Wandering back home (from Ben’s)

I left off on yesterday’s blog saying I would tell you more about my RV not starting after getting gas at Lillian. I always try to keep my promises whether you want me to or not. Well, you see, I went down to Lillian after I left Ben’s house and stopped at the store/gas station where we bought the BBQ that we ate for lunch earlier that day. We left Ben’s plantation at 16:00 thinking that we would get home before dark and because the old gas in the tank gave us such bad gas mileage on the way up to Ben’s, we knew we needed to fill up before we left for home.


Filled the gas tank up and paid for it. Got back in the driver’s seat and turned the key. It clicked and all the gauges just started wiggling. I have never seen gauges do that before. Tried it a few more times and decided we were not going anywhere. Went back in the BBQ place and asked if they knew of any mechanic. I could work on vehicles made back in the ‘50s and ‘60s but these new computer and IC chip controlled engines are a mystery to this old fart. The girl in there looked at a young fellow sitting in there and asked him if he could help. He said he would try and we both went back out to the RV. He had me try it and said it appeared I wasn’t getting voltage to the gauges and relays. So, he hunted for the fuse boxes. Found two of them, one inside under the dash and one under the hood. He methodically pulled and checked every fuse, since there was nothing on the lid that told what they were for, only the sizes. This took quite awhile. After he finished, he said that maybe he could find someone to jump it. I immediately thought of the Jeep. I knew I didn’t have cables, but there was an auto-parts store next door. Then I slapped myself on the forehead and said, “Self, you are so stupid. This RV has a switch to allow the house batteries to start the motor if the motor battery fails.” I had just, less than an hour ago, showed this switch to Ben. Hit the switch, turned the key and, presto, it started right up.

My wife said, to be safe, not to stop until we got home. So, like any well trained husband, I drove straight through. Didn’t get home before dark, but that was the first time I have been on the road at night when the GPS system was. It surprised me as it was getting dark, it switched from a white background to a black background. I thought that was neat. See, it doesn’t take much to please me. That, and I had a big bowl of Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream as soon as we got home.

Just think how much time was wasted and how simple it would have been if I had thought of a dead battery right from the get-go. Like I said before, I am an old fart. Back in my day, a battery would give you lots of warnings before it failed. You know, like slow starting, dim lights if you idled too slow, etc. Now-a-days they just up and die, quick like they got shot through the head. And they say this is better???