We spent most of yesterday preparing for the QTE: adjusting tire pressures, verifying that the slides still work, checking the rig’s lights, securing the ladder and cleaning up the patio area for our final inspection. I discovered a couple of minor problems with Patience: the sheathing covering the rear holding tanks was pulling away from the chassis a bit and there is a small hole in the fiberglass on the left rear corner – probably an unnoticed consequence of my first ding, way back in NH in October last year.
So once I fix the sheathing and fiberglass hole (just an hour’s work, I think, but I need some stuff from Home Depot) we will be ready to go. We hope to be on the road by 9am Saturday. 8am if possible, to avoid the heat. I checked the Saturday forecast for Palm Springs and Lake Havasu City: highs of 110 and 115, respectively. I think we are going to find out if there is a temperature that is too hot for Jett.
The Saturday segment is relatively flat, so, though it will be hot, it will not stress the engine. But the second day, to Williams, AZ, will be a long, uphill climb. If it is over 100 degrees for that segment I will have to watch the oil and coolant temperatures carefully.
After that we only have to worry about tornadoes. Oklahoma City seems to be the bulls-eye this year and we all know how much tornadoes like to eat RVs as appetizers. We are just going to cross our fingers and hope for the best. Jett has prepared a tote labeled “Evacuation Kit” in case we need to vacate the RV and seek shelter.
And she never made it past Brownie.