As we drove by Melissa and Tom’s house on the way home from work, I commented to Craig that I should stop and see their trailer, cuz I miss seeing Rosie at our house.  It’s not like I don’t have stuff to do while she is gone: sand, paint and replace the window screens, find a spray paint booth for the bathroom furnishings, finish researching the electric options, etc.  Since Frank hadn’t blogged on the FTW’s site in a while, I wandered over to Anna Luminum (his trailer’s blog) and was pleased to get a glimpse of Rosie hanging with the “kewl” gals in the snow.  And the funny thing is that Frank was whining about missing his trailer in the blog post.  I think we are all starting to get spring fever.

It was really fun to read about Rosie in Frank’s blog tonight, head over and read it!

Due to the wet ground, she isn’t hanging with the kewl older trailers in the field.  Seventies trailers are considered vintage, but they are not as coveted as the earlier ones.  It’s not just the additional years they have on them, Airstream made them different before 1970, different management.  I happen to like the seventies look and windows and it’s good aluminum still.  The nice thing is that Frank was able to see her through my eyes.  He did a good job sorting out what she needs and what we want to accomplish.  I think I dreamt about water, grey, and black tanks last night.

I miss seeing her in the driveway, but now I have a picture of her in the “on deck” position, or maybe officially she’s warming up. Frank has one in surgery with another trailer on deck before Rosie.  I’m glad she’s down there waiting and not stuck in a snow bank up here.

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

Getting her unburied last weekend

She be empty!

From Airstream floor and belly

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:

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.

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.

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