Bridget and I are presently camped at Painted Rock Campground and Petroglyph Site, southwest of Phoenix and west of Gila Bend, Arizona, about eleven miles north of Interstate 8. After discovering the Perfect Tow Vehicle is stuck in “park,” I locate a fellow camper, Bill, who offers to take a look at the problem in the morning.
“Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day, Bridge,” I announce as we step outside the Best Little Trailer around seven-thirty in the morning. “Clear, blue sky, no wind, warmer than yesterday . . . .”
We follow our usual morning routine.
Around eight-thirty I’m sitting at the rear of the BLT, laptop open in front of me, replying to blog comments and drinking a cup of coffee.
I don’t want to bother Bill too early in the morning about the PTV. I’ll give him a little more time to start his day before going over to his campsite.
Knowing that someone with a knowledge of auto mechanics has offered to help puts my mind at ease.
I hope Bill can figure out what the problem is. Maybe it’s that dang shifting cable that needed adjustment right after I bought the PTV. Better wait until Bill is here before starting the engine to check the fluid level. Maybe he’ll want to look at something while the engine is cold . . . .
As I’m ruminating on the situation and typing replies to comments, I hear an RV approach our campsite.
“Gee, maybe that’s him!”
I rush to the door.
Sure enough, it’s Bill’s Class A motor home with two slides and with a toad pulled behind. I stand in the doorway of the BLT and watch as Bill’s RV continues on its way on the campground loop, over to the exit, and out onto the main road.
“Wha? He LEFT? He didn’t even stop?” I stare in disbelief as Bill’s RV disappears around a hill.
“Well, I’ll be darned. The guy says he’ll be here and then he leaves.”
Eventually I accept his departure.
Can’t blame him for not wanting to fool with my problem. He’s under no obligation to me.
“I guess we’re back to square one, Bridge.”
I start up the PTV’s engine and check the transmission fluid.
Hmm . . . Fluid looks good. I close the hood, try to shift again without success, and turn off the engine.
“Come here, babe. Let me put you in your suit. We need to go for our morning walk.”
Bridget trots happily beside me on her leash.
Here comes that guy who didn’t have any transmission fluid when I asked yesterday. (Actually I had asked his daughter and she in turn stuck her head inside their travel trailer and asked him.) I wonder what he wants.
“Hi! You’re the one with the transmission problem, right?” he asks as he approaches.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
He leads me toward our campsite.
“I looked over at your van this morning and I see that it’s parked on an incline. You can’t get it out of park, right? I grew up on a farm and we had a tractor that would do that all the time. I’m pretty sure I know what the problem is. Let me take a look at it.”
My hopes, recently dashed by the departure of Bill, shoot up again.
“That would be great!”
He asks me to start up the engine and try again to shift “so I can see what’s going on.” (I suspect he doesn’t want to ask if I remember to put my foot on the brake pedal.)
In a very easy-on-the-ears, soft, regional accent — hmm, Virgina maybe? — he lays out our course of action.
“Okay. I tell you what. I’m going to get my tow strap. You unhitch and I’ll be right back. I’ll pull the van forward. We need to take the pressure off.”
Before he leaves I introduce myself. “By the way, I’m Sue.”
We shake hands. “I’m Ken. Pleased to meet you, Sue.”
I remove the anti-sway bar and unlock the hitch lock.
I unplug both power cables and unhook the emergency break-away cable. I set out the cone for the jack to rest on. By the time I’m turning the crank to lift the coupler off the hitch ball, Ken has walked back.
“I could’ve sworn I had that tow strap with me,” he says.
As I crank, the hitch ball rises along with the coupler. It does that sometimes. Only this time it lifts more than usual.
“This thing (meaning the coupler) is going to pop loose any second now,” I comment to Ken, as I continue cranking.
He stands on the other side of the hitch, nodding and grinning.
POP! The hitch disengages and the rear end of the PTV jounces.
Ken remarks, with what seems to me like amazing confidence for the situation, “It’s gonna’ shift now.”
I hurry around the front of the PTV and hop into the driver’s seat.
Ken stands at the open door beside me as I start the engine.
Just for good measure, I talk to the PTV.
“C’mon, baby. Be good to me!”
