Day 1 - April 2, 2011 Destination: Monroe, WA We left the cabin more or less on time after Debbie took Kyle to the doctor to test his protime and to check his ear that he had just started complaining about. His left ear had become completely compacted with earwax. Unfortunately the PA on call didn’t do anything other than prescribe antibiotics.
Stevens Pass/Hwy 2 was closed due to mud and snow slides, so we had to route through Spokane and over I-90. The weather report forecasted snow. The trip started fine, although getting re-adjusted to towing a car took some time. It has a tendency to get blown around in winds, and when trucks pass us. We noticed this significantly as we crossed the Columbia at Vantage. The winds were strong and I got my exercise fighting the steering wheel. So then up toward the pass. Indeed there was snow. A blizzard. Toward the peak there was some snow on the road, but not bad… I just wasn’t sure what would happen if I had to stop quickly with all that extra weight behind us and icy roads. We didn’t unhook the car (probably should have), but everyone was going slow due to traffic and I didn’t mind that at all. Nonetheless, we made it over without incident and continues on toward our turnoff at North Bend. Somewhere enroute, we both heard a soft "clunk" but the RV was running fine and didn’t think much of it at the time. 7-1/2 hours later we arrived at Gary and Shelley Goodnight’s place in Monroe, quite road weary from a tough first drive. I stopped the RV but then when I tried to re-start it to move it, the battery seemed almost dead, but it started. I also notived the alternator gauge was straight up, neither charging not discharging, and the RV coach batteries were low (the get charged from the alternator while driving). Yes you guessed it, the clunk we heard was the alternator belt breaking. (Yes, Eric, good PREVENTIVE maintenance is always a better idea!) So, we decided to deal with it the next day, possibly including a several day delay while we took the RV to the Ford dealer. We enjoyed the evening with a couple margaritas and good friends.
Day 2 – April 3, 2011 Good friend (and master mechanic) Gary Goodnight convinced me that we could replace the belts ourselves. Unfortunately I had to cancel a breakfast engagement with good friends Eric Rosebrock and Shirley Henderson. I had the foresight to have a spare alternator belt, but we decided to replace the PS, AC belt at the same time, so I headed down to town to get that one. Gary had the cowling off and both belts removed by the time I got back. Donned in my white Tyvek coveralls, we installed the new belts and had the RV back running by 10 am. So the rest of the day was spend two-fold... Deb decided to take Kyle to an urgent care clinic as Kyle was complaining more about his ear. I picked up my brother Darryl and son Jason, and took off to Bellingham to get Jason's car. Poor Kyle had a rough time as after 3 hours of ear flushing, they couldn't get him cleared out .. but he got some pain drops and softener and we would see a doctor in a week.
That night we had a great dinner with our sons Jason (and g-friend Xin-Xin), Ben and my brother Darryl, wife Kathy and daughter Mandy. Good times. Happy early birthday, Jason!
Day 3 - April 4, 2011 / Destination: Eugene, OR...This road trip was wonderfully uneventful. Alot of rain, but everything ran great. The alternator belt was even still on when we arrived at our campground in Eugene, Armitage city Park. We met a great lady who is a "full timer" living and travelling permanently in her RV. That night we saw some good friends Katherine and Frank Paiva who recently moved to Eugene from Seattle. I worked for Frank at the Seattle Times. 
Day 4 - April 5, 2011 / Destination: Burney, CA Another blissfully uneventful trip. The weather was beautiful the whole way and the scenery from Eugene to Burney in georgeous. (see pix of Mt. Shasta). We stay in Burney at Deb's sister Corrinne and husband Max. 
Day 5 - April 6, 2011. Today we visited Burney falls and tinkered on the RV. Filled water, tires, fixed a bike tire flat. We lost the 3rd of 4 hub caps en route, so I just took off the 4th and painted the rims silver. Supposed to get snow on the pass over to Redding ... oh goodie! ;(
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