INDIO FMCA Western Area Rally 2013

We are entering the Riverside County Fair Grounds in Indio California for our yearly visit to the Western Area  FMCA rally.  Looks like the weather might be a problem this year.

We had a great rally - as usual - then got ready to head to Quartzsite.  Before pulling out of the fairgrounds, we noticed that the alternator was not putting out any amps.  Fearing the worst, like getting stuck out in the desert of Quartzsite, we headed back to Yuma to get the problem fixed.

Glad we didn't try to remove the alternator ourselves.  This guy really earned his earnings this day - and again when he reinstalled it after it got rebuilt.

This is what almost 14 years of road dirt looks like!

Wow - a bright shiny newly rebuilt aternator!  A thing of beauty and hopefully the solution to our problem.

After reinstalling, the problem was not solved.  After getting the alternator back off and re-checked and re-installed - thought the problem was solved.  Didn't realize until almost time to leave for the Summer (fast forward to May - since I am so far behind updating this Blog) that the problem still was a problem.

Got another expert over to do some additional checking and what do you know - it turns out that the problem the whole time was the dual battery isolator!  The tech didn't have one in stock, so a quick call to Monaco Parts and an expensive "next day air" shipment and finally problem solved!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!!!!!

We enjoyed a very Happy New Year's eve with friends.  Pictured in Nita, me, Andy, Dottie, Lew, and Ken.  The clock on the wall is not visable this year - but you all know that we are celebrating with New York!!!



MERRY CHRISTMAS - 2012!!!

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day with good friends.  Pictured are Dottie Anderson, Nita Barnes, me & Andy, Ken Barnes and Lew Anderson.  It is great to have such good friends.





Looking a little more like Christmas.....

Our stockings are hung - no fireplace this year, but next year we will have one!!!!



We have a large tree - all of 4 feet!  Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate it.

We have Santa and a smaller tree - this is the tree we travel with when we would be on the road this time of the year.

That's about all I plan on doing this year.  Maybe next year I will be more organized and get more stuff out and displayed ... or maybe not.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!



The Ramada - Final Inspection.....

Passed final inspection with flying colors!!!!  This is the end of this phase of construction.  Time to concentrate on Christmas.  We will pick back up with the remaining projects in February - time for a rest anyway!

Construction Project - Phase 3 Part 6 - The Ramada Electrical

Our "never ending" Construction Project continues.......

In an attempt to save a few dollars, we dug the trench for the Electrical Conduit ourselves - not sure it was worth what we saved...... digging is hard work even if it is in the sand!

The conduit runs from the NorthWest corner of the Ramada under the concrete at the front of the Coach and then down this trench to the main pedistal.

This wonderful Father/Son team of Electricians insisted on doing a work of art with the metal conduit in the Ramada.  Here the Son is cutting a length of the metal conduit.

Each piece of conduit had to be bent meticulously so that the finished installation would be perfect.  I think they have both done this a few times!

Here the Father is installing one of the more "curvy" pieces of conduit.  It goes up and around the corner of the post to connect with conduit running across the front of the Ramada.

Time to pull the wires thru the conduit on the Ramada.  There will be two ceiling fans and 4 electrical outlets plus two switches - one for the lights and one to activate the fan blades.

Feeding the wires down into the conduit to the main pedistal.

The wires coming up to the main pedistal.  This was a little tricker than they expected, but really no problem.  There was 4 - 90 degree turns and 2 - 45 degree turns underground! 

The fans being installed and at the same time the outlets being wired.

Since the code for underground electrical requires that the conduit be at least 12 inches below ground or under at least 2 inches of concrete - and we have one area where it was impossible to be deep enough underground, our contractor is mixing cement to cover the offending area.

After some ad-libbing at creating a frame for the concrete...



..... the concrete is dumped into the form.

Notice the fancy tools used to finish off the concrete!  It will be buried after all - and this guy is not a concrete contractor.  At least we are legal!  Now all we have to do is wait for the inspector to come out - hopefully we will pass the first time cause it would be a mess to have to re-do something at this point.

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas!

Since we have passed the final inspection on the Ramada - it is time to get some Christmas lights up!

The gates are lit up....takes a little bit of planning to be able to still open the gates with all the lights hooked up .... they both work!!!

We are in the Holiday spirit - still working on it all ... it's only November, but we are getting there!