I pull the shift lever into drive.
“OH, THANK GOD! What a relief!”
Ken and I chat for a few minutes.
I learn that he’s originally from Abingdon, Virginia, and lived for a while in Bristol, Tennessee.
“That’s where your accent comes from!”
The first time Ken saw the desert he fell in love with it.
Years later, his daughter, Jamie, chooses Arizona State University.
“That was when home prices were really low. We bought her a house to live in while going to college. Then my wife and I thought, “If we’re ever going to move to the desert, now’s a good time.”
They presently live in Queen River, Arizona, and never want to leave the Southwest.
“Well, I’d better be going,” Ken says. “I need to fix breakfast.”
“Oh, no! You haven’t had your breakfast yet?”
I thank him again before he leaves.
What a blessing. I take a deep breath. I am SO glad I didn’t have to call for a tow . . .
Later, I move the BLT to a new campsite.
Rainy weather is on the way.
I decide to stay at Painted Rock for two more nights. It’s very pleasant here. We’ll leave on New Year’s Day.
I put out the mat, drive in the stakes at its corners, set out my lounger and place Bridget’s bed on the mat.
I’m sitting in the lounger, relaxing and soaking up the warmth of the sun when Ken pulls his camper out of his campsite. Oh, they’re leaving!
I jump up and give them a hearty, happy wave goodbye.
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
And congratulations to those readers who guessed the cause of the shifting problem!
Someone else is soaking up sunshine, too!
Hmmm wonder where my comment went?
Congratulations on being first, Sherry! And you wrote a comment before posting… Well done!
Well actually I posted a comment and it disappeared and then I posted the where did it go post. Very strange and even more strange that I was first. I wasn’t even trying.
Sorry we missed you, just left Myakka River SP up the road after 3 months of volunteering there. Currently in Crystal River for 3 month, then back to Mykka River SP.
Geri n Chuck
A BIG sigh of relief!!
Yes, I was so elated to have the shifter working again that I scrapped my plans to move camp!
Well the first time I posted I said…….
Well done to you for a great story and to Ken for being there when the PTV fixed itself. Can’t ask more of a tow vehicle than that I’d say. Happy New Year to you both.
Happy New Year to you, too, Sherry.
Oh, Sue, you almost had me crying. Abandonment is no fun.
Glad you are safe at home and it’s warm…at least warmer than here in south central Montana. Good Travels and Happy New Year!
Hi, Diann,
I did have a momentary feeling of weirdness, watching Bill leave. Only a few minutes later, Ken appears!
Glad it was only a positional problem, next time you’ll know exactly what to do! I bet ole Bill completely forgot about his promise to stop by…give him the benefit of a doubt I reckon..
Happy New Year to you and Bridge.
Thanks, Sondra… Happy New Year to you!
Glad you got y0ur problem fixed. Happy New Year!
Same to you, Jill!
Happy New Year, RVSue and Bridget! What Your Blogorina Learned in 2014:
Are we there yet? There is no “there,” there’s only “here.”
Very true, Gayle! Here’s to a wonderful 2015 for you!
Not fair. You never said you were parked on an incline. That ALWAYS puts pressure on the driveline, from engine to rear-end. File that for future reference. Glad all is well. I never thought it was a “fluid” problem.
Hi, Ed,
Well, if you look at the photo in the previous post, you can see the different angles of the roof lines, and I did say, “I’m not happy with the site — the PTV is on a slope.” 🙂
Hey Sue, gas is $1.87 in Phoenix.
What? And I filled up the tank right before the drop…. sheesh… I wonder if it was $2.39 in Globe and not $3.39…. Now where did I put that receipt….
LATER… Oh my gosh, I’m nuts. I paid $2.19 a gallon in Globe! Whew, I feel better already. I was sure the sign said $3.39. 🙂
Glad to hear you didn’t get ripped off.
Obviously, it wouldn’t be hard for someone to rip me off…:)
I suspect that it was 3.39 for diesel.
It’s $2.59 “best price” here in the High Desert of So-Cal. And we’re generally better than down the hill into L.A.
Tells you all you need to know about California.
So thankful it was a (relatively) minor problem and that you had someone offer to help figure it out.
