We have lost three tires and two rims in less than two
weeks. The problem with a flat tire on a full time rig is that we have big old
honkin’ 10 ply tires. A blowout is ugly and the ten ply tend to give us a slow
leak rather than the explosion mid highway. That is the theory anyway, didn’t
really happen that way the last two times.
But, as you saw from our last post, we worked through it. It was, to say
the least, expensive.
If I haven’t said
it before, it’s important to know that the average, (aka in our price range)
fifth-wheel isn’t intended for full timing. It’s meant to hold up to the kind of
abuse that “normal” people give it. Every other weekend, three months a year is
pushing it. So, things break. A lot. Like, EVERYTIME WE STOP. Here is our
average accident report.
Monday: Slide went in, weather stripping did not.
Tuesday: Tried to drain the blacktank, there was a clog of toilet
paper.
Wednesday: Left the Vent cover open, mechanism got stripped.
Thursday: Crushed my favorite hat in the bedroom
slide…again….
Friday: Boys left a drawer open a crack, bounced and wiggled
and broke off it’s track.
Saturday: The steps finally gave way and we need a welder.
Sunday: Sink handle breaks off in Aiden’s hand….mysteriously
That’s one week. We are on week 53! So you can understand
why Alan and I are on high alert when something sounds a bit off from the
normal routine. And today, at 5:43 a.m. we heard a strange humming. Or was it
rattling? We’ll call it Hummttling.
It was in my bathroom, (yes, we have two bathrooms, it’s my
one indulgence, don’t judge me. Did I mention it’s the size of a phone booth?).
At first I thought it must have to do with the Fonzie lighting. We “lovingly”
call it Fonzie lighting because after you turn on the switch, you have to give
it a loving punch on the wall just below the mirror, followed up with the
iconic, “heyyyyy” to make it turn on. Yes, I am certain the Heyyyy is
necessary, I’ve tested the theory. At any rate, I Fonzie-ed the light switch
but the hummttling didn’t stop. I climbed up on the toilet and turned off the
vent fan, (it’s REALLY HIGH!!!) but the noise continued. Alan raced around half
awake trying the fan from the stove, flicking on and off light switches.
Finally he shut down every port from the breaker and still the noise persisted.
I had a brief flashback to the tell tale heart but then realized it’s been
years since I had anyone hidden beneath the floorboards. We both simultaneously realized it had to be
something that was run on our battery, as the sound continued without shore
power. Hmmmm, we returned to the bedroom banging on walls, flicking switches
and still the Hummttling continued. I was filled with images of multi-thousand
dollar bill repair bills, a faulty slide that wouldn’t retract or, even worse,
an electrical fire when Alan started laughing like a madman. He opened up the
medicine cabinet and pulled out his hummulting “electric” toothbrush. (Umm,
isn’t that a misnomer?). We both
collapsed back into bed laughing hysterically, relief rushing over us that
maybe this week it could only be a weld job on the steps, not a tear down
behind the wall. Just as we started to drift back to sleep, the car alarm of the
site next to us went off.
“I’ll fonzie the light and we can brush our teeth.” Ok, I’ll
rig the coffee maker to reach the outlet, we’ll pack up and head out.” “Don’t
forget, the bottom step is off, watch out.” “Don’t turn on the Microwave if the
air is on.” “Got It”.
And we are off.
(No, none of these pictures are from the BearMouth Chalet here in Rock Creek where we are staying, but they are lovely!)
