The Maiden Voyage

[Pete Peterson]

Our "new" motor home was (is) a 1985 Midas, 27ft class A.  We live in Montana, about the mid point between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.  Naturally we decided to take a trip though Yellowstone Park since we had not been there for several years and our best friend had come to town and would travel with us.  Our other motor homes had been class C and it takes a little getting used to when you switch from class C to class A.  If you are planning to tour Yellowstone, (I recommend you do) keep in mind that the roads are pretty narrow, there are lots of animals and few strait roads.  You will be very used to your RV by the time you make the trip.  Well, we had a great time...continued the trip from North to South and visited Jackson Hole Wyoming, returned back through the park and headed toward home.  We decided to stay in a RV park just outside of Yellowstone.  When morning came and we were getting ready to leave, I noticed our neighbor was closing up his 5th Wheel.  I made it a point to tell our friend the advantages of our new motor home when it came time to leave, how quick and simple it was for us as compared to all the work our 5th Wheel neighbor had to go through.  I waited until he was nearly finished before I jumped into action, quickly turning off the power and disconnecting the shore power cable and storing it.  The motor was already warming up and in go the steps and we are now ready to go....that poor guy is still out there putting stuff away and hooking up....he should have purchased a motor home like his cool neighbor (that would be me)!  In to gear we go, pull out and make a left turn from our spot (the one that faces the very large sign that reads "Caution, Right Turn Only"). Suddenly a Very large, audible crunching sound and rocking motion... What the @#!!!  Now it's time to climb out of my "new" motor home that was in such pristine condition and see the damage I did driving over the HUGE boulder at the end of the space to keep people who don't follow the rules and are busy showing off from turning the wrong direction.   Meanwhile, the guy in the 5th wheel has finished hooking up, and is patiently waiting for the idiot in the motor home to get the boulder out from under his motor home and leave the RV park heading the right direction.  My wife enjoys pointing out the damage even after all this time.

[Pete Peterson]

Ouch,  I sure know that feeling.  Our friend bent his rear bumper nearly strait out the rear on his 27 foot as he exited an alley.  We were able to straiten it out and it wasn't too obvious.  About two weeks later, I pulled out of our driveway cutting in pretty sharp to the right.  All of a sudden, I heard "that noise".  I have a small fence on the left of my driveway and caught it with my bumper.  I now have a nice fold mark on my bumper (just like my friends)!  I didn't think there was enough behind the rear wheels to be a problem, now that I know better (and a little worse for wear) I'm just really happy it wasn't at a fuel stop

[Helen Waddell]

Another good one!  You guys are cracking me up.  Helen