BoomerBus Blog: Where Are We and How Did We Get Here?

This is our first post so please be patient with us as we wade into this scary new world -as Boomers- of blogs. So, here we go.

Howdy y’all! I wrote this first episode, (October 2023) while in Cape Town, South Africa on a trip planned long before we decided to begin “the last quarter” (more on this later) adventure.

This is our sixth visit here with dear friends with whom we’ve shared many African adventures. Also, as I write this episode, our dear friend whom we consider our second daughter, has just listed our home of 17+ years, for sale on the MLS in Tellico Village, TN. By writing this series, we want to inform our readers and hope to entertain and amuse. We are retired, in our mid 70s, born BC (Before Computers), drawing Social Security, on Medicare & Tricare and this is our first foray into the world of RVing. Yes, we are Boomers.

How did we get here?

Early last August, Linda came home and just blurted out, “what would you think if we sold everything, purchased an RV and traveled the country?” Surprising even myself, I turned on the afterburners and went to work on research. Within a few days I had information regarding RVs, the RV lifestyle, campgrounds and other data on what we were about to do. After visiting a couple of RV sales sites and deciding on the RV size, we contacted our second daughter (Michelle, a very dear friend and wonderful realtor) and discussed the details regarding the sale of our home and all of the contents. Yes, we are having a massive estate sale! (estate sale cancelled) But that’s who we are: make a decision and then 100% effort to executing that decision.

First thing was to discuss our plans with family. While in Rhode Island visiting our daughter and her family we shared our plans with our daughter and her husband first. Our son-in-law, Kevin, simply said we should pursue our dreams. Our daughter, Gaiya, just needed a few moments to process the news but then gave full support. Now the grandkids. Luca, our grandson’s only concern was if we could tow the jet ski. Our granddaughter, Lola, however, took a few minutes to consider our decision. Finally, she says, “grandmom, you should go and enjoy your life because you are in your last quarter!” Out of the mouth of babes. So, we decided to name our RV, ‘RLast Qtr’ and this blog, BoomerBus: RLastQtr

It’s been a couple of days since I first began this story so here’s an update. Within the last 24 hours we received a full price offer on the house which includes a provision to purchase all our furnishings as well! Now we’re trying to process the details. Think of The Scream by Munch.

Update #1

So, here we are on the last day of February 2024 and we’ve sold our home and all its furnishings, packed those personal things we want for the final final quarter and stored these in a small storage rental site. We also ordered a 2024 Tiffin Zephyr motorhome and should take possession of it in the next two weeks or so at NIRVC Nashville. Yep, we are moving forward with the process while we live with Linda’s brother, David, in Tellico Village.

We’ve visited Rockwood Marina and RV Resort in Rockwood, TN and made arrangements to camp there for March and April while we learn how to RV! We’ve also planned our first trip to Saratoga Springs, Lake George NY in May to see our grandson play in a baseball tournament. We’ve registered for the NIRVC Music City Expo in early June and planned our great western trip for the summer and fall. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama are states we’ll visit from June through November. So, we’ll be posting our adventures as we progress through these states. Yah, not a minute wasted!

Update #2

It’s the end of March and we are finally ensconced in our new home, a 45’ 2024 Tiffin Zephyr which we took delivery at NIRVC Nashville. After three days of being fed by a fire hose with information, we hooked up our toad (2023 GMC Canyon Denali) and began our adventure following I-40 East. Approximately 15 miles from our destination, the coolant temperature rose to orange then red which forced me to pull off on the shoulder. Well, I-40 is a very busy roadway! Not a place to breakdown. It’s Saturday and after an hour of discussions with roadside assistance reps, NIRVC reps, Tiffin reps, we conclude we could limp to the campground. Fifteen miles took two hours! Stressful doesn’t describe the whole experience. I think my hands were glued to the steering wheel and pucker was, well, you can imagine as Linda gave me directions and instructions along SR27. We made it to the campground and fortunately, we are here for a month.

NOTE: I’m still trying to understand how to post photos. I’ll get there. Please be patient. Remember, not only are we Boomers, we were born BC (Before Computers).

Update #3

It’s April and we’ve finally settled into the Boomer Bus. After many trips back and forth to the storage unit, we’ve kept what we believe we’ll need (and fits!) and what we want in order to live this lifestyle. This is downsizing: from 5200 sq ft to 440 sq ft!

The problem regarding the coolant temperature was fixed by an approved mechanic. A clamp became loose, fell onto the belt which caused the belt to tear away. Since the coach is new -we owned it just four days when this occurred- warranty covers all expenses. However, the manufacturer, Tiffin, called me (yes! Bob Tiffin himself!) to better understand the cause of the problem and invited us to Red Bay, AL -the factory- to have a complete inspection of the coach. So, our first road trip will be to Red Bay, AL at the end of April. For now, we spend everyday learning something new about the Boomer Bus and we pinch ourselves that we are actually doing this! Many of our friends also can’t believe we’re doing this and some think we’ve been fed some kind of mind altering illegal substance.

Ahhh, to dump or not to dump!