Happy New Year, Sue and fellow blogorinos! I look forward to continuing my ride with you in 2015 and maybe even getting out on the road myself. Finances are not going to allow me to buy a trailer or RV in the immediate future, but I’m at least going to get out and do some traveling, in my car vs. a trailer. You know what? That’s okay – I’m retired 🙂
Happy New Year to you, too, Cari!
I like your spirit. And your car camping may help you make the best decision regarding a rig when the time comes for you to go shopping for it.
Sue,
Glad your ‘vehicle stress’ is over….glad Ken was helpful….and glad I’m not cooking tonight, going to a Italian Rest. to pick up supper for hubby and me. Happy New Year Everyone!
Kay from KC
Hi, Kay,
I’m glad, too, you’re having a break from cooking. (That’s why I suggest husbands learn how to cook! It’s too much to expect the wife to provide meals all the time!)
Enjoy the Italian food and Happy New Year!
That was a big cliff hanger …. I was waiting for your email 🙂
I could not believe that guy said he would help you and then took off. What?!?!
Glad to hear Ken was able to help, those angels are there watching over you.
Hope you have a great 2015! Thanks again for your stories and travels, it brings me so much joy.
Tinabeane
Northern, CA
I bet he got 50 miles down the road and said to his wife ” Dang, I forgot to help that sweet Lady in the PTV / BLT”.
Hi, Mick,
You see the best in people. I admit my first thought was not that he forgot. 🙁
Heh…well, maybe GOD provided the man with the best helpful knowledge!!! At least you are ok now!! But I would have felt kind of scared seeing him hightailing it out of there too!!
Hi, Tina,
“Thanks again for your stories and travels, it brings me so much joy”…. That makes a lovely New Year’s card for me! 🙂
Love the pic of Bridget in her bed.Your camp is lovely,sweet for New Years Eve.Glad seeing the fox wasn’t the only pleasant surprise you’ve had there.As to the less pleasant one,how puzzling!I have two guesses (and you know you probably don’t know if either is correct).
First is that something unexpected and urgent came up for Bill, so he left in too much of a hurry to explain or help.Second is that,like me ,he may be a really early riser.Did he say specifically “in the morning” or first thing in the morning” ? I ask because if I said the latter by 8:30 no call or showing up in my driveway,to me,might mean someone had changed their mind and didn’t need my help.Altogether odd,in any case!
That makes Ken’s helpfulness seem all the nicer …I enjoyed reading his story a lot,two happy endings in one post -bonus,thanks! 🙂
Hi, weather,
When I talked with Bill he said to “Come get me in the morning.” As I walked back to our campsite I wished we’d arranged something more specific or that he would come over at his convenience, rather than me having to go over there and not knowing when is a good time.
Oh well, it all worked out fine, and it was a pleasure to meet Ken.
In case you ‘re off line this holiday,I stopped back to say I hope it blesses you both richly,sweet dreams friend,you’ve truly enhanced mine,n’nite
Phew, all’s well that ends well! Celebrating with a couple of new mysteries and a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. Life is so good! My best to you and Bridget and all the Blogorinos.
Hi, Susan,
A few minutes ago I had a late lunch of homemade vegetable soup. One of those … clean out the fridge of vegetables type of soups. Came out great!
A new book and a bowl of homemade soup… Yes, I agree. Life is good!
Those are the best kind of soups! My husband calls them *Garbage Soup* because whatever goes into them will be saved from going into the garbage. We love them and I love having HIM make them 😉
🙂
The clue was when you made the comment,” I’m not happy the PTV is on a slope”
I could picture you jumping out of the PTV to set the blocks and the PTV rolling ever so slightly backwards until the transmission held it! All because the “normal routine” had been changed in an attempt to move.
With the sand or dirt ground you wouldn’t have been able to rock the vehicle forward or backward….safely.
Thank you Ken for taking the time to see if our Desert Woman had rectified the problem and helping her out!
I’m amazed that Bill drove away without so much as a peep! Maybe something came up and he had to leave with a quickness! In any event, it only takes a second to stop and check in.
Now you know what to do in case it happens again! But it won’t happen because you’ll apply the parking brake.
