So, We Bought This Motor Home. Part Six

tomorrow, maybe, just possibly, the Oregon border!

Whoo-hoo!

Now, I know I should have expected it from the name

Mountain Home, but according to our brand new travel atlas, it just was not so. Someone was lying to me. I am referring of course to the mountains that were all around us, that were not there because my map says they weren't. Ignore the mountains in the picture cause they aren't there.

Um, yah.

Thing is, the locals supported this sham!

I know!

I mentioned the big lumpy things sticking out of the ground to more than three of them, even pointing to one in particular which stood out cause of the snow on it, and the response was simply. and I may add unanimously:

"Them are just the foothills."

Crap.

I knew they were coming. I was just hoping to sort of weave in and out between them as long as possible without getting into them straight on.

Why?

To work my little flat-lander into it nice and easy, of course. But now, thanks to my highly undependable brand new road atlas with it's inaccurate information, here we were, getting ready to start climbing into Oregon. Something I still had to break to B, who was reading a travel pamphlet about the Donner Party. I decided I should wait a bit.

Side note, cancel movie selection, "Without A Paddle" for the evening.

I knew she was completely unimpressed with my whimsical yet charming explanation as to why the mountains all around us were not there because, well you know. I already explained all that to you.

Yah, she didn't buy it either.

So after breakfast, we spent the next couple hours remaining before the official check out time of the non-descript national chain kampground we spent the night at to batten down the hatches, so to speak.

Oh yes. Holly doesn't move until everything in her, can't. There can not be a single solitary object allowed to clink, rock, roll, bounce, drip,fall, jump, rattle or fall down.

That's right. Nothing. And let me tell you, the bungee cord is one of the most tremendous inventions know to human kind. Well, at least I have come to appreciate them on a higher level. Them,... and duct tape.

Finally we were done. Everything was in it's place, all the compartments were closed, and those that could be were locked. The hoses were coiled and stowed, the land line was disconnected, the LP tank was in the off position. We were ready to roll.

Holly started like a dream, despite the fact that the evening before, she didn't seem to want to start after her evening fill up.

Yes, still buying gas, but thanks to the fella mentioned in my last Hub, not as much.

Then it dawned on both the gas attendant and I at the same time. Vapor lock. Without a lengthy explanation for those of you who do not know what that is, it is simply that gas can't get to the carburetor enough to turn over the engine to keep it running until the gas fills the line.

The cure. Starter spray. A spray into the carb and zoom. Problem solved.

Where was I? Oh! So everything is great. No rattles, no clatters, and more importantly nothing bashing about. Holley's engine was purring like a kitten, and speaking of kittens, they were all snuggled up and cute looking as they slept all wrapped up around each other.

The sky was bright and the air crisp and clean, and all was right with the world. Nothing at all had gone wrong since turning Holley's ignition key, and I had every reason to believe the rest of the day would go just as well as the beginning. The wheels were turning on the road beneath us as we powered along. Finally, we were at the campground exit.

About that time the kittens woke up, and I could see that there was a slight problem I had failed to anticipate,....again.

are very light sleepers. I swear these two would wake up at the sound of a moth fart. But, it is what it is, and these two little darling bundles of fir were up and ready to play, and the challenge to test our stowage capabilities was evidently at the top of their projects scheduled for the morning.

Of course, little did they know that B had other plans for them. Oh yes. They were going to be therapy kitties for her. She planned to sit on the floor and play and pet the kitties rather than sit and watch the nice non-existent mountains go by. And, the way she was rubbing Dell who had gotten within her reach, I truly questioned if he would still have any fur left by the time we reached the Oregon border or not. Oh well, not to worry. Guess that's why they sell clothing for pets.

Then, before we even knew it,

there it was! The Oregon border! We made it!

At least to the border, anyway.

And, finally, Holly was performing like a champ. The mountains were swelling before our eyes. Well, before my eyes anyway. B was still sitting on the floor de-furring the kittens. Every once in a while, one would escape her clutches and come up and beg me to stop for the day so their fur could grow back, but I was on a mission, and my ears were deaf to their pleas, and I would apologize to them as I would hand them back to B for lovin!

The highway signs told me our target spot for the evening was only an hour or so away. Bend, Oregon is the place we had set our sights on, and Bend was where we were going to get to. Had too!

Mainly because the place we had chosen to pull into for the night was on the other side of Bend. Well that, and Bend was the next gas station from where we were, and we were almost on fumes.

Side note. Purchase auxiliary gas tank because out here, if there is no town for 200 miles, there isn't a gas pump either. Good to know.

That, and Holly seems to have developed a new problem. Now, despite a fresh radiator flush and thermostat, she seems to be getting a bit steamed on the hills, so much to my delight as I once again reach down and remove the nearly naked kitten from around my ankles and hand it back to B, who seems blissfully unaware that we are once again climbing at the blinding speed of 30 to 35 mph, much like the other larger vehicles sharing the road with us.

And as we slid into Bend, Holly burped, farted and unceremoniously, stalled. There we were, the middle of Bend, Oregon, dead on the road, now blocking an intersection and taking up both the lane we were in as well as the far right lane where I was guiding her when she decided to take her vacation.

The good news was, since Holly stopped moving, the kittens went back to sleep.

So, here I leave you, in Bend, broke down blocking two lanes of traffic and an intersection with two nearly naked but sleeping kittens and one rather flustered flat-lander and a cell phone with a weak battery.

Till next time, peace love and light, and as always,...Happy bi-polaring!