Friday - The drive up to Mom's was uneventful. We topped off our fuel tank ($390) for $5.75/gal, so that we would have plenty of fuel to run the generator and AC if it was hot.
There is only one electrical circuit that runs from the barn down to the pond. It powers a refrigerator and some lights, and whatever else campers might want. After we set up I plugged in to the other side of the duplex outlet that powers the refrigerator. The coach automatic transfer switch sounded like it was going crazy so I figured we would have to use the generator for 120volt use, and to keep the batteries charge, until I had time to figure out the problem. The coach batteries were pretty well charged after the trip up here. The alternator keeps them topped off, but I did run the generator to make coffee and for a few other 120 volt odds and ends.
After some get reacquainted visiting with my David & Kathy (my brother and his wife who live less than a quarter mile down the road) and Colton (My brother's youngest, 11, grandson. My brother just gained custody of him.) and my Mom. We all piled in the car and headed to the Moose Lodge in Fremont, IN for Friday fish night, something we normally do if we are here on a Friday night. We also had to make a near mandatory stop for ice cream in Freemont.
By the time we returned to the campground Jeremy & Shellie (David's daughter and her husband) and their 2 youngest kids had arrived. They have a travel trailer they at Mom's pond most of the time. During the summer they spend a lot of weekends at the pond. They live in Battle Creek, MI, about an hours drive from Mom's. More catching up.
Around 1 PM we all decided it was time for bed. I spent about another hour playing with the electrical system on the coach before going to bed. After only 2 hours my CPAP had depleted the coach batteries, way sooner than it should have. I managed to get another couple of hours sleep without it.
Saturday - In the morning I borrowed a battery charger from my brother, to charge the four 6 volt house batteries. I had asked the mechanic to replace them but he said he load tested them and even though they were original (14 years old) they tested OK. I had not seriously considered checking the battery water level previously because I assumed he had done so and I only had to add water to the batteries i our other coach one every several months. I checked them and all I saw was bare plates. I had a full gallon of distilled water and put the full gallon in them, without covering the plates. Kathy had gone to the grocery and brought me another 2 gallons and after using all of a second gallon the plates were adequately covered and I hooked up the charger.
In the meantime I had taken our coffee pot out to the pavilion to make coffee. It did not work properly when plugged in to the same outlet the coach didn't like. I tried another outlet and it was fine.
Then it was down to Ed & Cindy's (Kathy's sister and her husband) for Elliot's (there youngest son who is back from Kuwait but leaving for Germany Monday, he is a civilian contractor who does maintenance on jets that fly the military brass around) birthday party. Colton went with us but Mom wasn't up to the trip. Elliot, Alison (Elliot's wife), Ed & Cindy out in front of the barn.
Then it was back to Mom's, which included a stop at the Freemont ice cream place.
Lots of family was at the pond for the evening. Lots of good visiting and food; brats, venison hamburgers and other food. Around midnight everyone had left, except Jeremy and Shellie who spent the night in their trailer. I tried hooking our coach to a "good" outlet and it worked fine all night.
Sunday - We all, 10 of us, Jeremy and Shellie's kids spent the night with cousins, had breakfast together. Around noon Jeremy and Shellie packed up and headed back to Battle Creek. The rest of us sat around and visited more. I'm up at Mom's on her WiFi writing this now. Mom was up at her house for awhile but is back down at the pond. Kathy was going to lay down for awhile. David and Kathy went home. David is spraying for weeds and his Kathy is starting supper. One of suppers delicacies will be blue gills that were caught thru the ice last winter. There no fish or seafood that tastes better. I've been doing some online shopping for coach batteries. Even is these seem to be okay they will fail before we are done travelling. I might as well get them replaced whenever its convenient and not have to wonder about how long they will last. It's 4 PM if I hurry back to the coach I think I might be able to squeeze in a nap before supper.
PS. Can hardly wait to hear Robert Strong's first message as Freshwater's new Lead Pastor.
God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours.
PPS. Hope there are to many typo's in this. I'm tired to proof read it.
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