12-31-2023 - NEW YEAR'S EVE 2023

Happy New Year

As the minutes tick into hours, and the hours culminate to end THIS year, we want to reach out to all our friends, some of which have become closer to 'family' than just 'friends', to say.... Thank You for being in our lives. We look forward to 2024 being a better year, if for no other reason than to see the end of the Biden regime and working to TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK. Don't forget to VOTE at State and Federal levels, to make that happen.

NOTICE: Due to lack of time, we are curtailing the posting on this website / Web Log.

 NOTICE about the FUTURE this Website/Blog

Dear Friends, 

We hate to have to say this but we are going to have to greatly curtail the future of this website. In the last two years (post Covid) everything seems to have gotten more and more complicated and products are less reliable. Since purchasing the house in Star Valley Ranch, WY, it seemed that all we ever did was work on updating and upgrading it. We got to do nothing more than work on the house constantly. Then, Roxy's issues started getting worse. And after buying, first the Montana 5th Wheel, and last December, trading it for the brand new 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B, we had to spend additional time addressing over  40 deficiencies, of which only about half have been taken care of. We still have to take it back to the Factory Service Center in Decatur IN come May 2024.  to let them take care of the remaining issues under the warranty.

As if that was not enough, even the Aqua Hot air and water heating system stopped working, which since there is no propane heaters in these All-Electric pieces of excrement, we have been without hot water or heat (other than the single heat pump, which only works over 40 degrees. It has not worked since about the second month from NEW. We have had to take the rig to Idaho Falls TWICE, because Aqua Hot 'requires' that only an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician work on it, to keep it 'in warranty'. Idaho Falls ID is 95 miles away from Star Valley Ranch WY, but Aqua Hot does not have ANY Aqua Hot 'certified' technician any closer to us. TWICE that he took it to their 'certified' technician, he was unable to fix it, because the recommendation that he gave (to replace the unit), Aqua Hot would not authorize. Eventually we had to leave for Florida, as the weather was getting really cold, and under 40 degrees the single Heat Pump that this rig has is not enough to heat it, Since we have no Aqua Hot, in essence we have a $600,000 'luxury' motorhome... with NO HEAT.

Once in Florida we AGAIN went to an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician (mobile, at a cost to ourselves of $100... some warranty that is) and still, two  months later he still has not been able to fix it, because he says it has several problems and needs several parts; yet, Aqua Hot will only send them to him ONE at a time, and requires a report after the install. Only after the second part replaced (2 months later) were we able to get heating and hot water. IF we ever get another RV, which we hope NOT to, it will NOT have an Aqua Hot system for heating. So, due to all these things going on, and I am sure more to come because something new is constantly breaking on this RV, I am no longer going to keep up with certainly as many posts as we have done in the past, cataloguing every place we go to.

The main reason for this BLOG and website has been to have a record of Mary and my travels, since we met and started to travel, so that our friends could be kept in the loop, without our having to be writing a bunch of emails with photos to each one. Another purpose of it was to serve as our memory as we get older, should a touch of Alzheimer's set in later on. To that end, we think the Blog has served well. However, Life has just gotten too complicated and I keep falling behind on keeping all the posts on-going, which just adds more pressure to the already busy lives we live. 

December 16th, we participated once again in Wreaths Across America.  What a let down that was. The took our money but never gave us the wreaths we purchased for our loved ones, so we had to go to Costco in Wesley Chapel to get more wreaths to place on our loved ones' graves, as when we went back to the cemetery their graves were bare.  We voiced and wrote our complaint to Wreaths Across America, which never even bothered to acknowledge their dishonesty, so WE SHALL NEVER SPONSOR THAT ORGANIZATION AGAIN. We will have to rely on getting our own wreaths at a Nursery, or elsewhere, and take them to the cemetery, ourselves, to be sure our folks are honored for the holiday season.

At a later date, as we have done in the past, we will travel to Sebastian Inlet on Florida's East Coast and cast a wreath into the sea on the outgoing tide.  This is where Mary's father's ashes were launched in 1998-1999.  In this manner the wreath will follow the route of his ashes to join his heritage of Norwegian seafaring ancestors. 

Starting in 2024, we will only add a post on when something special to us occurs, of when we go to a NEW destination, and perhaps when we sell the WY house or buy our winter residence in The Villages, etc.  

We thank all of you who have followed our Blog these past (almost) eight years, since the first post on March 21, 2016. As we look back through the posts, we are so glad to have shared these stories of our wonderful travels and photographs with you.

Holiday greetings and much love, always,

Bill and Mary (and in spirit, Roxy)

Our Christmas Letter 2023

 

Annual Christmas Letter

December, 2023

Here we are again, at the end of another year.  As we think about the events of 2023, it has been a year (as usual) of ups and downs.  And there were a lot of downs.

We spent the first 2 months of the year, still in Texas, as we could not get any reservations in Florida.  The weather was cool and wet for the most part.  The first park we stayed in was in Whitney, Texas.  A young man stopped one day to ask if we were REALLY from Wyoming.  He was elated when we said yes.  Turns out that he was from Rock Springs and thrilled to meet some “home folks.”  As he spent his free time fishing, he brought us some great striped bass to enjoy. We gave him some of our Michigan Bratts.

Since Bill really hated the fifth wheel, we spent time looking for a replacement for it.  We settled on a 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B, which is a bunkhouse model, so it provides some additional flexibility for inside storage.  The fifth wheel had space in the cap closet for a small chest freezer, and the bunkhouse model provided us with a place for it as well.  When we got to Lake Conroe for 3 weeks, we had a local satellite business install an in-motion Starlink on the roof.  It has been great, as it provides 24/7 internet, even while going down the road, so we always have access to map applications and internet searches, while underway and we can stream as many movies as we want, as the plan has 1 terabyte of data each month, before we are throttled, which never happens. 

All totaled, we were in Texas for 3 months, after which we moved to Florida for 7 weeks, where we got to see many of our Florida friends.  We returned to Wyoming, by way of Decatur, IN where we began having initial warranty issues on the new motorhome resolved.  We were there approximately 2 weeks.  We took that as an opportunity to travel to Shipshewana IN and Buchanan, MI to pick up our favorite brats and other favorite selections at Lowery’s Meat and Seafood Market.  One day while in the REV waiting area for the day, Mary saw a coach being towed into the parking lot!  It had been in a serious accident, but the heart stopping part was that it was IDENTICAL to our rig.  The front end was completely smashed in.  Turns out, fortunately, it was not our coach, but one that had been on its way to a dealer for sale.  WHEW!

