So the saga of the tire didn’t quite end when we bought the new tire. When we got back to the campground Vern went to check the air pressure only to discover that the valve stem was too short couldn’t inflate couldn’t check the air pressure so in reality while it was inflated not much use in the long run. One thing we knew was we were not driving back to Klamathb  falls again. After much back and falls Les Schwab agreed to send a mobile unit out at no charge. Enter “Will” stage left. He arrived with a smile on his face and an attitude of helpfulness and he knew his stuff. He quickly assessed that as this was an airstream our rims were made by Alco and were aluminum so thicker meaning a standard valve would be too short. He had the tire off the rim new valve stem in and reinflated in like 20 mins. He then looked at Vern and I ,who were to say the least “a little worn out” and said “would you like me to put that tire back on your trailer for you only take me 5 mins “.  I could have kissed him. It had taken Vern an hour at least to get the tire off. Now I should point out not because of lack of know how on Vern’s part just the lack of professional grade equipment.  10 minutes later it was all done. We tried to tip him but as expected he declined saying he was getting paid to be here and was glad he could help  he hopped back it his truck and off he went. I felt like Santa had just been by. Anyway Vern and I are feeling very blessed and thankful.   Also reassuring that people like that still exist.

Missing a wheel

Tire being fixed 

Will the Wonderful 

Les Schwab tires back in the our good books

Packing up 

We really did have a great time the campsite was in tall pine trees we backed into a river and had at least 40 feet behind us that was completely private. We had campfires each night.  Took a chill day on Canada day as we did not know Monday would be tied up getting the tire fixed again and again and then buying a new one. We met a lovely couple from Vancouver and had a celebratory drink with them. 

Crater lake is stunning.  Our campsite was beautiful.   However as circumstances so often do they interfere and we spent a lot of our time in Crater Lake fixing a flat on the airstream. Many lessons learnt.  Good Sam roadside will change a tire or sell you a new tire but not fix a tire,  having a small 12 volt air pump is a good thing to have and having a bottle jack or a floor jack is a great help when wrestling a tire off your parked airstream.   We now have all three. After 3 trips 90 mins each way on 2 separate days,to Klamath Falls we have a new trailer tire, a twice repaired old tire, a floor jack and a portable air pump.   So long story short we only had one day to explore crater lake.   Thankfully the weather was great the people helpful and once we get the tire back on the trailer we will be on our way tomorrow.  We have 3 driving days and then land in Gramd Teton and Yellowstone territory. Staying at the Longhorn Ranch and RV resort in Dubois Wyoming for 5 nights. We will back onto a river, they have horses trials and rodeos.  I am sure it will be an adventure

Crater lake we took the 31 miles circumference road around the lake 

Vern at Crater lake we had a lovely lunch overlooking the lake at the Crater Lake Lodge 

The colours were incredible 

Vern wrestling the tire off literally

Vern splitting wood 

We only had one day but it was a great day. Early start off to Avenue of the Giants.   First hike was amazing. It was like being in an enchanted forest.  Apparently parts of Star Wars was filmed in the red woods and you can totally imagine Ewoks flying through the trees. The trees all seemed to have faces.  We landed in a Saloon in Myers Flata  were we had a beer a game of pool and a bit of local flavour. Second hike we got lost we thought it was a loop but ended up on a road with no truck in sight. So back into the woods to retrace our steps it was a rather long trek but we made it Vern said I did it on purpose lol.  We decided to take the Lost Coast scenic byway. What an adventure it was only 70 miles but it took us 3.5 hours up and down crazy but beautiful. We landed in Ferndale a small Victorian town were we treated ourselves to dinner. Today we are off to Crater Lake. A long drive but a scenic one.   To give perspective to the size Vern had me scamper up onto and into trees. Brought back fond memories of travelling with my dad as a cold and being asked to climb onto trains with his black and white scale stick so he could make models true to scale when home.

Bandon by the sea was lovely.  Bullards Beach State Park wonderful.   We had campfires every night, watched families, children and couples just enjoy the simple things in life… We were on C loop which was probably 1.0 km around in total.  At least 8 children ranging from age 2 – 12 would race around the loop every night on whatever wheeled apparatus they could navigate, skateboards, two wheelers, three wheelers, scooters!!  I think they raced around for at least an hour and a half each night…It was priceless to watch… We met a lovely couple 2 doors up also with a 2006 airstream who were at the beginning of their 4 month adventure from Oregon to BC across Canada to PEI back down into the states to meander to New Mexico in time for the Alberquerque Ballon Festival…

The log that would not burn.

Pork tenderloin squash and roasted root vegetables,  dinner…

Face Rock beach off the coast of Bandon by the Sea the largest rock is apparently a face of an indian princess looking up to the sky.

So we woke up Saturday with no hot water. Not really an issue but an inconvenience. After some calls to people who know more we were still no further ahead. Finally a gentleman with whom Vern had been chatting about trucks walks by and before long they both have their heads in the water heater. The gentleman with way more years of experience under his belt helps Vern find the hidden  fuse and low and behold it is blown. We are directed to ACE hardware in town. (Kinda like our home hardware). We purchase the fuse return replace the blown one and check for hot water only to find none. We think “Oh well must be something else” Now that might not seem too funny however as we thought to ourselves later the water tank was full with cold and therefore water simply replacing the fuse and expecting instant hot water was very unrealistic.  It was like “we really are newbies.”Anyway when we arrived in Bamdon voila hot water. Lesson : manage your expectations and all will be well.