REPAIRS TO GERTIE

As we were retuning to Fairbanks from our trip to Circle, AK we went over a poorly repaired frost heave and it was evidently the straw that broke the camel’s back. We didn’t hit it very hard, but it was full (heavy) and after traveling the bumpy road to Circle it was the final straw. The steel strap at the front of our grey water tank broke near the bolt letting the tank drop down. The front end was dragging the pavement and we lost all the contents right there in the road. Thankfully it wasn’t the black water tank! We got off the highway as quickly as possible, put out the flares, said a few things I can’t print here and then wired it up a little so we could get off the road to a spot where there was a wide spot off the highway. There we were able to use a coat hanger to support it and ensure we did no more harm to the tank. From there we proceeded to Lowe’s to buy some more stuff to make a more permanent fix. One of the pipes needs silicone to seal it so after the repair we had to wait 24 hrs before using the grey tank again. We took a spot in the campground at the Fair Grounds where we had electricity, and could take showers in their facilities while the silicon repair was drying.

We noticed there was a radiator repair shop about a block up the street. Gertie’s radiator had been leaking and since the shop was handy we decided it was time to get it fixed or replaced. We took it out there in the park (after getting permission) and the repairman thought it looked like it was just a few years old and would be okay if we repaired it. He didn’t reckon on the Cunningham luck, so it leaked after we got it back in. He was kind of backed up so we said we would come back in the afternoon. He had us park next to his building and we removed it so it would be ready for repair in the AM. He gave us permission to use the electric outlet on the side of the building so we had a pretty comfortable evening. It took until just after noon to get the repair and for me to get the radiator back in. The radiator in Gertie is really easy to get in and out thank heavens, and we didn’t lose very much coolant on either drain. The really bad news is…it’s leaking again.