CRATER LAKE RV PARK

Currently in Prospect OR (Low 42 Rainy High 64) 

We visited Crater Lake National Park yesterday and have a lot of photos of that beautiful lake to go through so thought we would take you on a tour of the RV Park that we are staying at.

We are nestled in the woods at Crater Lake RV Park in Prospect Oregon. Here is JJ looking at his new surroundings. We've told the story before how once we arrive at a new location and JJ has had his lunch he likes to go to the door and all the windows and check out his new digs.

The view looking at the woods from the front of the Cameo.

The road to the left of the Cameo.

The view from the back of the Cameo.

Up close and personal to the trees.

Even with all the trees we asked for a satellite friendly site and they knew exactly where to put us.

This is a very nice park in a great location. The rain may put a little damper on our sightseeing plans for today but they really need the rain around here.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - TO PROSPECT OREGON

Currently in Prospect OR (Low 44 Mostly Sunny High 71) 

We pushed the button and our slideout went in again, so we got out of that DAM park :-)

We headed yesterday approximately 65 miles to Prospect Oregon and the Crater Lake RV Park. Here is the route we took:



It was only 65 miles but it was one of the most scenic drives we have been on. We traveled along the Rogue River and crossed the Peyton Bridge which was real scenic but no place to pull over and take a photo that we could see. We are in another dead zone but the park has free wifi which works pretty good. No phone calls until we leave the park. While here we mainly want to see Crater Lake, here is an image from the web.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

OUR GPS' ARE CURSING AT US

Currently in Ashland OR (Low 48 Sunny Currently 54)
Heading to Prospect OR (Mostly Sunny High 80) 

First an update on our slideout situation. The mobile tech had a very dramatic few days which made getting to us even more complicated due to the ever changing family emergency. The great thing about this lifestyle is "Home Is Where You Hook Up", we generally don't have to be anywhere at a set time (there are a few exceptions but generally not), and we have to be parked somewhere. So a couple extra days alongside Emigrant Lake was not so bad.

One bonus of staying a couple extra days is that we finally got a good sunset photo.

Anyway the mobile tech came late yesterday afternoon and finished up the job. He installed the pillow bearings to stabilize everything and we ran the slide in and out a few times. He said it sounded great, just like a brand new one and we agreed it worked fine. If the slideout goes in later this morning we are off to Prospect Oregon and Crater Lake.

Anyway to today's post; we are a multiple GPS household. We have a Good Sam GPS with a nice large screen.

We also have a Garmin truckers GPS we had before we got the Good Sam one. Plus we have GPS on our HTC One M8 smartphones.

When we towed the Cameo into the park on the winding road along the lake we heard turn on to Emigrant Dam Access Road a couple of times. But when we went into town the next day and ran a few errands we needed the GPS to get us back here so we used the smartphone. Unfortunately every twist and turn we heard, veer left to stay on Emigrant Dam Access Road, veer right to stay on Emigrant Dam Access Road, and on and on. Every time it seemed there was more emphasis on the DAM Access Road :-) We joked about this all week.

Wish us luck that our slideout works today and for a long time!

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

WALK ALONG WITH BOB - EMIGRANT LAKE EDITION

Currently in Ashland OR (Low 47 Sunny Currently )

First an update on the slideout problem; the mobile tech came by late yesterday and worked on the slideout motor. Since he got here late due to his family emergency and he did not have all the tools that he needed he is planning on coming back today. Hopefully this will do it.

We thought about doing a blog entry taking pictures along Bob's walk in the morning but haven't done one yet. We will only do this for walks that are scenic and it will be mostly pictures and a few words. Here is the view when Bob starts out on his 3 mile walk.

The lake comes into view very quickly and stays throughout the walk.

There is a 1/2 mile unpaved loop along the lake.

A bench along the trail where you can sit and enjoy the lake.

View of the lake along the way.

A rock wall that sometimes you see climbers on.

The trail narrows.

The end of this trail, time to turnaround.

View of the lake on the way back.

The campground comes into view.

About ready to get back on pavement in the park.

Walking in the park.

Leaving the park and the lake along the way.

Another lake view along the way.

Turnaround point, can head here just back to the Cameo for the 3 miles.

One of the more scenic walks Bob has been on since fulltiming.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

JO IS A TROOPER

Ashland OR (Low 50 Sunny High 85) 

Subtitled: Our slideout saga

Jo is a trooper and Bob is lucky to have her!! Let us explain how this correlates to the slideout saga. Bob just put Jo through a day from hell (more on that later), and a number of days with anxiety, due to the slideout problems.

From the start Bob knew about the inherent problem with the dining room slideout on our Cameo, the slideout motor is not firmly mounted allowing it to move around and loosen the bolts. Bob kept a close watch on them and tightened them when needed but it got to a point that the bolts would just spin. That got us through 4 years with no slideout problems. Luckily the bolts could no longer be tightened just as we were doing some remodeling so we had that company put in bigger bolts with loctite. Bob wanted a bracket for support added like our dealer does but this company said that was a bad idea. We were told that loctite was all we needed.

