R&R, Restored and Ready /  by Dave Hileman

I hope and I certainly intend this to be the last of the Oliver Recovery Project. We left our very nice campsite near Nashville at a COE lakeside spot in the early dark hours to stop at, of all places, McDonalds. We needed good WiFi at precisely 8:00 EDT (or seven here) to try and score a campsite Gulf side in Florida for next March, that is right NEXT March. And we did get five nights.

Then we drove north to White House and an appointment to get our new inverter. This is a very well run professional place. The work was done fairly quickly and he gave us a thumbs up on the solar with an explanation, finally, as to why for several years our inverter did not work. WIRE SIZE.

While this was going on we met with a friend we had not seen for 41 years. It was so good to catch up with Joyce. We met at a super coffee & ice cream shop. And people have a hard time defining ‘‘heaven.”

I am still zonked. We moved to a commercial campground at 3:30 and have done very little except, set up, take a walk and buy what looks like fabulous take out food from the Chef’s Market- thanks to Joyce!

Maybe tomorrow with a decent rest tonight the actual trip can begin in ernest - or maybe from the campground. We may also have a surprise in a day or two to report. Think antlers.

Our inverter repair center

Deja Moo - recommended if you are in White House, TN

Better, a Bit /  by Dave Hileman

Day two of the Oliver Recovery Project commenced with optimism. We did not sleep too well but still things looked bright in the foggy, hazy, storm impending morning. After breakfast we continued the cleaning and re-stocking. While also checking each of our systems. Late morning we tried the inverter by using the coffee pot, it worked. We thought we were home free. Then last thing we tried the microwave also on inverter, worked fine on 110. It ran 25 seconds and we got an error message on the inverter. We got the tech from Oliver to come over - he recorded the error messages and we took it back across the lot to the shop and left it as the crew was leaving for lunch. When they returned and started in on our issue we chose to go eat lunch. Returning we found the news that the inverter that tested twice by Oliver and seemed OK was actually damaged as well. Did they have a new one? No. A different one is used now and it would be difficult to install it but, Jason found one north of Nashville. Bad news that would take a day or two at best to get. If, he said, we had an appointment they could install and bill back via Oliver. Well, we did! Amazing. I had made an appointment to have the solar checked ( I resisted the urge to write Solar System, you’re welcome) at this place. So arrangements have been made and confirmed. We are to be there at 8 tomorrow.

While at Oliver we met a great couple from Cincinnati, Roy and Christina, and we talked a long time together. About RV and travel and church, they are committed believers, we just had a great time. We are grateful for the time passed much more agreeably with the two of them to visit witha.

Oliver has improved so much from our early experiences. New large facility, full staff, waiting room, nice show room, delivery area and — very accommodating and competent people. They are busy all the time but are doing a strong job.

We moved to a campground about 40 minutes from our appointment on Thursday. It is 8:20 it may as well be midnight - good night!

Truncated Post! /  by Dave Hileman

We were up at five left at six drove 600+ miles in heavy rain much of the way. Picked up the Oliver, cleaned it inside, loaded the clothes, food, dishes, bedding et al and are done at 9:28 which is actually 10:28. I will write about the Oliver experience which was well above expectations - aside from FedEx…later. Good Night.

Ready for this long day to end.

For Sale - no not the Oliver:) Update /  by Dave Hileman

I have no idea what “hotel” spawned the idea for the lyrics of the Eagle’s Hotel California but this fits the bill. It has a courtyard, is well out in the desert and spooky even at mid-day. Plus the entire town of Nipton is for sale if you are interested in becoming the mayor for life - this is your chance.

The part arrived at 3:52 CDT on Monday. FedEx delivered the overnight package to Hohenwald in a mere six days with the overnight service. Ridiculous. One week for an overnight package from 400 miles away. .Next stop install and does it work?

I got word just after six that it is installed and working with one exception that is the low speed fan on the AC. The AC is only working on high speed fan. We can resolve that issue locally. Both the furnace and the AC work and the furnace is the more critical for this trip as temperatures appear to be in the high 30s several nights. We are planning to leave for Hohenwald at six am.

Melted (and update) /  by Dave Hileman

This image is from the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada not too far from Las Vegas. A remarkable place. We did not have enough time here and not having the trailer meant we were 90 minutes away so it was not as easy to be here at the right time of day. This was close to sunset and the colors really pop. The bends in the rock of the various strata of color are magical. My photos do not do them justice. That is one reason why even after a year I have not posted any of these before but I will get a few done this spring.

Speaking of spring we hope now to be in Hohenwald mid-day on Tuesday to get the Oliver. The elusive part has journeyed from the factory to Baton Rouge - where it apparently was held captive by pirates, released to Nashville on Saturday and to a distribution center close to Hohenwald on Sunday. We plan to leave here once the repair folks tell us it is installed and working. So likely Monday. Our first part and last part of the trip is set but we are holding off on the middle cause we may need adjustments if things do not all work correctly in the trailer. More on this Tomorrow. Meanwhile, if we are on schedule, I will be at a motel on Monday night somewhere in TN and will be able to watch the BB game. Go Team!

After six days in transit as of 8:10 CDT the package is out for delivery, FedEx “setting new standards for the word ‘Overnight.’”

Oliver Update /  by Dave Hileman

Thermostat is on the move! Tracking the “overnight” package since last Tuesday - Factory, to Baton Rouge Tuesday to Friday, Saturday to Nashville, Sunday to Lawrenceville, the local distribution center.

Big Horn Sheep (3 photos) /  by Dave Hileman

We spotted this small herd of Big Horn Sheep near the main road at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.

