We've been dealing with a bit of "Baby Beest" drama over the last few weeks. With the "check engine" light becoming more of a regular occurrence, we were grateful to make it to Las Vegas where there was a RAM dealer with a knowledgeable repair team who were willing to delve into her "issues".
After her “spa” visit, we were hopeful the issue was behind us ... and quite happy that most of the repair was covered under the warranty from last September’s engine replacement. With that bit of good news, we carried on with our original travel plans. First stop ... a three-day stay at
Valley of Fire State Park.
This destination has been on our travel radar for many years. Located about an hour and a half east of Las Vegas, this geologic wonderland is famous for its ...
massive red sandstone formations,
... as well as 2000+ year old petroglyphs.
Hiking among these breath-taking rock formations was the relief that we needed after the slightly stressful last month of vanlife. After three days of dwelling among these precious works of art, we were reminded once again that ...
Life is better with a little bit of nature.
Sunlit arches,
colorful canyons,
and the spectacular art of Mother Nature,
seemed to be the "fix" that we both needed.
On to Zion National Park?
Feeling confident that we were good to continue our travels, we did just that ... until the "check engine" light came back on 15 minutes after we left Valley of Fire on our way to Zion National Park.
Nope ... Back to Las Vegas
After a quick chat with our service rep, we decided that it was best to head back to Las Vegas for the weekend ahead of Baby Beest’s second “spa” appointment on Monday. We took the opportunity to explore a "new to us" section of Las Vegas,
Fremont Street.
In this vibrant, pedestrian-only, five block entertainment district we found ...
energetic light shows under the massive canopy,
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plenty of "interesting" street entertainers, music, and dancing,
and an old childhood favorite!
Are you on "team White Castle" along with me, or ...
is a local brew more your style?
Spa day #2 started out with a new engine "noise" as we drove to the repair shop. The not-so-happy verdict ... our transmission decided to bite the dust.
When it rains, it pours ... even in the desert!
After a long day at the shop and a hefty credit card charge, we now had a new transmission and battery and were hopeful that Baby Beest was good to go ... only to have the "check engine" light come back on just three blocks after we left the dealer.
Well, will the 3rd time be the charm?
The next day, the dealer decided to replace the camshaft since the "creative" workarounds did not seem to be holding. The good news: this repair would be covered under our engine's warranty. The bad news: we were "homeless" for another two nights. The good news: Las Vegas is a fun (and relatively inexpensive) place to be "homeless" in. We decided to hang out on Fremont Street once again and give Doug a proper birthday celebration that included ...
a zipline flight high above the music and madness,
a breakfast of champions,
all-you-can-eat sushi,
and an IPA with a view thrown in for good measure!
The next day at the repair shop, they were confident that all was fixed. But by now, could you blame us for feeling a little less convinced that our engine woes were truly behind us? Wanting to “test” the repair, we started scouting destinations within a couple hours of Las Vegas to help put our minds at ease.
Our "test drive" included a one day return visit to repeat two of our favorite hikes, The Fire Wave and White Dome Loop, at
Valley of Fire State Park,
... and then a drive back to Las Vegas for an overnight stay at our favorite Vegas RV park, and thankfully, no repair shop stop.
We continued our "test drive" the next day by heading west for an overnight stay at
Death Valley National Park
... where we visited Zabriskie Point, hiked the Badlands Loop Hike,
... and admired the Great Artist's talent at Artist's Palette.
Heading back east, we decided to bypass Las Vegas and continue our road trip with a visit to the nostalgic "Route 66" town of
Kingman, Arizona.
Feeling more confident in Baby Beest's performance, we continued on the next day to once again marvel at the scenic jewel known as ...
Grand Canyon National Park.
Spectacular views as we biked along the rim to Hermit's Rest,
... hiked a mile down into the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail,
... or just sat and gazed at the masterpiece created by a small but powerful river.
It hasn't been the easiest two weeks, but with every new destination that Baby Beest successfully gets us to, our confidence grows. We're grateful for the Las Vegas mechanics' ability to reboot Baby Beest's faltering engine and for Mother Nature's ability to calm our anxious minds. With every fiery rock formation, colorful canyon, and sweeping desert view, we are continually reminded that ...
Life is better with a little bit of nature.
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