We spent the last few days outside of Moultrie, GA at the beautiful Reed Bingham State Park. Mature trees, good roads and widely spaced campsites. And believe it or not, full hookups. And a very clean laundry facility. All in a state park. WOW.
We talked some of our fellow Alaska explorers into joining us there and had a great visit. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship and is looking forward to our adventure.
Of course, there was also the ubiquitous crawling around on the ground under motorhomes. I'm beginning to think it's a core activity, like a general education requirement in college. But with expensive tools, and cussing.
We can't wait to see everyone at Dawson Creek! We are counting the days.
72...
So who is Mona? Mona is our 2011 Monaco Knight, or as I refer to her, the other woman. She is a comely lass, but high maintenance, to be sure.
We decided to get two new steer tires before taking off for Alaska. The old ones had significant rivering. Rivering looks exactly like it sounds, but is not at all beautiful.
Enter our new Michelin 275/80R22.5 tires. Smoooth, said Craig, on his drive back to the ranch. Even smoother as we headed out toward Florida to meet some new friends and traveling companions.
We did keep one of the old tires to use as a spare on the trip to Alaska. They do sell tires up north, of course, but you never know how far you are from a tire store.
And Mona loves her shoes.
Craig found a pinhole in a weld at the top of one of the jack cylinders that was causing a hydraulic fluid leak. Luckily it was behind the radiator so he could try to weld it shut in place. By luckily, I mean there is just enough space to get his head very close to the place he will weld and just below the fuel filter for the engine. You see where I am going with this?
My job was to turn the welder on and off so he could stay under the coach. I must say I am amazing at this kind of job. I may have been born for it...
Sadly, the first weld didn't take, since the hydraulic fluid continued to ooze. He decided to be a little more aggressive, and turn the welder up. I'm a little concerned about his proximity to the welding and as I'm about the voice this concern, Craig returns from the shop with a small fire extinguisher.
Uh, oh. Craig hands it to me, points out the possible sources of fire (more than one, not counting my dear husband) and crawls back under the coach.
Meanwhile, I'm checking the extinguisher to make sure it's good, just like Mack the Fire Guy showed us in Quartzsite. Is it Stop, Drop and Roll?
After all the preparation, there was no fire, thank God. Just a little more cussing as the weld still could not be completed. Craig had to remove the jack and weld it in his shop, where conditions were perfect and so was Craig's work, as usual.
At last, the wet bay is back together. With the addition of the tank monitor panel. It remains to be seen whether there is truly value in knowing you have 68% vs. 2/3 of a tank. Could lead to a false sense of security? We'll see.
Craig is happy and the panel looks amazing. That's all that really matters.