Just before Memorial Day, we arrived in Wyoming.  Fortunately, the snow had all melted and we were able to start getting the house ready to put on the market.  First, we had to arrange to repair two broken windows.  They were both double pane but only the outer pane had been broken.  Apparently, as the snow shed from the roof and slid down, it curled in toward the building and the pressure broke the outer pane of glass in the process.  That was fortunate, because the inside of the house was still protected.  Because so many folks had the same issue, it took us 2 months to get even the small projects done. 

We started interviewing Realtors to market the house for us.  THAT was an experience.    The first Realtor, gave us a partial CMA, but with an incomplete analysis and no follow up.  The second Realtor handed the lead off to a new Agent, she did a CMA, and she brought it to an interview, but said she needed to complete it after meeting with us.  Never heard anything more on the CMA.  The third Realtor, came prepared with a CMA and we had a thorough conversation about the marketing plan.   However, after that it fell apart.  When she entered the information for the listing, there were some entry errors, and she did not appreciate it when Bill called her attention to the errors, i.e., ‘0 square feet in the house’.   So, she fired Mary, who has NEVER been fired, especially by someone she is paying!  A friend mentioned that there was an Assist-2-Sell in Afton, so we reached out to them.  BINGO!  They came prepared with a CMA and a marketing plan!!  They only charge a 1.5% - 4.5% commission, are energetic and follow through on all promises.  Every time the house was shown they called with a report of how it went.  Sadly, the house did not sell over the summer, but not because it was not marketed well. 

With the house on the market, Bill was able to complete getting his dental implants.  He can now smile fully and chew on both sides of his mouth.  YIPPEE!!

I said at the beginning of this letter that there were ups and downs this year.  We have met many folks during our travels over the years.  Sadly, tragedy struck 4 of the couples.  The husbands in all four couples passed away from cancer.  It was a sobering reminder to take advantage of every day.

Then, in August, Roxy took a turn for the worse.  It was a very sudden and precipitous deterioration.  The Inflammatory Bowel Disorder was no longer being controlled with her diet and medication and then suddenly one day, she could no longer climb the steps into the motorhome.  We made plans to spoil her more than normal for her last days.  We planned to rent a golf cart so she could enjoy the golf cart rides she loved so much when we lived in Arizona, beef bones and ground beef in her food.  Sadly, the only thing she got was an afternoon to chew on a bone.  We ended up taking her to the local Vet on Sunday afternoon.

The Vet brought everything out to the Explorer, so that she would not be stressed by being carried into the clinic.  She loved riding in the back of the Explorer, so she was totally comfortable.  The next morning, they called to say we could pick up her ashes.  Her urn now resides on the shelf next to the sound bar above the TV.  Kaiser, Mary’s original GSD resides on the other end of the shelf.  Now they look down on, instead of across to their peeps, whenever we sit in the theater seating across form the TV, though we also always carry them in our hearts.

We left Wyoming in mid-October, before snow started falling.  Having learned our lesson last year, with not finding a camp site for the season, we arranged to have an annual lease on a site in a 55+ RV Resort just north of The Villages, FL.  The lease runs until September 30, 2024.  The cost is about the same as 6 months on a seasonal rate, and we have flexibility to come and go as we please.  Our plan is to purchase a small place in The Villages to use as a winter base, but to continue traveling in the summer.  However, whatever we purchase will NOT be a fixer upper, will NOT be 3 stories and will be much smaller and all on one floor!!  Looking forward to more travel and adventures in the coming year.

We hope this finds you all in good health, 

Bill, and Mary

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA time again - December 16, 2023

Since 2020 we have partaken of the program Wreaths Across America, which seeks to lay a Christmas wreath at each and every veteran's gravesite, to honor their sacrifices, respect the present men and women who have taken their place in service to their country, and to educate future generations that Freedom is not Free, and is paid with the sacrifice of men and women, who each do their part to protect and defend our nation 'against all enemies, foreign and domestic'. We have been sponsors and volunteers, buying their wreaths and laying them at our veteran's graves, some known and others not... whether they died standing their posts or of old age after doing so, but have paid for our freedoms (or at least those we used to have before BIDEN started taking them away and giving them to our enemies) with their service and their lives.

It was on December 19, 2020 when we were last at the Florida National Cemetery, because that was the last time we were here (in The Villages) on the WAA Day, as can be seen in our website here (www.roughingitgently.com). Other years we do it at veteran's in whatever major cemetery is nearby. Sadly, however, while the program (the idea) has always been a wonderful program, lately the program's organization (www.wreathsacrossamerica.com) has deteriorated to the point that we will no longer support or volunteer for them. The way it has always worked is that the company (WAA) makes the wreaths at their wreath manufacturing company in CT. Supporters, like us and other private citizens, as well as major businesses, buy wreaths (currently $17.00 each) and major trucking companies volunteer trucks to ship them to National (VA) Cemeteries across the US. 

As you read this, over 700 trucks have traveled to and from Maine to ensure the delivery of sponsored veterans' wreaths. All those miles, over 1 million, are donated by trucking companies. Another moving revelation comes from drivers who realize their actual cargo is not only wreaths but really honor and respect for our fallen heroes. For that reason, they work with these drivers to safely load their trucks with as many wreaths as possible. Below is a list of the many companies in the trucking industry that donate their trucks and drivers to deliver all the wreaths. Then, at each National Cemetery, they deliver the purchased wreaths to the people who have purchased them and to the cemetery all the excess wreaths that have been donated. Volunteers, like us, will take the wreaths (after laying the ones we purchased on our own loved ones' gravesites) and lay them on other service members graves.

