Galveston, Texas – Day 3

Yesterday we drove the Bronco the about 15 miles from our parking spot at VFW Post #8248 to downtown Galveston, Texas.

Note: Our Internet account starts a new cycle on February 5th, We are currently approaching our maximum allowable usage. Consequently we’ll be on a “photo diet”…posting fewer pictures than usual until then.

Yesterday we went to visit the tall ship Elissa and then wandered around the area known as The Strand. Lunch at the Gumbo Bar where Mary had the Seafood Gumbo and I had the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo. Galveston has numerous attractions which fall into the “Touristy” category for which there is no appeal for Mary or myself. So…later this morning we’ll be moving on.

About one week ago the electric window on the passenger side of the Bronco quit working. I bought a replacement motor at Napa and first thing yesterday morning I had it installed by a body shop next to the VFW.

Here are some of the photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The old electric window motor…

You can read about the tall ship Elissa by clicking this Wikipedia link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elissa_%28ship%29

New deck planks for the Elissa…

Enjoying the histories of the places we visit is another joy of the full-time RVing life style!

The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location in the State of Texas. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…(look closely on the Texas coast…)

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2013
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Harlingen, Texas – Day 20

The motorhome is parked at Tropic Winds RV Resort and is scheduled to be here until January 10th.

Yesterday Mary and I did some more cleaning of the motorhome. We even had both professionally washed and waxed. Finally the cleaning for now is essentially done. The road of life is a dusty one!

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The red dot on the below map shows my approximate location in the State of Texas. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2013
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

 

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 5

In the last few Blog entries, I’ve been discussing my problems with the malfunctioning alternator in my Ford Bronco II.

Yesterday morning I borrowed the camp host’s truck and drove the about 25 miles to pickup my ordered replacement unit…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Because of the injuries I suffered in the May 27th accident I had hired two young park rangers to assist me with the removal and re-installation of the new unit. Through some miscommunication with the camp host, they did not show up. By 1:30 PM, I was feeling half-way decent and decided to brave the heat and install the new unit myself. So, carefully and slowly, not wanting to re-injure my strained chest muscle, I got it installed in about 30 minutes…

Speaking of my injuries, the accident happened four weeks ago today. I’m surprised after all that time how still swollen and painful my right rib cage area remains. They told me to expect 6-8 weeks, possibly up to 10-12 weeks to heal. I take my last codeine-based pain medication this morning. After today, I’ll be on just Ibuprofen.

A few days back I got an Email from a fellow by the name of Eric Griego who said he noticed my Blog entry about arriving at Heron Lake. He and his wife Kelly, live in Albuquerque. They come up here on weekends to sail with the New Mexico Sailing Club, a small private group of about 100 members, here on Lake Heron. Eric grew up in the Seattle area as a teenager where he developed his love and interest in sailing. They extended an invitation for me to come and visit them…which I did last evening.

Here are some photos that I took…

I had a very enjoyable two-hour visit. It was really nice to be down near the water away from the heat and the bugs.

Meeting new and interesting people is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 4

If you read my last couple of Blog entries, you know about my problems with the alternator in my Ford Bronco II and the no-see-ums bites on my legs.

The day before yesterday I hired two young park rangers to assist me with the alternator replacement. That is because of my injuries received from the May 27th accident. After we took out the alternator is when we discovered the spare alternator I had for my 1984 Bronco would not work in the 1986 Bronco. i called the nearest Napa auto store in Chama, 25 miles away, and they told me they had one in stock.

Yesterday I hitched a ride into Chama with a neighbor. I brought the malfunctioning alternator with me because it is an exchange sale and also to make sure I got the right replacement. When I got to the Napa store, they actually had two different alternators for my 1986 Bronco…BUT…you probably already guessed it…neither of them was the right one! That would have been too easy! The counterman placed the order which has to come from Albuquerque…175 miles away. He said it would be here by 8:00 AM Saturday…that’s today.

Now I needed to figure how to get to Chama once again. Taking my motorhome would have been a real pain. The camp host here…a real nice guy by the name of Rusty offered me the use of his truck. What a nice guy. So at 7:30 AM this morning I will be on my way to Chama to get the replacement alternator. Hopefully tomorrow’s Blog entry will be documenting the successful installation of that unit.

