We got up this morning all eager and ready to embark on our summer trip. We packed everything up, slides in, jacks up, disconnect utilities and ready to go. Hang on, wait a minute......... The entrance steps won't retract. Bryan tried all the regular things that he has done when this has happened before, but nothing worked. We couldn't hear the motor even attempting to work, and so surmised that we might need a new motor. We decided to delay our exit one day, get a new motor and install it. Fortunately there was room for us for an extra night at the campground but they were full after that. Bryan went in search of a new motor, while I called the campground we were going to and cancelled for the night.
We reversed all the packing/disconnecting that we had done and got ready for another night at Jacksonville.
Bryan got a new motor and installed it, the steps still wouldn't retract!!! After some discussion we decided to return the motor and get our money back, strap the steps up so they wouldn't be sticking out. We would climb in and out of Lily with the aid of a stepladder while traveling, until we get the steps fixed. This should be fun, not!!!!!
Ryan & Christina invited us over for dinner. I think they felt sorry for us. So, the day ended better than it had started.
Thursday August 8th, 2019
We got up and packed up everything and headed out. As we left the campground one of the outside compartment doors opened, and a toolbox fell out in the middle of a traffic light junction on base. We stopped and I ran back to the junction, picked up the tools and tool box while Bryan fixed the door, ugh!!!!
We filled the gas(petrol) tank in Lily and also filled her propane tank and eventually we were on the road.
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| Bye Bye Florida, we will be back |
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| Hello Georgia |
We arrived at Lotts Island Army RV Park and got settled into our site. We took the car and explored around the base a little. As we were returning to the campground we saw two deer. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture but they were cute.
Friday August 9th, 2019
I took some pictures of our site from inside Lily.
I took some pictures of our site from inside Lily.
Ryan, Christina, Trystan, Peace & Lilo came to visit and we had a BBQ. We watched Trystan while R&C went to Bass Pro Shop and the mall, which is just across the road from the base. We had fun playing, making paper aeroplanes and just being silly!!!! We appreciated them coming to stay as it was a long drive, and our little home isn't the most comfortable for an overnight stay, but I think we have it worked out quite well. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures. Can you believe that??!!!!! Edit: I found a couple of pictures......
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| Ryan is buried in there!!!! |
Saturday August 10th, 2019
We got up and everyone packed up and, after saying our goodbyes, headed out. Ryan & family going South and we were going North.
We soon got to the South Carolina sign.
We got up and everyone packed up and, after saying our goodbyes, headed out. Ryan & family going South and we were going North.
We soon got to the South Carolina sign.
I saw this sign for Florence and it reminded me of my maternal grandmother whose name was Florence, she was such a sweetheart.
Heading toward Highway 1!!!!
We arrived at Barnyard RV Park in Lexington, SC. We had a drive through site, which meant that we could keep the car hooked up if we didn't need to use it. We will be here two nights.
We have been having problems with our batteries and now the propane wouldn't work. Eventually Bryan got the propane to work, but the batteries and inverter are not working or recharging.
At about 3am the propane alarm went off and woke Bryan up. I didn't hear it but woke up when he got up. When he investigated, he found one of the batteries was overheating and extremely hot. We both got up. We decided to disconnect the batteries and turn off the power to the motorhome from the post. We didn't want to risk anything catching fire or blowing up. We stayed up for a couple of hours, it was extremely hot and without any power there was no air conditioning or fans!!! Eventually the battery cooled off, we kept the batteries disconnected, but turned the main power at the post back on. Eventually we decided it was safe to go back to bed.
Sunday August 11th, 2019
We got up and discussed what to do regarding the batteries. We now have steps and an inverter that don't work, a satelitte dish that isn't picking up any channels, and dead batteries!!! What else!!!
Bryan eventually got on You Tube, and found videos on how to parallel wire batteries. He immediately saw what the problem was with our wiring. Now confident that he could fix it, we disconnected the car from the motorhome, went to Costco and bought two new 6v Golf batteries. They're not the best batteries but the price can't be beat, and while we are working on trial and error it's not so much to lose if something goes wrong!!!
It didn't take long to put the new batteries in and hey presto, they work. The inverter now works, which means we have electric power to the fridge and plugs if I want to cook in the crockpot while we're traveling.
Now we just have to fix the steps and satellite dish. The steps may work now that the batteries have been replaced, we will see when Bryan puts the motor back in. This will wait until we get to our next campground.
The satellite dish is another matter. I'm so tired of paying Direct Tv an extortionate amount of money when they will not come out and fix, or look at the satelitte dish or wiring, because we're in a motorhome!! We pay as much, if not more, than a residential home and yet they won't provide or service a dish for us. We have to pay for both independently.
I rebelled slightly and decided to try an online TV service using the internet. I signed us up for Sling TV, so we could try it and see if it works. It will be dependent on our internet service which could be a problem. We will give it a month and then make a decision on which to keep. The Sling service is $100/month cheaper than Direct TV, so quite a difference. Initial tests are quite good but the signal may not be strong enough for live sports which we both watch a lot of.
I took some pictures of the campground from the RV.
We got up and discussed what to do regarding the batteries. We now have steps and an inverter that don't work, a satelitte dish that isn't picking up any channels, and dead batteries!!! What else!!!
Bryan eventually got on You Tube, and found videos on how to parallel wire batteries. He immediately saw what the problem was with our wiring. Now confident that he could fix it, we disconnected the car from the motorhome, went to Costco and bought two new 6v Golf batteries. They're not the best batteries but the price can't be beat, and while we are working on trial and error it's not so much to lose if something goes wrong!!!
It didn't take long to put the new batteries in and hey presto, they work. The inverter now works, which means we have electric power to the fridge and plugs if I want to cook in the crockpot while we're traveling.
Now we just have to fix the steps and satellite dish. The steps may work now that the batteries have been replaced, we will see when Bryan puts the motor back in. This will wait until we get to our next campground.
The satellite dish is another matter. I'm so tired of paying Direct Tv an extortionate amount of money when they will not come out and fix, or look at the satelitte dish or wiring, because we're in a motorhome!! We pay as much, if not more, than a residential home and yet they won't provide or service a dish for us. We have to pay for both independently.
I rebelled slightly and decided to try an online TV service using the internet. I signed us up for Sling TV, so we could try it and see if it works. It will be dependent on our internet service which could be a problem. We will give it a month and then make a decision on which to keep. The Sling service is $100/month cheaper than Direct TV, so quite a difference. Initial tests are quite good but the signal may not be strong enough for live sports which we both watch a lot of.
I took some pictures of the campground from the RV.
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| Lilac??? |
Tomorrow we head to Charlotte, North Carolina. Keep your fingers crossed we don't have any further problems.
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