GMC Adventures

Kennedy Space Center and scrubbed ARES Rocket Launch

2009-11-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

OK...at O' dark thirty (2:00am EST) we got up for the 2 hour drive from Tampa to Cape Canaveral. We had to be at KSC (Kennedy Space Center) by 5:30am to get in for the rocket launch scheduled for sometime between 8am and noon. Still haven't figured out why as the place was a ghost town until around 8am. It was cool and empty however so we could wander about and see many of the exhibits before the normal crowds arrived.

Seemed like we were a hundred miles from the launch pad. We later found out that during experimental launches they don't allow anyone on the causeways. You can only get tickets for that location for shuttle launches. So we all wandered about the shuttle demo and other exhibits until the first countdown around 9am. First round was stopped at T minus 4 minutes for weather. An hour later it was restarted and abruptly canceled because some moron cargo ship had wandered into the splashdown area. This postponed the launch restart for another 30 minutes. By 10am Nick and I were in nap mode as you can see...haha

They started and stopped the countdown 3 more times for a "weather window". The winds were at 2o knots which was too high for a launch :( Finally at 11:30am they scrubbed the launch for the day....there were a lot of people that were bummed (including us). We watched from the airport the next day as the rocket finally launched!

At noon we boarded the bus for the tour of the Apollo Launch Center and walked under the massive Saturn V rocket. It brought back a lot of childhood memories having experienced much of the Apollo missions growing up! We also toured the assembly and staging building for all Space Station cargo. It was pretty awesome seeing all the stuff we're blasting up there! Overall the trip was lots of fun, but a VERY LONG day after driving 2 hours back to Tampa and straight to bed.

Thus ended our 10 days of fun on the Caribbean Seas and central Florida, both west and east coasts!!!! Hope you all enjoyed viewing the trip as much as we did doing it.......

St. Petersburg & Tarpon Springs Florida

2009-11-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

Monday morning, after we rested up from the cruise we got the rental car...and of course, it was a HUMMER! Same color as our Honda Element so Barb allowed me to "upgrade"!

Only in Florida do you see Boat Condos!

We did the St. Petersburg Pier and a fun small Greek fishing village, Tarpon Springs. Hey you gotta love Belly Dancing, $3 margaritas, and 2 for 1 booze everyday! I'm sure our Tucson buddy, Virgil wishes he was with us...haha

Western Caribbean Cruise Final Day

2009-11-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

Absolutely calm seas our final day of the cruise. The Captain tells us this will give us an early arrival back in Tampa. Should be there around 2am. We've had a blast these past 6 days and have already started shopping our next cruise!

Western Caribbean Cruise Day #6

2009-11-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

Awoke in our last port, Isla Roatan Honduras. Without a doubt our favorite port! Wooded hills and sandy beaches, not to mention the true blue of the Caribbean Sea :)

Barb couldn't wait to board the Jolly Roger catamaran and don the snorkel gear! The water was crystal clear and she saw many of the colorful fishies that one sees in a salt water aquarium. Also brought up a genuine conque shell :)She was the LAST one out of the water. They almost had to net her to get her aboard!! I stayed on the boat, took pictures, and drank rum (of course). I didn't want anyone mistaking me for Shamu and spearing me....haha

After the snorkeling adventure we walked through Gumbalinda Park, a developed "natural" rainforest filled with monkeys, iguana, birds, and tons of other wild critters. While exploring the caves we stumbled across a Conquistador and a pirate looking over his shoulder !!

We walked across a genuine rope bridge with crocodiles anxiously waiting for us to stumble and fall into the river.

The monkeys love snatching glasses and hats from the wandering humans below and will hop on your shoulders without warning. The parrots are also pretty tame.

Back on the ship for our last day at sea!

OH LOOK!!!! Barb brought a monkey back to our stateroom!

