Places We Have Called Home In 2020

March 9, 2020

Temperature 73 Degrees

Getting Elvira All Spiffy – Wash and Wax

Remember when I said there was no rain in the foreseeable future?  Wrong!  They’re forecasting rain starting tomorrow continuing through Thursday.

I guess I should have known.  Today I had the gentleman from Benjamin’s RV Wash over to give Elvira a wash and wax.  They were the same company I had before when we still owned Graybeard.

Since you are not allowed to wash your own rig, nor use any water from the park spigot they come equipped with their own tank of water and a pressure washer.

They begin by pressure washing the entire rig.  They also clean each window individually.

They then hand wax and rub out the entire rig.  The whole process took then just a bit over two hours.

The end result.  This has to be the best $130 I’ve ever spent.

While they were doing their thing I wandered around and noticed one more item to add to my punch list – I need to re-caulk all the windows.  I wonder how many people who own new or newer rigs never realize that things like this need to be done on a periodic basis.  Until, that is, they begin to find water stains or mold around the window frames or elsewhere.  When you own an older rig items like this are a given.

That’s about it for today’s trip down The Road of Retirement.  I’ve started picking up outside and getting ready to move the end of the week.  I’ll continue to do a little each day so we’ll be ready to go when the day comes.  I’m still trying to develop a comfortable routine wherein all will get put away and nothing will be left behind.  I have my list and I’ll work it down to the last period especially this first time.

It’s been good having you with us again today.  Keep them comments and suggestions coming, each and everyone is appreciated.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

March 8, 2020

Temperature 86 Degrees

Barbara Has It Back

Finally Figured Out The Light Switches

The Transformation Continues – Up On The Roof Top, But Not With Santa Claus

In the true spirit of sharing all that we have, Barbara now has what I have.  Actually, according to the doctor this is a normal fall-out from the flue.  There is a whale of a lot of it going around.  Hopefully, she will bounce back as quick as I have.

I have two of these lights, mid-coach near the roof line as you can see.  Since I’ve owned Elvira I could never figure out how to turn them on.  I couldn’t even find the switches for them.  Then I turned to the Newmar Owners Forum on RVVillage.  

They told me exactly where to look for the switches – in the control panel over the entrance door.  There they are, Security Roadside and Curbside.

Then we have these lights.  There are several of them down each side of Elvira at the bottom of the coach.  I didn’t even know what they were called so had no idea where to look for the switch for them.

Back to the forum.  They are called Dock Lights and right there on the driver’s center console panel is the switch to turn them on.  Now I know where all the switches for all the lights are.  Another mystery solved.

Today’s project was all those many things that stick through the roof and need lots and lots of caulking to keep them from letting water get into the coach.  It was a perfect day for this project, not too hot and a beautiful breeze all day long.

There were the two Fantastic Roof Vents.  I removed the covers and cleaned them.  I also cleaned the vent lids.  Then I re-caulked the vent itself and finally put the covers back on.

The Over The Air (OTA) Antenna.  This needed to be both re-tightened and re-caulked.  First, I tightened all the existing screws then I coated it good with Dycor Self-Leveling Sealant.

I added even more sealant to the feed for the satellite antenna.  I also put sealant on the screws behind – still to be done in this picture.

Then I did all the vents (I was just starting on this one); there was also the air horns; the small solar panel; various other plates that covered up access holes; and finally the seam along the front and rear cap.  

I still have more to go.  I need to pull the AC Covers and clean the drains and caulk around their base.  I also need to replace screws in the roof ladder and re-caulk it.

With no threat of rain in the foreseeable future I really don’t need to rush.  I don’t want to let the rest go for all too long either.  Hopefully, all will be done by the end of this week.

Another fruitful day on The Road of Retirement has drawn to an end.  Barbara has been to the doctor and is on the mend.  Light switches have been found.  98% of the roof top projects have been finished.  So, as they say today is a wrap.

