#192a ALEXANDER, N.D Salvage yard

When we were out this way we found out quick what a lot of Hay looks like. I know its hokey but every time we pass a hay field we are required to say Hey!

I had googled RV salvage near me. The salvage yard that I listed above called TJ's Salvage seemed to be a good fit.

I saw an article in the paper that said:

The RVs, some burned or damaged and others with kitchen supplies still in the cupboards were once in demand for oil boom workers who needed housing.

But as oil activity slowed and many workers left the area, the discarded campers wind up at TJ’s Salvage along U.S. Highway 85. der, ND

After I got my tire fixed and left Culbertson I went up to the junkyard and tried to turn down their dirt road and it was kind of about a one-way deal. It was big enough for two cars but barely and knowing I was aiming the wrong way I went all the way down to what looked like a farm did a big U-turn and came back and was at least aimed the right way.

I remember and pulling over to asking about trying to find an awning tube and maybe even an RV rim to replace the one we just discovered had a crack and a few other things. The guy was perfectly willing to give me a hand and I asked him where to park for a while. He said just up there by a couple of them RVs.

I went up and begin to back into an area and you know it wasn’t simple but I was getting there.

This is where I was introduced to Mr. angry employee. As I was backing into a hole Mr. angry started beeping the horn and screaming at me. I got out and asked what the problem. He says you got to get the hell out of here you're in the way get the hell out of here now.

He had a bit of rage to him and he kind of scared me. Whatever so I went across the road to a big giant field where they were cutting oats or something. I decided that would be a good place to sit for a while. I wasn't really in anybody's way but eventually, I saw a guy who was involved in the cutting and said can I just park here for a little while. I wouldn't mind boondocking here. He said I don't know about all night but you can park here for a while.

I left the girls there because what to do is boring and they can be comfortable in the farmer's field. I went back over to the salvage place and spoke to the nice employee. He said go find what you want and bring it back here and pay on the way out and don't be stealing anything. I said I'm not going to steal. I found an awning tube and destroyed the fabric getting it off. The RV was just a piece of junk anyway.

I asked him if a hundred was ok for the awning. He said sure. I sat it down and wanted to find more stuff. He said we might find a couple of rims for 40 bucks or something like that. He was so convinced he had the rims we set a price and I paid him about 160 or something. Looking back that was dumb but it seemed ok at the time.

Well, me and the friendly employee looked around and kind of spent about half an hour and nosing through all these different rims.

Finally, it seemed hopeless and I guess at this point I'm thinking, later on, we need to do a refund.

I was thinking of getting some of those things that go to the top of your RV that allow you to have the vent open without the rain coming in. I went around wandering around looking crawling around the side and on top of things. I had to go across some sort of fence or something but was just more old RVs.

Next thing you know I've got Mr. angry employee screaming at me again. How dare you go over cross that fence. It is not okay to be over there and you get right back on over here and leave all that alone.

All those RVs are mine and you have no right. I mumbled to myself okay I've about had it anyway.

I was about ready to leave and I noticed that there was a couple of these cool vent things just lying there. I offered 10 or 15 bucks for two or three of them and angry employee said no they’re spoken for.

Mr. Owner appeared on the scene and he was Mr. Busy. Mr. The nice employee said he's got a lot of money and sees so no reason to be nice to customers. It was a little intimidating talking to Mr. Owner.

I explained my situation to him how I had overpaid by like 60 bucks and it since I paid by credit card or whatever could I get a refund. He said he would have a hard time doing that. I said I know I got hasty by prepaying but I do have 60 bucks coming back to me. He said all I got on me is 40 so I took it and said that's fine whatever.

Looking forward a little bit I have to admit now that the whole thing was a bit of a fiasco. In the week to come, I installed it at the next RV park. I noticed it felt a little heavy and it never worked quite right, never fit quite right. The motor wasn't the right size. I ground it and gnawed on it with power tools. At some point, I knew she was made of steel instead of aluminum. After all that crazy business at the junkyard, it turned out to be a bad purchase.

By the time I got done, it was getting closer to dark, I'd say about an hour out. I saw a blip on compendium or something about a Corps of Engineers Park.

It wasn't too far away and we went down about five miles down a fairly long and winding road. We got there and found a locked gate looking out over a big field.

There was an after-hours number to call on the gate. I called the number and said nicely, so what's the deal. They said we'll be closed for the next 2 weeks because of flooding or because of construction or something.

I thought about it and it was a pretty remote area and I decided it would make a perfectly wonderful boondock. We stayed there for the night.