Yesterday morning Ali and I got to work and bled the brakes. That firmed them up again, so we drove down the road and I dropped Ali and the kids off at breakfast while I spent an hour driving around town, stopping, starting, parking, and anything else I could think of to get the brakes to fail. I adjusted the pedal a couple of times until I thought it was just right, and then I picked them up.
Before leaving town we were sitting at the gas station when some overlanding friends pulled up alongside of us. A couple we hadn’t seen since Ouest was just days old down in Puerto Vallarta—now all these years, and tens of thousands of miles later, we cross paths at a gas station in Tucumcari, New Mexico. One thing I’ve learned after all this time is that the world really is a small place amongst travelers. We sincerely mean it when we say, “Until our paths meet again.”
We stopped off at the Dinosaur Museum in town which was a great kid and adult stop. We easily got a couple of hours of entertainment and education out of the place for our thirteen bucks.
The drive out of town was nice. The flat land is starting to give way to some bumps on the horizon. We didn’t travel far, just down the road far enough for Lowe to drift off to sleep before pulling in to Conchas Lake State Park. We nabbed a beautiful spot on the hill above the lake and settled in for a day of play.
This morning we had to be out of our spot because it was reserved for tonight. No problem, we’ll just find another. We walked around and discovered that only one other spot didn’t have a reserved sign hanging from it, despite the park being two-thirds empty. We scrambled to pick up our space and move the hundred yards to the slightly less scenic and spacious spot. The park host said, “Boy, you’re lucky, that’s the last spot in the park.”
We climbed down the rocky hill to the lake this afternoon and went for a swim. The water was a very brisk low 60s, which I was able to adapt to, but Lowe could hardly get a breath of air his little body was so shocked. Like a trooper he stayed in for five minutes with me before bailing. Then Ouest tried. She jumped in with me and, like a cat, jumped back out of the lake without actually appearing to get wet. Way too cold. Lowe then tried one more time but did his impression of a rat in a flood, climbing higher and higher up my body until he was perched on top of my head. I had to swim alone. (Don’t even ask about Ali.)
Now for my day’s gripe. Tonight the park remains empty. Dozens of spaces with reserved signs have nobody in them. Seven of the ten most scenic spots overlooking the lake, empty, including the one we vacated this morning. Assholes. State Park Season Pass holders only have to pay four bucks a night, so they just go right on ahead and book up their calendar so they don’t ever have to worry about having a spot. What do they care, they’re only out a few bucks if they don’t go. Lame.
Oh, and for those who are wondering, the brakes are soft again.
42 Comments on “Conchas Lake”
Fudge….. get to a place that can fix em….if you are anything like my husband … just carry on ..men!!
Here’s a thought – is there maybea problem with the master cylinder that is causing both the brake locking / soft pedal as well as the outside with the brake switches? I.e. it’s not the switches that are bum but the MC?
outside = issue. Damn phone.
Tucumcari NM….maybe I’m getting this town confused w another one, but don’t they have a lot of old buildings (motels and gas stations) from the 1950’s era there? I love these pics…you should try to get some pics of the motorhome w those old buildings…Will you be heading to Flagstaff or Grand Canyon? you should stop through Prescott and check it out too!
Yes, I just googled it and we stayed there 2 summers ago overnight on the way back from Texas. There are some super neat old 50’s style buildings so yes, try to capture some cool pics w the ol’ Cavco! And let us know if you’ll be coming through this way!
http://papas-stories.com/dir/2013/04/03/the-legend-of-tucumcari-mountain/
This is a good story of how Tucumcari was named.
I’m with you on the assholes who reserve sites even if they’re not going to be there. That’s just shitty. I’m getting ready to leave San Carlos on Wednesday or Thursday. I read some on-line RV site that was advising everyone to get their reservations made because the peak time is upon us. Never even occurred to me that I’d need to plan far enough ahead to make reservations. Oh well, guess I’ll take my chances and, if all else fails, I guess there’s always Walmart’s parking lot. See you there.
BTW, I just can’t tell ya how much I love that front bumper. Wish my little Toyota could support something like that. What a great place to carry batteries, wash the windshield, or just sit and watch the world go by.
Be sure to write a letter of complaint about the ‘reserving’ of spaces that stay empty. If no one complains, then management will think it must be okay. If enough complaints came in, a change could be made.
Im wondering if the replacement vacuum booster was a new rebuild, or if it had been sitting on a shelf since having been rebuilt 20 years ago.
