Jim - wake up!

 

No one wants to hear that in the middle of the night.  "Wake up - there's a problem!"  Nope, didn't want to hear that, either.

"What's the problem?"

"The power is out."

Yep, that is a problem.  When I was awake enough to understand what she was saying, I went outside to the power pedestal to see what was wrong - the surge protector had cut the power to the coach.  Usually, this happens when there is an electrical problem: high or low voltage, an open ground, reverse polarity, etc.  The screen that shows the faults was crazed and unreadable.  The power came back on; on its own.  I assumed a transient voltage fluctuation and switched our power cable to the 50 amp connection - it threw a fault before it would allow the connection.

Not much I can do about this at 2:00 in the morning, so I removed the surge protector and plugged us back in... it's hot, I'm tired, I just want to go back to bed.  I told Joan I would check at the office or put a multi-meter on it, in the morning.

Nobody got much sleep after that.

After getting Murphy fed first thing in the morning, I went to the office to see if anyone else was reporting any electrical issues.  The lady said, "Just at the new sites - the electrical company is supposed to be coming out."  Yep, voltage fluctuations.

We don't have far to go today, about 170 miles.  We stopped for fuel a ways outside of Amarillo (after stopping at a Wally World in town so Joan could re-supply us).  The good news: least expensive gas on this trip so far: $2.76, with a 10¢ per gallon discount with the Love's app.  The bad news: with the nasty wind yesterday, our fuel mileage was crappy - less than 7mpg.  The worse news: the wind is even stronger today.  With fewer miles to make, I kept us to about 60 mph, hoping for better mileage.

We rolled out of Texas and into New Mexico...

The road was decent for a few miles, then turned to what we expect from New Mexico roads: apparently no one in the state is capable of making proper road repairs.  It is not fun trying to dodge ugly potholes while getting moved around in the wind.  No, they don't show any of this in the ads for RV sales.

We decided to try something different for tonight's stay: a Love's RV Stop.  "You're going to park your motorhome at a Love's truck stop?"  Yes, and thanks for asking.  Some of the Love's Travel Stops have actual RV sites - paved and with full hook-ups.  We've seen them before, but always assumed it would be loud with all the trucks coming and going.  It is supposed to be close to 100º today as we make our way across New Mexico (Land of Blowing Dirt and Shit Roads)... we will have the air conditioning on all night, which should help drown out the traffic noise.  We'll see how that works out.

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We rolled into the Love's Travel Stop before 2:00 (that's PM), managed to squeeze into a spot a the gas pumps and topped off our fuel.  The mileage is back over 8mpg again (over 9 is even better), so slowing down helped.

The RV Stop at this particular Love's is right next to where the big trucks thread into the diesel fuel lanes.  With the a/c pumping cool air and the TV on, we don't hear the trucks.  Much.  "So, how are the RV sites there?"  You always know what to ask - thank you for your concern.  The RV sites are paved (as advertised)...

Not even remotely close to level.  They slope downhill and to the right.  With our jacks down and us not quite level, the passenger side front tire is off the ground.  These are obviously brand new RV sites, so there is no reason they should slope like this.  On the bright side, there is a Carl's Junior at this Love's, so I may get to have a biscuit sandwich for breakfast.

They also advertise that these RV Stops are gated... you gain entry with your paid reservation and the app.  No fence, no gate here.  Maybe that is in the works?  Maybe they should be charging less for non-level sites and no way to keep people from wandering through the RV sites?  As of right now, we are the only RV in here (most people don't get off the road as early as we did today).  Joan said it looks like other sites are reserved tonight, that she can see on the app.

As long as the power doesn't fluctuate tonight (that has only happened one other time in all our years of RVing), we'll probably get a good night's sleep.  Probably.  That said, this is a very busy truck stop/travel center at 3:15 in the afternoon.