May Update

We fine - running about two weeks behind schedule. Today we're in Kearney, NE and planning to get to Grand Teton on the 28th. We've had a good trip out of Howe, IN so far. Only one day of some rain and today was our first really windy, headwind day. We're also gaining elevation each day, so fuel mileage is on the low side.

We were able to get get most of our slide issues fixed. As is usually the case, when the trailer went into the Lippert shop in Howe, IN (old DRV Service Center), the shop couldn't duplicate the issue. We'd brought the trailer there with the bedroom slide empty (under bed storage empty). We pull all our stuff we typically carry under the bed back in that storage area and the slide worked OK. We started testing it out and while doing so, the kitchen slide failed. Started fooling with both slides and everything just stopped. Push any button you want, nothing moved. No slide, no leveling legs, nothing.

We metaphorically threw our hands in the air in frustration and left the shop. Walked some of Sturgis to get the frustration out and thought about the batteries. In the past we'd had a battery short itself out and created the same situation. Went back to the shop to tell them and when we got there, they had it all working. Turns out that we had the leveling legs fully extended (rare for us as we learned not to do that) plus all the slides out. We'd run too low on hydraulic fluid for things to work. We left for the day while the shop got all the air out of the hydraulic lines and repaired the kitchen slide. We got it back the next day. There's still work to do on the bedroom slide that we'll get taken care of when we get to North Carolina in the fall. Otherwise, all seems OK.

In other sad news, I've lost two mentors since we last posted. Kurt Shovestal was one of several people who trained me in what was called Earned Value Management when I retired. Kurt's calm leadership really aided me in learning how to present the information we gained and deal with various program offices and contractors when presenting that information. Two weeks later we learned Judy Bahnmiller past away. Greg & Judy taught us how to be fulltime RVers. When we were in the Gulf Shores area, Judy was always arranging lunches with fellow RVers and setting up game night. We think the world of Greg & Judy. She will be missed.

So from here the plan, what there is of it, is to travel to Sidney, NE (Cabela's) tomorrow. Go to Laramie, WY the next day. After that it's an overnight in Lander, WY. Move to Grand Teton the following day. We plan to be in Grand Teton until September 23rd.

That's it for us. Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us. Until next time, David