We're on the road again...until we're not

We're ready to hit the road again. We're making a stopover at Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Park near Oakhurst, CA then heading up to Yosemite before the summer crush hits. All's going well until we make a sharp right turn on to Bass Lake Road. CLANK! I get out and check the tow bar and under the back of the RV...nothing, so we continue on.

The clank in the rear end is getting progressively worse. Thankfully, we finally do reach the Bass Lake RV park. We stop inside the entrance at the top of the hill afraid that if we venture down the hill to the park proper we will never get out. We spend two days at the top of the hill (where there are no hook-ups), so we are running out of water and are unable to run the air conditioner in the almost 90 degree weather.

By day 3, we need to rent one of the cabins at the RV park.

Initially, the insurance company promised a tow truck would be there the next day at 9:00 AM. After a no show, we're told by the insurance company that no one is willing to tow a 30+ ft RV with a rear end problem. After a frustrating day of calls to various towing services and repair shops, we call a mobile repair service. He comes out and determines our differential is gone. He does pull the rear axle, which will allow us to be towed. Because it is the differential, we are able to find a repair shop in Oakhurst, just 10 miles away.

So our campsite for the next four days is Sullivan's Tire Pros. A new differential has to come all the way from the east coast. Because of the differential's weight, it also has to be shipped via ground. So we're looking at about a 10 day wait. Fortunately Tom's sister Cathy and her fiance, Dave were gracious enough to let us stay with them while we waited. At long last on May 6th, we finally pick up our repaired RV and continue our trip.