Good News Bad News

Good News - the parts all arrived, we picked them up from the local UPS office in bellingham.  The crate with the window in it weighs about 80 pounds, and we had to lift it into the back of the truck, Le and I. I almost dropped it but locally caught it on my leg at the last moment!

We got it in, we couldnt close the tailgate so had to strap it in and we came home on backroads so as not to have it jump about or worse fall out.  We got home and discovered some of the parts they said were missing.  We pulled part of the crate apart and looked but couldnt see them in there.

The only place it would fit was underneath in the big bin, so we unpacked it completely so we could put the window crate lying flat in there. It is about 4 1/2 ft sq. (and wieghs a tonne! - ok 80pounds).  Le was worried after my last attempt I would not be able to carry it from the back of the truck into the RV bin ... so went about seeing if she could remove anything else from the crate to lighten the load. That is when we found the "missing" blinds, shelf and handle were actually there packed in the middle above the window.

Then ... BAD NEWS ... the window is the wrong configuration.  Instead of our glorious half and half opening window this one has a tiny little window down the bottom and the rest is just all glass - no opening!  So ... we don't want it. We have sat here for nearly 6 weeks waiting for the frickin parts and they send the wrong window. And it weighs a tonne!!! and hangs out the back of the truck.  And it is raining. So we have put the wood back on as best we can and put the plastic that came off the mattress all around it so it doesnt get soaked.  

And we wait for Heartland to tell us tomorrow what to do with the damn thing.

Sooo Much Snow in Jackson Wyoming

We are in Jackson Wyoming. We are staying with Le's brother and his family. The kids are having a lovely time playing with their cousins.  It is snowing. But suits the location here it is beautiful.  They have a lovely large spare room so we are setup in there for a week. Its Denvers birthday on Friday. We spent his birthday last year with Peter and Sharon in San Francisco and now his birthday this year in Wyoming with them. I don't think they will be here march next year, so this wont be an ongoing tradition.

We went out to dinner last night at the Teton Steakhouse and I had a lovely steak. And the kids all behaved themselves and did i mention already the steak was great.  Peter and Sharon have a really nice house, it is four bedrooms and our room is very large - so the kids are on small mattresses on the floor.

Madi woke up this morning after having a bad dream. She said she was all alone in the city and couldnt find me. Dreams are funny things - she seems to be having more and more dreams - not normally bad ones.

Funny how you appreaciate a washing machine when travelling. We have found an alternate brand and smaller size that should fit through doors and in the closet better and we are going to get a vent installed so we can get a vented machine which means stuff will dry faster.  And it only costs about $1200 instead of $1700.

We are taking the kids to gymnastics with Lachlan today. He turned 3 in January so is aged between our two kids. Sounds like the teacher is doing an extra class just for our 3 so that will be fun. I am sure the kids will love it.  Thats at 10.30.

Better go shower, dress kids ... we had a good nights sleep last night so got over the day before drive. Can you believe we did 950miles in one day !! 

I think denny is getting molars as he is right off his food and is a little grumpy at times. Besides that he is having a lovely time playing with his cousins.  Holly is 8 and is really good with them both. She read them stories last night and madi fell asleep next to her. very cute.

The warranty work on the RV wont be occuring for at least 2 weeks, so the camper is in storage at the campground in Blaine, and we travelled down just in the truck.

We are kinda just vegging out and not doing much. watching the whispy snow fall as we look out the window. Very christmas postcard!

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"powerless" in Oregon

Le has bought an inverter for the car so i can charge all my "power" things and run the router and the internet in the car.

We are stopped at a rest area, between Aroura, OR and Portland, OR. Kids are still fast asleep. I am sitting at the dining table now, running my laptop on battery.  The internet router is still plugged in in the car so we can get online. Lastnight we were beat, two nights boondocking means no electric heaters - and the furnace works great in our room, and the dining area, but doesnt quite make it to the kids room - so we need electric heater running under their loft.  So when we don't have that they sleep in our little queen bed, which means much tossing, kicking, and an uncomfortable night for le and I. ... but they sleep well and are as warm as toast.

The internet did cut out over the passes in oregon too - apparently sprint doesnt bother with internet in sparsley populated places like oregon passes, and the whole state of montana and south dakota!

We think we are over the worst of the passes. there was very little snow to be seen - and that was in the distance - so YAY.

We are heading for Vancouver, WA today to go check out that playcenter place. The kids are getting a bit over "going to canada" when it takes multiple days. So we will find a campground, get some power, spend all day at the playcenter, and probably arrive at Fort Langley late tomorrow night ... unless the play center is awesome in which case we will stay a week ;) I am only kidding ... I think.

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The Domani Experience

A few people have asked what its like staying in the new Carriage Domani fifth wheel. We have been here nearly a week and I am still really impressed with this unit. More than that I am really enjoying the styling. This might sound strange but the interior reminds me of staying at the Luxor in Las Vegas. Dark wood cabinets, sleek brushed chrome handles and taps, leather around the pelmets and even across the top of the door and around the main livingroom slide. The most lounge I have seen in an RV - you must be able to sit 12 people comfortably around the large U and second full wall couch.

The living area is just great. I love the space. You can put up a table (in 2 parts) in front of the U couch and then you would be able to have 6 people eating (or drinking) - word around the campground is this is the new "party" model for carriage.

