U.S.A.

Preparing to come

For the past six months I had been researching the laptop market. Every time I came to settle on a particular model, a new one superceded it. The prices are so much cheaper here,

By now I was picking up my “E” mail in the Gateway shop. Apart from public libraries, shops like Gateway and other computer shops sometimes have one or more “on line” and a little twiddle gets me into Hotmail, then I ask to see how it prints.

This procedure is sometimes interrupted by an over enthusiastic salesman who then tries to flog to me the PC that I have been so interested in. I then have to counter with, “where is the £ key”? or “will it work in Europe”? They then go off to speak to a higher authority and leave me to get on with my “E”’s.

I did make a decision that speed was not my priority and that memory was. Although I could send and receive “E”’s, store every letter and bit of information that I put onto the screen for the next ten years, it would only take a few digital photographs to start to fill up 3 or 4 Gig. And this is going to be my next quest.

I am so frustrated with the limited “EVERYTHING” on this laptop, that MORE is the watchword. As more and more is available on the internet, I expect to be downloading volumes of info. My contribution to the two motorhome magazines also takes up memory.

Voltage and frequency is not a problem as all PC’s have a 110 to 230 volt switch on the back near the plug, in fact the plug is universal.

Some might have noticed that almost everything in my lifestyle is over the top? Having many enormous American vehicles for at least 30 years. Having a 35 plus feet of motorhome for the past 16 years. For many years my runabout was a six ton Mercedes van. We did buy a six bed, three bath holiday home in Bergerac. And a 14 hp. mower for a spec of lawn.

Now to go with the seven seater people carrier and a 38 ft. motorhome a 10.2 Gig PC is just the logical norm. I seem to need “Office Pro”.

While kicking our heels at the Fleetwood factory waiting for our appointment for service, I thought to make the most of the time by having an engine service before shipping home.

So booking a 6,000 mile service and a valve adjustment I brought up the old chestnut of the squealing noise when using the exhaust brake. This has been one of my complaints since September 98. Each time Cummins fixes something under warranty (no charge) and on we go only to find it still squealing a week or month later.

Now with the engine three months out of warranty and the extended service contract 350 miles out of warranty, we find out the squealing noise is the most expensive part of the engine, the turbocharger! Signs of a bearing failure are apparent by the oil within the ports.

We are spending another night plugged into another Cummins facility awaiting some sort of negotiations on this problem.

Almost everything on this most expensive of our motorhomes has gone wrong. If you get what you pay for, why did this one cost five times the others that had almost no failures.

Next morning I enter into further discussions with the service department of the Fort Wayne Cummins agents. Indicating that this problem has been with us for about one year and each time that I have complained they have found something to fix but not the real problem.

Their service co-ordinator contacted Cummins and received a promise that they would cover the cost of parts and that I would have to pay all the labour costs.

This I begrudgingly agreed to as it was a recurring problem that should have been rectified a year ago. When the mechanic found that the exhaust manifold was leaking and might have contributed to the noise I complained bitterly that this had been changed by Cummins and that I should not have to pay even the labour costs. But Cummins would not budge on their decision as I was out of the guarantee period.

After the exhaust manifold was removed, it was found that the head had been so badly pitted as to make an air tight seal impossible.

Further discussions between the service department and Cummins produced more offers to supply parts but still I would have to pay labour. As the estimated labour cost, even on a minimum assumption was approaching $1,000. I was not too happy.

I was then informed that we would have to check into a motel for one or two nights until the repairs were completed. A further $70. accommodation charges to add to the already spiralling labour costs.

With the installation of a new head, manifold and turbocharger, my part of the bill would be considerable. It was then armed with all the previous receipts and documents relating to all the work on this engine that I sat down with the service department once again to explain that this should have been taken care of by warranty. And I should not have to pay such a large amount.

I also told them that as we had had so many mechanical problems with this motorhome, our experiences were being serialised in two UK magazines. Buyer beware was the headline that I produced. Copies were taken of the magazines. As Michelin had helped us with sharing the cost of replacement tyres, I let it be known that a favourable report of their dealings had been written. Within an hour the service co-ordinator had been on the phone to Cummins and received their offer to pay labour also. At this I was ecstatic and expressed my joy and appreciation.

