Asberry.org

Category: RV/Camping

  • RV Carpentry Skills

    The only cabinet in the kitchen at a lower level is the one next to the oven, it’s where we keep the pots, pans, toaster, coffee maker and the like.
    Originally it was made with rather flimsy materials that while did the job, didn’t hold up to the riggers of the road. Oddly enough there is a bunch of room under there but it’s hard to get to and awkward and there’s a water heater and plumbing and air ducts too.

    It’s not really that big of a deal but I don’t like it out of service, it’s really the only place to keep kitchen stuff. So I had enough pieces laying around to put it together and the materials used will hold up, I didn’t really glue and screw as much as I should but it still needs to come out if to get under there if I need to.

    Here’s what it looks like:

  • Road Trip from Heck

    So yesterday (Veterans day) I had a few things to attend to at noon and then we got the great idea to go camping. The state park site has a great feature called ‘camping this weekend’ that shows you what parks have availability for the weekend, it’s not perfect because sometimes it doesn’t actually Friday/Saturday nights together but close enough. So we were off to Cooper Lake State Park South Sulfur Unit (I know, sounds like a prison). The trip really made me reconsider this whole camping thing. It was raining when we were packing in the gear, the GPS had us going 30 all the way through the mix-master in Dallas and we encountered a wreck in Royce City that had us stuck in traffic for 45 minutes because the inbreeds in the fire/police department there are pretty much complete incompetents. While they can shut a lane down it was a free for all getting to the closure. That backed us up enough that I had to stop and use the facilities, usually no biggie but when I pulled over by the side of the road, I managed to pick the worst possible place and got my shoes caked with mud and had to put the truck in 4wd to get it moving which covered the RV in mud. Worse yet Sandy gets out needing her charger and got her boots all dirty. I was seriously fit to be tied. The rest of the way to the camp my head was filled with ways do my best to take out as many stupid humans I could before someone stopped me, meaning I completely missed enjoying the ride, company or scenery. My mood first broke when we got to the park and the lady rangers attitude was just so nice, as cold as it was she came out with a smile, took my pass and said let me go make sure everything is in order and get you your permit, she bounded back to the building, did the paperwork and came right back still with a smile and the permit. She asked if we’d ever been there, we said no and still smiling jumped back into the building and was right back with the maps and directions to where we had to go. That interaction got me from monster to grumpy human.

    We got to the camp and got backed in without too much of an issue. I sent Sandy in to get inside ready while I did my best to wash off our foot ware and the RV with no brush or hose sprayer (grrr) but we got it done and by that point it was too late to do any hiking (5:30 and already dark) and I was exhausted. Cold, tired and hungry just isn’t a good combo. Literally not a single TV station to be had and slim cell service, but it was enough to find a sort of close restaurant called the Red Barn cafe and off we went. It was classic small town country restaurant with a prominent sign on the door as you came in saying “no credit or debit cards accepted” which made me thankful I grabbed cash before we left. Dinner was catfish for Sandy and I had the chicken fried steak, the baked potato was served dry with a dressing kit that had bunches of butter packets, cheese and packets of sour cream and the salad was simple, lettuce, cheese and some carrot slivers which I ate even though I’m not a salad person. The food was good and the waitress was nice and the place just felt homey. We shot off to Walmart and then back to camp where we started a jig saw puzzle before I crashed out in the bed with our new flannel sheets and slept wonderfully. I even dreamed which doesn’t ever happen. So an old friend of mine Evy was being looked at for a murder and I was being asked questions by a detective and then James Gandolfini shows up and starts being a lawyer for me and we’re laughing and cracking jokes at the detectives expense and then I had to go get my headphones from the fountain where I had been playing before the detective started questioning me and this tall guy took them and I could jump high enough to get them and I said god you’re tall and he laughed and gave them back to be and I think I was trying to find my bike so I could go back and tell Evy and the group that Tony Soprano had helped me avoid answering questions from the detective. I don’t dream often but when I do they’re usually kind of odd.

    This morning I woke up and fed Cali and checked on the indoor cats. Saw that Cali had a big breakfast and my kitties were all present and accounted for. Got dialed in at home and the important update stuff was moving right along so I was able to pass along that good news. So everything seems right with the world now and I feel pretty good. Here’s hoping the day keeps turning our way. I’ll have pictures for the next post.

  • Sunday – Black Tank Maintenance

    I did tank maintenance today on the black tank of the RV. This isn’t a fun, pretty or pleasant smelling chore and not for the faint of heart but if you own an RV you don’t have much of a choice. It didn’t feel that the black tank was emptying completely and it seemed to fill quickly. So just the design of an RV system means you are not dislodging anything from underneath, that would lead to a special type of hell I just can’t imagine, or maybe I just don’t want to.

