So, did you REALLY think the adventures would end?????

[Christyhicks]

Yeah, you knew it couldn't wouldn't last. . . sooner or later we'd sneak away from the constant state of family crisis around here for some "down time" in the "new to us" Prayvo!  The First Monday Trade Days in Canton, TX on Labor Day weekend just seemed designed to tempt us away from this world of chaos where we fight to keep Larry's dad alive long enough so we can KILL him when he goes out and does stuff that he shouldn't be doing. .  .which sends him BACK to the hospital so that we can FIGHT to keep him alive. . .  well, I digress.

We're driving through Dallas, which you KNOW is really a misnomer, since you really are dodging, slowing to a halt, threading the needle, jamming the brake pedal through the floor to avoid the guy who zipped over in front of you and then lit up his brake lights. . .there's really not a lot of simple "driving" involved in navigating the highways inside Dallas. . . but for the sake of simplicity (can I EVER explain something in simple terms???), we were DRIVING through Dallas, it's 98 degrees outside,  and only about 90 degrees inside (because we threw the OTR a/c belt 100 miles ago and although we were using the genny and cruise airs, somehow each one of us thought the OTHER had turned BOTH front airs on when in fact, we were using one itty bitty 14,000 BTU ice tray to cool 40' of glass led by a 12'x12' magnifying glass they call a windshield), headed INTO the sun, getting ready to dodge the truck in trying to merge on our left who is going to cut us off of the entrance ramp onto I-80. . when suddenly an alarm (or several, really how can you tell, something is beeping and beeping loud and often). . anyway, an alarm goes off, lights start flashing, and as usual, Cool Hand Luke over there in the driver's seat goes into a panic and yells for me to come over and figure out "WHAT IN THE #*^(*$^# IS GOING OFF!!!!!". 

Ever notice this never happens in a GOOD location??? Nope, we've got 'em merging in on our right, we're trying to exit to the right, they're in front and behind us. .  we're surrounded by idiots who can't tell that alarms are beeping and we've got to get the heck off the highway!!!!!   Larry knows he's not losing air pressure, and nothing seems to be running hotter than it should, but in their infinite wisdom, Prevost had decided that pretty little sunbursts and triangles are much more readable than WORDS!  You know, like OIL!  TRANSMISSION!  AIR!  By the time I get unbelted and positioned over his shoulder, there's three different buttons flashing and NONE of them have words!  Not knowing he's already figured out what he DOES have, AND, that two of those flashing buttons are the hazards that he already had clicked on, I'm screaming, "AIR???  WATER TEMP???  OIL TEMP???  arrggh, WHAT ELSE IS THERE???". .

you see, in an emergency situation is where I really shine in my intricate knowledge of engines. . . by now, everything I've ever learned is out the window, and I'm reduced to three choices, none of which appear to be correct.  It's time for the mad dash to the cabinet full of Prevost manuals, Beaver books, yep, there's about six, count 'em SIX binders and books I'm digging through trying to find a #&#^$(*&# picture of the dash. . .  .service manual, Heck no!  Throw it to the floor!  Prevost book?  NOPE, throw it on the floor!  Beaver conversions components. .  naw, not even going to TRY that one. .  papers are flying, nasty words about Prevost engineers and who's wise idea was it to not put a picture of the dash in the front of EVERY SINGLE PREVOST BOOK anyway? when I seize upon the owners manual and realize that it's full of fold out DIAGRAMS!!!! BINGO!!  It's the transmission and the hazards. .. wait, um, ok, YOU put the hazards on. .  it's the TRANSMISSION!   

At the same time that I've come to my brilliant diagnosis of what component was in trouble, Larry had found an opening and pulled over onto the shoulder, sandwiched between an entrance ramp and the I-80 exit, which was  a tantalizing few hundred feet in front of us.  The problem was, by now, the rig wasn't shifting and there was no way we were climbing that raised exit ramp.  We get out, stagger our way back to the engine compartment, open it up and stare at the heat billowing off of the millions of hoses, belts, pipes, manifolds, guards, O M G was there a lot of stuff in there and was it HOT!  While Larry is searching for the transmission dip stick, I stand guard about 10' back, eyeing the oncoming traffic.  I shouted to him, "Hon, if I scream your name, dive for the ditch!  I'm not going to be kidding, it means someone is getting ready to cram us and your ONLY chance at life will be to instantly hit that ditch if you hear me scream your name!"  Luckily, there was no name-screaming required, unfortunately, there was absolutely NO way we were getting anywhere NEAR the dipstick without major scalding to major and many body parts!  The cop who was finishing up a traffic stop just about 150' ahead of us had already left (what's up with THAT?  We might have needed help!  Didn't WE look like we might need help?), and we decided our best chance was to try to cripple up the ramp and get onto I-80 and then back off in a better location.

