Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Back in Salem! - long (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Back in Salem! - long
Yahoo Message Number: 47815
After a wonderful adventure through the chilly high desert country of Nevada and eastern Oregon, Nancy and I are back in rainy Salem, Oregon.
 On the morning of 12/2, Todd picked us up at the Pine Tree Motel for our 4-hr orientation to "Drifter", our silver/gray 23.5 FL.  Drifter is beautiful!  Dave conducts the orientations and is responsible for doing the last minute check to assure that all ordered options are installed and functioning properly.  Dave's orientation is thorough, relaxed and interesting.  We asked lots of questions and learned many things "by doing".  We spent the afternoon unpacking the seven boxes of stuff that we had shipped to the factory.  When we were finished unpacking, Todd drove us back to the Pine Tree Motel.

On the morning of 12/3, Todd again picked us up for our 9am meeting with the ICC to be driven to the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort.  While waiting for the ICC, I met Dennis and Susan Cheng who were there for the orientation to their beautiful teal 23.5FD, PO#8206.  Even though the Chengs live only ten minutes from the mothership, they seemed as excited as we were.

Rick from Moore Transport was our ICC.  While he drove us to LV, Nancy sat in front and I tried out the various seating accommodations in "the lounge".  In spite of high winds that caused many 18 wheelers to park along the side of I15, our trip was smooth, pleasant and uneventful.  Our babydaze left the mothership with a full tank of fresh water and about 1/3 tank of propane.

Nancy and I are RV newbies so we spent 4 nights in Las Vegas, just relaxing and becoming familiar with the rv lifestyle and these big trucks they call rv's.  While in Vegas, we ventured out to a Walmart, a Camping World, a gas station (as native Oregonians, we've never pumped our own gas before!), the Ethel M Chocolate Factory, Las Vegas Factory Outlet Center and the Red Rock Canyon.  Mostly, we just sat in our babydaze and giggled.  After five days in Vegas, we headed north to Salem via Hwy 95 through the cold, snow and stunningly isolated beauty of the high desert in winter.

Back in Salem, I've finally waded thru the 700+ messages this wonderful group has generated in our absence.  Here are some observations that may be of interest:

1. Defects:   We've yet to find any manufacturing "defects".  The  detailing (smudges, dust, masking tape) was a bit substandard but was  more upsetting to Dave than to us.

2. Solar Boost:  We ordered two solar panels for Drifter.  During  orientation, I learned that LD is now using the Heliotrope HPV-22  solar charge controller with "Current Boosting" and "Maximum Power  Point Tracking".  I don't begin to profess to understand what all of  this means.  Dave said that Drifter was about the tenth rig to have  this installed.

3. Ride quality:  So far, I have to say that "Drifter" is the  quietest, smoothest, and most relaxing vehicle that I've ever  driven.  Admittedly, we've not yet encountered washboard roads. We  also drove most of the 1400 miles with a nearly full freshwater tank  and half-full gray/black water tanks.  That added weight may have  improved the ride but so far, I see no need for improvement.  The  power of the V10 is amazing.  There were times that I would be caught  behind some slow moving RV and I wanted to post a sign in the rear  window saying that I wasn't the cause of the slow-moving traffic!  
4. Is "Drifter" the right name?:  This name came to us before we had
 met "Drifter".  Now that we've spent some time with our babydaze, I'm not so sure.  Nancy often commented on feeling that she was playing house in her own "doll house".  We both commented to each other that we felt we were in our own "fort", just like the kind that we both built when we were kids.  Perhaps this is just a commentary on two newly-retired kids re-living childhood.  We'll give the name thing a little more time.

After Holidays in Salem, we will be heading back to the Southwest for a couple of months.  On our list of destinations: Quartsite, Karchner Caverns, southern New Mexico, west Texas and perhaps as far as Fredricksberg, TX.  On our way back to Salem, a planned stop at the Spring Escapade.  We hope to see many of you on our travels.
 If we giggle any harder than we have recently, we'll probably pee our pants!

Ken & Nancy, giggling in Salem 2005 Silver/gray 23.5FL PO#8205
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Back in Salem! - long
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 47817
Congratulations on your new LD!  Perhaps we'll see you on the road.  We plan to head out late January for many of the same places you will be visiting.  We'll keep our eyes peeled for silver/gray LD with Oregon plates.  We'll be in a blue MB with Washington plates.  Happy travels!

--Al in Bremerton --2002 26.5 MB
 
Re: Back in Salem! - long
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 47819
Ken and Nancy,

I loved your pickup story.  I remember we spent a lot of time just giggling when we first picked up Tortuga.  Even now, when we return to where she is parked and first spot her, one of us usually says "look at that beautiful Lazy Daze".

May you have many happy journeys and lots more giggles in your new babydaze.

Jonna, in GDL Tortuga, 2001 Teal RB