Damage we did not do.

Things are not going well.  We noticed the dealer replaced the steps.   The screen door does not close correctly without pushing it closed,  appears bottom hinge is sprung.    Worse of all, the front landing gear does not retract/extent without shutting down several times.   It will only move a few seconds then we have to keep hitting the button to make it continue for a few seconds more.

None of these items were anywhere near the damage. And were not a problem until we got it back from dealer.  On the list of parts it does not list new steps.  We are concerned they hit our rig, possibly causing frame damage.

Will be calling them when they open and Keystone customer service also.   We leave here tomorrow to go to our cabin in north central PA (without rig) until Monday.  Then are scheduled to pull out next Wednesday.   Needless to say we do not want to cancel everything and take this rig almost 100 miles each way for them to screw it up again.

Looking good!

Upper Deerfield Township,  NJ

Here it is Friday morning.  We slept soundly last night in our own home.    We picked it up yesterday and everything looks good.    There is no decal in the back under the window.  They were not sure what the old one looked like so they gave us one if we wanted to put it on.  I don't really remember what the old one was but we don't like the one they gave us.   Leave it off, we decided.

One of the things Len wanted to do when we got it back here was to give it a good wash.  It sure needed it.  Doesn't have to - they washed it and steam cleaned the carpets in the living area.  I am sure there was saw dust, etc laying around.  

Getting set to leave the dealer, rig in tow!

All it all it looks good and feels even better.

Today is THE day.

VINELAND, NJ

Well, we are excited!     The repair work is done and we go this afternoon up to Lakewood to pick up our home.  Okay so they said it would take 2 to 3 weeks for the parts to arrive and about a week and a half to do the repairs.  Okay so we took it to them 3 months and 2 days ago for them to determine what needed to be done and what to order.   By my calculation we are two full months over their projection.   Will we ever use this dealer again?  A resounding no.

Dinner with friends

Last night we were treated to dinner at our friends house, Tom and Carol Asselta.   They have a lovely in ground pool and it would have been nice to have put it to use.  However, our weather here has changed a bit and was just a little too cool for me.  Nevertheless, we appreciate their friendship along with our other friends who joined us.
  Leonard is working until one today.  Then he will pick me up and we take the 92 mile drive to Lakewood.  PLEASE - let everything be in order.   After getting our home set back up in my daughters driveway, where we will stay for the next two weeks, we will come back to the motel for Lucky the Cat and our belongings.

Tomorrow is Len's last day of work.  We are so thankful to our friend Scott (sitting next to Leonard on his right in the above picture) who is the HR Manager of Seabrook Bros and Sons for thinking of us when they were in need of a temporary truck driver.   Worked out perfectly - their driver went out on temporary disability the week after we came back to NJ.  He will be released to return to work next week.  We had decided Len would work until either the driver came back to work or the rig was done!  Both happened the same time.  PERFECT!

I want to recognize newer followers to my blog - Nancy Bank and Laurel King.  Also, I am not sure if I thanked Kenny and Angela for stopping by to follow.  If I did before, just consider my age and loss of brain cells.  If I didn't - welcome.

Trains and Pools

Wilmington, DE and Vineland, NJ.

On Saturday we took the girls to Wilmington, DE to ride the Wilmington Western RR.  This is a small line now only used for recreation.   It is entirely staffed by a volunteer organization.   The ride out was 1/2 hour long, with a 1/2 hour "layover" at a picnic grove and 1/2 hour return ride.    Immediately behind the train station is an old mill.  Several years ago daughter Amy was working a dig at that site.   There is now a museum next to the train station showcasing those items found by her and other archaeologists.  

Waiting for train, checking out monkey!

Train pulling into station.

Volunteers run and maintain this line.

Leaving the station

A view along the way.  One of 4 covered bridges in Delaware.

Lunch at the picnic grove, before the ride back to station.

After the train ride we returned to our temporary home at the Days Inn.   A dip in the pool was in order.  As soon as Abby saw the pool she got very excited.    Neither of these girls are afraid of water.   It is fun to pour water over their heads while they just laugh or ignore it.  Maybe this comes from their Dad who has his graduate degree in Underwater Archeology. 

Back at the motel for a swim.  Abby's first experience in a big pool.  What excitement.

On Sunday we were invited to the home of our dear friends Dan and Carole.   We are proud to say we introduced them 15 years ago this month.   They are a delightfully happy couple.  AND they are RVers.  Carole retired from teaching this year.  Dan plans on doing the same next year.   They are in the process of dreaming and planning future RV trips.   We even talked to them about joining the NOMADS - how cool would that be to work on projects along with them!

Dinner at the home of friends Carole and Dan Baxter

Len called our dealer on Friday.  They say the repairs are more than half complete.  We are really hoping to have our home back by this weekend.

Charlotte's Challenge

Exhausted while attending a weekend folk fest with parents

Dancing at our yard party August 2008

Our dear Granddaughter 4 year old Charlotte is now in the midst of a challenge, as are her devoted parents.    Since an infant she has had very dry skin - eczema, causing her to constantly scratch and be all around uncomfortable.    As she got older other health, and to a lesser extent, behavior problems became evident.    After Charlotte was examined by medical personnel and found to have allergies, it would have been easy for her parents to ignore the situation and just think these problems would go away with medication.  Instead they got busy researching.    (note: since they are both archaeologists, research is no stranger to them.)

