We arrived in plenty of time, and a skycap was eager to help us with the "too many bags to carry in one trip".  He got our tickets too, so was well worth his tip, and within 10 minutes we were finished checking in without waiting in any lines. As usual, my backpack had to be searched going through the gate....and x-rayed twice before they could find the pack of camera batteries that had concerned them.  We were soon waiting again, watching the planes get de-iced.

Eventually we boarded the full flight, and our own plane was de-iced.  It seems that this process is more efficient this year, as the deicing equipment belongs to US Air, the newly merged America West partner airline.  We were only 25 minutes late getting off, but we are happy we made reservations on a later flight from Phoenix to Yuma.  Hopefully we will avoid buying a hotel room in Phoenix like last year.... and MAYBE we can go to Yuma early on standby if we arrive in time.  We arrived at Phoenix in time for the mad dash for the gate of the 2:18 PM Yuma flight, but found it boarding and oversold, with everybody already checked in no chance at standby.  We settled in to wait, but the equipment for our 5:15 PM flight was stuck in Aspen CO due to weather (that word again...freeing airlines from any responsibility for putting stranded passenger up over night).  There were folks in Phoenix that had been waiting all day to go to Yuma, and were still waiting...we were concerned until they boarded us that they might still find some way to strand us.   The flight went off 1.2 hours late, but we were aboard. :-)  There was no baggage for us when we arrived, but it had arrived earlier and was locked in the secure room, all safe and sound.  :-))  One of the airline baggage ladies offered to help carry our bags to the cab stand...and picked up the heaviest that I had left 'til last, as I thought it least likely to get stolen.  I asked her to swap, and she readily did. :-)  Folks are really very helpful when we travel, but I feel I'm now a fully qualified geezer, with the young gals so ready to carry my bags for me....  :-)))   We arrived at the RV in the dark, at 8PM, by City Cab, and immediately reconnected the batteries (they measured (L-R) 6.27 V, 6.29 V, 12.46V, equivalent to 85% charge remaining; GOOD news!). We loaded our bags and removed the wheel covers, then carefully moved the RV out of the very dark parking slot into the lighted area in front outside the security gate to enable all the RV systems that were covered for storage.  It went smoothly, everything was relatively free of dust, and the weather was SHIRT SLEEVES!  :-)  After hanging the bikes on the back, we drove to Fry's lot for the night.  The two bottles of water we brought from home would do for drinking until morning...we fell asleep EXHAUSTED...but happy to have pulled it off AGAIN!   We're here safe and sound, and have all our bags!!

There are surely more people here than there were in the fall.....we parked on the other side of the pond as there was more open space. 

 Later we identify it as a long billed curlew, which we've seen before in Texas....but cannot remember without reference to the book.  :-(   There are lots of activities here for children of different ages.

 This area is aimed at toddlers (and their parents).  There is also a skateboard area targeting older kids....as well as an open air hockey rink that at first look is icy....

Something is not seeming right.... ice in this climate is VERY out of place.  Oh, DUHH, this rink is made of polished concrete, for in line roller blade skaters!  :-))  It is locked, reserved for team use only...but is extremely well kept except for the gloves lying mid rink, that were probably thrown over the fence by some practical joker.  I spend a lot of time on line, looking for tire information.  The cell phone seems to work pretty fast on the net here...  :-)  I am favoring Goodyear G670RV tires in the same size we have;  everything seems good about them but the price; around $300 each on line, and we still need to get them here, mounted and balanced with the Equal powder that has worked so well the last three years.  :-(  We find a listing for a dump station at Barney's gas station on business 8 (4th Ave) and 29th St, only 12 blocks away....guess where we go FIRST after regaining our mobility?  :-)

 We walked 2.25 miles in the park in VERY brisk wind that was raising dust from every patch of open ground.  The park is quite nice, even after repeated walks through it;  the water slide is impressive in a city park.  

The slide is closed now and the pool drained, but this must be a GREAT attraction in Yuma's 120 degree summer heat.  :-)    Today the skateboard course is deserted...the wind and dust must be too much for them even though falls on hard concrete are not...  ;-)

We do walk carefully, so we do not have to know what it feels like on OUR tender muscles....  :-)) On the way back "home" we passed the school where surplus fresh vegetables were laid out for the taking.  

