March 31, 2024
I will highlight the more exciting things that happened this month as we finished our preparations for the road, not the entire list.
The RAM truck gave us the dreaded “limp mode” message!
Larry researched the “limp mode” and discovered that one of the most straightforward issues to resolve is replacing the three-year-old batteries, as any low function could cause this error. We now had new batteries, one less thing to worry about when camping in the cold or remotely, but it didn’t fix the message. After more research, Larry replaced the Bank 1 Sensor 2 NOX sensor.
How fortunate we are that he is mechanical, as this would have been quite costly at the dealership (both in time and money). The job was far from easy, requiring removing and installing parts by feeling, not by sight. Success!!!
We replaced the heavy wood shower walls on the Ute with a curtain attached to the ceiling. It makes the Ute look bigger inside, too.
Of course, we took the RAM and Ute back for annual maintenance on their exterior treatments. Look at that shine 😀
I made more reservations and finished the baby blanket! Here is the original design
Here is my design
Our dear friends from Texas visited in the middle of the month, and we headed to Tucson together for the FMCA Rally. We drove together to Phoenix to meet some other friends at Organ Stop Pizza. We’ve been there before, but it is always spectacular as the organ rises beneath a platform for a show filled with lights, music, and special effects.
At the FMCA Rally, we attended various lectures, and Larry played some pickleball for the first time. He did really well!
Larry making more friends
We had Roadmaster check the installation on the steering stabilizer for the Coachman, which had unexpectedly snapped off at a weld. Larry (of course) had replaced it but wanted to verify it was in the correct position.
On the last evening of the Rally, a great band playing fine country western music entertained us all.
The last few weeks have whetted our appetite for travel, and when we returned to Benson, we quickly completed our projects, cleaned, packed, and prepped for our departure. We did our final fuel up of the Coachman and Jeep and stowed them safely at an indoor storage facility in Tucson.
While in Tucson, we put new tires on the RAM, losing some weight and road noise for the summer.
We had planned to stay in Benson for a leisurely departure in April—but we couldn’t wait! On Saturday morning, March 30, we began our summer adventure.
We stopped in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for lunch and a visit to their roadrunner statue made of recycled items.
Our first campsite was boondocking atop a hill overlooking Alamogordo, New Mexico. We could see White Sands National Park from there!
On Sunday, we drove up into Cloudcroft Canyon and did some hiking before spending the night at a free campsite in James Canyon. It is so exciting to be back on the road!!
Our stove in the Ute with a few of the memories we collected last summer
Now it’s ready for this summer!!
