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April 13, 2010, a Tuesday
Parker (K), Colorado, USA
— Took the Jeep in for repair and had dinner at Carino's
I had my normal breakfast and did some computer work before leaving in the Jeep by myself around 9:15.
I took the Jeep to Nolan's RV & Marine on the north end of Denver to find out why the Jeep isn't getting power from the RV when we tow it. The RV socket is putting out the correct signals, so the problem is in the Jeep. I also wanted them to replace the break-away switch on the Jeep because it hasn't been working right for a while. (The break-away switch will activate the US Gear Universal Brake system in the Jeep to stop the Jeep incase it breaks away from the RV while we're towing it.) I did some computer work while waiting for them to perform the work. After a while, the technician came into the waiting area to let me know that the Jeep's behaving properly, and he tagged the two contacts on the plug that fits into the socket at the back of the RV to indicate what signals they're supposed to be getting. Hmm — they didn't really fix anything with the charging problem. :(
I returned to the RV around 12:45 and had my normal lunch. I did some more computer work, then went outside around 2:00 to measure the voltages in the socket on the RV for the umbilical cord to the Jeep. It's not putting out the signals the tech at Nolan's said it should, but it's putting out the correct signals according to the wiring diagrams at etrailer.com. For kicks, I plugged the umbilical cord into the RV and Jeep, and now nothing in the Jeep is working when triggered by the RV — no marker lights, no brake lights, no turn signals! Then I tested the signals coming out of the umbilical cord at the Jeep end, and they were correct according to the wiring diagrams at etrailer.com. So, now I get to work on the Jeep by myself — something I didn't want to deal with and why I had taken it to Nolan's —- aaahhhh! I buttoned everything up, and we left in the Jeep around 3:35.
We went to WalMart to pick up a few things, then ...
We went to Target to get some more things. J picked up a KitchenAid Immersion Blender, model KHB100WH.
We went to SJ&DilK's (J's Son J and Daughter-in-law K's) to pick up a new 500GB hard drive for J's 15-inch MacBook Pro that was delivered today. I picked up an 82mm wide-angle adaptor ring for a Lee Foundation Kit that will fit my new Canon TS-E 24mm f3.5 L II tilt-shift lens that was also delivered today.
We returned to the RV briefly, then left around 5:35.
We went to Carino's Italian restaurant in Parker for Family Night where you can get a Family Platter for the price of the regular entrée. I got a Family Platter of Spicy Shrimp & Chicken (penne pasta, cayenne pepper romano cream sauce, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and green onions) and a salad and J got a Family Platter Homemade 16 Layer Lasagna (layers of pasta, Italian sausage, beef, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan). Yes, we were going for the leftovers. It was delicious as usual. :)
After we finished, we drove around a part of Parker where J had discovered some potential boondocking spots. After spending so much time recently in quiet, remote locations in southeastern Arizona, coming back to the "big city" of Parker is a shock.
We returned to the RV around 7:10 and J installed the new 500GB hard drive in her 15-inch MacBook Pro while I did more computer work.
I took the Jeep to Nolan's RV & Marine on the north end of Denver to find out why the Jeep isn't getting power from the RV when we tow it. The RV socket is putting out the correct signals, so the problem is in the Jeep. I also wanted them to replace the break-away switch on the Jeep because it hasn't been working right for a while. (The break-away switch will activate the US Gear Universal Brake system in the Jeep to stop the Jeep incase it breaks away from the RV while we're towing it.) I did some computer work while waiting for them to perform the work. After a while, the technician came into the waiting area to let me know that the Jeep's behaving properly, and he tagged the two contacts on the plug that fits into the socket at the back of the RV to indicate what signals they're supposed to be getting. Hmm — they didn't really fix anything with the charging problem. :(
I returned to the RV around 12:45 and had my normal lunch. I did some more computer work, then went outside around 2:00 to measure the voltages in the socket on the RV for the umbilical cord to the Jeep. It's not putting out the signals the tech at Nolan's said it should, but it's putting out the correct signals according to the wiring diagrams at etrailer.com. For kicks, I plugged the umbilical cord into the RV and Jeep, and now nothing in the Jeep is working when triggered by the RV — no marker lights, no brake lights, no turn signals! Then I tested the signals coming out of the umbilical cord at the Jeep end, and they were correct according to the wiring diagrams at etrailer.com. So, now I get to work on the Jeep by myself — something I didn't want to deal with and why I had taken it to Nolan's —- aaahhhh! I buttoned everything up, and we left in the Jeep around 3:35.
We went to WalMart to pick up a few things, then ...
We went to Target to get some more things. J picked up a KitchenAid Immersion Blender, model KHB100WH.
We went to SJ&DilK's (J's Son J and Daughter-in-law K's) to pick up a new 500GB hard drive for J's 15-inch MacBook Pro that was delivered today. I picked up an 82mm wide-angle adaptor ring for a Lee Foundation Kit that will fit my new Canon TS-E 24mm f3.5 L II tilt-shift lens that was also delivered today.
We returned to the RV briefly, then left around 5:35.
We went to Carino's Italian restaurant in Parker for Family Night where you can get a Family Platter for the price of the regular entrée. I got a Family Platter of Spicy Shrimp & Chicken (penne pasta, cayenne pepper romano cream sauce, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and green onions) and a salad and J got a Family Platter Homemade 16 Layer Lasagna (layers of pasta, Italian sausage, beef, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan). Yes, we were going for the leftovers. It was delicious as usual. :)
After we finished, we drove around a part of Parker where J had discovered some potential boondocking spots. After spending so much time recently in quiet, remote locations in southeastern Arizona, coming back to the "big city" of Parker is a shock.
We returned to the RV around 7:10 and J installed the new 500GB hard drive in her 15-inch MacBook Pro while I did more computer work.