After my trip to the VA clinic to get my refills started I hung out another week in Portland. Then they tell me they’ll have to mail the meds and it’ll take 3-4 weeks to get them. No way to get them right now. So I give them my brothers address in California.
The rain and cold were relentless but it was better then -40°F like up in Fairbanks. My front window started leaking again so I had to go out in a downpour and run packing tape along the top. Don’t know what I’ll do about a permanent fix, but I think the main problem is that the closed cell foam seal is so old and compressed that it’s developed gaps and of course my 1st line of defense, a silicon seal along the top and sides, doesn’t seem to work very well. I smoothed it out too so I don’t know what happened there.
I was invited to the Nelson’s for TDay, which I gladly accepted. Turned out my last paid day at the RV park was Nov. 24th and I’d planned on leaving that day to head to California but the invitation was to good to pass up. So, parked my RV over at Walmart and TJ picked me up.
Jackie, Jeff, and Maddie sit for a family picture.
They have a pool table out in the sun room so that was fun. But the best part was enjoying the great food. Delicious!
The food and the company were excellent. Visited with the whole Nelson tribe including the parents and the BFs.
That evening I returned to my RV and spent a fairly comfortable night dry camping in Walmarts parking lot. Without heat. But I had two comforters so it wasn’t to bad.
Next morning I headed south and stopped at Fry’s Electronics in Wilsonville expecting to see some computer gear on sale like usual. Apparently, they don’t know what a sale is on TDay weekend and there weren’t any bargains. Actually had tags with higher prices pasted over lower ones. I didn’t need anything in particular, I was just trying to find something I might need. I was there pretty early in the day but the placed was packed. After wandering around for an hour, I spotted some stuff I might want but a glance over to the check out showed what looked like over 100 people in line. So, I took off.
Headin' down I-5 to Cali...
Got far enough south to see an old vulcano.
Oooo, Mt. Shasta.
The weather was overcast but I felt good being on the road so I pressed on and made it all the way to Redding, California that first day. Stayed at the Mountain Gate RV. I arrived after sundown, around 8pm, but I know the route pretty well and the park is right off of I-5 so no big problem. And the computer with my GPS was a big help as far as routing.
Heading through Redding, CA. Weather was a little dicey.
Next day I wasn’t as excited about traveling, and there was a football game I wanted to see, so I didn’t travel very far. Ended up in Patterson, CA at the Kit Fox RV Park. Paid for two nights because there was also a game I want to watch later the next day. Turned out when I checked the local cable schedule, the game wasn’t shown there! So, figuring I might as well head on to my brothers house, I asked for a refund for the 2nd day. The park was nearly empty in the transient RV section but they insisted that I’d ‘reserved’ the space so they had to charge me for canceling a reservation. Took half my money. Damn corporate RV parks. Won’t stay there again. I’ve worked as a RV park host and as a manager at several RV parks and I’ve never done that to RV’ers. The only time that should happen is if I’d bumped someone else that moved on.
Anyway, I wasn’t very far from Dan’s house so I headed off to Rosamond, CA. Got there right around 5pm and parked down the hill like I always have to do and wandered up to his house. Entered the passcode into the garage door opener and walked up to the door into the house. It’s locked! Damned brother forgot to leave it unlocked for me. All the other doors and windows to the house were locked too.
Well, I wasn’t about to boondock for the night so I called him and asked where a good RV park might be. By now it’s 6pm and getting to be dusk. He suggest the park next to the fairgrounds and when I get down there, I find it’s pretty nice. Inexpensive too. Nice flat paved pads. Large sites. Great bathrooms. Excellent services. Good water. Area is a little bleak (it’s a desert), but I can handle that.
All snuggled in, in Lancaster, CA.
Spent two nights there as my brother wouldn’t get back into town until the 29th. It’s November but the weather is really nice during the day. Gets a little cool at night, light coat cool, but it’s more comfortable then Portland. Doesn’t have the moisture, since it’s desert and all.
Bro totally engrossed with his 300 emails per day.
So, I’m finally in Rosamond. Around a month away from heading on down to Mexico. While I was here, I discovered some financial stuff I needed to do and that kept adding time to my visit. I stayed at Dan’s until Jan. 16th, 2012.
Go to an Ace Hardware and get a squeeze tube of Lexel, and see if that doesn’t improve your windshield situation until you can get a more permanent reinstall. Lexel has earned rave reviews, from the “fix it” guys in our Beaver Ambassador Club, as a superior alternative to silicone sealants. I bought some and tried it and it seems easier to use than silicone or anything else, and can be used in less-than-ideal conditions; works and smooths easily, sets up quicker, sticks well, etc. I like it a lot. It may be available elsewhere, but I found it at the Ace in Oak Grove, so I expect other Ace’s to have it.
Thanks for that info hafcanadian. I’ll give it a try. They must carry that at Home Depot.