I can see how it would be just perfect parked with its gianormous rear windows facing the pacific ocean celebrating 4th of July with family or friends. It really is set up to be a social little rig. It has a seperate enclosed bathroom and toilet for privacy, and the curved wall shared by the bathroom and bedroom really give you more space in the bedroom. The flat screen tv fits perfectly in the curve above head height and is easily seen from both sides of the bed.

I have to tell you about this cool TV system. They have a little 3 switch box which lets you watch the DVD / Game / New years eve celebration in the living room and in the bedroom at the same time. They have mounted the large LCD flat screen tv up high above the fridge so people walking past don't get in the way of people sitting on the couches seeing the tv. Very clever - good for fun times!

And of course one more cool tv feature is that the bedroom LCD tv can be easily taken off the mount and placed on the external mount outside under the electric awning. It can then access the same internal DVD or sattelite / cable as the inside tv's. So if your 12 seats inside are full - the rest of the family (on their own bring along garden chairs of course) can sit outside and watch the game too!

Hmmm... what else do I appreciate - the hot water hasnt run out once! The top bedroom has great power point access and shelves and bedside tables - good for the printer and re-charging the laptops. The windows in the living room are amazing - it is like being outside - right now I am looking out at the best sunset - and i can see the whole horizon. Very nice.

So, aren't you glad you asked - and if you are reading this and you didnt ask - well - consider it an unashamed plug for a great looking rig and a fabulous company that has really helped my family out.

You Wrap, We Deliver

Wrap an RV with anything you like and we will drive it around the countryside for you, generating you new business, customers and sales.

Here is the deal. We are Aussies touring the USA. Our RV was stolen while we had it in for service at Forest River. Yes they should replace it and no they are not. So we are stranded – homeless you might say.

Rather than sitting in our hole, we have a great idea. We need an RV to tour around in and you want new business. Why not “wrap” the RV in your advertising and we will drive it around the countryside promoting your business.

We are on the roads all the time passing thousands of your customers. We are in Camping grounds each night so if you have something to sell RVers or Snowbirders – we are your answer.
Hey, come up with a great deal and we will put some brochures on the outside of our RV each night.

We are on a holiday visa so we will be doing this as a hobby. Not working.
Think about it, a full size billboard on the main highways of America. It is novel and clever. Trust me, get the art work right and it will turn heads.

Come on clever marketing people, give us a call and lets get this sorted out. I need a new home for my family and you need a clever way to get more sales all over North America. Let's work together.

Mystery, Insinuations and no more Tea Bags!

Wow. What a weird day in cyberspace today, i have felt like we are in an internet soap opera.

Lea posted to a rv forum asking for advice on what do about our situation. We got a load of great suppportive messages then it got ... interesting. Its a forum, everyone gets their chance to have their say. It had Lea is tears today, which is no mean feat. But we have got a few constructive ideas from the members on the forum, which Lea has followed up already, so at least she feels she is trying to fix it.

Lea always has to fix things, its her role. Whats funny is now madi says - "don't worry mummy, I'll fix it" so even to find our camper - she says she just needs poppys hammer and she will fix it. Not sure how, but that's 3 year old logic!!

So what else happened, there was a blog post in the rvindustrynews.com website - that in one section said "It's not as though they hid the fifth wheel in the woods somewhere to collect on the insurance. Or is it?" Isnt that a bizarre statement. I don't even know how to respond to that ??

Then he goes on to try figure out why ours was stolen and nothing else - which is a very good question - and I would like to know that too. He repeats what we got in an email from Pat today as well, that there is an ongoing investigation ... which is good right?? that means maybe they will find our camper??

They dont make our model of camper anymore, so we have the horrible task of trying to find a new camper. It took us over a year the first time! If somebody is hiding it in the woods, I would like to get it back now. Lea read in the forums someone elses stolen camper was sold in a Wal-mart carpark to a lady, who when she found out it was stolen, returned it to the rightful owner. How great is that. Unfortunatley for us there must be 10,000 Walmart car parks in the US. Some one else suggested watching craiglist for our model too, but that is a difficult task too. I guess after having a look around, we like our configuration the best still.

We did also find out today that heaps of people have had to have their whole sides replaced just like us. Heaps! Didn't know that. Apparently this problem has been 2006 and 2008 models are also being fixed. We need to post in the forum for the people who havent taken theirs back yet, to make sure they lock them up!

So today was well, hard work. I think when you start telling your "bad news story" so many times it starts really eating into you. So I think we have done enough and need to wait it out. Maybe our camper will be returned. That is what we are still hoping for.

Had a really good day with the kids actually, we got them some of those magic paintbrushes that only paint on special paper and nothing else, they are really cool. madi filled her whole book, both sides of the page and denny helped fill hers (more interesting than his own). Denny has started doing "lessons" with madi - he is learning his colors. He is good at red, yellow and blue. not much else - yet. He also has his puzzles happening now, he does a little (sitting) dance with his shoulders everytime he gets a piece in. And madi is starting to spell and write basic words. Found a couple of great DVD's blues room alphabet and Word World - so she is really into to sounding out words, and writing them. So that is exciting for us. Even denny is "writing" now, he takes it very seriously.

The weather is cooler again, so that is a blessing!! Very pleasant today. Hope it stays cooler. I miss my air-conditioned camper! We keep remembering things we left in the camper. Important things like Lea's next box of Tea bags.