We're leaving for Indiana

[copcarguy]

Hey all!
 
We're leaving for Indiana after work tonight and driving straight through...  We should be there around lunch time Sat, do all the paperwork, have the dealer set up the WDH, and then go for a little tow to make sure everything's okay.  We are then going to set up and try everything in the new Salem at the dealer's CG since we get 2 free nights there.  We plan to stay only one night though b/c we have to be home for work on Tues.  The dealer sent me a few pics of the new camper which I put on my webshots page here:
 
http://community.webshots.com/album/318505829MdDTAU
 
This will also be our first camping trip in 2005...  I am really excited!

[HersheyGirl]

I am so excited for you!  Have a safe trip, have fun, and learn that new camper.  Be sure to post after you get back and let us know how things went.

[tlhdoc]

Have a safe trip.  Keep track of how long it takes you to get to the exit off of I-80 for RT-15 (Williamsport and Lewisburg).

[tlhdoc]

Hersheygirl and I spoke to copcarguy tonight.  He said the trailer is bigger than he though it was.  I hope he can get it into the site at NS Lake in 3 weeks.

[tlhdoc]

Are you home yet?  Post pictures, tell us about it.  Come on don't keep us waiting.

[tlhdoc]

Come on Rick, I know you are home.  Tell us all about the new trailer, come on, please, pretty please...

[copcarguy]

Hello everyone!

  Well we are home safe and sound...  We left Friday night late, late after I got home from work.  The van was topped off and packed and we were on our way.  I drove literally for 10 hours straight, a tad over 450 miles before we had to fill up for the first time.  I had 1/4 tank left.  I was amazed about the range the van had.  I then was really tired and Stephie drove the remaining 260 miles.  We had a 1:00 appointment and forgot Indiana was one hour behind us, so we got there really really early.  We had an hour to kill and it was really beautiful out, so I asked the salesman if we could tool around in one of their golf carts (the dealer is REALLY big) so we did that.  :screwy:  We then did all the paperwork, and the delivery process began.  Everyone was so SUPER nice.  I would recommend this dealer 110%.  They set up the WDH and had everything done.  We then towed it about 1/2 mile to their CG and set it up.  We then took a nap.  The salesman lives 6 miles away and actually came back to check on us about 7pm.  He wanted to be sure we were okay since we were so far from home and asked if we needed anything that he could go and get and bring back for us.  How cool!
 
  I did the Clorox water system cleaning, and flushed out the faucets and stuff...  I noticed on the monitor panel that we were filling up the BLACK tank from the sinks and bathtub.  I got nervous right away since we should've been filling up the GREY.  We didn't use the toilet once, and it showed the GREY was empty.  I did all of this worrying about the tanks being plumbed wrong, and at this point (Sat night) the dealer was closed.  I climbed under the camper, checked everything, and was about to rip off the access panel in the bathroom when Steph asked if the "wires could be switched for the tanks" to show on the panel.  AH HA!!!  I knew we didn't use the potty, so I opened the black drain and just a little drop of blue potty chemical came out.  Since all we had put down the drains was Clorox water I opened the grey valve and it was Niagra Falls.  I had Stephie quick push the black button on the monitor panel and sure enough it was falling.  I then closed all the valves, and flushed the potty forever and it showed the grey filling up on the panel.  SO....  the monitor panel is wired backwards for the grey and black.  I am trying to not have that annoy me, but you all know how I am.  I don't know if I will have it fixed, maybe when it goes in for wheel bearings or something I'll have them look at it.  So we camped and had a good time for the rest of Saturday night.  The weather was perfect.  It was nice to be camping.  We liked Indiana so much we talked about moving there...  Everyone was SUPER friendly and nice.  They were also surprised that us NY'ers were nice back.  I guess we have a bad reputation.  (Tracy - I had the dealer look at our webshots pictures bacause they all thought that NY was all NYC.  They couldn't believe North Lake was in NY!)
 