Western Caribbean Cruise Day #5

2009-11-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

Today we're in Belize City. For a large Central American city, there are no high rises, just a cluster of small, old buildings. We were told by Tucson buddy Virgil Haugen to avoid the city proper so we opted for the Wallce River and Mayan Ruins tours. Great choice! We first boarded a small boat for a 5 mile journey up the Wallace River. Lots of jungle critters and crocodiles, iguanas, and birds. After the river, we boarded a bus to tour the Altun Ha Mayan Ruin Site. While not as dramatic as Chichen Itsa in Mexico, these ruins were pretty awesome! We climbed the steps of the main temple for a spectacular view. Barb leaned against the sacrifical altar...watch out for the blood!!!!! Quick bus trip back to the port and we're off to next stop. Barb can't wait to snorkle in Honduras!!!

Western Caribbean Cruise Day #4

2009-11-02T06:17:00.001-08:00

Next stop was Cozumel Mexico. Weather is improving the further south we travel :) AT the pier was a "commercialized" Mexican village that caters specifically to the cruise ships. Having experience with Mexican goodies, we found the prices reasonable :) Didn't venture far beyond the gates of the village as once we did, it was a typical Mexican town. The beach resorts are located on the other side of the island, so we just stayed in our little faux Mexican village !

Western Caribbean Cruise Day #3

2009-10-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

Arrived in Grand Cayman early in the morning. Rain and clouds prevailed but we still took the tender to shore. Watch out for that pirate ship!! Took a taxi to the public beach and hung out at a beachside bar and drank pina coladas until the rain broke. We drank a lot of pina coladas...haha Beautiful white sand beach and blue water even without the sun :) Friends Susan and Nick and Barb and I enjoyed the water! Cayman has many nice and spendy resorts along with a lot of banks to support its reputation. You can even catch your own dinner as the chickens wander everywhere!

Western Caribbean Cruise Day #2

2009-10-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

Monday at sea :) Lots of time to explore the ship, check out the huge showroom, the decks, and the fantastic view from the balcony of our stateroom! Barb has decided that the balcony is the only way to cruise. We leave the door open and the sounds of the sea are quite romantic :) Now, on to the buffet...whooohooo!

Tomorrow morning we'll be in Grand Cayman.

Western Caribbean Cruise Day #1

2009-10-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Tampa Sunday and boarded the Carnival Legend for a 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise. Ports of call will be Grand Cayman, Cozumel Mexico, Beleze, and the Isle of Roatan Honduras. We're traveing with our friends from Vegas, Nick and Susan. Barb snagged a cabin upgrade last minute so we have an outside balcony stateroom!!!

Stay tuned for the daily posts......

The Gate...FINALLY!

2009-09-04T16:23:00.001-07:00

After nearly 2 months and 2 different welding shops, the new gate is finally installed!! We had it custom made using 2 decorative panels (that are visible in the center) we bought at D&B Farm Supply for $20@. These would have cost over $100 each to have them made locally. Thanks China!! haha
And before anyone starts soapboxing about outsourcing all our jobs to China, we paid nearly $900 to a local CDA shop for this damn thing! Kenton could have hammered it out in less than a day for under $100 in materials, but he's in Tucson and we're in CDA :( He'll get lots of work on the AZ properties :)

Barb leaves Sunday for another 2 week stint in Alabama. I'll be in CDA until the 14th, then to Twin Falls for 5 days with mom and dad, then on in Tucson first part of October to oversee the delivery and install of the park model trailer we just bought for Kenton & Tina to live in.

19th Anniversary on Priest Lake

2009-08-25T19:13:00.001-07:00

Had a great 2 days on Priest Lake at our friend's Don and Mary Shea's lake house. They took Barb and I out for a boat ride today. Priest Lake is absolutely gorgeous this time of year and the water is clear and looks just like the Caribbean! Their boat is on a rail system that winches it out of the garage and down a rail system right into the lake. Very cool! We took their German Shepard Schatz along for the ride. Mary baked a special birthday/anniversary cake for us...mmmm

Sunset Dinner Cruise & Wooden Boat Show

2009-08-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Bus friends Rick & Joni from Coos Bay Oregon stopped by for a 4 day visit so we took them on a sunset dinner cruise and a tour of the annual CDA Wooden Boat Show. The dinner cruise was fantastic and we got a closer look of Duane Hagadone's new house. His new sailboat was also at the boat show. 60' of glorious woods and it can be sailed by just one man (or woman) Barb said :P Monday we head up to Priest Lake for an overniter at our friends Don & Mary Shea's lake house to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary.

