R and R

R and R, otherwise known as rest and relaxation, is a term I first heard used from military types. Now a days I use it to describe the time off we occasionally get from gate guarding. We do all sorts of things when we get settled in and wound down. You can get some exercise and have fun cheaply by attending any one of quite a few flea markets scattered about the San Antonio area. We are also busy trying to find tires for our beloved Santa Fe. Seems the caliche roads are just too rough for the Bridgestones we currently run. I pulled into a store and went in to shop and when I came out the front right tire was flat. A quick inspection revealed that the tread had split open; first time I'd seen that! Also, we had a mechanic thoroughly go over our RV's engine in hopes that we can actually run 100 miles without a major incident. While he was here I pointed out the odd wear pattern on the right front tire. I thought we had an alignment or shock problem, but he said a bead had separated in the tire. So we're looking for a pair of steer tires too. Today we are going to work on the never ending task of dust and dirt removal from the coach and the car, It seems the phone rings with the call asking us to take a gate when we are in the middle of something, or we haven't gotten everything done that we intended. It seems contrary to the whole rest and relaxation thing to have an agenda to follow, but we reluctantly have made a list and are trying to get everything done this time. So we have plenty to do; just not sure how motivated we'll be. I'll call it a victory if we check something off of the list. After all, we are on R and R.

Kudos to Y'all

Periodically I check the stats section of my blog. Google provides a breakdown of your audience, including what area they're in. Don't worry, it doesn't tell me your exact location, just the country. I am always amazed that I have readers from all parts of the globe. I am also pleased that at least 25 of you have subscribed to my drivel. So; either you're very bored or perhaps you actually find a nugget or two of useful information. I have promised to always tell the truth; as best I can, and will continue doing that. It may disturb some of you, but to me it's the best policy. Anyway; when I write on this subject it is primarily to thank all of my readers. I might still publish without the benefit of the stats, but you definitely motivate me, Hopefully to bigger and better things. THANK YOU!

BTW-we just got news we were released! Off to the RV park!

Keeping your Cool

I am amazed at how much I learn about recreational vehicles on a regular basis. I'm a car guy and I consider myself to be a pretty good mechanic. I spent years cranking wrenches on aircraft as a licensed airframe and power plant mechanic. RV's are a whole different animal though and require a different skill set to keep them running. Most frustrating to me are the systems that require a trained technician to repair and service them. I could have saved thousands if I just knew something about air conditioning and electronics. On top of that, getting a trained service person to work on a RV is difficult, at best. Recently we had an engine overheat and   burn up when a radiator hose blew; most likely due to age. I have owned a ton of vehicles and never replaced a radiator hose. As I have painfully learned and repeatedly stated in this blog; do yourself a favor and have your hoses inspected and/or replaced regularly. That includes you folks with tow vehicles. Now we are again experiencing overheating and I have revisited the whole rear engine motorhome cooling system. Most pushers are diesel and turbocharged. That means they have both a radiator and a charge air cooler-the radiator cools the engine and the charge air cooler cools the turbo. Two main things conspire to destroy the efficiency of both those coolers. Until recently diesels ventilated their crankcase via a tube, called a slobber tube. Gasoline and newer diesel engines use a PCV valve that recirculates this oily mixture. That oily mixture emanating from the slobber tube blows right into the radiator and the fan loves to help embed it. Additionally dust, mud and road grime find their way up there, also with the fan's help. The cure for the first problem is to lengthen the slobber tube by adding a little length with some durable, high temp hose. To help with both problems, Freightliner recommends spraying down the radiator with Simple Green and then washing it down thoroughly. We have also used Dawn mixed with water with a lot of success-we use a small garden sprayer to apply it, You should gain access to the unexposed side of the radiator and do that side also. How often depends on the conditions you are encountering. By the way, every source I looked at says stay away from pressure washers as it can damage the radiator. I also have been told the pros at most Freightliner facilities have a purpose built pit where they can get to the radiator and steam clean it. It's supposed to do wonders. By the way, the industries solution to rear radiator clogging was to put the radiators in the side(s) of the motorhome. Early models had difficulty getting proper airflow and engine overheating was prevalent, so keep that in mind if you're contemplating buying one. Finally, I hope I raised some awareness about keeping your radiator clean so you (and your engine) can keep it cool.

Cynicism

Since less folks are attending the inaugural today the press is crowing about the possibility of a record crowd for a second inaugural. Always looking for some light (that no one else sees) at the end of the tunnel, I guess. I couldn't care less; even if you had sent me a hotel and flight package-and you can keep the rental car and tour of Washington, too. The press is crowing about Michelle's bangs and what she will wear to the Hip Hop Ball; I mean REALLY? Here I politely submit the peoples address.

My fellow Americans, including those of you dumb enough to come out and fight the mobs in Washington.  By the end of this speech our national debt will have risen enough to pay off the personal debt of several thousand American households. Several million dollars of that debt will have been wasted on a sham inaugural-the President was officially sworn in yesterday  Congress will have again spent another day doing absolutely nothing. Chicago will again be in mourning over the loss of yet more of their youth, as more people die there annually than in any combat theater we are currently embroiled in. Speaking of combat, the indeterminable war in Afghanistan continues indeterminably while the Taliban counts the days down till we call it quits and again leave another unfinished conflict. And the combat between the President, Congress and his cabinet continues. A divided country will celebrate a fractious national holiday, celebrating a civil rights icon while discontent and hatred simmers just below the surface.of a still divided America. Until we get control of immigration the America of our forefathers will continue its erosion into oblivion. The proud, flag waving, nationalistic citizen is a rarity anymore; replaced by a melting pot of both documented and undocumented immigrants  Immigrants who seem to have little desire to embrace the customs, freedoms and privileges we have long cherished.. As this cauldron bubbles our infrastructure deteriorates, little gets done in congress, violence permeates our society, moral boundaries are stretched to their limits and a discontent populace sees no escape from it all. We now have a fractured electorate with the election results to show for it. History will judge us by the measures we take within the second term of this president. Our country surely cannot continue without a course correction. Perhaps in the upcoming mid term elections?