Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bluehost and Amazon

Yesterday I completed my task for the day before noon as I knew the day was going to heat up. I had the air conditioners running in the coach from noon until after dark. Today’s weather will be more of the same.

The task I set for myself yesterday was cleaning the wheels on the left side of the coach. First, I wiped the tire sidewalls and treated them with 303 Aerospace Protectant. Tire sidewall rubber degrades from exposure to ultra-violet (UV) light and to a lesser degree from exposure to ozone. Tire manufacturers use an inexpensive compound called carbon black to protect against UV degradation. By the way, that’s why tires are black. The carbon black eventually absorbs enough UV light to degrade and turn gray. That’s why old rubber looks gray. 303 Aerospace Protectant contains a powerful UV stabilizer and no solvents that can harm tires.

When we’re parked for more than a few days, I use tire covers to keep direct sunlight off our tires. Since we’ll be on the road again, I wanted extra protection on the sidewalls. I’ve mentioned it before – RVs rarely wear out their tires. They degrade from age. I’d like to get as much time as possible out of our tires before they degrade.

After I treated the sidewalls of the tires, I started cleaning the Accuride alloy wheels. After wiping the surface, I used Nevr-Dull wadding to clean and polish the wheels. Nevr-Dull wadding is a felt-like cotton material treated with a chemical that removes tarnish and dirt without scratching or harming metal surfaces. I like this product. There’s no messy liquid to deal with and it’s super easy to use. Tomorrow, when we have a little cooler weather, I’ll do the wheels on the right side of the coach. The way we’re parked right now, the right side of the coach is facing east and has full sun all morning.

Left wheels shiny and tires treated

After lunch, Donna took a few files and went to the Apache Wells RV Resort card room. She had the place to herself and was able to spread out and organize her work. While she was there, I rode the scooter over to WalMart to pick up a couple of things.

I bought an Omron electro-therapy device (these are generically called tens units). My chiropractor suggested I get one of these to relieve muscle tension while we’re on the road. It sends electrical pulses through pads that are attached to the skin near the affected area. The electrical pulses stimulate the muscle and provide relief from muscle spasm. I’ve used this therapy many times before, but only with a physical therapist. Nowadays, these devices are readily available and inexpensive. I thought it was worth a try.

Last night’s dinner was grilled hot Italian chicken sausage served with whole wheat spaghetti with a blender sauce made with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil, topped off with grated parmesan cheese. Donna sauteed sliced green peppers to serve on the side.

Hot Italian chicken sausage plate

Hopefully, we’ll finish our taxes and get that out of the way today. It’s been a struggle trying to get it right with all of the changes we went through last year between selling the house, me retiring and us becoming full-time RVers. Next year should be easier.

I’ve added a few items to the right sidebar of this page. First is the Bluehost link. People have asked me how my blog is set up. I use WordPress for the blog template and Bluehost for web hosting. Below that, is the Amazon link. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a few pennies if you use my link to buy from Amazon. You pay the same price as always, but I earn a small referral commission.The last new item is a map with the states we’ve been through since we hit the road full-time colored in blue.

Red Wings

Yesterday, while Donna went out for a bicycle ride, I puttered around and continued preparations to move on. No offense to my friends in the area, but when you’re a nomad, staying in one place this long becomes stale. I have one more appointment at the chiropractor tomorrow, then we’ll tie up loose ends over the weekend. We’ll roll out of here on Monday.

We’re thinking about making a stop near Wickenburg at the Escapees RV park. Then we’ll move on to Lake Mead and do some boondocking there. Our travel plans over the next two months are pretty loose. We need to be mindful of Donna’s business travel and be near major airports at certain times. Our current thought is to hit Las Vegas, then head east through Zion National Park and on to Denver. We’ll see how that pans out.

FedEx dropped off the coolant additive I ordered (I wrote about coolant testing and additives in this post). I used Fleetguard DCA4 supplemental coolant additive. I’ll test the coolant additive concentration again when we’re at our next stop.

Supplemental coolant additive

The temperature rose well into the 90s yesterday. I had both air conditioning units running by noon. Today, the forecast calls for a high of 98. Tomorrow will also be very warm before the temperatures drop back into the 80s over the weekend. We’ll have to take advantage of the pool while we can.

