Blue Mesa, CO (michael)

Blue Mesa, CO 240 miles We woke up late, that mountain air is like a drug. We said our good-byes to Bob and off to the GAS STATION we went. Now we were told that the bus got 7.9 mpg. It turns out to be about 6! When we get to some rallies, I'll ask a bus nut to look at it. For now we have to feed the beast! Monarch Pass in CO is a nail biting way to go in a 102 x 40' bus. I don't think I relaxed my stomach until we arrived in Gunnison, CO. On a good note, Christi ooh'ed and ah'ed the whole way through the pass. It was cloudy for most of the trip and rained a little. Our bus is very dirty now. So much for the grand entrance. The toad looks more like a turd. We arrived in WHR Blue Mesa around 4pm. The lake is high and beautiful. The resort is like an old friend. I missed it. I helped build some of the park. We got a great space next to the clubhouse and with a shade tree. Very nice. We are seeing lots of friends. We are home, for 2 weeks anyway then we find another home. Isn’t having a bus fun?All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

Trinidad, CO (michael)

Trinidad, CO 240 miles Spent 2 nights in Trinidad, CO. We stopped here to visit Christi’s brother Bobby who lives there. Our 1st night (June 30th) was spent at Wally World’s parking lot. The 2nd night (July 1st) we spent at Lake Trinidad State Park. Very nice setting. Cost $30.00 total ($18 for the space then $6 for each vehicle X 2= $12) Kind of pricey. Bobby treated us to the night off the road. Thanks Bob. It was a 240 mile trip that went without a mishap. Mrs. Jones is one hell of a bus. After 700 miles, she lost no oil at all and no coolant. I did find the driver side radiator screen was missing 3 screws. Quick fix. We are off to Blue Mesa, CO in the morning. All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

Our 1st 450 Miles (michael)

Our first 450 miles are behind us. We are sitting at the Hollywood casino in San Felipe, New Mexico. Nex to the casino is a campground that Hilda & Randy Smith told us about for $10.00 per night. It has electric only with a dump station. We signed up for a card in the casino and got $5 free play each, so it panned out. This was our first long trip with Mrs. Jones and it went OK save some minor mishaps. About 30 miles down the road the sewer smell filled the rig. We put in some deodorizer to make the place livable. I will have to flush the tanks instead of just dumping them! As you know by reading our blog, all the glass was broken out of the bus when we got it. Trevor, the person we bought it from, had replaced the windshields and also replaced the small side glass with clear plastic. Well this didn't hold up very well at 70mph. The driver side popped out but I grabbed it in time to save it and Christi held it until I pulled over. We temporarily fixed it and moved on. Then the other side started to whistle! We need to find some windows bad!!! Lets see, what else, oh the brake lights would not work on the toad. Found a lose wire. I forgot to hook up the water pump to the batteries. “OOPS”. Had lunch in Lordsburg, NM. Then the “NOT GEN” light came on??? Then it went off, then it came on again. Then it blinked on and off for a minute and now its off!?! I am looking for it in the E-Manual that Dallas gave me but no joy yet. Going up Texas Canyon the engine temp. got up to 210 but she pulled the hill real nice. The whole trip Christi was finding all the things that were rattling, banging and falling and securing them. Oh and the Genny ran out of gas so, no air for a very short time. Christi likes her air conditioning. All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

We're Are Off Into The Sunset (michael)

We're Are Off Into The Sunset

Well, all the planning and all of the work is done. The time is at hand. Shake down is done. The good-byes are said. We hit the road in the morning. My confidence level is about 95% on the bus and 100% on the tour. The 5% is the unknown about a bus on the road. It was all almost overwhelming for me. I stand back and gaze upon the fruits of our labor. I think of all the great people that helped us get to this point and we thank them. Mrs. Jones is in good shape and we have enjoyed the last 3 weeks living in her. I feel a strange bond growing with the ol' girl. I have heard other bus nuts talk of this bond before. It is kinda like getting your 1st car feeling. It is very strange indeed! I have gotten rid of even more stuff. I have a little space opening up in the bays, well one anyway. Now it's off into the wild blue yonder. Next stop, Santa Fe, NM.

All the Best, Michael & Christi

PS: Hi Mom. See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/