     2022 Honor Fleet
J.B. Hunt - 42 Loads 
Walmart Transportation - 19 Loads 
Prime Inc. - 10 Loads 
Ashley Distribution Services - 7 Loads 
Leonard's Express - 7 Loads 
Perdue Transportation Inc. - 7 Loads 
Bennett Motor Express LLC - 6 Loads 
Brown Dog Carriers - 5 Loads 
E. W. Wylie - 5 Loads 
Harris Teeter - 5 Loads 
Interstate Van Lines - 5 Loads 
Knight Transportation - 5 Loads 
Load One, LLC - 5 Loads 
Saia - 5 Loads 
Sharp Transportation Inc - 5 Loads 
Cargo Transporters - 4 Loads 
Central Transport - 4 Loads 
CFI - 4 Loads 
DB Schenker - 4 Loads 
Dutch Maid Logistics - 4 Loads 
Hirschbach Motor Lines - 4 Loads 
Koleasco, Inc. - 4 Loads 
Schneider - 4 Loads 
Sheetz - 4 Loads 
Swift Transportation - 4 Loads 
TLD Logistics Services - 4 Loads 
Ace Relocation Systems, Inc - 3 Loads 
America's Service Line, LLC - 3 Loads 
Baylor Trucking - 3 Loads 
CEVA - 3 Loads 
Classic Carriers - 3 Loads 
Clean Harbor - 3 Loads 
Covenant Transport - 3 Loads 
Cowan Systems - 3 Loads 
Dart Transit - 3 Loads 
Freymiller - 3 Loads 
Gully Transportation - 3 Loads 
Hampton Road Moving & Storage - 3 Loads 
Heartland Express - 3 Loads 
Liberty Moving & Storage, Inc - 3 Loads 
Matrix Expedited Service - 3 Loads 
Mohawk Carpet Transportation of Georgia - 3 Loads 
National Carriers - 3 Loads 
TA Dedicated - 3 Loads 
VIPTransport, Inc. - 3 Loads 
Walter P Rawl and Sons - 3 Loads 
WEL Companies - 3 Loads 
A. Duie Pyle - 2 Loads 
Abilene Motor Express - 2 Loads 
Alabama Motor Express Inc - 2 Loads 
Aladdin's Logistics LLC - 2 Loads 
American Central Transport, Inc. - 2 Loads 
Bay & Bay - 2 Loads 
Big G Express - 2 Loads 
Big M Transportation - 2 Loads 
Bison Transport, USA - 2 Loads 
Boyd Brothers - 2 Loads 
Brakebush Transportation Inc - 2 Loads 
Brown Trucking Company - 2 Loads 
Buchheit Logistics - 2 Loads 
Budd Van Lines - 2 Loads 
C.R. England - 2 Loads 
Central State Manufacturing Inc - 2 Loads 
Christenson Transportation - 2 Loads 
D. M. Bowman Inc. - 2 Loads 
Don Hummer Trucking - 2 Loads 
Epes Transport System LLC - 2 Loads 
Estes Express Lines - 2 Loads 
Everhart Trucking Inc. - 2 Loads 
First Class Moving Systems, Inc - 2 Loads 
Fortune Transportation - 2 Loads 
Foster Hill Transport,LLC - 2 Loads 
Fremont Contract Carriers - 2 Loads 
Garner Trucking - 2 Loads 
Grand Island Express - 2 Loads 
H.O. Wolding, Inc. DBA Bison Transport USA - 2 Loads 
Halvor Lines - 2 Loads 
Heritage Transport - 2 Loads 
Hermann Services, Inc. - 2 Loads 
High Transit - 2 Loads 
Hobby Lobby Stores - 2 Loads 
J & M Tank Lines - 2 Loads 
Jagtrux - 2 Loads 
Jetco Delivery - 2 Loads 
Kennesaw Transportation - 2 Loads 
Load to Ride Transportation INC - 2 Loads 
Lone Star Transportation - 2 Loads 
McCollisters Transportation Systems - 2 Loads 
Meijer - 2 Loads 
NAPA Transportation, Inc. - 2 Loads 
New World Van - 2 Loads 
Paschall Truck Lines - 2 Loads 
Pottle's Transportation - 2 Loads 
R.C. Moore, Inc. - 2 Loads 
Raider Express - 2 Loads 
RCS Trucking & Freight INC - 2 Loads 
RT Relocation - 2 Loads 
Senergy Petroeleum - 2 Loads 
Sherwin-Williams Company-NE - 2 Loads 
Smith Transport Inc. - 2 Loads 
Smokey Point Distributing - 2 Loads 
Stevens Transport - 2 Loads 
Sugar Foods - 2 Loads 
Sun Coast Resources - 2 Loads 
Total Transportation Of Mississippi - 2 Loads 
Transland - 2 Loads 
Tri-State Motor Transit Co - 2 Loads 
Tribe Transportation - 2 Loads 
Try Hours, Inc. - 2 Loads 
U.S. Xpress, Inc. - 2 Loads 
Walgreens - 2 Loads 
Waste Masters Solutions - 2 Loads 
Witte Bros Exchange - 2 Loads 
4 D's Trucking - 1 Load 
AAA Cooper - 1 Load 
Allen Lund Company - 1 Load 
Allied Van Lines- Justin Schott - 1 Load 
Altom Transport - 1 Load 
American Trucking Association - Workforce Heroes - 1 Load 
Armellini Express Lines, Inc. - 1 Load 
Arrive Logistics - 1 Load 
B and L Transport - 1 Load 
Baggett Transportation/MSR Transport Services, Inc - 1 Load 
Barnes Transportation - 1 Load 
Bison Transport USA - Amherst Terminal (HO Wolding) - 1 Load 
Blue Eyes Transportation LLC - 1 Load 
Boyd Grain Inc. - 1 Load 
Brousseau-Nee Moving Services LLC - 1 Load 
C & L Transport, Inc. - 1 Load 
Calliope LLC - 1 Load 
Carlyle Van Lines - 1 Load 
Carter Express - 1 Load
Central Oregon Truck Company Inc - 1 Load 
Chambers Transportation - 1 Load 
Chief Industries - 1 Load 
Coleman World Wide Moving - 1 Load 
Continental Express - 1 Load 
Convoy Systems Llc - 1 Load 
Cornerstone Moving & Storage LLC - 1 Load 
Crum Trucking - 1 Load 
Daley & Wanzer Inc. - 1 Load 
Dallas Moving & Storage, LLC - (Austin-Said, LLC) - 1 Load 
Denney Transport - 1 Load 
Dewitt Transportation Services of Guam - 1 Load 
Diamond Transportation System, Inc. - 1 Load 
Do It Best Corp/Transervice Logistics - 1 Load 
Exodus Moving and Storage - 1 Load 
Exxact Express, Inc - 1 Load 
Forward Air - 1 Load 
Godfrey Trucking - 1 Load 
Golden Services, LLC - 1 Load 
Hammond Lumber Company - 1 Load 
Harry Ball Trucking - 1 Load 
Hill Brother's Transportation - 1 Load 
Hoekstra Transportation, LLC - 1 Load 
Hogan Transportation - 1 Load 
International Paper Co - 1 Load 
John Baxter Trucking - 1 Load 
John Christner Trucking - 1 Load 
JR Kays Trucking Inc - 1 Load 
JT logistics - 1 Load 
KLLM - 1 Load 
Koch Trucking - 1 Load 
Larry J Bischoff Trucking LLC - 1 Load 
Lippincott Van Lines - 1 Load 
Long Haul Trucking - 1 Load 
Lynch Logistics - 1 Load 
M&M Transport Services - 1 Load 
Magnum LTD - 1 Load 
Main Street Movers - 1 Load 
Mast Trucking Inc - 1 Load 
Matson Navigation Company Inc. - 1 Load 
Motor Carrier Service - 1 Load 
N.C Hunt Inc. - 1 Load 
National Van Lines, Inc - 1 Load 
Pacific Transfer - 1 Load 
Paper Transport,Inc - 1 Load 
Patriot Tank Lines Inc. - 1 Load 
Pedro Cantu-Saracusa Moving & Storage - 1 Load 
Pepsi Bottling Ventures - 1 Load 
Peters Trucking - 1 Load 
Pilot Travel Centers LLC - 1 Load 
Purdy Brothers Trucking - 1 Load 
Quality Carriers - 1 Load 
Quality Life Science Transportation - 1 Load 
Quality Transport Company - 1 Load 
R.F. Chamberland, Inc. - 1 Load 
Ralph Moyle, Inc. - 1 Load 
Regency Transportation - 1 Load 
Reliable Carriers Inc. - 1 Load 
Reliable Carriers-Carl Wallin - 1 Load 
Ross Neely - 1 Load 
S & S Transport Inc. - 1 Load 
Schneider-Women In Trucking - 1 Load 
Sebago Signworks - 1 Load 
Simon Transport - 1 Load 
Slidell Moving (Dba Fisk Enterprises Inc) - 1 Load 
Soar Transportation Group - 1 Load 
Sourdough Express - 1 Load 
South Hill Movers - 1 Load 
Southwest Truck Driver Training, Inc. - 1 Load 
Specialized Transportation Solutions - 1 Load 
SS Chad Express - 1 Load 
Stallion Transportation Group - 1 Load 
Stone Belt Freight Lines - 1 Load 
Sunstate Carriers, Inc. - 1 Load 
Taylor Truck Line - 1 Load 
TForce Freight - 1 Load 
Thomas E Keller Trucking - 1 Load 
Titan Transfer, Inc. - 1 Load 
Town And Country Movers - 1 Load 
Trailer Bridge - 1 Load 
Trailer Transit - 1 Load 
Trailiner Corp. - 1 Load 
Transco Lines - 1 Load 
Tri Star Freight System - 1 Load 
Tri-State Expedited Services Inc. - 1 Load 
Unifi - 1 Load 
United Road - 1 Load 
UPS/PMTA/Bernard Wanyo Jr - 1 Load 
V&J Strupp Trucking - 1 Load 
Venture Transport - 1 Load 
Warren Transport - 1 Load 
Westar Moving & Storage, Inc. - 1 Load 
Wilson Logistics - 1 Load 
Wooster Motor Ways Inc - 1 Load

