Get Out the Map

Author: elly

  • Rosie is visiting Baltimore

    I cruised down the highway to MD yesterday with Rosie.  I realized halfway through PA that we had not been out of the state together.  I know she lived in PA and Florida at some point.  It was a great trip down – good weather, pretty scenery, clear roads, not too much traffic, friendly truckers, and a good book to listen to thanks to Carol.  The new-to-me tow vehicle (2007 Tundra) did GREAT, pulled lil’Rosie like a charm.  I’m kicking myself for not taking the camera or taking phone pictures.  Especially once we got her settled in at her temporary home.

    She is now in the hands of Frank Yensan of Frank’s Trailer Works where she will get many things done, including a new floor and axles. Yeah!  I met up with Frank off Rt 695 and we drove to his storage place.  He was very patient helping me practice backing her up into a nice spot. I didn’t take out any body, buildings, or poles, no animals were injured in this process (I did get to meet the jubilant ‘Cash’, a beautiful Chesapeake Retriever).  I had the good fortune to meet Frank’s family and be treated with delicious homemade cookies and great coffee.

    You can also follow Frank’s work at his blog

    trailer_hitched.jpg

    Getting her unburied last weekend

  • GUTTED

    She be empty!

    From Airstream floor and belly

  • Not quite there yet…

    I almost finished the gutting last weekend.  Just one major piece left to come out — the cap lining in the back.  Its being held up with the vent pipe and I wasn’t sure the best way to handle it.  Unfortunately, part of the lining came down unexpectedly and I got a face full of 36-year-old fiberglass and dust which sent my lungs into a real tizzy.  Still deciding on the vent pipe, I’m hoping to get back out to work soon to finish up – when I feel better:
    front_gutted.jpgback_gutted_cept_cap.jpg

    I’ve got most of the interior stacked in the basement, but still have several orphans to take care of. I need to sand the bathroom fixtures so they can be painted. The kitchenette will probably live on the porch for now and the furnace needs to be junked.  The front cap needs to find a spot in the basement. I think I need another pallet to put it on though.

    bathroom.jpgkitchentte.jpgfront_cap.jpg

  • No more bathroom

    Like everything else, its taking longer than I expected, the bathroom and closet are now out.

    From Airstream demolition

    Marc helped me get the drains and plumbing disonnected.  They were very challenging.  He unscrewed the shower drain from under the trailer and got sprayed with debris-filled standing water – yuck.  I would not have figured out how to get the flange out of the black tank holding down the platform the toilet and sink sit on (screw driver and hammer in a notch).

    From Airstream demolition

    I put up my pics that I’m using to inventory the pieces as they come out on Picassa Web in the “Airstream Demolition” album.  I doubt anyone is interested in these, but now I have a backup.

  • Center section cleared

    I removed the twin beds, overhead cabinets, frig and frig area.  Next up — bathroom fixtures.

    Twins and frig out.

  • Sampson State Park – NE Tin Can Tourist

    I made it to the rally.  The highlights for me were listening to Richie Sterns of the Horseflies, Bubba George, and Evil City String Bands with Craig, and taking a lovely ride along the lake trail with my sister and Marc.  The open house was also a blast, fun trailers and friendly folks.

    Fletch and Denise were great hosts!

    2009_sampsonstatepark-006.jpg

    More photos

  • Expectation management

    I was hoping to have the front section completely gutted before the NE Tin Can Tourist Rally that’s happening this weekend in Sampson State Park, but I’m still happy with my progress.  I really can’t do much more until I disable the rest of the trailer.  So here is my latest shot.

    2009_9_front.jpg

    [Click picture for larger view.]

    I have developed my own labeling system that includes location and over/under lapping and imprinted with a sharpie and photo documentation.  I hope it still makes sense next summer.

    I did find an old mouse nest in the front section full of decon.  The rest hasn’t been too interesting.
    Mouse nest with decon stash

    [Click picture for larger view]