Day 5 of the Celestial Voyage - The Away team reports back from below the planet surface

Captains Log Stardate 0816.2017

We are dispatching the away team in the Mercury Gran Marquis shuttle craft to explore deep below the planet surface.   Shuttle commander Duc and first mate Kim were up early preparing the shuttle for launch.   Soon enough there was activity in the bowels of the Pineapple and all crew were activated and told to report to the away team by 0830.  The shuttle detached from the mother ship closer to 0930.

The shuttle headed toward the planet surface and despite a wrong turn that took us past Yogi Bear, we arrived the the cave entrance fairly early.  Away team 1 signed up for the 2 mile Historic Tour, while away team 2 decided on the Frozen Niagara tour.  Away team 2 departed in short order, while away team 1 took a above ground walking tour until it was time to meet the rest of the subterranean exhibition force. Away team's tour was about 3/4 of a mile and some up and down, while Away Team 1 had a 2 mile subterranean hike.

We descended into the underworld and as we approached the entrance, the 60 degree cold wind swept up into the steamy humidity.  Both Lucy and my glasses were fogged for the first couple of minutes below.  Our exhibition force was large, numbering around 100 people!   Good thing the cave is huge inside.  About 200 feet from the entrance is the Rotunda.   A huge room with 30-50 ft ceilings and big enough to run traffic through in both directions.   As it is a caved carved by water, there aren't the familiar formations you usually see in caverns  like stalactites, stalagmites, columns, etc.  In fact on the whole 2 mile hike we only saw a couple of small formations.  It mostly looked like this:

Having been into at least a dozen caverns and caves all over the US,  I was impressed by the size of the passage ways and length of walk between the ranger talking stations.  It seemed we'd walk for 10 minutes before the next stop, and some of the areas had amphitheater bench seating!

Tommy got into the act and wanted a photo op

Although we later realized he was contaminated by the cave and would need a biological hose down.  There is a fungus called White Nose that affects the local bat population and has decimated several bat populations so all cavers, would need to be processed through a decontamination station prior to leaving the area.   Here is Tommy enjoying the decontamination 

As the team went deeper and deeper into the cave (we hit 360 ft below the surface), the passageways became more precarious.  We crossed the bottomless pit, saw where people had used torches to leave their names back in the mid 1800s, and saw evidence of Native Americans who used the cave around 5000 years ago.

Light was pretty low but managed to get a couple of snaps off

We returned to the surface and met back up with Away team 2 and ate Hot Dogs.  We toured the visitor center, got our Park Passport stamps and bought a cool retro fridge magnet.  We then returned to the shuttle to return to the mother ship, but not before a trip to the supply ship for more provisions.  

Along the way we encountered an independent merchant ship peddling fresh grown corn from the planet surface.  Away team 2 went crazy buying up 2 dozen ears of corn.

We returned to the mothership and feasted on our recent supplies.....

Day 4 - We're not in FL anymore!

Day 3 follow up:
When we pulled into the campground the evening before, I dragged the bike rack on the ground going up the hill.  I have a leak in the passenger side airbag.  It was a slow leak since I got the coach.  It would go down over the course of several days.  Well, why the Pineapple was at the shop, the leak got worse as it goes down in under 24 hours now.  

I thought about changing it before the trip with a spare used bag I have, but figured that I didn't want to mess with anything that was more or less working ok.   I have a 110V air compressor as a PO (previous owner) decided it would be a good idea to disconnect the original air system and cut all the lines.   This was actually on my list of things to do before the engine rebuild diverted all coach funds.

So just before dinner I pull out the compressor (worked fine that morning) to level out the coach for sleeping that night.  I attach it and turn it on, however, the coach isn't moving up....I fiddle with it and notice that the rubber seal in the part that snaps on the schrader valve has split.   UGGGH, the coach has sunk more now with me letting out air while fiddling with it and there is no way I can drive off the site now....