Seaplane Morning

2009-08-16T11:27:00.001-07:00

Got up this morning and the rain had finally stopped :) Beautiful Sunday morning so we headed for our walk around the boardwalk. Noticed the Brooks Seaplanes sitting just waiting for a rider. I had planned on taking Barb up next week for our 19th anniversary, but the lake was smooth, the sun was shining, and the blue sky was awesome. So we jumped on board for a fantastic 30 minute trip around the lake! We even flew over the condo on the landing approach. Now we know why we love it up here in the summer!

ZZ TOP in Tucson

2009-07-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

For my 50th birthday, Kenton and girlfriend Tina took me to the ZZ TOP concert at the local Indian Casino here in Tucson. Friends Jeff & Traci Skinner joined us. What can I say? I'm 4 days from 50 and I can guarantee you that Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill are OLDER than I am since I recall listening to their music when I was in high school...haha Actually, they did a great job and the concert was one of the few revival tours that I enjoyed :) THANKS kids for the ticket!!! I also admired the 3 PREVO buses that they travel in. I figured each one has his own private coach. What a way to travel!

CDA Patio Almost Done

2009-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Barb has been a busy girl while I was away. I think her hidden talent is as a landscape designer. She found the idea for the water can fountain in a magazine and has created a marvelous water feature for the back patio! The iron gate is also underway and should be installed in a few days.

Final Days in Twin Falls

2009-07-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

Spent the past 3 weeks here in Twin Falls with my parents (Kevin's). Dad is undergoing an oral chemo treatment for his colon cancer but is doing remarkably well. Even good enough to do a quick flyover of the parade in Buhl. The flows at Shoshone Falls were running above average for this time of the year so it was nice to go down to the canyon and see them.

Heading to Tucson until Aug 4th then back to CDA. Barb has the back patio all done and I'm anxious to see it. Still working on the wrought iron gate...seems the fabricator is "busy", so Barb is headed down to his shop with her coveralls on to help him finish it. Wish Kenton was up here and it would be done by now.

Gazebo is Up :)

2009-06-27T20:54:00.001-07:00

Gazebo is finished except for another string of lights. Ever try to find Xmas lights in July? Barb continues to paint the wall and should have the racing stripe finished in a day or so.

These are the 2 new landscape lights I installed on the outside of the wall at the back gated entrance to the complex. New bushes will be planted next week.

Tuesday the 30th of June I head back to Twin Falls to spend 3 more weeks with my parents. Dad is weathering the chemo well so far so I'm hopeful that I can sneak down to Tucson in late July for a week with Kenton and to take care of some business down there before returning to CDA for 6 weeks of summer vacation :)

The Picasso of Walls

2009-06-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Bare concrete block is ugly! The exterior color needed to match the rest of the condo buildings, so a visit to Lowes for color matching did the trick :) Looks marvelous .....

Of course our resident Picasso (Barb) couldn't resist the urge to express our southwestern influences. For those that have seen the Calle AZ home back patio know what I mean....Certainly will wake me up when I look out the patio door in the morning. As soon as the paint is dry we can finish the install on the gazebo and get it set in place and anchored down.

I leave on June 30th to head back to Twin Falls so Barb will have to put all the finishing touches on the back patio...and she'll get to enjoy it while I'm caring for my parents for most of July. With any luck dad's chemo will go smoothly and I can make a quick trip to Tucson near the end of July before returning to CDA for my much deserved summer vacation on the lake :)

Sweet Home Alabama

2009-06-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Not sure what these trees are but they are very "southern" with the moss hanging from them. A gorgeous sunset over Mobile Bay with the city skyline in the background.

