Tuesday

No motorhome news today. We’re still in the hotel in Littleton.

When we moved out of the motorhome and into the Jeep, we pretty much took everything we had. It’s too much stuff. We weren’t really prepared to move out. Today we thinned it out somewhat, and dropped off a lot of stuff at Matt’s house tonight. Now we should at least be able to see out the rear window.

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we’re off to Green River, Utah (in the Jeep), on our way to the Accounting Conference in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, along the way, Bullock’s Orioles at Chatfield State Park.

Monday

The motorhome news isn’t good. The engine is blown. There is a hole in the block underneath the number 2 cylinder.



The hole is just to the bottom right of center in this picture. The service manager tells us that this particular situation is unusual. Usually, if there is a hole in the block, there is a piston rod sticking out through it. Our number 2 piston rod is still attached to the crank shaft. They’ll have to dig deeper.

Meanwhile, we’ve moved out of the motorhome. It was sad to pack up and drive away, not knowing when we could come back.

They’ll get our rig towed into a bay and start taking things apart. When they get enough forensics, a representative of the Warranty Company will come out and have a look to see if they approve the repair. The warranty company has already asked us for the complete service record on the vehicle to make sure there isn’t any owner neglect involved.

We’ve asked how long the repair might take. If everything goes perfectly, it will be two weeks. We’ve also heard estimates of four weeks and six weeks.

We’re checked into a motel in Littleton. We’ll stay here two nights, then head off for the Conference in Las Vegas (in the Jeep).

On my evening walk, I got an Eastern Meadowlark. Colorado is loaded with Western Meadowlarks, but this is the farthest west we’ve ever gotten an Eastern one.

Here's the plan

We leave Chatfield and host grilled burgers and homemade chocolate malts with Jon and Deb, and Janis and Brian, at Rifle Gap State Park, on Sunday. A couple days there, then south to Ridgway State Park and Orvis Hot Springs for a soak and a massage. Two days from there to Las Vegas for the accounting conference for a week. From there, we’re off to Truckee to get the White-headed Woodpecker and Mountain Quail, Redding because it’s on the way, and Crescent City on the Northern California coast for two weeks.

What actually happened: We were up by 7, on the move by 8:15, all the way out of Chatfield Park by 8:30 and pulled over on the shoulder of the ramp from C-470 to I-70 westbound in a cloud of smoke and pool of oil by 9!






The big-honkin tow truck was there by 1.



The tow-truck driver, Aaron, had to very carefully lift the front of the bus, then disconnect the drive train. He popped the decorative hub off the right rear wheel and un-bolted the axle, but the axle wouldn’t pull out past the decorative wheel-work, so he had to put the axle back in, crawl underneath the rig, and take out the driveshaft.

Even having to pull the driveshaft, it only took an hour and a half to get the motorhome underway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgfTDUjKJeg

We were towed to a repair shop out on the east side of Denver. Our plans are on hold while we wait for more information. A preliminary look from the mechanic suggests that this is serious. We should find out more tomorrow.

Today’s installment of: Life on the (Side of) the Road.

Henry

Remember the family portrait picture for Henry? I should identify the participants



Henry on the left, Annie getting kissed by Abby the Golden Retriever, then Sophie the mom, Ellie the sister, and Max the dad. The human mom is Jazi.

When Henry won the cute-pet-picture contest, the prize was a doggie bed, custom made by Jazi.

It appears to have been custom made just for Henry!

Alex

Turns out Alex, Matt’s son, has an aptitude for gymnastics. At age 7. We went to a gymnastics practice.

Here he is practicing a handstand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMM7Q3znS1c

A tumbling run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE49DHotTNY

And the rings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGrf8NhJyIY

Along the way.

Spotted Towhee at Chatfield State Park









…and a House Finch

What's wrong with this picture?

The unidentified black things on the dashboard?



They’re not dolphin flippers. They’re not weird feet. They’re not an upside-down cow. They’re pelican heads. Judy has a pelican lamp on the dashboard. I didn’t get the lamp clipped all the way out of the picture.