Day 35 & 36, Saturday & Sunday April 4th & 5th: Doing some field repairs and Happy Easter

Saturday we slept in, I guess we needed to recharge, and woke to a beautiful sunny day. 

In the morning Todd and I worked on the Serenity.  There were 4 things we broke getting this far. We left the driveway on 1March with 78801 on the odometer, we are currently at 84718, so we have traveled 5917 miles and our issues are relatively minor, we are fortunate.

1) The Rear Stabilizer mounting bracket on the left side. This snapped off at Gold Bluffs Campground, but showed signs that it cracked a long time before then. Using Todd's tools, I removed the broken pieces that were holding on the rear sway bar so that we can take them to a shop on Monday and try to find a replacement.  The leveler jacks on the Serenity make getting under it much easier than having to manually jack the vehicle 😊.

2) The left Front Leveler Jack. This we also cleaned off in Gold Bluffs Campground in California. It stripped the threads out of the retainer lock nut. Luckily, all it required was running a re-thread die up the 3/4-16 threads on the jack hydraulic cylinder to reset them so they could accept a new lock nut. The kit I had purchased at Harbour Freight did the job. Again, I needed Todd's tools, but it was a pretty easy job. I am glad that once again it will function like new. 

3) The Exhaust Tail Pipe. This appears to have just rusted through where the hanger and clamp bolt to hold it on. I purchased some wire and have it wired up for now. We are hopeful we can cut off the pipe where it is rusted and go to a shop and have a new piece made that will slip over the exhaust and clamp in place. Unfortunately, being Easter weekend it will have to wait until Monday. 

4) The retractable Entrance Step. I bent this when I hit a log on the side of the road because it didn't retract. I have repaired it as good as it is going to get. It is probably going to need a complete replacement when we get home, but I have it sort of working for now.

The weather was so nice we spent a good part of the day just enjoying the weather and the grand children who live close by showed up with one of their horses.  

Savanna (granddaughter), Ann, Todd, Olivia(granddaughter )and friend

Todd got his lawn mowed. 

Savanna barrel races with this horse, Todd said she is very agile and fast.

We had a nice visit with the grandkids and sat in the sun until Todd and Ann had to get shined up for Easter Services at their church, they both had to work the 17:00 service. 

June and I attended the 18:30 service, their church is non denominational. 

Life Church, Oak Harbour, WA

The service is a long way from one of Father Igo's masses, those that grew up in Moriah will know what I mean. There were many young people, a band with high tech performance, and the pastor's message was very up beat. It was a bit like what we experience in Florida when we visit Liz and John. It does make one think about the Catholic Church and why it has declining enrollment.  

Todd and I swung by Pizza Hut and grabbed dinner. After dinner we watched some of the old 8mm movies that I have had digitized from our common grand parents and family.  

It was fun to reminisce of a simpler time. 

Sunday we awoke to another beautiful day with lots of sunshine. 

Coffee on the Porch

In the morning, June did laundry and we had coffee out on the screened in porch.  

Todd and Anne took us on a driving tour in the morning. 

Mount Baker

The views on and around Whidbey Island are second to none. 

Driftwood on Beaches

I continue to be fascinated by the amount of drift wood that washes up on the shores, Todd says it washes down from the rivers. 

The whole area is very scenic. 

Oak Harbor

Looking across Oak Harbor at the Olympic Mountains.

Mount Erie

Todd drove us up Mount Erie for the view, spectacular.

Mount Erie

Todd is a great tour guide. 

Mt Erie

We could not have asked for a nicer weather. 

Fred, Dan, Joslyn, June

On the way back we stopped at Todd's oldest son's house. Dan and Joslyn have a beautiful place. 

Dan was getting his boat ready for Halibut fishing which just opened.  

We stopped at Anne's favorite bake shop on the way back and got some goodies. The haystack macaroons did not make it home 😊.

Anne prepared a nice ham and we had a delicious Easter Dinner.  We had a very nice Easter. 

Monday I hope to be able to get the exhaust repaired on the Serenity and then we will be ready to start our trek back east 😞.