 So that brings us back to Tuesday morning.  We tried to make a fix with some sealant we had, but it didn't seat for me and couldn't get the bag to inflate.   Well there was a Walmart 5 miles away from the park.  I pull off the bikes for the first time on the trip and set off.  The driveway just beyond the picture above becomes very steep.  I put it in first gear and was standing on the pedals and barely got up the hill.   Crap, this bike ride is going to suck!   I get to the top of the hill huffing and puffing and stop to look at my phone as I didn't recall if it was a right or left to go to Wally World.

Nearby the campground host, pokes his head out and asks me where I'm riding off too this morning.  I tell him of my woe with the compressor and he says come over here.  He pulls out a nice RYOBI one and says hop in my golf cart.  We wheel back to the site and low and behold, Lucy managed to get the bag filled.  We check it out with his to see the pressure and it's all right on the money.

At this point, I'm ready to go but Tommy needs his lakeside photo shoot first, so I ready the coach for flight while Tommy works on his modeling..

What's this?  A Blue Heron 20 miles from Nashville?  I would have never guessed!

Beautiful Lake, wish we had more time to hang out there.

The long view of our campsite just before we left.

First stop was WalMart to get a new compressor (put that issue to bed for now), and then back on the road again heading to KY!

Once we got into central TN, we started seeing the signs for prepare folks for the expect influx of people into the path of totality.   Heading into Nashville, the traffic was pretty heavy for 11 AM on a Tuesday.  Made it through okay and then headed north.  I was surprised that it was close to an hour before we got into KY.   We stopped at the visitor center for the obligatory photos

Who should we run into but Lucy's Dad!   Yes we were meeting up later that day in Cave City, KY, but the random roadside meeting was unexpected.

We chatted for a few and then set off in different directions as we were stopping in Franklin, KY to visit a friend of mine.   I met Julie online and commissioned her to draw a picture of my old blue wagon.  I then met her and her boyfriend Billy this year in Daytona at the Spring Car Show there.

We parked right in front of their shop and had a nice visit.  We ate lunch in a cafe across the street and then headed out of town to get to our campsite and meet up with Lucy's dad...

It was a quick hour drive and we arrived in short order.  Here we are getting ready to start the dinner fire. This was our first time in a private RV park as usually we use State Parks and the like.

We called it an early night as we wanted to be at the cave early to get on a tour.

Captain's Log Trip Date +3

With a fresh oil change, a ground wire run on the Throttle Body, and some misc. other repairs, we were off.  Today is going to be the proof in the pudding day, as I have to drive the coach over a pass in the Smokey Mtns.   A town called Monteagle, TN.  Has a 5 or 6% grade for 3 miles when heading west and a little steeper on the west side.

Normally, this shouldn't be a big deal, but alot of folks said I was crazy to put a 350 in the Pineapple as it came with a 455.  Well let's just stay I was in the right place at the right time and was made an offer I couldn't say no too.  Anyway, now that the 'break in' period was over I planned on pushing a little harder on the motor RPM wise to pick up the pace a little.

While I was doing pre-flight checks, school was in session for our daughter.  She got a biology lesson on some of the local critters:

There is a fish in the second photo in case you don't see it..  The lake water was really clear but I didn't get to enjoy it as I was obsessing over the mechanicals.

A little studying with breakfast before we left.

Things were running good and I stopped on the way out of GA at an auto parts store and got a spare set of drive belts.   One of the things from the night before was we found the set screw that bolts into the alternator to hold the belt tight was stripped.  We got it tight as we could but anything over 3000 RPM and it would start slipping and screeching.

Freddy and Tommy were happy (as was I) the GA now lay behind us....

I had planned on filling up with premium fuel and throw a little octane boost in for the ascent on the pass, but before I knew it, I was on it and climbing.  They had a slow truck lane going up so you could pass easy.  As soon as I saw I was on the ascent I stuck my foot in it as hard as I could to try and keep speed up.  I had Lucy open the engine hatch as I knew we would be generating alot of heat and I was sure the ground wire was the solution to the FI problems....

