Having moved into a new house this year, where streets are narrow and turns are tight, we came up with the idea of setting the coach up at Jonathan Dickenson park, where we left it for three days, cleaning and loading and getting ready to hit the road. Turned out to be a great decision, as we were able to sort and reorganize in addition, and I didn't feel like I had to clean at the end of the driving day! It also gave us the opportunity to get an earlier start, after staying overnight on Sunday.
Our early start had some serious interruptions, right from the get go, however! First, our neighbor for these three days decided, AFTER we started the engine, pulled out, hooked up the car, and were ready to go, that it was a great time to ask about our towing mechanism! I was sitting in the drivers seat, waiting for Clem to give me the signal that the car was in neutral and we were ready, and thinking what the heck is taking him so long, when I look in the side mirror to see them standing back there gabbing! I had a notion to give a blast on the air horn, but hey....we are on vacation! So I checked email on my phone, and he soon came around and gave me the sign.
However, we were barely on the road an hour, when we hit a full stop, all lanes closed for an accident! A sign said we could take alternate route at exit whatever, but by the time we inched our way there, it finally opened up, and we were able to go through, albeit slowly. And then we get an engine light!!! WHAT?? The entire coach has supposedly been serviced and ready to go, what could this be?
Well, I guess they did NOT check the coolant, and it was low and setting off signals. Which was the first warning. I knew from experience when I suddenly had no power that the next step is the engine just cuts out! 36,000 pounds coasting along with no power, and no power steering! I have no option but to ease it off the road, and bring it to a stop. Again from experience, I know if I let it sit a minute, I could start it again, which I had to do twice before getting safely to a rest area. At least this time I knew what was happening, and it didn't scare me, like it did when it happened in the mountains out west! We were going up one of those inclines that slows the big trucks, and us, and all of a sudden, my foot on the pedal meant nothing! I remember Clem saying then, why are you stopping? I assured him it was not my idea! The engine just cut out, and going up hill, it was scary!
Anyway, we stopped, had lunch at a nice picnic shelter, let the engine cool, then put in the coolant, with the very specialized equipment we learned to carry for such an occasion......an old liquid soap bottle! Whoever designed the reservoir for coolant in this thing had to have a great sense of humor! The top has about an inch clearance from the body, and is impossible to tip anything into. So one must squirt it in! Once they figure out how to get the cap off that is!
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| Why did we stop? Oh well....good chance to stretch! |
We set out again, and though we hit some serious rain, I was feeling good, well rested (again...maybe the more relaxed departure), and decided to go for the goal. We arrived at our camp site around 7:30 PM, after having left at 8:30 AM. Still feeling good, and enjoyed a nice stroll around the wooded campground after setting up and before calling it a night. Looking forward to exploring Charleston for the next couple of days.
You guys are getting to be old hands at this now.
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