I’ll return the spare alternator to Auto Zone for a refund…when ever I see the next Auto Zone.

Now…the locals are saying that the current weather is unseasonably warm. Today is supposed to be 87 degrees. The sun here is a scorcher and after about 9:00 AM no one is seen walking around…it’s just too damn hot! Everyone is hunkered down inside of the rigs in the air-conditioning. So I have no new photos to show you today.

Except for photos of my no-see-ums bites. I’ll show just the area about three inches above were my sock was located. I have other bites that go above my knees!

I think my Blog entries have reached a new low today! 

For better or worse…here they are…

First the left leg…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

And then the right leg…

Remember, I also have bites on the back of my legs not seen by these photos! Isn’t that exciting???

In yesterday’s Blog entry I discussed how the use of Witch Hazel has greatly reduced the itch and pain.

Okay, enough of this for today. Let’s hope that future Blog entries will be more interesting!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 3

In yesterday’s Blog entry I discussed my current problems with the no-see-ums bites on my legs as well as the charging system problems with my Ford Bronco II.

I was determined to do something positive about both problems.

Starting with the no-see-ums bites, I discovered I had a bottle of Witch Hazel which according to the label is a 100% natural astringent for face and body…providing gentle relief for oily, irritated, red, damaged, blemished or inflamed skin. Well, I certainly had a couple of those items so I sloshed it on my legs lavishly and by golly, the stuff worked wonders relieving the itch and pain from the bites. So much so that I did not apply another application for another eight hours just prior to going to bed. Made it through the night with no itching and wonderful sleep.

Witch Hazel is almost a miracle cure. It has many uses. You can read all about this wonderful stuff by clicking this link…
http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_witch_hazel.htm

I was also determined not to get any more bites, so I hunted down a pair of peasant pants I had bought in Guatemala in 2004 during my Central America trip. I had never worn them before.  Light weight and long-legged was what I needed in this heat. The worked really nicely and I got no new bites yesterday. They’re not the sexiest apparel I’ve ever worn, but they got he job done. Here I am in all my glory…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The two young park rangers that are going to help me do the alternator replacement arrived at 9:00 AM. I had just confirmed that the alternator was actually not working. Here’s a photo of it in place in the Bronco engine compartment…

They agreed to show up at 4:30 PM after they got off of work. I was ready with my spare alternator…

Shortly after they arrived at 4:30…the malfunctioning alternator was out of the Bronco…and…oh no…It was different from my spare! The spare was for my previous 1984 Bronco. The 1984 and 1986 Bronco bodies are identical…but some things are different. Such as the 1984 was a carburetored engine and the 1986 is fuel injected.

I made a call to the nearest Napa auto parts store in Chama, New Mexico…about 25 miles distant. They have what I need in stock. This morning at 9:00 AM, I’m hitching a ride with a neighbor to Chama to pick up the replacement alternator. The young park rangers will return later today to install the new unit.

I’m really glad I engaged them to help me as the malfunctioning unit bolts were on really tight and I certainly would have further strained my already damaged chest muscle from the May 27th accident. The alternator we took out of the Bronco is a Motorcraft…a Ford original part name. So I’m guessing that it was an original factory installed unit which means it lasted 26 years! Pretty amazing!

I’m hoping tomorrow’s Blog entry will be reporting that all is once again well with the Bronco.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

It’s Something We Seldom Give A Thought About…

Note…I’m currently hanging out in the motorhome at the Moose Lodge in Silver City, New Mexico waiting on the completion of a transmission rebuild for my 1986 Ford Bronco II

———————————————

Much like a light switch on a wall…we flick the switch and presto…there’s electricity! Most folks do not have a concept of the complexities behind that switch that brings the electricity to our homes. And it is indeed a complex system.

Much the same with the automatic transmissions in our vehicles. We simply start the vehicle…put it in drive or reverse and be on our way. Most folks do not have a concept of the complexities of this device that takes the energy produced by an engine and converts it to vehicle motion.