Considering the free veggies and name of the school,  we looked in vain for some surplus Virginia ham..... :-)   We did notice the broccoli looked a bit the worse for wilt after sitting out in the dry air for a few days and we both feel that they are here for folks more needy than we are, although we're disappointed that the source of the bags full of broccoli thrown along the road we walked along is now clear.  Why take it to just throw it along the road?  We are surprised at the force of the wind, and marvel at the things that are scattered along the sidewalk....

These are MAJOR thorns (that is my mechanical pencil in front of them), and I would not like to step or even drive on them......  We look for the source, and finally locate a large tree 150 feet up wind.  YIKES!   When we got home, I asked in the shop about a pay phone (to call National RV (800 999 7260) and get their recommendations on tires), and was directed to the Circle K convenience store we had walked past earlier..  After 30 minutes on hold and being shuffled into voicemail, I got to talk to a person who said "Look at Michelin....the industry is moving to 22 inch tires, but they are supporting the 19.5 inch tires with more choices than anybody else."  I asked if Michelin still had the problem with fast aging I had experienced on cars...and he said "they might".   I'm not sure I want that.....these Goodyears have lasted 7 years with plenty of tread.  I do not want tires I must replace in fewer years due to fast aging sidewalls cracking and blowing out!!  RV tires do not typically drive enough miles to wear their tread out in the tire lifetime. We tried twice to call Costco in El Centro to check their tire offerings....their tire shop did not pick up the phone.  :-(  When we get mobile again we will check at Sam's here in Yuma in person.  We watched the crew of the shop next door try to get the roof stranded kitty down with a rescuer standing on a fork lift...

Unfortunately kitty was totally uncooperative, and threatened his rescuer to such an extent that the well meaning gloved, but short shirt sleeved man decided not to risk the flailing claws...and left kitty to cry from the rafters.  John stopped by at dinner time with another gate key, as there is another RV inside here now, and they had to switch locks  to get one with enough keys.  He suggested I keep the old key, as they expect to change the lock back tomorrow night.  I asked if we would not be finished by then...he said he has little faith in the appearance of any parts he does not hold in his hands...  :-((  Oh well, I guess he is realistic...but it would be nice to get to a dump station ....AND eventually even a hot spring!  I finished two bowls of pot pie...delicious!  The weather is going to be COLD tonight...hi 30's in Yuma, near freezing in the Imperial Valley.  We have plenty of propane and unlimited electricity....so there is not a better place to wait out a cold spell.

Tuesday January 17:

This morning I was up around dawn, ate breakfast, then walked into the shop to use the bathroom. It is colder than yesterday, despite the forecast calling for warmer.  The heat ran more than normal overnight too.   I asked about our parts, and Mike said he had not seen them yet, but if they were not here soon he would go to pick them up…he thought they were in Yuma now... yippee!  :-)))   Around 10AM Mike knocked on the door with "good news and bad news"....??  The sensor had arrived, but not the brake line.  The vendor admitted they made a mistake and were shipping the brake line overnight air from Michigan...... Not much we can do but hope....this shop cannot MAKE an acceptable brake line.  I must admit we are both getting a bit antsy here now, even WITH electricity and full time TV.  How many times can we walk around Kennedy Park and still find something fresh to see?  I call Costco in El Centro again, and finally reach Angel the tire man.  They do not sell Goodyear, but can special order Michelin XRV tires in our size for $238, with a $10 deposit per tire, but do not mount or balance the big tires. Angel says tires here in Arizona should be replaced every 4 years on age.  I think that may be specific to the Michelins, one more reason to avoid them if possible.  He also says that a DOT date of a year old at delivery would not affect tire life as long as the tires were stored inside in a warehouse unmounted, and not aired up and exposed to sunlight. He cannot control what DOT date he would get on a special order....  :-(  We decide to walk to Fry's supermarket for some supplies, about 2.5 miles round trip.  On the way I decide to go the extra 8 blocks to check out the dump station at Barney's while Claire shops....we will need the dump VERY badly when we get mobile!  I find Street Atlas has it on the wrong side of the street, but the dump station is there, right where our latitude/longitude dump station data base says it should be, but it's locked.  I ask inside how much they charge to use it...$8.00, with a water fill.  The lady inside said it was Yuma city water, good for showers and flushing, not drinking, although it is safe to drink.  Oh well, we are drinking Yuma city water now after filtering and it tastes fine!  :-)  I met Claire at the market just as she finished checking out, we loaded the goodies in our backpacks, and hiked home.  The weather is quite nice, and I decide to wash the windshield.  In the process of washing the rear view mirror, I saw it was positioned so I could see the motor mechanism behind the mirror, and moved it by hand.  Claire has complained frequently that the mirror could no longer be positioned so she could see the rear wheel of the RV when backing....and there is no adjustment on the mount for "up and down".  Suddenly I understand why she cannot lower it enough....the mirror can only go maximally down when it is centered, and that center position shows us the vehicle next to us in the current setting!  We CAN set the mirror left and right to show the rear wheel in the center position!  I go on the roof and we adjust the mirror.  The last adjustment was hurried, on the side of the road in New York state over a year ago, after the mirror was pushed out of position by contact with an overhang at a narrow toll gate.  Now we understand!  We will leave testing with the engine running until we are off the jacks.... no sense testing fate further when it already seems biased against us!  :-)