After my chiropractor appointment in the afternoon and a stop for a cold one at Red, White and Brew, I came home and watched the Detroit Red Wings versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. At the end of regulation play, the game was tied 3-3. This gave Detroit one point, which was exactly what they needed to clinch a playoff spot for the 23rd consecutive season.

After the game, Donna and I watched a couple of recorded episodes of Dexter and called it a night.

Today, I want to clean and polish the wheels on the left side of the coach. It’s shaded on that side in the morning. I’ll wait until we have cooler weather to do the right side.

Heating Up

Monday was just another day. I didn’t have much to write about yesterday, so I took a day off the blog. Most days Donna has work to do. She’s either writing, working on book promotions, doing magazine interviews or just taking care of business. I generally don’t have anything real pressing on my agenda. The only appointment on my calendar for Monday was a visit to the chiropractor for an adjustment and therapy.

Sometimes, balancing my carefree days with Donna’s work schedule can be challenging for one or both of us. If she has phone interviews, or is really working hard to hit a deadline, I find things to do outside the coach to give her space. That doesn’t sound too tough, right? It really isn’t, but it’s something to consider if you’re going to live in a confined space. The nice part is, we can be in places where being outside is nearly always an option. It’s great to be able to choose our climate!

The weather has gone from warm to very warm (it’s not hot in Arizona until the thermometer hits 110F). Monday was 89 degrees and yesterday was over 90. We ran the air conditioners both days. The forecast calls for highs near 100 by the end of the week. If we would have left Mesa on schedule, we would have gotten out before things heated up.

Yesterday, I started re-organizing the trailer. I needed to come up with a better way to hang our bicycles and figure out where my new mountain bike will go. I’ve been hanging our bikes with a nylon cord strung through the roof bows. This worked fine except the edge of the roof bow cut into the cord.

Cord strung through trailer roof bow

I went to the hardware store with a vague notion of what I wanted to do. Sometimes I’ll browse through the hardware section until I see something that fits my needs, without knowing precisely what I’m looking for. That was the case on this visit. I found shallow “U” shaped hangers that I attached to the roof bow with self-drilling screws. The cord shouldn’t chafe on the smooth surface and it should be more than strong enough. I installed two of the hangers where my road bike and Donna’s bike usually hang.

Hanger attached to trailer roof bow

Next, I needed to figure out where my mountain bike will fit. This presented more of a challenge than I thought it would. The mountain bike has a longer wheelbase. The long wheelbase coupled with big 29″ wheels and tires requires a lot of space.

Donna came out to the trailer and looked around. She gave me a few ideas on repositioning some of the bins. She’s the organizing expert after all. After I cleared a few things out and repositioned the bins, a few minutes with the measuring tape and I was set. With the front wheel removed, I can hang the mountain bike upright from two hanger points. If I turn the wide handlebar so it’s parallel with frame, it fits. I’ll take a picture when I get everything packed up this weekend.

After I had the trailer straightened out, I took a short snooze on the sofa. Then I showered and rode over to the Red, White and Brew to have a cold one with the guys. While I was there, I found some sad news on Facebook. My former colleague and friend, Sergio Bianchi, passed away suddenly on Sunday. I’m stunned by the news. RIP, Sergio, you’ll be greatly missed.

When I returned, I helped Donna prepare a Cornish hen. I used poultry shears to cut out the back bone. I removed the ribs with a small knife. This allowed me to butterfly the hen for grilling. Donna prepared it simply with olive oil, salt and pepper, while I started the grill. We grilled the hen using the brick method I wrote about in this post. As always, the brick grilling method worked like a charm. The hen was juicy and very good.

Cornish hen under a foil wrapped brick

Looking good

Donna served the hen with pan fried artichoke hearts, whole wheat couscous and Sriracha green beans. Another tasty and nutritious meal!

Tasty!

Today, I have another appointment at the chiropractor. Other than that, it’s another carefree day.

