the awning saga endeth

So badger finally has a working awning after only 10 weeks:

• We were told when we viewed the bus that a new part for the awning was on order
• Once we bought the bus and took delivery it turned out the part had not been ordered, so they ordered it then
• The necessary part is the motor, and they ordered the wrong one, so when we took badger back to the Westminster branch of the dealers for other bits to be done it turned out it didn't fit. They ordered the other motor type
• Turns out the correct motor type is no longer available. 
• We took badger back to Westminster for them to remove the old motor to send it to be rewound, on our way up to Palm Desert. They had to strap the awning arms up so we could drive as the motor is also the lock mechanism. The plan is to ship the rewound motor to their palm desert branch to fit a week later.
• The motor cannot be rewound. We have to order a complete new awning which will take about 3 weeks. They still have to ship the old motor to palm Springs to refit it to lock the awning for the next leg of the journey, as the strapping isn't preventing the awning unraveling as we drive along. The new awning will be shipped to the dealers mesa branch, which we will visit on our way east.
• The same day that the awning arrives in Mesa - December 21st - the dealer decides they are going to shut that branch with immediate effect. We explain that we can't be here any earlier than Jan 8th as we have bookings and things to do on the road.
• Arrive at the dealers yesterday afternoon to find that it is deserted except for the manager, a couple of guys emptying the building and a security guard.
• The manager fitted the awning today himself with a another guy to help a bit. 
• The dealers will vacate this building on friday

To be fair, it could have probably been sorted quicker if we had been staying in one place, and the dealers have ended up paying almost 3 grand for a complete new awning for us without any quibble or argument - we didn't even have a discussion, they just said this is what they would do. And they have not argued or shirked on any of the things we flagged as needing to be fixed, and they have been very accommodating on letting us start using the rig and starting our travels without having to go back to the original Westminster branch

So now we just need to continue with nice enough weather that we can sit out under it and enjoy the outdoors.....