I would get some tranny and brake fluid to keep those extra fuses company! Perhaps not for you…but someone else who may need it in a pinch!
I am so glad it wasn’t anything major! Stay warm! Happy New Year to you, Bridge and the Blogorinos! Wishing everyone a healthy happy and prosperous year ahead!
PS I need to see if my vehicle has that secret tab Alan was talking about!
Hi, Cinandjules,
I tried to hide that clue about the PTV being on a slope. And yes, I WILL apply the parking brake!
Bill didn’t seem to happy with the idea of having to help me. I don’t blame him for taking off, whether he had a “good” reason or not.
Happy, safe, and healthy 2015 for you, Jules, Annie, and the felines!
Hide the fact? You did better hiding the ouch on the rear door that happened in Utah! Silly woman!
I guess I’m a bit protective …if you’re not interested in helping then don’t offer to check it out in the morning or boast about your mechanic skills!
Guess I was brought up differently…if you say you’re going to do something…you do it!
Water under the bridge….it all worked out!
Check your manual in the trouble shooting section. But it looks like a cover for a hole that would maybe be for an optional feature. On my Honda Element it is right next to the gear shift. I had always seen it but didn’t know what it was until the fuse for my brake lights blew.
I’m not sure if this would apply to a Chevy, but on my Ford-based RV I engage the parking/emergency brake first (while in neutral) before putting the transmission in “Park”. This is only necessary when on an incline.
That’s what Cinandjules and I think a few others suggest I do from now on. I’m going to try very hard to remember to do that.
Glad things worked out!
Do you think your buddy meant Queen Creek, AZ? That’s over by Apache Junction and the Superstitions.
Have fun and Happy New Year!
I was wondering if I mixed up the towns. There’s Queen Creek and also Queen River (a small town over by Florence Junction, also near the Superstition Mountains). I bet the two towns are mixed up often.
YAY, Ken got you out of a JAM, no pun intended, usually , a rockin will fix a stuck tranny, but nothing to worry about now, Sue, guess that Bill forgot, maybe he’ll remember. Oh well, Have a great day you two and stay warm , See ya next YEAR, ,,,,,me
No way I could rock the PTV on my own…. It’s good to know that will solve “a stuck tranny.” You have a great day, too!
Sue, you rocked the PTV just enough when you unhitched the trailer and dropped the PTV, thus relieving the pressure on your tranny, now you know what to do next time. not being mean in telling you. have a warm n’ safe night, see ya next year. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
That’s right. It rocked up and down as soon as the coupler came off the hitch ball.
Dear Sue….that was fun (the cliff-hanger part)…..so glad you are mobile again, tucked in with a full belly and ready to bring in the new year…..I have to admit, when you said Bill just drove by, my heart dropped for you…AND THEN….Ken appears…life is good again…faith in humanity restored….Enjoy your time there..and when you are ready, we are ready to move on…closer to warmer weather…although I would not know where that might be at the time….coming home from work, my phone came on by itself with an alarm sound…FROST WARNING FOR YOUR AREA…Hell, I live at the beach in So. Cal! But a look around at the mountains in the basin tells me why..ALL of them…ALL have snow so far down you cannot see where it stops…probably in somebody’s back yard…I hope the Rose Parade people dress warm…I will be keeping my pom-poms inside tomorrow…lol…Love to you and Bridget.
Hi, Shirlene,
A frost warning message on your phone… That’s something you don’t expect in Southern California! I bet the mountains are pretty covered in snow.
My heart dropped, too, when Bill drove away. Maybe this is a lesson to us all that what seems like a setback can actually be an opportunity. I’m glad I met Ken and most likely I wouldn’t have if Bill had come by!
Love to you, too… Stay warm!
Yay! Another dragon slayed! 🙂
Happy New Year Sue and Bridget!
Hugs from Hoquiam!
Barb
Happy New Year and Hugs from Painted Rock for you, Barb!
Nice digs, especially your second site. I assume you’re getting some of the rain we’re enjoying. And now you have yet another trick to file away for next time.
Hi, John,
We haven’t received hardly any rain here… yet. Wow! I see you got over 250 hits from my mention of your visit to our camp…
I’m putting the limes and lemons in my drinks and ate the last orange today.
