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When we left the story of Camping World Service, the latest fix didn’t work either. More parts are going to need to be ordered. So we decide to tackle our next project while waiting for those parts.

You see, our Winnebago Journey Express came with two wet-cell house batteries and a converter to charge them. This works OK for most people. But, as you all know, we aren’t most people so we wanted something that better suited us.

In the first place our converter was overcharging the batteries which meant Dave was having to add water to each battery’s cells every month. Not a pleasant task.

In the second place, two batteries were not going to provide enough power for the dry camping we plan to do next month without having to run our generator more than we would prefer to do.

Since day one of our ownership of this RV, I’ve been lobbying for AGM batteries and I wanted four of them not two. But the converter that came with our RV would not be good for AGM batteries. So we needed to save up money for the inverter as well as the batteries. We finally got there.

So, once we figured out how close we were to Palmer Energy, we decided to spend our Camping World waiting time going to Florida and doing the battery upgrade which would include installation of a new inverter/charger to replace the old converter. The new inverter would also provide whole house power so we could use all outlets and the microwave when we are not plugged into a campground’s power without having to turn on our generator.

So, John Palmer and Dave spent two days crawling around our RV running wires for the new systems.

And when they were done the two wet-cell batteries were out.

And four new AGM batteries were in the space Winnebago generously supplied for them.

Our AC panel produced a sub-panel in the space Winnebago provided under a cover that was bigger than it would have needed to be for just the original panel.

A new inverter/charger was installed in a basement bay. We had to move our own stuff for that to happen.

And the old inverter control module was removed from the RV’s power center to make room for the new module.

If you look closely at the new module, you’ll see it says our batteries are float charging. That’s the stage the old batteries never got to which caused the water to boil away.

So, Dave’s happy he doesn’t have to fill batteries anymore and I’m happy we should have enough power to run the furnace all night during those cold desert nights next month when we go dry camping with friends.

And we’re broke again.

Now, to start saving up for solar panels.

TTYL,

Linda

I remember being about five years old and finding among my presents a life-size baby doll lying in a crib that had a side you could put up and down just like my own crib. I was a happy Mommy to that doll for many years.

I remember the year Terry got a radio and Wayne and I got bikes. We were all so happy! It didn’t matter to us that the bikes were used ones with new paint jobs. It was all about freedom! My bike was so well balanced I could ride it no-handed from the street up the drive and onto the sidewalk.

I remember Christmas Eve services where we got to sing all the wonderful songs we only sang at Christmas time. I remember Ann and Lynette, young teenage girls like me, singing O Holy Night without accompaniment and how beautiful that was.

I remember Mom telling us not to be upset if Grandma gave more gifts to one child than another. She explained that Grandma had a tendency to buy things all year that she thought a child might like without thinking about the number of gifts she’d already bought.

I remember making gingerbread men with our daughter and decorating the tree with those and candy canes, and popcorn/cranberry strings.

I remember walking in the processional with the hand bell choir playing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. I had to silently sing the same verse over and over to myself to know when I should ring my bells.

I remember Dave’s parents taking us all to a ski lodge for Christmas where our giant stockings were hung from the rafters.

I remember Christmas pageants wondering which child would flub their one and only line. Like the innkeeper who said, “Sure. Come on in.” Which line would we likely say today if we were the innkeeper?

TTYL,

Linda

The view from the dump at Falling Waters State Park near Chipley, Florida.

The dump? At sunrise?! Why?

Because the water pump did not turn off after my 5 a.m. trip to the bathroom. I woke up to the sound of the toilet gurgling. I got back there in time to turn the water off BEFORE the toilet overflowed but AFTER our black water tank filled up.

So, turn the pump off, pack up all our stuff, and make a dawn trip to the dump.

Merry Christmas.

TTYL,

Linda

The Army Corps of Engineers builds and maintains campgrounds at many of the lakes that came into being with the contruction of their dams. We like camping in them. They usually have water and electric hookups at the sites. And our National Parks passes let us camp there at half price. So here’s tonight’s $10 view from a pull-through campsite on the border of Florida and Georgia.

I think that’s worth at least $10, don’t you?

TTYL,

Linda

Anyone who has participated in the Escapee’s on-line discussion forum knows Jack Mayer. As well as you can know anyone you haven’t actually met anyway. We were parked by them in the Escapee’s park in Summerdale, Alabama, for several days.

Only this far away. That’s our car in the foreground parked next to our RV.

Dave met Jack when they both happened to be outside at the same time. I kept saying I should go meet him, too.

But, my timing kept being off. Jack’s parents live somewhere near here so about the time I’d get moving, Jack & Danielle would be off to visit his parents. By the time, they got back, I’d be on to something else forgetting that I wanted to meet them.

Finally I learned they’d be leaving Saturday. So we walked over when Darrell was done installing our new thermostat Friday. I forgot to bring my camera, though, so I took these pictures after we returned home.

At least, now I know Jack.

TTYL,

Linda