Day 5~~~OPPS!!

On the evening before our departure from San Diego, the news reported "high winds tomorrow on Interstate 8, use caution".  Given the problems we had with the trailer swerving on our first two days of travel, we should have paid more attention to that warning.
   
We did use caution when we left California and traveled into Arizona on I8.  After a few hours of traveling on a two lane road (one way), a large semi passed us at about 80 mph.  It sucked us in and then pushed us out and the high winds took over.  We were swerving all over that two lane road (good thing there was no other traffic).  Finally we were able to come to a stop on the side of the road on loose, soft ground.
  
After we came to a stop, the trailer, that was still rocking, tipped over....opps.

 

  

There are silver linings in this dark cloud.  

1.  None of our pets were in the trailer.  They always travel in crates inside the car.

2.  No serious damage to the trailer.  Just cosmetic.  The trailer landed on the awning side -   this prevented the windows from breaking.  Some damage to the awning (easy to fix).

3.  The steps to each door were mangled, but can easily be replaced.

4.  Serious damage was prevented because the trailer tipped over after we stopped, not while were were still swerving all over the road.

  

I called 911 immediately and someone arrived shortly afterwards.  Thanks to cell phones.  I had just gotten this cell phone in preparation for our trailer traveling. Dave still refuses to get one.  

  

Two other cars also stopped.  One was one of those civilians that patrol highways looking for people in trouble.  The other was a retired RV'er couple who stayed with us the whole time and invited us to stay with them in Mesa for the night, even with all the pets.

    

Another positive thing was that the car did not separate from the trailer, and the car stayed upright.  The highway patrol said he has never seen this.  Most cars tip over with the trailer. The hitch did what it was supposed to do.

A tow truck was called and it was a very interesting process to upright the trailer.  

 

Then we opened the door and looked inside.......

 

  

No damage really, just things thrown around.  Most of our dishware is plastic. However, any thing glass did break.  The worst was the two small live plants that we brought was thrown around.  As small as those plants were, there was a lot of dirt to clean up.

  

And the best part of the whole thing was...drum roll...the car was drive-able and the trailer tow-able.

  

The trailer tipped over a few miles outside of a very small town called Dateland. There used to be a lot of date trees in this area.  Well this very small town had an RV park.  It was late in the day and we really need to thoroughly check the trailer for serious damage and clean up the inside.  So we stayed overnight in Dateland.  

 

After checking out the trailer and doing some minor repair, we settled down to a small dinner and a bottle of wine.  It was a long day and we survived a disaster.

  

After having many dreams of this kind of thing happening while we are trailer traveling, and having it actually happen after only three days into our first cross country trailer trip and in a brand new trailer, it was not so tragic.  We all survived and it is now over with.  Lets pray this is the one and only trailer travel mishap we will have in our future years of trailer tripping.

Tomorrow we head for Mesa where we will be staying for the next three weeks. This will give us plenty of time to do any major repairs that will be needed on the trailer.  

Day 1 - 4~~~California

DAY 1 (1/30) - PASO ROBLES, CA
We had our first bit of excitement three hours into the trip.  We took off Sunday morning (1/30) and we were cruising along at about 60 MPH when the back end of the trailer started swerving and we almost lost control.  But Dave kept his cool and quickly got it under control.  We pulled over and spent the next 20 minutes cleaning up the mess inside the trailer.  A large bottle of grapefruit juice which flew out of the cabinet under the sink had spilled all over the floor.  Of course other things flew out of the cabinet and also the bathroom area and landed in the spilled grapefruit juice.    
         
While we were cleaning up, the CHP (CA Highway Patrol) stopped by to se if we were alright and we could only park there if it is an emergency and please move along.  Dave replied "ahh this is an emergency".  We got everything cleand up.  At least now we have a nice clean floor.  We moved all the heavy stuff that was in the back of the trailer into the frong area.  We got back on the road and had no problems getting to our first destination, which was an over night stay at Paso Robles, CA.
  

 

  

This is a nice RV Park.  Nearby are many wineries.  A good location to start out your wine tasting tours. Near a highway, so there is some traffic noise.  Also near a small airport, but no air traffic at night.  Trailer sites have different set-ups such as standard to deluxe.  Ours was standard.  A nice site that was spacious and comfortable.  The park is clean and nicely landscaped with paved interior roads, dirt sites with grass in between.  Free cable, but only about 20 channels.  WiFi for a fee.
  

DAY 2 - 4 (1/31) - SAN DIEGO

We got on the road again the next morning and the trailer started swerving again.  This time we tightened up the sway bar on the trailer hitch and that did the job.  We should have done that the first time.  We will be getting another sway bar in Phoenix so there will be bars on both sides of the hitch.  I don't ever want to go through that "out of control" feeling again.  It is like sliding on ice.  A very scary sensation.  I hope this will be the only crisis we have on trip.
   After 8 hours we arrived at Campground by the Bay in San Diego.

 
This is an 'ok' campground. But it is a convenient location.  Right on the beach, outside of town and close the 'Old Town' San Diego. It's a huge parking lot where the sites are back to back and very close together.  Free cable with lots of channels, but WiFi has a fee.  The comfort stations are old and worn.  Showers are roomy, but not private.  Shower is at chest level, so it is hard to wash hair.  The feel of this place is not comfortable.  We will not be staying here again.  A warning:  There are lots of ducks in the bay.  They wonder through the campsites and crap on your mats that you may layout in front of your trailer.  We caught one taking a dip in our dogs water dish.
   
DAY 3 (2/1) - SAN DIEGO ZOO
We are only in San Diego for three nights, with two full days to play.  We spent five hours on our first day here exploring the San Diego Zoo, one of the greatest zoos in the country.

Two headed snake

DAY 4 (2/2) - SHOPPING DOWNTOWN
Our last day in San Diego, we just went downtown and looked around.  We walked through Seaport Village and Horton Plaza where we had lunch.

Tomorrow we head for Arizona.

It Begins

AUGUST30, 2004 - TRAILER PURCHASE

Ever since we retired in 2002, our dream was to travel the country in a travel trailer along with all our pets.  So we traded in our Prowler and bought Trailblazer.  This new trailer is slightly longer, but has a slide-out which gives us a lot more room and comfort for our long four month cross country trips. 

On our first trip we will be traveling into the deep south.

Four four months we will travel from the West coast to the East coast, hugging the most southern border of the US.  We will be visiting several southern states for the first time and hopefully experience the southern life, foods, and history.  Our destination on the East coast is Orlando, Florida to attend the wedding of my Tombolini- Myer cousin's only daughter.  Our return route will still be in the southern part of the US, but we will be visiting some different states for the first time.

However, after making all the plans, mapping out the route and making several RV park reservations.  My cousin's daughter moved her wedding to the West coast. 

Why cancel four months for one day.  We decided to continue with the travel plans.  Sadly, I will miss Jennifer and Cory's wedding.  But we will be thinking of them on their wedding day while we are at Walt Disney World.