Before & After RV Damage

Damage before repair
RV after repair

Beaver Creek Recreation Area North Dakota

After 3 years of RVing (in 6 months stints) we had our first altercation in the RV. While we were in Canada we nudged a tree while reversing to level-up in a campsite. Murray was annoyed with himself, but I reminded him that he had driven thousands of miles (34704mi or 55870 km in fact) and in so many awkward or tight situations, and this was his first ever accident. No one was injured and so we should be thankful instead. The damage was limited to the fibreglass shell at the rear on my side, and the ladder to the roof got slightly buckled. However, because it required fibreglass repair, several layers of paint, a new 'holiday rambler' sticker and a new ladder, it was in the body shop for a week. Fortunately our insurance picks up most of the repair bill (our deductible was $188). We paid for the hire car, but at $24/day which is the deal our insurance company arranged for us, we couldn't complain. We are just waiting for the bottom part of the ladder to arrive to complete the repair job.

We treated this interlude without our RV as a mini-adventure of its own - we dropped the RV in to the repair shop, picked up our rental car, and hit the mall first, then had a delicious chicken scampi lunch at Olive Garden before catching a 2.30pm session at the movies. From there we headed to stay at a delightful B&B right on Lake Sakakawea about an hour north of the North Dakota Capital. The photos and story were on the previous blog. Murray had a few fishing adventures while we were there, but nothing as exciting as hauling in his big Northern Pike.

Our RV is all back in one piece again, and it was nice to have our 'home' back again. The drive south from Bismarck was very enjoyable - lots of corn, wheat, sunflower and flax crops. We saw deer and pheasants en route and we are now safely ensconced in a campsite overlooking another lake in North Dakota. This time down near the South Dakota border. In rattlesnake territory, so we are keeping alert. We will spend 5 nights here. You can tell our preference is to be camped by the water. Great for Murray to fish, and such a nice atmosphere for me to walk, bead, read knowing that everytime I lift my head I can see a beautiful water scene. A casino across the river sends over a pontoon boat every hour between midday and 10pm so that campers can eat in the restaurant or play the poker machines and then get a free lift back.