That was the way it used to be. You bought x number of wreaths for a given location and when you showed up at that location for a given cemetery and time period, you would receive the number of wreaths you had purchased. Then you could go to the gravesite of your friends/loved ones' graves to lay a wreath at their headstone. UNTIL THIS year it worked well.

Unfortunately this year they changed the way they did things, and never bothered to tell anyone about their changes, until AFTER they had collected the money for the wreaths... then SURPRISE... you don't get any of the wreaths  you purchased because they were given to the volunteers to blanket-lay them on ALL graves.

The National cemetery is for VETERANS. Their family members may also be buried there, but only IF a veteran is eligible to be buried there. However, by changing the procedure, what we saw was an entire section of graves covered with wreaths... with wreaths on the veteran;s graves... on the spouses' graves... on the "children of's graves, one wreath for each person buried there, whether they were eligible to receive one or not. By consequence, we (and obviously many others) who had ordered and paid for a wreath for our own veterans... NEVER GOT ONE and had to go elsewhere to buy one. 

They still made appointments with people to show up at a certain time between 9:00am and 2:00pm in separate hour increments, so not everyone would show up at the same time. Our time today was set for 10:00am, however, by the time we drove through at a snail's pace and arrived to the first WAA trucks, we were informed that there were NO MORE WREATHS LEFT, because they had given them all out to their volunteers to blanket lay wreaths. So those of us that they had sold wreaths to, with the promise to deliver them to lay at our loved ones' graves, were shit out of luck for trusting their empty promises.

WELL, NO MORE. Our trust of WAA ends here and now. We still believe in the IDEA of laying wreaths on fallen heroes' graves for the Christmas/Holiday season, to honor them, but next year we'll buy our own wreaths from Walmart or a nursery and take them ourselves to the cemetery. 

They now also say in advance (but after selling you your wreaths) that if they run out of space to ship a wreath to the location you want it at, the 'location coordinator' may redirect your wreaths to another location in need of it, or save it for next year. Hmmm... that sound to me like another way of justifying that they can take your money and don't have to give you anything for it.  Sounds like the Liberal agenda has spread to Wreaths Across America as well, as it is understood in Biden's administration. SO, we will sponsor and volunteer for Wreaths Across America NO MORE. But we'll continue to do so, on our own.

