RV, New or Used? Lemon RV? Camper Project. Closet Door Latch. ‘Sisters on the Fly’. RV Tips. Canada Bound? Bent Awning Tube. Self-fusing Tape. Rome Burns. Singing Wobbly Joe Hill.

 

For “tRaVersing Thursday”. or RV Day:

Buying an RV? New or used?

“Sean Michael discusses the pros and cons of buying "new" versus buying "used." Among other benefits, you can save a lot of money buying a quality, used RV.”

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How to Spot a Lemon when Buying an RV

Tips on what to look for on RVs

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The $800 truck camper project
“Seems like truck camper owners are a breed apart from many other RVers. We've seen plenty of do-it-yourself-ing in the community. Here's an interesting video from a gentleman who took an $800 pop-up truck camper, 30 days, and plenty of sweat equity to return a run-down rig into a unit ready for use. Watch the video.”

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Add A Simple, Clever RV Closet Door Latch

“Many RVs have sliding closet doors, but since RVs are moving vehicles the doors must be latched to keep them in place on the road. Different models have different ways of keeping the doors closed. But here's a better way according to the RV Geeks.”

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‘Sisters on the Fly’ still having ‘more fun than anyone’ in their vintage trailers, fishing, riding

“Real-life sisters Maurrie Sussman of Phoenix, Ariz., and Becky Clarke of McCall, Idaho, are avid fly fishers, ‘cowgirls’ and vintage trailer owners.

Together they are the inspiration and force behind a “grab life by the tail and swing it around” group of women known as “Sisters on the Fly.”  Read more at: "Sisters on the Fly" still having fun in their vintage trailers.

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RV Tips:

Avoid waiting games at the RV service center
“Does your rig spend more time in the shop than on the road? Don't let delayed service times ruin your RV trip. Here are some tips that may help.”

Pack along a small fan in your RV that can operate on 12-volt power. “It will come in handy on a hot day when you simply need to cool yourself and don't have the power to run your air conditioner, or don't want to. It can also double as a hair blow dryer, although it might take a long time to do the job.”

Wheel bearings
“When was the last time you repacked your travel trailer's wheel bearings? Experts recommend an annual shot of grease to keep things moving safely.”

Be careful not to void your water heater's warranty
“Want to void your Atwood water heater warranty? Simply replace the drain plug with an anode rod. Atwood says leave the anode rods to "other guys."”

Using a tablet or smart phone to get online? Be careful!
“We love our mobile devices. Unfortunately for us, so do hackers. The 2013 Javelin Strategy Research Identity Fraud Report found that tablet users in the U.S. are 80 percent more likely to be victims of identity fraud than all consumers – 9.6 percent compared to 5.3 percent. Read why, and how you can protect yourself.”

Lock your RV
“Always lock the RV when you’re not physically at the campsite. Do not store valuable equipment in outside storage compartments. Believe it or not, a vast majority of RVs use the same exact key as yours for outside storage compartments. If you store valuables, like golf clubs, fishing gear or tools in the outside compartments, you may want to have the locks changed.”  Tech Tips from Mark Polk

 Waste outlet cap
“Carry a spare waste outlet cap.  If you fail to put the cap back on after dumping, it will probably be torn off while driving.” From Bill's Hints

Clean your roof. . . . . and stay safe
”Be safe cleaning your roof! Use a regular ladder to access, or build a scaffold alongside with stepladders and planks. If you need to go on the roof, remember: safety first, exercise caution.  First feel out its weight-bearing capacity on your hands and knees. If you do step out, make sure it’s not slippery. Learn more.”  Handy tips from Dicor.

Avoid those water leaks! “They can lead to very expensive structural repairs. Many RVers understand the importance of keeping water and moisture from entering the RV through faulty seals or other forms of compromise, but oftentimes it’s difficult, at best, to determine exactly where the leak exists. Well-equipped RV service facilities rely on a SealTech machine to accurately identify air or water leaks in any RV. Check out this RV Doctor video tip.”

RV Solar System Maintenance
”Many of the components in a well-designed RV solar system require very little maintenance, but there are still some things you should check periodically. Solar panels, being up on the roof of the RV, often fall victim to the out-of-sight, out-of-mind syndrome. Here are some maintenance tips you should consider.”

