So We Bought This Motor Home!

because we are on a mission. A mission you say? Yup, you-betcha! We sold our house in Minnesota after a year and a half of research, bought a motor home, and this is our story, and we're sticking to it!

Glad you asked! Guess you might say this is the story about that as well. In fact, it is the story about our trek across the U.S. as we move from our old home in Southwest Minnesota to the beautiful mountains in Oregon. (And all the great bits in between!)

She is a little older, but she is in great shape, and we love her. She is a 1978 Holiday Rambler powered by a great big 460 Big Block. I think they call it a 460 because that is just about how many feet you travel to the gallon. I will admit that compared to the rigs you see on the road nowadays, she is a little dated, but built as solid as a rock. A really big heavy rock.

We purchased her in St. Cloud in early April while there was still snow on the ground in Minnesota. It was on one of the coldest days of April. Well, believe it or not, it was even colder than it had been all winter long that particular day, and of course, with evening coming, it wasn't going to get any warmer either. We finished up our financial transactions with the salesman and received the Motor Home owners manual and the words "good luck" ushered us out the door

Insist that the salesman goes through you new owners manual with you, regardless wether or not they know anything about motor homes. You will feel less stupid because there will now be two of you who have no idea what they are doing instead of just yourself.

With two pumps to the pedal and a twist of the key, Holly (Yes, that is what we call her.) and I were off and running. We headed straight for a gas station to fill the tank that was sitting some where between empty and almost empty. Actually leaning more towards the empty side as we sort of coasted in on fumes and Hail Mary's. My significant other, who opted to ride back home with her son in our van so she could watch for any potential problems Holly may develop on the way, joined my side. As she walked around Holly, marveling at our new purchase, I started the fuel pump.

Try to get an idea of just what size fuel tank your new purchase may have. It saves you from passing out and hitting your head on the ground when the pump finally clicks off and you see just exactly how much 45 gallons of gas costs at 3.05.9/ gallon. And why do they always have to put that .9 in there? Why not just make it 3.06? Do they really think we are all relieved that we are saving a tenth of a cent?

I did begin to think of something else, however, after the shock of the fill up cost had faded. I remembered that although I had the heater on in Holly from the dealership to the gas station, I had experienced little or no heat. Thinking Holly just had not had enough time to warm up, I chose to ignore the chill. We all boarded our respective vehicles and continued on our merry way. And, after several miles, it was becoming quite obvious to both myself, and my blue lips, that the heater may not be working to it's full potential. In fact, by the time we were nearing another gas station visions of hot chocolate being poured over my head was all I could think of as I flashed my lights. A pre- determined signal that we needed to stop for a moment.

One could assume driving a vehicle, with no heat, in -15 degree temperatures and wind chills from -20 to -25 for the three and a half to four hour trip from St. Cloud to our home in southwest Minnesota would be agonizing. Really it isn't. After the first half hour or so you are far too numb to feel anything. Not even when your significant other and her son thaw out your fingers with open flames so you can let go of the steering wheel.

we were home. We were safe. We owned our new (to us) motor home, our house was in closing, and our dream of a year and a half, if not longer, was coming to fruition. We were happy. Life is grand!

Well, first things first! After a nice check up, which verified her extremely low mileage of 68,000 miles, and general clean up, we were ready to pack her with our most prized possessions in preparation for our anticipated end of May departure date.

But more importantly, we waited for the snow to disappear so we could try her on a couple short trips before driving her across country. We didn't have long to wait, because toward the end of April, South west Minnesota sort of warmed up and thawed out early.

Okay, so it was just a couple mile jaunt to the water shed district park nearby our town, but we wanted to see how the stove, heater and refrigerator would work, along with all the other systems like water, sewer and all that stuff.

We found, being the eternal optimists that we are, there was nothing we couldn't live without, overcome, fix or totally ignore. We were delighted! We were ready for the road!

On this rather warm day, a couple days later, my SO (You do know what that means by now, right?) and I decided to make a quick jaunt into the nearby state of South Dakota. About a half hour drive if that. Holley did great, on the nice flat Minnesota country side.

Then there was the hill climb leading to the center of the Gary, South Dakota business district. All twelve or so building of it. Holley burped, coughed, farted and died, right in front of the town mechanic's shop.

Living all your life in a small town in rural Minnesota does have it's advantages. My SO (second chance to figure out what it stands for if you don't already know.) knew the mechanic. After an hour or so, after finishing up the job he was doing, he climbed into our dear sweet Holley and turned the key. I swear I heard her giggle at me. The engine started up and she purred like a kitten. Hmmm. Something seems afoot here.

The next day, the mechanic in our town replaced a plugged fuel filter. Cool. We were in business, again!

Of course, we tried a few other excursions, and we had great success. In fact, one of our last excursions in the beautiful state of Minnesota was Games Lake, in a camp ground more popularly known in that area as County Park number 7. Go there if you ever have the opportunity. The following pictures will tell all.

For some reason I am having a devil of a time downloading pictures. So, I owe you a couple of really breathtaking shots of the sunset over Games Lake, and some more pictures of the forest floor. Including one of a wild Johnny In The Pulpit, which are protected in this forest.

So, anyway, guess this is it for installment 1 of "So We Bought This Motor Home!"

Tune in next time as we finally get on the road, FOR REAL!