Well it wasn't very long and we had our first slideout problem. Upon inspection the mobile tech found something very interesting, the tap used to expand the holes for the bigger bolts was still in the motor. One less mounting bolt meant more movement and we ended up stripping the gears on the slideout motor. Now there was a question whether we needed a new motor or just a new gear, we ended up with a new motor and gear. Have to give credit to the company that left the tap in the motor as they paid for everything.

After this happened Bob started an internet search and sure enough found a different solution than what our dealer does, adding pillow bearings to the end of the drive shaft and the slideout motor keeping them aligned and cutting down on the motion of the slideout motor. Here is a pillow bearing.

Here is the finished product as done by Paul Weaver of Where's Weaver.

We have the same model Cameo, and all the other postings on the internet indicated the same sized pillow bearings so Bob ordered them and set about to add them. Unfortunately, the access point for the slideout motor area is such that you are working blind and Bob could not get them attached. He would have had to cut the fabric underneath or remove it so he decided it was beyond his capabilities. We had the need for mobile service before we had to move and Bob asked them to put on the pillow bearings and was told it was a bad idea, not needed as it was working fine, and that they would not do it. So off we go until we have this latest problem.

Luckily this mobile tech when showed the pillow bearings agreed it was a good idea and will install them after he puts the motor with the new gear back on. Here is where it gets a little dicey. When we put the bearings on we realized that one of them was too big, 7/8" instead of 5/8". So glad that we did because now we either have to get a smaller pillow bearing, or a bushing that bridges the gap, and we have to do it right away. So first thing one morning Bob ordered the parts for the slideout motor next day air (Friday) so it could be installed sometime this weekend as we plan on leaving Monday.

Finally we get to where Jo is a trooper. Bob researched online before we left and thought it would be simply go to a hardware store and get a bushing. We had other running around to do so Jo went with Bob, besides it involved eating out. We did our other running around and then tried a few hardware stores with no luck, we could order it but it would be anywhere from days to weeks to get it. So we had to have a custom one built. First it was off to a metals place who we thought could cut a 7/8" rod and then machine out the 5/8" ID but they don't do that work anymore. We got the rod and went to a machine shop they recommended but they don't do anything that small. Luckily he knew a guy that built guns and other machining work who agreed to machine the bushing once we got there. Of course he was way out in the country.

Now none of these stops were short in nature and Jo just waited patiently in the truck. By this time it is getting late in the day and our breakfast is fading from memory. We were both so exhausted and frustrated by now that we had frozen entrees back at the park for what turned out to be lupper. Jo is such a good egg that she apologized that she was so tired that day if you can believe that. You would think that leaving a little after 9a and getting back a little before 8p would be ok. She is so traumatized she hasn't been back in the truck since. She says Bob may need a tranquilizer dart to get her back in. :-)

 Yes, Jo is a trooper and Bob is really lucky!!

The mobile tech plans to come today but had a family emergency so we don't know if he will be here today or not.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

UPDATE ON SLIDEOUT PROBLEMS

Ashland OR (Low 42 Mostly Sunny High 84) 

The good news is that there was a mobile RV tech that was available late yesterday. The bad news is that in running the slideout before and in troubleshooting the teeth on the gears got damaged. Luckily the gear can be changed out and even luckier it is in stock and is supposed to be delivered on Friday and put on this weekend. Fingers crossed it won't impact our travel plans as we "plan" to leave here Monday. 

Since we had the day we decided to drive into Ashland for lunch and get diesel in the truck. We ate at The Wild Goose Cafe and Bar and man was it good. They are known for their oysters so we split an oyster po' boy and an order of oysters and chips. Everything was excellent. Food around here is pretty spectacular. We ate breakfast yesterday at the Morning Glory. Bob got the alaskan red crab omelet with artichokes and Jo got the lemon ricotta stuffed french toast. We highly recommend both of these places.

After getting diesel we headed back to the park to do one of our favorite things, sit outside in the shade and read books. We have to say this is one of the better views we've had doing that.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

NOTE: had a glitch while typing and this posting was prematurely published, sorry if that messed up your reading lists.



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IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING IT SEEMS

Currently in Ashland OR (Low 43 Sunny High 86)

To quote Roseanne Roseannadanna, "It just goes to show ya, it's always something". With the water pressure and the hot water problems solved we got to thinking things are OK, then BAM, one of our slideout motors starts making a clicking sound when going in and going out. 

