We got up early to get to Winnebago Industries first thing, and we met with Gary Gernetzke just after 8am. He was still waiting for the paperwork to come back from the UK so we went across to Customer Services with Jay for an introduction session with our new rig. WOW it looked so BIG in the workshop; we went inside and oops no TVs. Evidently because it was known we were taking it to the UK they assumed we didn’t want the TVs. However when they checked the paperwork Gary had confirmed the TV’s on the inventory list so they had to order the TVs and charge them back to manufacturing. Unfortunately they do not hold them in stock so Jay placed the order and we continued with our introduction. Three hours just disappeared talking about the levelling jacks, slide outs, water pumps, generator, heating and cooling systems, grey water, black water etc, etc, etc…… Just as we were leaving to go to the coffee shop the TVs arrived, excellent that means they should be able to fit them the same day.
After lunch Gary took us to his office, the paperwork had arrived from the UK and we complete the transfer and bill of sale. We then rushed off to the Court House in Garner, about 10 miles away, to get our transit plates, except it is actually a piece of A4 paper with a number printed on it and it cost us $10. Back to Winnebago coffee shop to wait for the rig to be ready, we have already been given a pitch in their huge camp site for the night, no charge, so there was no rush to get away. We joined the WIT club, Winnebago Itasca Travellers; it gives you discounts and a very fetching membership number plate so that other members can identify you. Another 6 couples were waiting in the coffee shop for their rigs; Winnebago run a full service and repair shop as well as the manufacturing. A lovely lady called Bobbie was half way through a jigsaw, she said ‘Jump in anytime’ so I joined her and we chatted about travelling in the USA. Her husband was downloading his photographs from the summer they had spent hosting at a State Park campsite. Another lady was browsing in the parts/accessories shop and she told Dave about a campsite in Texas that they were on their way to, they had been there for the last few years and said it was a much nicer town than Corpus Christie so we may take a look when we get down that way. At about 3.30pm Jay came to give us the keys, the TVs were in and we could take the rig to the campsite. After the above photo was taken by another friendly lady Dave climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. What a lovely noise it made, burbling out of the car park and across the road to the campsite. We found our pitch and started to get organised, now what comes first, oh yes the levelling jacks, I pushed the button and nothing, just a warning light that said the brake was not on. So let the brake off and push it back on again, pushed the auto level button and again nothing, just the warning light. Brake off, brake on, nothing! Dave jumped into the hire car and dashed back to the Customer Service centre for help, but they had all gone home, they finish at 4pm. Well we seem to be on fairly level ground so lets put the slide outs out and worry about it in the morning. Press the button and nothing, we try the rear slide out and that won’t work either. This is a good start we thought. By now it is dark and getting cold so we had supper and went to bed, at least the heating worked.
Next morning we were up bright and early, the workshop opens at 7am so we headed down there hoping to get on the top of the list. Jay came out to meet us and listened to the list of problems, we had also found that two electric sockets in the galley did not work, the bottom section of one of the lights in the bedroom was missing and the driver’s electric window got stuck in the down position. We had managed to manually pull it up otherwise it would have been a very cold night. He took the rig around to the workshop straight away and the very helpful girl on the reception, Angela, recommended a café in town for breakfast. After a hearty feast of bacon, eggs and pancakes it was back to the coffee shop and the jigsaw. We picked up a few things in the parts shop and Jay came to fetch us to check the work on the rig. Evidently the driver’s door was out of alignment so the window jammed at the bottom, they fitted a new motor, and they replaced the electric sockets and refitted the light section. What we had thought may be the biggest problem turned out to be the easiest, a wire had fallen off the censor on the brake, Jay gave the wire some more slack and showed Dave where it was just in case it happened again, and that was all that was needed to fix the levelling jacks and the slide outs. We had another lesson on how to work the sound system, and a chat with the electrician about fitting solar panels and then Jay brought it around to the front for us. One of the items we had got from the parts shop was a lock for the fuel flap; Jay fitted it for us in the car park as we didn’t have any tools with us. Overall we were very impressed with the service we received from Winnebago. It was just after lunch but we decided to stay another night on their site, just in case, and so that we could unpack the hire car. It took all afternoon to put all the stuff away properly and 3 trips to the bin with all the empty boxes and packaging. At last we could put the empty bags away, no more lugging them in and out of hotel rooms. We left the heating on all night as the forecast was for 6 BELOW freezing.
They were not wrong, the next morning the hire car looked like an igloo, it was completely covered with frost and it took ages to clear the windows. It had to be returned to Sioux Falls airport today so off we headed for Hwy 9. It seemed to take ages, we were in separate vehicles and it made the trip very boring. Once we had dumped the hire car we went across town to the Wal-Mart to collect our bicycles, while Dave was trying to get them on the rack I went back into Wal-Mart to get all the things we couldn’t get in the hire car, pots and pans, kettle, hangers etc. etc…. I came out to find Dave had taken the front wheels off the bikes to get them to fit on the rack! Eventually we are on the road again and heading for Madison. We drove out to Herman State Park and found a pitch, the campsite was completely empty except for us, and even the ranger’s office was unattended so we had to put the camping fee and a registration form in their post box.
The next day we went into town, parked outside the Court House and walked to Terri’s office to complete the title and registration paperwork. She walked with us back to the Court House to pay the tax and get our plates; they will forward the title document in a few days.
After a few errands in town we returned to Herman State Park and posted our camping fee again, it was a glorious evening with the sun setting over the water.
Our last night in Madison, Jeff picked us up and took us to Rumours for supper with the gang and a game or two of darts. They had more gifts for us, South Dakota darts (above) an agricultural calendar and photos of our last visit. We had a great evening and we promised to keep in touch and perhaps see them on our way back.
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