Rv repaired and for sale

So I made it back from Kanab to Denver and could not get out of the rv fast enough. After all the mechanical and medical troubles we are finally crying uncle.

We parked it at the Flying Saucer rv park which I have driven by 1000 times growing up here and never thought much of it. More accurately, I thought it was a dump. Needless to say, now after a year of traveling and visiting parks around the country, it doesn't seem that bad to me now. I'm not sure what that says about me but I think my perceptions have changed, or warped, not sure which.

So we quickly set out to clean up the rv to make it presentable to sell. We had the ambitious task of attempting to sell the vehicle in the one week we allotted before departing for MD. If it didn't sell then we planned to drive it back east and sell it there. It took three days to lighten the load so it would show and then create a flyer that highlighted its best features. We listed it on Craig's List at 10pm Sunday and received our first call at 7am Monday morning. Great! The only problem was the guy didn't show up! Rude.

Next, we went to investigate our selling options through a dealer. Since our appointment didn't show and it was all clean we took a drive up to Longmont, which I call Denver's RV capital. We discovered that a dealer there would keep it there for us for the next several months while advertising it across the country through the rest of their dealers. So we determined that it was more worthwhile for us to let them handle the sale and we could concentrate on getting just ourselves and our cars back east. I'm now very leary about driving my house too many miles these days so i am thrilled to be leaving it in CO. I'm looking forward to one that is stationary.

The next task was to empty it entirely. When I tell you I do not know how we fit all the stuff we had with us so well in the rv you would have to see how much came out of it to believe it yourself. We spent three full days packing our van and moving the boxes back to my parents' garage. Finally, tonight we pulled the last bit out and we are ready to deliver it tomorrow to the dealer. It will be at K&C RV in Longmont if anyone is interested in the adventure of your life. Don't go by our experience alone. It will definitely be an exciting ride.

I thought I would feel relieved to have this task finished but without knowing exactly where we are going to land and how we are going to get there we remain overwhelmed. Adam is doing as much as he can but he is very limited on physical activity. I appreciate everything he does do but unfortunately it also highlights what he can't help with. Now we are deciding whether we can manage a small trailer or whether we actually need a full moving truck. If we do need the truck then do we really want to do this ourselves? I just can't fathom paying for two out of state moves in one year. We are not moving the majority of our items that remain in storage with our original movers. That will come later.

For now we are recuperating from the unloading task and hoping for the best for a quick sale. We will keep you updated!

Vegas

This weekend we had a nice break and unexpected vacation in Vegas. I wouldn't call it relaxing but it was a wonderful diversion from the recent rv life turmoil. My mom and I stayed at the Rio Suites where they were holding the World Series of Poker. It was too bad Adam wasn't with me to watch it in person! He had to catch it on ESPN. However, he enjoyed his poker time with his dad in Blackhawk where he got super lucky to be sitting at the table that hit the Bad Beat. That was like winning a small lottery and made it all worth it for him to have waited back at home.

First thing we did when we got to the hotel was head to the pool. It was hopping with loud rap music, a topless pool option and tons of kids and old men. We figured the old men were here for the poker tournament and the kids must have been their families in tow. Course, the pool is the best place for kids to hang out, especially if they want to lose their hearing. We were amused for a while. Later we ate dinner with some poker players and then hit the casino.

The next day I awoke feeling hoarse and sick from all the smoke the night before. College days relived. We headed for the Miracle Mile shops by way of the free shuttle to Bally's. We were a little concerned about staying here because it is off the strip but the shuttle was a very nice benefit. Next thing we knew we had shopped for six hours and walked about five miles. Why are these hotels so huge? Just because there is a lot of space in the desert does that mean they have to use it? I should have brought my pedometer to clock accurately the number of miles we actually walked.

We finally got to sit down when we got to the show theater to see Jubilee, a classic showgirl show. I'd never seen one before and we had a two for one coupon so we figured why not go? I had a strange sense that I was on a cruise ship the entire time. It was truly classic and by the end we didn't even notice all the boobs covered in glitter. It was so classic however that my mom was singing away with the songs that reminded me of my grandma's era. Now I feel like I've really seen old Vegas.