So we had to leave early (11:30am) and we drove to Costco in Wesley Chapel, and then went back to the Florida National Cemetery, at 1:30pm. With most people already gone, transiting was easy to go find the graves. The only (other) negative was that it had been raining all day and was still raining, so it was a bit wet to lay the new wreaths. 

Bill's brother's (from another father and mother)... but they have been friends since Bill's BD party in 1964) that they were closer than many brothers.  Joseph Manuel (Joe) Marble crashed Bill's 14th BD party (1964), because "that was where all the girls were" (or so he said) and they have been BEST FRIENDS  ever since then.  Joe's gravesite was easy to find. It  was still in the same place as it way in 2020, and were he was at interment on Feb. 23, 2012. 

His father was working for the US government as an engineer in the Dominican Republic, building bridges and resided there with his wife, Josefa (Petin). As in 2020, his father's grave was not so easy to find. Charles (Chuck) Burr Marble Jr., was erroneously marked on www.findagrave.com, and it was someone else shown there (a Tsgt Robert Wesley Cameron, USAF). Luckily we found him at the site with his wife, Josefa P. (Petin) Marble's gravesite. She was like a second mother to Bill, because he was always at their house, so he probably saw more of her than his own mother, who was never that close to him. We sent photos of their gravesites with the wreaths on them to their daughter/sister, Trinidad (Trinie) Montgomery, who lives in Houston, at last word with her husband..

Chuck and Josefa and Joe's photos 

Next was a friend, Billie Dain. from Benson Arizona. Her father, Billy Morton Harrison Sr. served in Korea and is buried in the same cemetery, so whenever we go there we are always sure to visit his grave as well, and lay a wreath there. We are proud to send Billie and her mother a photo.  

Here are some other photos of this day's event:

                

Even as we write this entry, this evening, it is still raining non-stop (since this morning) with over 2.75 inches worth, over the day's period.

FREIGHTLINER is always a standard by which others are gauged.

As mentioned in past posts as to our experiences and comments from other RV'ers, whereas Fleetwood was once a standard of quality products and dependable service from REV, such is no longer the case. The previous post on AQUA HOT detailed all the problems we have had with our AQUA HOT air and water heating system on our all-electric coach, and the fact that even though it was FLEETWOOD (previously a quality and dependable product) which opted to use that system to be the sole source of heating (for air and water), they have washed their hands of supporting that system and don't even think twice about not supporting their clients, when that company leaves their clients freezing because the heating system does not work. AQUA HOT, like the government, is given anonymity as to how they deal with the support of their product, and choose to NOT support it, leaving the RV clients to their own devices, even when they have NO HEATING in winter. SHAMEFUL!! of both REV and AQUA HOT.

We bought this brand new 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B diesel pusher (MSRP over $600,000) from Motor Home Specialist in Alvarado TX on December 28, 2023. Since Day 2 we have had nothing but trouble with the RV itself. Motor Home Specialist was all promises on Day 1. Then their willingness to repair the issues changed and all they wanted was for us to leave, telling us that we can take it to REV so that it can be fixed correctly, since they were the ones that built it. We took it to REV and they fixed some things, others not correctly (breaking again within a month) and some not even addressed at all. Now we have to make another trip to address the rest of it.  Later, after 2 months, the Aqua Hot system started failing, until it no longer worked at all, to heat the RV. REV said it was up to Aqua Hot, and Aqua Hot says that only an Aqua Hot 'certified' tech can work on it, even though there are none within 90+ miles. So we had to take it to Idaho Falls (95 miles, each way) TWICE and the tech still never fixed it. So we had to wait till we got to FL, and the tech here has come out THREE times. Each time they need another part, which takes Aqua Hot 2-4 weeks to send to him. The RV is now 10 months old, and we are still without heating or hot water, which in 35 degree nighttime weather (in FL) makes it very hard to keep us warm, as there is no fireplace and there is  only 1 Heat Pump A/C (which by the way only works down to about 40 degrees F. We CANNOT refer anyone to REV or to any RV that is heated by AQUA HOT (instead of PROPANT).

For all the other non-Aqua Hot issues we took it directly to the REV (factory) Main Service warranty facility in Decatur, Indiana. We were at the REV Factory Service facility for over a week and they addressed most of our issues, but left some unaddressed and some were not fully repaired. So we figured we would have to return AGAIN to finish the repairs, and add some more that have come up since we left. We tried to make an appointment for October 2023, but were told that that was too far into the future and that we should seek an appointment for October in late August. When we did so, we were informed that the earliest they could fit us in was for November 27... way too late to be in Indiana (due to cold and possible snow), so they agreed to let us bring the RV back to them in May 2024, on our return from Florida, and they would still honor the new vehicle warranty up to everything reported to them by December 28, 2023. That's great but we still have to live with a lot of things that don't work until May 2024, because of their failure to give honest instructions as to future appointments.

FREIGHTLINER, by contrast, is a totally different service provider, and their reputation is  obviously reflected in their service and treatment of their client base.

We have always had the BEST service from most Freightliner dealers, which is WHY we keep buying RV which have a Freightliner chassis, versus Spartan or International. For one thing, Freightliner dealers can be found just about anywhere, and are always close to an interstate or major roadway. Not all of them service RVs, being selective to commercial trucks, but the RV-supported dealers are identified as 'Freightliner Custom Chassis' dealers. One would think that REV and other RV manufacturer groups would learn from the Freightliner business plan, but they don't. Frankly it would appear that RV manufacturers (as a whole) don't give a damn about their client base. At least such is the obvious case with Fleetwood/REV products and Tiffin Motorhomes and Montana (Keystone trailers) business plans, as we have had products of all three, and found the same issues with each. That is why we have always made sure that we buy an RV that was built on a FREIGHTLINER chassis, has a an Allison 6-speed transmission and a Cummins 380-450hp engine. When something works 95% of the time, and when something fails, it is taken care of by the manufacturer right away with the smallest amount of disruption to the owners (at least during the full first year of a brand new product, i.e. new vehicle warranty, it breeds consumer confidence, which translates to more sales and repeat sales.

