Rogers, AR: Ahh, The Simple Life of RVing

Even on a cloudy, rainy day you can see Beaver Lake is beautiful. This is a small portion of the lake. Our campsite is at this elevation however the campground goes all the way down to the lake with many of the campsites at lake level.

Spent a portion of the day working on the problem with the water pump in the RV, which I'll tell you about in a minute.

RV's are really pretty amazing when you look closely at everything that is concealed under all of the graphics and shiny fiberglass.

You have all everything you need in order to drive the RV: engine, transmission, radiator, steering wheel, tires, brakes, etc. etc. You have heating and cooling systems: air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, automobile AC, fans, etc. You have the ability to operate devices with electricity or with LP. There are two electrical systems, 12V DC and 110V AC, that get their power from a generator (diesel powered), shore power (30/50 amp connection in the campground), a bank of automotive batteries that store electricity and can power an inverter to create 110V AC.

And don't get me started on the septic systems with separate holding tanks for black water and gray water, which have to be treated and emptied on a regular basis. Empty the septic holding tanks on an RV one time and you will never take for granted the seemingly magic septic system you have in a land based house. Flush the toilet at home and viola!, like magic everything is gone.
The process of emptying the black/gray water tanks is every RVers least favorite task.

All in all, even simple things get complex in a hurry since you have to be able to operate all of the appliances and systems both when you are connected in a campground or when you are boondocking. Boondocking is camping without any connections for electricity, water and septic. And RV's are designed to make all of this happen with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of "get out and enjoy the great outdoors".

The freshwater system needs pressure to move water from the freshwater holding tank to the sinks, shower, washer, and toilet. When you are connected to water in a campground it's just like the outside spigot at your house. Connect a garden hose and the water flows with plenty of pressure.

When you are not connected to a water system in a campground you need a water pump to provide pressure to move the water. No pressure = No Water. Simple eh?

Well, just before we moved on Tuesday we realized the water pump was not working so I have spent the better part of the last two days trying to isolate the problem: a) one of the three switches that turns on the water pump 2) the water pump itself 3) 12V power to the switches and/or pump and 4) a water pump controller. I didn't even know I had or needed a water pump controller but I (or more accurately the RV) both has one and needs one to operate properly.

Finally narrowed it down to the controller. Went and bought a new one, swapped the old one out and viola!, we now have a working water pump for when we are not connected to a water source.

Which is a big deal because the campground was completely booked this weekend when we checked in except for a site without water. So on Friday we'll move to a site without water/electric/sewer and then move back to a water/electric site on Sunday afternoon.

Really felt the pressure to get that working so we didn't have to spend the weekend without running water.

RV's are really amazing. All the complexity of a diesel powered truck. All the complexity of a land based house. All the complexity of a self-contained and self-powered house. All bundled together in a shiny fiberglass wrapped package that, unlike a home, depreciates over time.

Anyway, a rainy day in camp to get this issue resolved. The storms here can get pretty intense. Last night lightning hit very near here. You know, one of those times where the light flashes simultaneously with the thunder, and so loud your ears are ringing afterwards. MLA and I nearly jumped out of bed when it hit last night. After the lightning and thunder passed over us it settled down to just a pleasant steady drumbeat of rain on the roof. Nice but the lightning/thunder had shattered any feeling of contentment and peace.

Weather is supposed to get better right through the weekend.

Looking forward to seeing Christopher and Rachael on Saturday and Sunday. Only a couple of weeks before their wedding so everyone is excited.

See Ya!