Well when it rains it pours- Break down #2 today

After hanging out for an hour or so, waiting for a fellow to drive over some 50 miles to bring a computer to check the error codes on the coach, one of the local fellows inside the service station/cafe turned out to be a mechanic.  Texas TC had told me about a 40 amp fuse that has a history of failing on our coaches, so we went out and checked that-  ours seemed ok.  He then knew to check the other major fuse box, and lo and behold, we noticed one labeld accelerator something, a silly little 5 amp fuse.  Bette had another one in our box of fuses, so we stuck it in, and voila, she started right up, and reacted to pushing the accellorator pedal down.

So we waited another half hour or so as a courtesy to the fellow who was driving all the way from Paducah, and he put the computer on it to check for error codes, and found he thought, although I wasn't real positive he was expert at it, that we were ok, no errors. 

So off we went, I gave the guy $20.00 for coming, he said that there was no charge. 

It turned out to be serendipedous that we broke down right there in a way, because I learned why we were waiting that some of the roads the GPS was taking us to, way back roads to get to US 60 in Missouri, were under water and closed.  So, we all noodled out an alternate route, which wound up being about 50 miles out of the way.. No worries, looked to be mostly 4 lanes and Interstates. 

Well, we got 90 miles or so down the road, and bang, the coach stopped again, this time just as we were at the top of an Interstate Exit, as we had decided to go to a Pilot to fuel up.  We managed to get off to the side of the road, and after several attempts, the problem would not resolve itself. 

Coach Net to the rescue.  We called, and within about an hour and a half, we were being towed by a very nice fellow from Hayti Missouri, where we were, but sadly, we were towed about 50 miles back up the road we had just come down, back to Union City, Tennessee.  Ugh.

Being a Coach Net member saved us a $650 dollar tow bill,  but that isn't the rest of the story.

The tow truck driver noticed what he thinks is a bad brake seal on the rear right set of duals.... that would explain the burning smell Bette has been thinking she has smelled in the last couple of days......  So that will be added to the list.

Also, the folks here at the International shop thought it would be Monday before they could get to us, which means we would be boondocking in their parking lot, where we are just now....... 

And to cap off the day, the campground at Table Rock Lake called and said they were flooded, and cancelled our reservation.  So that means we lost 5 days of reserved space this week. 

Soooooo, we may be here for 4-6 days, depending on what they find.  Guess as long as I'm here, I'll go ahead and have the oil changed, and their 120 point checklist done and get the fluids done.  Guess I should have had this done before we hit the road........  Lesson learned for next year. 
Fortunately, all of this has happenHaed at a point where we can be reasonably flexible for such emergencies- at worst, I'm going to miss 2 or 3 National Parks and one baseball team visit, but we can get those when we come out to Missouri in 2013 for the family reunion at Sherry's. 

The next place we have reservations prepaid is in Independence Missouri on April 4.  Haven't decided yet what we will do- Looks like Saturday's planned visit to Sherry is out for sure-  darn it.

Stay tuned for updates as we learn them!