#34  IN Tucson,AZ  at LazyDays Service Center
WHITEHOUSECA: 3 SIRS and RV


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This morning the Sirs and I went out for a nice walk around 5 am.  I would say that is when all of the dogs here at the KOA was walking.  They enjoyed the walk and I must say the temp was good too. It would be nice if it was like that all day.  The weather report says 99 degrees today but it is "dry" heat.  It is still hot.  We are less than 500 miles from home.  My goal is after they are finished looking or working we will leave for Coto.  We left our sight at KOA Tucson around 8:15 this morning to drive about a block to the service area at LazyDays  RV Center.  Martha is our service writer.  She was organized and understood the issues that I have (slider and leveling jacks).

We arrived about 8:15 am and the boys and I went in to see Martha.  I learned early that having the boys along can speed up things.  The dogs are talking and wanting to explore.  So a normal write up is quicker because the service person wants the dogs out of their office.   At 8:30 they moved the RV off to a bay. 

At the time of this writing, we are the only  group in the PET FRIENDLY waiting area  (TV and at this time good wifi-was told it could be so-so).  The boys have found a location to rest and Lee is watching GMA (her morning show).  I will be writing and doing some organization work here on the

blog.

I had to check to see what w.as going on at 9:15-the door to the jack pump and the door where the control to the slide is located were open. 

At 10:15 I went out to get dog treats.  I did get an ok to go into the bay.  They had been inside getting to the slider motors and someone had been checking the jack pump area (trans oil was on mats which had been placed under the pump area).

At 10:40 Martha came into the waiting room with the news.  The slide motor was out.  The part will have to be ordered.  A return hose was busted.  We decided to have the hose fixed today (should be done by early afternoon).  Since this is the 3rd. time for a hose,  Martha said she will let them know.  Once the motor is in, I will make a trip back to Tucson.

The boys don't seem to mind the wait today-the air is on and it is nice and cool inside here.

I guess we will have pizza for lunch today.  I will go back to the KOA for the pizza and bring it back here.

It was really good.  Ok, maybe I was hungry because of the walk.  I would get it again.  Lee enjoyed it too.  I went back to the RV (to get some water) and saw that they had plugged it in so it was not using LP for the fridge.  The sausage is still frozen.  We had a couple who came in for a while-they were getting their air checked out.  They were lucky - no problem with the air (it is just hot outside).  They were from Texas and will be heading to Kingman, AZ to do a "work camp" for a month or two.  For those who don't know what it is-you work 5-10 hours a week and you get a "free" campsite. 

At about 1:05 pm, Martha came in and informed us that while they were working on the RV they found that the LP tank regulator is bad.  We told them to replace it and if they could fill the tank too.

At 1:40 pm Martha came back in and said as they were replacing the line another line was found almost broken.  That will be replaced now too.  Don't know if I want to see Martha again (ha, ha).  Well she did,  one more bad hose and it should be ready to go by 5:30 pm.  That is later than I wanted but what can one do?  We will leave as soon as it is finished.  Hope to be home by midnight.

Going to publish this now as it is getting long.  You will have to return on Friday to find out the ending.

Until next time we meet on our journey:.

#33  IN Tucson,AZ  Sir Lancelot's Birthday!!!!!!!!!
WHITEHOUSECA: 3 SIRS and RV


Happy Birthday Sir Lancelot!!!!! July 6, 2007  makes you nine years old today.  I could not think of a day without one of the Sirs being around.  You are special and have made so many people happy and laugh.  Sorry you are spending your special day in Tucson, but we will make it up with great birthday TREATS.   To help with the heat-Lee suggested a nice bath.  We did that and she was right--they found a spot and went to sleep.

Lance was big as a puppy too.

The RV park here next to Lazy Day RV service/sales is now run by KOA.  It is a large and very clean RV Park.  I keep changing my mind concerning wifi.  This is the best of the total trip.  Desert Oasis Cantina has good food but it is only open from Noon to 8 PM  with a very limited food options.   

Lee decided to do two loads of wash.  I helped (carried the items) some.   In the three years of RV'ing, this is the first time we needed to visit the washers and dryers area of a RV park.  Lee was very happy with the machines.  They took a credit card so you did not need to worry about change. It really only took a little over a hour and half to wash, dry and fold. 

waiting for the wash

I did visit the Lazy Day Service Center to double check on tomorrow's appointment.  I had them add the jack level system to the slide to check out tomorrow.  Will review service and operation in tomorrow's blog.  Again, a happy birthday to Sir Lancelot! 

     Until next time we meet on our journey:.