Thanks again for coming along with us on our journey of transforming and upgrading Elvira.  I’ll confess, I’m really enjoying myself.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

March 7, 2020

Temperature 89 Degrees

The Medicine Is Working

Our First Earthquake

The Second Challenge – Finding Things We Put Away

The Transformation Continues – Some More Small Additions and Changes

What a difference a day makes.  I had a fantastic night’s sleep and the medicine is definitely working.  I feel like a new person.  Yipee!

Last night we experienced our first earthquake.  There was a 5.5 quake in Baja, Mexico that was felt as far north as Phoenix.  What a weird feeling.  We were sitting in our recliners when the whole rig began to bounce up and down and rock front to back.  Everyone came pouring out of rigs up and down the road.  We all had a good laugh.  One thing I know for sure, I’m glad it wasn’t stronger nor closer than it was.

So we are faced with our Second Big Challenge – Finding Things We Put Away.  For instance, last week we decided to have waffles for breakfast.  We have the neatest little waffle maker that makes personal size waffles.  The only problem, we had no idea where it was!  We searched high and low with no success.  Well, last night I opened an overhead closet and there inside our empty chip container was the waffle maker!  No idea how it got there, but I’m sure glad we found it.  This morning we celebrated and had waffles.

Same thing with our supply of batteries.  We always keep a supply of all sizes on hand.  A few days ago I needed four triple A batteries.  You guessed it, our container of batteries was not to be found.  Today I pulled our printer out and low and behold there under our printer shelf I discovered our container with the batteries in it!  I’m sure there are things in here we’ll never discover until we move into our next rig.

Yup, we’re still adding and making changes.

Our new bathroom towels came today.  The neighbors asked me today if the delivery trucks are ever going to stop coming.  Yup, the day before we leave.

We put up our State Map today.  We purchased the wrong kind, meaning it can only be put up inside.  So for now, it’s on the inside mirror below Amanda’s picture.

Look hard and you can see the new faucet aerator that I put on today.  Now we have good water pressure in both bathrooms.

This one proved to be a two person job.  I had put on new 150 lb prop rods to hold the bed and mattress up in order to access the storage underneath.  A problem appeared almost immediately, the brackets on the under side of the bed were secured with small wood screws.   They pulled out the second time we raised the bottom.  Solution?  Bolts with lock screws.  While Barbara held the mattress up so I didn’t put holes in it, I drilled the holes for the bolts and then installed the bolts and locked them in place with lock nuts.  Let’s see how long this lasts.

Today I also printed out our new fuel log sheet for this year.  Just as important, maybe even more so, I printed out our new departure check list.  I’ve learned to use this religiously before we leave any park now.  Especially since we now have a satellite antenna that needs to come down before we move.

We come now to the end of  yet another glorious day on The Road of Retirement.  Our time here has been good for both of us.  The weather is definitely to our liking.  The whole area is also one that has grown on us.  We going to miss not being here next winter.  We’ll be coming back the year after and probably a lot more after that.  Time now to call it a night.

Thanks for your company again today.  Questions, suggestions, comments we appreciate them all.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

March 6, 2020

Temperature 84 Degrees in the Shade – 109 Degrees in the Sun

The Transformation Continues – New Satellite Antenna

After a really rough nite I decided it was time to go to the doctor.  It didn’t take him long to tell me, Mr Burns you have bronchitis.  Now how about that.  I have enough pills, cough syrup and an inhalator that should kill anything that ails me.  I sure hope so.  I hate feeling like this.

We decided to bite the bullet and update our satellite antenna.  This is who we turned to based upon several recommendations.

Allan himself up on the roof.  He has already removed the old antenna and is now in the process of installing the new one.

He definitely brings his whole shop with him.  In conversation with him we discovered that he actually lives in Colorado.  However, during the winter months he and his wife  move to Yuma.  We were fortunate that we were able to have him do the work since he is heavily booked.

The maze inside that had to be sorted out.

The new antenna installed and locked on to satellites.  With this antenna each receiver inside operates independently.  Meaning, you can watch whatever you want on either the front or back Wally.  You no longer have to be on the same satellite at the same time.

That was the sum total of our day on The Road of Retirement.  Time now for me to crash and get some rest.  I definitely hope I don’t have a repeat of last night.

Thanks for checking in with us.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Catch you again tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before

See you on down the road!