16 Jun - NSTR - Last Day at Charlotte NC

 

Routine last day, a "down day" meaning no touring for us today before we move on to Fayetteville NC tomorrow.  Doreen walked over to the nearby Publix grocery store and restocked us with chow, then txt me and I drove over to pick up her and the groceries.  She did a couple loads of laundry and I cleaned the inside of the coach.  We bring our Dyson which works very well, and then I use a wet Swiffer to finish it off.  

I got caught up on computer stuff and did some more planning on our 18 night stop at Washington DC.  Things are starting to slowly open in DC and as they do we have to jump on tickets or sorry 'bout your luck, Chuck.  The White House and the Capitol are still closed to visitors.  The Air and Space Museum is closed until the day after we leave DC, dang it!  The Holocaust Museum is open.  Arlington is open.  Some of the Smithsonian venues are open and some are not.  The Washington Monument is closed, but Lincoln is open, and on and on.  Lots of moving parts and we want to maximize our visit

I received an email yesterday from Iowa's Sen Joni Ernst's assistant Chief of Staff who is tracking our visit.  Sen Ernst will be starting her "constituent's coffee" events for visiting Iowans by the time we arrive, so we will get a chance to see her and visit the Hart Senate Office Building.  

A great picture of my bride and Senator Joni Ernst taken at a Christmas dinner at Iowa Joint Forces Headquarters when I was State Command Chief.  Sen Ernst is a retired colonel from the Iowa Army National Guard.

Besides cleaning the inside of the coach, I drained the grey tanks and drained/rinsed the black tank and stowed the hoses as usual.  The new tank sensors I installed are working like a champ - rock solid and  accurate as I would expect.  One less thing I have to mess with.  I carry a small hand vacuum that I can use to clean the truck or anything else for that matter, and I sucked the sand out of the basement compartment.  

I also put a slight adjustment on our drop-down stairs so not they don't rub anymore.  All RV's experience "an earthquake going down the road" with all the bumps and potholes, so these rigs require constant checking, tightening, adjusting, lubrication and general maintenance.  The sun beats down on them constantly and depending on where you are traveling they can be subject to salt spray, so you have to stay on the exterior maintenance also.  

The "checking" part is really important.  You have to get down on your knees regularly and have a look underneath, visually inspecting for any leaks and anything bent or weird in any way.  Things can change all the time.  I do this religiously because I have learned the hard way.  A few weeks ago I noticed the leaf spring clips, also called clamps, on both front leaf springs on my coach were broken. 

 I contacted Dexter who makes my axles and they said I needed to replace them if I could and they would warranty the entire springs.  I found replacement clips, had them shipped forward to this location and installed them a few days ago.

Wheel off for easier access

New clip placed

Clamped in place

Tabs bent over

Finished with a hammer.  Wheels replaced and lug nuts torqued.  Good to go!

I ran out of time last night after posting the pictures and video from visiting Mount Airy, but when we got back to the RV we were hot and tired, so the "cement pond" as Jethro Clampett would say (swimming pool) seemed like the logical thing to do. 

This KOA has a nice pool and kind of strange, but they own the adjacent gas station which also has a full bat and permanent food truck attached.  So we cooled down in the pool then headed over for some street tacos, o-rings and drinks.  

The food truck

The seating area with the bar inside to the left

So ironic we spend the day at Mount Airy reminiscing about Andy Griffith and all the players on his show, and what was on TV at the bar??!! 

That's about it from Charlotte. We sure enjoyed our day with my cousin Cory Schellhase. So great to reconnect with him and visit his city.  Tomorrow morning we will pull chocks and head 160 miles east and a bit south to Fayetteville NC, home of Ft Bragg Army Base.