Well back home now!!

[Cheesemaker]

First and foremost, I really wanted to see some friends, or at least stop by and say hi for a few minutes.  But that wasn't on the agenda at all.  And also this was a budget trip. 


So, last Tuesday (7/7/15) we left for sunny Southern California.  I was a little nervous about the trip, as I had some repair work done to the van.  And the mechanic failed to tighten up a hose clamp, and had the lower coolant hose blow off on the way home from his shop.  (I had also double confirmed old cell numbers from Marlinites along the route.  Which was good, cause some were really old numbers.)  Then the night before, I found that what I thought was the residue of the coolant from where it blew out at, was actually the radiator had some pin holes in it.  It looked like it had been leaking for quite some time. 

We left the next morning.  And at the first sign of any issue I was gonna turn around and call the vacation off.  Coolant levels were fine, just a hair low the next morning in Kingsburg.  Topped off radiator, and filled up overflow tank.  Onward to Corona.  No issues, just the typical, turn off the A/C and turn on the heater, on the long climbs as we always have to do.  A day at Disneyland, then chill at the poolside.  Then back home via a night in Redding.  Sorry Nate, I wanted to stop by and at least say hi, but we got a late start out of Corona due to traffic. 

Then we took a different route home, instead of I5 all the way home, I went 97 out of Weed, then 62 to Crater Lake, which the second we got to the rim, the clouds opened up, and DUMPED on us.  We were in flash flood conditions.  Rocks and debris was pouring over the rock faces along the roadway.  Ditches flooding everywhere.  Hail and thunder all around us.  It was some very tense driving conditions I have ever had on a road trip.  Was worried that I was going to drive over rocks that were going to puncture a tire or oil pan.  Then down to hwy 138 back to hwy 97, then onto hwy 58 to Eugene.  I recommend going 97 to 58 if you ever get the chance.  It's a hell of a better option than I5 from Eugene to Ashland, which I hate. 

Overall, the van did good.  I was glued to the temp gauge the whole time.  I never did check the levels after Kingsburg.  Everything seemed fine.  I will do a go over today.  We had a blast too! 

Like I said, I wanted to visit or at least make a guest appearance with some of you, but that wasn't in the plans on this trip.