The USS Alabama is "of course" in Mobile Bay. Captain Kevin at your service. Man is it humid here...hahaha

Remnants of Katrina abound at Gulf Shores. We had to drive the 10 miles to claim we were in Florida...Yiiippeeeee!!!

The gorgeous white sands were picture postcard perfect.

These past 2 weeks Barb has been all over southern Alabama. Kevin flew to Mobile for a 3 day
weekend adventure to Gulf Shores. This is the view from our hotel balcony overlooking Mobile Bay and the I-10 causeway with the Mobile skyline in the distance. What would Alabama be without a gator or two?? This little friend was in the marsh right next to the parking lot!

The Wall Day IV & V

2009-06-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

The masons are finally done!!! Next comes the primer and paint followed by the exterior light and iron gate. A BIG improvement and much more resistant to car bumpers :)

Just Another Brick in the Wall

2009-06-05T20:03:00.001-07:00

The new wall is coming along nicely. Only 3 more rows to go ! Barb is anxiously awaiting the custom wrought iron gate :) With luck, the wall will be finished in a few more days.

Barb and I leave CDA Sunday, she's headed to Mobile Alabama to start the next series of 2 week ADOS trainings. I'm headed south to Twin Falls to see my parents and sister. Dad recently underwent a second colon cancer surgery and will be starting a mild chemo treatment soon. My sister will be heading back to Alaska so it's my shift now to care for the parents. I'm sneaking a 3 day weekend in and flying to Mobile to meet Barb and spend a few days at Gulf Shores on the beach, then back to Twin Falls. I'll "hopefully" be back in CDA along with Barb on the 20th of June.

The WALL Day #2 & #3

2009-06-03T13:38:00.001-07:00

The block has arrived :) The footings are formed. Tomorrow we'll see the block rising!!

Time for the New Wall Day #1

2009-06-01T12:05:00.001-07:00

Monday was off to a great start demolishing the old wooden, vinyl clad, fence. Barb took a picture of me showing my best side ...haha

The crew is busy grinding out tree roots and stumps and digging the footing for the block wall. We're hoping it will be done by weeks end :) Weather is a lovely 75 degrees!!!

City by the Lake day 5

2009-05-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Finally settled into the summer condo. So nice to be back with Barbara :) Weather is perfect...80's in the day, 50's at night. Only adjustment I've had to make was sunrise at 4:30am. Forgot about being so far north. We're up around 5:30 each morning anyway, so I guess I'll adjust.

Also doing our 5 mile walk "most" every morning. It's 8 blocks to the lake, a quick loop on the floating boardwalk and 8 blocks home "uphill". Our goal is to both lose 40lbs this summer....let's see who's the "biggest loser" hahaha.

Also removing our old rotted wood fence from around the back patio. We'll be replacing it with a 6 foot solid block wall (our southwest influence is coming out)....that and the main reason we're replacing it is because the neighboring apartment complex tennants love backing into our fence so it's been repaired a dozen times.....let's see how well they do with 6 feet of solid concrete! Should have it installed within 10 days, then it's time to paint it :(

Fast Forward to NOW

2009-05-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

Guess I better get busy and update the blog!!!

Wow...it's been almost a year since the last post....

OK...summer 08 was spent in Coeur d'Alene. In late July Kevin got a call from Tucson offering him a position at Mountain View High School to lead the Smaller Learning Community project under a federal grant. Since the main house in Tucson had not sold and the market was in the beginning of the "big tailspin", he decided to return to Tucson and go back to work. Since the real estate market was now a "buyer's" market, we bought a 2 bedroom condo in downtown CDA so Barb would have a place to live while she remained in CDA caring for her parents. Kevin left late August in the bus, stopping in Twin Falls ID to do a quick remodel of his parent's bathroom. He arrived in Tucson early September and began working.

