Day 8 – Get Her Fixed!

Thursday, July 22, 2010


This is the way we fix the rig, fix the rig, fix the rig. I hopped in the car and drove around the Fair Grounds looking for the mobile repair folks I met yesterday. I caught them just getting started over by the Expo Center. A quick check of the rig determined my charger/converter (original equipment) was trash and was so from the day it was designed, let alone built (in China of course). He said I was lucky it lasted nearly 6 years. I went off to Camping World in the Rally Expo to buy a new one. Called the repair guy and they beat me to the rig. We are now back in operation at full voltage! Wonder of wonders, the RV status board now works again! I think it might like a full 12v to work properly. While at the Expo I arranged with Roadmaster to get my tow bar serviced. I picked that up later in the day after a complete disassembly, cleaning, and replacement of the seals. I asked how much? Nothing! It was free! I got an earfull about WD-40 and tow bars...never the twain shall meet!

While I was doing the work, Donna and Katherine went to the Expo to wander the aisles and see all the stuff. I went over and did the same in the afternoon. We decided to permanently abandon the Rally shuttle service with old school busses with no A/C. In my opinion they are dangerous to health with outdoor temperatures in the mid-90’s and heat indices in the mid-100’s.

We had cold sandwiches and a salad for dinner tonight. We made it to the fountain in front of the Freedom Hall for the VA group picture. Opps! Wrong night. We did get reasonably decent seats for the evening entertainment, Bob Newhart. He did about an hour routine, which included some video. I enjoyed the show immensely, but you really must appreciate his extremely dry style of humor!

After the show we ran into Bernard and Margie, glad to catch up with them! We got back to the rig and it had cooled sufficiently to sit outside. Turned out to be a decent evening and no bugs to bother us. I guess we can conclude the day with “Mission Accomplished.”