April Danley & Colin Smith (23305)
New Jersey Garden Aires – President and Vice President

A big Thank You goes out to Steve & Joanne Wyble for putting on their first Region Seven Rally, and to each and every one who was there helping and supporting each other! It was so nice to see old friends and to meet and make new friends. Along with organizing a new chapter for Region Seven. We welcome the Chesapeake Travelers a Maryland, Delaware, and DC. Chapter. Congratulations!

Now as Sunday morning was getting along, we were all saying our goodbye’s, packing up, saying safe travels and see you down the road to everyone. Back to our coach, fire it up, up with the jacks and notice that the coach didn’t go to ride height. I always go out and check wheel wells to make sure of clearance. Oh no, what could that be, the front and back gauges on dash are both reading 150 psi. So, I shut the coach off, deployed the jack’s again, and start the process all over again. Engine start, jacks up and same thing again. Coach is not going to ride height. Now what! I started to tell some of the people and let the campground know that we could not move off site. They were great, they said they would block our site for seven days. WOW!

I went up before they closed and paid for the night, and they also still gave us the group discount. Thanks to so many of you who came to offer assistance and help. The support was fabulous! We have Coach Net for our Roadside Service, so I called them. They were great to work with. They stayed in contact with us the whole time. Now remember we were safe in the campground, and it was Sunday. Guess what, nobody works on Sunday. By now with all the Googling and trying this and trying that, the last couple Bill & his wife Carrie Lasner came over and we all agreed it was the Master Dump Valve. So, before they left, they had mentioned that his brother had a coach on a Spartan Chassis. The same as ours.

So, the next day was Monday, Colin & I started calling everyone we could think of at HWH the jack people. They agreed it was the Master Dump Valve, but it was a Spartan part. Next, call to Spartan. Try this, try that, ok didn’t work… Now when Bill & Carrie left Bill said to call him as he only lived about 45 minutes away, so I did. He had already called Spartan and found out that the Master Dump Valve was the same part that was on his brother’s coach. His brother said to take it off and get it to us so we could get home. What did I just hear!!! Yes, I heard right. So off to get his brother’s Master Dump Valve and put it on ours. Now it’s on our coach. Time to start the process again, start engine, jacks up, and guess what the coach went to ride height. You talk about relief! Everyone there was so full of excitement! Time to get everything put away, hooked up the jeep and homeward bound we were. Thanks to such a wonderful family! So, first thing Tuesday morning Colin called Spartan and ordered two Master Dump Valves and had one shipped to Bill & Carrie’s house so he could go put his brother’s coach back together. Spartan said to Colin, Bill crippled his brother’s coach. Yep! This is not something that happens very often. New FRIENDS for LIFE! You talk about a wonderful community we all share together!

So, if any of you have any questions about that valve, please don’t hesitate to contact Colin or me. I just wanted to share our story so that others could learn from our experience.

So now the coach is fixed, and the next trip is out to Hershey, Pennsylvania for the Memorial Holiday weekend. Everything went as planned. Yeah! After leaving Hershey, Pennsylvania, we then went to the New York State Rally hosted by John & Diane Svatek; and boy did they put on a great rally! A catered meal at the Lake House, and the food was excellent, with a beautiful sunset as you looked across Lake Oneida to go along with a great group of rally friends. Then the next day they had a boat ride on the Erie Canal. What an experience that was going into the Lock. The water drops then the doors open and out you go! To return you go into the Lock, doors close and the water fills back up, doors open and out you go. What an amazing elevator for boats! Which all dates back to the 1800’s.

Thank you to all of the great cooks who cooked the rest of the meals that were provided. The food was wonderful along with a campfire to end each evening!

See you down the road. We can be reached at email: danleyfarm@gmail.com.