Sea Eagles

Donna’s friend, Audrey, picked her up to go kayaking at Saguaro Lake early yesterday morning. Audrey has a couple of Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayaks. She brought one for Donna to use. They met up with a few of Audrey’s friends who also have inflatable kayaks.

Donna had a great time cruising on Saguaro Lake. They saw a bald eagle roosting on a rocky ledge. They explored a few coves and watched all the boating activity and fishermen on the lake. And now Donna has a Sea Eagle inflatable kayak on her wish list.

Kayaks inflated, ready to launch

Audrey and Emma on Saguaro Lake

Donna having fun on the water

After watching the Formula One race from Bahrain, I posted to the blog. I also watched the Red Wings game that was played Saturday in Montreal – it was re-run on the NHL Network. I didn’t know the outcome of the game, so I had to stay with it until the end. The Red Wings overcame a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the third period. Exciting stuff! Then they allowed two goals and lost by a score of 5-3.

I spent most of the day studying spring weather trends and places to go when we leave here. After much discussion, we have a general plan now. Donna has some business travel coming up at the end of May and another possible trip at the end of this month. Our plans include being near a major airport for her travel days.

I’m off to the chiropractor for another adjustment and physical therapy.

Delayed Departure

I went to the chiropractor on Friday for another adjustment and therapy. Dr. Pavtis reviewed my neck x-rays with me. The alignment issues are obvious. She also pointed out an earlier injury – an old fracture on C7. It looked worse than I thought it was. When it happened, I remember the doctor telling me it was a small fracture in the transverse process, no big deal. I had other injuries at the time that were bigger concerns. Looking at the X-ray now, the fracture clearly went through the entire vertebra, not just the transverse process. But this has nothing to do with my current situation.

Years of living with an imbalance due to neck dissection surgery has left me with poor alignment and improper curvature in my cervical vertebrae and upper back. Dr. Pavtis wanted to put me on a six-week treatment program. I don’t think we’ll do that. We settled on a few more treatments and stretches and exercises that I can continue on my own. This pushes our departure from Mesa back another week. We’re flexible with our travel plans, but the Phoenix area will soon become too hot to stay here in a motorhome.

On Friday night, Donna and I went to the Roma Cafe Ristorante. We used to eat there occasionally when we lived here before. We were a little confused though. The restaurant was in a plaza on Main Street, east of Power Road. I was sure we never went to dinner there. When we walked in, it was all very familiar. It’s family run and we saw familiar faces and decor. Donna asked if they moved the restaurant. Sure enough, our memories were correct. It used to be on the corner of McKellips and Recker. The food is reasonably priced and quite good with some authentic Italian specialities on the menu.

Yesterday, we were up early. Donna competed in the El Tour de Mesa bicycle race. We loaded her bike in the Toyota Highlander that we borrowed from Lana and arrived at the starting area at Red Mountain Ranch about an hour before the 8:15 am start. The 28-mile race was Donna’s first mass start bicycle race. She’s raced in duathlon and triathlon events before, but those aren’t mass start races. At the starting gun, she was off in a pack of a few hundred racers.

Donna in the center of the photo waiting for the start.

After they were off, I drove back home. I had a leisurely breakfast, then drove over to the finish area downtown at the Mesa Convention Center. Along the race route, police officers were controlling traffic at the intersections. The bike racers were given priority and didn’t stop at the intersections. I arrived at the finish line about 45 minutes before Donna thought she would be there. I didn’t want to miss her finish.

The finish line at the convention center.

About nine minutes later. I looked up the road and saw a couple of bikes come around the corner. By the time I recognized Donna, she was flying past me. I called out her name and walked past the finish line to find her. She finished 21 minutes ahead of her anticipated time. She was exhilarated. She had a great race.

We put her bike and gear into the Toyota and walked back to collect her medal. We checked the official finish times and saw that Donna was 2nd in the women’s 50 – 54 age group. I was proud to see she averaged 17 MPH over the course. She’s really motivated for the race in Great Falls now!

After we checked the results, we stopped at a lunch wagon for street tacos. The carne asada tacos were spicy and very tasty.

