Evans RV Adventures

While Shelly was at work, Bobby repaired the broken door hinge on our Norcold 1200 fridge.

Go Bobby! Much better than the price of a new door ($400+)! Not pretty but works

We’ve been having problems with blowing a marker light fuse in the coach when we have the headlights on while towing the car. We wanted to get it fixed before heading out Sunday, so we had RC’s Mobile RV come out to take a look.

Seems the problem lies with the car’s wiring kit and they ended up rewiring and installing new bulb sockets. Hopefully this fixes the problem.

Since we’re leaving Novato next week, we finally decided to explore the “Rush Creek Open Space Preserve” next to the RV park.

There’s a nice trail that goes along a marshy area, over hills, and through the trees. We saw many birds as well as a snake along the way. Yet another beautiful day!

Went to church this morning and saw Timothy & Trina from the RV park we’re staying at. They invited us to go watch fireworks with them tonight. So after going home and resting up a bit, we rode with them down to Fort Baker (part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area) in Sausalito, CA.

We were right by the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was a bit foggy & cold.

We sat in their car and talked for hours, getting out once to investigate the old gunneries that once defended this shore. Once the fireworks started, we found that the fog obstructed our view. So we headed back home, having spent a nice evening chatting with friends.

Drove over to Bodega Bay today, the town made famous by Alfred Hitchcock. It was here that he filmed his movie “The Birds” in 1962.

Our first stop was the Potter School (built in 1873), one of the structures used in the film.

We then drove to the Tides restaurant which has undergone a lot of change since it appeared in “The Birds”. That was the extent of our “Birds” tour, so we set out to explore  the bay and shoreline.

We started off with a walk through a county park’s bird walk/coastal access. We enjoyed the plants and animals along the way, as well at the calm beach that met us. With this being a bay, the beach is more like the ones we have back in Delaware.

Back to the car, we drove a few miles to Bodega Head, on the Pacific Ocean, were we  saw the shoreline that the west is known for. Rocky, windy and with bigger waves/rougher surf.

It was So00 awesome to see! We found one section where we could climb down to the water. It was beautiful and had such coarse grainy sand. We even found a small “man cave” for Bobby

After enjoying the beach, we  stopped at Spud Point Crab Co. where we shared a cup of their DELICIOUS “Carol’s” Clam Chowder.

After lunch, we walked across the street to the marina, full of fishing boats and Dungeness Crab pots. Seeing a sign for Dungeness Crabs at Paisano Bros. Fisheries where we purchased four live Dungeness crabs to take home to cook, YUM!

We drove north along more of the coastline and Redwoods forests before turning east back towards Novato.

Back in our RV, we set about the task of cooking dinner. Since these are much larger than the Blue Crabs on the eastern shore, they’re no so feisty, making them much easier to handle. What a good dinner!

After eating, we went to the farmers market in Novato where we picked up some fresh produce. What a nice day!

Got up early this morning to take the car to Leonardi’s. We had one of the mechanics go for a drive with us, so he could hear what we’re hearing. How could you not hear it. He too said “Yep, bad wheel bearing” and we headed back to the shop so the work could begin. We thought we might walk back to the RV park, but they had a driver who took us instead.

So, while work was being done, we puttered around the coach until they called to let us know the work was done and that they could pick us up in a few hours. We contemplated walking over, but with the temps in the 90’s (hottest we’ve seen here), we decided against it. We waited until about 4:30 when the van came to pick us up. Got to the shop, paid (approx. $300) for the new right front wheel bearing and drove the car home. Oh how sweet the sound of a new bearing. It’s SOOO much better! Like having a new car again (after approx $2,000 total spent on the car in less than a week, it should be like a new car! LOL).

Finally! We’ve got our car back! We left from the shop and headed to Costco to have new tires put on the car. The new tires should take care of all the noise we had, as the old tires have some cupping.

While the tires were being changed, we did some window shopping in the various stores in the shopping center that Costco is next to. We ended up having lunch at “Sushi Holic”. Good food. We split three rolls along with a bowl of Miso soup.

After lunch, we went back down to Costco to get our car and go for a test drive on the new tires. Got in the car, started her up, and went for s spin. Oh no! The noise isn’t gone. So something else is certainly going on. After the problems we had at Novato Chevrolet (taking so long to get a part and fix the car), we don’t want to go back to them. Bobby had done some research and found a place with great reviews – Leonardi Automotive. After buying a few things at Costco, we stopped by Leonardi’s on the way home. The guys at the shop were so nice, and put us at ease with their down to earth, no nonsense approach. Shelly is working the next three days, so we set up an appointment for Monday morning. From our description of the noise, it sounds like a bad wheel bearing to them.

Shelly got a much needed haircut and coloring. We’re still waiting for them to get a fuel pump for the car, so we still have the rental.

We had plans to spend the day at Sear Point Raceway to watch NASCAR, but since we have no wheels this morning, those plans are out. We called Enterprise at 11AM and they came to pick us up at 11:30 to get a car. It’s a PT Cruiser.

We left Enterprise and stopped at the dealership where our Saturn is to get a few things out of it and so Bobby could take a look at it. From there to CVS and then Lucky’s grocery store to pick up a few things. We relaxed the rest of the day before heading off to bed.

Bobby headed out for a bike ride this morning with Andrew from church and his friend, Dustin. I went to a computer training class for work. It was only four hours long, so after class a group of us nurses went to lunch at Sol Food in Petaluma. Good Puerto Rican cuisine and well liked by the locals, as the place was packed.

After lunch I stopped at Bath & Body Works to pick up a few things before heading home. Shopping complete, she proceeded toward home via the 101 freeway, but the car wasn’t acting right. It would try to increase in speed, but then it would drop back down. I turned onto the 101 on ramp, but then pulled to the side of the road, as I didn’t feel safe trying to go out on the highway with the way the car felt. It’s good I pulled off when I did, as the car sputtered and then cut off right after I moved over! God was truly watching over me, getting me out of the way when He did, and keeping me from getting onto the 101, where there’s a good chance I could have caused/been in an accident.

Although just a few miles from the RV park, I wasn’t going anywhere. I sat there for a few minutes and then tried to start the car. It sputtered for a few seconds, but that was all. I called Bobby (he had just gotten back from his ride) to let him know my situation and then called our insurance (Continental Car Care via National Interstate) for roadside assistance. They took my info and then asked me to call back when I had decided where I wanted the car towed to. More calls to Bobby, so he could look up/ask about area shops. He decided on Novato Chevrolet, so I called Heather (at CCC) back to give the name/location. She then had to find someone to tow me and said she’d call me back. which she did after 15 minutes. The tow company would be coming in about 30 minutes. At this point, after sitting for an hour, a cop pulls up behind me and I explained the situation. He offers to let me sit in his car with AC, as it’s a bit hot in mine. I take him up on it, but he puts me in the back! My first time in the back of a cop car, but a better situation than most people who have been there He was nice and it helped to pass the time until the American Tow Company (out of Petaluma) arrived.

So after 1 1/2 hours, I was being towed to the shop. Smaller dealer, but Scott (who Bobby had talked to) was nice. He said they could drive me home, diagnose the problem and call us within the hour.

Later after arriving home, we received the call from Scott and was told it’s the fuel pump. They have to order one from Sacramento and will have the repair done Monday or Tuesday. Cost? $1050! But what can you do? Gotta have a car.

In the meantime, we need a rental. But no cars are available today, due to the NASCAR race this weekend. They hope to have one tomorrow, we have to call Enterprise at 11AM.

-Shelly