Kevin's Christmas break was spent in CDA where they had a record 7 feet of snowfall! Wile it was fun to have a true winter wonderland holiday, Kevin got real tired of snow blowing all that darn snow! At this time, sadly, we also lost Barb's dad, Ray Tomlinson at the age of 98. And 2 days later, her mom Kay, fell and broke her hip. Needless to say, the holidays weren't a time to celebrate :( Kevin returned to Tucson in early January to go back to work and Barb remained in CDA helping her mom recover from hip surgery. The snow kept coming and the winter seemed to never end.....

Spring came and both Kevin & Barbara began preparing the 2 houses for summer while living 1500 miles apart. NOT fun....

In mid May Kevin learned that his job was another victim of the recession and all the state budget cuts to education so he's now amongst the ranks of the unemployed. Retirement is looking better all the time and he won't miss returning to Tucson in the 100+ temps to go back to work in late July. Now he'll be spending the entire summer in CDA with Barb and helping her with the many new consulting contracts she's landed. Next stop is Gulf Shores Alabama in early June...stay tuned......

I'll try to keep this blog updated weekly...really I will...hahahaha

4th of July and Friends

2008-07-09T10:17:00.001-07:00

Had a great day in CDA on the fourth. Went to the parade with new friends Kevin & Melissa. Barb met them last winter while here in CDA visiting the folks. They rented the house across the street. Fantastic couple (dinks)...our favorite!!! They have 2 very well mannered dogs. We offered to trade our kids for their dogs, but no go...haha

The parade was good sized and lots of military and servicemen and women, so the patriotism was high!! Later in the day we hopped on one of the lake cruise boats and motored out to the middle of the lake to watch the fireworks.

Summer Update

2008-06-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

Been awhile since we posted. The kids and grandkids came for a visit. The photos are one from our hike around Tubbs Hill looking onto the CDA Resort & Marina. Barb and I do a walk around the floating boardwalk every couple of days. Have to admit, this is a fantastic place to spend the summer :) Other photo is the 4 generations on the folks' back deck. Ray (97) Barb's dad, Bruce (s0n-in-law), Todd (grandson) and of course me :P

Summer Home

2008-06-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

All settled in the RV park here in Coeur d'Alene. Barb's parents are glad that we're here to help with the summer yardwork. The Coeur d'Alene Rv "resort" has a great heated indoor pool and gym so we may even lose a few pounds this summer. The temps here are continuing the "unseasonable" trends and staying in the 50's & 60's with pretty regular rain, but that will end soon and we should be seeing a more normal summer. Considering the alternative 100 degree temps in Tucson, we'll adapt just fine :)

Our Verizon broadband is working good and we added a Cradlepoint WiFi router and amp so we'll stay connected for the summer. After losing the awning on the trip up, we decided to go for a 10x10 gazebo for our "patio". We plan on staying here through September and will then head back south to Twin Falls for Kevin's dad's knee surgery. By the end of October we'll know if we're returning to CDA to continue caring for Barb's parents, or heading back to Tucson. Stay tuned......

On the Road

2008-05-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

We left Twin Falls today and headed west on I-84. 45 miles out of town our awning decided to unfurl :( Nothing like doing RV repair on the side of the freeway. The wind was howling and we could tell the fabric was toast, so I grabbed the razor knife and Barb now has several yards of outdoor cushion fabric. Guess I know what I'm getting for my birthday now.

We continued through the strong headwinds into Baker Oregon where it combined with rain. Up and over the blues and we're now settled in for the evening at the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton. Hopefully the awning was the only problem for the trip....

The Week in Twin Falls

2008-05-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

Finishing up the week in Twin Falls. We head to Coeur d'Alene Tuesday(tomorrow). Never found the big oil leak on the bus, so we'll head down the road and stop in Boise for another look. Got to drive the Cadillac. Will leave it here for now but may come down and get it for a second car in CDA Helped dad with his Ercoupe. He's in the middle of a major rebuild before the July airshow.