Everything I’ve read about this necessary chore is simply intimidating! The first thing to describe is the effort to attach the hoses to the septic tank buried in the ground and to the tank in the motorhome. Wearing black latex gloves I wrangle with the various ends of the hoses and finally manage to get that snap telltale sign the hoses are properly in place. But wait! Just as I’m about to pull the plug to dump our tanks of grey and black, I notice the hose lying on the ground, near a chrome exhaust protruding from underneath the BoomerBus, is melting! OMG! I imagine a river of sewage gushing from the damaged hose. Fortunately, we had extra hoses so I just unhooked the damaged one and replaced it with another one positioning it away from the hot exhaust. RFirstDump.

Update #4

It is mid-April and we made it to Red Bay, AL to the Tiffin Customer Service Center to have the BoomerBus inspected and some minor issues repaired and adjusted. While we were at the Tiffin Service Center parking lot, I drove the BoomerBus too close to a low retaining wall and caused the first damage to our new home. Uhhgg! Hurt pride, walk of shame and the word about the newbie hitting the retaining wall spread very quickly. Bottom line: we had the warranty work done, ordered parts for the repair and left Red Bay, AL Friday afternoon at 3PM, straight back to Rockwood, TN. We know we’ll have to come back to Red Bay -and dread the thought- to have the BoomerBus repaired. On the way back to Rockwood, the tire pressure warning light came on, then the dreaded MIL: check engine light illuminated and finally, thankfully just for a short while, the pre-drive items checklist alarm sounded several times! A cacophony of sounds while I’m driving through Chattanooga on a Friday evening! I don’t know why, but a SNL episode came to mind.

Monday, April 22d: as the sun rises and the first rays creep over the trees, swirls of steam dance on the lake. The temps dropped last night. The morning sun reflects on the far side of the lake and creates a magical portrait. Beautiful sight until I notice Izzy’s tongue prints on the window where she tried catching insects which were on the outside of the window! Reality. I’ll clean the window later.

So, living in the BoomerBus in the Rockwood Marina and RV Resort, we learn and experience something new every day. The sounds. It seems every appliance, stereo component and electrical system emits a unique sound. The induction stove lets you know when it is cool to the touch while the dishwasher (yeah, couldn’t live without one) sounds off both when opening and closing the drawer. Haven’t heard it beep yet when the wash is done. The multifunction microwave emits multiple sounds! The refrigerator also chimes in with its’ unique notes. The stereo dash sounds off each time I inadvertently touch one of the screens. The washer and dryer also have their own sounds. It’s a symphony of electric chirps. Beep beep, beepty, boopty, boo!

First time fill up$$$$$$$….

Well, it was inevitable we had to put fuel (diesel) in the BoomerBus. Yeah, it holds 150 gallons! The pump I used cut off each time at $150. However, the experience wasn’t the cost of fuel but the truck stop itself. Trucks the size of aircraft carriers just pulling in and out of the stop. We circled around twice before lining up with the CAT scales to get the BoomerBus weighed and trying to do it quick since there’s an angry looking cavern of chrome behind us with the loudest engine I’ve ever heard waiting for me to get outta the way!

Back in Red Bay

We left Rockwood on Monday, 6 May after our annual doctor visit, and followed the same trek we used the first trip in April. Mid-way down, a new light makes its’ presence: Low DEF! Fortunately, I had purchased a container of 2.5 gal of DEF and stored it in one of the basement storage trays. The full tank holds 15 gal. Didn’t matter, while the gauge read just over half tank after adding 2.5 gal, the light still said Low DEF. BoomerBus is starting to annoy me. We made it to Red Bay Acres, the campground we reserved for our stay this time. This campground is much better than the Tiffin Customer Service gravel parking lot we used last time. We had repairs made to the damage I caused ($3000) and the DEF flow valve replaced -under warranty- by a Tiffin technician. We plan to leave here on Sunday, 12 May and head to Sumner Crest Vineyard, a Harvest Host location just north of Nashville, for the one night stay.

NB: after my altercation with the retaining wall, Linda does all the parking of the BoomerBus.

On The Road Again

Well, we stayed at the Sumner Crest Vineyard for one night. Had a wine tasting and something to munch on. Just a stopover. Departed early next morning on the way to Lebanon/Cincinnati KOA. However, on the way the dreaded MIL: check engine light made its presence …. again! Stopped at a rest stop after two hours and found the fault code to be SPN3363 FM16. “Aftertreatment 1 DEF Tank Heater.” Yeah! Here we go again! Tiffin Customer Service Center (CSC) technician replaced the “flow valve” to correct this issue. So much for the term “Service Center”. Fortunately, we arrived at the Lebanon/Cincinnati without any problems. We’re here for five nights. I contacted the Tiffin CSC and they approved us reaching out to a truck service in Cincinnati to have the problem fixed.

Warning lights aside, the drive was very interesting and picturesque albeit some of the roads are just the pits! The landscaping around Bowling Green, KY is simply fabulous! Horse farm fences and beautiful lawns. The approach to Cincinnati from the south on I-71 is breath taking. Wow! Totally unexpected.