Sunday, I got up before Stephie for what I think is the first time EVER.  We then headed into town to Wal-Mart and did some exploring.  We had breakfast at a Bob Evans and it was literally the best breakfast we have ever eaten.  The food could've been in a commercial.  We saw an Amish farmer tilling the land with HUGE horses and checked him out for a while.  We then saw 5 zillion miles of corn farms, all with John Deere tractors working on them.  I wanted to buy stock in John Deere after that.  We even tried to see another brand of tractor in use and we never did.  We went to a Tractor Supply Company Store (never been to one) and Stephie almost brought some little chicks home.  I kinda killed that idea because 1) I didn't want chicken poop in the van and 2) I am sure Sabrina would've eaten the little thing.  My diversion was "Stephie come look - dog toys for Sabrina!!" and then we kinda left there...  LOL!  We went back to the CG and hung out, walked around, made dinner and left about 9PM.
 
I drove straight though (except for gas and potty stops) to the OH/PA line, where we pulled into the rest area at mile marker 1 on I-80 and we slept in the camper for 5 hours.  We then got up, and headed home...  PA is a looooooooong state, I was getting cranky because I said it felt like "we are on a treadmill for vehicles - driving and driving and not making progress."  I checked the MPG's with each fill-up and we got 11mpg towing.  Not too bad IMO.  The trip was really nice, it felt like we had a week off that one day in Indiana.  We both were refreshed.
 
OH I forgot - somewhere in Ohio, a little tornado crossed the road!  I saw it on the other side of the highway ready to cross, cars were jamming on their brakes.  It crossed the median about 10 cars in front of us, I was already breaking and came to a stop.  It somehow missed the cars, went up the hill and fizzled out.  All the drivers were looking at each other amazed.  It was something cool to see.
 
Well that's about it, I have written a book here.  Thanks for calling to check up on us!  Can't wait for you guys to see it!

[Garrett]

You say you recommend this deal, but you never say who they are.  I only know of one dealer big enough to have golf carts to get around on and they do not have their one campground, just a parking lot with hook ups.  I would really like  to know which dealer you used.  I may be in the market in the near future.

[copcarguy]

Hey there Garrett!

I assumed that no one except tlhdoc and HersheyGirl would be reading my post and they knew where I was...  LOL!  I was at Walnut Ridge RV in New Castle, Indiana.  www.walnutridgerv.com  My salesman was Ralph Willis and every person I met there went above and beyond.  Everyone I talked to would not leave until they were 100% sure that I was 100% happy.

[copcarguy]

I put up some more pics on my webshots page too:
 
http://community.webshots.com/album/318505829MdDTAU

[Garrett]

NOW I AM UPSET!!!!  The Indiana Chapter of the GLPUC was camping at Summit Lake SP 5 MILES from New Castle while you were hiding out in this dealers  private campground.  We would have loved to welcome you to Indiana.  We had a fantastic pot luck Saturday night and a group breakfast on Sunday morning.  i even managed to set a picnic table on fire Sunday morning while fixing a breakfast casserole in a DO.  I am really disappointed we missed an opportunity to meet you.

[copcarguy]

Garrett:
 
ARE YOU KIDDING???
 
That is really poopy that we were only 5 miles from you and didn't even know it.  Copcargirl and I had a conversation that we were betting there were some Pop Up Times people around...  It would've been really nice to meet you guys (as well as eat some home-made Pot Luck food!).  I really like Indiana.  For some reason or another, we end up going there every other year.  I am sure we will be heading back there.  Got any pics of the fire you started??

[Garrett]

No I did not take time to get thecamera.  Just put the fire out.  It is kind of a long story that I posted over at PUX - topic S"DO"T.  Next time you head this way be sure and let us know ahead of time.

[DiW]

Hey Rick, I take offense. I read your posts too (sometimes a bit late, though). BTW, thanks for sending the pics. Can't wait to check it out in person at North-South Lake.

Rick, looks like someone else has a knack for fires   . Probably one of you at a time in Indiana is trouble enough... I have no doubt that you would have found a way to take photos  :p

[copcarguy]

Sorry that I forgot to include you Di...  it is a given that we love you guys too...

I hope I fit into the sites at North Lake.  This thing is a little bigger (and much, much nicer inside!) than I anticipated.  Work has been really stressful lately and I am SO looking forward to heading to North Lake.  I need it.  The one day camping in Indiana felt like a week.