The costs of almost $2,000 for parts and $1,000 for labour had been accepted by Cummins, Finally the squealing noise had been solved, a test drive proved that it was all quiet in the engine bay. Now that almost everything had been renewed at the top end of the engine.

Two nights in a local motel, even with the ubiquitous “Corporate Rate” discount was enough to make us realise the pleasure of living in the Eagle. Smoky, dirty and noisy rooms, with no facility to make real tea and we were eager to get back into our “home”.

Now after four days for what initially was only an oil change. we were on our way back to the customer car park of Fleetwood just 40 miles away.

The 4th. of July holiday was almost upon us. We managed to slot into a space at Fleetwood Friday evening, as the car park was almost full. But we need not have worried as first thing Saturday it was a mass exodus for the majority of motohomes heading off to friends and families.

We were one of five RV’s remaining, to sit out the independance celebrations.

Dear All,

This will probably be the last “E” from the USA. I am not looking forward to going “home”. The prospect of trying to explain to the family why I like it so much in the states. Having to put up with high prices and crowded streets back home, grey skies, cold damp weather, and too many visitors trying to come to our house in France before we have even settled in and unpacked.

Paying for local phone calls, trying to register (tag) the car and RV. Complying with all the Euro vehicle regulations to our vehicles. Tiny pieces of tough meat, indifferent service, mowing grass, chopping logs etc. etc.

In the meantime we have to finish packing all those little last minute things. Try to conceal anything valuable. Cover chairs, upholstery, bedding and carpet with bin liners and plastic. Remove tags and hitches from both vehicles. And a 101 other last minute things that I won’t bore you with now.

We have managed to sell the two Sony TV’s, as they don’t work in Europe. We still have the VCR to go. New multi standard ones will have to be bought for use in UK and France.

When we get to London it will be another 18 days before the ship docks in Southampton. We will try and see all the relatives before picking up my mother in the north of England and transporting her down to London in readiness to collecting the vehicles and whisking her off to France for a while.

She just wants us near in case of a difficulty. Not understanding that I love the life here. The American Motorhome scene has been my life, hobby, and pleasure for the last 18 years, and now I am being taken away from it.

I still have not bought a digital camera, as the one I want is $900. And it goes against the grain to spend that much on a toy. I do have a contact in the UK who might be able to get one at a great discount. I so want to send pictures via “E” mail to you all in the states, of our place and area in Europe. Maybe soon.

I am already planning on our return, or at least mine. Trouble is new RV’s are being introduced each year and the choice might be totally different in two or three years time.

At some time I must try to finish the second year of our travels for the magazines. It will be much more condensed than the first year and only contain joys and problems, of which there were many.

We have had so much work done on this motorhome that it must be almost new. Trouble is that when we try to sell it in one or two years time, people will remember reading about all of our problems and failures. Hey Ho.

The only thing that can go wrong now is the ship sinking. With our luck it could happen. Watch the weather. There is the promise of hurricanes from Africa on their way as I write.

Anyway we will always be in touch by “E” mail or even phone. And we hope to see some of you make it across the pond. Our Christmas list has increased to almost 200 now.

I can honestly say that apart from Prue’s purse being stolen and the difficulties of trying to use the phone system here, we have enjoyed the whole 22 month experience. The diversity of the landscape, the friendliness of the people and the value for money here.

Even spending many nights plugged into a variety of repair facilities did not dampen our pleasure of the RV lifestyle here in the US.

Hope to hear from y’all at some time.

Aurevoir, alvedesien and tatar for now, Ray and Prue.

THE BEST-LAID PLANS.

Dear All,

Our nice simple straightforward three-week trip back to England this month started quite well. The principal reason for going was get both vehicles tested.

The Eagle motorhome towing our little Citroen car made it to the port of Cherbourg in heavy drizzle. Both vehicles were filthy dirty and the car covered in grit and gravel.

Topping up with cheap French diesel, 50p a litre ($3.0 a US gallon), we joined the line to check-in. We had arrived early to request the assistance of a wheel chair and access to a lift (elevator) for mother. This was where the problems started.

