Enough Is Enough!
Our move on Monday went fine with everything working until we arrived at Illinois Beach and started to put out the slide. It moved along fine for about a foot then creaked and groaned and wouldn't go further. We quickly realized that the slide topper awning/ window awning (all one piece) was jammed. The slide would not move. Trying to force it caused teeth on the awning gears to break. OK! That's Enough! I think this is the first time I've thought, "I want to go back to my house!"
What can you do but start trying to resolve the problem. After several phone calls we found we could get into Camping World in Bollingbrook, IL (about 50 miles) the next day. So we spent the evening with the slide in, doing the narrow aisle dance, got up at 6 AM and headed to Camping World. We drove separately because it was a short trip and, wouldn't you know, Jim took a wrong freeway turn. He went one way, I went the other. I guess he really missed his navigator. You can imagine the "business" I gave him!
He recovered quickly and we got to our appointment in time. They had the new slide topper on in an hour; the slideout worked fine. But they didn't have the correct window awnings for the side. In fact, it looks like we'll have to have an awning modified to fit the space we have. We'll have to do some research to get that problem solved.
We got back to the park by 3 PM and got all set up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that cleaning out the schmutz from the HWH box has solved some of the problems :). I was absolutely and totally exhausted. I only got 3 hours sleep the night before being the worry wart that I am. So I crashed about 8 PM and slept around the clock. I felt immensely better after a good nights sleep and got my RVer spirit back :) The new slide topper was christened with wind and rain and held up very well and was very quiet...no wind vibration noise.
Today we bought some window film to block some of the sun and heat until we figure out what to do about the awning. The application process is not as easy as described but being the great team that we are, we got two windows covered and not looking too bad. It was easier than paddling a canoe together (a family joke).
Today we signed up to stay here at the beach for two weeks. That takes us through Labor Day. I need to relax!!