Goooodmorning!!!

[Wroughtnharv]

Glad Gordon and Lloyd got to do the boy thing while the girls got to girl thing, the world's a better place when that happens.

Kinda like tonight at Walgreens when Best Thing got up to go to the window when the prescriptions were ready. About half way between the waiting seat to the counter her kerchief hit the floor. I got up, picked it up, handed it to her, and then announced to the people in line and sitting in the waiting area, "just doing my job, it's what I do."

Old men grinned, old women smiled. Similar reaction, but different too.

Best thing has an upper respiratory infection and because of the cancer issues they're a little more hyper about jumping on it. I'm doing the man thing, waiting to see if it's serious before I get serious about it.

Dad's health thing has been a bear to deal with for a couple of reasons. The biggest one is his phone hasn't been working so I haven't been able to talk to him directly. I won't get near him because what I have could hurt him big time. After getting a little information here and some there what it looks like is the first thing is he's back home. They put in a stent at the aortic valve. And a new aortic valve has to be custom built. They will install it the 20th. Supposedly the new valve will be placed close and then the heart will suck it into place and he'll be good to go on the last ten percent of his 100 year journey.

Best thing has medical appointments 20th, 21st and 22nd. I'm thinking we leave Jane here in Arizona and fly back home. Then when we're done with stuff there we can drive back in the new toad and do all of the hook up stuff here with dad close by. This trip has been a tough one on the visiting dad part because of his health and ours. We can spend some quality time here and then go back to get ready for the big trip come spring.

Today was another day when I didn't get to touch Jane because I was busy on other stuff all day long. I couldn't help but think about Mike's concern about boredom when retired. The same inside you stuff that drove you when you worked will not stop when you retire. The focus might be on different stuff but the focus will be just as strong. And the not enough hours in the day will still be there to keep you motivated.

Tuesday we went to Anzo Borrego to see the metal sculptures in the desert. Three hours to get there and three hours to get back made an 11 hour day that was wearing and wonderful. I think there is 130 or so sculptures. We've got pictures of everyone. The jeep photos I was teasing Lloyd with is one he needs to visit if he hasn't already. The attention to detail is amazing.

If you start in Borrego Springs and end up way in the heck and gone later you will be at the prospector's sculpture. That one will make you feel good about your world. The skill of the artist is impressive. But what is even more impressive is the coins left in the open for all to see, take, or leave, mostly leave.

Best thing thought I went a little overboard on the picture taking. But if the time ever comes when we want to relive that wonderful day we can go back and see each every sculpture as many times as we want. That's my job.

[Wroughtnharv]

This is just a sample of the work. The serpent crossing the highway has got to have caused some real heart issues for the drunks or faith challenged if they stumbled onto it unawares.

[Gordon Dewald]

Sam - fingers crossed for number 3. Worked for Janet. Hip replacement was cancelled for pulmonary embolism, then cancer. Following cancer surgery, hip was replaced.

Worst part is the let down after phyching up for the surgery.

Great pictures Harvey. Glad Dad is doing better and will be fixed for the future. Bet all are eagerly awaiting the 20.

[guardrail53]

Good Morning Everyone! Coffee is very good today!

Harvey, that is good news about your dad, and glad you are feeling better too!
Wow, those are some good sculptures, and will have to put that on the list to see!!

Sam, hope they get you all fixed up quickly!

Ted, i think it will take some time to get used to the implant, hope it goes good, as your body accepts it!

Lloyd and Gordon, glad you got some riding in! The Proving Grounds is a very big area! We used to see them training at night as we drove down to Algodones on the back roads that ran along the back side of it! We could see the tracer fire, sometimes!

lonfu, i packed more vanilla back across the border than anything else! I gave it to all the cookie baking friends! Yes, there was a method to my madness!!!

MK, retire as quickly as you can, and start enjoying yourself!!

Everyone have a great day!! Rail!

[beamisl]

Good Morning,

34* this am and the coffee was nice and hot!

