Making plans - Day 856 (Yr 3, Day 123)

Jamestown, ND

First, no news yet on the truck.  The mechanic drove it for about an hour yesterday and listened to it like a doctor listens to a patient's chest (he has about 25 years working with this type of engine).  He suspects it could be another faulty fuel injector (he was even able to predict which one of 8), but he needs to do the diagnostics.  Unfortunately, his loaner truck wasn't available, so we couldn't leave our truck with him yet.  Hopefully by the end of today.  At least I do feel very confident that he knows what he's doing (unlike the Ford dealers).

Anyway, I've been working diligently over the past month figuring out our route from Jamestown to Raleigh, not wanting to drive more than 200 miles (4 hours) in a day, so that I can settle down around noon and put in at least 1/2 day's work.  Here's what the route looks like, and I'm just about finished making the campground reservations after some very extensive research.  Once again, it's too bad we're on a schedule because there are some places we'll be in or near that I'd love to spend a little more time at.  Maybe we can take a few hours if the workload isn't too much on those days.

Jamestown, ND
Sisseton, SD
Beresford, SD
Pacific Junction, IA
Independence, MO (staying there Thurs to Sun for Shabbat)
Jonesburg, MO
Marion, IL
Lebanon, TN
Kodak, TN
Asheville, NC (staying there Thurs to Sun for Shabbat and to meet up  with old friends)
Raleigh, NC

That's 11 stops.  11 is a lucky number for us, so hopefully and G-d willing, it will be an easy and uneventful trip.

Mitch's brother (who we stayed with during my hip recovery) also just bought an RV and they will be taking it on their first long road trip to Raleigh.  Can't wait!!!

Still nothing firm regarding where and when Mitch's next assignment will be.  Rumor was Houston, TX, but now they're saying it may only be until the end of the year (they need to wait and see if the contract will be renewed with that utility company).  There's a strong chance if Houston doesn't work out, it may be Oklahoma City to northern Texas, perhaps as far as Dallas.  Mitch wants to request Utah for the spring.