Happy New Year!
Alls well that ends well! I am glad it was nothing serious! Dec. has been an awful month for us! 11 good months though, so it balances out! First of Dec we has to move to a new site in Myakka. The room would not come in! Took several guys and several jacks to slide the room in. We are still living with half the normal space in the RV! Then, Dec 3, I went roller skating on a lint roller that fell out of the closet and hurt my back. That went into sciatica and a torn ligament. Sigh! Been sleeping in the recliner because I can’t lie flat. But I can walk better and the pains of the pinched sciatica nerve are almost gone! Doing much better. Then last week, the pedal broke on our toilet!!!! 2015 can’t get here soon enough!
Hoping you and all the blogerino’s have a wonderful and happy new year! I love you all, reading the comments is as entertaining as reading Sue’s posts!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Golly, Geri, I had no idea what you’ve been going through! I knew about the slide giving you trouble. So sorry to hear about your back! Sciatica isn’t enough — You have a torn ligament, too. And the final indignity… a broken toilet pedal.
You’re right… It’s time for a new year. I hope yours is happy, healthy, pain-free and with a slide and toilet in fine working order!
Thank you! Today is our anniversary! Chuck and I have been married five happy years!
Congrats on five happy years!! No small accomplishment staying happy that long!! Heh… So sorry to hear you got hurt…seems harder for me as I have aged to stay on my feet than it ever was as a child. I for one, am so glad that 2014 is gone…not a fun year for us either. So hope this new one will bring good things to us all!!
Not to brag but I did see you said it was on a slope which was why I said to set the wheel chocks before you disconnected the trailer, so it wouldn’t roll away. Glad the problem is resolved with no cost to you other than a PITA.
Find the Fox hole and then find a hide away close buy to setup a chair and wait for her to make an appearance then take as many snaps a possible, it is a rare opportunity to get a fox so near it’s home. You just might find some younguns are still there and that would be oh so sweet?
Best wishes and a Happy New Year.
It would be fun to set up a post next to the fox hole and wait for photo opportunities…. if it weren’t so dang cold outside! Probably the fox would stay curled up in his/her home to stay warm … Whenever I TRY for a certain photo, it doesn’t happen.
I am pretty lucky seeing wildlife… I mean, how many folks have had a bear at their window, a herd of elk in their front yard, and a snake under their hat? 🙂
Happy New Year, Alan!
That was an educational story. I learned something new about parking while towing. IF I’m ever in a similar situation (knocking on wood), I will unhitch. I love your cliff-hangers. Ms. Bridget looks comfy in her new bed. Happy New Year!
Hi, Monica,
I know it’s easy for me to say now… However, if no one had told me what to do, I probably would have unhitched and solved the problem myself. I’ve found that when faced with a problem for which I know no solution, sometimes simply trying to change the circumstances of the problem, I’ll inadvertently fix it.
Bridget has accepted both of her new beds! On the way out of our camp at Roosevelt Lake, I stopped at the dumpster and pulled out her old, favorite, ripped-up bed from the back of the PTV and snuck over to the dumpster and threw it away.
Happy New Year to you, too!
I’m telling Bridge! 😉
You wouldn’t do that!
Actually I don’t have to!
She watches your every move! She was laughing at you as you thought you were being coy!
just saw this on the weather channel
http://www.weather.com/series/great-outdoors/video/the-camper-you-wish-you-owned
Wow! That’s quite an RV! Although nothing can steal my heart away from the Best Little Trailer….
I’m the first to admit that I have zero technical understanding, so I’m ok with admitting that I still don’t get what the problem was.
I get that you were parked on an incline and when you unhitched, the PTV was drivable again. But at some point you still had to back into the same spot, park and re-hitch. Why didn’t you have the same problem when you parked to re-hitch?
What am I missing here?
Unhitching these BLT took the pressure off the transmission..making it possible to shift from P to Drive. Once it “unlocks” you are free to move about the desert!
And when I put the PTV in park again, I followed the advice given here and put the emergency brake on before doing so, thus avoiding the transmission holding the PTV in place (no pressure).