As you saw in the above note I’m awaiting completion of a transmission rebuild for my 1986 Ford Bronco II. Yesterday I spent three hours at the garage where they began the dis-assembly of the transmission. With Nacho’s help I was shown the reasons for my transmission failure as a thrust washer that had broken in to two pieces and went where they were not supposed to be.

Here are some photos…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view...

First the transmission before the start of the dis-assembly process…

Nacho, the mechanic, mounted the transmission casing to a work bench to begin the dis-assembly process…

And then two photos of the major components of the transmission…

The work bench is covered with internal parts from the transmission which is only about one-half dis-assembled at this point…

I’m not sure how many individual parts there are in my transmission…but I guessing somewhere well in excess of 100. And unless they all go together in a very precise manner…the transmission will fail to do its job. That’s one of the reasons that a transmission rebuild is so expensive.

However…I hold no hard feeling against my transmission for needing to be rebuilt. Automobiles are nothing more than mechanical. electrical and electronic components in a single vessel. They work hard to deliver us where we desire to go. After 150,000 miles…I have no complaints. With a little time and a few $’s I’ll once again soon be on my way. We only give it a thought when it doesn’t work.

Nacho is hoping to have it ready for me by Friday afternoon.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

A Small Modulator Valve Was The Problem…

We’re still at the Golden Sun RV Resort in Apache Junction, Arizona where we will remain hanging out and visiting with friends. See my Blog entry for more information about this place…
http://wp.me/pDCku-3wM

A couple of days ago our towed Ford Bronco II started having transmission shifting problems. I called my friend and Cracker-Jack mechanic Mike in Washington and he diagnosed it as a bad modulator valve. This small valve fits into the side of the transmission and regulates the shifting process.

I took the Bronco to a local transmission shop and told them of my problems…but did not mention the modulator valve…

They did their diagnostics and proclaimed it to be a faulty modulator valve…

It was quite a tricky job getting the faulty valve out and the new one in place. A couple of hours and a little over $100 and all was well once again.

Soon we will be heading out into the toolies for about one month and I needed and wanted this problem resolved before that time. We just do not need to unnecessarily  break down in the middle of nowhere.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

We Visit The Eagles In Monroe, Washington.

Yesterday Mary and I drove the motorhome the about 60 miles south  from Bow to Monroe, Washington. We’re back for a three night stay while my friend/mechanic Mike pulls the transmission from my Ford Bronco II to replace a leaky seal. While the transmission is out…I’m going to have him replace all the transmission seals as well as the engine rear main seal. Mike’s place is only about two miles from this site…but there’s no room to park the motorhome…so we’re park at the Eagles #2327 RV parking area. It’s located along a small river about one mile away from the Eagles Club itself in downtown Monroe. We’re expecting the work to take two days. Mike said his nephew will be helping him. I told him that I would also be available if he needed me.

It was pretty, peaceful and quiet…and only $10.00 a night for electricity and water. Normally we would stay at Thousand Trails while in this area but the park only has 97 sites and it’s booked solid through the Labor Day weekend. So this becomes a really convenient place to stay while the work is accomplished on the Bronco. Mary and I spent one night here about six weeks ago.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust

It’s Been A Busy 58 Days…

since Mary left me to return to CA for two high school graduations, a family reunion and general business associated with her home and rental units. This time apart was part of our agreement when we got together approaching three years ago. She has left me several times…but this has been our longest separation since we’ve been together. I’ll meet her in Burlington this evening when she’ll arrive via the shuttle service from SeaTac Airport.