We're not saying that Freightliner does not screw up with their manufacturer process. They do.  The difference is that Freightliner dealers/service centers take care of their customers' issues, with the least inconvenience to the customers. Case in point, since we picked up the RV in Texas, and left Texas in January 2, 2023, we went on to Florida for the winter and eventually headed to the REV Service Center in Decatur Indiana to have warranty work done, before heading back to Star Valley Ranch. By the time we got back to Star Valley Ranch, the body was slamming on the chassis and the front air bags were no  longer airing up at all. 

So we called Freightliner and explained our issue. Since the RV was not SAFELY drivable, they (Freightliner) sent a semi with a Low-Boy Trailer to tow us to their dealership, 95 miles away, which was the closest dealership. Compare this to Aqua Hot, which would neither send their Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, unless we paid him over $150 per trip for each and every visit he has to come to us, and would not pay his travel charge (as that is their requirement); and further, even though we had to take the RV to him (95 miles away, twice), he required us to pay for the warranty service ($100), which Aqua Hot was unwilling to reimburse us for. 

At Freightliner it turned out to be the main air hose that feeds air-pressure to the front air bags, which was poorly installed (too close to the turbo) which burned a hole in the line. They replaced the entire air line and made sure that it was secured away from the turbo. That was all taken care of in one day, and while we were there we were hooked up to 50Amp power with enough space to open our slides, for our comfort. That took care of that issue.

Another example... after leaving Wyoming, we noticed a growing instability of the body on the frame and by the time we got to Conroe, it was really bad with the body making 'thud' noises every time we touched the brakes. So, we took it to the closest Freightliner Service dealer. which was in Houston about 6 miles away. We called them and explained we were on the road, heading to Florida, but felt something was wrong. The said "bring it in right away and we'll take a look at it to see if it is a safety issue or if it will wait until you get to where you are going". We took it in to them, arriving at 9:30am. They looked it over and said "It is a safety issue and we need to address it right away. If we should have to order parts you can stay in it right here. There are two (2) big bolts/nuts (about 9" long) that hold the V-Ride suspension between the chassis and the body". They said that they have seen those bolts 'loose' before, but never totally missing, as in our case. They jumped right on it and fixed it right away, getting us out and back on the road within 4.5 hours (even staying about 30 minutes after they were supposed to close... to get us back on the road without disrupting our schedule. While there though they also noted that there was a transmission fluid leak and a further air leak, that they said was not critical and could wait until  we got to FL, but told us to take it to a Freightliner dealer in FL and made notes on our record so that the dealer we took it to would know what to look for. That's meritorious service.   Thank you David and Matt (Custom Chassis).  

So when we got to FL we made an appointment with the Orlando Freightliner. Thanks to the notes on our record (by VIN) they knew exactly what to fix and again were able to fix it same day. There too we were offered to stay overnight because it was raining, and hooked us up to 50A electric for the night.

How wonderful it could be IF REV and Aqua Hot could would copy and adopt the same business model for their Customer Service that Freightliner has apparently already developed. But, contrary to Freightliner, they don't give a damn.

AQUA HOT - BUYER BEWARE

Aqua Hot is the sole source of heating (air and water) as there is no propane furnace or water heater, it being an all-electric RV. This is a conundrum to us... IF it is to be an ALL ELECTRIC RV, why does it use Aqua Hot, instead of a Propane furnace, as the Aqua Hot system is not sufficient to heat water or air when the weather is quite cold, using just electricity, and instead is supplemented by use of a DIESEL burner to aid the system. With the Burner (diesel-fueled) one is able to take looooong hot showers and provide heating, when the Heat Pump A/C is no longer able to keep up.

Well, at some point we discovered that the Aqua Hot system was actually leaking diesel fuel (from the Burner) that was running through the system and down the bottom of it unto the exhaust tailpipe (yes these RVs have 3 tailpipes, one for the engine, one for the generator, and one for the Aqua Hot system). So we contacted Amy at the REV factory service center. First she tried to help us. Then she turned around and told us that REV does not  support AQUA HOT issues, as Aqua Hot insists on handling their own warranties. AND that ONLY AN AQUA HOT "Certified" Technician can work of an Aqua Hot system, otherwise it would invalidate their warranty. Where we live in Star Valley Ranch WY, there is only ONE Aqua-Hot "Certified" Technician (Snake River RV & Hitch) and he is located 95 miles away (each way). He is willing to travel to the RV, but charges $90.00 per hour for travel time, from the moment he leaves his shop, to the minute he returns. $90/hr x 1.5 hours (90 miles) = $135 each way, which equals $270 travel time, just to see if he has everything he needs on his truck (and needs to order no parts); otherwise, he will have to come back with another $270 travel charge to finish the repair. BY THE WAY, Aqua Hot will NOT cover his travel time, so we had to take the RV to him, on our dime, as Aqua Hot will not reimburse us for the fuel we have to use to take the RV to their "certified technician". 

So at an added cost of $150 (95 miles x2 (round trip) at 6 gallons per mile = about 32 gallons at $4.69/gal) versus his travel time of approx. $270, we took our RV to his shop in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He worked on it for about an hour and determined that the diesel seemed to be coming through the motor through a sprayer. He tore the unit apart and removed the motor and surmised that the problem was that due to a faulty nozzle (or something else causing the leak through the nozzle). So, since he had already had the motor pulled out, and because we would need to give the system an yearly maintenance in another few months, we told him to go ahead and do the yearly maintenance, as to do it again in a few months we would be burdened with again having to find an Aqua Hot CERTIFIED technician   

Given the problems that we have found to be true... that finding a 'certified' Aqua Hot technician may be difficult and would often cost the RV owner extra expense that Aqua Hot is not willing to reimburse the RV owner for, we opted to go ahead and give the Aqua Hot System the required yearly service, even though it would not be due for yet another 2-3 months.

BIG MISTAKE

Had we not thought ahead and tried to keep our RV well-maintained, given the difficulties imposed by AQUA HOT as to finding a workable technician, they would have covered the evaluation (and repair) under the warranty. But since we had the technician work another 3 hours on cleaning out and giving the system its upcoming 'yearly maintenance', and because these Aqua Hot 'certified' techs are NOT Aqua Hot employees, as there apparently aren't any service employees, we got screwed with also having to pay for the cost of the evaluation under warranty and had to pay for the repair as well, which according to Amy at REV, Aqua Hot is not willing to reimburse us for any warranty cost, even though such was created by their own requirement as to which technician had to be used, even when there was no other such technician available within a 200-mile radius, and not within 95 miles of our location. IF they want to limit the technician that needs to be used, and if that tech is 95 miles away, then they should either pay the tech's travel fee or cover the RV Owner's mileage expense to go to him.

