On the Road Again...

California Road Trip 2015

We booked a trip to Egypt, but that wasn't meant to be. With elections and escalating violence we decided to save Egypt for another year.

Our next plan was Mexico, The Grand Sirenis in Cancun. Again, not to be. Fully booked, not a single spot available.

Plan C - A 17 day road trip to Disneyland, San Diego, the Grand Canyon and Vegas.

Day 1 March 7th

We’re on the road again….as far as the border anyway. After a nice early start we spent an hour at the border waiting for the US Customs and Border Services to start their shift at 8:00am so they could search the van for more suspicious contraband. We declared that we had eggs at the border which apparently are not appreciated in the US of A. Well, we did the right thing, we told the truth and we were on our way by 8:15am.

We drove for about 4 more hours and then stopped for some lunch and to buy some…eggs. We do not like to travel without our eggs.

We arrived at the KOA in Albany, Oregon at about 4:30pm where Jenny prepared our traditional and delicious macaroni skillet dinner. We had a small camp fire and hit the hay ready for a 5:15am start.

Day 2

We’re on the road aga..WHAT! The ABS light, engine light and all sorts of previously hidden disco lights came on plus an annoying repetitive beeping that usually means that things are not good. We have experienced this problem before but when we took the van to the Dodge dealer all lights miraculously turned off and the dealer told us to go on our merry way. 

Now, here we go again. Thanks to the miracle of internet Jenny found us a Dodge dealer in Eugene just 30 minutes drive away. Since the last problem ‘resolved itself’ I was hopeful that this would too but better get to a town before turning the van on and off again (recommendations from any qualified IT person). Did I mention that our new van only has 4,000km on it?

We pulled up outside the Dodge dealer at about 6:45am and had to wait till 10:00am before anyone showed up. Oh, and by the way the service department is not open Sundays (yes today is Sunday!) so we are spending the night in Eugene!

The bad news

• Our van is pooped
• It won't even turn on now. It is so sick the fob will not even open the doors. Maybe it's got the measles?
• We would kind of like to get on our way - TO DISNEYLAND!

The good news

• We made it to a town and to a Dodge dealer. Not stuck on the side of the road on the I5.
• There is a La Quinta hotel across from the dealer. Only $30 more than the KOA.
• There is a 20hr/day biker bar/restaurant literally 30m from where we parked that has a restaurant, cheap food, bloody marys and VERY CLEAN bathrooms.
• The Dodge service guys arrive at 7:30am tomorrow. Hopefully, it is an inexpensive (covered under warranty) fix and we can be on our way without further delay.
• By the way Eugene is beautiful, 20C and sunny.

Gilligan's Island on DVD - what could be better?

Our Oasis - 'Coolers' all night bar and restaurant (NOT DISNEYLAND)

Minors and hobos welcome!

Bundling our stuff and walking to La Quinta Hotel.