We are Home March 31

 

When we left Cedar Rapids heading towards Sarnia we decided to take a small side trip to Middlebury Indiana to visit the factory that built the Gypsy Wagon. The slide out has been problematic since we bought it. When we were on our first trip we had the control module exchanged in Arizona , and then some roller alignment work when we got home in the spring. When I picked it up from the dealer I still wasn't happy with it, and bet him $50.00 that it had not been repaired properly. 

All through the trip we worried that it might get stuck extended, on one of our of the beaten path adventures. I had made a commitment that it was going to be properly fixed regardless of the cost when we got home. We felt that if we visited the factory we would get some one to explain what had to be done and how to go about it, as it has been off warranty since last September.

We dropped in unannounced and a service tech came to look at it within about half an hour. As we were walking to look at it he told me that they would not be able to repair it until a later date but he would have a look at it. My answer was that I was not expecting it to be fixed on the spot, I just need to to know what was need to be done, and then I would take it from there.

He looked at it from the out side and and immediately said that the track system had not been properly repaired.  When we went inside and extended the slide out it made an awful racket, even more than normal. Upon examination he said that both the control module and the motor and track system had been upgraded since the unit had been built, and they all needed replacing. 

They took all the unit information, and returned later to advise us that it was no longer under warranty but they possibly could order the parts to be delivered the following day and they could install them the day after, and were we interested in getting a quote for the work?  We agreed immediately to getting the quote. They close at 3:oo for the day , about 2:30 the service rep came and said that the quote wasn't quite ready but hopefully with in half an hour or so, as they were trying to get some good will money to cover part of it.

Around 3:30 we were told that they would cover 100% of the cost. We were ecstatic as now we felt it would get done properly and save us 2 or 3 thousand dollars. They have a place for their customers to park with complementary hookups while their units are being serviced.

That evening we decided to go out for supper to celebrate our good fortune and low and behold the slide out would not retract.  It was like having a heart attack in the emergency ward at the hospital, could not have it happen at a better place.

We were stuck with the slide out in the out position until they came to pick it up at 6:30am on the service day. They drove it to the shop with the slide out extended.  By 1:30 they had it completed and returned to us in perfect order at no charge.  

I was so happy I did a happy dance for them in the middle of the service area.

We had a wonderful trip but this was the perfect end to it as it was a worry that had been hanging over us for most of the trip.

That afternoon we drove to Sarnia and then completed the trip home on Thursday March 31. 

The total trip was 14,928 kilometers over 88 days. Big gas bill but a long trip . The fuel bill was just slightly less than 50% of our total expenses. As for the other expenses it is less expensive to travel than it is the live at home.  Discovering Mexico was worth every penny.

 

Iowa City Iowa March 26

 More Farm Country

Miles of windmills, and so they should be here. I asked a guy at the gas station and he said it 
is always windy here, especially in the spring

The land is mostly rolling, and a bit difficult to see, but they terrace the farm land on the side of the hills, 

Nebraska Mar 25

Nebraska is farming country from one end to the other

A bit difficult to see but the irrigation is all done with super long pivot sprinklers
The farm land is almost all irrigated here, You even seen irrigated corn fields
Where is all this water coming from and will it be around forever

Where does Nebraska irrigation water come from

Nebraska a leader in irrigation 

Nebraska irrigation Facts

I don't think we saw any dairy farms but thousands of black angus beef

As we drove through Kearney ,the field were covered with Sand Cranes, looked like our fields 
of geese at home. A sign along the highway says it is the Sand Crane Capital

The Colorado Rockies March 24

 We traveled today from the dusty Utah desert, over the snow covered Rockies into the rolling Colorado farmland, a very interesting and picturesque road as compared to the Texas Oklahoma route we normally take. This route is appropriate in good weather but would not be any fun at all in winter conditions.

Not a good picture, but that is the Colorado River right beside the highway. We followed
 it for miles and miles, I still find it incredible that this is what feeds Lake Powel and the
 Hoover Dam and all the farm land in Arizona, and California. We were not able to get a
 picture of them but there were fly fishermen fishing with waders in some places

We did some serious climbing today, I have never had the gypsy wagon at 4000 rpms and only
doing 50 mph before.

It is a long time since we have seen a forest

We passed through many of the famous ski resorts, Snowmass, Vail, plus others

We even got to see the red rocks at one place that we have grown so used to seeing

Once we passed through Denver we were into farming country, with many huge dairy farms.
The average Colorado dairy farm has 680 cows. We passed many , but one farm was over a mile
 long of just penned cows.

Beef farming as well on some of the poorer land 

The Arches National Park Mar 23

 We had a wonderful day visiting and hiking in The Arches National Park. When we first arrived in Arizona we paid $80 for a seasons pass to all the US national parks. Daily rates are $25 to $35 per vehicle so it has worked out really well, because we have now been in the National Parks for 6 really interesting days. This pass only costs $20 if you are a US resident. The funny part is that we had a life time pass that we bought in Georgia , many years ago, from a lovely lady that told us we could be American citizens for the day. We got 4 or 5 years out of it before some observant gate keeper confiscated our card. She had no sense of humor!!! LOL

They only allow so many vehicles into the park at one time so that there is sufficient parking 
when you stop at the hiking or viewing spots. We had been reading that by 10 o'clock most
 days the park was full and you had to wait for some one to exit, as of April 2 you  need to
reserve your entry time. We arrived at 8:30 and only had about a 15 minute wait.

The entrance to the sand dome hike

There is a sandbox area further back

There is a area that has lots of sand so all of the children were digging and playing in the sand , the 
only thing missing was water , so no sand castles

Hiking to the balancing rock

This is called the balancing rock

We hiked out to the double arches

Another hike to a different window

This one is called the broken arch

Click on the picture to make the script easier to read

The fiery furnace, not sure I get the name , but that is what they call it

we hiked down this canyon

Time for a break on the way up

A bunch of pictures from the drive through the park, to many pictures but we want to save the memories