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Canada bound?
“The Canadian national anthem doesn't begin "Oh, Canada!" for nothing. It's a big country with much see. Here is some advice about how to plan a trip to this magnificent country to our north.”

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Awning tube bent. What to do?

Dear Gary,
“Is it possible to straighten an awning tube? If so, how?” —Steve D., Neola, Iowa

“Love those "to the point" questions Steve! To my knowledge, there is no method in the aftermarket of straightening a bent, extruded aluminum awning roller tube. Some can be manipulated somewhat, but will always show evidence of the damage.

In order for the canopy fabric to remain straight and roll up square and evenly, unfortunately, the tube will need to be replaced. I’m sure re-extruding the tube could make it like new, but a new replacement tube would certainly be less expensive than trying to find a way to make that happen! Wish I had better news for you, but I'd recommend a new roller tube.”  Posted by RV Doctor

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Use self-fusing tape for weatherproof connections

“Standard vinyl electrical tape has been around for a long time — too long, some would say. The problem with this commonly used product is its adhesive. It doesn't really stick very well, and after awhile it starts to peel loose, leaving a gooey mess behind.

Some years ago, a worthy alternative appeared — a silicone rubber tape that was self-fusing. It bonded to itself with enthusiasm, and had no adhesive to age or create a mess. Furthermore, it was impervious to many chemicals, ozone and UV, which age and deteriorate lesser products.

Recently, this self-vulcanizing tape has seen a surge in popularity. It's now sold in many colors and widths, all at affordable prices (although much more expensive than its cheaper brother). Sold by everyone from Ace Hardware to Amazon, a 1" x 12' roll runs about $10-$14, and 2" x 36' will set you back $40.

You apply the tape by peeling off its backing (being careful not to let it touch itself — it bonds instantly). Wrap the tape around the object to be covered, and make the first wrap go over itself. Then stretch the tape in the direction you want and continue wrapping. It's easiest to cut off a piece in advance rather than applying it from the roll. A little experience will show you how much to use, and it takes very little: Two to three inches will weatherproof most electrical joints.

Notice that the tape doesn't actually stick to anything but itself. This means that it's easy to remove, but it also means that it can't be used for any application that requires a sticky seal. The best way to think of this "tool" is as a rubber-molding process. Once the tape is applied and wrapped around the object, it is literally as if the object were cast inside a mold. In fact, I've cut open 5-year-old wrappings and they still looked as if they were just one solid piece of rubber.

Due to its stretchy nature, the tape is fabulously conforming. It will create a solid rubber sleeve around the most odd-shaped joints and other objects. In addition to electrical, the tape can be used for any purpose where a rubber coating is desired. For example, my flagpole gave up its rattle after I rubber-taped the base. Your imagination is your only limit.”   By Greg Illes

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Collapsible rigid sunglasses case stows in small space

“Over-the-counter drugstore reading glasses are so inexpensive that when they scratch or break you just chuck them and buy a new pair. Not so for sunglasses. When you sink a decent sized chunk of your disposable income into eye protection that is both high quality and cool, you want to take care of them.

But protective cases become problematic because off their size and rigidity. You can't just stick the case away in your pocket or purse since it takes up so much space.

Until now. Integral has introduced the Flipcase, which is a sturdy and collapsible sunglasses case that folds up flat when you're not using it. And by flat I mean only 1/4 inch thick, and small enough to stow out of the way just about anywhere until you need it. 

Inside the microfiber protects the lenses from scratching and outside the rigid plastic keeps them from breaking. The case will fit about 99% of sunglasses--up to 2.5 inches high, 2.5 inches wide, and a girth when folded of up to 7 inches.

You can learn more about Flipcase on the Integral website where you can also purchase the case for $34.” Submitted by Bob Difley

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On This Day:

Nero's Rome burns, Jul 18, 64:

“The great fire of Rome breaks out and destroys much of the city on this day in the year 64. Despite the well-known stories, there is no evidence that the Roman emperor, Nero, either started the fire or played the fiddle while it burned. Still, he did use the disaster to further his political agenda.