#32  Made it to Tucson
WHITEHOUSECA: 3 SIRS and RV

As I in the last post--it was hot.  It cooled off around 8pm.  Those of you that knows Sir Henry likes a certain temp can understand.  He was NOT a happy puppy even with the air on.  Good puppy Sir Lancelot took the heat by laying down in front of the fan.  We all slept good.  Had to get up around 4:30 to take the dogs out and it was so nice out.  How can the day be hot and the nights just right?

Here are two shots we saw out of our RV last night.

 
We left around 8:30 am and arrived in Tucson, AZ around 6pm (we gained one hour).  I tried to move our appointment to Wed from Thurs but no good. I guess all RV places are busy.  We are at KOA at the Lazy Days spot.   Since we could not move our appointment,  we have a day here tomorrow to see the town.  Lee wants to wash some tomorrow.  We may make a stop at Camping World near us and maybe even a trip to Walmart.   

                                               Until next time we meet on our journey:.

#31  Made it to New Mexico
WHITEHOUSECA: 3 SIRS and RV

Happy 4th of July to everyone!

                         A prayer for the Fourth of July weekend.
Father, have mercy on us this Fourth of July. Give us yet another chance to rediscover fairness, humaneness, responsibility, charity, love and forgiveness. If we open our hearts to You and to each other, miracles will happen. Our country needs such miracles more than ever, for our own sake, for the sake of all humanity, and for Thy kingdom’s sake. We plead for this, this Fourth of July. Amen.

Remember why we have the fourth off and have a cookout?

A few weeks ago I made a neg. comment about wifi at KOA RV Parks.  This KOA in Wellington KS has the BEST wifi since we left home.  It is a really clean RV park too. The area did get nearly 6 inches of rain on Sat. and Sunday.  Flooding was north of where we stayed.   If you are going near-find it and stop.  They even have cabins too.  We left Wellngton, KS around 8;40am this morning.  We are staying at a KOA in Tucumcari, NM.  It is hot here.  Around 100 degrees when we pulled in at 3:45pm.   We are about 9 hours away from Tucson.  I think we will try to get their tomorrow.  Our appointment is on Thursday.  Maybe I can move it up a day?  Will call tomorrow.   RV repair is not friendly.  It is like getting an operation. 

Until next time we meet on our journey:.

#30  Just in Time-Out of McLeansboro
WHITEHOUSECA: 3 SIRS and RV

Just heard we got out of McLeansboro before the storms hit.  Heard they are doing fireworks between rain drops and the storm warnings.  We did go a different way this morning.  After leaving St. Louis---we went I-70 until we hit I-35 and down to Wichita, KS.  We are staying at a KOA in Wellington, Kansas.   Lee did an outstanding job finding this spot.  

We did have rain in St. Louis and off and on after.  The hardest was for about an hour and we had to slow down to 50-55.   We pulled in here about 6:20pm.  Left McLeansboro about 9:10am.  Nine hours or so.  We stopped twice for gas and dog walks. 

When we leave in the morning---we will head off to OK city and then hit I-40 heading west into Texas.  I would love to make it past Amarillo and into AZ but we will see.  I am sure we will stop in Amarillo for a steak.

I do want to thank my cousin and his family for a great time in my birth town.  Did get some history info and great pictures for the family tree.   We really enjoyed it.  Lee went so many places she had  never been.  This morning,   I did go out and check the blackberries.  I guess we were a few days early.  They just finished picking blueberries this morning after we left (lucky me).  Jerry thanks for the donuts.  If I gained weight-I will tell my doctor to talk to you.

Thanks for the fireworks trip.

No rain this night.

Good Night see you tomorrow

#29  McLeansboro the town
WHITEHOUSECA: 3 SIRS and RV

As you may know, I was born in this southern Illinois town. I have been working the last few years on the “family tree”.  My cousin who we are visiting with here has many old family records which I am making copies.  In 1910, the following item was part of a 40 plus pages published describing McLeansboro, Illinois. Could this be one of the reasons one of my grandfathers moved to McLeansboro? 

“Hamilton County is situated in the southeastern section of the state with some of the best land in its border to be found anywhere. The climate permits extreme old age to lengthen itself out in happiness. Health is a matter of care. The population by the last census is close to 26,000, and while the communities are largely rural, the people make one think that they are as up-to date, aggressive, and flourishing as in the more densely populated districts.

“The good town of McLeansboro has a population of some three thousand inhabitants: it is located on the main line of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad at the intersection of the Shawnee town branch, and is the county seat of Hamilton County, one of the best hay and grain, fruit and produce and cattle sections of the great State of Illinois.

