I was gone last week to outstate MN with three very good friends – Louise, Mary, and Barb. You betcha!

We were at Itasca State Park (the grandfather of parks per Louise). We biked around the wilderness area and on the Heartland trail. Among the thrills were walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi, seeing the tallest white and red pines in MN, eating in the big town of Dorset, playing cards, and belly-busting laughter. I hope I can take the trailer out to MN in a year or two 🙁

Before I left for MN, I replaced the gasket on the door. When I came back I replaced the gasket on the small window next to the door. It took hours to scrape off whatever the previous owner had used to adhere the gasket. It seemed more like a heavy brown caulk then an adhesive. The adhesive I got from InlandRV was black and is like epoxy where you have to put it on both sides then stick’em together. I kept them shut for awhile then sprayed them with silicone spray to keep them supple (a maintenance item). They seem to be staying on ok.

I also started caulking – YUCK! I am not too good at it and I messed up a LOT. I got the top of the door and little window, the hot water entry, and the stove vent redone with Vulkem. I also did the sides of the window and door with clear gutter seal. I used a 5 cc syringe to apply the clear sealant (thanks for the idea Fletch!) which was better than the caulk gun or the flexible tube, but my thumbs are raw from yanking on the plunger to fill the syringe.

I’ll be interested to see how the gasket, caulk, and sealant have affected the leaks if we ever get any rain.

Oh yeah and the good news of the day …. the frig works with electricity. I have ice in the freezer!

Craig and I are thinking about replacing the range with a 2-burner drop-in cooktop and a small microwave. I want to shorten up the lower kitchen cabinet to accomodate a full bed in the front. The plan buys us more space, less weight, and enough functionality. This stove is in such bad shape, I don’t want it. I offered it to Fletch for parts and he stopped by with Denise tonight and took it away.

They invited us to attend a local unofficial vintage trailer group getting together up at Taughannock Falls this Sunday.

Not sure about the furnace or hot water heater yet. Will see how they check out and fit with the revisions. There is a smaller furnace that would be cool to use.

— Cleaned the frig, I hope it works.

— Pulled out the crappy crap tubes in the rear bumper, was afraid I would find some poo in there, instead had a great find… the missing “M” in the bumber tray for the “Airstrea_”. Now I just have to figure out how to reattach it.

— WD-40’d the jack on the curb-side rear and road-side front and cranked them to the ground. The trailer feels more stable with the “stabilizer” jacks down.

Happy Birthday Nathan!!

1. Marc came over with Carol to help us celebrate Nathan’s bday and the 4th (on the 3rd). He convinced me it was safe to try the electric with an adapter off the house with an extension cord AND IT WORKED!!

That is until I actually cleaned and filled the battery, which then started charging (according to the Airstream Central Panel monitor) and shorted out leaving the 12V service out of commission, but the “convenience” sockets still worked. According to the manual its probably a bad battery (do ya’think? It had no water, was probably frozen uncharged, and is dated 1984). I need to buy an RV/Boat battery and find the fuse that blew. I tried a battery in the Control panel for the clock and it worked until I got the panel screwed back in.

2. Finished the first cleaning pass today. The “Greased Lightening” is a wonderful thing. You can watch the grease bubble up and just wipe it away. I went through two bottles of it between yesterday and today. I guess it was worth breaking my boycott of Walmart to get it. Thanks to the news lists and Cay/Cindy for encouraging its use. Now I have to find the Future Floor wax. I hope Ace Hardware is still in business. (found out the local Agway carries the “Greased Lightening”, yeah!)

Almost puked cleaning the bathroom. I am sure it was just road dirt, right? The bathroom ABS plastic has no luster left. It’s stained pretty badly, but mostly intact. I am going to look into taking it apart and spray painting it.

I made a list of parts to order from
Inland RV and started a receipt envelop for my first purchases (a mat for the entrance step ($8) and a 30amp-15amp converter ($5), and of course the “Greased Lightening” ($2.50 ea.)).

I took the credensa out to be able to watch the leak and to fix the floor and in the process went right through the floor.

Bag-o-wasp nests… the top front vent was so full that when it was cleaned out I kept thinking there was a light on since I was used to no light or air coming through. Thank heavens the wasps were dead!

Inside view of the broken window. Its only cut me twice now.

Started cleaning. Cleaned the kitchenette – first layer. Cleaned the road side pressed aluminum to the window. Unscrewed the gaucho, ready for removal.

Will get visiting Nathan to help move it out for cleaning it and the wall. Cleaned the door and the buckets under the gaucho. Used “Believe It”.

Finished pulling the rug out and made a dump run with the couch cushion, rug remains, and twin bed cushions. It already smells much better in there.

Our family’s new addition came to visit. Carol’s new puppy “Baxter”.

Tim visited on his way home this AM since we had no Internet or phones at work d/t to the optic fiber catching on fire. He thought she was in good shape and not as big as he had imagined. Thinks she’d be easy to tow with a 4runner.

Cay came by after work to give her a look-see in the rain. She was surprised how big she is. Offered to help sew some curtains.

Carol and Marc called to say they’d be over this weekend. Carol offered to help measure and prepare for replacing the cushions.

Corey’s due home this weekend and mom will probably come up with Wayne and the kids. Leslie wants to go camping in it asap.

Ripped up the rug in the front half.

Found two major wet spots. The one under the curb side front window is very punk.

The leak from under the stove has not caused as much damage yet.

Craig helped take out the cushions and I took a pic of my first bag-o-rug trash.

Gonna cut out the wood in the cushions and label/save it for a template or reuse.

Next up: Rest of the rug, mattresses out, curtains out and a dump run.