The fire began in the slums of a district south of the legendary Palatine Hill. The area's homes burned very quickly and the fire spread north, fueled by high winds. During the chaos of the fire, there were reports of heavy looting. The fire ended up raging out of control for nearly three days. Three of Rome's 14 districts were completely wiped out; only four were untouched by the tremendous conflagration. Hundreds of people died in the fire and many thousands were left homeless.

Although popular legend holds that Emperor Nero fiddled while the city burned, this account is wrong on several accounts. First, the fiddle did not even exist at the time. Instead, Nero was well known for his talent on the lyre; he often composed his own music. More importantly, Nero was actually 35 miles away in Antium when the fire broke out. In fact, he let his palace be used as a shelter.

Legend has long blamed Nero for a couple of reasons. Nero did not like the aesthetics of the city and used the devastation of the fire in order to change much of it and institute new building codes throughout the city. Nero also used the fire to clamp down on the growing influence of Christians in Rome. He arrested, tortured and executed hundreds of Christians on the pretext that they had something to do with the fire.”

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Singing Wobbly Joe Hill sentenced to death, Jul 18, 1914:

“Convicted of murder on meager evidence, the singing Wobbly Joe Hill is sentenced to be executed in Utah.

A native of Sweden who immigrated to the U.S. in 1879, Joe Hill joined the International Workers of the World (IWW) in 1910. The IWW was an industrial union that rejected the capitalist system and dreamed one day of leading a national workers' revolution. Members of the IWW--known as Wobblies--were especially active in the western United States, where they enjoyed considerable success in organizing mistreated and exploited workers in the mining, logging, and shipping industries.

Beginning in 1908, the IWW began encouraging its membership to express their beliefs through song. The IWW published its Little Red Song Book, otherwise known as the I.W.W. Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent. A few years later, the witty and handsome Joe Hill became one of the Wobblies' leading singers and songwriters. Hill composed many of the IWW's best-loved anthems, including "The Preacher of the Slave" which introduced the phrase "pie in the sky." By 1915, Hill was one of the most famous Wobblies in the nation.

Public notoriety, however, could prove dangerous for a radical union man. In 1915, Hill was arrested and charged with murdering two Salt Lake City policemen during a grocery store robbery. Although the evidence against Hill was tenuous, a jury of conservative Utahans convicted him on this day in 1914 and he was sentenced to death. He was executed by firing squad the following year.

Ever since, scholars have debated whether Hill was actually guilty or was railroaded because of his radical politics. Regardless of his guilt or innocence, Hill became a powerful martyr for the IWW cause by telegramming his comrades with a famous last-minute message: "Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize."”

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Yesterday:

Misty and I went to get Jay for shopping day, and we had a good walk down there.  An armadillo went by across the street, and even though Misty couldn’t see it, she knew it was there and was pulling at the leash trying to follow it like a little bloodhound.

The van was full of stuff that needed to be dropped off at different places.  Big pieces of Styrofoam were dropped off at the community dumpster.  Plastic bags went either to the recycling, or useable ones donated to thrift shops.  We stopped at St. Marks and recycled the paper, and looked in their thrift shop.  Neither of us saw anything we wanted there.

The Unique Thrift shop was having a clearance sale, I didn’t buy anything, but Jay bought two pair of comfy boots, very cheap.  Then we went to Angelic thrift shop and donated some items.  We did buy a few things in their shop.  At Home Depot I bought a different brand of door bell, maybe this this one will work.  I also bought some white spray paint that works on vinyl, so I am hoping it will cover the sunburn marks on my white siding.

Once again, we didn’t stop at a grocery store as we were running out of time. Jay had to go shopping with his mother, and I was expecting the contractor.

In the afternoon the contractor and his helper leveled, plumbed and cemented in the corner post that we had torn my screen porch apart to install.  He is going to be building my front porch extension from that, so I knew he would rather do it himself. 

Now we can put the screen porch back together today.

“Wolfy reens?” Shame On Chevron. Grand Tetons. Puddle Jumper. Cargo Trailer Water Tank.

