BY GOLLY WE’RE EVEN IN AN RV PARK TONIGHT
Our day dawned clear and bright with morning sunbeams streaming through our windows. The day eventually turned out to be cool and windy. With our Albuquerque Camping World appointment being for 8:30 we had the big wheels rolling by 8 for the short journey east along the northern service road from New Mexico’s Route 66 Casino alongside I-40.
Monday morning at Camping World was a busy place with rigs coming and going. Anyone owning an RV well knows about constant maintenance and repairs and if they don’t they soon will. Work finally began on our rig about 10 and luckily we were able to park near to where they were working on it. As it turns out we ended up spending the whole day here…….and we have to go back first thing in the morning.
The helpful mechanic guy saw us by the fence line and kinda kept us informed on how things were going……which wasn’t well. The blown hydraulic line was blistered and burnt and that is the exact same thing that happened to the other hydraulic line last month near Parker Arizona. Today they installed a new hydraulic line but when they powered up the system the other 3 lines, already showing signs of age and blistering, leaked. Decision was made to replace those lines as well and that is what they will do in the morning. The mechanic fellow is also going to make up and install a heat shield between the hydraulic lines and the nearby hot manifold pipe. Both the Parker mechanic and the Camping World mechanic felt it was a poor design by the Motorhome’s manufacturer running hydraulic lines so close to the manifold and with those lines being 16 years old now they were more susceptible to heat. We don’t know what the bill for all this will be but we know it will be HUGE. In the past 6 months we have probably poured well over $5000 into this Motorhome and we know when it comes time to sell it we’ll never recover that money.
So what did we do for eight and a half hours at Camping World today?? Took Pheebs for a couple long walks around the large parking lot area, browsed through the store without buying anything, wandered in and out of half a dozen new rigs in the showroom, (didn’t like any of them) and spent most of our time sitting in the Jeep reading and banging away on our computers. They have a waiting room lounge but for some reason we preferred sitting in the Jeep outside. Also took a short drive towards Albuquerque and found a Carl’s Junior for a couple burgs.
TWO BURGS PLEASE
PRICE TAG ON THIS ENTEGRA IN THE SHOWROOM WAS NEARLY $350.00
WAY TO FANCY SCHMANCY FOR US FOLKS
I WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THIS MOTORHOME
So having to be back at 8 in the morning we had to figure out a place to stay for the night. Back to the Casino? Naw that was old news, an Albuquerque Walmart not too far away? Double ‘nawwww’. Okay where to go??Lucky for us there was a Passport Amercia RV Park right beside Camping World on the west side called the Enchanted Trails RV Park. Decided we were due for some electric and water so from Camping World we slipped the one and a half minute drive over to the Park for the night. Of course we are totally surrounded by other rigs but we’re both way too tired to care about that plus they have some really neat things here which I will let my photos explain.
HEY SARGE I FOUND A COUPLE HUDSONS FOR YA:))
SOME REAL NICE SLICES OF NOSTALGIA HERE AT THE ENCHANTED TRAILS RV PARK ON I-40
We may stay a second night here or after leaving Camping World we might just point the rig’s nose east, haul ourselves right through the middle of Albuquerque, and climb ourselves up and over the Sandia Mountains. That mountain range is the final one and it will be sad for me once again to watch those mountains slowly sink into the horizon and disappear for maybe the last time ever. Of course I think and say that every year but I’m afraid nothing short of a miracle will find us back in the Southwest next winter. It’s not that we don’t want to come back, it’s just not feasible for us to do that…………………
WE EVEN FOUND US A LITTLE PIECE OF QUIET COUNTRYSIDE THIS AFTERNOON
THE SANDIA MOUNTAINS WILL BE THE LAST MOUNTAIN RANGE FOR US TO CROSS
GROANER’S CORNER:(( You might be a redneck if...
You keep your teeth and your goldfish in the same glass.
On average, one out of every thirty words you use can be found in a dictionary.
You think Motorola is a fancy name for a car part.
You borrow your wedding flowers from Wal-Mart.
You think Hamlet is on the McDonald's breakfast menu.
Your kids are going hungry tonight because you had to see your maw run her car at the dirt track race.