Wednesday January 18:

I am into the shop shortly after 7:30AM, and mention to John that we think we are starting to grow roots here....he said 'Don't do that!'.  I reply that we do not want to....  :-))  I go in again at 9:45.  John has a call in to the air freight people, but they have not finished unloading yet…we can still hope.  John said he THINKS they have the brake line, and need the sensor.  I tell him I may be able to solder some pins on the existing sensor to allow it to be plugged into the brake system connector if the sensor does not come in today, as we are increasingly concerned about getting to a dump station...  :-)  By noon we have the bikes down, I've changed Claire's now rusted tight brake cable, and they know the sensor will not be in today; it had been shipped second day UPS ground instead of overnight air from Anaheim.  :-((  It seems that nothing is the fault of anyone touchable by me....but I am increasingly ready to choke SOMEONE!  I asked if they had a tracking number for the shipment, and Mike called to get it.  We decided to ride to Sam's club and ask about tires.  They do not handle our size Goodyears, and cannot order them.  They can order our size Michelins for $225 plus mounting, available in a week to 10 days.  The tire salesman recommended Ed Whitehead for our size in Goodyear.  We bought some food items, and transferred them to our backpacks for the ride back.  On the way back we passed Franklin's Tire shop, and went in to ask about our tires.  They could order the Goodyears in our size, load range G (higher than we need) for $318 each plus a bunch of extra fees bringing the total to $2571 for 7 tires mounted and balanced with taxes and fees.  If we ordered by Wednesday, they would have the tires Thursday....that's tomorrow, so we might really be able to get out of this "situation" in a reasonable time after all.  We returned home about 2:30PM, and I found that the tracking number showed our sensor was now in Phoenix, and would be delivered to Ford in Yuma tomorrow.  I feel pretty good that the light is opening at the end of this long dark tunnel...UPS is very good at delivering when their tracking data says they will.  I decided to call Purcells tire, the local Goodyear stocking dealer who was said to be "full priced", but was mentioned by the Equal distributor as a buyer of their product.  Perhaps they will sell me some Equal to have Franklin's install instead of their balancing.   Olin at Purcells was quick to state they did not install Equal, but had sometimes bought it for their big customers.  I then asked if they had the Goodyear G670s in our size, and he quickly said they had 8 load range F in stock for $237 each, or 7 for $2039 out the door mounted and balanced, all fees and taxes paid. I told him I wanted the seven, asked if I could get an additional discount for the quantity of seven...he said I had gotten the "good guy" commercial price already because I had not given him any s***, and he could not do any better than that.  Oh well, I do know when to quit trying.  :-)  I told Olin I did not want to have the tires sold before I could get there on Friday...he suggested I could come in and pay for them now, that would guarantee they are ours, and we could come in when we can for the installation.  OK, I do want the tires he has...as long as I can see the DOT date first.  We discuss how far away they are, he says 2 miles and gives me directions, and says they are open until 5PM.  I again mount the bike and head out...I WANT those tires, especially at that price!  It is considerably over 2 miles, over twice that, but I get there in plenty of time, despite the crazy house numbers that seemed to be randomly scattered along the road instead of progressing sequentially.  Fortunately I asked....  :-)  I find the DOT date is 4205; they were made in mid October 2005, only 3 months ago.  I doubt we could do better, and could surely do much worse if tires were ordered from a warehouse date unknown.  We can get the tires put on if we arrive before 3PM any weekday, and they even work Saturdays until noon.  It is near dinner time when I get home, and Claire's spaghetti sauce smells DELICIOUS.  A big load is off...we CAN get fully fixed soon after we get the sensor in, and only need to drive 4 miles more on these unreliable tires to do it!  Then we only need to shower, dump and fill water, exchange our water pump, do laundry, and buy supplies for the radio gathering at Quartzsite before leaving Yuma....maybe we can even get to the Slabs for music Saturday night on the way??  :-))  But then maybe not.....it depends very much on how early tomorrow we get the brakes fixed!  We might stop at the Slabs on the way back for the dentist on January 31 too....but Saturday nights with music at the Range are the BEST times to be there.  Holtville hot springs is nice too...but has no music.  Breakdowns sure can eat into one's fun plans!  :-(   Before total darkness sets in, we add more water to the tank to assure we have enough to shower before we dump, after we get moving again....tomorrow maybe?  :-)