Somehow my request for a 10 metre motorhome (it’s 11.5 actually) and a 4m. trailer (the Citroen) when booking the ferry crossing had been logged just as “longer than 5m.” So long discussions with the French check-in girl resulted in the line getting so long that I was asked to park up and continue these discussions in the terminal building with higher authority.

One hour later and with only minutes to spare before sailing we were permitted to board with the existing ticket unchanged. It was now almost impossible to push the wheelchair and mum between all the parked vehicles to get to the lift.

The crossing was smooth and uneventful thankfully and we docked on time. We had arranged to park the motorhome on a small farm close to Hampton Court and only four miles from the family. As stairs are a problem for mum we need a bathroom and toilet on the same floor. So we take mother to our apartment on the second floor of a block that our son lives in and we then sleep at my sister in laws about a mile away as she has a spare room.

The next day with everything planned like a military operation. We set out to the flat for Prue to bath, dress and feed mother. Then onto an opticians appointment that morning. And finally the MOT test for the RV that afternoon.

We had only gone 500 yd. When the Citroen lost its gears. We were marooned beside the busy A3 in rush hour. Frantic calls to a Citroen dealer promised recovery within the hour. More calls to a dear friend who transported Prue to attend to a patiently waiting mother.

The recovery truck came quickly enough but damaged the front of the car getting it onto the low-loader. The Citroen dealer could not promise repairs that day so we canceled the opticians and asked my other son to drive me to the stored motorhome to give me a chance for the test that afternoon.

Luckily the Eagle did pass the test OK and I returned to our friends house to pick up a washing machine that I had bought earlier on the Internet. Because I had a hernia operation two months previous, my two septuagenarians insisted in handling the washing machine into the lounge of the motorhome for transport later to France.

The RV was taken back to storage on the farm and next day the car was mobile again. Promises of having the repair done to the bodywork on our return were made by the recovery company.

The weather reports of two feet of snow at my mothers home filled me with dread. She lives in the worst place in England for weather and only the hardy survives. 300 miles north of London and an all day journey. Combined with this, the Foot and Mouth disease was taking hold and possible restrictions were likely to be imposed. About this time another rail disaster occurred and ten people died at a small village where we usually stop for lunch on the way to mothers.

Once again we were lucky that a mild spell had come and the snowdrifts were melting causing flooding. But we saw a window of milder weather and ventured north and mum’s house.

Immediately we arrived at my mother’s house, I made overtures to the social services for any assistance that might be available to us in caring for mum. But at every turn I was given another excuse why we could not be helped. Either that they were far too busy or as we were intending to return to France, assistance would not be given. Even if we stayed and continued with applications for help both financial or physical it would likely be six months before any came.

Eight days later and we decided to come south again. It was at this point that our son informed us that his girlfriend had invited her mother and sister to stay at our flat. Panic set in as finding somewhere to accommodate mother is not the easiest option. For one reason or another she was not able to stay at any other relatives for the four days before our return ferry.

The only possibility was to get the RV out of storage and try to sleep in there. This worked out better than we had imagined as with only four steps in and out of the Eagle we were able to take mother out each day to visit son’s and in-laws and we were not trapped within four walls.

The remaining few days passed quickly, especially as I received an e-mail in response to an article in our magazine indicating that at the right price the Eagle could be purchased. A couple arranged to view the rig Sunday before we sailed for France.

Four hours of inspection and a deal was done. Now we had to get back to France and empty the motorhome. Pop across again to acquire the new Overland acquisition, then arrange a date to deliver the Eagle to its new owners in Grimsby, almost back to mother’s house.

Tuesday, the day of our crossing and again the weather forecast gave us bad news. Snow, storms and gales in the channel were likely. We met the snow half way to the docks but made it OK. The crossing was tortuous to say the least. Prue chucked up, mum could not stand and I was a little green. Crockery and glasses were crashing around us in the cafeteria. A warning was given against going out on deck, as the company would not be liable for anyone overboard. It was bumpy.

Even after disembarking we had to queue for some time while the French authorities examined every vehicle for foodstuffs that had been banned from import into France. This took some time as every caravan and camper was given extra inspection due to the likelihood of food within the fridges and cool boxes. Even sandwiches were forbidden.

It was late that night when we finally made it to bed and the end of three hectic weeks.

Ray.