The Wolverine Way By Doug H. Chadwick

"Despite a ferocious reputation, the wolverine is far more complex than the legends that surround it. And even in a place as vast and wild as Glacier National Park, http://www.glacier.national-park.com/,  its future is uncertain.  


Fine snow streaked the air, riding sideways on a gale, in early March 2006. Biologist Rick Yates led the way, breaking trail on skis through the powder. Great cliffs striped with avalanche tracks rose on all sides. Somewhere higher up among the clouds stretched the ice fields that gave this valley—Many Glacier—its name. We crossed two frozen lakes and finally passed into an old-growth spruce forest that took the edge off the storm. Beneath the branches, half-buried in snow, stood a large box made of logs six to eight inches thick. It looked a little like a scaled-down cabin. But it was a trap, and there was a wolverine inside.

The animal had entered during the night. We knew from its radio frequency that this was M1: M for male, Number 1 because he had been the first wolverine caught and radio-tagged during a groundbreaking study of the species under way here in Glacier National Park, Montana. Sometimes the researchers called him Piegan instead, after a 9,220-foot mountain at the head of the valley. To me, he was Big Daddy, constantly patrolling a huge territory that straddled the Continental Divide near the heart of the park. His domain overlapped those of several females, and he had bred with at least three of them over the years while successfully keeping rivals at bay.

If wolverines have a strategy, it’s this: Go hard, and high, and steep, and never back down, not even from the biggest grizzly, and least of all from a mountain. Climb everything: trees, cliffs, avalanche chutes, summits. Eat everybody: alive, dead, long-dead, moose, mouse, fox, frog, its still-warm heart or frozen bones.

” When you explain that you’re tracking wolverines, you get a variety of expressions: surprise, relief, enthusiasm, curiosity. Comprehension would be somewhere toward the bottom of the list.
“Wolverines! Cool. What are they?”
“About this high? I think we saw some eating those purple flowers in the meadows.”
“They’re sort of like little wolves, right?”
“Omigod. I heard they’re really ferocious. What should we do if one comes close? If you run, does that just make them more likely to attack?”
“Wolfy reens?”
To be fair, the name wolverine not only sounds wolfish but springs from the same Old German word: wolver. "
More at: http://www.npca.org/magazine/2011/winter/the-wolverine-way.html
Including a 50 minute video from PBS: "Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom":    http://video.pbs.org/video/1642358743

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Chevron doesn't want to pay for their Oil Spill:


Earlier this week, a court in Ecuador fined the Chevron Corporation $8 billion for their part in contaminating the Amazon rainforest, an environmental catastrophe that has cost the lives of thousands of humans, plants, and animals. It is a huge first step towards holding the company accountable for their unconscionable actions in Ecuador, but the fight is far from over.
Chevron plans to appeal the ruling, dragging an 18-year-old lawsuit on further, as well as denying their responsibility for their pollution.
If you have yet to add your name to our online petition to Urge Chevron to Clean Up its Oil Spill in the Amazon, please do so now. Increase your impact and share this action with your friends on Facebook by clicking the Recommend button on the petition page. Every signature will help bring this oil giant to justice: Act now!
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"There has been a lot of recent news to share about national parks. With that, we couldn't wait to share this piece of good news…

Thanks to you, the dramatic landscapes and unspoiled beauty of Grand Teton National Park are now better protected!
You may recall that last fall the State of Wyoming threatened to sell school trust lands located within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park. This would have opened the door for private developers. The loss of this acreage to subdivision would have dramatically altered the park, and threatened not only the scenic beauty and pristine nature of this area, but also harmed native wildlife.

But earlier this week this land came a step closer toward preservation. Thanks to the Wyoming State Legislature, a land purchase agreement between Wyoming and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) can now move forward. This vote paves the way for the DOI to purchase the land and transfer ownership from the state to the federal government, ultimately preserving these lands that are an integral part of Grand Teton.

Letters to Wyoming's congressional delegation and to the Administration from park activists like you made a difference! With your help, NPCA has been an effective advocate for a positive resolution to this issue and now we can take pride in knowing that the integrity of Grand Teton is preserved as a national treasure for the American people."
From: http://my.npca.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3221.0&pw_id=1621
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Today:

We didn't have much time to work, as we had to drive down to Roni's to work on something there.
Also we had to drive the van to the corner store to fill up the big gas can for the little burgundy "Puddle Jumper".  It is not street legal, as I don't drive it out on the road.

