The Adventures of Me & My Shadow #28 in MD,VA,NC,SC,GA
& AL 3/22/99
2,385 miles, odometer reading now 33,720.
From Alabama, Hi Everyone!
First I have some good news! You can recall all the trouble I
have been having with the tranny in the motorhome. Before I started
this trip I had made a round trip to Jenny's from Jeff's about
150 miles. The tranny would not shift out of 1st till I put the
lever to 2nd, then it would shift to 2nd, when I put the lever
to Drive it would shift to 3rd then right back to 2nd. I thought
I was going to have to drive it to FL in 2nd gear to get it worked
on. I read an article in GMC International news letter about fixing
a starting problem by adjusting the ignition switch. I have had
starting problems so I tried adjusting the switch, it didn't help
so I removed the ignition switch thinking I needed a new one.
After I got it off, I tested it and decided to see what it looked
like inside. I took it apart (this is not supposed to happen)
and found the contacts very dirty. I cleaned it, greased it and
put it back together and low and behold, not only did it solve
the starting problem, so far on this trip the tranny has worked
like it did back in 1976 when it was new. Don't ask me why or
how it fixed the tranny problem, I can not think of any thing
I did that would effect the tranny but for those of you driving
a GMC, if you have a tranny problem like I had, try replacing
the ignition switch before you blow a big wad of money at a transmission
shop. For those of you who want to clean and grease the switch,
I'll take some pictures and write up the procedure when I get
some time. If you want, give me a call and I'll tell you some
dos and don'ts.
A little more good news before I get to the bad news. When I got
to the toll booth for the bridge tunnel, the attendant asked me
how many wheels were on the back of the coach, I told him four
and he said $13.00. That was the first time anyone asked that
question and I was always charged $18.00. It looks like I was
ripped off to the tune of $5.00 every time. but no more!!
Now for the bad news, my lap top computer has a virus and I am
unable to use it for navigation. Let me tell you, that is hell!!
I used to have an anti virus program before Windows 95 but it
fell through the cracks. I tried to down load one from the Internet
in VA Beach but couldn't so headed to Jack & Karen's, Jack
works with computers every day. The virus blocked our every move
to eradicate it so I ordered a new computer and will reformat
the hard drive on the old computer if the virus will let me.
Now for some adventures, the trip from VA Beach, VA to Jacksonville
Beach, FL went well with perfect weather and a tail wind. I saw
the first sign of spring shortly after I got in NC on I95. It
was a big flock of robins, a hundred or more they were on the
roadside resting, eating and waiting for the temperature to get
a little higher before going further north. I guess I can say
that seeing motorcycles is also a sign of spring and if I saw
a hundred robins, I saw thousands of motorcycles. I heard there
was something going on at Daytona Beach, FL and this is where
they were headed. There were singles, doubles and groups riding.
They were hauling them in trailers, in pickup trucks and big trucks.
It reminded me of I 90 in SD near Sturgis last summer. Several
motorcycles were pulling trailers, one was unique, I followed
it for a long way and finally caught up with it and as I passed
it I see that the trailer was a coffin with the handles on the
side and with two wheels and a hitch. I looked for the car with
the pallbearers in it, not seeing it I figured that this was his
camping trailer and there was no dead body. I have to admit that
a coffin would sure beat a tent and sleeping bag. I suppose he
had some type of ventilation in it so he could close the lid to
keep insects out and for rainy days. The traffic was heavy and
very heavy.
After ordering the new computer to be delivered to Niceville,
FL I headed to Sarasota to load up with oranges and grapefruit
and this leg of the trip was a disaster. I left Jack & Karen's
in the rain and it rained all the way till I got west of Orlando,
FL sometimes light, sometimes hard, sometimes very hard and sometimes
VERY VERY HARD but always rain. The traffic was very heavy. The
motorcycles were still going also, the first part of the trip
was on Friday and this was Sunday with thousands more motorcycles
in the rain and lots of accidents. After going past Daytona Beach
the motorcycles were going and coming till I got almost to Sarasota.
Heavy traffic, heavy rain and these inconsiderate eastern drivers
make for lots of accidents so there were delays but I made it
to Sarasota before dark and didn't have trouble reading street
signs like I did when I got to Jacksonville Beach after dark without
Gertrude or Gus to guide me. I'll sure be glad to get them back
on the job.
I had a nice visit with Dick & Janet and headed to Bill and
Marilyn's at Niceville, FL. The computer was to be delivered here
and I should have my navigators back for the trip to Lake City,
FL the weekend of 5-7 March.
I had good weather for the trip to Niceville and found Bill struggling
with his first computer. It always makes me feel good to find
someone who knows less than I do about computers. The last person
who made me feel this way was my great-grand daughter (3 years
old), Bill was a little better than her, I'll give her about a
year and like all kids, she will know more than I do about computers.
I got the new computer just in time for the trip to Lake City,
FL, I got the navigation programs installed in it and put Gus
in charge as Gertrude still don't have good maps for cross country
travel. I had a problem with Gus falling asleep, every ten minutes
I would have to ask him a question to keep him awake. After I
got to Lake City I had time to set up the new computer so Gus
would stay awake. It was a good GMC rally in Lake City, good friends,
good chow and good weather and as always I learned more about
the GMC and more about computers.
The tranny is still working like a new one and when I tell people
that I fixed it by overhauling the ignition switch they look at
me like they think I'm not playing with a full deck. I can't figure
it out my self but I'll accept anything that works. I now have
a new problem, sometimes when I stop for fuel and try to start
the engine I find I have lost all electrical power to the instrument
panel, lights and starter. I traced it up to the fuse panel behind
the glove compartment. I took the glove compartment out and wiggled
some wires and got the power back so I'll have to look for a bad
connection there, so far it has never let me down while I'm driving.
I wonder what will be next.
I left Niceville, FL and drove to Lillian, AL just west of Pensacola,
FL and stopped at my GMC friends Bob & Hunter McCarthy. Bob
has his backyard all set up with 30 amp. power, cable TV, phone
line, water & sewer connections. That's better than most RV
parks. I'll try to get this letter sent from here and then head
to Alabaster, AL where my niece Sue lives with her two children.
Till next time, Dallas or Dad if it fits. 3/12/99