Your dad says, "Let's hit the road for dinner," and then grabs a shovel.
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Father: Why don't you get yourself a job? Son: Why? Father: So you could earn some money. Son: Why? Father: So you could put some money in a bank and earn interest. Son: Why? Father: So that when you're old you can use the money in your bank account ...and you would never have to work again.Son: But I'm not working now.
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Al, if you stay another night in the campground, go over to the north (or is it east) bound feeder road just at the top of the hill. The sunset over the mountains and the glow of the city lights is simply amazing! We've frequently stayed at Enchanted and the other park just across the interstate from you prior to volunteering at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with those repairs. Guess it's good you're in a safe place and not on the side of the road!
Yes good luck with the rest of your repairs, But because of them you have seen some very interesting sites. Travel safely on down the road.
ReplyDeleteAL, we feel your pain. In the last few months, we've multi-thousand repair bills ot pay, too on our 08 Tradition. So glad you're not on the side of the road and in an interesting place. Best wishes to you both for safe travel back home, whenever that may be.
ReplyDeleteSorry you are having so many repairs. Hope this is it for a while. We had a radio just like the first one in the pic.
ReplyDeleteThat fancy big rig is way more than I could handle. I wouldn't mind a small class c, but we do love our little Taylor Coach. Built right her in Ontario. Safe travels. Love your blog
I certainly hope you guys have another season in ya, and I'm sure you do. That park looks lovely, was that an oldies car club passing through or ...?
ReplyDeleteThose Hudson cars and vintage trailers are a permanent fixture here at Enchanted Trails.
DeleteThis must be the year where many snowbirds, incl. us, reinvested "mucho dollares" into our RVs to keep them rolling. We stayed in the Enchanted Trails RV Park in 2014 too. Don's say you won't be back, make it happen ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking you meant $350,000 instead of $350.00 for the price of that fancy shmantzy rig.
ReplyDeleteBetter to get the rig fixed and feel safe than to worry about it all the way home. Like the above folks I agree, it's better you aren't stuck on a highway somewhere and/or waiting for a tow to come to your rescue.
I love the park, those old vintage trailers and cars are spectacular. The other antiques were very interesting as well but the cars grabbed my attention.
Never say never, one never knows what lies ahead. You and Kelly may find a different solution to your 'haven't got it in ya' issue. Flying and renting, driving the jeep and renting, or maybe something smaller. So many options to think about. The more leisurely driving this year seemed to do wonders for you two on your journey.
Hopefully the repairs aren't as expensive as you think they may be and hopefully this is the last one before you get home. Safe travels to the Bayfield Bunch!!!
Sorry about the RV repairs but it happens. It is a house on wheels. I sometimes wonder how much we put into out RV since we bought it new in 2001 but it is still cheaper than getting a new one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely RV Park. Great old things to enjoy. I really like the Wurlitzer. I hope it gets played from time to time.
Thoughts are things. If you want to go back West next season then it will happen.
All good things come to an end at some time in our life. I say hang up the sewer hose and call it a day. It is obvious from your postings over the last two years that the fun is not there. When that happens why put yourself through the stress. I recall last full you agreed with a comment that read "I am quite content to be at home and I don't feel that I am missing a dam thing"
ReplyDeleteHi Charles.....Yes no doubt I thought that way at the time and I still have some of those same thoughts. It's not a sure thing either way and I continue to waffle in between the extremes. Some days I'm convinced I want to do this and some days I'm convinced I want to do that. Welcome to my confusing lifestyle...………...
DeleteI guess that Entegra MH was 350K not $350.00. Would bought that thing right away for that one low price. Btw. I COULD feel homey in there. Good luck with your last repairs. The recent repairs and the $5000 cost of it goes to show that motor homes are not made to last. The industry is always using the cheapest solution often paired with bad engineering.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed at Enchanted Trails RV Park for nearly a week after our fuel pump, which is INSIDE the fuel tank, went out east of town by 60 miles and had to be towed in. Our two service only pays for one tow in a 5 day time period, and we did not want to chance it. Absolutely LOVED Enchanted Trails, the people were so nice, and it is very interesting looking at all the old RVs and cars and antique stuff they have.
ReplyDelete