Eureka! We're Here For Awhile

When last I wrote we were spending the night in a logging camp about 35 miles north of Eureka, California.  We slept great and were ready for the mobile tech to come and get us going again.

The mobile tech arrived and was able to get the bearing off, but when he did he found the spindle on the axle was bent.  He would not be able to repair it there, we were going to have to find a dealership

We called a little rv dealership in Eureka who said they would repair axles and had to begin our journey back on three wheels.  I thought the ride into the logging camp was harrowing,  following a three wheeled fifth wheel for 35 miles was more so.  The tech followed us too as he was also worried about the one tire carrying the right side load.  We slowly crept back to Eureka, all of us with our blinking lights on.  Thank goodness it was a four lane highway giving people plenty of room to pass us.

We were relieved when we made it!  We pulled into the dealership and they examined the axle getting the part numbers.  They called Lippert who then told them they don't make those parts anymore and would have to call them back with compatible parts.  Lippert never called back.

We were able to pull into the parking lot and plug into 15 amp power so we can at least run one appliance at a time.  We have our hot water heater and refrigerator on propane.  Last night we were able to watch tv and we can recharge our ipads, cell phones, and laptops, so we can get by for now.  We're not sure how long we will be here.  Lippert never called the rv dealership back (we are talking a very small dealership).  Jim called Lippert this morning and they asked Jim to send them a picture of the axles.  He then called back and found out the lady he was talking to left work to take care of a sick child.  He called back after 11 and started over again with another technician.  We're also dealing with the time zone difference, they are in the Eastern and we are in the Pacific, so if we don't start talking to them early, by 2 o'clock our time, they are gone.  It would probably be easier if we were nearer a more metropolitan area, but we are about 300 miles from any large population area.

So here we sit waiting.  It is extremely hard not being in control and not having really anyone to call for help. We just have to hope someone from Lippert will take the time to get back with us.

There are so many wonderful things about this lifestyle and we're going to make the best of it.

Now the good stuff, we are safe, we have a place to park, we have cell phone and internet access.  We are in a town with a Costco and have a movie theater next door that we can walk to.  There are lots of things to see here, we're not far from the redwoods and we are right on the coast.  There could definitely be worse places to be stranded.

One thing you can always be sure of, it always an adventure.