Thursday January 19:

This morning I decided to remove the water pump and take it to Arizona RV for exchange by bicycle,  It did not take long to remove the pump, and the exchange was quick, almost too quick.  Eric did not want to discuss the use of flexible hose on the output....said I would be best to follow the instructions...and just gave me a new pump and charged me $10 UPS shipping.  That is one bill I did pay cash for!  I want no charges on my credit card if ShurFlo treats Eric shabbily.  I was back just minutes after 12....AND...the part came in!  John had said he thought it would take until 3 to get us fixed before I'd left with the pump...so now I must install that thing before we drive, or water could slop all over out of the open hoses.   First I must bike to a drug store and get Claire some Tylenol Sinus Day/Night medication.  She has a sinus headache, and we certainly do NOT want an infection to set in after all this waiting around for a sick RV.  I return and start the pump...and cannot get the clips to work right for the o-ringed pump plumbing adapters...repeatedly I try...no joy.  I finally notice they are non symmetrical, and soon the pipes are attached to the new pump properly!  In retrospect, I recall a similar problem when I first installed the pump two years ago....  I do hope I never lose my ability to solve problems, because it seems I'll more and more be solving the same one over and over....due to 'can't remember'  problems!  :-((  The pump went in easily considering the tight quarters, and the mechanics were working on the brakes.  Claire put the bikes up, I answered a few questions from the mechanics...like "no, there is no access to the brake fluid reservoir from inside...it must be filled at the cap up under the dashboard".  I get the pump hooked up, try it... it takes some time but finally catches a prime and quietly comes up to pressure and stops...so far, so good.    The vehicle bumps down off the jack, and it is time to abandon the pump project, tool clutter and all.  I find David handing his helper Joey little cups full of brake fluid ...with Joey standing INSIDE the engine compartment.  I never would have thought I could get in there myself...and Joey is beefier than I am.  :-)  David wants to drive the unit to check the brakes...I check for open lower compartments, and we close the doors and he drives short distances while checking the brakes...suddenly he turns to me asking something I cannot understand...he repeats, saying "electric plug"...OH NO!  We have not disconnected the electricity!  I run and look, finding the cord has disconnected at the adapter and I expect no harm is done...I stow the cord.  I'm too hassled by now to even be embarrassed.  John's son comes out to test drive the RV on the road...it seems to be OK, and it is only 2:30.  If we get paid, we might still get our tires on today!  What a recovery if we can pull that off....  The bill came in at $326, and I readily paid....getting the NAPA national warranty number if we should have problems with the repair somewhere else.  We immediately start the 4 mile drive to the tire shop, and I notice the thump thump coming from SOME tire...the spare?  Not sure, but I'm certainly ready to be RID of these tires!!!  The tire shop starts almost immediately, taking the two front wheels off and breaking them down, then lubing the new tires with lots of water based lube to seat them.  The gray haired gentleman in charge comes out, noticing I have Equal powder in my tires, and asks if I want that or weight balancing.  I'm a bit flabbergasted, and told him I had asked for Equal and been told Purcells did not do it....   He said the guy who told me that did not know WHAT they do...  :-))  I wonder if Olin is the owners son?  :-)))))  I said I would prefer the Equal, asked if it would cost more than the computer balance...he said "yes"...but inside expressed concern when I told him the guys had already used water on two of my tires.  He then arranged for two dry new tires to be substituted, and agreed to use Equal at the same cost as balancing. I check all the brake pads while the tires are off...I'm happy to see over 3/8 inch pad remaining on all wheels...not bad at 73620 miles! Our downshifting to slow down has paid off!  I am NOT happy to see the drip of brake fluid under the front passenger wheel!!!   I dry it with a paper towel, but the fluid reappears....we have a leak!  We must go back to John's to return the gate keys anyway....this is their problem to fix!   It is nearly 5PM when the last tire is mounted, and placed in the spare tire locker...I have problems convincing the guy to stop torquing the spare nuts with his air impact wrench...the bolts are held inside only by plywood!!  We drive to John's, and his son comes out to meet us to get the keys.  After I apologize for driving away with them, I mention we seem to have a brake fluid leak...he gets down and looks, agreeing we seem to have a tiny leak, and promises to get his guy on it at 7:30 in the morning.  I ask if we can stay in the lot again overnight...he says sure!  I clear up the incredible clutter of tools and "savable" paper related to the repair, pump exchange, and tire purchase....  Then it is Corona time...and this is a VERY rare two beer night for me!  Claire has turned last night's spaghetti left overs into pasta soup...it is hearty and delicious, especially after my two hands full of peanuts lunch....  Bed is immediate!  My muscles hurt too much to make sleep easy, but it is certainly good to be 'out of action' for a while.

