beluga

beluga

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Freightliner

 We're still in Flat Rock, North Carolina, playing with good friends, Eric and Laurel.   We've stayed at this RV park before and it turns out we're just "through the field" from the tiny house they're renting at Simple Life.....sweet.

So, my last post left off as we were approaching Freightliner Service center in Gaffney, South Carolina.   Beluga had a appointment for a complete physical and we wanted to arrive at their "rv park" (think gravel sites with electric hook ups behind the service center) in time to score a site for a few nights.  

  


Only about half the spaces were taken so we were able to back Beluga into a really great end spot with a bird filled woods right out our doorstep.    Our service person, Brandon, checked with us to make sure his service order was correct and left saying he'd see us bright an early the next morning.....like 7 a.m. the next morning. 


  He arrived right on time and we waved to Beluga as Brandon carefully pulled her into Bay 1.    We had an appointment to tour the Freightliner Chassis assembly plant a bit later in the morning so we sought out tiny Sunny's Donuts for a little nourishment until the tour was over.

There were only three of us on the 10 a.m. tour.  It was really up close and personal, pretty intense for a factory tour.   No catwalks or safety videos.     We did have to wear safety glasses and reflective vests, but otherwise, we mingled with the workers as they worked..... Evidently the vests let the tug drivers know we are not employees and they should not run us over as they raced by us, pulling long trains of loaded metal wagons.      The noise was deafening, but our guide, Rodney, just kept on talking.  


There were three lines in the factory, one assembling School Bus chassis, one concentrating on RV chassis and one working on smaller trucks such as UPS vehicles.    Machinery was hanging from above, air hoses dangling, tugs bringing in huge yellow school bus front end assemblies and jockeying them into place, honking their horns as they approached our yellow vests (to see us jump out of the way?),  people digging through enormous bins of bolts and lock nuts and washers, sparks flying from workers spot welding ground lugs, racks of big tires and wheels moving from one line to another, deafening crashes and bangs as workers positioned long steel frame rails onto fixtures and then hammered and bolted cross members into place with pneumatic tools, bells or buzzers sounding to signify something.....    Phew.     I wasn't listening to Rodney at all, I was just looking and watching and attempting to stay somewhat near the faded yellow line we were told to try and walk on, and avoid the occasional oil/wet spots.....  It was fascinating to just try and absorb what was happening at each station, to watch each person do their individual job along the way, to feel the living being that is an assembly line.  

dangling engine


 After I'd taken these two pictures, Rodney informed me that I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures.  Ok then.  

After the tour was over we drove along "scenic" SC 11 to check out part of our route from Gaffney to Flat Rock the next day.      We stopped at Cowpens National Battlefield and enjoyed a leafy green respite to the frenetic factory tour.    We had a surprisingly good lunch at a huge tourist trap along the way.....Strawberry Hill USA (and a tiny little scoop of their homemade ice cream just because it wouldn't have been polite not to.....)       Brandon called to tell us that Beluga was finished and back in her site, waiting for us so we headed back.       All went well, and if we wanted to sell her he had several people interested! 

The next day we drove the 60 or so miles into North Carolina and settled into Lakewood RV Park in Flat Rock.    It was Dave's  birthday and Eric made us a delicious dinner at their tiny rental cottage.  More on that later!


       

18 comments:

  1. Wahoo! Always great news to hear “all went well”. I don’t usually listen on tours like that either. I figure I will. It remember the info anyway. It’s way more fun just looking around and trying to absorb everything I see and hear. I’m most impressed with your description! Can hardly wait to hear all about your visit and fun times with Laurel and Eric. Happy Birthday Dave! And Laurel your table setting and view are beautiful!

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  2. We've been having a wonderful time here....so wonderful that I've not taken many pictures! You know how that goes....This is a beautiful part of the country and the weather has been perfect to enjoy it with friends. Stay tuned.

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  3. Jodee Gravel6/4/23, 5:18 PM

    Nice spot to spend the nights around your appointment. Even nicer there were no issues with Beluga, and you were able to continue your plans. The factory looks so tight with everything on top of itself - and a surprising amount of color! Those polite ice cream servings are very important :-) Great you found a park close to L and E's rental. I know you're all having a faaabulous visit.

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    1. You understand the need to be polite at ice cream parlors! We had no idea that we would be this close to L and E....we were shocked when we headed to their house for dinner and found it was practically next door! It was serendipity

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  4. So how cool is that, being so close to the new tiny home. The factory tour was interesting, and loud. We spent time in Asheville in 2008 and 2009. I suspect it's very different now from then. We have not been to Flat Rock.

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    1. Flat Rock and Hendersonville are sweet, manageable little towns. It's nice to be so close to friends....makes visiting really easy!

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  5. Happy Birthday Dave !!! Nice to have Beluga all checked out and ready to continue your adventure. I'm sure you'll have some great times with Laurel and Eric to cherish and share.

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    1. Dave says thanks Jeff! It's a nice feeling to have a good check up for us all, isn't it!

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  6. What an interesting tour. Good to hear that all went well with the servicing. That is always nerve-wracking as you never know what they are going to find.

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    1. Nerve-wracking indeed....especially when you think things should be OK, but....will they?

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  7. Glad the motorhome is good to go! What a tour--I wonder how they get that by OSHA?? Of course you had to have a scoop of ice cream. Looking forward to more about your visit with Laurel and Eric.

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    1. I think they keep the tours small so the guide can make sure we're all together and safe.....I've tested the North Carolina ice cream here so as to be able to judge the best between the two Carolinas....I'm nothing if not fair.

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  8. That sounds like a wild tour! I wouldn't have been listening to Rodney, either...too many things to look at while trying to not get mowed down, haha. Your description is so wonderfully vivid! I'm glad Beluga passed with flying colors and that she brought you safely here right next door to us. This has been an absolutely fantastic few days visiting with you guys. 😍 😍 😻 L & E & M

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    1. This stop has been absolutely wonderful, everything was perfect and our time with you has passed much too quickly. We're sorry to leave......

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  9. Sounds like Beluga will sail right up to NY in perfect form! Yeah, girl! I was sweating out that appointment. Guess it's ok to order the dessert now! See you soon!!!!!! CindyP

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    1. Yep, order that dessert! See you soon.....

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  10. Oh look, Betsy had that same spot where Beluga parked. Only Steve went to the tour, I was in the Philippines during Betsy's first visit at Freightliner. I'm impressed with your description considering you were not paying attention as you said. It is always a sigh of relief knowing Beluga is just as good as new. So you had your first "Friends" on your summer tour. - ML

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    1. It was a pretty nice spot wasn't it! I wasn't paying attention to Rodney, but was just absorbing everything else! Yes, onward to "friends"!

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