Speed started dropping and the motor was loading up.  I tried to downshift to 2nd and the belt was having none of is SCREEEEE! Shifted back to 3rd and she was pulling steady around 45 mph and 21-2200 RPM.  I could hear the motor pinging, but had little choice as I knew if I backed off, we wouldn't make it.  Chug chug chug up we went holding steady and driving around the tractor trailers.

We got to the top and I took the exit to give the motor a rest.  Filled it up with premium , checked everything and off we went.  It was all downhill for the next few miles and soon we were in Murfreesboro, TN.

This was a pretty big battle in the civil war with many losses on both sides.  Not a pretty time at all in our history.   The part was in the path of totality and they had a number of souvenirs to buy and many activities planned.

We stopped at a store and reloaded with supplies and continued to out new campsite, Poole Knob, TN.  It's run by the Army Corps of Engineers and pretty nice at that.

This site was alot steeper than it looks.  I also learned that just because the showers look close on the campground map, they may be 80ft higher in elevation and inaccessible from your site....

An evening walk was amazing with all the fire flies twinkling in the forest like little fairies.

Star Log Day 2 - Trouble while leaving the solar system

So with a solid 340 mile run under our belt with no issues we were feeling pretty good...too good.

Saturday night was the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower.  On my way back to the coach from the shower, I saw a really long one so I rustled up the girls and we saw a couple more but it wasn't super active.  Clear night and you could see the Milky Way easily.

There is some old saying about counting chickens or being over confident...or something like that.
Anyway, we slept in a little and did a very brief tour of the park in the AM and then hit the road....

Pretty nice park we will have to visit again.  The guy who bought the Birchaven told us to check out the sink, where the river disappears underground, but we didn't have time as we had even more miles to go today.....370 to NW of Atlanta.  As we were still in break in on the engine, top speed of 60-65 was it, so it was going to be a haul.

We got on the road around 10:30 or way later than I wanted. The trip out of FL was pretty uneventful all the way to Tifton, GA.  I hadn't filled up that morning (last stop in Kissimmee).  The gauge said we still had about 1/3 of a tank left so I figured we were good as it was only 125 miles from the park (but close to 300 from Kissimmee).  Anyway, as I pulled off I-75 the motor sputtered, choked and I realized we were out of gas.  I tried flipping to the other tank and DOH! I was on the 'reserve' tank already.  as the traffic light was red, I wanted off the road PRONTO, so I turned into a Logans Steakhouse and promptly died right there in their driveway....

Put the blinkers on and dispatch Lucy to wave off people trying to use that entrance, I went inside to try and borrow a gas can.  No luck.  It was only a block to the gas station so I walked up there, thinking dammit I have like 8-10 gas cans at home....  I go inside and ask the lady behind the counter if they have one I can borrow and point down the hill to the big Space Twinkie blocking the driveway at the bottom of the hill.  The lady goes in the back for a minute and comes back and whispers so low I can barely hear her...."I'm going to get you one".  She walks over to the shelf and does the low hand sideways hand off while looking over her shoulder.  I grab it, say I'll be right back and go put 1.1 gal into it and put it in the rig.  She fires up and I drive off leaving Lucy to walk a block to the station (I mean it was only 1 Gallon!).  The coach takes just over 38 gallons total so I know my 50 gallon capacity is BS.  The 250 mile rule is enacted at this moment and we celebrate with  Hardees to go and get back on the road.

