San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers trip

 San Marcos and Gaudalupe rivers trip

 Thursday, may 30, 2013

We're heading south for a little rest and relaxation and tubing. After this last week of all work, and not much sleep, I'm ready. We drove to Belton to 35 and South to Austin. Map quest rerouted us around Austin on the new toll road. It is a great road, but we're not sure if they are going to charge us $1.69 or $1.69 per axle. All the toll stations are closed, and it is all pay by mail, so after passing 5 or 6 of the stations, we don't know if our bill is going to be $8.45 or $30. We will find out when we get back home. We had to stop in Kyle for the great Mexican food at Casa Maria's again. We weren't disappointed. After checking in at Pecan park, we talked to several people who went through Austin on 35, and into a nightmare of a traffic jam. It took over an hour to get through Austin. Maybe I'll remember that story when our toll bill arrives in the mail. A lot of Airstreamers are in the park already on Thursday, even though the rally starts tomorrow. We visited with everyone, Debi and Jim Rich, Sid and Bonnie, Bonnie's brother Sam and Pam, Terry and Mary, Steve and Amy, Joe and Rachel without Rachel tonight, Deb and Ken, Craig and Debbie. 

 Friday, may 31

Shelly and I talked Sid into chauffeuring us to the bridge for tubing. Terry and Mary went with us for a relaxing tube ride. The water is a little murky from the recent rain, but feels great, since it got up to 95* today. We had our potluck, with Shelly bringing her Mexican chicken and cherry dump cake. All the food was delicious. Connie and Johnny showed up just in time to eat, and brought barbecue from Luling. We sat around Steve's propane campfire and visited with everyone. 

 Saturday, June 1

Spent a relaxing morning before tubing down the river again. This time Joe and Rachel, Bonnie, Sam and Pam, Terry and Mary went with us. What a difference Saturday makes on the river. Serene was a good description yesterday, but today the river was crowded with college kids enjoying the day. Quiet was not what they  were after on the river, but people watching became the event of the day. After we got back to the camp, we decided to sit on the edge of the riverbank, and watch the tubers in the rapids. We ate at the potluck again, and won two door prizes; Flamingo lights, and a t shirt with the airforums logo on it. We sat around the campfire again and visited. 

 Sunday, June 2

Lots of folks packing up this morning. Guess they have to work tomorrow. I'm going to have to learn Frenchy's line, " I had a job once, I didn't like it!" There are about six Airstreamers still here. We floated the river again in the early afternoon, and the crowd was about half the amount of yesterday, but still a little crazy. We ate leftover Mexican chicken, and washed clothes before visiting with everyone again.

 Monday, June 3

Caught up on the IPad with world events, before packing up and saying goodbye. Drove to the River Road rv camp on the Guadalupe river just out of New Braunfels. Set up camp, and walked up to the bridge and floated down to our camp. It is a short float, but we tied off to a rope in the river and kept cool in the river most of the afternoon. We ate ribs and potato salad, and watched tv before going to bed early.

  Tuesday, June 4

We enjoyed a lazy morning before Erica and Damon showed up around noon. We all floated the same short section again twice and took advantage of the cool river. It has been getting up in the mid nineties in the afternoon, and the river is about 75*. Shelly made chicken burritos and leftover corn salsa. We played Yahtzee several times, then sat watching the sunset and listening to the river. 

 Wednesday, June 5

I guess I finally caught up on my sleep, because I was up at 6:30, but everyone else slept in. I drove up river road, to see if the place was open that we put in the river last year. It wasn't, so I drove on to lazy L & L camp to see our alternatives. It was a nicer camp, but the sites were smaller and further from the river. I like hearing the rapids only 10 feet from our Airstream, but the other camp will do for a backup plan. We spent most of the day lazing in the river staying cool, and played double Yahtzee at night. 

 Thursday, June 6

 Where does the time go? It's already time to pack up and go home. It is hard to believe we've been gone a week already. 

This is how we convert our living room to a second bedroom! The swivel rockers feel even more comfortable outside

That is Erica and Damon chilling on the Guadalupe!

Our camp!

1959 Tradewind restoration part 2

The holding tanks in place

The plywood painted on bottom for moisture protection.

 I spent several days working on the holding tanks, sub floor, and belly pan. None of this will be seen, but all needs to be done before putting the body back on. That will be the exciting part.

This shows the dump valve locations, and the black tank rinse inlet.

Crimping the belly pan over the rail

Lowering the body onto the frame. 

Checking the holding tanks for leaks

We spent several days riveting the body onto the frame, and replacing the right side lower panels. I thought riveting would get old after about 30 minutes, but I'm still having fun after two days. Shelly and dad, however, are on the other end of the rivet, and aren't having as much fun. It is starting to look like a real Airstream again! I bought a new catch for the step to hold it in the up position, and decided to put it on last night. The 1" angle iron brace is right in the way. I put in the same place as our 1973 Overlander, but the new catch is for the step from the 2003. That means I had to cut the brace off. Now I need to decide if it is necessary to weld it further back. At least the new catch works. 

The right side before the panel replacement

The new panel

Drilling the holes

Lots of Clecos

The new side

Close up of the new rivets

The old back panel

The new back 

The new panel on the left side.

We spent several more days riveting, and decided to replace the back panel. The old one had quite a few scratches and holes, so off it came. The new one sure looks nicer. I advertised on Airforums that I needed a window to replace a wrong window on the left side. The previous owner had put a jalousie window in its place, and I didn't like it. A nice gentleman from South Carolina happened to have an 18" window, but no frame. That will fit the frame I took out from the lower window next to the door. The previous owner had covered that one with aluminum, but the frame was still good. I cut out for the refrigerator vents, battery boxes, water heater, and furnace, as well as a side outdoor light. The outside is almost done once I get the door ready. That may take several days itself. 

The new compartment door

The battery compartments from the 2003 Classic took the place of some holes in the front

The lower refrigerator vent

 The door seems to have been abused. I think it had been slammed open a few too many times. I took the small door apart, and decided to replace the skins on it. The door handle had been replaced recently, and the hole patched with aluminum. It did not look bad, but since I am replacing skins, it will be relatively easy to change that one too. Now I am down to about  half the old skins, and I think it will look better to have all new skins, so what the heck.This is a learning experience, right? Now, should I change the hinges to the right side of the  door, like it should have been to start with? What was Wally thinking, anyway? I'll have to think on that one a day or two.

  After thinking on it a couple of days, I guess I'll go with the original suicide door.

    I spent several hours cutting the new skins, and took them to a tin shop in West, Texas. While       they were bending the panels, I got to see the devastation from the fertilizer explosion. It was amazing to see the effects of the blast. Wow. 

I spent about three hours riveting the outside skins back to the door frame.

It turned out nice. It looks better than the patched door. The aluminum was about $100, and the bending cost $60. I'll have about 12 hours labor in the door. Plus, it was fun!

It was really cool to see Johnny Alonzo's signature inside the door. I added my name to the panel, and riveted it inside the door. Who knows who will find it in 50 years?