The coach ran great today. We managed to get on the road by about 9:30am and drove until about 4:00pm our time (5:00 pm in New Mexico). We drove through a couple of rain storms where the temperatures dove from the mid-90’s to low 70’s in a few minutes. The rain was great except for our less-than-ideal wipers which I have not paid attention to because we hardly ever need them.
We stopped for gas in Lordsburg, NM (gas was $3.19) and, again, there was lots of vapor pressure in the fuel tanks – it took at least 2 minutes to bleed it off and the vapor is hot. It was difficult to get gas into the tank at first but eventually, I managed to fill them again. The coach was stumbling a little as I drove out but, having experienced this before, it got lots better as soon as the pressure built up in the tanks again – my theory is that this keeps the gas from boiling.
We ran well until we got off the highway at Las Cruces and as I stopped at the end of the off-ramp I heard the aux. vacuum pump turn on indicating that we have less than perfect vacuum – maybe that hose is leaking again? Since we don’t use the dash A/C and we don’t need a heater or defroster right now I just unhooked the hose and blocked the manifold port. Can’t make the aux. vacuum pump come on any more – maybe our gas mileage will get better? I must get a vacuum gauge for the dash – next interior project will be the cockpit and dash.
We are staying at a little RV park that we have stayed at several times before. It has a nice view of the Organ Mountains just north of town. Carol lived her from the age of 7 until 14 when she moved back to Pennsylvania – she has fond memories of it and it is the reason we like living in the desert. Some photos of the mountains below.
We are staying in the Siesta RV Park in Old Mesilla, NM. In 1850 some people who lived in Las Cruces and were mad at the U.S. for taking it in the Spanish-American War moved across the Rio Grande River, then still part of Mexico, to avoid living in the U.S. but we fooled them and bought Old Mesilla as part of the Gadsden Purchase.
See you tomorrow.
Hey Armand, I enjoy your blog.
Your picture of the switches on the steering column cam in handy yesterday, must have kicked it loose. But knowing what to look for made it easy to reattach.
We have made that trip across I10 many, many times – but not in the GMC yet.. Dallas to Bisbee to visit inlaws, to Phoenix for grandkids, Often up to Showlow. Used to stay in Las Cruces most of the time.
Hope to bring the coach out for some holiday over the winter. And will try to also make a Jet Set rally.
I know you have a great trip without big hassles. 🙂
Hi and thanks, I am glad you enjoy it because I like doing it. It makes a good record for us – hard to remember stuff sometimes if you know what I mean. We have also done the trip quite a few times in the past 7 years since we moved to Arizona (from Calif.)