It is my 'gas-powered golf cart' for running around this big subdivision! It is kept insured, and can have tags and inspection to be street legal at a moments notice. It has always passed inspection, when needed, for 23 years now!  Even the velour upholstery is almost like new after 200,000 miles.  It is a Mercury Tracer wagon, but it was made by Mitsubishi. One of the few Tracers with a 1.6 motor.  NADA now classifies it as a Classic Car, and it has appreciated over the years.   It has never let me down, but I do keep it maintained.  It is still just my "pet" car, in more ways than one, as it is easy for the dogs to jump in and out of it, not like my higher up Aerostar. 




First, we fixed a water leak in the garage.  This is the main cut-off for all the outside faucets, including the sink on the screened-in porch.  It is an easy way for me to shut then all off when the weather is going below freezing.













Then we attached the drain to the water tank through the outside wall of the cargo trailer.

Jay and I were in T-shirts and jeans, and almost wishing we were in tank tops and shorts.  The sun is shining and it is a gorgeous, "cats-on-porch and windows open" day.

19th Nov.1863. Cargo Trailer. Pugsy.

Please turn up the sound.
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Gettysburg Address, speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln on Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of the National Cemetery on the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg, Pa.

It is one of the most famous and most quoted of modern speeches. The final version of the address prepared by Lincoln, differing in detail from the spoken address, reads:

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

More at: http://americancivilwar.com/north/lincoln.html
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All created equal:
Video from November, 19th. 2008, with President-Elect Obama.

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Yesterday:

Jay and I sorted out all the lumber that we had taken out of the cargo trailer, and stored in "Pugsy", the vintage motor home.  It was different thicknesses and sizes, and we could re-use a lot of it, once we had it sorted out.

Mouse-over pictures for descriptions.    Click to enlarge.



   

Cargo Trailer Before:
It was full of partitions,
and shelves (and junk)









When we had it empty, but we had to store all that somewhere.

So poor old roomy 1968 Venture 19' fiberglass Class A, Pugsy, came to the rescue, again.
































These are the first pictures that have been taken of the inside of Pugsy, in all the years that I have owned it.



Maybe it will not be used for storage one day.







Then we worked on the wheel wells for the cargo trailer.




























We covered them with 3/4" insulation board, and then with wood.  These wheel wells will be under the dinette later, so the tops needed to be sturdy, because who knows what will be stored in there.

It was still sweater weather when we started working, (50 deg.) and the wind gusts were 13-16 MPH, so we had to keep the plywood, paneling and insulation weighted down on the work table.

Great for Alaska, but this is Texas, it didn't get over 63.2 deg. F. today.

Ornithologists. Hunter & Airstreams. Hemangiosarcoma

I love to watch birds, but I don't know many of their 'professional' names.

You might not like vultures, but they are part of Mother Nature's chain.  The non-electric garbage disposals.

This was sent to me by a certified Master Naturalist, today, which happened to be quite a coincidence due to what followed.

So, today as I was driving into town, I saw several buzzards soaring around high in the sky. http://www.ehow.com/about_6580365_buzzards-vs_-vultures.html 

At any rate, vultures or buzzards,  those scavengers that circle overhead when something is dead or dying.  I hoped that none of the local cattle or horses had succumbed.

Then I saw road kill, I think it was a rabbit, but there was also one of these great big birds and it was dead in the road, too.  I hope it didn't smash someone's windshield, but it seemed more like it had been run over.
The wing span was several feet, and it had been a beautiful bird.  I was also sorry for the little 'wabbit'.

I was on my way to see Hunter Hampton.  She was at Castaways RV Park near me.  She comments on a couple of RVing lists that I read, and also has her own list:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AirstreamList/


I used to have Airstreams, from 1962 16' Bambi TT, 24', 26' to 31 footers, and a lovely 36' Airstream Landyacht Class A, which was sold a couple of years ago.
 
