And the adventure begins - Day 1

 July 22, 2024

Travel Day One

Cains Creekside Campground site 4

We had set a tentative departure time for 10:30 and as it turned out, we were right on target with our departure.  So far, the only thing we have discovered that didn't ride along with us is Dad's favorite hat...but he has another....but it's more of a cold weather hat as it is a dark, heat collecting color. 

We definitely didn't forget to bring along the heat!  Whew!!  It seemed the further north we traveled, the hotter it was getting......even with the AC set to high fan/cool.

We stopped at the Gainesville rest area on I-75 where the discovery was made, via the beeping alert alarm, that the refrigerator hadn't switched over to propane for cooling. Did we forget to open the valve on the propane tank.  NO! And after all that time Dad had spent researching, purchasing and replacing parts.  Now that was a disappointment.  It appeared to be working fine in our driveway.  Actually, it ignites but then won't stay running.  Oh well.  Something to write about in the blog in what could have been a ho hum post with no tales to tell.  We have an unfinished project it appears.

Well, the rest of the trip added a few more tales to write about.  Momma and Dad had the AC on full til boogy - super max setting - and it was getting warmer and warmer in the Ram.  Hmmmm???  It appears that our AC truck repair was short lived as well.  The shop had to even remove the dash in order to make the needed repairs.  Quite a project that took place in May.  So with the windows down, my seat covering sling caught the wind, trying to wrap around me and give me as squeeze.  Hey, Dad, a little less wind please. 

But the tale doesn't stop there.  You know how they always say things happen in threes.  Just about the time we finally had to come to grips with the fact that our truck AC wasn't functioning, we had a third incident.  Dad got to put all that physical therapy work to the test bending his knees as he....

changed our tire.  Now the good thing is, we were able to pull into a Travel America Truck Stop, rather than stopping on the side of the highway for the tire swap.  The tire minder alerted us to loss of pressure. We monitored the pressure as it began to drop; holding at 97 for a mile or more, then slowly registering a lower pressure that hung in there for another mile or more.  And by the time we parked it was sitting at 48 pounds rather then our typical 102.  A cut in the tire resulted in some of the air shifting to a create a bubble in the side.

Aunt Pam thanked Dad for lesson #544.....how to use a torque wrench.  

 I think we had all forgotten about all the 'joys' of travel, but our first day supplied us with some reminders.

We arrived at our campsite, which is planned as an overnight stay, around 2:30.  After a couple of phone calls, Dad and Aunt Pam headed out to purchase the replacement tire Dad had located.  

Just after 5pm, as the tools used to install the new tire were being put away, the sky opened up to drop a cooling rain on us.  The timing was close, but everyone was able to dash inside before getting drenched with the job completed.

Tomorrow we will discover how serious our AC issue is as Dad has an 8 am appointment at the same shop/garage that sold and mounted his new tire.  Momma said she is wondering how long we will be staying here....that is if they have room for us to stay on our site.

This adventure has begun with a few surprises.  And to think after our on-time, smooth departure, I was worried about what tales I would have to share.

I'm Chloe