Our first planned stop was Joliet, IL to visit with Sharon’s cousins whom we had not seen since 1977. Gayle took us around the area showing us the areas that Scott farms, where Scott lives, where she lives and all the changes in the area. We finished with dinner at the White Fence Farm in Joliet with several of Sharon’s relatives.
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| Gayle Compton, Sharon Roberts, Scott Glasscock |
We departed Joliet on Monday, 6/16/14, headed for our next planned stop in Des Moines, IA and we almost made it. Approaching a rest area east of Altoona, IA John saw smoke in the rearview mirror and pulled into the rest area. We quickly discovered the o-ring on the high-pressure oil line from the oil pump to the turbo had failed and was pumping oil like a major artery bleeding. We learned how to use our Coach-Net road assistance and were towed (one large tow truck for the truck and a smaller tow truck for the trailer) to a repair facility in Altoona – Iowa Truck and Trailer - recommended by the tow operator and an RV Resort – Adventureland RV Park – just about 6 blocks from the repair shop.
This repair facility is open till mid-night and replaced the failed o-ring and we picked the truck up about 11:30 PM Monday evening. We had to stop at a truck wash to get the oil washed off the truck.
Tuesday morning we hooked up and headed to the truck wash to get the oil washed off the trailer but didn’t make it. After some time sitting at a traffic light John got it running again enough to make it back to the shop where it was found the oil pressure sensor was failing. That was replaced and we again went to the truck wash to wash the oil off the trailer and the truck failed to run again. John again got it started and made it back to the shop were they found the engine position sensor was now failing. (The computers on great because they capture failure codes that aid in diagnostics) That sensor was replaced and we finally got the trailer washed and departed Des Moines shortly after lunch headed west a little behind schedule.
Sixty-five miles west of Des Moines John again noticed smoke and pulled into the coned-off part of the highway (construction zone) and found the same o-ring had again failed.
We used our road assistance for the second time in as many days. The same tow trucks came and towed us back to the same repair shop.
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| Our home being towed |
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| Our truck arriving at the repair shop for the second time |
This time a closer inspection was made to determine why the o-ring was failing and they found the threads in the aluminum oil pump were no longer holding under pressure requiring replacement of the oil pump.
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| John and Sharon in the main hall |
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| Sharon in the dinning room |
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| John in front of the Salisbury House |
By 5:30PM Wednesday the repairs were completed and the truck picked up – again. After dinner and after getting the truck washed – again – John drove it about 50 miles on the beltway around Des Moines and had no issues.
Thursday morning we again hooked up, stopped at the truck wash to wash the oil off the trailer – again – and headed west – again – a couple of days behind schedule. We drove the day watching for the smoke signals but none showed. We stopped in Kearney, NE for the evening at Kearney RV Park. Friday we traveled to Cheyenne, WY and stopped at Terry Bison Ranch RV Park for the evening. Saturday we traveled to Fort Bridger, WY and stopped at Fort Bridger RV Campground. Our schedule had us arriving here on Friday to stay the weekend. We arrived a day late but were now back on schedule and stayed the weekend. Sunday, after attending church, we walked around Fort Bridger State Historic Site.
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| One of the buildings at Carter's Trading Post |
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| Sharon on the porch of the Commanding Officer's Quarters |
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| John & Sharon in front of the Jim Bridger statue |
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| Entrance to Fort Bridger |
Monday morning we headed for Twin Falls, ID to spend the night at Twin Falls 93 RV Park. As we were now on schedule, we arrived in the early afternoon and took the time to visit Shoshone Falls.
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| Shoshone Falls and below |
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| Below Shoshone Falls. The power house is in the far background |
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| Shoshone Falls and above |
Tuesday morning we attended the Twin Falls Temple before heading for Nampa, ID.
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| John and Sharon in front of the Twin Falls Temple |
After attending the temple we headed west and, as we past the area at which we lost the wheel on our trailer two years ago, we noticed we were no longer receiving a signal from one of our tire pressure sensors – the one on the left rear tire of the vehicle we tow behind the trailer. We took the next exit and found all well except for the sensor. Being unwilling to tow down the highway without a functioning sensor, we took the Mariner off the tow dolly, hooked the tow dolly to the back of the Mariner and made the rest of our trip arriving in Nampa, ID about 4:30 PM.
In all this adventure, we feel we were always blessed. Each break down was at a location where we could safely stop. We were directed to a good repair facility by the tow truck driver. We were able to stay in an RV park within six blocks of the repair facility. Life is good. As my brother put it, it still beats paying property taxes and needing to mow the lawn.
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