Cooler Temps Ahead

2008-05-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Made it to Twin Falls. Enjoying (and adjusting) to the cooler temps. Will spend a few days here finding and fixing oil leaks, etc. Should be in Coeur d'Alene by the 20th.

Vegas Baby!

2008-05-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

Made it to Vegas for 2 nights catching up with old friends. Heading to Twin Falls Idaho next. Will be there for the next 2 weeks, then on north to Coeur d'Alene to settle in for the summer.

The Summer Adventure Begins

2008-05-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

After many long days and nights we're finally packed and ready to head north to Idaho. We depart early tomorrow morning and will make it to exciting and scenic Needles California. Next day we'll head into Vegas for a 2 night stay to see some old friends. We should be arriving in Twin Falls by Thursday the 8th. We'll spend a couple of weeks at Kevin's parent's house, then off to Coeur d'Alene where we'll be staying the rest of the summer. We now have Verizon Mobile Broadband so we can keep up the posts and communications as we travel.....stay tuned.

Mechanics, the Good, Bad, and Ugly

2008-04-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm resistant to posting a lot of negative and personal info on our experiences with mechanics over the past 10 years with the bus and now the motorhomes, but hopefully anyone reading this will learn from our mistakes and accomplishments :) If you don't have time to read this entire manifesto, scroll down to the bottom summary paragraph.....

Driving 30+ year old vehicles comes with it inherent problems up front. Unless you are an experienced mechanic and hopefully have the tools, space, and other resources to support these vehicles, finding reliable, EXPERIENCED mechanics can be a challenge.

We first encountered this with the purchase of the 1980 bus. We were fortunate to find a bus shop in our then home of Las Vegas that had many years of experience with GM coaches. Unfortunately, a year after we bought the bus, he retired and closed his shop. We had learned of a few remaining GM mechanics, one on the west coast and one on the east coast, but having to drive thousands of miles for mechanical work wasn't our preferred option. We did find another "bus shop" within close proximity but ended up paying a premium price for any work we had done.

A few years later as we were fulltiming, we lost the clutch crossing Hoover Dam. Not a good place to break down. Thankfully we had the FMCA roadside insurance through CoachNet and were hauled back to Las Vegas to the Freightliner dealer for repair. So here's the lesson learned from this experience:

Roadside assistance policies are worth their weight in gold. For a $100 annual premium, we avoided paying a $450 tow bill. I can't imagine traveling without this protection. CoachNet was very helpful and responsive. Our 40' bus cannot be towed front wheels up and must be flat hauled. Not all roadside policies pay for this, so make sure you choose one that does. Even the GMC Motorhome may need to be flat hauled if the airbags are deflated.

Realize that the roadside assistance provider will have you hauled/towed to the "nearest" service facility, which may not be the "best". If you want to end up someplace else, negotiate with them to do this. It may cost you additional, but it could be worth it.

The major truck franchises (like Freightliner) charge premium rates for RVs and in my opinion don't really like working on them. Avoid them if at all possible. Make sure you discuss in detail with the service writer what your repair needs and expectations are and make them provide you a written estimate of repair costs. We were given a verbal "around $800" quote to replace our clutch using parts we provided. After 6 days of waiting, we were presented with a bill for over $1700. The mechanic that actually performed the work told me that our clutch could have been adjusted and didn't need replacing. Since they hold you "hostage" you often have to pay the bill or end up with a legal battle on your hands later on.

After we bought the Palm Beach I took it to the "neighborhood" mechanic for a check-up. It was running rough and was in need of new belts, hoses, etc. He discovered 4 stuck and bent valves. $2000 later, we had rebuilt heads, new belts and hoses, and a tuneup. I didn't consider this amount exhorbitant, but again, make sure you have a clear understanding with the mechanic of what you expect to be done and how much he estimates it will cost. The GMC Motorhomes, while unique in design, use many standard GM parts and "most" reputable mechanics can perform basic repair on them. When our mechanic replaced the hoses, he capped off the lines that went to the water heater, not knowing the coach design and where they went. These kinds of issues can be avoided by taking your coach to someone with experience working with them.