Hunter fulltimes in her 25' Airstream travel trailer with three large dogs.  They are so sweet, and I petted and talked to them, while Hunter and I chatted for a couple of hours.  Her oldest one, Tucker, was up on the couch with me.  He is a Belgian Sheepdog,  and when she gets back to her farm in Florida, he will herd the sheep out of the barn for her. 

She also has a vintage Vagabond travel trailer at the farm as a guest house.  It looks like the 2-door 47 Westcraft Coronado I sold a little while back.

Apart from Airstreams and our love of animals, we had another thing in common.  Both our best doggies had died due to hemangiosarcoma, which is cancer of the spleen, and it becomes fatal in a very short time.

Sometimes their people don't even know their dogs have it, and suddenly find their dog dead.   But Hunter and I knew there was something wrong with our wonderful "sons", and even though we quickly took them to the vet, we lost them shortly afterwards.  When Hunter had her dog's spleen removed, he was only given 6 weeks, and made it for five of them.  My little Levi's was inoperable, so he had to be PTS within a week.
More at: http://www.caninecancer.com/Hemangiosarcoma.html

I have also had an Avion and a Silver Streak, and I often wonder why anyone would want anything but a 'silver bullet'.  They don't leak, they last forever, and even if you don't have the right hitch, (preferably a Hensley), they still tow like a dream. 
I surely knew the difference when I towed my son's 27' slab sided trailer compared to my 31' Airstream.  I couldn't wait to drop that thing, whereas I hardly knew the big Airstream was there.

Ray and I had got a couple of little jobs done this morning, before he had to leave.   We put new carpet on the metal steps to Pugsy, the vintage motor home.  I keep carpet on them so that animals won't get their toes caught in the slots, also so they are non-skid for people.  We punched holes in the carpet and anchored it with zip-ties through the slats.

In front of the house, I had pruned back an unruly bush which has blue flowers on it just about year round.  I don't know it's 'professional' name either.   
We added some hooks and green rope to go around the bush, so it won't trail all over the walkway again, like it did last year.

Pamala and Nigel just Skyped me and they are in Duncan, OK.  They should be here tomorrow evening.  Can't hardly wait to see them, and hear more about their trip to AK.

That's enough excitement for one day!

Is the Fox Guarding the Henhouse? ‘Project: "Pet Slim Down’ for Pets. Recalled Pet Foods. Pugsy RV.

"Oh, the irony.

A giant pet industry player now wants to undo the health damage caused by the food they sell – by selling a brand new line of the same old inferior food.

"Project: Pet Slim Down" looks a lot a marketing campaign masquerading as a pet health care initiative.

What Purina is marketing with this program is their line of veterinary diets. In order to sell this line of products, they need veterinary partners. There, in a nutshell, is surely the real reason behind Project: Pet Slim Down.

Just another Entry in the 'Low Fat' Pet Food Category

A quick glance at the ingredients list for these products reveals two universal truths about the vast majority of processed pet food, and especially the stuff marketed as a 'weight management' formula:

1. The ingredients are of very poor quality and include impossible-to-pronounce additives and preservatives, not to mention known allergens, and the ever-popular "meat byproducts." And don't forget the locust bean gum.
2. These diets are about as far from canine or feline species-appropriate nutrition as it gets.

It may surprise you to learn there's very little government regulation of pet food quality. Neither the USDA nor the FDA keeps tabs on the ingredients in commercially sold pet food."
More at: http://www.pets.mymytag.com/pets/is-the-fox-guarding-the-henhouse-purina-launches-project-pet-slim-down-for-pets.html
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More Pet Food Recalls:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/facts/pet_food_safety.html#Recalled_pet_food_and_treats
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Today:
Ray and I had planned to prime and patch the last place on "Pugsy", the vintage motor home, and re-install the other bar of the luggage rack.

Well, one thing leads to another.  We had to scrape and steel wool some old caulk that was on the chrome of the carrier, and soak the formed gasket in hot soapy water to be able to scrape that goop off. 

As we knew, due to it's color, that the fiberglass roof really needed to be repainted, we decided that we might as well coat it with white RV roof coating for more insulation.  Thank goodness, being one piece fiberglass it doesn't leak.

