Since this began with a puff of smoke and a slow roll to the side of a Texas highway in the middle of June, we have been waiting to see our RV sitting back in the driveway and fully functional again.
It has been an expensive, lesson-filled, at times frustrating journey, but here we are, at last.
Our Orion is home.
And after the last few months, those are particularly sweet words to type.
What was supposed to be part of another summer adventure took an unexpected turn when the Orion developed serious engine trouble and eventually ended up at Beach Ford down for the count.
There aren’t many things quite as sad as watching your RV disappear into a service lot, especially when you know the problem isn’t going to be solved quickly or inexpensively.
By the numbers: What started as an $18,000 repair quotation in Texas, swelled to a $20,000 estimate at Beach Ford. In the end, and mostly due to the dogged determination and hard work of my favorite Service Adviser, Catie with a “C”, we’ll end up at about $13,000 all in. A painful check to write, but it could have been worse and Catie worked really hard to help us. Her empathy and concern were evident from our very first meeting with her and she kept chipping away at it for us. I hope Beach Ford keeps her well compensated and providing good customer service for years to come. They have won me over as a customer. They have become the shop of record for our RV. Thank you Catie and Beach Ford for getting us back whole. Hopefully, the next time I see you, is just for an oil change.
So, this morning I headed over to Beach Ford. Tucked among the commercial trucks and other RVs, looking remarkably innocent for something that has caused this much drama and expense lately was our Orion.
Today was pickup day.
Before leaving, I did what every slightly obsessive RV owner should do after major engine work:
I opened the hood and stared at everything.
I tilted my head and squinted.
I squeezed some hoses and tapped a few things. Important things.
Does it look right?
Is anything leaking?
Is anything loose?
Do I actually know what half of these hoses do?
Yes, no, apparently no, and absolutely not.
Close enough.
I checked the oil.
Oil so clean I had to tilt the dipstick into the sun to see there was any there at all.
I kicked the tires.
Then came the moment that really mattered.
Turn the key.
Engine starts on the first bump and idles almost silently.
The Air Conditioning works.
Put it in gear.
And drive.
There is something wonderfully exciting about an RV moving under its own power again when, not very long ago, you weren’t entirely sure when that was going to happen ever.
I only had a few miles to get back home. Not a long road test, but it seemed to go very well. No check engine lights. No smoke. No rattles that weren’t from the kitchen. I didn’t try any jack rabbit starts or push it very hard, but everything seemed as it should be.
Most importantly, our “Slow Down and Smile” face is still riding on the back.
That seems particularly appropriate right now. We definitely slowed down and hopefully we have smiled through most of it.
Eventually you fix what needs fixing, turn the key again and see where the road goes next.
And that’s where we are.
Next comes the small repair I need to make. I think I mentioned breaking the low-hanging sewer drainpipes while putting her on the trailer. That should be cheap and easy and will be an upgrade as the gate valves need replacing anyway. She needs a little cleaning, a little organizing and we’ll officially be on the road again.
I’ll be watching fluids, kicking tires, checking underneath, squinting at important things, listening for strange noises and generally behaving like someone who has recently been given his RV back after major surgery.
And barring any surprises, she won’t be sitting here for long.
There are places to go.
For a little while, Orion’s story was about getting home.
Now we get to start talking about where she’s taking us next.
Man, does that feel good.
Slow down and smile.
There is still a lot of road ahead.
AND Tomorrow the Adventure continues.
The Buttervale Life 