In we climb, start it up, hmmmmm, nothing blinking but the hazards. . no alarms, bells, whistles. .  gently Larry puts it in gear. .  (well, not really gently, I mean, all he does is push the keypad, so really, can you even DO that gently? ) Ok, so he TOUCHES the keypad with gentle hopeful anticipation, sure enough, we start to roll. . he accelerates. ..  we're rolling faster, we're shifting, we're rolling, we're shifting, we're climbing, we're downshifting (that's actually a GOOD thing at this point). . .  hey, WE'RE going, going gone. .  we're up and over the ramp and on the highway, running smoothly, everything's looking good. . we're shifting and everything!!!! Yee haw!

Yeah, well, I guess shutting it off and starting it again reset the fault!?!  We made it on to Canton, AND back home without another incident, so Larry's thinking she maybe just caught between two gears or something he read to that effect one day, so we'll get out there and see if there's a stored fault in the system and try to figure out what happened, but yep, it sure was exciting.  Ahhh, isn't it fun to travel in buses!!!!!!  Christy Hicks

[Ed Hackenbruch]

 I can relate to this.   Many years ago when i started running equipment all of the gauges were labeled as to what they were. Then somebody got the bright idea to start using symbols that lit up instead.International symbols so anybody anywhere could understand them.  A couple of years ago i had one or two lights start flashing so i called over one of our mechanics and asked him what was wrong with the machine. He said he did not know, he was going to have to get his book and look them up to see what they were. So much for progress.

[Dreamscape]

I can't relate becuase we have a much older coach that is pre-computer! HA

You are writing a book aren't you? If not, you should!

See ya in a few weeks!

Paul

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I am so glad that our bus is pre-computer too.

[Christyhicks]

See ya in a few weeks!

I sure hope so!  Things are still pretty hairy around here, in fact, Larry's mom was hospitalized while we were in TX, but thanks to the wonderful invention of text messaging, we were able to stay in constant contact w/Larry's sister and did not have to return since they were able to diagnose & treat her quickly enough to see immediate improvement. 

Unfortunately, if Larry's sis does go out of town as planned that weekend,  we'll have to stay here, as WE most definitely have to be in MO the following weekend for that rally.  So, if we DO make it, it'll be at the last minute for sure.   We're still hoping things will work out...time will tell.   Christy

[Dreamscape]

Christy, Sorry to hear of the many health challenges you guys have faced. We do plan to go to your rally after the Branson Eagle rally. We'll catch up with you guys one way or another.

It should be a fun filled 10 days of bus rallies.

Paul

[robertglines1]

Christy the bus just had to burp..now all is good ( I hope) senior moment...little loving care and it will be good for awhile...same for family and I hope both do well..Many more adventures to come!  Life is a adventure just a new challenge every day..Bob

[Len Silva]

It just needed a reboot. Happens to me all the time.

[Christyhicks]

Sure, NOW you tell us! Haha. Christy

[Busted Knuckle]

Christy,
First off I see 2 things here. The transmission burp, and the navigator blurp!
Yes occasionally for unknown stupid reasons these computer controlled transmissions doe develop a issue, that resets itself "all on it's own" upon shut down.

The navigator issue is more complicated! I used to drive truck Coast to Coast and to the best of my memory I-80 starts near San Fransisco and goes across CA, NV, UT, WY, NE, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, & NJ.
But I have never been anywhere near TX while on I-80!
Now on the other hand there is a US 80 that does go east out of Dallas through TX, LA, MS, AL, & GA (it used to go from San Diego to the east coast, but now anything west of Dallas that is left is usually called "old US 80 & has another designation also!)

Sorry I couldn't resist as many people get US Highways mixed up with interstates and it really does make a difference when giving directions! (which is a totally different situation all together!)
  BK 

[Christyhicks]

hahahahah, yes, it is just 80, a state highway, that we are on for a short distance before getting onto I-20. . .  sort of that little highway sandwiched between I-30 and I-20,

Actually, I'm really careful when giving directions to people, but when I'm laughing with Larry over an incident late in the evening, and decide to tell y'all about it, I have a tendency to not go back and proof-read, which I really OUGHT to do, since I'm very prone to typos.  I also have a tendency to type "words" instead of letters, so the words I type most common, such as "flue", meaning flue pipe, get typed even when I really mean Flu, such as illness.  Bad habits I guess.  I was just too bushed to go back and reread it, so ignore the mistakes if you don't mind, ha ha.  christy

[Busted Knuckle]

NO Problem I was just "picking @ you", not on you!
  BK 

[happycamperbrat]

At least you arent like Desi and having sex all over the house and loving it when everyone else is running pex!! 

[Len Silva]

And just how would you know that???

[rwc]

There are a few sections of US 80 left but of 80 became I-20. Almost all of through Louisiana.