Days 2 - 3 - Barstow, CA

~ Just the Facts ~

Day 2 - 3 - Sat & Sun, June 23 - 24

Happy Birthday, Greg!

Camping:  Barstow KOA

Restaurants: Popeye's, Los Domingos

Activities:  The Incredibles 2, outlet malls

We got a pretty early start on Saturday with the plan to make it to Needles, CA so we could do the big grade out of town in the early morning rather than in the heat of the day. Unfortunately, almost halfway between Needles and Barstow, we started having FMC troubles again.  It was making a screeching and grinding noise.  The heat was ridiculous so we got some ice cream at a rest stop Dairy Queen and decided what to do.  The best choice was to go back to Barstow. 

On the way back, I cancelled our reservation for the KOA in Needles and called the KOA in Barstow.  We only had one requirement - 50 amp service.  That is what we need to run both our air conditioners.  When they are both running, the FMC gets cool and comfortable.  If only one is running on 30 amp service, then we can't really cool the FMC down comfortably if the temps are over 90.  It was 110 so . . . . 

We have had great luck at KOAs but luck was not with us this time.  The KOA told us they had 50 amp service for us but they did not.  The FMC was DONE so we had to stay there anyway.  We were not happy. (In fact, I didn't take any pictures because I was so annoyed.)

The good thing about the whole deal was that we found a mobile mechanic who came to us. Greg -- after a brief consult with the FMC Brain Trust -- knew that it was the Idler Pulley Bearings that had gone out.  The guy found the parts and came and installed them.  It wasn't quite that easy -- the first parts were wrong but he ended up driving to Victorville to get the right parts and installing them on a Sunday.  His rates were super reasonable too. 

If you have the misfortune of breaking down in Barstow, give this guy a call . . . Koch's Mobile Auto Repair. 

So, we had a couple of hot days in Barstow.  We saw a movie, ate out, and Gage and Liza hit the Outlet Malls.  Once the repair was done, we decided to get up super early (3am!) and beat the heat on the way to Needles and hopefully be up the big grade out of Needles before it was over 100F.