We came home and relaxed for awhile – we each took short naps. Then it was time to return Lana’s Toyota. A few weeks ago we left a 2 terabyte external hard drive with Lana’s boyfriend, Joel. He loaded the hard drive with more than 900 movies, several TV series and a large music library! Joel showed me how to set up the drive and access the library, then he drove us home.

Donna prepared a special chicken dish for dinner. She marinated boneless chicken breasts in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs. Then she cut each breast in a way that effectively made the breast into one long strip of meat. She then wrapped the chicken around an asparagus spear and a scallion.

Chicken XXX ready to grill and breast cut into strip.

One roll-up ready to grill and one breast cut into a long strip

I put the chicken on the grill. The trick was to lower the heat after getting the grill marks so the asparagus and scallion would cook without overcooking the chicken.

Chicken roll-ups on the grill

Donna served the chicken with steamed asparagus and garlic mashed red potatoes. A meal fit for royalty!

Served with asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes

After dinner, I set up the hard drive with my laptop connected to the TV. We watched the end of Breaking Bad. We have so much entertainment to choose from thanks to Joel, Donna will cancel her NetFlix subscription.

This morning Donna went kayaking at Saguaro Lake with her friend, Audrey, and a few of Audrey’s friends. I’m watching the Formula One race from Bahrain. We’ll see what the rest of the day will bring.

Getting Ready to Roam

Yesterday, after Donna returned from her morning bicycle ride, I took the scooter over to the NAPA store on Main Street. They had ordered coolant test strips for me and they were in. Coolant test strips are strips of paper with three treated pads on them. They work like litmus paper. One pad tests the PH of the coolant, one tests the coolant freeze point and one tests the concentration of coolant additive (nitrite). After dipping the strip in coolant, you compare the color of the pads against charts to read the levels.

The nitrite level is important for heavy-duty diesel engines. The additive protects the cylinder liners from damage. There’s a very technical theory on how coolant can be knocked away from the liners by vibration, which creates an area of vacuum that the coolant rushes back into, colliding with the liner and eventually eroding the steel liner. The additive, which protects against this, slowly depletes. Heavy-duty diesel coolant should be tested periodically and if necessary, supplemental coolant additive (SCA) needs to be added to the coolant.

After testing our coolant, I see that we need a maintenance dose of SCA. Today I’ll see if I can find SCA at a car or truck dealership. I need to add one pint per 20 gallons of coolant.

I also changed the external fuel filter in preparation of our summer travels. I’ll get started on the trailer re-organization today. Every time we sit in one place for a while, we seem to accumulate more stuff. In the last month, I’ve added another bicycle and Donna added a new bin and two boxes containing steam cleaners – Reliable Brio and Reliable Pronto. You’ll be hearing more about the steam cleaners because Donna has been asked to create videos for Camping World’s online catalog. I’ll find a way to make it all fit in the trailer.

Last night, we grilled cheeseburgers for dinner and hung out, watching television. Today, I have a follow-up visit with the chiropractor. Later, we’ll pick up a car our friend, Lana Jansen, generously offered to us. This will allow me to drive Donna and her bicycle to the start of tomorrow’s bike race. I expect a busy weekend ahead as we prepare to start roaming again.

Out of Alignment

Yesterday, I got ambitious in the morning. I put up the ladder and finally cleaned and polished the fiberglass crown around the roof. At one point, wind gusts kicked up and I had to move away from the edge of the roof and wait it out. It only lasted for a few minutes, then I was back at it. I did small sections at a time. It took me a little over an hour.

I’ve had a knot in a muscle between my spine and left shoulder blade, along with pain in my left shoulder for the last two weeks. After I put the ladder away, the knot in my back was worse. I made an appointment with a chiropractor who was recommended by Donna’s friend, Audrey. After lunch, I showered and rode the scooter to her office.

It turned out that I have some alignment issues in my neck and upper spine. This was no surprise. With the damage and surgeries I’ve had on my neck and shoulders, everything is out of balance. She made some adjustments. After two weeks of living with the knot in my back, I finally had some relief.