McLeansboro has in it a choice number of civilians, who are always working for the interests of the town. It is to these that we owe the up-to-date Commercial Club, the present electric light plant and power house, with its pumping station for the water tower, and the proposed new and extended reservoir, which the town authorities are about to launch, and the four miles of paved streets with sidewalks and boulevards to match, making the prettiest town in the state, none excepted, and the beautiful new churches—the pride of the town. .

McLeansboro has a reputation for a clean town. It is one of the best resident towns in this country. It has no saloons, is practically out of debt, and has always exemplified the commendable quality of progress and development. It is easy riding to St. Louis, Evansville, and Shawnee town on the Ohio River. Its public square is the nicest, the largest and the most suitable for a quiet, unostentatious, unassuming, practicable Court House anywhere.

The description of the town in 1910 doesn’t match all of the town now in some ways.  There are buildings which remain that shows what the town was but I wonder if the town really was as inviting as listed or was the ad written to draw people to the county?

While Lee and I walked around the square, I went in to the local paper to get a copy of this week’s Times-Leader where the description above was published in 1910.  The person working in the paper had seen us walking around taking pictures and was interested in what I was doing.   She did ask if I was related the “whites in town”. I guess, I do look like my cousin and father etc.  I was born in1951 and moved away from the area by 1957, but returned each summer until the early 70’s.  I can remember the buildings around the “square” were full of stores-

 5 &10, lumber yards, furniture stores etc.  Today, there are some stores but the town is need of … ,

On building which was the old Hamilton County Bank was turned into  Foxy's.  We had lunch at the bank with my cousin.  The vault is used to keep the extra food items.  Lee was looking at the local paper before our food came.

 My cousin's grandchildren are in beginning baseball.  It seemed like most of the town attended the summer evening games.

We went to Boom town on Friday which is located in MO.  There the family bought a few Fireworks for the fourth  Lunch was nearby too.  Saturday was getting ready to leave.  We had a "Lee Breakfast" in the morning and soon it will be time to unplug and head off.  Our goal is to be in Tucson on Wednesday evening. 

#28  Made it to McLeansboro, IL

My sister, Harlene and I were born in McLeansboro, Illinois.  It is located in Hamilton County.  About 300 miles south of Lockport.  It is a place where time once stood still.  It has been moving into the 20^th century so it is getting near the 21^st. century.

We are staying at my cousin place located next to the farm I was born at.  We now will be staying a few extra days longer than planned.  When we arrived here—my slide would not open (expanded space in RV).  One of the motors seems not to be working.  We can do everything except have the extra space at night.  We are spending a few extra days here so we can get to Tucson to see the dealer before heading on home.  I had thought about coming into CA from the south so we can say we drove all of CA on one trip. Riding and driving an RV you can and will have problems.  It is a house on wheels.  The only real problem is getting it fixed when you want it and where to get it fix.  But that is another story.  Now back to McLeansboro.

Hamilton Country in Illinois has around 8,000 residents.  McLeansboro the biggest city in the county has 3,000.   When I was born (years ago) there were over 22,000 in the county.  Not a lot of “good” work.  Shopping is limited but it is small town America.  To get to a “real” city drive 30 miles.  To get to a good city drive 75 east or west.

My cousin live a few miles out of town.  He has built a small lake in the front of his house. We plug the RV in and sleep in the RV at night but during the day we spend in their house or going to the many “historical” places in the county.  I will include some stories and photos of this trip.  We entered the area on the old state route 45.  It had been 43 years since I had driven on that road.  It was the way my parents came down for visit before I-57 was built.  When I started driving in 1968, I-57 was only about 1/3 built and 45 was the road to use.  Small towns were many and I mean towns that had a name but no population.

Lee and I met the entire family at Tequila Mexican Restaurant – plenty of food (Lee and I even had some to bring back to the RV for later.  If you are in town, try it. Seems like a lot of the town’s residents come here for their Mexican food.  It is located next to the Ace Hardware and Food.

The first full day included talking and going shopping for items that Lee would use to make dinner (or here in this area called supper).  The first store we went to was an all in one super store-Ace Hardware with food.  You were able to get everything from meat, can goods, bread, milk and even worms.  They had a special on used concrete blocks but Lee would not let me get any.   What was very nice and maybe a trend that will come to the big stores -  a clip board where you could write down what you wanted the store to carry or get.  They did ask that you include the upc code in your request.

After supper/dinner it seems like the whole county goes to watch the kids play baseball.  Lee and I went along with the family because they have two up and coming baseball starts.

That is all for this update.  Next will be a visit to the “square”.  The county court house is built in the middle with the main stores in town (or former stores) built around it.