I have a questions on want your opinion on. As I said, we will be replacing the tires on the MH this summer. Jerry talked to a friend about what he bought for his MH and the guy said he bought truck tires, not radials. Said the cost was $1,800. compared to $3,000. Jerry asked if it would be a rougher ride and Don said yes.

What do you guys think about this? Would you buy truck tires for your MH or not? Please let me know, all opinions are welcome. This is new to us as far as tires.

Spring is coming closer and it is supposed to get into the upper 30's all next week. I know it is not done but I can enjoy it while it is here.

Hope you all are doing well. Only 6 1/2 months until we do Meet & Greet! We have a lot to do to the rig to get it ready. Tires and toad tow hook ups. It will be here before we know it.

Lynne

[ronspradley]

Good morning all. Have been visiting MH and sister and brother and mother at sister's place outside Gatesville. Great visit. My son also was able to join us for two nights. Supposed to be 84 here today.

Lynne, do not know what your friend means by "truck tires". You will needshould probably to go to a truck tire store to buy your tires. My MH used 19.5" tires and they are getting harder to find. Radial, of course. They ride better and hold a straight line better. I personally do not recommend Firestone tires. They are capable of making a good tire like Goodyear and Michelin. But their record of corporate responsibility when they make a bad tire is legendary. Like their Firestone 500 tires in the 70's. And the tires they put on the Ford Explorer that failed so many times. FMCA members get a discount on Michelin tires. Just keep looking and you will find what you need.

Driving back home to Taylor today. Need to get get back to work on re-modeling the house. Y'all stay safe and well. Looking forward to Kentucky in August. Hope to get on the road early and chill in the mountains of Colorado before heading east to Kentucky.

ronspradley

[tedgard01]

Goooood Mooooorning!

Getting coffee, getting out, enjoying the day!

Love the adventures listed above, and the great pictures.

Sorry to hear of those battling health issues.

Hope the tires you get turn out to be the best ones out there...

Looking forward to the M&G later on as well...

Probably missed something... Oh well...

May you all enjoy a great day!

Ted

[Gordon Dewald]

Good Morning Everyone;
Ron - good to see you back on the thread.

Lynne and Gerry; Unfortunately my opinion is biased (pun not intended) in favor of radial tires. I believe they are a better tire than bias ply in a number of areas. Handling, ride and traction. While more expensive I believe it is one of the more important things to look after, right along with brakes and steering. After all you are carrying VERY important cargo and they are your only contact with the road.

On the bias ply side I believe they are a good tire and will do the job very adequately. Since we are not high speed slalom drivers they will do a good job if you install them. Ride will be a bit rougher but just noticeably so. I would tend to slow more when in adverse conditions like rain wet highway than if I had radials. Cost saving is significant. Good value since the tires age before wearing out.

As mentioned I am a radial fan so we will be replacing with radials when the time comes.

Going to be a great day here. Missed the lunar eclipse and meteor showers because it was overcast. Clouds kept the temperature up overnight to a balmy 66. Still cloudy so it is gorgeous outside. Coffee and paper on the patio. YES.

Felt good to get back on the motorcycle for a longer ride than to the golf course. Lloyd is a great riding partner. Visit to Yuma Proving Ground was very interesting. The static displays have been really improved. They have a museum that was in the startup phase the last time we were there. Going to have to go back and check it out. Possibly an outing while unsupervised.

Everyone have a great day. Life is grand and precious. Just found out a good friend of ours has just been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Really brings the vagary of life to our attention. Do not put off things you would like to do as things can change so quickly. Not to say that any decision you make is wrong but do the things you want to or would like to do while you still can.

Have a grand day.

[guardrail53]

Lynne, about the tires, there are a lot of good choices out there nowdays! Mh specific tires are a going to give you a good ride, but the cost is higher! The most bang for your buck is nowdays a Japanese or China made tire! And don't be fooled by some of the tire manufacturers you are used to here, because a lot of them now have tires made overseas! The tires on our MH's will age out way before you wear them out, so be prudent!
I have Samson tires on Mona, and they look and ride and are wearing great and are 5 years old! Mine are also 22.5's, don't know what size your's are on your Sunnova, but are guessing 19.5's. I would go to your local truck tire store with your tire size, and load rating, and see what they suggest.
One thing i can say is, tell them upfront, you want current date codes on all of them, and you will not accept any that take over 5 oz.'s weight to balance! ( None should not take over a oz. or two) Also they must not show out of round when they are spun to balance them!
Ron nixed Firestone's, and i would say stay away from Goodyears. JMHO!
Everyone has their favorite's, but i will buy Samson again! Rail!