We just had the operation of the slideouts checked last winter in Goodyear when we had a bigfoot leveling system worked on and told that it was all good. Bob called the dealer we bought it from, M and M Camping Center in Trenton Michigan, because he feels he always gets the straight scoop from them. Slideout problems are common across all makes and models but especially on the dining room slide from Carriage. M and M thought the motor and gears were fine but that it was slipping. They have a modification that they do but they are about 2400 miles away. We called a mobile service tech who said he will check his schedule and call us back. He called back with bad news, a big job turned into a really big job so he can't help us. Bob will be calling other places today, hopefully an alignment and tightening will work until we can get the modification.

In the mean time here are some photos of the Emigrant Lake Recreation Area RV Park. Here is the view after we step out of the Cameo.

The lake through our Ford and Cameo.

More of the park.

From the rear of the Cameo looking towards the lake.

We'll keep you posted on the repairs,

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - TO ASHLAND OREGON

Currently in Ashland OR (Low 46 Partly Cloudy High 81)

Yesterday we drove approximately 165 miles to the Emigrant Lakes Recreation Area campground in Ashland Oregon. This is the route we took.


View Larger Map

Prominently along the route we took was Mount Shasta. We are not the best at getting photos while driving so we took this one from the web.

This is a new state for us, here is our current states visited map.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

NOTE: Photos from our stay in Red Bluff CA, especially from Lassen Volcanic National Park, have been uploaded to the Red Bluff 2014 set on Flickr.

LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

Currently in Red Bluff CA (Low 55 Sunny Currently 62)
Heading Today to Ashland OR (Partly Sunny High 84) 

Lassen Volcanic National Park is an amazing National Park. We like to find the unique and Lassen is unique from the standpoint that it is one of the few spots in the entire world where you can see all 4 different kinds of volcanoes. Lassen is also incredibly scenic as you will see.

The road in gets real scenic.

At the visitor center you can see exhibits and a great film about the 4 types; shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome. We think that is Mount Diller in the distance, a remnant of an ancient composite volcano (aka stratovolcanco).

Lassen Peak erupted last in 1915, it was the first volcanic eruption caught on film, so you are in an active volcanic area that includes hydrothermal areas like Sulphur Works. There are numerous other areas like this in the park.

Here is the view from the Sulphur Works towards the valley and if you look closely at the rock on the side you will see steam rising from the hydrothermal area there. This is also our best shot of the painted dunes that are present in the area.

Here is Lassen Peak as we drive further into the park. Lassen Peak is one of the world's largest plug dome volcanoes.

The higher elevations of the park, the summit we drove over was 8511 feet, have snow year round. Here is the road showing snow on both sides.

Unfortunately due to the snow we could not get a good picture of the emerald blue lakes, Emerald Lake and Helen Lake.

Here is Emerald Lake and you can barely see the blue at the shore.

Here is Lassen Peak from the Helen Lake area.

If you zoom in on the mountain here is a rock formation that is called Vulcan's Eye on Lassen Peak, the Roman god watching his handiwork.

Here is Lassen Peak in the distance with Helen Lake below and the blue at the shoreline.

Here are a couple of shots showing the landscape and the various peaks in this volcanic field.

Lassen Volcanic National Park has it all, great scenery, bubbling mud, snow covered peaks, painted dunes, waterfalls, etc. and is well worth the trip.

We head off today to the Emigrant Lake Recreation Area campground near Ashland Oregon for a week. We are looking forward to the cooler temperatures in Oregon.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

SACRED HEART CHURCH

Currently in Red Bluff CA (Low 55 Sunny High 97) 

We like visiting old churches in our travels, they just don't build them like they used to. The bonus is when we can attend Mass at the old church. Sacred Heart was built in Red Bluff in 1906.

Here are some pictures from the interior.

A gorgeous church for sure and it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

FULLTIMING IS AN AMAZING ADVENTURE

Red Bluff CA (Low 52 Sunny High 82) 

Living fulltime in an RV and traveling the country is an amazing adventure. Our stop in Red Bluff really illustrates that point. It is amazing because in our bucket list of traveling Red Bluff would never have made the list. What we saw yesterday, Lassen Volcanic National Park, would also probably have never made anybody's bucket list. We happen to be in Red Bluff due to taking 150 mile chunks across the country but are so glad that we are because yesterday was an amazing day.

Fulltiming is also an adventure because you always encounter something new, but not always the good variety. We have an auxiliary fuel tank that the fuel cap started leaking. We now realize that it must have been due to the high altitude at our previous stops. We bought a new fuel cap that is supposed to be better but we must not have had it on tight enough because we get out to take photos at a spot and we smell a diesel smell. Checking around we see fuel leaking on the ground and in the truck bed. We pull the cap off and it is pressurized and try the old cap but it still leaks. We put the new cap on and tighten it real good and the leak stops.

Bob has a bunch of photos to go through from Lassen Volcanic National Park and it will be the subject of a future blog posting. After that it will probably be on your bucket lists. In the mean time here are two of the three cats that travel with us admiring their new backyard.

Fulltiming is an amazing adventure.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo