Trailer Troubles

It was bound to happen. Two of our teams had had major problems (1 truck, 1 trailer) and I had just e-mailed them that all was well with us. So it goes. I recall something about 'pride goeth before a fall'.

Tuesday morning (May 8) we were getting ready to hook up the fifth wheel to the truck, when the electric motor/gear box - or whatever - started making a terrible noise. It was something to do with the front lift legs. Afraid something major would 'snap', Roger got out the hand crank and we proceeded to get it hooked up to the truck. This is the fourth time we have had trouble with the legs/gears of the front lift system since getting the trailer in 2004. We drove on to our destination (Williamsport South/Nittany Mtn, PA) and got settled in. The first thing we did was call a mobile RV service, hoping that they could overnight parts and get us fixed before we were scheduled to leave on Friday morning. In spite of hearing stories of how slowly the world moves in these parts, we were optimistic. We shouldn't have been. Several phone calls on Wednesday - with Roger even calling back to Midwest City to talk to our RV service guy at Leisure Time (to get information on where to get parts) - left us thinking we had the ball rolling.

Then a call at 9:00 this morning from the service manager - only to discover that they hadn't even ordered the parts yet, because they weren't really sure what was wrong! I knew we were in trouble when he asked Roger when we needed to leave! So, it's now 5:15, Thursday evening, and we have yet to see - or hear - from them since about noon today. Something tells me that we won't see them over the weekend either!

I keep chanting a mantra about 'staying flexible', but that's a bit scary this early in the season! So it's back to the drawing board to re-arrange our schedule, make some phone calls canceling out the next couple of visits, and hope we can roll by Tuesday, or Wednesday at the latest.

In the meantime, Roger donned his 'grubbies' and went to work helping the owner here paint his building. Had to call a halt this afternoon, for the rain moved in and we had about an hour of rain that was a true 'toad strangler'. Lots of lightening & thunder, then it moved on to the east.

Went out to eat with the owners here last night to Norman's Watsontown Inn. Not sure just what to expect, for it was the first time for them too. What a beautiful place - and a very good meal. Since we don't go out for breakfast anymore, eating out is a real treat!

Afterwards, we drove back to the campground and treated ourselves to some of their delicious ice cream. They have an old-time ice cream parlor set up in their store. As we were standing their visiting, Dan said, "It's so nice to have people to talk to that have teeth!" This park is converting to a KOA - and these new owners - are learning to deal with 175 seasonals (most well over 65 & a bit 'back woodsy') - who have had sites here for 30+ years - and subsequently feel like they 'own' the park. It's amusing to hear them tell of "so & so moved my rocks" - or "so & so set up a tent & ruined by view". Yesterday Dan threatened to create a 'no man's land' between two sites who were 'feuding'. What a life!

We'll probably hear lots more before we leave, as we'll don our KOA aprons and pitch in at their pancake breakfast, ice cream social and other activities over the weekend!