Poor Ali for having to bleed the brakes, I always hated having to do that on our VW Bug. The hubby would tell me it made my legs pretty….
I will be surprised if the brake problem isn’t in the booster, IF air is actually entering the system post-bleed (I’m assuming you are not seeing fluid escaping at wheels or master cylinder). I would find a shop that will do a proper power flush to rule out trapped air that has been chased around during previous attempts, also removing any water that might be in the system. GL on the road!
Complain but suggest a new policy ..if not in your reserved spot by 5? it’s no longer reserved.
But the problem with that is that sometimes people reserve a spot because they know they’ll be getting in late. The “no longer reserved after 5:00” rule would be fine for us retired folks but how about the poor working stiff who wants to take family camping and doesn’t even get off work until 5:00? It would be fairer if there was simply no reservations allowed at all. Let everyone take their chances. However, when I was a working stiff I saw how that worked: the retirees would get to the campground on Thursday and get themselves settled in for the weekend. The working guy didn’t stand a chance. I vowed I would not be one of those jerks when I retired and so far, so good. If I need a spot on a weekend, I can go to an RV park and leave the campgrounds for those who only have the weekend to enjoy them.
Nope. This is a toughie. Trouble is, you just can’t legislate the assholiness out of people.
If you’re headed toward the Grand Canyon (definitely worth doing), head up the east side to Page, AZ to check out Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River, but more importantly Antelope Canyon, a really cool slot canyon on Navaho land. You’ll get some otherworldly photos.
Be sure to stay in Arizona for a while. It is getting warmer now but the North country is beautiful and a lot to see. North Rim of GC is probably open by now.
We’re with the others who mentioned calling or emailing to complain and suggest a new policy. We like the idea that if you’re not in your reserved spot by 5:00pm, you lose it for the night!
It is probably the master cylinder or a line leaking. Do you see any fluid? Have your wife press the brakes when the travco is running and look under to see if anything is leaking? If not probably the master cylinder. Bring it someplace brakes are not something to mess with.
Having to bleed the brakes on an ongoing basis indicates a problem that won’t fix itself. Kind of like continuously having to bleed the fuel filter on your boat.
As mentioned some days ago, one new master cylinder & one new vacuum booster unit, coming up. Problem solved, assuming all the lines are OK.
Paul T
Lowe’s cars seem to be in working order! Maybe he has a tip for you. They say some of the best ideas are born from kids! Good luck!
Just another working stiff!
I keep thinking how lucky Ouest and Lowe are to be making these lifetime memories of traveling with Mom and Dad. And your photos and stories are making me long for the road again. Happy trails!
You are getting air into the brake system.
Great photos, good times. Glad youre all happy! Seems like something is getting air into your brake lines. Hmmmmm.
You might want to check out Storrie Lake State park in Las Vegas, NM. Storrie is right on the outskirts of town-a very short drive to all kinds of stores and services. It might be a good place to go to get your break problem solved. You’re not far from there now.
You’re gettn pretty good with the camera there.
I have a 69 F750 Fire truck that had similar problems. Had the brake booster “rebuilt” and later did the same thing again. I bypassed the booster and bled the brakes and everything held up great. Have to use more pressure to apply the brakes but hasn’t been a problem. Might be a “temporary” measure to make sure it is the booster.
try this….pump brake pedal several times….does it get harder?
stay on pedal……if it slowly creeps down…bad master cylinder
or fluid leak in system (is your fluid level changing).
If pedal remains firm for awhile while on it…release it….wait a few mins pump again,,if pedal gets harder as you pump….air in system…
bleed from furthest wheel, from master cylinder. OR get a “syringe”. Walmart sells them in auto area, and a short length of hose the size of the bleed nipple. fill syringe with fluid and inject system from furthest wheel cylinder booster will not put air in system, can make brakes lock up or can produce extremely hard pedal…doubt if booster is you problem…either air, leak, or MC….IMHO
A solution to reservations: not in by 5 you lose it unless you specify on your reservation late arrival, then held one night.
That could work.
Solution is losing your right to reserve for the rest of the season if you reserve and don’t show up without calling to cancel by 5:00 on the day of your reservation. So people can still reseve a spot if they intend to camp, can still accomodate a last minute change in plans, but can’t tie up spots they don’t intend to use.
