The Big Trip

Well, its 9:41 pm on Day Two of the trip West.  I'm typing on the laptop hooked to the internet through our new phone - a droid.  Its amazing how technology is changing.  We actually skyped with Santo and MaryEllen as we were driving - too crazy.

Anyway, yesterday was Day One (obviously).  Since we first purchased our 5th wheel last year, we have been "working the bugs out."  And we have had our share of bugs - including ants.  Anyway, yesterday was enough to want to call in an exterminator.

We left the house around 11.  That in itself was an accomplishment since we didn't really know when we would be leaving.  But that's another story. 

Maria Ann was born - and she is beautiful! 
Tom did't hear about a bid.
The G's went home - just kidding.

Biggie went to G'ma and G'pa's.

Everything checked off the list and we headed out.  First stop, Jen and Joes to fill up water tank.  Don't like to use our water - can be "fishy" - something wasn't tightened or tightened too much - I don't know - but after several rounds of "TURN IT OFF, ok, TURN IT ON, TURN IT OFF, TURN IT ON" - we left and made it as far as the Schoharie Mobile where we (Tom) checked the trailer and noticed that the rear axle was HOT.  Wait for it to cool down, pull up on boards and check brakes and bearings.  Leave and stop at Cobleskill Walmart - still HOT.  Leave and head for Cobleskill Park and Ride, HOT.  Stop at first exit - HOT.  Stop at next exit - HOT.  Stop at first rest area - HOT.  Pull off on side of road (at this point we are only an hour and a half from home and its already 4:00) and back up on boards - pull off wheel, mess around with brakes ... grease bearings ... back on road ... check at next exit ... better but still not right.  Stop at first rest area into Pennsylvania and its HOT HOT HOT.   Pull off the wheel again, this time the brakes come off ... more grease ... we're on the road again.  There are brakes on the other three wheels.

Drive for hours and hours and finally pull into a rest area and sleep with the trucks at 1:30 am.  Wake to a beautiful sunrise and trucks.  More grease and we're OTR again.  The redbud trees are beautiful - they grow all over the roadsides.

Stop for gas/lunch. 8 mpg WOW and ham sanwiches - courtesy of Faith - the ham is delicious.

Drive, drive, drive - pull into an Arby's parking overlooking a McDonald's parking lot for dinner.  But we have Santo's meatballs and sauce - no double cheeseburger for me!  Those poor people waiting in line at the drive through ... they must have been confused by the aroma.

We're thinking of making the first official "Stop" of the trip in Hot Springs Arkansas.  Tom Tom says we'll get there at 2:53 am - unless we pull over somewhere and sleep.  But we'll have fun exploring tomorrow.