May 17th through the 19th

Monday May 16th we got to the KOA and immediately went up to Mount Rushmore. It was exactly as we left it 6 years ago.

The 17th of May was really dedicated to dealing with our coolant leak. We got up pretty early to break camp and hook up the Jeep. After we sat at the Freightliner lounge for a while waiting for them to take a look at the motor home, we decided to go get lunch at a local diner. Food was ok. 

When we got back to the Freightliner dealership, I noticed the back engine hatch was open. I walked around, but did not see anyone working on it. I asked the service desk what was going on. They indicated that the factory over crimped a coolant line to the EGR. Unfortunately only one of the Cummins certified techs could work on it and he would not be able to start until around 4PM. The good news is they found it!!

We spent the afternoon re-provisioning and ran up to Camping World to pick up some of those refrigerator bars to keep the food from sliding toward the doors.

We headed back to the dealership to pick up the motor home. While hooking up the Jeep, Chris had the drivers window down. I powered it up halfway and it just fell down. This is now the third of the four power windows that broke.

After duct taping the window up, we headed back to camp. Immediately, Chris made an appointment at the Jeep dealership for the next day to get it fixed. Ironically, the day before we left on this trip one of the rear windows broke. The first one was fixed for free a few years ago by Jeep, but the dealers in Ft. Myers and now in Rapid City say the Technical Bulletin has expired.  $350.00 each… Ouch!

On the 18th, we went to Crazy Horse and drove the lower wildlife loop of Custer State Park. Prior to the loop, we stopped in Custer for lunch at the Buglin Bull. Of course I had the Bison Burger.

It was nice to see all of the bison, deer, antelope and of course the Jacks and Jennys.

There is a new visitors center half way the is absolutely beautiful.  We watched a 20 minute video of the State Park.

What a great day.

On the 19th we got up early to run the Jeep to the dealership to get the window fixed. Ironically, the Jeep dealership is right across the street from the Freightliner dealership. My brother and his wife Angel picked us up and we drove the Iron Mountain Highway and the Needles Highway.

When we were here 6 years ago, we did not drive the Needles Highway. Wow is it majestic and a little bit of a scary drive.

Sorry the pics are out of order. I will try to straighten them out when we have good internet.

Clicky:

Jacks & Jennys

May 16th update

Well we have been traveling for a few days north to the KOA at Palmer Gulch Mount Rushmore.

Yesterday, we woke up to really cold weather. As we started out the morning we turned on the cab heat for the first time. We stopped at a rest area about 125 miles from our start. I walked around and saw coolant leaking out of the engine. Not Good!. I called Freightliner who made arrangements for us to get it fixed in Rapid City.

We decided to drive all the way to Wall, SD so that we could get into the dealership early. As we were driving it warmed up at we just ran the fan from outside. We stopped at a flying J to fuel and there was not a leak. Still not connecting the dots we moved on to the campground at Wall. 

We spent a couple of hours touring the city then went back so we could get up early.

Got up this morning at 6AM and headed out running the heat. Chris called the dealership who immediately told us the could not get us in until the 17th after noon.  We pulled into a Loves to fuel and figure out our next step. The engine was leaking again. I connected the dots and figured it must be a line coming forward for the cab heater.

We decided to go to the KOA and get up early and head to the dealership. I sure hope it is just a loose line.

Yesterday was an awesome day. We started the day out with a two hour zip line tour through the forest. Adventure World is at Catherine's Landing. What a blast. I have a little fear of heights. I think I am cured!!! At one point we had to walk a very narrow suspension bridge 2x8 for our feet 85 feet up. It felt like the bridge was going to roll over. It lead to a very very small platform 85 feet up! You had to stand there until it was your turn to zip. I was never so happy to jump at 85 feet just to get off of the platform.

After that we went towards Hot Springs to hike up to Goat Rock. It was a nice hike with some spectacular views.

Clicky:
Zip Lining at Catherine's Landing, Arkansas

We left Jellystone and ran up to Catherine's Landing in Hot Springs. AR. The roads in Arkansas suck!!

However, Catherine's Landing is a really nice campground. The facilities are well maintained and there is plenty of things to do.

Yesterday, I spent the day with my younger brother installing a second battery and inverter on his pickup truck. He is planning on bringing chest freezer for provisioning additional food and to bring back all of the fish we plan on catching. I sure hope we can fill it.

Chris, Heather and my brother's wife Angel went hiking around the Campground.

Today we did the same hikes around the campground before heading to Catherine Lake State Park for a hike up to water falls.

We had a pleasant surprise as my brother in law (Keith) was driving back to his house near Houston. He stopped by for a couple hour visit.

After Keith left to head back to Houston, we went to the State Park. It was a very nice hike.

We then wrapped up the day going up to the top of the observation tower downtown Hot Springs.

Tomorrow we plan on zip lining here at the campground.

Ok just a quick update. We spent a couple of days at the Bremen, Georgia Jellystone RV park. Mainly just to chill out a little. There really is not much to do in Waco Georgia the actual town the campground is in.

We were able to provision up a little at the local Walmart, play some putt putt golf, and walk a little. They do have a couple of alligators, three huge turtles, and a couple of macaws.

On May 7th, we headed to Graceland. I would say a little bit of a tourist trap, but something we can check off that we did. I learned a little more about Elvis, and got some steps in (walking).

Tomorrow we head to Catherine's Landing in Hot Springs to hook up with my brother and his wife. We will spent 5 days there to check out the area and do some hiking.

Day 1.

What a crappy day. We left at a casual 9AM for Valdosta, Georgia. Getting my experience with the new Motor Coach was supposed to be a thousand miles of easy driving. NOT LIKELY!

We ended up with down pours, wind, lightening, construction, traffic, and even a tornado warning. This lasted to the Georgia border. Very frustrating for our first long day. The Coach handled the day a lot better than I did. We stopped at two rest areas on the way up; one to let me chill out a little and the second to eat lunch.

The good news is I am feeling very comfortable with the coach's handling and I bet within a few hundred more miles I will be relax as I was running our Seneca.

Alaska 2016

So here we go.... This is the first of many posts as we head to Alaska again.

Here are the Updates and Plans:

Firstly, we have traded in our awesome 2010 Jayco Seneca HD for a 2016 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. It is absolutely awesome, luxurious, comfortable, etc, etc.

We took delivery Wednesday, April 27th, 2016. We took her home and spent two days days to load everything on for the trip. For our shakedown, we decided to go close to Pioneer Village RV resort in North Ft. Myers. The place is OK as it has a pool, some rec. rooms, and fitness center. So far only a couple of minor issues that will be taken care of on Monday.

Here is a picture when we first arrived for shakedown at Pioneer Village RV Resort:

Our plan for the next three months is:

Heading out next week to Arkansas to visit my younger brother Bob and his wife Angel. We should spend a week with them touring Hotsprings, Lake Cathrine, and the surrounding areas. Together with their 2006 Jayco Seneca HD we will head to South Dakota to spend a week at Mount Rushmore. From there we will head to Dawson Creek "Mile Zero".  Up the Alcan to Delta Junction and on to Fairbanks. From Fairbanks down to Denali, Wasilla, Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Valdez. Our return will take us north through Tok up the "Top of the World Highway" to Dawson City. Then south and work our way back to Southwest Florida.

I will post as we have internet, pictures and videos.

Ken, Chris, and of course Heather.