I'll Show You My Plug If You Show Me Yours

I leave my hose and cable on the lot when I am out exploring. I just put up the electric cord and surge protector. I had mentioned in an earlier blog about coming home to find "home" rented to someone else.    My cable and my water regulator were gone.  I did received the water regulator but not my cable.  They said it wasn't there when they pulled in.  99% of the time we don't have a problem and never came home to find everything missing.  I have a spare on most everything.

While staying the Pipestone Campground I had to move two times.  The second time was when a motorhome pulled in beside us and wanted to plug in.  He said he was 50 amps and showed me his plug.  I explained to him he was 30 amps.   He told me I was wrong but why was my van 50 amps when normally they are 30 amps.  I unplugged and showed him my plug and told him he was definitely 30 amps.  I was unhooking to go exploring and told him that I would move.  When I was unhooked, he hooked up, and I thought that was that.  Until he came back out and stopped me because his electric didn't work.  I always make sure the electric is turned off before I plug in or unplug.  He said it was unnecessary of course he thinks he is 50 amps plugged into a 30 amp receptacle.

It was  a neat park, reasonably priced, and we really enjoyed our stay there.


To see pictures of "Three Maidens" in Pipestone MN Click here.

Another Day In Paradise

Tomorrow we leave Pipestone for Sioux City SD. If the Geek Squad has finished backing up my computer then we will continue north. If not we are going to have to stay close.

I just love the plains because you can see for miles and miles. It does get a little boring I will admit. It grows dark about 9:30 and the weather is cooler than it would be in the south. Our goal is North Dakota and drive east. Gas is so much cheaper on the back roads and that is where you will find us. I am also discovering a lot more van dwellers on the back roads and  I am also finding van dwellers to be very friendly folks.

Yesterday I drove to the Chevy dealership to schedule an oil change. I would have called but I have no phone service. When I pulled up, everyone in the dealership came to the windows and just stared. It was a little unnerving to say the least. I was a little uncomfortable getting out of my van, especially when a gentleman came out and said "are you here for a trade in?" About 2 hours before we pulled in, someone came in wanting a RoadTrek and thought they might have one. We kind of, sort of freaked them out. The salesman was disappointed when I told him no to the trade in.

This has been a frustating day. The oil was changed and I had to search the lot for my van. I found it parked out back and I don't understand why I wasn't told where it was. Maybe they were hoping I would give up and do a trade in. Then I got into an arguement with the Geek Squad. Then we went to Pipestone Monument. I was told the trails were closed and I then I was told only parts of it was closed. I went hiking along with a few others. I had a grand time until I was ordered by a Park Ranger to go back to the Visitor Center. It was a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing. I am a firm believer in "threes." Everything happens in threes and I figured it will be smooth sailing for the rest of the day. When I drove into the park I found a travel trailer in my spot. They rented my lot. The owners were more than helpful but I still don't have my cable and my pressure regulator. I was told they would get it as soon as the people return. I was just put in another spot.

I will be creating blogs to post automatically while I am without service. Just stories of our past adventures we had during the last couple of weeks.

Clicking here will take you to Walnut Grove Minnesota. Laura Ingalls Wilder spent her childhood there.  It was a fun day. 

 

Now For The Rest Of The Story

This morning I turned on my computer and it started that horrible noise.  Everyone who has a computer knows this noise, it is the cha ching noise in computereze.  I am so thankful I purchased the service plan.  Anyway while the computer was on, grinding away, a new noise happened.  A loud chirping noise and (excuse the language) I thought "Oh shit what does this noise mean?"  I shut down the computer and the loud chirping noise continued.  I will admit that I honestly sat there for a good two minutes trying to figure out the new noise since it was obviously not coming from the computer as I had thought.  It was my carbon monoxide detector going off.  I ran around (not easy to do in a van) trying to figure out why that was chirping.  Sometimes it pays to read the directions because it just needed to be replaced.  My morning has been filled with sounds, aggravating expensive sounds. 

I have been trying to do more.  I started walking (nonstop) for 30+ minutes.  I stopped smoking, I gave up a medication I did not need (or so my insurance thinks I don't need) and today marks the 10th day without caffeine.  I am a thumb sucking, depressed, over tired, nervous wreck..... I am just joking.  I do feel a lot better.  There is just one problem.... I can't sleep. I finally broke over and bought OTC sleeping pills and knocked myself out last night.  God could have came down and whispered in my ear and I would not known it.  It was the first good night sleep I have had in days.  I just wonder if it is my body rebelling because it is not getting it's caffeine fix?  No I haven't cut out sweets yet.  That is on my list. 

While I am complaining and whining......  I tried making a phone call and I got the "emergency call only" message.  I checked to make sure the phone bill was paid (it was), and I couldn't call Customer Care.  I finally found an ATT coverage map and I am on the edge of  of "no service" and "partner" service.  What is partner service?  According to ATT the areas shown as an orange stripped pattern represent the coverage of unaffiliated carriers and should have sufficient signal strength for on-street or in-the-open coverage, but may not have it for in-vehicle coverage or in-building coverage. Excessive use of Partner coverage may subject your service to early termination, in accordance with your service terms.

Kids I am not ignoring you.  I just don't have service and I am not to sure if I want to make a phone call after reading that. Grandma and I are doing fine and someday we will move to where there is service. 

I was given a program so I could continue posting pictures to my website but I can't get the program to work.  So I decided to stop overloading my blog with to many pictures and create an account with Smug Mug.  I took some pictures when I was in Le Mars Iowa, Ice Cream Capitol of the World.  To view the pictures click here.

How To Get A New Computer Every Year

Actually I am on my third computer in less than a year.  I took my computer in this morning and it cannot be fixed.  Fortunately I bought the extended warrenty and they replaced it with another computer of the same value.  This time I got a different brand, Dell.  I am hoping this will last longer than a year.

All of my pictures are still on the broke down computer.  They are going to retrieve them and back it up.  That is the only cost I incurred.  I will post more later.  I am back up and running.