Friday January 20:

David looks at the brakes, asks where we had seen the leak…I tell him I wiped a big drip off of bottom, but whole area was wet…. and the drop did reappear after I wiped, although it was gone now.  I showed him the drops on the ground under the front passenger wheel here.  He got brake cleaner to dry the whole area, then found the leak at the new brake line attachment point, and tightened it, hopefully crushing the copper sealing washer better.  It is not leaking now.  John says it will not leak again.  He brings us a small can of Honda brake fluid in case it does, after Claire mentions we do not have any....  :-)  We are out of the shop by 10AM.  We notice an unfamiliar "clunk" when the brakes are released after a stop now. This was not noticeable yesterday.   I'm not sure of the cause, but we have no time left to spend in the shop.  The stopping is smooth and even. I suspect it relates to the brake cleaner removing some lube from the caliper....??  This can be taken care of when we get back into Yuma after ham week in Quartzsite. We will not drive over 250 miles.  We'll call John tomorrow and discuss it.  We spend most of the day showering, dumping, filling water, washing our soiled containers, doing laundry and replenishing supplies.  We leave for Hot Springs near 5PM, with a Sam's pizza in tow....no cooking tonight.  We get there before the sun sets...barely.  I quickly soak, but am reluctant to eat the pizza I brought with me to the tubs in front of all the other soakers.  By deep dusk I decide I would rather get situated in the free area, and fed... I'm nicely warm, and there is time for more soaking in the morning, before we leave for the Slabs shortly after noon. We drive to the free area north of the LTVA through the LTVA.  The big potholes are still here, but the mud is gone, and it is relatively easy to find a smooth track for our wheels between them....  The GPS says we are 100 feet south of last parking place here, but in dark it was best not to push beyond well tracked area.  I nuke and gobble 4 slices of pizza...the other two would just not fit!  Claire had eaten hers cold, and gotten 6 down. Is that the secret?  :-)  We watch some TV, then I'm off to bed.  Net time comes early in the morning here....before 3AM CA time.    YIKES!  :-)

PLANS:     We will drive to the Slabs in Niland CA today, arriving before 7PM for "Music Saturday Night" at the Range..... then go on to join the week long gathering at Quartzsite that starts on Sunday.  It will be compressed fun, but we won't miss out, and should not have further trouble from tires...but we'll sure check the air pressure before going TOO far this morning!  :-)  We also need to check into the "clunk" the brakes make when they are released after a stop, but that is when we return to Yuma after Quartzsite..

Sorry for the lack of pictures in much of this write up...but there is not too much photogenic or inspiring about eight days in an auto shop...even though we are VERY glad they were there when we needed them!  

Until next time....

ENJOY...we are (somewhat more now than the last 8 days)!