was wet around the water heater. Sure enough, it's leaking. It's less than 5 years old, still under warranty, so I get a replacement for free. Not totally free, gotta pay $235 for labor and service call. 

 Can't help but wonder what minor catastrophe is next. 

 On the brighter side, I'm playing pickleball every other day (and playing fairly well for an old fart of 76), the high weather temps are decreasing, Trish is back to quilting and kayaking, neither of us have C-19. Life is good.

2020 Summary

 Our summer:

1.  Towed the RV 2450 miles, the least number of miles of any summer, I think.

2.  The microwave/convection oven bit the dust.  Had the damned thing fixed several times, paid enough on repairs - $400+ - to buy a new one.  I'm happily looking forward to demolishing the thing.  Tomorrow!  

3.  Truck tires.  Got a screw in one tire, on the shoulder of course.  Was alerted by OnStar of low tire pressure just as Trish was pulling out to go to the dog park.  Cancel dog park, we're off to Discount Tire.  They said tire couldn't be fixed, 25% life remaining on the tires: I said replace all tires with the best you have.  3 hours, $1000+, and 4 tires later, we're back home.  Fun day.

4.  Integrated LED lights.  That's what's all RV interior lights are these days.  If one goes tits up, you have to replace the entire fixture, not just the bulb.  Pain in the ass.  And, good luck finding an exact replacement.  Did find one that would fit after exhaustive search.  It was the BA ceiling light.

4.  Spent the entire summer in OR, except for several to/from stops.  Previous post lists the major stops.

5.  Paid $50 to join the Bend Pickleball Club.  Waste of money.  Never played at their 16-court complex because you could only play doubles with household members.  I contacted P J, who spends summers in LHC, and has a home in Bend.  Played 'skinny singles' at his home several times.

6.  Did play PB in Redmond a number of times.  Trish would go along and cycle the trails there.  Also played in Wilsonville several times. 

7.  Hosted several friends and relatives in Bend, including T's daughter.  Also, her brother and sister in law  They towed their RV up from Lincoln, CA and stayed several days.

8.  Played bocce ball in the grass, new thing for us.  Challenging and fun.

Ddddat's all, folks.

     

I'm Baaaack!

No summer travel posts this year because we were in places where we've been before, and posted about.  Spent 2.5 months in Bend, OR; 2 weeks in Wilsonville, OR; several days each in Pacific City, Winchester Bay, and Coos Bay, OR.  Last 3 places are on the OR Coast.  

Crown Villa RV Resort in Bend, is perhaps, the best RV park we've ever visited - layout-wise.  We spent several weeks there most summers for the last 6 years.  However, it's doubtful we'll be back.  It changed ownership a short time ago and the new management sucks: won't enforce their own rules and understaffed.  We weren't aware our site was in the middle of Rug Rat Row.  Our bad: we requested the site, unaware it was in RRR.  Wall to wall kids riding skateboards, bikes, scooters - screaming their little heads off - past our campsite all day every day.  Yeah, I know: I'm an old grouch.

Another reason we won't be back: Trish is buying a deeded lot in an upscale RV resort in WA state.  We'll be spending most of our future summers there, although we will do side trips. 

Pictures were taken at Shore Acres, south of Coos Bay, OR.  We'd been there before, but pix always brighten up the posts. 

Pahrump, NV

It should be named Gagging Stink Water.  Connect to city water.  Run faucet 2 seconds.  Puke.  The smell would knock a buzzard off a manure spreader.  In Wisconsin.  Sulfurous, like Yellowstone N P, but worse.  Shower with it?  Hell no!  But - it would insure physical distancing.  Thankfully, we carry 4 jugs of good water so we aren't forced to use the stuff for coffee or tea.

This is our second time here, not because it's anything special, just a convenient stop and a way to avoid the zoo that is Las Vegas.  The trailer park is old, sites are sardine-esque with hookups arranged such that you share your 'front yard' with your neighbor.  Which sucks.

It has some nice features though, including a spa, large pool and a water feature with koi and ducks.  We don't use public pools and spas, don't eat carp; I do like duck, though.

Pahrump has a Corvette owners school.  Vette owners can spend a week or so, driving with professional instructors, putting the pedal to the metal.  A couple of my friends have done that and loved it.  http://www.springmountainmotorsports.com/

Spent 2 nights in Gagging, then on to Tonopah, NV and Winnemucca, NV.

Gushers

My recent attempts at artistic immortality - blossoms and butterflies - have been on small canvases.: 8 x 8 for the blossoms, 12 x 12 for flies.  I wanted to do a larger canvas and selected this one, a string pull, using 4 colors. 

First attempts at a new technique rarely - virtually never - turn out as planned, and this one is no exception.  It's okay, went ahead and hung it but can't say I love it.

I posted the picture on Facebook.  First comment was made by a woman I know from pickleball, who said I was painting female reproductive organs.  Huh?  Being the naive, clean cut, Minnesota farm boy that I am, I was astounded!  And, of course, I blushed a deep red.  Head to toe.

I went online to see if her comment was valid.  Sure enough, there is a similarity.  Gee whiz!

Spring Skiing

Caveat: this is not for the faint of heart or sensitive of nose.  Nor is it suitable for children, members of the SPCA, the inherently squeamish - and, frankly, anyone with a modicum of good sense.  If you fit into any of these categories, stop reading NOW!  Or, continue at the risk of being highly offended.  You've been warned!

Once upon a time in a state far, far, away (Minnesota) there lived a boy on a family farm.  The boy milked cows, slopped hogs, herded sheep, forked manure, hauled hay bales, shoveled grain, picked rocks - just like numerous other farm boys in that long ago time and far away place.

Winters were long and cold.  Animals sheltered in the barn at night, but were let outside on warm days.  They took care of business, both inside and out.  Lots of business!  Snowstorms were frequent, resulting in multiple layers of business and compacted snow.  Come spring, those multiple layers would slowly melt down and form a pool of thick, odoriferous slop several inches deep.

And then it was time for Spring Skiing!

First, carefully select your tow vehicle.  A cow of course, but not just any cow.  An old cow couldn't get up to speed quickly.  A young heifer, on the other hand, could jump start you right off your feet.  Next, get a firm grip on the chosen cow's tail, holler HI YO SILVER!  And you're off!

These were short rides.  20' in 5 seconds was the course record.  If your ski boot (overshoe, actually) hit a submerged obstacle and you did a face plant into the muck, the ride was even shorter.

Tow vehicles kicked up slop so best keep your mouth shut and eyes nearly so.  As for clothing, well... let's just say it was heavier afterward.  Didn't matter really; farm boys smelled like self-propelled turds pretty much all the time.

Oh yeah, those were the days!

Butterfly lll

Here's the last of 3-piece set.  They were fun to do, a little tricky, screwed up 3 others.

All hung.  Ready for next project.