Most recently, I took the bus to the local International Harvester truck dealer (didn't I previously say to avoid these guys?) Out of frustration here in Tucson, they were chosen because they were the closest shop with a pit and had done work for other local bus friends without complaint. All I needed was a competant mechanic to walk under the coach, locate, and fix the air leaks. Simple enough, or so I thought, and I had expressed this in detail to the Service Writer. 3 days after the promised date, I was contacted and informed that the rear leak was due to a bad air tank. It was "obsolete" and they had no way of finding a replacement, end of statement. The front leak however was simple to fix. I needed new airhorns. But wait, I said, I disconnected the OEM airhorns when I first bought the bus since they didn't work and there should be no air to them. Nope, they were leaking and could be replaced, said the Service Writer. At $105 per hour and 75% markup on parts, I really didn't need the airhorns to work and I would eventually replace them myself, so I told them to just "cap off" the line and call it good.

When I picked up the bus, the total bill was $174 (could have been much worse I thought), so I gladly paid the bill and went out to start the bus. The first problem I had after I got it aired up was the parking brake (air) would not disengage. Never had this happened before. After a few attempts, it released and I was off to the house. When I arrived home, I was unable to set the parking brake...hmmmm.... So I shut the bus down, left it in gear, and went out to investigate my problem. What I discovered first stunned and then infuriated me.

The air valve for the parking brake exhausts through a 1/4" airline which drops out under the coach just below the driver's seat area. The mechanic (and I use this term loosely) had inserted a capscrew into the line to "plug the air leak" DOH!!!!!! To add insult to injury I also discovered that the air horns they were referring to were the cheap $20 plastic set I had bought at Checker and stuck under the cab. They had pulled the plastic airline off of them and disconnected the 12v wire that powered the electric momentary compressor. Now I knew why the parking brake wouldn't set or release properly. After an email, a letter, and a voicemail, I still have not heard back from the Service Manager.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

Accept and understand that we drive vehicles that are no longer serviced by the manufacturer nor many of today's repair facilities.
Those that still claim to work on our vehicles may not be skilled nor qualified to do so. Make sure they are recommended by another GM owner or are a recognized business through one of our GM clubs or groups. (I have compiled my trusted vendor list below)
Never have your vehicle worked on without an estimate (written preferred) of the repair costs.
Communication is the key to successful repair work. Ask questions and clearly define your expectations.
Realize that the remaining businesses that still work on GMC Motorhomes and buses are in all reality doing it because they share our passion for the vehicle. Very few (if any) could survive fulltime on the business we provide them.
You are paying not only for the actual work, but more importantly, the expertise to know what you need, where to get it, and how to install it correctly. Yes, the price may be higher than the franchise parts store.
Don't be a cheap ass. The motto of the Western GM Bus Group is "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch." Playing with these vehicles can be costly. If you are unable to pay the price, consider buying another type of RV. Or as my favorite bar sign reads, "If Broke, Stay Home".

MY TRUSTED VENDOR LIST (4/1/2008)

Cooperative Motor Works

Jim Bounds

http://www.gmccoop.com/

Applied GMC

Jim Kanomata

http://www.appliedgmc.com/

Coach Maintenance

Ted Campbell

http://www.coachmaintenance.com/

US Coach

Luke Bonagura

(888) 262-2434

And yet another joins the flock

2008-04-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

After 3 attempts to inspect the 1978 wrecked Royale here in Tucson, the day finally arrived and I was able to get it hauled out to the ranch. The coach was placed on eBay by the daughter of the owners in Oklahoma. It had been hit "very hard" in the right front while here in Tucson and hauled to an insurance storage yard for auction. The owners settled with the insurance company and bought back the salvage and then placed it on eBay. The successful bidder was Jim Pasek of Minnesota who contacted me to help him with getting it moved out of the $25 per day insurance yard and out to my property where he could decide it's future.

