Road Wear..... and Tear

Our Lazy Daze is nearly 14 years old.  We've lived in it full-time since purchasing it in January, 2001. We've had the normal expenses of tires, oil changes and the such.  We had one major problem a few years ago...   wheel bearings....  we had to be towed and spent a couple of days in a small Texas town having that repaired.  Another time the fuel pump filter needed replaced.  The refrigerator went bad, but was still under warranty.  The furnace and hot water heater both have needed repaired.  Over the years Bill has replaced faucets, restrung blinds, put new screen in the door...  things that any type of dwelling needs as time goes on.

With 14 years and 163,636 miles on it we've been fortunate to have had relatively few problems.  Of course, Bill doing much of the work himself has saved us a bundle.

On our drive from Maine to Texas the Air Conditioner quit working...  our home is built on a Ford chassis with a V10 Triton engine.  The AC is tucked WAY behind everything else and it's a major job just getting to it...

Bill can fix about anything, but he readily admits that the AC isn't in his line of expertise.  However, our son-in-law is very knowledgeable about these things and happens to be home for a couple of weeks.  Since they had to remove so much just to get to the AC unit they decided to replace hoses and various other parts...  even though some of the stuff probably has some life left, it's the perfect opportunity to do it while we're here, while Victor's home, and be able to work in a place with all the proper tools and equipment.  I think they have since kinda wished they'd pulled the rig over to the garage...  handier to the tools and all.

So far I think the parts have cost just over $1,000.  Victor and Bill's labor is free.  Many of my friends are like me...  they wouldn't even know there's a problem until it becomes major.  Not just the cost but even finding competent repair people can be formidable.  Still, I feel fortunate that we've had such few problems in these years on the road.

Speaking of repairs by being on the road...  I've been walking for an hour each morning before it gets too hot and humid.  Trying to ramp up the aerobic benefits, I kind of jog a few times during my walk.  The road here is asphalt, but has very little traffic.  There aren't even any hills to conquer.  This morning I hardly got out of the driveway and was jogging...  must have stubbed my toe.  Went face down...  skinned up both hands and even scratched one of my glasses lens.  But the worst part was my left knee...  when I got up I took one look and knew I was in trouble.  I tied my handkerchief around it and headed back home.  Bill took me in to the local hospital ER....  at 8:00 in the morning I was the only patient.

An hour and 5 stitches later we headed back home.  I've had a few surgical stitches before but this is the first time I've ever had stitches due to an accident.  So far I've had no pain.  Well, my hands sting some from their abrasions, but none at all in my knee.  What, no photos?  Well, yes...  I asked Bill to take some with his cell phone, but I don't think anyone out there wants to look.

That's All For Today!