Pat, Pat, Pat….traveling around the country, family in tow, in a 4 ton RV with a failing brake system? C’mon man…..
Keep it up and you’ll be a shoo-in for the 2014 Darwin award. I’ve been following your blog for years and never felt compelled to leave a post, but please, get that thing in and repaired once and for all.
Danno
I’m feelin’ ya, Danno . . . when I read awhile back how the Bums had started a steep descent into some big canyon (don’t remember if it was Palo Duro) and the brakes didn’t seem right after a short distance so they called it off and turned around, it made me cringe a little bit. It’s hard not to think about the potentially tragic consequences of not taking that decision and instead pressing on down the incline . . . at least, it’s hard for me not to think about it.
I really hope the brake problem, especially, but any other mechanical problems, too, get sorted out and soon. It’s a bit disquieting to read these posts about ongoing brake issues and a mechanic who says, “You gotta fix this thing, man.”
I’ll continue to thing good thoughts for the Schulte family, but like I said . . . ongoing dangerous mechanical issues in an antique motorhome make me cringe.
Love it when assholes come on here and tell me how stupid I am. I’ve been to three shops, spent a thousand dollars, a night in a hotel, fifteen hours sitting around waiting rooms, watched mechanics try to diagnose the problem on google, watched mechanics take two hours to figure out how to get the tires off, replaced a bunch of parts, done a bunch of brake bleeding, and gotten the okay from all of them “problem solved”, only to discover later that the problem wasn’t solved. But I guess I’m a dumbass for not spending five thousand dollars on a total brake job the second a wheel cylinder leaked.
I’m sure you have this, but will pass along anyway:
http://www.dodgetravcos.com/index.php?p=1_46_Understanding-Dodge-Motorhome-Brakes
I have really enjoyed reading about your advendures. Comment on the camp site reservation issue. It is an interesting real world lesson in economics…when something desirable is free or very low price there is nearly an unlimited demand and wastefulness. There might be a reason why it would be difficult to do in reality…but the simple solution is to get a credit card number at the time of reservation and if they register by a certain time on the day of their reservation they are charged the $4 dollar regular rate. If they are a no show they are charged $30-$40.
You are eventually gonna have to bite the bullet and replace the master cylinder!! And, just to clear things up……the brake system on a vehicle that old is completely separate from the electrical system! That said, having a bad brake light switch doesn’t affect the actual braking at all! In a new car with ABS and sensors everywhere, yes………in a 1966 Dodge Travco, no!
I love the huge RV. Every time I check in on the blog and see it, I can’t help but think of Christmas Vacation and wonder when you’re going to show up in a relative’s front yard and declare “shitter’s full”.
Cheers.
Man, hurry up and get that thing across the border, so the first person that looks at it, fixes it so it will stay fixed!
Hi guys, have loved the blog since the boating days. I’m also a multihull guy. Buttt.. do you have to resort to using As*%*(%#. Yes they are rude and inconsiderate but do we have to resort to the lowest common language? Many kids, teenagers and who knows what follow the blog and can pick up the fact that it is the way we speak to jerks. No need for a decent vocabulary, just swear at anyone who is rude or upsets you…. I was a 30 year firefighter and before that a paratrooper in VN, but please be mindful of your audience..
cheers..and we have also traveled all through Mexico and love the people and country.
Jerry, Pat isn’t dropping F-bombs all over the place. Asshole is a very descriptive word and one that is quite fitting in this particular instance. This blog is on the INTERNET and there are far more damaging words out there on/in the internet for kids to find. If they found out about the word asshole for the first time while reading this blog then they’re doing it RIGHT!
Pat, if you haven’t had the brakes fixed yet, consider having it done by a national chain. A national chain offers nation wide warranty work while a local shop, as good as they are, doesn’t.
We were excited to have met Pat yesterday when we saw their rv exit and followed them into an rv park. We have been following their travels for many years. We found Pat to be so nice even though you could tell he was having a tough day with brake problems. Pat took the time to visit and make us feel special. He is a real person with a great personality. We hope the best for him and his family.
I was probably lucky; when I drove my RV home the first time, the brakes were grabby, pulled strongly to the left, and the pedal was very mushy. So I had to fix the brake problems (it wasnt just one problem) before I drove it out of the driveway. It soaked up most of my evenings and all of the weekends for more than a months.
Welcome to the Land of Enchantment! Nothing but beautiful outdoors here… PM if you’d like a place to park near Santa Fe.