I was able to jump the batteries and get the compressor going to air up the suspension. Having just hauled the 76 Eleganza on the 30' rollback, I knew that the higher the rear suspension, the better.

It now is happily resting at el Rancho de la Calle Seneca awaiting Jim's arrival so we can determine the next step. Stay tuned. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics, better ones are coming.

If you're interested in parts, email me.

Palm Beach

2008-03-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

Couldn't leave our "first" GMC Motorhome out of the discussion, so here's the before and after pictures of the polish job we had done during the GMCSJ rally in Rocky Point Mexico :) Barb said, "It's STILL green :( " haha

Eleganza II is Home!

2008-03-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Finally got the Eleganza II hauled to the ranch :) I spotted the coach while helping a friend out that was looking at an MCI bus for sale by the Vision Quest organization here in Tucson. The Eleganza was in pretty sad shape with the rear glass broken out and 10 years of blowing sand and sun beating on it. A few of the side windows were losing their rubber trim, so some MORON decided to seal it with that nasty black roof tar!! The native Arizona pack rats had taken residence within, so basically it was pretty GROSS!! After making the organization an "offer they couldn't refuse", the task of getting it moved from point "A" to point "B" began.

DAY 1

First task was seeing if the airbags held air. Removed the lines and installed schrader valves. The portable air compressor I had brought was too small and there was no elec anywhere close. So on to the next task, getting the shifter into neutral. No keys anywhere to be found so a call to the mobile locksmith and $100 later, I had ignition and door keys :) I considered doing an LA car theft process but breaking the ignition lock would require I replace it eventually, so the $100 was a fair trade off.

DAY 2

Back with a larger air compressor. Bags held air but the driver side was out of alignment and the rubber had warped from years of sitting flat. Pass side refused to seal properly so the coach raised a bit, but not to full height. When the coach was parked some 10 years back, they had placed cinder blocks under it, so some heavy duty jacking was in order. With the blocks out, the coach settled onto the air suspension, with a noticeable list to the stern. Tires held air (barely).
With the transmission now in neutral and the frame out of the dirt, I attempted to pull it out of its resting place. The Vision Quest ranch is in the river bottoms of the Rillito river and the soils are very sandy. Yes, you're seeing where I'm headed (or not heading as the case may be). A few tugs with my 2 wheel drive Dodge V-10 pickup moved it about 5 feet before I lost traction. I had arranged for a 30' rollback to move the Eleganza the 33 miles to its new home but was worried that the tow truck may not be able to get to the coach. Tucson had experienced a rare spring rain a few days earlier and there was a large mud bog directly in the path of entrance and exit.

I was VERY fortunate to find one of the ranch hands onsite with his brand new Dodge 4X4
Cummins powered truck, and you know how guys are about proving their trucks can do anything!! I have to admit, it was a big task even for the 4X4 Dodge, but he pulled me out of the sandy soil, through the mud bog and onto the blacktop where the rollback could get to me easily :)

The air suspension was totally flat by this time and the tires were not happy about being rolled from their resting place. Another shot of air all around and we're ready for the rollback. Of course the first thing the driver tells me is, "The ass end of this thing will drag." Yep, I know that. Let's get it loaded. Cudos to the driver as he manuevered, blocked, and repositioned to minimize the rear end drag. The trailer hitch on the rear bore most of the drag and we were now loaded, chained, and ready for the road.

With the rear glass out and the top of the roof pod gone, I was entertained for the entire 33 mile trip to see what was going to "fly out" next. The ladder was also gone so I had no way of viewing the contents of the pod prior to departure. Let's just say that a LOT of dust blew out and only one unknown piece of trash hit the freeway :)

So now, the Eleganza II sits comfortably in it's new home next to a large shade tree to shield it a bit from the harsh AZ desert sun. Upon the first round of clean out, we discovered a cut piece of plexiglass for the rear window, a brand new alternator, and a huge hydraulic jack, oh and Barb found a rat chewed one dollar bill! The second round clean out will require the shop vac and hazmat suits...haha

Stay tuned !!!