Palm Springs, CA - 2/3

Hey, let’s take a spin around the block in the RV. A spin around the block in the RV, uh, isn’t that why we have a Jeep, so we don’t have to drive the RV around? Yep, that’s true so you know there must be lots more to the story of why Nancy and Gary are taking a spin in the RV. It all starts with our tank sensors, specifically the grey tank sensor. You know, the sensors that accurately tell you how full your tanks are so you don’t have to guess. Well, shiver me timbers, but our grey tank hasn’t said anything but 2/3 full since we left Everglades National Park in January of 2015.

Since then it has gone out to lunch and we don’t have a clue. Empty it: it reads 2/3. Use it a day: it reads 2/3. Do a load of laundry: it reads 2/3. Pretty consistent. As long as we’re not dry camping for longer than 3 or 4 days, it’s not a problem. However, in Alaska we’re going to dry camp for longer than that at a time and we need to know that our sensors are accurate. So, Gary bought some ‘Sensor Cleaner’ and the directions say to put it in, fill your tank, drive around a bit to mix it all up, then sit for 24 hours before emptying it. And, it works better in warm weather.

Since we’re going to Acton, CA a bit north of Palm Springs and a bit higher up in the mountains and going to have rain for 2 days straight, the temperature is plummeting. Plummeting, I tell you. From the high 80’s in Palm Springs to a high of 47 on Monday. Ouch. Thus we’ve got to do this tank cleaner here in Palm Springs. Today.

We got up at 7:00, ate breakfast, Gary emptied the tanks, put the Sensor Cleaner in the grey tank and filled it. Then we got the RV ready for moving. Put everything away, bring in the slides, pull up the levels, park the Jeep in our spot to save it and drive the RV down the road. How much fun is this? Gary always told me he’d take me for lots of adventures but I never thought that ‘mixing up the grey tank’ would be one of the great adventures.

And, that’s why we’re sitting in Flying J now. Yep, we made it a two-fer: drive around with the Sensor Cleaner AND get gas. And then we drove home, parked back in our space and put out the levels, opened the slides, got everything out and resumed our life. Well, not everything. Since we’re leaving tomorrow anyway, we kept the RV in a state of readiness.

Hey, not everything can be a great adventure. It’s the little ‘adventures’ that make the big adventures possible. No Sensor Cleaner, no dry camping.

In the evening I used paper plates and didn’t use too many dishes since I couldn't wash them. Then we took our showers in the camp showers and retired to the RV. Warm out so we opened the windows.

Here’s a hint about tomorrow - we got to our new campsite in Acton, Gary emptied the grey tank and, guess what it read?

2/3