Anything less is irresponsible and abusive.

By the time we got back to our campsite in Star Valley Ranch, the 'supposedly repaired' Aqua Hot system worked for about 12 hours, then broke down again. The second time it broke it was no longer leaking fuel, because it would just not even run at all. It still worked under the ELECTRIC system, but not with the BURNER. So, you guessed it... We had to take it back to the "certified" technician, at another $150 extra unreimbursed fuel expense. What was the problem with it now? A blown 20amp glass fuse, which I could have replaced myself, except that Aqua Hot will void the warranty, IF anyone (other than a 'certified technician. But because one needs an Aqua Hot "certified" technician, the RV owner has to bear the extra expenses to get to one. They did cover the cost of replacing the $1 fuse, but NOT our expense of $150 to have to take the RV to him. The tech in Idaho Falls wanted to replace the motor for a new one (and had one available to do so) BUT AQUA HOT did not authorize it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful IF that was the end of it?

Unfortunately, it wasn't. Two days after we got back to our site in Star Valley Ranch RV Resort, after the fuse was replaced by the Aqua Hot Tech, we noticed the Aqua Hot System was again leaking fuel through it AGAIN (not as much as it was before, but definitely leaking diesel through it, falling on the tailpipe and smoking... though shortly thereafter the Burner stopped working AGAIN altogether. Given that already having made two 95-mile trips to try to fix our Aqua Hot under warranty, and only accomplished to have to pay to see a technician, and he NOT having fixed the issue... there was no way we would make a third trip to Salt River RV & Hitch. What's that saying? Fool me once, shame on you; shame me twice, shame on me. 

So there we were with NW Wyoming weather getting colder and colder. The single 'Heat Pump' A/C would only work down to about 40 degrees F, but the nightly temperatures were dipping to the high 20s. So we had to only use the "ELECTRIC" phase of Aqua Hot, which does not heat all that much, and we had to supplement ourselves with 4 other electric heaters throughout the RV. This is CRAZY for a $630,000 RV. Had REV disclosed that Aqua Hot was NOT covered under their warranty and that we could not count on any help from REV, we would not have bought this RV. Thank you FLEETWOOD and AQUA HOT. If we knew then what we know now, we would NOT have purchased a FLEETWOOD or ANY RV with AQUA HOT. Come to think of it the safest bet would probably have been a late model (2015-1019) USED RV with +/- 50,000 miles, with PROPANE cooking, heating, etc.  

We had to leave Wyoming early to get away from the cooling weather. Thankfully we had taken a year-long lease of a site at Sunkissed Village RV Resort in Summerfield FL (next to The Villages), which started October 1, 2023, so as soon as we got there we could hook up to electric, on our lot and given the FL weather, wouldn't have the same need for 'heating'.

We still needed to find a way to have our Aqua Hot fixed, and fixed under the warranty. WHY should we have to pay anyone to fix our Aqua Hot, when the RV is brand new and is not even a year old yet. Having been made to pay $300 in fuel charges and not being reimbursed even $100 of our first warranty service, is a shameful quality of both FLEETWOOD and AQUA HOT.

BEWARE IF YOU BUY A NEW FLEETWOOD PRODUCT

You have now been advised of the low quality of their product and their warranty. IF you get screwed by them, don't complain. You asked for it.

We fully understand that some parts of a warranty are the responsibility of the manufacturer. Therefore, when you buy a truck and there is a problem with a tire, it won't be Ford that has to replace it, it will probably be Michelin or Goodyear (as tare on the vehicle). However, it was a Ford DEALER that sold it, so one should be able to take it to the dealership and have them replace it. They will send the bad tire back to the tire manufacturer (or Ford) and put on a new tire for the owner. That is what generates CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. That is what REV and Aqua Hot both lack.

There is NO LONGER ANY CONSUMER CONFIDENCE when you buy an RV, and for sure NOT if it is a FLEETWOOD product, which only has AQUA HOT on ALL of its ALL ELECTRIC RVs.   

In our new area of Florida there is supposed to be a MOBILE AQUA HOT 'Certified' Tech (POTGO Mobile RV Repair, 42725 West Altoona Rd, Altoona FL 32702 (610) 679-9115, potgorv@gmail..com). Supposedly there are also Aqua Hot service centers in Ocala and Leesburg (within 18 miles of our location); however, we hesitate to take the RV to yet another location, as our previous two trips to do so have been useless and only cost us additional expense. We hope we can get either AQUA HOT or REV to assist us in getting our AQUA HOT fixed finally and completely, without having to continue to move our RV to someone else, which then ends not fixing the issue.  That and often they have to keep the RV there but have no facilities for us to stay in our RV while they work on it or order any parts needed.

So POTGO came out the first time and said that there was nothing wrong, because the burner was firing up. However, after he left we noticed that though it fires up, and generates heat, it does not heat the water at all.

So POTGO came by a second time and tore open the system, finding several issues. He said he needed to order some parts but that 1) Aqua Hot needs to authorized them, then2) he can have them sent to him (which could take 7 - 30 days.) So we sent a nasty gram to Aqua Hot and got a response right away stating that the parts were authorized and would be sent the next day. So now we are awaiting his getting the parts and then he can get it to fire up again and check for what else is broken on it to know what to fix. At least he seems to know what he is doing. 

We have recently had a very negative experience with both FLEETWOOD RV product confidence, and the AQUA HOT HEATING and WATER HEATING systems, this being a product of ALL-ELECTRIC RVs, which like EVs (cars) has only proved itself unrealistic. 

Before you buy a FLEETWOOD or other ALL ELECTRIC RV, you'll want to know what warranty you can count on, and which is implied, but NOT supported, and how the Aqua Hot Service may cripple you and leave you on your own, even if you have a brand new RV, even when the same is still under a new vehicle warranty (such as ours is.) 