So just using the emergency brake was the answer. Would never have occurred to me … not in a million years. Thx!
We had a few snow flurries this morning in LasVegas …. that cold front has been brutal. It will be gone soon though; temps will increase by 25 degrees over the few days.
Happy new year and every good wish for 2015!
Glad it was something simple to fix your problem. Wish you and Bridget a Happy New Year.
Hi, Jim and Vickie… I wish the same for you. Nice of you to stop by…
Happy New Year’s Eve to everyone!
It is 7:00pm here and I am more than ready for a relaxing evening of watching 2015 arrive. Hot Mint-Chocolate Coco (Walmart) with whipped Marshmellow Topping (Walmart) is at the ready. Hubby has his beloved Spinach Dip for his Potatoe Chips ( you guessed right, Walmart again) while sitting in his favorite place waiting for a dinner of Spiced Meatloaf, fresh cooked Green Peppers and Jasmine Rice. I love New Year’s Eve…all that glorious FOOD! Tomorrow is left-overs, no cooking. Yes!
Have a safe, happy and resourceful 2015!
Gosh, Pamela, your house sounds inviting! I could go for some of those goodies right now… I haven’t had Spinach Dip in ages. *sigh*
You are one of the blessings I’ve received in 2014. I hope you and your husband have a great year!
Sue,
That was one of the sweetest compliments to my ears. I sure have come to treasure all your writings and all the folks who visit here! After midnight I spent the wee hours of the morning (new year’s day) reading many of your past posts. It was a wonderful way to spend the first few hours of 2015. May the new year be a blessing to you and Bridge. A time to start anew again. Luv you both.
I am so glad Ken could help you out Sue. Wow…And it looks like a good campground also. I am hearing on the news about very cold weather out there…Hoping you guys stay warm enough.
Happy New year Sue and Bridge!!! May you have lots of great adventures in 2015.
Take Care.
Hi, Diane,
Thanks for the wish. I think today is the first day since we hit the road that I’ve had the heater on all day long. It wasn’t very cold in mid-afternoon. Going by the weather forecast I figured I’d better make sure the interior of the BLT received plenty of heat for a length of time sufficient to keep us warm through the night and into the early morning hours when it may drop below freezing.
I just let Bridget out for the last potty run of the day (6:25 p.m.) and notice it is very cold out there! Warm in here though. 🙂 You stay warm, too… and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all!
Thank you, judithcamper…. The same to you!
Happy New Year Aunt Susan!!!! I love you!
I love you, too, Tawnya! Happy New Year to you and Brian!
Happy New Year Sue and everyone!!
Thanks, Toni…. Here’s to a fantastic new year for you!
glad your tranny problem got resolved…and it didn’t cost anything but a little time and patience…so glad Ken was willing to jump in and help, and that he knew what to do…country folk are the best…
we ended up going to OAK FLAT instead of ORGAN PIPE CACTUS N.M. shortly after you left and…came down off the mountain yesterday because of the threat of really cold wet/snowy weather…may be at the petroglyphs in about 3 days…working our way to YUMA this year…Blessings to you and Bridge and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year…
Hi, Bonnie and Charlie,
Ooh, I bet it was cold at Oak Flat. That’s higher elevation than Organ Pipe and even Roosevelt Lake. You were wise to leave when you heard of the storm coming.
You should find Yuma to be warm for a winter camp. The cold temperatures it’s experiencing now are unusual. We camped there for several weeks last year and it was comfortable while the rest of the nation (well, most of it) was in miserable weather.
Thanks for the new year wish. I hope the same for you, too. Safe travels!
Much happiness and interesting roads to travel in 2015!!!
An. Old friend…Les…says “Happy New Year!”(currently in Sierra Vista,AZ.)
Take care of Mom ..Bridge…we luv ya’s!!!
You’re kidding me! Just this afternoon I was thinking of Les, wondering if he’s at Sidewinder Road west of Yuma, where I met him! Wow! Say Happy New Year to him for me….
And of course, a big wish for a wonderful 2015 for you, Betty -Shea!
Happy New year Sue and Bridget!
Hope you stay warm enough, it is supposed to be real cold out West through New Years Day, at least. It was -30 with the wind chill in Denver this morning. It is even supposed to be in the mid 40’s for the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. BRRRR!