Life seems good for about 30-40 minutes and then all of a sudden the fuel delivery is not steady.  She's shutting off and back on for a second and off....Luckily there is an exit .5 miles and I make it up the off ramp, turn right and hey look an RV Park!  I turn in and stop at the top of the hill next to the office.  While running down the check list a nice guy in a golf cart rolls up and asks if we need help.   I say I'm not sure but if we are stuck I'm going roll down the hill into a spot.  We both laugh and off he goes.  I fiddle with this and that, and he was nice to give us the code for the bathrooms.  I use them and YAAAY AC in the toilet (the Pineapple has no AC while rolling right now).   I do a little Internet research, and go back out to the coach.  Everything seems in order so I fire it up and she runs fine.  I drive up and down the road 3 times and hit the on ramp, hammer down.  

We go for about another 30-40 min and just when I'm starting to feel confident....it happens again!  Again I get off and make it into a gas station.   I call mission control at the Co-Op and we confer.  I decide since I have and extra fuel pump and it's an easy swap, I can eliminate that as a possibility.  It takes 30-45 min to swap out and it is HOT and HUMID.   Lucy gets a faceful of gas when I pull the pressurized line off as she was holding her thumb on the fuel filter to keep it from leaking on the ground.   Get it all buttoned up and off we go.  I hit a puddle and hear a metallic noise but say F it and keep going.

Well we make it through Macon ok, and heading into the Atlanta metroplex things are humming along.  Right as we get to the beltway by the airport on 75 it goes to like 8 lanes wide and we are in the middle as I'm taking 75 right through downtown on a Sunday afternoon.  Guess what happens?  Yep it starts missing fuel and wanting to die right in the middle of it all!  Somehow, I manage to keep it going to 75 north and take the first exit at Cleveland Ave and stall in the middle of the road, uphill.  Luckily traffic isn't coming and I hit the starter about 4 times until it sort of catches and I barely limp into a Piggly Wiggly parking lot.  Almost immediately a brother is hitting me up for cash.  I'm in no mood for him and politely but firmly blow him off.

Now I know it's a waiting game for about 20-30 min and we will be okay for a little bit.  Credit due to Lucy as she says maybe the computer in the FI system is overheating.  It is HOT out.  We wait about half an hour, prop open the engine cover to let the hot air out (and into the cab) and set off again.

We go about 10 minutes in the middle of Atlanta (by the Varsity) and I hear a clank clank on the road.  I say WTH was that? as I didn't see anything in the road....We make the next 40 miles to our campground without issue.

As soon as I open the hatch to explore the planetary surface of GA, I see what made the noise.  Or rather I see what's not there anymore..

Seems I left an exhaust tip in downtown Atlanta.   I can only guess when I hit the puddle south of Macon, it jostled it loose...tis but a flesh wound!

Lucy and Naya, headed directly to the lake for a swim, but my good buddy James Morris was on his way over to help with the 1K oil change.   I was VERY happy for his help as he brought a lifesaver with him.  No not the cold beer and ice (which WAS a lifesaver ;), but a 7/8 wrench.   We changed the oil without issue and found that one of the oil cooler lines was not tightened all the way and I was undercoating the frame on the passenger side.  We got that taken care of and checked all the other fittings and what not and it was all good.

Mission Control checked in and agreed that it was a heat issue. A call to FI Tech confirmed that they stupidly use an internal ground, so I ran a ground from the Throttle body to the negative terminal on the battery.   While I hoped it would fix the issue I was anxious as we set off the next morning....

The Red wire is the ground (hey I was happy I had a piece of 12 Ga long enough!)

Break In drive

Originally I had hoped to have the coach home about a month before our departure, but that didn't happen.   Reason being I wanted to break in the motor and shake out any kinks that may have come up.

To recap:
new engine, new fuel injection system, new fuel lines, new fuel pump, new sewer tank.

As it worked out we got it back with 7 days to spare.  Also had to do other some other things like install a new fridge, new spare, and other Journey preparations.

By the time we left, I had only put about 300 miles on the coach, so the 600+ mile drive to Atlanta would take us to the 1000 mile oil change.

See the previous post for the adventure of the fridge.. .

