Plans? What Plans?

Remember all those plans we wrote about in the last post?  Well, forget about them.

We picked up the trailer as planned on Oct 18th, spent the weekend in Elkhart, and left Monday for Indianapolis, IN.  Arrived there fine.  Then the trailer decided to have a mental breakdown.  Hydraulics wouldn't hold level (front legs drift down). No visible leaks to fix. No visible sign of hydraulic fluid anywhere. Hydraulic fluid reservoir at proper levels.  Did all our tricks of special sequence of front leg movements with no success. Finally got it to hold at 2 degrees front high. So that's the way we spent the night.

No success in finding anyone to look at it Tuesday around Indianapolis.  A phone call to Kay Cross (Indiana Interstate Enterprises/Cross RV) got us a few contacts we could try.  A gentleman near Shipshewana, IN would look at it and could repair hydraulics, so back to the Elkhart area we returned.

We got back to Elkhart, IN Tuesday afternoon.  Wednesday morning we wake up to electrical wire burning.  A quick call to the gentleman in Shipshewana said he'd look at that, too.  So he came out late Wednesday afternoon.  Turns out we're cooking our transfer switch and the hydraulic problems appears to be some seeping of fluid along two hydraulic lines.  Parts should be here tomorrow.  

Hopefully, we can get back on the road Sunday.  If not, we're fine here in Elkhart.

So that's what's happening with us. Thanks for checking up on us.  We'll post when we're comfortably back on the road.  David

Allen Farm Intruder Alert System

Decades ago, there was a comic strip (Calvin & Hobbs) about a mischievous 5 year old (Calvin) and his stuffed tiger (Hobbs). One Sunday cartoon edition started as follows: 

The setting: Calvin and Hobbs are walking in the woods.

Calvin: Hobbs, I've been thinking.

Hobbs:  On a weekend?!

Calvin: Well, it wasn't intentional...

So starts the story of the Allen Farm Intruder Alert System (AFIAS).

Background:  Beth & Frank live on Frank's family's farm near Fredericksburg, VA.  Full of history, the farm -  The Allen Farm - I'll call it (not the family's affectionate name for it) is somewhat of a paradise amongst the growing Fredericksburg area. Today, cattle & crops are no longer raised on it.  The grandmother's house is replaced. While the original family (Frank's and his siblings parents') house remains, siblings and other relatives now live on the farm where cattle & crops once stood.  One nephew and his family has three rescue dogs.  The dogs love to bark.  And when I was left unsupervised, I would walk the farm road and these dogs would go off like clockwork.  I'm convinced that one of them eventually knew when I opened an exterior door of Frank & Beth's house to do a morning stroll despite being out of line of sight and blocked by a house.  One morning, like Calvin of Calvin & Hobbs fame, I made a mistake and started thinking...

Welcome to the introduction of the Allen Farm Intruder Alert System, henceforth known as AFIAS.

This alert system obtains our highest 5-star rating.  AFIAS has surpassed our highest expectations for any intruder alert system. Based around a trio of sensors, the system passed every one of our extensive suites of intruder test scenarios. AFIAS did not fail to alert in any scenario. Basically, we found this intruder alert system to be infallible.

Sensor rating:

Sensor 1:  This sensor gets our highest, 5-star rating.  Equipped with the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) package and the latest knowledge & learning processes, this sensor never failed.  This sensor, being AI based, never needs upgrading. This sensor contains & demonstrated sensor engagement despite lacking line-of-sight information.  This sensor can be used as a stand-alone sensor.

Sensor 2: 4.5-star rating. While not AI capable, this sensor contains the latest knowledge & learning processes. This sensor is upgradeable. This sensor ensures any alert from sensor 1 is heard through any covered complex.  This sensor can be used as and is suitable as a stand-alone sensor.

Sensor 3: 2.5-star rating. Using off-the-shelf knowledge & learning processes, this sensor works well as a companion to Sensor 1 or 2 and is extremely useful in ensuring any alert by sensor 1 or 2 is heard anywhere in any covered complex including any remote corners not covered by sensor 1 or 2. This sensor is not upgradeable (hard to teach an old dog new tricks) and must be paired with sensor 1 or 2 to work effectively.

AFIAS is awarded our highest rating and is highly recommended where any intruder alert system is necessary.

Oct 16, 2024 Update:

Our time in paradise at the Allen Farm is over. We're on our way to Lagrange, IN to pick up our trailer. We really enjoyed our time extensively testing the AFIAS and overnighting at the Frank & Beth Bed and Whatever-you-want-to-eat-you-can-fix-yourself. We love you guys more than you know! Below are pictures Beth sent us of the farm for you to see their little bit of paradise near the Washington, DC bedroom community of Fredericksburg, VA.  

We're sorry we didn't get to see everyone and hope to visit with those we missed on the way back up next spring.  Once we have the trailer and are restocked, we'll head down to Springfield, OH, then over to Huntington, WV, and finally down to High Point, NC.  Further stops are planned (OK, reservations) for Stone Mountain, GA, Birmingham, AL and down to Gulf Shores, AL for the winter.  At least that's the plan.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us. David

 

Back in Fredericksburg

We're back in Fredericksburg, VA for 2 to 4 weeks while the trailer gets some well earned TLC back in Indiana.  We're invaded Beth & Frank while we're here. Hopefully, they can stand us being around for that 2 to 4 weeks! We don't have any camping/RV reservations until November 15th. So if we're out early, we're gonna be winging it.

We're fine. Doc appointments all next week. Donna got her rental car yesterday, and she's already out visiting this morning. We'll try to see as many people as we can while we're here.

Thanks for stopping by and checking up on us. More later, David