New-old motorhome revisited

Well, it was about this time last year that I was writing about our new-old motor home, which we had purchased, along with a horse trailer, from my sisters. I think the Brougham motor home is entering its 31st year-----that's older than Willie.

Anyway, it just headed out the driveway, with Bill driving it, of course, toward town. I'm thinking I may have to write really fast this morning because I'm sure Bill took his cell phone, and I know he'll use it if he ends up in situations similar to last year's. I have hope, though, that he may make it all the way to the Idaho Department of Lands parking lot without incident.

That optimism comes from the fact that the motor home has been to Hope and back without breaking down. Since it went to Hope when we took it for a spin last evening, we must be optimistic. I thought we were going to play it safe and hang around the neighborhood like Bill did last year when he drove it to Yoke's, just three miles away, on its first run. Then, he drove it around our rural block.

Even though he did encounter some rural road rage on that trip at the Baldy Road-Great Northern Road junction, he made it home unscathed. The night he headed it up the Sand Creek hill to get some gas at the Conoco station gave him and the the convenience store clerk cause for concern, but that turned out all right.

It was after he'd practiced taking a shower in it, sleeping on its beds (for naps and nights) and putting about $1,000 dollars of maintenance in it that things started going downward for Bill and the motor home last year. The big crisis came the day he set off for Colville, Washington, and a foresters' convention, only to have it break down on Baldy Road.

He got it running again, and it huffed and puffed its way to North Boyer just past the sheriff's office. Nobody came out to help Bill when the motor home sputtered to a halt, but he managed to get it to the fairgrounds driveway. That's when the cell phones started ringing. Annie and I were enjoying a lunch at the Ice House Pizza---once again in Hope---when Bill started calling.

Knowing he probably wasn't in a great mood, I bought him a big fat brownie at the pizza house before leaving. Knowing she wanted to watch a movie, Annie stopped off at Yoke's before going to where Bill had reported to us later that he was now waiting for a wrecker and would need a ride home. Knowing we'd be in Yoke's for a few minutes, Kiwi ate Bill's brownie. To say he had a bad day was an understatement. He eventually drove his pick-up to Colville and stayed in a motel, with no fishing stops along the way, as previously planned.

It's a new year, and the motor home has had all winter to think of things to disorder Bill's life. So far, it's been behaving fairly well. It started right up the first time I turned the key in the ignition. It obediently went to my mother's house last week so that Bill could have sleep-overs in its living room and reduce Mother's concern each night while my sisters were gone.

Last night, I was surprised when Bill directed it on to Hwy 200 and the old gal happily cruised down the highway. Things were going so smoothly, I almost wished we'd packed some suitcases and could keep on going. We haven't taken a vacation forever, so with that big fat full moon gleaming over the gorgeous lake, it just plain seemed like a night for motor home travel. But we turned around at the boat launch and headed back.

No incidents last night, and I'm still typing. I'm figuring Bill's gotta be getting close to his office by now. No calls. That could be a good sign for new-old motor home success in 2007. If all goes well, maybe we'll even get to use it more than the one night we camped out last year.

And, if my dear cousin Sue's reading this posting, not to worry. Though it's tempting to make sure that old rig gets a lot more use this year, we will allow you to stay inside the house when you come visiting. That is, unless you'd like to give the new-old motor home a try. She's there and waiting!