We left on Saturday around 1 and oue first target was north of Gainesville at O'Leno state park.  We were averaging 50 mph with stops.  I was humming along at 2500 rpm when I saw another GMC passing me!  He was flying down the road going 80+.   He waves and soon disappeared....About 20 miles later we hit our exit and there he was in a gas station!   We talked for a few min as they had just bought it that afternoon!

We only had a few minutes to make the state park so off we went.  We got in with 5 min to spare.  Day one accomplished with no drama!

T minus 62 hours and counting.......No holds on this launch!

Well in 2.5 days, we will be departing for our Celestial Rendezvous with the moon's shadow as it screams across the United States at 1500 MPH.    Going to be a week of vacation in front of the main event, but I'm knocking two bucket list items off in this trip.   Going to Mammoth Cave National Park, and seeing a Total Solar Eclipse.  Not sure which one I'm more excited about.....

Anyway since getting the coach back last week, it has been a mad thrash getting things ready for this trip.  Ideally, we would have had the coach back a month ago to full shake down the new motor and prep the coach.  So many things on the punch list that will have to wait though.  She does look good back here at Casa De Sprocket:

This is our first long outing in the coach (more than 2 nights), so lots of together time with the family in a tight space.

Well one of the big things is a fridge.  The dual power unit (propane and electric) that came with the coach had died before we ever got a hold of it.  A direct plug and play replacement is about $1200 for a 5 cu ft fridge which is out of our budget.  I had been looking for a used one, but all the ones that popped up were too big or too small, no Goldilocks fridge for us.  Anyway awhile back while looking I found a guy, Crazy Johnny up in Melbourne.  He buys lots from various retailers and blows the stuff out very inexpensively.  I found him looking for fridges.   I got a brand new Magic Chef dorm fridge (4.3 cu ft) for $75!   has a dent in the door, but works perfect.  Not designed for RV use, but for that money, it lasts a couple of years we are happy.

So after it being in my kitchen as a beer fridge for the past year, Sunday we pulled out the dead Dometic and found out that during previous ownership, it had been a rat condo.

The middle pic is the nest I shop vac'ed up.  It filled the 5 gal shop vack with bits of foam from the fridge, insulation, and assorted other crap and rat poop.  Fun times!

Here is the fridge space cleaned out, and the new fridge getting installed

Had to do a little gluing of broken wood, added the wood strips to tilt it level and help hold it in place....As the fridge is shorter and narrower than the last one, I added wood to the sides and top to finish it out.  This is a temporary solution as there is enough space to build additional storage drawer or cubby, just not before this trip.

As Mickey the rat tore up all the old fiberglass insulation, I went with a 2 in thick sheet of styrofoam that we cut to fit in to help insulate the fridge compartment (notice how thick the RV fridge's insulation was in the rat photos above).

Also found out that my instrument center that tells me levels in sewer, water, propane, etc.  It's all disconnected!  No wonder the switches don't work...Will be looking at that later, but for the time being used tie wraps and got all the wires out of the way.

I thought this would be a 3-4 swap, but nooooo. I have over 20 hours in it, but the end result is good for now.  You can see the plywood above that's how much space we have to make a drawer in (although it will be under the fridge.

Needs more beer!   Well with that project done, on to the next bit that has been discussed previously.

When we bought the coach and got it home it rained for a week straight.  The window leaked and the 40 year old pressborad counter took the brunt of it.  We originally tried to save the formica top as it is no longer in production, but after a week of painstaking work by Lucy, it broke around the 90% mark.....  I had cut a new top our of 3/4" plywood for a new base, and that has been bare in the coach for almost 2 years now.

We I invested $12.50 into some wood look peel and stick flooring this evening and our daughter helped me out putting it in.  We got about 90% done and the girls will finish it up tomorrow.
Looks heaps better until we get a solid butcher block counter in the near future.

Tomorrow is a wash with my afterwork class, and then Friday it's load up for  departure....BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Also bought a new transforce tire for a spare.  $175 for piece of mind on a good spare, I hope I have to throw away in 6 years....