Daughter Amy has extensively researched  online and in the library for answers.  Because of Charlotte's allergies,  they had to remove gluten (wheat, rye, oats, barley products), eggs and dairy from her diet.  Recently they also had to remove peanuts, tomato products, chocolate and apples.   She has shown alleriges to mold, some pollen and certain additives to soaps and shampoos. 

A few weeks ago we had her from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon.  We noticed the back of her legs were getting redder and redder and more blotchy as the time went on.   By Sunday afternoon they were completely covered in red, sore hives.  Amy then had to become a detective. What is different?    AHA!   She had just turned four and went from a baby carseat to a booster seat.  The first day she used that seat was Saturday.  It must have been treated with Scotchgard or some such thing.  Covered it with a towel,  problem solved, no more red, itchy blotches.

In Amy's research she read a book by a physician in New York State.  His research shows a correlation between what he calls the 4-A's.     Asthma, allergies, ADHD and Autism.  He believes these problems stem from foods and chemcials added to the body.   Charlotte suffers from asthma too!   So, at last, maybe some answers as she has signs of all the above except Autism.   Amy contacted this doctor who refered her to an associate in Maryland, not far from their home.  

Now, for the challenge.  Charlotte will be going through a series of shots called LDA - Low dose allergens.  These shots are a combination of hundreds of known allergens which will be slowly introduced back into her little body.    The program could take up to 2 years or even longer.   

Charlotte is very good about her food restrictions.  Fortunately there are many alternatives available for people who must be gluten, egg or dairy free.   The biggest challenge is the food restrictions around her shots.  For the day before, the day of and the day after the shots she is allowed venison, lamb, rabbit, freshly caught fish, sea salt, white potatoes, yams, cooked carrots, cooked cabbage, parships, rhubard and rutabagas - that's it!  To drink - just filtered water.   Hey - try that diet on a 4-year old!    BUT - she had her first shot this week and did great!   She ate so many steamed baby carrots she says she has bunny breath!

It is suspected the problem came from when she was an infant and had Thrush which is an abundance of yeast in the body.  She was given antibiotics causing a reaction.     Wherever and whatever caused the problem, we are all optimistic that a solution has been found.   We look forward to the day when her eczema is gone and she can once again eat her favorites - pasta with tomato sauce and CHOCOLATE!

Charlotte and Abby with Great Grandmother, Edythe

And of course, she is allergic to CATS! This is a tough one.

Along South Jersey Roads

On Saturday we took our fifthwheel trailer to our dealer for the long awaited repairs.   The drive from our old home in Upper Deerfield Township, Cumberland County to Lakewood is 92 miles each way.

The majority of the drive is through the New Jersey Pine Barrens.   Most people mistakenly believe that NJ is all urban setting comprising of either cities or bedroom communities.   However, in actuality 22% of the state are what is known as the Pine Barrens.   The barrens are supported by a sandy, nutrient poor soil allowing mostly only scrub pine growth as shown on this shot along NJ Route 206.  The area for the most part is undeveloped.   1.1 million acres are under the Pinelands Acts which prohibits most development.   Laying under the Pine Barrens is one of the worlds largest aquifers.

This is our rigs home for the next two weeks or so.  

There are two main crops in the Pine Barrens - cranberries and blueberries

 NJ is the third largest state in the growing of Cranberries.  The largest is Massachusetts followed  by Wisconsin.    Cranberries are grown in bogs and produce berries year after year from the same plants.   At harvest time the bogs are flooded causing the berries rise to the top to be harvested.

The other crop is blueberries.  Blueberries thrive in sandy soil.   Hammonton NJ is world known for its thousands of acres of this delicious blue fruit.

Now for a another great product of South Jersey - WAWA!!!!   In the early 1800's the Woods family of neighboring Millville  opened a small convenience store in Greenwich, Cumberland County, NJ.  At some point they went into a dairy operation and grew from there.  In 1964 they opened the first Wawa (named for a Goose) store outside Philadelphia.   In the 1970's Wawa began staying open 24 hours and started brewing fresh made coffee and preparing sandwiches.    Until 1996 Wawa was a small convenience store but that year they opened the first Super Wawa which included a gas station.   There are now 570 Wawa's located in NJ, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.    We love our Wawa coffee.  The pots are timed and none is older than 20 minutes.    In our travels we have never found a convenience store that in any way comes close to Wawa.

So here we are now.   This is our home until the rig is returned to us and we get on the road again.

After getting settled into the motel yesterday, we were graciously invited to the home of our friends Janet and Erich.   This just might be our last really good meal for the next two weeks!   Not easy to cook on the small microwave here in the room or even keep a lot of food in the small fridge.   Hey, come to think of it, there are lots of restaurants in the area and a Walmart across the street that sells prepared dinners.  I think we will survive.

TOMORROW!!!

Len has been completely annoying the dealer.  FINALLY they said, bring it in tomorrow.   They will start repairs on Monday.   So, tonight we pack up.  Will be moving into local Days Inn.   I can spend next several days at the pool.   

Considering our past experience with these people, we will probably be "homeless" about two weeks.   Thankfully insurance pays for motel up to $1,500.   

Okay - lots to do.