Sunday AM, 11OCT (Coraline’s b-day), hook up the RV & Toad
to head back to Washington.
As we head
west toward Houston we notice major lines of traffic heading east (hurricane
Delta evacuees returning home?). Driving
around Houston we have several close calls with other driver (aka idiots). Finally get clear of Houston traffic mess to
Katy, TX, & find RV park; 344 miles driven.
Monday AM drive 245 miles to Kerrville, TX, & park next to Dan’s
sister, Sharon & husband Tim’s trailer. After setting up camp we head to their trailer
for reminiscing & dinner. You may
remember they visited us in Washington last back in July.
https://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2020/07/01-31jul20-sultan-wa.html
Tuesday late morning heading into Comfort, TX, w/Sharon &
Tim for a walkabout. Almost every
business was closed on Monday & TuesdayL we did check out the few antique stores that
were open. We almost left town after
finding no restaurant open for lunch; but Dan kept looking & rounded the
corner & found Food for the Soul, which would close in 15 minutes. Excellent late lunch of fish tacos, gyros
& ham BLTJ. Back to RVs to nap. Got back together again at dinner time for
light snacks & lots of storytelling! Excellent dayJ
Wednesday AM say goodbye to Sharon & Tim & head north on
US 87 without a planned route on how we will drive back to the house in
WashingtonJ Near record heat 98 degreesL Decide to stop for the night in Big Spring, TX,
237 miles driven. Someone hacks Dan
email & spoofs him as Amazon. Dan
initially falls for it but calls Amazon support & doesn’t follow thru &
avoids the scam.
Thursday AM, 15OCT, back on the road w/gusty winds. Winds were strong but nothing we hadn’t
experienced before. But about two hours
into drive cruise control stops working; dash gives us three error codes – 1)
“Cruise Control Visit Workshop” 2) “ESP Visit Workshop” 3) “ASR/BSR Visit
Workshop”. We pull over in Lamesa, TX,
& call Mercedes support. Vehicle can
be driven but automatic traction safety systems may not work. Half hour after returning to road, cruise
control works; two hours later all error codes are goneJ 320 miles later we pull into RV park in Santo
Rosa, NM. Unique to the RV park was they
offered smoked BBQ out of the rear of the office building from 4:30 to
6:30PM. Call your order in, pick time
for delivery & they bring it to your RV; not award winning BBQ but pretty
good!
Friday early AM back on I-40W all the way to Gallup, NM (263
miles). We note more Indian casinos on
I-40 than previous drives on I-40, but only open to NM residents now because of
virus, or they are closed. After setting
up camp Dan takes off to take roadside America pics – Giant Kachina, Galoop, Muffler
Man. Then back to the RV for dinner & an early
evening.
Saturday AM back on I-40W to Kingman, AZ (312 miles). Made the mistake of fueling at Loves Truck
Stop outside Williams, AZL This is last fuel on AZ 64 before driving straight
north 55 miles one way to Grand Canyon NP.
Can you say - complete chaos? Another hour gained because of AZ daylight
saving time? Cable broken in RV park, no
over the air TV eitherL
Sunday, 18OCT, continue heading towards home but first stop is
slight detour into Bullhead City, AZ, for Wally Mart stop & cheap
diesel. The only Wally Marts we pass in
next two days are in Las Vegas & we are driving around that city. And Dan found a small gas station on the web
in Bullhead, AZ, that is fifty cents per gallon cheaper than anywhere on
today’s drive. Then it is on to US95
& straight north to Tonopah, NV.
In fact see our BLOG link below to compare our last drive on
US95. Next fuel stop is at Indian
Springs, NV, where a brand new Terrible’s combination fuel/Big Boy/casino has
opened across from Creech AFB.
After 360
driving miles we get an RV spot at Tonopah Station Hotel & Casino (very
small, old casino). Very cheap gambling
(penny slots, video poker & black jack) – but when you want to change machines,
you hit cash out, an attendant writes down what you are owed & brings it to
you often after several minutesL Corrie who
likes to jump from slot to slot ran the poor guy raggedJ We got takeout from their diner (avocado
benedict & linguica skillet) not gourmet but tasty & filling; still no
cable or TVL
https://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2007/10/06oct07-beatty-nv.html
Monday AM back on the road to Fallon, NV, for cheap diesel; then
due north to I-80E & Winnemucca, NV (305 miles), & more cheap
diesel. NOTE – once we were north of
Vegas diesel prices were always cheaper in than regular. And we noticed starting with Terrible’s there
is a boom in large new gas/diesel stations by Maverik, Sinclair & Speedway
going up all over Nevada. These stations
are mini truck stations capable of fueling most RV combinations; they have
large spacious convenience store & restrooms; as well as a fast food
section (some even have small casino area).
Tuesday long drive (420 mi) on US95 & I-80W to Wildhorse
Resort & Casino, Pendleton, OR (where we stayed 29SEP). Small winnings at slot/video poker & then
back to RV w/take out bar food. Tomorrow last drive to our house outside
Sultan, WA (hopefully).
Wednesday AM, 21OCT, little late getting on the road I-84/I-82; but
make good time. Dropping down into
Kittitas valley from Yakima encounter strong head winds coming thru convergent
zone at Snoqualmie Pass. This causes
cruise control & ESP/ASR/BSR to stop working like last ThursdayL Continue on & stop at Thorpe fruit stand
just off I-90 for cheap diesel – wind is strong & gusty & it is madhouse
around the diesel pumps! Back on the
road & run into sleet at Snoqualmie pass (learn latter on the news that
sleet turned to snow); followed by torrential rains on west side of pass. 305 miles driven & finally make it to the
house in typical Seattle rain. After
taking care of dogs & re-opening house Corrie heads to garden to pick dozens
of jalapenos that kept growing on their own while we were gone.