She didn’t think my shoulder pain was related to the alignment issues. It seems that I have two separate problems. Although the shoulder is painful, I have full range of motion, so I don’t think it’s anything too serious. They treated my shoulder with an ultrasonic device and electrical stimulation. Before I left, they taped my shoulder and advised me not to lift anything heavier than 12 ounces with my left arm. I’ll go back tomorrow for another treatment.

By the time I was finished with the treatment, it was 4pm. I went out to the scooter and found the temperature had dropped into the 60s. It was windy and dark clouds were coming from the west. I rode back home, chilled all the way. About 20 minutes after I returned, we had a little rain shower.

Last night, Donna cooked indoors. She made tilapia filets stuffed with crab meat – something her mother prepared for her on her recent visit. She served it with sauteed pearl onions, mushrooms and red peppers. I enjoyed a big bottle of Decadent Imperial IPA from Ska Brewing with the meal. Delicious.

Tilapia stuffed with crabmeat stuffing

Today, I have a few errands to take care of. I need to remove the aero bars from Donna’s bike. They aren’t allowed in the race she’s riding on Saturday. We still haven’t decided where we’ll go when we pull out of here on Monday.

Next Stop?

Yesterday was uneventful for me. Donna drove the rental car to Scottsdale for an appointment at her orthodontist. She had new retainers fitted. From there she drove to Tia Rosa’s Taqueria to meet her friend, Audrey Arrington, for lunch. The main restaurant at Tia Rosa’s is still closed due to a fire. Audrey has been Donna’s bookkeeper since 2006.

Donna returned the rental car at 2pm. Audrey drove her home from the Enterprise rental office and took a tour of the coach. They made tentative plans to go kayaking at Saguaro Lake on Sunday.

The day got away from me somehow. I spent some time visiting with George, our neighbor from Wisconsin. George and his wife, Judy, were preparing to hit the road. They had everything packed up and George was checking his 40-foot Beaver motorhome over. They planned to leave first thing in the morning. We exchanged e-mail addresses so we could stay in touch. They’ll be back here next year.

Last evening we grilled chicken sausage stuffed with spinach and feta (from Sprouts) and sweet potato fries. Donna served it with steamed spinach.

Chicken sausage stuffed with spinach & feta

Last night we watched the first two episodes of House of Cards. Actually, the first episode was a re-run for me. That’s because I watched it the night before, but Donna fell asleep on the sofa and missed all but the first five minutes.

The reason Donna fell asleep early was because the Benadryl she took made her drowsy. She took Benadryl because on Saturday, while she was in the swimming pool, a wasp stung her on her right elbow. By Sunday it was red and swollen and causing discomfort. She put Benadryl cream on it. Later she took two Benadryl tablets which pretty much knocked her out.

We’re still waiting for the final episode of Breaking Bad from Netflix. A few people recommended House of Cards. I don’t know if I can keep up with all the political maneuvering in the plot though.

We’re leaving Mesa next Monday. We’re still undecided on our next move. I’m thinking about a return to San Diego. The trigger finger I wrote about a few months ago has returned. The cortisone injection was effective, but only lasted three months. When Dr. Leek and I discussed the options for treatment, he said if the cortisone shot worked for 12 months, then it would be worth having a second shot. But, if it only lasted for three months, we probably should do the surgery.

I’ll see if we can find a place to stay in San Diego for a few weeks so I can have my hand repaired and if my shoulder is still bothersome, Dr. Leek can look at that also.

Tortilla Flat

I didn’t post yesterday, so I need to post a weekend update. Not that the weekend was all that exciting. Donna went out for her first bike ride in two weeks. She was away for a week and her bike was in the shop for repairs. She rode the Usery loop, 20 miles, with her friends, Dara and Amber and a few other gals. Her bike is like a new machine. The tune-up with new cables, chain and cassette and new wheels have restored the liveliness of her Trek Madone.

After her ride, we hung out at the pool for a while and soaked in the Jacuzzi. There were airplanes from Falcon Field putting on an aerobatic display to the west of us. Three Russian Yak 52s and an AT-6 Texan flew overhead in tight formation a couple of times. I really enjoy watching these piston-powered airplanes. Last week, there was a pilot roaring overhead – he appeared to be practicing for a pylon race. He would pass over the RV park in a northeasterly direction, then roll into a steep bank as he made a 180-degree turn to the southwest. He continued on that heading until he was almost out of sight before he rolled into another 180-degree turn and passed overhead again.

