Saturday August 10, 2016 Gatlinburg, TN

Since I last wrote we have made some progress on repairs at both the REV service center in Decatur and Kevin Mallory's shop in Celina, OH.  These two locations are only 36 miles apart.  We have also been frustrated in some important areas.

We had detected a bad taste in the fresh water tank.  Before leaving Kevin's we drained the tank and added some bleach while refilling it.  At the REV service center I drained the tank and refilled it.  The coach was taken in by the REV techs at 6:30.  By 2 the coach was parked back in the RV parking area. I had spoken to the techs and the had repaired everything but some broken teeth on one of the slide rails and gears that operate the large slide.  The service writer told us the techs would be out at 6 am in the morning to continue the work.  The frustration started at 6 AM Wednesday when no one came to get the coach.  When I talked to the service writer he told me that parts have to be ordered.  We decided to go back to Kevin's in Celina, OH.

REV called on Thursday and told me that Power Gear no longer makes the parts needed to repair the slide.  A complete new mechanism needed to be installed at a high price.  Al later called from the service writer let me know that he had to meet with is management about a course of action and would call me on Friday.

I was also frustrated with repairs and upgrades at Kevin's.  All but the front door awning were finally completed Friday.  Parts on order.  After not getting a call from REV on Friday, We decided no matter what the status we were leaving Saturday morning.  We will deal with the remaining problems later.

We left Celina at a little after 8.  We decided to drive all the way to Gatlinburg, TN in spite of an ETA of about 7 PM.  Gerri called the Twin Creeks RV Resort and made reservations to arrive there early in the evening.  The park management called back and gave detailed instructions to avoid the Pigeon Forge area due to a large car show making for a lot of congestion and delays on the normal route.  The change added about 30 miles to our trip.  Between stopping for fuel, a detour and the added mileage, we arrived at the park after dark.

I really don't like driving the coach after dark and I especially dislike parking in the dark. Gerri did an exemplary job of directing me into our site.  We used the cell phones as she directed me, I think I followed her instructions better without the visual part I see during the daylight, no distraction just follow directions.  It was a 595 mile drive with 11 hours behind the wheel.  Baring changes we are back on our itinerary.