I have been following along the last few months, but I have been having snowball bad luck like Geri H-M. Was “Bah-Humbug” for the holidays. Getting back to my old self now. Have had my bad luck in three’s now, so I am Done!!!
Have a Happy and Blessed New Year. Stay Safe.
Hi, Barbara,
Thanks for following my blog. I’m sorry to hear that you, too, like Geri and Chuck, have had a string of troubles. It seems that problems do come in bunches. I’ve been waiting, ever since I crunched the PTV’s door, for the “other shoe to drop.” We were very fortunate the first three years on the road to travel extensively and to wondrous, beautiful places with no problems. I admit we were due for some bumps in our road.
Life seems to go into valleys for a while. It’s time for you to climb to high places and ride the ridge over difficulties. I send you best wishes for 2015. May it be a happy, healthy, safe, and enjoyable twelve months for you and yours!
Barbara, nothing but good luck from now on! Happy New Year!
Geri,
Sorry I had you last name in reverse order. I am a little dyslexic and have to make corrections quite often. Thanks for the goo wishes for the New Year. My best to you as well.
Sue,
Thank you also for the good wishes. This year can only go up.
Happy New Year, Sue and Bridget!
I’m very happy your transmission problem is fixed.
It’s been a wonderful ride with you this year! You
have taken us to beautiful places with your words and
pictures! Thanks for letting me hitch a ride along the way!
I wish you much peace and prosperity for this new year!
Stay safe and warm.
Happy travels
Chaunte, Shea and the 2 chihuahuas
Hi, Chaunte, Shea and the chihuahuas,
Best wishes for your new year, too! Thank you for riding with us this past year. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip. 🙂
Well, all’s well that ends well…well, most of the time anyway. Glad you are all ok again and with some new hints for what to do in such situations!! I grew up with nothing but car talk (no wonder I tuned most of it out….grew rather old having to listen to that at every meal at home)….but one can always learn some new things. I wish you blessings for another wonderful year Sue!! And having more great help when you need it!!
Hi, Sue,
So glad that there was an easy fix for your problem, and that Ken stopped by to check on you before leaving the campground. What a good soul and blessing!
Wishing you and Bridget and all of the blogerinos a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous 2015! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It was almost a year ago that I stumbled upon your blog when researching Casita travel trailers…and for that I am very thankful!
2015 will be a good, happy year! There is a little “smile” in the tail of the 5…see it?! Sending warm wishes to you and Bridget. Stay warm! Hugs from me and Gracie pup! 🙂
Hi sue,
Ok. I feel really stupid. And I have read twice. But I still don’t understand what was wrong with it. Was it the way it was parked?
Mechanic. I am not. My dad says all I know is out it in drive and go. Lol.
What else is there?!?! 😉
Ok I read comments and I understand now. Sometimes I worry about my self lol.
The sneak off man if anything like me, was 30 miles away and thinks ” oh crap, I forgot sue” my memory after all these brain surgeries has a lot to be desired.
The new place is gorgeous! And so are the pictures.
Is it warmer where you are now? Freezing here. And by watching the weather channel as I do daily, looks like everyone is cold. I feel like a frozen tomatoe myself. Thank goodness for my electric blanket and Asia.
I brought dad home today, unfortunately the pain meds are upsetting his stomach. But he is in pain without them. Last dose tonight I broke in half. Maybe he can tolerate that a little better.
Mom sounded better today, not as congested. They are giving her breathing treatments. And I assume they have steroids in them, as she was wound up today…. Talked more than I have heard her talk in a year. Was a wonderful welcome. Although I hate that she doesn’t feel well.
Happy new year to you and all blogorinos may 2015 be the best year for all.
Peace love health and happiness to all
Mert and Asia
Glad for a teeny bit of improvement for you and yours, Mert!! WOW, we are all ready for a good year for a change aren’t we?? But yours has been far worse than mine and I am sorry to hear it!! Yea, even though a more temperate area, tis quite cold now. But not in snow, so no complaints…I really like to be a hermit anyway…so just fine with me to stay all ensconced today!!
So relieved all is ok with the shifter!!!!