As he approached the park, his plane sounded like a buzz saw. The sound was coming from the propeller. The tip speed of the propeller was exceeding the speed of sound and creating a shock wave. This phenomenon is hard to get your head around. Here’s what’s happening. The propeller is turning at a certain number of revolutions per minute (RPM). Although the entire propeller is turning at that RPM, the tips of the propeller are describing an arc of greater diameter than any other part of the propeller. This means the tips have to cover a greater distance for a given RPM. Speed is defined as distance traveled in a period of time. The speed of the propeller tips can be very high. When they are exceeding the speed of sound, they create sound of their own.

Once the plane passed by, the propeller sound abated and you could hear the rumble of the piston engine. I stood outside and watched him for several minutes. This stuff fascinates me. I guess I’m easily amused.

On Saturday afternoon, I soaked a cedar plank. Donna prepared miso rubbed sockeye salmon, which I grilled on the cedar plank. If you haven’t tried grilling on a plank, I highly recommend it.

Cedar plank on the grill

Cedar planked salmon with cauliflower-potato mash and cilantro-jalapeno pesto

Donna served it with a cauliflower-potato mash with cilantro-jalapeno pesto and green beans on the side. It was outstanding!

Yesterday, we drove the rental car to Tortilla Flat for breakfast. Tortilla Flat is a quirky little place near Canyon Lake on the old Apache Trail. It was originally a stage coach stop that began operation more than 100 years ago. It’s the only remaining stop on the Apache Trail. Legend has it that in the old days, miners would stop at the saloon on their way to the big city (Phoenix). They would write their name on a dollar bill and tack it on the wall of the saloon. That way they knew they would have some cash waiting at the saloon when they returned from the big city.

Today, tourists staple dollar bills on the wall. The entire interior of the saloon is papered with dollar bills.

Dollar bills with names and places scrawled on them

Another wall covered in a fistful of dollars

Another wall covered in dollar bills

Today, there are a few buildings and six or seven year-round residents at Tortilla Flat. There’s the usual tourist trap gift shop, an ice cream parlor, small museum and the saloon. The saloon is a favorite breakfast cafe.

When we lived in Mesa, I would ride my motorcycle up to Tortilla Flat nearly every Sunday morning. I would meet a group of fellow motorcycle enthusiasts at the Dash In on the corner of Lost Dutchman and Apache Trail. Our group included a few old road racers and few want-to-be racers. We met early on Sunday morning, before there was any traffic on the Apache Trail.

About 10 miles from Tortilla Flat, the road becomes very twisty. I rode up this road so many times on my motorcycles that I remembered every inch of the way. I called out the turns to Donna and the preferred line through the turns for 10 miles. She rode the route on her motorcycle once with me, but this time, she was more focused on the scenery.

Scenic overlook of Canyon Lake on the way to Tortilla Flat

We used to ride up past Tortilla Flat. The pavement continues for about five miles up the canyon towards Apache Lake before it becomes a dirt road. At the end of the pavement we would pull off in a turn-out and chat. Now and then, a small group would ride down the road a few miles to a turn out point and race each other back to the top. We would be dragging our knees around the turns, riding the wheels off our bikes. I had an MV Agusta when I first started riding with this group. Then I bought a tricked out Ducati 848 Superbike. It had all the goods – full Termignoni race system and ECU, Ohlins suspension. We had a blast. After an hour or two, we would ride down to the saloon for breakfast and swap stories. I sold the Ducati when we moved to Michigan. I didn’t think I would have any use for it there.

If you ever get up to the saloon at Tortilla Flat, you must try the chili. Whether it’s breakfast time or lunch, the chili is tops. On the menu it’s called “Killer Chili.” On the breakfast menu they have the “Killer Omelette.” This is a three-egg omelette filled with chili and topped with cheese. Tasty and very filling.

Here are a few pictures of the quirkiness that’s Tortilla Flat. Click on the photos to enlarge.

