Kentucky trip, day 24

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

We drove until about 10 and stopped for breakfast this morning.

We stopped at Yates Center, Kansas to walk about 2 PM and see their "Historic Center Square."
The court house was handsome and historic, but the buildings around the square were mostly boarded up and those that weren't were social welfare offices, State employment office, etc. Rather a disappointment after the huge, impressive sign on the highway.

We returned to the RV and when Robert started the engine the horrible screeching had returned. As we were taking the car off the hitch, a woman stopped to ask if she could help. We told her we were looking for a mechanic who could work on our engine and/or air conditioner. She told us to go to the Conoco station and ask for John or Bob and tell them Adele Yow had sent us. We did that, but the John clearly is ready to retire and not terribly interested in fixing a tourist RV. He sent us to a young man down the road who might help. The young man down the road wasn't working and his little sign said he only worked Monday,Tuesday and Thursday. Since this was Wednesday, he was no help. I did call his posted phone number, but that didn't work, either.

Robert went back to the Conoco station and asked where he could buy belts for the RV and they sent him to the local auto parts store. There they told him about Craig Knight who buys trucks, fixes them up and sells them. He'd probably be able to help. We drove out to Craig's place and sure enough it didn't take him long to diagnose the problem; a frozen condenser and a bad pollution fan. He cut the belts and replaced the alternator belt and an hour later and $100.00 poorer we were on our way. Craig told Robert that the guys in the Conoco station are mad at him and won't ever send anyone his way which is why they hadn't mentioned the only one in the area who might be able to help.

We're camped east of Wichita at Lake El Dorado State Park.

I called Greg and talked briefly with him. He sounds happy and likes his job. He misses the family, as they do him. It was too late with too little notice for us all to get together and we were too tired also.

Since our air conditioner doesn't work we'll be up early to get as many miles as possible before it gets too hot.