Yosemite National Park

Are you kidding me!! This place is amazing in so many ways.  The view from the valley/village is overwhelming then when we drove to the ridges and the view got better!

Lassen Volcanic National park

Lassen NP is in Northern California and has the distinction of having all 4 types of volcanoes.  Yep, there are 4 types; plug, cone, shield and combination.  Very cool...or hot on any given day.  We spent 6 nights in the park dry camping in late September.  We were waking up to temps in the mid 30s but by mid day temps were in the upper 60s to mid 70s.  Great hiking weather.

The refrigerator light

Several months ago our refrigerator light went out.  No big deal.  I checked it out to see if it was just loose or if was really burned out.  I could not really tell but it did not work.  We stopped at a camping store and looked at replacement bulbs.  The exact replacement cost about $6.  But for $12 we could have an LED light that would last longer than we will.  Of course, we went LED.

Back at the RV I replaced the bulb but it still did not light.  So I started checking the switches on the door to see if there was a problem there.  None that I could find.  So no frige light, no big deal we'll get it taken care of at some point when the RV is in for other service. In the mean time we are using a flashlight to see what is in the refrigerator...sad but true.

We attended an RV rally and I asked the rep from the manufacturer if I was overlooking something obvious.  He said no but here is our help line number maybe they can help.  I never called.  While in Coburg, Oregon we had some service on the RV and I ask them to check on the light.  When we got back to pick up the RV I asked what they found on the light.  "Oh!" the tech said, "It was in backwards."  I said "wait, what???"  It is a light bulb, how can it be backwards?

The next chance I got I took the bulb out and looked it over.  Sure enough, there is a positive and negative side to the bulb.  Really!??  When did this happen?  So I'm an idiot that can't even put in a refrigerator light!  Now, in my defense, there was no info on the packaging that there was a positive and negative side.  Nor did the salesman who sold it to me or anyone else I talked to about this say anything about a positive or negative side.  But I still feel pretty stupid!

And now I just spent 10 minutes uninstalling the bulb, taking this pic and reinstalling the bulb.  How silly is this!?

Mt. Hood

We took a day and went to explore Mt. Hood in Oregon.  On the way back we stopped and had dinner in Hood River at a restaurant and brewery.  What a great day!

Mexico

For the BIG 40th anniversary celebration we went to Mexico for a week.  We were just north of Plya Del Carmen.  We had a great stay and met some great people.

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Columbia River Gorge

We left from Fairview, OR (just east of Portland) and quickly got on the historic route 30 that runs along the Columbia Rive Gorge.  The Columbia River separates Oregon from Washington.  Interstate 84 run parallel to both the river and 30.  It was a beautiful drive and we saw some splendid vistas.  I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Repairs and upgrades

While at the FMCA rally we picked up some new vents for the black and gray water tanks.  Diana can smell some odor coming from the gray tank, we think.  I smell it on occasion.  I checked and all the drain lines have p-traps so there is no mechanical reason to be getting this odor.  But it is there.  So while at the rally, we found some vents that really sound like they will help.  Even a guy who does not sell them but tests a lot of RV stuff suggested these vents.  He does seminars on RV repair and maintenance and goes by the name "The RV Doctor".  So we bought the vents and I changed them out.

I had noticed that the black water drain valve leaks a little so I bought a new valve and changed that out, too.  I'm learning but have a long way to go.