[ronspradley]

I have Samson's on the front of my MH and they will be replaced this Spring. Will be 6 years old this year. I have been happy with them. Rears are next year.

ronspradley

[guardrail53]

Good Morning Everyone! Coffee good as usual!

Gordon, do they still make bias ply tires? I thought they phased them out a long time ago!

Lynne, Radial tires are the only way to go, do not consider a bias ply tire even if you could find them!

Still have not heard anything from Geocritter, (Steve)?

Everyone have a great day! Rail!

[cwk]

Early morning, all!

DW and I visited the RV show yesterday. Weather was great, high 70's and sunny. The show was busy (Saturday). Walked through a bunch of class A rigs. One dealer had some Newmars: Ventana, Ventana LE, CanyonStar and BayStar. We are looking for a DP, but I did venture into the last two rigs. The pricing is much lower for the CS and BS since they are gassers. But, the type of materials seemed proportionately different as well.

The highlight of the visit was when DW asked another visitor about full-timing. She had overhead his conversation with someone else on the topic and decided to ask questions. She isn't really shy.

We learned a lot from him in just a few minutes about some of the lifestyle as well as some technical info. He and his wife had traveled around the country for quite a while, including Alaska. They only made reservations a few times, and never stayed anyplace longer than 3 months; usually about a week or so. He also mentioned the difference between the Freightliner chassis and the Monaco Workhorse (IIRC). He said that the airbags on the Monaco were located physically further apart resulting in a much better ride than the FL (who has the bags closer together).

His recommendation also was to look for a used rig, preferably somewhere between 2002 and 2007-8. That has sort of been my thinking lately as well. He was quite happy with the Monaco and let us know it.

We skipped all of the travel trailers, 5th wheels, and class C's. I did poke my nose into one class B. When I saw the narrow bathroom that served as a toilet in a shower with a sink at one end, I was done.

This show does not have any seminars. I believe the super show down in Tampa in January does. That might be a much better place to learn more about full-timing. I also believe there is an Escapees Boot Camp in TX that includes a lot of information. Not sure we are ready for that quite yet, though.

There were a fair amount of salesmen around, but never ran into one directly. Just as well, as we are not in the market for one of the new rigs. We did refresh our memories on some floorplan layouts, so that was helpful. We should probably start working on a want-list of features at some point.


In other areas, I hope Steve is doing ok. I know folks get busy at times. I guess we will have to wait and see.

For those on the mend, our prayers are with you. That seems to include a growing number in this group. But, that is part of life. We wish everyone the best.

Everyone, have a great day and enjoy!

[sam-3]

I got to thinking about my Pre surgery lab work. Went I used Quest lab in January all was well. Then when I do preop testing at the hospital (same test).The results say I have an infection. My body is showing no symptoms.Had a few other thoughts that I will run by my specialist in March. Wrote down what I need to ask him. I took five days of antibiotics and am now on a low dose antibiotic for 30 days. Rescheduled for April 10th 2017. Any way could use a little help in locating a good buy in a truck. Requirements...Gas,F250 4x4,8ft. bed. Will consider used hopefully wiith maintenance records. Body in good condition. Low miles would be nice. The truck we looked at our local Ford dealer costs more thanwhat our house is worth. Forgot Crew cab 4doors. DH doesn't want a V10 engine. V8 engine with towing package. Take care Ann

[tedgard01]

Originally Posted by sam-3

I got to thinking about my Pre surgery lab work. Went I used Quest lab in January all was well. Then when I do preop testing at the hospital (same test).The results say I have an infection. ...
Ann

Good luck Ann.