    So after draining it and running the ‘sprayer’ it still didn’t look like it was completely empty. So I filled it with water by wedging open the pedal on the toilet and spraying the shower hose in it. Loaded it up to full and then pulled the plug and you could tell it cleared. with the extra water it drained really well and all the way to empty on the readout. So far so good.

    Did that again and then did a visual inspection with the camera. So it seems that it drained properly but there was still solid matter on the side away from the drain. I think that may just be the nature of the game. Refilled and drained with the sprayer on but didn’t reinspect. I did add a bit of water and two biopacks to try to see if that will get rid of it with the rest of our stay here. Other tanks are fine and everything is holding up properly.

    Got a chance to walk up to the cemetery down the road. It’s super old, there was a veteran who actually fought in the revolutionary war. Amazing to think that those graves have been here since the beginning of the country. I also walked by and through the Mansfield East Common’s. Nothing much but it did have the WW2 memorial of those lost from the area, I was struck by the same last names, it looks like several families lost multiple sons. Kind of makes you think.

  • Rain Day to Catch up

    Goodness it’s been busy. Despite my best intentions I’ve had trouble updating every day so now that we’re hunkered down in MA, I took the day off so Sandy can hang out with her mom and I can just vegetate. It’s pouring rain anyways and it’s amazing to hang out in the RV and listen to it. Being close to Boston we get all their stations and they have Story TV which is playing in the background.

    We left the day I turned in my last paper and got the news I passed on the road so I don’t think its really set in that it’s over. That will come when I get back and the feeling of something hanging over my head will be gone. Part of me wants to get home to check it out. No more waking up in the middle of the night thinking I should get to that paper/project/whatever. I’m hoping that goes away but the more I think about it, it’s probably my nature to do that and if not school, something else will fill that gap, it’s up to me to make sure that whatever does fill that gap is positive and moving forward. The other reason it hasn’t set in is that really, the only thing the degree is good for is job hunting and I’m not hunting for a new job. I do admit that I’ve skimmed the job boards and am kind of giddy that I now possess both the degree and the desired experience years to make me a top contender for anything I’m a fit for. That feels good.

    So the primary worry on my mind now is the starter in the truck. It’s on it’s last legs and I’m hoping that it can make it to PA where I can replace it. I ordered the replacement and had it sent to Shelly’s and should make it there the same day that we do. I’ve got the tools to change it out I just need a place. So have the time, tools, and we’ll see about the talent. There are only two bolts that hold the silly thing on and I’ve made eye contact with where the starter lives but I’m not 100% sure how to get at it. I’m sure that by looking at the new one I’ll be able to figure out how to get the old one off. Other than that we’re still leaking oil from someplace but not too badly. I smell it so it’s leaking above the exhaust manifold but can’t really see anything. I’m thrilled that when we get back I’ll be able to actually work on it. We’re getting close to 8 miles per gallon so I can’t complain there, gas is still expensive but it’s pointless to bitch about it.

    The RV has been holding up great! The door to the bathroom and closet were squeaking but a bit of the water displacement formula forty (WD-40) worked like a charm and they’re silent. I’ve been shocked that I’m actually sleeping well on the dinette bed. We’re going to get a twin air mattress for it and at that point I dare say it’s really comfortable. Does make noise because of the plastic rim around the table. Will have to look at quieting that. Tanks are holding up as expected, always having to keep an eye on them but no issues. Got a really good outdoor mat to clean off shoes, it helps. The paint job on the nose of the RV has been pretty amazing, holding up great during the travels so far. Still has a great gloss.

    Well I’m on to try to back fill posts and put some pictures up. I’ll try to keep current.

  • Starting Our Stay in MA

    We were looking for something closer to Brockton that Wampatuck state park that we camped at last year and we found Canoe River Campground that’s just 22 miles away and is $20 dollars a night cheaper than the state park, also has water and sewer at the site. But (sigh) there are always tradeoffs. This is our neighbor and some shots of the ponds.

    So we’re kind of in the ghetto, but it’s not bad. A walk through the park revealed a mix of travelers and residents with the resident population leaning toward the non-affluent Caucasian refuse. But, in this case we’re not here for nature, we’re here so Sandy can be with her mom. And in this case we have a place to park the RV with all the hookups, life is good.

    After setting up camp and visiting mom, we went looking for a bite to eat and found Jimmy’s Pub. Super impressed by the burger, it was about as close to perfect as you can get. Sandy had the pastrami sandwich that was very tasty also.

  • Allow your soul to travel

  • Fire Starters

    I ran across this on Pinterest I believe and I got a chance to try it and I’m super impressed. You takes these ‘cotton rounds’ and dip them in wax and let them harden. You can stick them in the kindling and light them and boom, fire!