WHEW!!! That would have been a terrible way to start the New Year!
Wishing you & Bridget & all my blogorino colleagues a Happy HEALTHY 2015!!!
Happy New Year, Sue, Bridget and all the other blogorinos! Hope it is a very special year for all!
Sue, now that you mention what happened, it makes sense to me. I remember times when I’ve been on an incline and it was really difficult to get the transmission out of park. I never would’ve thought about it without your mentioning it though. So glad it all worked out!
Happy New Year, Sue and Bridget, full of health and fantastic boondocks!
Cheers,
Ilse
Well, I wrote a whole long piece on the previous post before I realized this one was here.dont have the energy to do it again so I’ll just say happy new year and deepest gratitude to everyone here for all the caring and friendship through the year. Love to all.
Surely wishing a better year for you too, Ginger!! And how happy I am now that December and also 2014 are past!! I am so ready with hopes for a better year!!
Good morning, DesertGinger – Happy New Year!
2015 will be positively boring (in a good way) and tame compared to your 2014 – whew!
Hope you and Chloe have a good first day of this new year…full of endless possibilities and positivity! Our Wisconsin blogorino family member is Rick (BadgerRick).
Saw your comment on the previous post Ginger and,again,started picturing dancing in cowboy boots …wondered why that one thing has come to mind all this time.I realized that I equate that soon to come true dream with freedom-
My favorite horse ever would stand waiting on a hilltop until I’d lean forward and say”Now,Angel,just run…”. She knew I wouldn’t rein her in or direct her,she’d race off cutting her own path through the fields as I hung on thrilled by the sheer wildness of it all.
That’s all I’ve ever said to you really, what I’ve seen you do-just run to it,Ginger-you can…Happy New Year-thanks for not giving up on and sharing the ride
In a lot of ways that’s what all of us here do together and for each other each day on the calendar,what a gift-happy journey friends
Someone else had the same thing with their towing vehicle getting stuck in gear from the same thing IIRC.
IIRC?
If I Remember Correctly
Interesting you met a man from Abingdon Va because Dec 10, 1910, my sweet father was born in Abingdon Va. I miss him. He’s been gone 26 years now.
Glad a Abingdon former resident could help figure out the PTV problem.
Velda, we lived for 5 glorious months in Providence Forge, VA…not sure where Abington is, but we loved that state. Their motto is that Virginia is for Lovers…maybe so….we found it wonderful!! I do understand missing someone or someones!! I find I miss my darling mom and her awesome parents even more than ever (they left me in 1988, 1991, and 2001). In many ways, though with other kin around yet, I became an orphan then. I feel so privileged to have had them however…not all people have any good kin for that matter!! Enjoy the memories…
Happy New Year Sue, I hope all your problems this year have pleasant resolutions. Best wishes and safe travels.
Thanks, Gary. Happy New Year!
Loved the final photo of HRH Bridget curled up in her dog bed…..She has the right idea….Curl up with a good book and Bridget, stay warm and cozy and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, too! Bridget fits nicely in her new bed. 🙂
I can see Bill down the road a few hours when suddenly he says “Oh no!! I forgot about that beautiful woman and her van. She must think I’m a horrible person!” Poor Bill 🙁 Instead, Ken gets to soak up all that good karma and enjoy hero status in blogorino-world. Yay Ken 🙂 And you of course got to relax and enjoy a couple worry-free days at that lovely site.
Ken is The Hero of the Day!
Happy New Year Sue and Bridget!
Thanks, Piper! I wish you the same!
Happy new year, Sue and Bridget.
In answer to your question, I’ve only posted a couple of times, so Idon’t know if I’m the Donna you’re thinking of.
I just retired, the official date is the 9th of January but i’ve been on vacation since the 20th of December. I purchased my class c last December and took a few short trips last spring and summer. I’m not going to fulltime just some extended trips and the summer away from the heat. I have two dogs, they are my babies. None of us are spring chickens, the kids being 11 and 12, but we’re all in good health and looking foreword to our new chapter.
Well, this got wordy. Once again happy new year and stah warm.
Sounds like you have a great plan, Donna. I wish you many safe and fun excursions with your two dogs in your Class C!