First week back in the USA 2014

In light of the tragedy of the missing Malaysian Airlines jet, Murray and I were relieved to arrive safely in LA and then Kansas City, following our flight from Brisbane. Our flight didn't get into Kansas City until 5pm, so by the time we collected our luggage and picked up a hire car, it was just after 6pm when we got to the cave to retrieve the RV. Once again the engine started immediately, despite being in storage for 8 months this time. As usual, our first step before hitting the road for another 6 months of RVing was to put the RV into Ford for a routine service. It was also time to replace the 6 tyres - yikes - the price of each tyre has gone up $180 per tyre since this time 3 years ago when we purchased an extra spare tyre for our Alaskan trip. We dropped the RV off to Ford at 7pm the night we arrived, and left it with them for 2 days while we recovered from jet lag by eating out at our favourite local haunts (Red Lobster, Outback, Olive Garden), shopping  (DSW - Discount Shoe Warehouse got a nice visit) and resting up in the motel!

In she goes for a service - 7 pm at night!

We spent the first 2 nights in our usual campground in Independence, Missouri and woke to a very light dusting of snow (see photo on the left) and black ice, which delayed our planned departure by an hour. Mind you, Benn and Daina must have been sniggering at our 'snow', compared to what they were driving in over in Iceland. The black dot in the photo below is Daina - Benn stayed warm in the vehicle! During our first night in the RV we noticed a slight leak from the water valve at the back of the toilet. As we had also had a temporary leak from a water valve and a  toilet seal last year (resolved without any action taken or money spent), we figured we were on borrowed time, so decided to replace the toilet as it didn't cost much more than just replacing the valve! We were keen to hit the road so didn't arrange the replacement until we reached Arkansas. 

Our drive south from Missouri to Arkansas was like old times - sun shining, fields rolling past the window - ah, bliss! When the RV hit 63 mph (101 kph) the steering wheel vibrated a bit, indicating a problem with the tyre balance/alignment since the new tyres were fitted. Ford have arranged for us to get the balance corrected at another Ford on our route. For now we are just enjoying our home away from home - the photo on the left is a selfie I took just as we were passing Joplin, Missouri, and just over an hour from our destination.

At 8.30am we found ourselves driving through morning fog to get the new toilet installed. As we rounded a bend I liked how the old barn in the photo on the left looked in the eerie light. The new toilet in the photo on the right was installed in 30 mins. Too easy. 

While it is still cold here for us today (high of 13 C (55 F) predicted), tomorrow, Thursday, is supposed to be 21C (70F). That's more like my kind of weather! Our friends Sandy and Joe Bill from Fordyce are driving up to visit us on Sunday. They will check into a nearby motel for 2 nights - we are looking forward to seeing them and hearing all their family news. Sadly Joe Bill lost his mother in February - she was 104 years of age. Until 6 months before her death, she was driving her car and playing the organ at her church. What an amazing and wonderful lady Francis Benton Meador was. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the Fordyce community at large.

Aunty Dympna with Francis Meador - Fordyce, Arkansas  2010