The Oliver Update: Fedex has had the part in the Baton Rouge facility since Wednesday before noon and it still is there - it was shipped with overnight fees on Tuesday from the company and it is simply “delayed” with no explanation, no action and no promise it will leave there today or tomorrow or Monday. We are delaying again.

Mother and new born were staying back very still away from the main herd. What do you call a baby Big Horn Sheep? Little Toot Sheep?

Leader of the pack (and now he’s gone)

Lonely and Hot - Oliver Update (that may have the same title:) /  by Dave Hileman

This is a very small mining operation on private land, maybe a single family effort? It is on the edge of the Mohave Desert National Monument but still well in the desert itself. We are several miles off the main highway on a dusty and deeply potholed sort-of-paved road. I cannot imagine what day to day life is like in this area. But I was living here I would guess each day would be like a bad April Fools day prank. Surely this is not my home.

Update: as of 4:00 Thursday the thermostat had not arrived but they were tracking it and still thought it would arrive by close of business. Then it would be installed Friday and tested through the day. We do not yet know if we will leave on Sunday but still hope to do so. I may not update the travel plans until the Monday post.

Big Day /  by Dave Hileman

We find out later today if the trailer is done and ready to be picked up Monday the 4th of April.

We are anxious to be back on the two lane roads headed to parks and friends and travel adventures. So, watch Saturday’s post for the latest on the next - shorter, much shorter, trip.

This is a shot from Death Valley headed toward Artists Point.

Contrast (update added 10AM today) /  by Dave Hileman

This is taken in the midst of the Great Sand Dunes of Death Valley National Park. I found the mesquite trees fascinating. Here is one atop a dune with the purple/blue/grey of a mountain looming in the background.

Late Update: just heard that the testing of the Oliver is underway. Thermostat failed and is to be replaced in the AM with a new one. It has been fussy for a while and this is not surprising. The good news is that they have moved from repair to testing. Yay!

No One's Favorite /  by Dave Hileman

This is a House Sparrow with a difference. House Sparrows were introduced into the US in 1850 in NYC and are now widespread and part of the reason for the decline of other sparrow types as they aggressively compete for nesting space and food. This one differs by the richer colors found in the western variations and by the very dark bill and eye stripe found only during breeding.

In this image you can see the dark throat and breast

Spring of 2021 #3 /  by Dave Hileman

We did not see a tree larger than a decent sized shrub for miles then, walking toward the rock formation in the “Lone Ranger” section of the Alabama Hills we saw this enormous tree, towering over the landscape. Turned out there was a small spring here and a few trees thrived in the moist environment. This was taken early in the day with the rising sun illuminating the mountains. You can still see wisps of snow on the top of the highest mountain in the lower 48 states.

Spring of 2021 #2 and Oliver Update /  by Dave Hileman

Evening light show over the Alabama Hills.

Heard from Oliver Company yesterday. The wiring aspect is almost complete and tested. The smaller things we requested are done. What remains are two items and final testing that must be done outside for the solar after these are finished. First the furnace that fried is on back order and might not make it before the middle of April. Instead they recommend putting the furnace that goes into the current Oliver line - it requires a couple of modifications but they have it, it is a bit more efficient and has a smaller footprint but more BTUs. About the same price.

The second issue is the brake assembly. The labor to repair all of that is half of a new whole axle with better bushings, sealed bearings (no more repacking every so many miles) and new shocks.

We agreed to spend the extra on the new axle assembly and go with the new furnace that they have in stock. The estimate for completion is still 3/31 and we are planing to pick up the trailer on 4/4, a Monday and then spend the night at the Oliver camping factory site before moving to one on the Natchez Trace (18 miles away) for a second night of testing .

We have greatly scaled back our travel after and plan to visit Mammoth Cave, Camp Nelson and a battlefield all in KY, head to Knoxville and then home.

Spring of 2021 /  by Dave Hileman

A year ago we were in the west visiting parks in CA, NV and AZ. I have several un-edited photos from that trip that i have begun to process. The next week or two of photos will be from that trip.

The image is from the Alabama Hills just east of the Sierra Nevada range in California. I did not know the Alabama Hills existed even though I have seen them dozens or hundreds of times in movies and TV shows. Extremely interesting place. This is one of the arches found in the area framing yet more of the rock formations for which the Hills are known.

Rain in the Forecast Today /  by Dave Hileman

This was part of an art installation done for Valentine’s Day at the Quinta Mazatian World Birding Center in McAllen, Texas. They were suspended over a section of the path and just a few feet over head. It made a nice impression.

Scouting Report and NEWS /  by Dave Hileman

I hope your first day of spring was a lovely as ours here in Raleigh. Cindy and I did a nice hike of about three miles at Umstead Park. I have been looking for a tree, a specific tree in a specific location for a potential photo in the snow. It does snow here on occasion. I wanted one of these trees that keep the leaves after all the others have fallen, they are pale white to a soft gold color. It would be nice to know the name of the tree. Anyway, they are often obscured by the larger trees around them or clustered with many others making a chaotic view or in an area that gets little sun. So my “imagined” photo is one of these trees, alone in the dark forest with new snow and a shaft of light. Plus one I can access. This one fits the bill, so….

Other news, we received the check from AMICA today and are greatly relieved. No new updates on the progress or lack of for Oliver but we are moving forward on some fronts.

Detail

Spoonbills /  by Dave Hileman

These Roseate Spoonbills were found in Southeast Texas near the Rio Grande. There were a lot of resident waterfowl of al kinds there and lots of wintering birds as well. Neat place.