Then I remembered that we had never re-done the roof vent, we had just put a MaxxAir over it in 1994!   Therefore it probably hadn't been done since Pugsy was built in 1968.  So that needed to be done before re-coating the roof.  It took a while to get the MaxxAir off, and would take even longer to remove the vent.

We went up into the storeroom attic, and found a piece of 1/2" plywood to make the seat to the exerciser, and the sink cut-out for the sink area in the 47 Westwood Coronado.

We were working on the Coronado and the Mirage last summer: http://pennys-tuppence.blogspot.com/2009/05/kew-gardens-london-coronado-countertop.html   I had wanted Jay to just cut it out of some scrap, as it was just a template, but he used a brand new sheet of plywood.

The man who bought the Coronado forgot to take the plywood template, so it had been stored in Pugsy.   Now, it will be just right for the cargo/stealth trailer. I had to find the sink cut-out as we will have to patch in a bit of it, to make the smaller sink fit. 

Ray and I tried it all out and my sink will fit.  I was wondering what to do with that plywood template, and now I am glad he didn't take it with the Coronado.

It has been a 'windows and doors open" morning.  What a lovely day!

Wayzalot Wrecked. Adoption Day.

The famous Wayzalot, as seen in many TV shows and articles, met it's doom on the 11th. May 2010:





"A handmade wooden trailer named 'Wayzalot' sits wrecked on I-65 southbound after wrecking to avoid hitting a semi. Hardy Evans says the trailer has been featured on RV Crazy and has been featured 100 times on the Travel Channel. (By Amber Sigman, special to The Courier-Journal) May 11, 2010"
Here is where it was featured: http://www.wayzalot.com/as%20seen%20on%202.html
More at: http://www.wayzalot.com/

In it's heyday:


This is a picture from Tin Can Tourists.

Added later.      Here is the obituaty of the Wayzalot:
http://www.wayzalot.com/end%20of%20wayzalot.html
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Just in case you are interested in vintage trailers.   Here is a picture of my 53 Silver Streak Clipper, the one with the alien eyes:

http://www.tincantourists.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2131
Sold through Jim Patterson: http://tompatterson.com/index.html
http://tompatterson.com/Silverstreak/Pictures/195322ftclipper/Clipper22.php



And my 47 Westwood Coronado, a 'Before' picture.
By a strange set of events, I owned this one 3 times between 1968 and 2009. In 2009 the frame was just as good as it was in 1947.   Sold through Tin Can Tourists Classified.
Those were the oldest ones that I worked on.
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Jay said he would go with me to help me with the animals for Adoption Day.   So I put Patches and Prime in their traveling cages, and led Sparky out to the car and crated him for the trip.  Jay got the cat cages loaded in the van, but Patches was so mad at having to go to Adoption Day that she held her blankie with her feet,  and tore shreds off it with her teeth, on the way.  Jay unloaded them for me when we got there, while I led Sparky in.   I got them settled in their display cages, and left.

It was drizzling while Jay and I went down to The Woodlands.  Jay wanted to go to a warehouse type thrift shop there on Budde Road, where we used to pick up all sorts of bargains.  They didn't have anything we wanted this time, and I doubt if we will go there again. 
We stopped at one more thrift shop and then headed back to Conroe.  We had stopped at Pancho's Mexican Restaurant, but they had changed the menu, so we boogied on up to China Buffet.  I had a very nice meal, but Jay complained about everything, as usual.  But he would complain even if he was getting hung with a new rope!

They had a very slow Adoption Day, no applications on any of the animals.  As my Bobcat clearly feels that Sparky has usurped her house, I asked my SPCA boss to take him back for a while.  Both her parents are now out of the hospital, so she is not chasing around quite as much.  She said that he was a different dog since I took care of him, and showed well, whereas the other time he was there he growled and snapped at nearly everyone. 
I didn't like to do this to him, but my pet comes first.  She is 15 years old and it is her house.  She only came out of my bathroom twice the whole two weeks that Sparky was here.  She should not have to live under stress like that in her old age.

So I am again dogless today.