The Kindness of Strangers

I hitched up Flo and crossed the river the next day. I wanted to stay nearby in Page and take a tour of Antelope Canyon. Unfortunately, the only thing available seemed to be the Walmart parking lot. I decided that I would save Antelope Canyon for “next time” and push on.

My next stop was Navajo National Monument near Kayenta, Arizona.

Navajo National Monument

They were listed as a “free campground” in Campendium.com. There were warnings about length on the site. They said that there was conflicting information on the signs. The one out by the highway said there was a limit of 28 feet for any individual unit. Since my Airstream is 27 feet, I figured I’d be all right.

The sign at the campground said that the limit was 28 feet overall.

Warning sign

I wish I had looked at the warnings and decided that I should just roll on.

It didn’t seem that tricky to get into the site I picked, but those tough high-desert trees do not yield if you get too close.

Owie

I punched a hole right through the side of my Airstream! This photo was taken in the morning with the sun shining. When I was trying to get settled, It felt like rain was in the offing. I grabbed my duct tape and started closing up the hole.

duct tape fix

I was taping away, and a couple in a nice small pop-up van camper came over to help. They brought more tape and a plastic container to put over the electrical connection, which I had also knocked off.

Then, I started working the phone. I had absolutely no internet connection and only the faintest whisper of a phone signal. I couldn’t look up any information, so all I could to was use the information in my phone. I called my good friends at Woodland Travel Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan and told them what had happened. Megan gave me some phone numbers and I started calling.

Some places didn’t answer. The one place I reached said that they couldn’t be able to work me in until July.

 July? JULY?!!! (I had this little incident at the end of April.)

That place did give me the phone number for Airstream, at least. However, due to time zone difference, they were closed.

The next morning, I got through to Airstream, and they gave me a few more numbers. I found a dealer, Desert Autoplex, that would be able to help me, but they were in Mesa, Arizona. Mesa was about six hours away, and would involve “doubling back”, but they were able to help me and I was delighted. After that, I called the insurance company and got the ball rolling in that department.

I always say, if a problem can be fixed with money – and you have the money – it’s not really a problem.

And so, I left Navajo National Monument without seeing anything.

Oddly enough, I just wasn’t in the mood.

 

 

 

Introducing Ms Cora!

Cora: Co-pilot Rescue Animal
Cora: Co-pilot Rescue Animal

One of the first things I did upon arrival in Kalamazoo was make arrangements to welcome my new Travel Cat. Her previous owner was moving into an apartment that didn’t allow animals. She was happy that her kitty was going to someone who would love her and give her a good home.

I decided to rename her to reflect her new role. I had hoped she would be my co-pilot, so I named her Co. A Facebook Friend suggested adding the “ra” for Rescued Animal. So, Cora, it is!

I am not so sure about the co-pilot idea. The first trip – about 50 miles – didn’t go so well. I couldn’t get her into her carrier, so I put her in the harness and clipped her leash onto the headrest in the cab of the truck. She wedged herself deep under a seat. It took several hours to get her out. I finally slid the seat all the way forward and pulled her out. She was not happy and neither was I.

When it was time to move to the next spot, I tried once again to get her into the carrier. Again, I couldn’t get her in. This time, I decided to let her ride in the trailer. It was a cool day and overcast, so I figured that she wouldn’t overheat.

75 miles later, I got to the evening’s destination. I opened the door, went in, set out her food and looked for her in her favorite spot in my bedroom. She wasn’t there! I looked all over. I opened cabinets, pulled all the blankets off the bed, and I even did all that twice. There just aren’t that many places to hide in an Airstream.

I finally figured that she must have sneaked out while I was preparing to leave Woodland Travel Center, where I had a little maintenance done. I called them, and they sent all the workers out to look.

It was a sad night. I slept fitfully and got up at dawn to go back to the RV center and look for my kitty. Imagine my surprise when she crawled out of a space I didn’t even know was there!

I was so glad to see her! I let her eat and drink and then I brushed and petted her and asked her not to do that again. I also called the good folks at Woodland Travel Center to let them know she was found, and to thank them for their concern.

And then, I took care of the entrance to her hidey hole.

What would we do without duct tape?
What would we do without duct tape?