Michael Vreeland – Virginia State Director

Time again for another Legacy article – how time flies. We are at Brunswick Beaches RV Campground in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Not a big campground with a relatively small swimming pool but, all in all, not a bad place. We are about ½ hour north of Myrtle Beach and go to a place called Fat Harrold’s for Shag dancing a couple times a week. They offered lessons so we took them, and things are going well. Shagging is not as straight forward as you would think, but I am getting the hang of it. Sharon is a born dancer so no problem for her. I do have two major issues to overcome – I have no rhythm, and I am tone deaf – evidently. There is a pretty dedicated following, so there’s a good mix of old and new folks. It’s a great way to spend an evening and its pretty good exercise. Folks see me and are reminded of a dancing bear – I’ll take it.

We will be here till the end of October when we return to Americamp in Ashland, Virginia to spend the holidays with family. We will be attending the joint Virginia Wheels, Tarheels and Palmetto Pals Rally being held in Mount Airy, North Carolina – the “real life Mayberry” from the TV show. We will also be hosting the Virginia State Rally which will be over when you are reading this.

Finally, we will be attending the Region 5 Rally in Brunswick, Georgia at the Coastal Georgia RV Resort 10/24/24 – 10/29/24. I have stayed there before, and it is a great Resort. We hope to see you there.

I have been amazed at the high temperatures nationwide. When I see a weather map predicting temperatures all are 3 digits, good thing the air conditioner in the coach is works great – hope this does not jinx me. So, remember to hydrate and stay in the AC. This is the rule I follow so please be careful. And I hope everyone AC works like a champ.

In my last Legacy article, I provided details on items I had to fix in the coach. One item – the $160 toilet seat – must have made my rear toilet mad. I noticed it sounded “funny” when flushed. We have all uttered that phrase “not sure what it is, but it sounds funny”. Well, there is some truth in that kind of statement. First a trip in the “way back machine” – what TV show used that statement? When I was in the Navy, I went to a Class C school that taught us how to use sound to help diagnose mechanical operations based on decibel reading. You take sample reading at the same places periodically and note the decibel reading. The theory is the sound increases when whatever you are monitoring – bearing, armatures, etc. – starts wearing. When the sounds gets louder, it is a predictor to potential problem. Now to current time, when you flush the rear toilet, it makes a whooshing sound and over time, you get used to the sound it makes. The last couple days I have been hearing a high-pitched whirling sound when the toilet is flushed – not good. I called Newmar and sure enough that may indicate a motor failure in the toilet. The macerator and motor are a single unit, so it has to be replaced as one. Well, from the company that makes $160 toilet seat, you can get an aftermarket replacement motor for $475. Seems they have me between a toilet and a hard place, so I bought it. Install is supposed to be relatively easy so we will see. In the meantime, that toilet is off limits. I now know an extra “benefit” of having a ½ bath beyond the traditional reason of being able to go the bathroom when driving – the passenger, not the driver to be clear. To be fair, the coach is a 2014 Dutch Star and after 10 years, stuff breaks – part of the lifestyle.

So, to all please travel and be safe – we want to see your smiling faces in our travels and hope to be able to sit and swap some lies with you. Rally On!!!!!  Happy RVing. beaglerv@gmail.com, 540-809-9830 (Cell).