Week 671-672 - Unless you have a Tool box and Sense of Humor - 06-30-2019

Unless you have a Tool box and Sense of Humor!

In 2005 we started researching RVs. On a business trip to Los Angeles Pete visited an RV dealer to look at motorhomes. A young salesman, Jeremiah, told Pete, "Mr. Mattson, don't buy a motorhome unless you have a tool box and a sense of humor!". We believed him then and that is reinforced every week of travel. Motorhomes are not mass produced, there are no assembly robots and they are the most complicated vehicle you can buy. Its an auto, a home with moving walls, has two water systems, two electrical systems and two heating systems. It requires continual maintenance as driving down the road is like an earthquake shaking your house continually. You will need a tool box!

Five weeks ago we left Redding, California to head to Eugene, Oregon the "Western RV Capital of the USA". Prior to 2008, Monaco, Alpine and Country Coach motorhomes were built near Eugene. Today Monacos are built in Indiana and the other two are out of business. Remaining are hundreds of RV technicians with their own RV related business. This is why it is such a great place for maintenance.

Ready to head to Oregon, we decided visit Ellen's brother Larry and friend Mike, both whom are moving from California to Idaho. See the previous two travelogues for those stories. Our three week path took us from California to Nevada to Idaho and then to Northwest Oregon. Our story picks up there.

Heading west along the Columbia River with a view of Oregon's Mount Hood. We love the Columbia, a 1,243 mile river that travels North, South, East and West ending in the Pacific Ocean. Columbia River Photo Collection

The Columbia is a huge and peaceful river which parallels Hwy 84 on the northern Oregon border.

One of the many lovely stops on Hwy 84.

Welcome to Portland!

On the way to Eugene we stayed at the Milwaukee-Portland Elks lodge.

Our only planned RV maintenance was Armstrong RV in Springfield, just south of Eugene. We needed some diesel engine service and Gerald, from Armstrong, recommended Midlane Diesel and Trailer. The MotherShip has had a whistling noise for months. Jeff from Armstrong told us our exhaust manifold had a crack. The all day job replaced the manifold and gaskets and now Jeff is whistling all the way to the bank!

Waiting a day, we stayed at Deerwood RV Park in Springfield at what is probably the most beautiful site we have every stayed at (out of 442 locations).

At Armstrong we had few items checked. Having stayed at 600 locations (442 RV parks, 158+ other locations), our four slides have gone in and out 600 times! Technician Steve reviews the slides, fixes a slide topper and adjusts the front door. We asked Steve to check a small water leak above the right front windshield. Steve told us we need to have the front glass gasket "reset", work he does not do. No problem, just a few miles away is RV Glass Solutions, the company that last installed our 6th front glass.

We waited for our glass appointment at the Springfield Elks lodge. We are in our 14th year of travel. Pete's sister Donnalee said "that looks like fun, I'll buy a motorhome too!". Donnalee joined us at the Elks and for the next 7 days.

From the Elks we moved to RV Glass. As customers, we got a 50 amp hookup site. But they allowed Donnalee to dry camp right near us.

The next day, RV Glass "reset" our front glass gasket and we and Donnalee stayed another night. We both dry camped just feet away from a gorgeous football sized lawn where we sat, ate, and Mandy enjoyed the grass playground. We enjoyed the fellowship and played some cards too!

Repairs are over, the tool box put away and the bank account emptied. It was time for some fun. First night a dry camping stay over at Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville Oregon. We all joined the "players club" and got free slot play. We used up the free play and walked away with $35 bucks. Nice, free stay and $35 dollars; no complaints. Note that we got great service from all three service companies and recommend them all.

Now on to a real RV park after five nights of free or low cost "asphalt stays". Heading south over the Siskiyou pass.

We landed at Blue Heron RV Park in Hornbrook, California. Another beautiful setting right on the Klamath River. The sites are concrete and very large. The Canada geese paraded along the river.

This is our "grass patio" extending all the way to the river. Gorgeous and a good place for "Pete repairs". Bring out the tool box and make a few fixes on both motorhomes.

Never waste a river. With Donnalee having a Jeep Commander in tow, Pete and Ellen floated five miles down the Klamath. Donnalee brought us back to camp.

Now Donnalee's turn. She and Ellen took a ride and Pete did laundry (really badly)!

Put the tool box away again and head south down Hwy 5. We followed Donnalee toward Mt. Shasta as she prepared to exit at Weed, California. Our next stop is YWAM in Chico, California.

YWAM, Youth with a Mission, is an International ministry to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will be at YWAM as part of a SOWERs project. We'll report back in three weeks on YWAM/SOWERs.

Until then, blessings to you all.
With love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy

Photos from June 2019