IF you link to our webpage and the post is not yet up, check back again. It has taken a bit longer to put this post up, as we just lost our dog and are prepping to travel South to get out of WY before winter sets in.

We bought and took delivery of our RV on 12/28/2023. Luckily for the dealer (Motor Home Specialist) the Aqua Hot did not present a problem at that time, because IF it had there was no way that they could have fixed it there, because they don't have an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician. That's right... AQUA HOT maintains a separate warranty from REV's (Fleetwood's) and insist that no one other than an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, and if it is worked on by anyone else (no matter how good they are), Aqua Hot would not cover any repair, as the warranty would be immediately cancelled. Such was the response we got from Amy Zimmerman, at the Fleetwood (REV) New Vehicle Warranty Service Center in Decatur, Indiana, when just four months after taking delivery of our brand new 2023 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 44B diesel pusher, as $628K motorhome.

When we called Aqua Hot Technical Support for the nearest Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, we were informed that there were absolutely NONE within 95 miles from our location. They offered that there were four (4) techs in Idaho Falls, ID. We started calling each, only to find out that three (3) of the four (4) were in fact Aqua Hot dealers, IF you wanted to BUY a system, but were NOT AUTHORIZED to work on the systems they sell, because they did not have a 'certified' tech. Only one (1) in Idaho Falls (and within a 100 mile radius of Idaho Falls) was eligible to work on an Aqua Hot RV heating system. He was willing to travel (be mobile) but he would charge a $95 per hour rate (from the time he leaves his house/shop, until the time he gets back. Since we were 95 miles away from him, it would take him 1.5 hours each way, so that's a 3 hour RT travel charge, which at $95/hr equals $285 (just for travel time), which Aqua Hot refuses to pay for. So the customer HAS TO take their RV to the Aqua Hot required technician, which is 95 miles away, because they don't have any other technician nearer, and even after doing so they refuse to repay the RV owner for the warranty work, which the technician requires to be paid for. FOLKS, that is just criminal. 

So IF you buy an RV that is ALL ELECTRIC, it will be sure to have a heating system from either AQUA HOT/HYDRA HOT or OASIS, and they apparently (according to Aqua Hot and REV/Fleetwood) won't disclose it when they sell you the RV, but will disassociate themselves from the responsibility of their ONE YEAR COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY. That too is criminal and irresponsible from REV. 

So you have been WARNED. IF you buy a new ALL ELECTRIC RV (and that is the way they all are made nowadays) you are sure to have to deal with Aqua Hot to repair it when it breaks. Also, IF it is a FLEETWOOD (REV) don't think you can count on the RV's own Warranty, because you can't. The first thing they'll tell you (as they told us) is that you can pay for the repair if it is an Aqua Hot certified technician and that then you'll be reimbursed... BUT YOU WON'T BE.... UNLESS it is a TIFFIN Motorhome. 

We have talked to other RV'ers who have had brand new Tiffin motorhomes, and they were told by TIFFIN to just find ANY technician that can fix an Aqua Hot system, and that TIFFIN will reimburse them for it. Here in The Villages, Florida, NEXT LEVEL RV, LLC (352) 274-8008, nextlevelrv@yahoo.com is a reputable and knowledgeable MOBILE RV TECH, although they are NOT an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, they were able to fix the two Tiffin RVs' Aqua Hot systems, and the owners were paid for the repairs by TIFFIN, directly.... UNLIKE by REV (Fleetwood), which can't be counted on for anything. However, IF you want an Aqua Hot 'certified' technician, who is mobile and only charges $100 for a 'mobile' service charge, his name is Todd Paolini, whose business name is POTGO (Paolini On The GO), from Altoona FL, Cel. (610) 679-9115. This one is listed on the Aqua Hot website under authorized service.

Sunday, November 26, 2023 - POTGO called that he had FINALLY received the part from Aqua Hot and would come by on Monday to install it, to see IF that takes care of the problem, but that IF NOT, at least he would be able to make other tests to find out what else is failing. He warned us that IF NOT, then he would have to order another part, as Aqua Hot won't just replace the whole unit to afford the owner peace of mind, but rather will only authorize ONE PART AT A TIME, even though that imposes a much longer repair time since each part ordered takes 2 weeks to a month to get to the tech. Further, the mobile tech has to travel from his location to the site of the RV, which implies  lost time to him as well as added fuel costs. So he charges a $100 Service Fee. AQUA HOT, will compensate him for the work he does (under their supervision and part by part); however, Aqua Hot refuses to compensate him for his travel charge... therefore he has to get it from the customer, or he will not be 'mobile; and the customer would have to take the RV to his location, EACH and EVERY TIME that yet another part arrives to be installed. SO, though AQUA HOT AND REV say they have a comprehensive ONE (1) YEAR WARRANTY, in all actuality, they don't. REV shifts the responsibility to Aqua HOT and their own warranty is designed for everything else, other than the owner's peace of mind with their BRAND NEW $600,000 RV. When even their own techs say that they would never buy an RV with an Aqua Hot heating system, it's a referral that should be taken seriously and abided by. Otherwise, an owner really has no claim when they get screwed, because they screwed themselves. Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20. Ha d we known then, what we know now, we would NEVER have trusted REV or Aqua Hot.

So, now we are on hold AGAIN, waiting for yet another part, because now the Aqua Hot BURNER does fire up, yet the water does not heat to more than 99.5 degrees. The fluid that heats the coils in the system is actually 45 degrees BELOW what the computer says it is, so it will never get hotter. 

IF YOUR HOT WATER STOPS COMING OUT THROUGH YOUR FAUCETS, TRY THIS!

So then we called REV, as it was no longer an issue with Aqua Hot. Shane, the REV Owner Relations Tech told us to check the Hot & Cold water handles on the Utility Bay outside shower, to make sure that they are FULLY CLOSED. We didn't understand HOW that could have any bearing on whether the inside faucets would be able to get hot water or not, but we checked. 

Lo and behold, they were both fully open, so we closed them and then re-checked the water inside the kitchen sink, half bath, main bath and shower.... SCALDING HOT water. WOW!!! Can you believe that such a simple, stupid change could fix the problem, We can't either, but it did, and we are so glad to finally having continuous hot water that we can depend on, especially with company coming from Wyoming in January.

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