The evening was concluded by eating a 10 pm dinner at Sugar and retiring to bed with a migraine. Guess I don't have the stamina I once did for loud music and bright lights. My mom, however, hit the casino without me and played until 2am. What's wrong with this picture?

Today we are off to face the 100+degree weather. Just don't know which direction we are headed quite yet. I awoke at 5am to get on the insurance company to settle this rv claim so we can start heading home. It's not resolved yet but hopefully soon.

Sent from my iPhone

Vegas Pool time!

Kanab, UT

Since we had previously left the RV back in Utah I had to drive back there to pick it up. It was not quite ready but my mom and I were taking two days to get there so we decided to leave early. That has since proved to be a mistake on our part. I anticipated possible delays caused by the repair shop but did not factor in delays caused by our insurance company. So during our waiting period in Kanab we experienced everything the locals had to offer.

We started by visiting the Moqui cave which is privately owned. It used to be a bar and dance hall during the days when western film stars frequented the place. The people who owned it gave tours and a history of the area and Mormon settlers. They were very nice and informative but I got the feeling their ultimate mission was to educate the public about the Mormon faith. This man's grandfather had 6 wives and 55 kids in his family. They no longer practice that lifestyle and make it known that they disapprove. We spoke briefly about the show Sister Wives on TLC which features modern day polygamists (or pluralists as they like to be called). That family must have lived in the vicinity but their lifestyle angers many Mormons and the cave owner wouldn't speak about them in particular. Interesting.

Next we visited the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary where they claim to be the world's largest no-kill animal shelter. They focus on taking in animals with medical problems who might be otherwise unadoptable, rehabilitate them and aim to ultimately place them in their "forever home." the operation was truly amazing. It's situated in Angel Canyon which was as pretty as Zion Natl Park. The next day we went back to volunteer with the dogs at the shelter. We walked a couple of big ones who nearly took my arm off chasing lizards. My first dog also dug a hole to China chasing something. They were so happy to get out of their runs but were very hot and ready to return home afterwards. Each dog there has an indoor/outdoor pen with lots of toys, air conditioning, and outdoor running space. It still is a doggy jail and ironically enough was designed by a guy who designed prisons. Reminds me of my college dorm which was also designed by someone who designed prisons. By the end of the day we were hot and tired. We left with good memories of the animals' environment and will remember one dog in particular. Alfie survived parvovirus and distemper but was left with residual nerve damage. He has tremors and ticks like a Parkinson patient and his front legs do not hold his weight. It was one of the most pathetic cases I have ever seen. They are attempting to rehabilitate him and say he might be as to walk someday. I hated to see him hit his head against the cage involuntarily. We will also remember the 25 companion pigs they rescued, the horses and the movie set barn they lived in, and "ambush pass" which is a stretch of road that appeared in countless western movies showing stagecoach ambushes and is on their property.

Another highlight was wandering around town and running into people we had met earlier. This town only has two stop lights and two main streets. It's hard to miss eachother. This was a popular area to film the western movies like the Lone Ranger and One Little Indian and they saved the movie sets in the Little Hollywood museum. We even could have stayed for a free show put on for Japanese tourists but elected not to.

We continued to check on the rv progress and learned it was supposed to be finished Friday afternoon. That left us with enough time to venture through Zion National Park. Similarly to the Grand Canyon park they limited transportation to their shuttle busses. We had time to visit Zion lodge, take a short mile long hike to the Emerald Pools and grab some ice cream before heading back to our car and drive to pick up the rv (wishful thinking).

Upon arriving back at the shop we learned the insurance adjuster never returned their calls and we would have to wait until Monday before they make a decision about settling the claim. After much fighting with the insurance managers we gave up and decided to head to Vegas for some more R&R and fun. We will deal with the RV again on Monday and hope the claim gets resolved quickly so I don't have to return to this desolate yet gorgeous part of the country for the third time! Vegas here we come!

Little Hollywood-Kanab, UT