In the time she’s been gone…I’ve stayed plenty busy. I’m an ex-engineer and tend to do a lot of research before I undertake a project or commit to major financial expenditures. Here are some of the things that have kept me busy since Mary has been away…

Despite his working a 60 hour work-week at his place of employment in Monroe…I got my friend and cracker-jack mechanic Mike to put in 12 hours of preventative maintenance on my Ford Bronco II. I was his assistant and gofer. In this photo he is replacing brake pads and hoses as well as greasing the front wheel bearings…

Through friends of Mike I managed to meet a professional body man who put in 12 hours cleaning up the Bronco II very nicely…

I combined and upgraded Mary and my memberships in Thousand Trails RV Resorts into an elite Membership…

Upgraded our motorhome modem and router to Verizon 4G speed…

Bought a new Sony Digital camera…

Bought a new Sony Vaio computer…

Replaced a defective rear view camera on the motorhome…

And got video-interviewed by RVTravel.com…

So…I’ve not been bored while Mary was away. All of these above activities will hopefully contribute to a lot of many more enjoyable days and miles on the road!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust

A Different Kind Of Camera…

A few Blog entries back I identified that I had just bought a new Sony Cyber-Shot DSC 4X5V Digital Camera. This story is about a different kind of Sony Camera…part of a Rear View Camera System on our motorhome

You may also remember prior to that… I identified that while on my way to my current camping site at Thousand Trails Mount Vernon RV Resort in Bow, Washington…that the rear view camera on the motorhome quit working.

When you  drive a big square box on wheels you have restricted ability to see what’s going on behind you as you go down the road. What you can see in your rear view mirrors is all you can see. Our towed Ford Bronco II cannot be seen when driving in a straight line. The answer to that problem is a rear view camera system. It provides me with a great deal of comfort that I can see that all is okay with the Bronco while driving down the highway.

Some motorhomes come factory equipped with this type of camera system…ours did not. So when we bought the motorhome in 2009 I decided I really preferred to see what’s going on behind me…and decided to install an after-market rear view camera system. In the below photo…the little black thing above the center red running light above the word Fleetwood…that’s the camera that sends a live video signal to a 7 inch monitor in the drivers area. That’s the unit that quit working.

Here’s a closer view. The camera allows me to see the towed Ford Bronco II as well as vehicles approaching from the rear. It also is a great visual aid when backing into a camping spot. It helps me avoid backing into the picnic table, trees, etc…a most helpful use!

After contacting the vendor…4UCam.com about my problem…they evaluated that the camera was the most likely culprit. So that meant I had to get up there and check all the electrical connections to ensure they were all secure…

Once satisfied that all the electrical connections were fine…the next step was to check that the infrared LED was lit. Nope…it wasn’t. That confirmed the camera was not working. Even though the camera was out of warranty…the 4UCam.com made me a fair deal for a replacement camera. It showed up a few day later. Once it did I made a very interesting discovery. In the below photo you can see the old camera on the left and the new one on the right. If you look carefully…you can see what I discovered. The new one has a rubber sealant applied over the four screws and where the back plate attaches to the main body. The old unit somehow made it out of the factory without any rubber sealant.

How was I supposed to know that? I remember looking at the unit when I received it in 2009…remembering the vendor’s claim that it was weather-resistant. I guessed they must have installed a rubber gasket inside the unit. Wrong! 2-3 months back I grew suspicious when the camera developed condensation on the inside of the protective glass and I could not see anything in the monitor despite knowing that the camera was operational. So…up on the roof I went. I carefully opened the unit and cleaned/dried the condensation. All was well once again…or so I thought…until the camera quit during a hard rain on my way here…which brings me back to the beginning of this story.

4UCam has been just really terrific about this situation. When I emailed them about the lack of sealant problem they were most apologetic indicating that they did not manufacture the unit…but they would refund the money I paid them for the replacement unit while they took up the matter with their supplier.

If you are in the market for a vehicle camera system…you cannot go wrong with looking at http://www.4Ucam.com …they have great customer service and are willing to stand behind their products. Most unusual in today’s money-greedy business world. As part of their apologies to me…they are willing to offer a $10 credit refund…simply by mentioning my name…Jim Jaillet…when you purchase a new full camera system.

Other than this minor problem…which was not the fault of 4UCam.com…I’ve been most happy with this camera system and their customer service. They are definitely a Good-Guy Company!

In yesterday’s Blog entry I discussed that it helps to be technically minded when being an RVer. This story is a perfect illustration. The two hours I spent evaluating and replacing the unit would have cost us $250…plus the mark-up on the replacement unit price.

Instead of giving that money to a technician to do the job…we get to put that money in the gas tank…a much more agreeable use for that money!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust