Autumn in Northern California and...We're Home! (+8 insets)

(+8 insets!) (Please scroll down to "Today's Pictures" for image information)

Trip Talk: Monumental Road Trip
What a crazy couple of weeks we've had! First Steve drove 750 miles from our home in southern Oregon down to Fontana, California, to go to the West Coast RV Show. He then spent several exhausting days researching nearly 100 different RV coaches (out of over 1,000 spread out over 1 million square feet of sprawling show area). He narrowed down the RV choices to about three that fit our needs and finally we decided on the one that fit us best.

He then drove all the way back home with a whole lot of education regarding RVs and a game plan for the future. Originally we planned to wait for at least three-six months before making a purchase on a new rig. However, our Grey Wolf sustained structural damage on a past trip (because it was basically a horribly-built, flimsy aluminum can) and we were uncomfortable using it anymore. Amazingly, we were offered the chance to trade in our Grey Wolf towards the price of a new RV! The deal was so sweet that we couldn't pass it up.

So suddenly we were thrown into another whirlwind of commotion! We needed to empty the Grey Wolf, remove all of the things we'd added, and do any cosmetic repairs we could. At the same time, Steve needed to research and order a new hitch for the truck because we were moving from a bumper-pull to a 5th-wheel trailer (Did I mention that Steve's never pulled a 5th-wheel before?!)! Instead of having a shop install the hitch, Steve decided to take on the project himself (because he's that amazing!)! There were a few bumps along the way but Steve was successful and our truck was adorned with a fantastic hybrid hitch that was ready to pull our new trailer!

This past Sunday, Steve, Pumpkin and I hopped in the truck and left with our empty Grey Wolf. We drove down to the dealership in Downy, California, over the course of two grueling days. The first day's distance was eight hours but we were on the road for about twelve when all was said and done. We dragged our exhausted bodies into a KOA campground to fall face-first into bed that night. The next day we drove another four hours' distance, plus a few more for various stops along the way. Let's not forget the numbing southern California traffic...the last eight miles took us two HOURS! Have I mentioned how much I hate Los Angles? It's unbelievable!

We pulled into the dealership late Tuesday and dropped off the Grey Wolf and Steve showed me our new coach!! It was AMAZING!! It was SO BIG and BEAUTIFUL!! I could hardly believe that it would be our new home on the road...it really was a dream coach and the type that Steve and I had walked through before just wishing we could have something like that someday. Looks like that day had arrived...wow!

That night we stayed at a fun Air BnB residence and enjoyed leftovers from home for our dinner. The next morning we presented ourselves at the RV dealership at 9am and spent the next five hours going over everything and being shown all the details. Steve crawled all over the coach checking off an exhaustive list to make sure everything was as it should be.

Finally we went into finance and spent an hour getting the reams of documents signed. It was actually more intensive than when we bought our house and that's because we were basically purchasing a house on wheels. By the time we got out of there our heads were spinning. Just crazy.

Because of California State Tax laws, we couldn't actually drive away with our new trailer and instead, our trailer would be driven to Ashland, which is the first big town in Oregon after you cross the border. We coordinated with the driver and made plans to meet there in a couple of days. We pulled out in our truck and watched as the driver pulled away with our new baby...Steve and I could hardly believe it. We had a brand new RV!!

To be honest, we were very happy that we weren't driving the RV all the way home. Dealing with insane traffic and crazy drivers in southern California is really not a good way to start pulling a 5th wheel trailer for the first time!

Along our drive back to Oregon, we passed our driver twice which was such fun! Once on the first day as we headed up the "Grapevine" out of the Los Angles area, and then again as we entered Oregon on the second day! Actually, when we caught up to them in Oregon, we merely pulled in behind and followed them to Ashland where we parked in a large parking lot to make the switch from their truck pulling the Avalanche to ours.

Once the drivers left us with our trailer, Steve spent about an hour doing final preparations of the hitch. At last we were ready to take on our new behemoth! Confident as Steve was, he couldn't deny being nervous. He didn't even get to practice. However, everything went as smoothly as can be! The hitch worked perfectly. We did our customary "brake check" and all was well. There was a very nervous moment when the truck gave a brake error regarding the trailer, but everything was working properly and Steve felt it would be ok to drive.

We pulled out with our colossal rig behind us and what do you know? Our truck pulled it just fine! Steve wasn't sure if we should try to avoid the freeway for now but I pointed out that there would be some traffic so it wouldn't be too hectic of a drive and might actually be a lot more stressful to drive on surface streets. Back onto I-5 we went...and it was no problem at all!! Just as we'd read, hauling a 5th-wheel was indeed much easier than a bumper pull! To Steve's great relief, the break error resolved itself and as the miles passed, we both started to relax. We were doing it!!

We got to our exit and with every turn we made, our smiles grew and our comfort increased. The trailer pulled like a dream! Soon we were pulling up to our gate, I opened it wide, and in came Steve and our new RV!! We stopped there and walked up to our house to make sure everything looked ok. Our hill is fairly steep and both of us were pretty nervous about this last part.

But we needn't have been worried. Steve walked back down and minutes later, our truck was easily hauling our ginormous trailer right up the hill as if it was nothing special!! Not long after that, the trailer was backed into position and the two of us were beside ourselves with joy! WE DID IT!!! STEVE DID IT!! And Steve couldn't stop exclaiming how easy it was to maneuver the trailer! HOORAY!!!! *HIGH FIVE TO US*

Today's Pictures
This is going to be quick because I need to get this posted!! The main picture was a lovely view on our way down through northern California, at a place called Shasta City. Other pictures include views of Mt. Shasta and the devastating wildfire damage from the horrible Redding Fire a couple of years ago. Also a picture of a part of the endless, vast almond orchards of Merced County in central California...did you know that 80% of the world's almonds are grown in Merced County? You would be totally blown away by the miles and miles and miles of almond trees that grow there. I cannot even wrap my mind around all those 100's of miles of trees!!

Explored on 10/26/19; highest placement #11.