"Doing things Differently"


07-13-04

Tuesday - more studies. More cold, more heat.  About 55 degrees this morning, and about 92 or so this afternoon.  From what I'm told, 40 - 50 degrees temperature swing from day to night is common here.  Todays classes consisted of a continuation of yesterday's class designing a diesel pusher motor home.  Personally, I think power operated sun visors is just a little over the edge.  Now, I must admit, I haven't driven some of the larger motor homes.  Maybe the visors are hard to reach, hard to adjust, and just plain unhandy.  The ones in our motor home aren't that hard to adjust.  Perhaps a different manufacturer, different size makes all the difference.  What I see is another "system" to design, build, maintain, pay for, and fix when it breaks.  There were several items that the instructor was shocked about when the general consensus was in one direction, and what the general rv industry was taught that the consumer wanted, was just the opposite.  Go figure.  Sounds like another disconnect between engineering/manufacturing and the consumer.  Second class had to do with whether or not solar power was a realistic option for an rver.  Some rver's only ever plug in to hookups in campgrounds, so for them it would be a waste of money.  However, if one likes to "unhook", and actually be self contained, including power generation - then solar is a good thing.  Personally, I don't like to run the generator to make a cup of coffee, or a slice of toast.  Solar would be perfect when used with an inverter, and a correct battery bank.  Next class was called "Meandering Down The Highway".  I really enjoyed this one.  The sights and sounds of America will not be seen driving down interstate roads.  They are found on the back roads of small town America.  I like what Charles Curalt said years ago.  "Thanks to the interstate highway system, one can now drive coast to coast without seeing anything".  Yes, you get to see scenery, but that is just about it.  The stories, the history, the "rest of the story" is on the back roads, small towns, in the hearts and minds of it's inhabitants.  While driving out here, my wife and I saw plenty of old abandoned farms, farmhouses, and buildings where businesses used to be.  We both looked at each other and said - wonder what the story or history is behind that farm, or empty building.  Who built it, why did they abandon it, were they forced out of business, did they go bankrupt or what.  Plenty of questions, no answers without stopping and talking, or reading about the situation.  Class 4 was about choosing a tow vehicle for pulling a trailer.  Manufactures of trucks leave a gray area when it comes to knowing how much trailer to pull with a certain size truck.  Everyone in the class seemed to come away with a better understanding of how to figure out what truck to use with a certain trailer. Most of it was the same information I had read elsewhere when trying to find a truck for our 5th wheel.  Overall, the classes are very good information gathering tools.  All of them in one place.  Too many to be able to take in a single year, or even a couple of years.  Good reliable information is always in demand.  When people find it - they are inspired when they acquire it.

Quote of the day:  Found on roadside sign " Honk if you love Peace and Quiet".