June 10 - 12 Pend D'Oreille Recreation Area, Trail

On the road in a light rain by 9:20 am, leaving Castlegar. We really enjoyed our days there. Next it was onward through Trail to the BC Hydro’s Buckley Bay Campsite on Pend D'Oreille Lake pronounced Pon der Ray (Ray’s pond) how fitting.

As it's only just over an hour away from Castlegar, by 11 am we were set up in the only spot left that would fit us, a double campsite. We were both surprised with the past few days being rainy, there were 9 other campers here taking up almost all of the lakeside spots. There are only 22 campsites here and only 3 or 4 would fit us, but we lucked out as usual. (Steve and Dianne you would not fit except maybe in the double site and then park your truck a short distance away in the day use parking lot.) We ate lunch and then a few units pulled out. I think they were waiting for the rain to quit. This allowed for one other spot available on the water that would fit us and as we could not get Satellite TV where we were …  we moved.­­­­ Now we overlook the lake, so pretty. We completed a minimal setup again and as soon as we were done, the skies opened up and it rained pretty good for the next few hours. Good thing we now get TV to occupy Ray and of course my shows will be taped. The only downside is there is no cell service here, so we will have to make the 15-minute drive into Trail daily to check for messages while we do some touring of the area.

I cleared up enough by 4 pm that I made us a campfire. Someone left some wood at this site as a bonus! They sell firewood if you want it. We enjoyed sitting out and looking at the lake for the next couple of hours before going in for dinner. We did see a few fish rise and even an osprey snagged a small trout so there are fish here. There is pike, bass and trout. Ray’s back is pretty sore so I think a couple of days of doing nothing is in his forecast before we start to investigate the area and perhaps get out his new pontoon boat for its inaugural run. There is a boat launch and we can bring it up right behind our site as there is a gate to access the water.

Well so much for resting!!!  Saturday morning up at 7 am and turned on the generator to charge up the batteries and make coffee. At 8 am I turned off the generator and then ...... no electric power whatsoever! Turned the genie back on ... still no power. Checked all fuses we could find and still nothing. The generator would allow the electric to work for a minute and then would trip again. At least it stayed on long enough to get the Satellite Dish down. So after a quick pack up we were back to the town of Trail to Rock City RV Sales and Service and of course it is Saturday. They could not help us today, but said to come in first thing Monday morning and they will see???? (Apparently to make an appointment it is a month's wait) They suggested we stay at the City of Trail's campground across the street as they had 30 amp power  and water sites with access to a sani-dump. We managed to snag a site for a week for $140. Next, we unplugged the fridge and plug it into an extension cord and another extension cord inside to run the TV, PVR and coffee maker etc. and run our 50 amp cord down to 30 amp down to 15 amp with a splitter so we can have some power inside the coach. Thank goodness the battery stuff ... i.e. furnace and lights still work. So the inside of the coach features extension cords everywhere.

A similar incident occurred 1 1/2 years ago in Phoenix and it turned out that a transfer switch stuck when we blew out a 300 amp fuse. I believe the transfer switch stuck again, so the inverter will not come on line. Hopefully they can source the problem on Monday because parts are 3 days out we are told. I wish I knew where what transfer switch is stuck and if I just need to bang it or something. According to posts in iRV2 on Phaeton's this is a common problem and the large transfer switch needs to be replaced??? Hopefully if this turns out to be the case it will be covered under our extended warranty.

Sunday morning, one of our neighbours behind us, has a Phaeton and he banged on the transfer switches and it seems we may now have proper shore power at least... still no inverter though. At least my "house" is put back to normal. Fingers crossed tomorrow this gets sorted out. There is lots to see in the area, so we won't be bored while we wait.