So I haven't really had time to journal our adventures due to being on adventures. So I'll do a quick blog about the start of our journey.
So our first trip started June 20th to Gaylord, MI with our 18 year old 2500 Sierra and the 2012 Puma 35' Quad bunk travel trailer. It showed us a bit about how "roughing it" would be. On the way up we also experienced a funky smell which happened to be our rear differential cover that was rusted enough to leak all the fluid out and get to a temperature hot enough that spewed what fluid remained all over the underbody of the truck, the tongue of our camper, and fumed up the cab of the truck bad enough we all though about upchucking once or twice. Despite that, we made it there and set up shop in the rustic camping area next to a local church just in time to catch Lecrae on the main stage at the fairgrounds Wednesday night. Thursday, I (Nathan) took the truck to the local Chevy dealer to look at our truck. They wanted to replace the exhaust headers and replace the rear differential with an OEM rebuilt differential. However, they would not have been done until the following Monday or Tuesday and that did not work for us. Derek had a Lions Football camp to get to Monday morning in Detroit and we only had the truck up in Gaylord. So, they put a new cover on and refilled it with oil and we were fixed enough to make it back home. We didn't want to test the truck and tow it back home due to the issues with the rear differential, so we left the Puma parked in a State Park that allowed free storage in Grayling, MI.
Enough about troubles we had to get there. We had a blast at the Big Ticket Festival 2018 worshiping with some great bands. Lecrae, Family Force 5, Toby Mac, Tenth Avenue North, & Building 429 were my favorites for the weekend. Mackenzie and Derek were more interested in the gaga ball pit. Devon and Mariah enjoyed the inflatables and play equipment. It was a good initial trip to feel out what it would be like not hooked up to any water, electric, or sewer. We were able to run our generator for a few hours a day just to keep battery topped off and run A/C for the hot parts of the day. It was nice to unplug from electronics and hang out with good music and good people.
The next week we spent finishing up cleaning out our house that we were leaving for the camper to get it ready for the next adventures. Also, we took the truck to our mechanic to look at some things and get it ready to pull our camper.
July 1st we began full timing by heading to the Wisconsin Dells. But not before a blow out...
We were blessed to get it taken care of quickly with our spare tire and the help of a state troopers' 20V impact gun. We were back on the road and headed to Discount Tire to get 4 new Load E range tires that we were planning on getting soon. The blowout just forced our hand before we wanted to.