It’s been a busy week but we’re settling into a routine here at Towerpoint RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona. I rode the Spyder out to TrailersPlus on the west side of Phoenix off of I-17 Tuesday. It was a 38-mile blast on the Interstate each way. The trailer I had found online there turned out to be the one I want. I looked at several trailers online, then stopped at two dealers to see them up close before going to TrailersPlus. I made a deal on a 8.5 x 20 foot Interstate car carrier. Then I had to figure out how I would pick it up. I certainly didn’t want to pack up the coach and drive out there with the motorhome just to haul the trailer back here.
A couple of friends were willing to help. John Huff said his wife would lend her truck to Mike Hall if he could drive out to pick up the trailer. Mike was willing, but he has a family ski trip in Show Low planned for the weekend starting this afternoon when he gets off work. TrailersPlus is holding the trailer for me until tomorrow, so I needed to find another way to get it.
I asked my friend Howard Graff for a favor. That’s what happens when you own a truck with a towing package – people ask for favors. Howard said he could do it tomorrow morning. Problem solved. Next I had to figure out what to do with the old trailer. My plan is to empty the old trailer in our site this afternoon. I can stack the stuff at the back of our site. The weather is dry and no rain is expected in the near future. I got permission to move the empty old trailer to a lot on the north side of the RV park while I find a buyer for it.
I ordered an Ultraguard cover for the Spyder from Amazon and it arrived on Wednesday. I want to keep it covered to protect it from the elements which here in Arizona includes the intense sun.
Spyder under cover
I also ordered a new rear tire for the Spyder. The original equipment tire is a proprietary tire made in China by Kenda. These tires don’t hold up very well and don’t offer the highest grip level. There are alternatives in the size 225/50R15 with higher speed ratings, better wear and higher grip levels. I went with a Kumho Ecsta made in South Korea. It’s a better tire at half the price of the BRP-sourced Kenda. The tire arrived Wednesday and so I needed ti find someone to mount it. This wasn’t as easy as I expected. I checked at Steve’s Cycle on Main Street where I had the front tire on the scooter replaced last fall. They weren’t equipped to lift a Spyder. They suggested I go to Apache Motorcycles on Power Road – the local Can Am dealer.
I had a dental appointment on Thursday – I was cavity-free for about thirty years. Just routine cleaning, no issues. After head and neck radiation treatment for cancer, my teeth don’t hold up very well. I’m always having work done now. After my dental appointment on Power Road, I stopped in at Apache Motorcycles to see about getting the tire mounted. The guy told me he was booked a week out, but he could do it a week from Saturday. Then he told me he would charge $200 labor! What?! I said, “I’ll get back to you on that.”
Later I met up with the guys for a cold one at Lucky Lou’s. Mike Hall and I made a plan to pull the rear wheel at his shop next Friday and we can take the wheel and new tire to a tire shop nearby to have it mounted. Another problem solved.
I’m back at it on the pickleball courts. They have four courts here at Towerpoint RV Resort and it’s not enough. There’s such a long line waiting to play, I only got four games in on Wednesday after two hours and on Thursday, I got five games in two and half hours. Donna hasn’t joined me on the courts yet. She spent the first part of the week following a Shakeology Three-Day Refresh which is a strict diet of nutrient-dense shakes, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. My oldest daughter Alana became a Beach Body coach after losing 45 pounds last year and gifted the package to Donna. Donna’s lost 20 pounds doing her own thing since May. She decided to try the refresh after over-indulging the past week at the Alpine Coach rally. She’s happy with the results.
After starting the week with high temperatures in the mid 80s, we had high thin clouds and cooler weather on Thursday. Donna and I enjoyed a happy hour together outside in camp chairs. We have yet to set up our outdoor living space – we’ve been waiting on getting the new trailer.
Happy hour outside
The high clouds made a colorful sunset.
Sunset and palm trees at Towerpoint
No pickleball today. I need to get cracking on the trailer project. I need to buy a new mount rated for 10,000 lbs. and a 2-5/16″ ball. Then I’ll empty the old trailer and clean it so I can put it up for sale.
*Just so you know, if you follow one of my links to Amazon and decide to make a purchase, you pay the same price as usual and I’ll earn a few pennies for the referral. It’ll go into the beer fund. Thanks!