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!