Outside of the saloon at Tortilla Flat

Bar stools made from saddles in the saloon

This is what happens if you steal a dollar off of the wall

Lost Dutchman legend

Old western ruins

Water tank for the stage coach horses

I’m glad we made it up there. The breakfast was good and it brought back great memories.

Almost Bored

Yesterday started off with a great breakfast. Donna cooked sunny-side-up eggs for me in the Pampered Chef microwave egg cooker our friend Mona gave us. She served it with cilantro and avocado over skirt steak strips with salsa on the side.

Breakfast of champions

I puttered around most of the day. I’m still resting my sore shoulder, so that means no bicycling or anything strenuous. I need to get on the roof to clean and polish the crown where the roof meets the side walls of the coach. I hope I can do that next week. I don’t want to lift the ladder and climb it right now. For the first time since we hit the road, I’m getting a little bored, sitting around and waiting for my injury to heal.

FedEx delivered a couple of items I ordered through Amazon from Ryder Fleet Products. I bought new wiper inserts. The wiper blades on the coach are dry and cracking. That’s common in the southwest from sitting in the sun. My neighbor, George, gave me wiper blade covers to protect them when I install the new inserts.The covers are a mesh cloth that wraps around the blade and are held in place with velcro strips. They’re supposed to filter the sunlight and keep the blades cooler. I want to be sure we have good wipers when we hit the road. We could drive into a thunderstorm anytime, any place.

I also ordered two fuel filter/water separators. Diesel engines need a clean fuel supply. Filtration is necessary. Water can build up in the fuel tank from condensation. Any time we will be sitting in one place for more than a week, I try to have the tank as full as possible. With less air space in the tank, the chance of condensation forming is reduced.

The Fleetguard external fuel filter on our coach is also a water separator. It has a sensor on the bottom that plugs into a wiring harness on the coach. If we have excess water, it will illuminate a warning light on the dash. It also has a drain port on the bottom. The water will separate from the fuel in the bottom of the filter canister. Opening the drain will allow the water to run out.

Water in the fuel can cause corrosion in the fuel system. The other problem with water in the fuel is the formation of algae. Once this happens, it clogs the fuel filter and is hard to eradicate. I haven’t worried about it too much while we’re parked here in the dry desert air and I haven’t had to drain any water from the filter. However, once we start our travels again, I’ll start adding an algaecide additive to our fuel tank.

The water separator is in the service bay – the last bay on the right rear of the coach. This service bay allows access to the fuel filter, air filter and air filter restriction gauge, engine oil dipstick, transmission fluid dipstick, air suspension water drain and various relays and fuses.

Coach service bay

Last week I opened the air filter housing to look at the air filter. It looks okay and the restriction gauge shows 8 inches vacuum (H2O) – almost no restriction. I won’t replace the air filter element until the gauge reads above 20 inches H2O. Replacing air filters too soon isn’t a good idea. New air filters don’t have as much filtration efficiency as one that has already trapped some particulate matter. The trapped particulates act as added filter media. With the vacuum gauge set-up in the service bay, I’ll know exactly when we need to replace the air filter element.

I’ll replace the fuel filter/water separator next week, before we leave here. I don’t know for sure how old the current filter is. Barring any contamination issues, replacing the fuel filter/water separator will become an annual maintenance item. I ordered two of them so I can carry a spare on the road. If we get a tank of contaminated diesel fuel, I can change the filter on the side of the road.

Last evening, Donna and I had dinner at Red, White and Brew. Then we drove over to DNA Cycles to pick up Donna’s bike (she rented a car for the weekend). Afterwards, we came home and I watched the NCAA basketball tournament. Both Michigan and Michigan State advanced to the Elite Eight round. Dayton is in as well. San Diego State was eliminated Thursday night. Sunday’s games will determine the final four. This is my favorite basketball tournament.

I hope whatever is wrong in my left shoulder heals soon, so I can get some things done and quit moping around.

Flying The Koop

…from real estate to wheel estate and back again

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bluehost and Amazon

Red Wings

Heating Up

Sea Eagles

Delayed Departure

Getting Ready to Roam

Out of Alignment

Next Stop?

Tortilla Flat

Almost Bored

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