Fair Winds and Following Interstates
October 5, 2024
It was the perfect fall day and the trees were golden. So off we went, enjoying the weather and scenery. We drove Iron Mountain Road to Keystone. There we took US-385 up toward Lead, where we circled clockwise to Spearfish Canyon. A late lunch at Graps in Belle Fourche and then back to Hermosa.
September 30, 2024
At the end of the second day on our burn run from Norfolk to Rapid, Harold observed a check engine light on the dash. He was unable to get the diagnostic tool to work, but took heart in that members of RV forums noted that it was not unusual to get a code that would disappear on its own after a couple of engine restarts. Sometimes electrical gremlins occur. So he reset the dashboard.
The next morning the check engine light came on again. Hmm...This time we exited the highway and called Spartan. The customer service representative walked Harold through the diagnostics. We had erred in our diagnostic procedure the night prior. We had low coolant according to the diagnostics. Harold checked the engine. Sure enough, we had a coolant leak. Ugh!
We disconnected the Jeep, and I went in search of coolant. Our engine uses Final Charge coolant, something not found at most automotive stores. No luck. Harold used the last jug of coolant we had. There was a truck stop a couple of miles up the road. We decided to risk driving. We made it and bought four jugs of coolant. We used three of them. Harold tightened a clamp and off we went.
About 15 miles down the road, we stopped at a rest stop to check the leak. Hmm...still leaking coolant. We added the last jug for the second time that day. So, it wasn't the clamp. We were chatting with another RVer who was waiting on parts for his RV. He said there was a Speedco at a truck stop about two miles down the road. Once more we took the driving risk.
At the Speedco, we discovered that because we didn't have a DOT number, they could not work on our coach. However, they did have coolant available, and let's just say that Harold had plenty of eyes and hands searching for this leak.
My mind was on tow trucks. How much would it cost? How long would it take? Roadside assistance for big rigs is typically slow. Where were we going to get it fixed? How much would that cost? Would we make our appointment in Rapid?
Finally the leak was found, but only after accessing the engine from inside the coach and viewing the engine from the top. Four stores and two construction zones later, we had the hose barb and clamps needed to replace the bad hose section. Hose fixed, we added coolant, and went on our way.
Exhausted, we only drove a couple of more hours that day. We were so blessed at how things worked out. The truck stops and Speedco were right where we needed them to be. Thank you God!
As a bonus, because of our short travel day, we discovered a beautiful, peaceful campground that is on our very short list of favorites. We want to spend a week there sometime, simply relaxing.
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| Searching for the leak |
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| Coolant hitting the rock guard |
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| Coolant everywhere |
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| Oh look, fire retardant from two years ago |
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| Engine Access |
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| Engine view from the bedroom |
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| Used it all |
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| Just keep pouring |
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| Small tear, big leak |
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| Relaxing game of mini-golf to end the day |
While we were parked in Norfolk at JEB Little Creek, we flew back to Rapid to meet with our doctors. We fully expected to continue with our original plans and head towards the the Gulf Coast after the decommissioning ceremony. Then we would travel back to Rapid in November with the coach and stay as long as needed. Well, the doctor had a surgical opening in early October. We decided to take it.
We had six days to get from Norfolk to Rapid. Those of you that know us, know that we really don't like back-to-back travel days. It's tiring to drive those full, long days. We planned for five days of driving with a day of cushion. We made it, but we almost had to use our cushion day. More on that next week.
This week, we thought we'd share some snapshots as we drove the highways. From open waters, rivers still raging from Hurricane Helene to fall colors with harvesting in full progress, we counted our blessings.
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| Leaving Norfolk |
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| Into the tunnel |
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| WV Rivers still running high following Helene |
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| Beautiful WV! |
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| OH wind damage - scene repeated more than once |
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| Farmland |
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| Harvest time |
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| IL Sunset |
September 5 - 22, 2024
We left South Dakota and headed toward Norfolk, VA, where the USS Leyte Gulf (55) was being decommissioned. Our first stop along the way was Spartan Service Center in Charlotte, MI, where we had our chassis inspected and our tires realigned. After the AK roads, it seemed prudent.
Our next stop was Showalter RV in Nappanee, IN, where we had our roof inspected. A couple of tubes of caulk later, we were good to go.
Next we stopped at the FMCA campground in Cincinnati, where we joined a mini-rally for a couple of days. We had met most of the group the year prior in Michigan. So it was good to catch up, however briefly. We hope to see most of them again in October.
We reached the JEB Little Creek campground in Virginia Beach without incident, ready for the reunion weekend. Harold so enjoyed catching up with shipmates he hadn't seen in decades. We'll have to do better about staying in touch.
The ceremony itself was on Norfolk Naval Base, Pier 2. Quite a few plankowners (those who pre-commissioned the ship) were on hand for the event. They helped man the rails one last time. Leyte Gulf will now join the Ghost fleet.
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| USS Leyte Gulf |
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| Contemplation |
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| Remarks from Vice Admiral Black |
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| Officers of the last deployment |
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| Plankowners |
August 5 - September 5, 2024
Sometimes the month just flies by. August was that month for us. We deliberately didn't do much sightseeing until after the Sturgis Rally. We eventually made the Needles and Iron Mountain Loop one afternoon.
It was our month for doctors and dentists in the Rapid City area. This year it seemed we had more follow-up visits than usual. We felt like we were running into town just about every other day.
On top of the medical visits, we had repairs and some deep cleaning to do after the Alaska highways. The windshield replacement was an overnight at the only glass shop in Rapid that handled motorhome windshields. We had, and still have for that matter, a rear jack that's giving us trouble.
Then, our campground was hit with hail during a storm. Just about everything plastic on the roof had to be replaced - A/C covers, fan covers, TV antenna, and vent covers. Our 360 camera housings took a hit too. We were in town during the storm, sparing our Jeep. There was more than one cracked windshield. The insurance agents and mobile repair guys were busy. So thankful Harold is willing and able to get up on the roof!
The next few weeks will be busy. We're having to rethink some of our fall plans. Medical issues will mean a return to the area. We really like our doctors here.
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| Custer State Park |
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| Washington profile |
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| Out with the old... |
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| ...In with the new |
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| Cleaning the AK dust |
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| Hail carnage (not just us) |
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| Up the ladder again. |
We arrived in South Dakota on day four of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Motorcycles were everywhere. Harold had an outpatient procedure at Ft. Meade in Sturgis during the rally. We scheduled it for the first thing in the morning, guessing that most motorcyclists would not be out and about early in the day. If they were out, they would be on their way for a day's outing to Devil's Tower, the Black Hills, or the Badlands as opposed to a Sturgis bar. We did not have any traffic issues though we noted how quickly those additional, temporary stop signs and stoplights could really slow things down.
Here are a few snapshots that we took throughout the week. Over 470,000 motorcyclists visited the area during the rally. Increasingly, the week before the rally is busy. Hotels and campgrounds are full. Restaurants are busy. We avoid travel on Needles Highway or Iron Mountain Road during rally. The noise alone would be deafening.
While this year's Sturgis attendance was on the lower side, many expect next year's attendance to be higher - the 85th year of Sturgis Rally.
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| Rally at Exit 55 - temporary tents at Harley dealer in Rapid |
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| Lots of cargo trailers at Rapid City hotels |
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| Waiting our turn for the temporarily installed stop sign |
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| Looking down Main St. Sturgis mid-morning |
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| Temporary campgrounds along the freeway |
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| Last day of rally |
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| Rain delay |
