A journey of 10,000 miles begins with a single Airstream

We're off!

Our rockers, probably, but I digress already. And we just started. Our first stop was in Chickasaw national recreation area, near Sulphur, Oklahoma. We camped in rock creek campground, with no utilities, but it is a nice area, and only $14. I think it would be much different on a busy weekend, but with few campers, it is a great spot. We walked around Veterans lake, which was about a four mile hike. The lake has an 8 foot sidewalk all the way around it, and with perfect weather, it was a great way to start a vacation.

We built a campfire, and talked until about 9:30. 

After leaving Chickasaw, and driving several hours, we started looking for a camping spot, and drove through several small towns, and down some back roads, but every spot had something wrong with it. We ended up staying in a roadside park, which opened up onto a nice green field. The traffic noise was constant, but tolerable, and it was free. The rv parks in the area were  in the $40 range, which seems crazy for a spot to park overnight, when we don't need water or electricity. We took a walk down a country road, and enjoyed the evening. 

The next day, we drove to Cedar Bluff state park in central Kansas, and got there early enough to unwind. The lake was way down, and everything was super dry. We just thought it was dry in Texas. It is a decent campground, but we wouldn't plan a vacation here. Camping is only $8, plus $11 for electricity, plus $3 administration fee, plus $4.50 vehicle fee, plus $.50 vehicle fee administration fee. Talk about nickel and diming someone.

 We knew we would drive a long time today, and it ended up almost 9 hours. We were tired of the plains, and wanted to see trees and mountains, so we picked one of the best places to do that. Rocky Mountain National Park has to be one of my favorite places, although we had not planned on coming here on this trip. Somehow in Lyons, Colorado, we ended up on scenic hwy 7 going to Estes Park instead of our planned route of hwy 36. The scenery is spectacular, but the truck did not appreciate the mountain driving. We got one of the few spots long enough for our Airstream and paid for 3 nights. Time to slow down. 

Shelly at our campsite!

Shelly and Sadie on the mountain

Sadie did not like the snow, but we thought it was funny

Me on a rock

Moose very near the trail

Fern lake trail is a great trail.

Shelly insisted on taking my picture

 Shelly by the river

We weren't supposed to, but it was begging.

Our picnic spot by the pool. The trail to here is 1.7 miles

Somebody thought the rock needed eyes, nose and teeth.

A bull elk.

The pictures tell most of the story. It is beautiful here, I hiked in the morning, and visited with a wildlife biologist, who was volunteering in the park. We drove to the top of the mountain to see the snow. The road is still closed for the winter, but we got to 10,700 feet. The scenery is scectacular. We walked the Fern lake trail up to the pool, which is where most of the pictures were taken. 

 On Tuesday, we drove up to Bear lake, and hiked up to Nymph lake. Both were mostly frozen. From Nymph lake, we hiked up to Dream lake. It was only a half mile further, but much steeper. It was well worth the hike, as these pictures show!

Shelly at Bear lake

Snowy trail, but near 50 degrees

Shelly being pretty again

Shelly and I in front of Dream lake

 Shelly at our picnic spot, texting! Who would have thought we would have service at 10,000 feet up in the middle of nowhere.

Another view of Dream lake

Twisted trees near Dream lake

How to make retirement hectic

Getting ready for an Alaska trip has added a little more work. I decided our 1973 Overlander needed solar panels installed on top, as well as an electrical overhaul. I ordered two more 100 watt solar panels, and was looking at the Airstream trying to figure out where to put them. I decided the antenna was just wasted space, since we've only used an antenna a few times in fourteen years. That was the easy part. While waiting for the solar panels to ship, I noticed the fresh water tank from the wrecked 2003 Airstream was just sitting behind the barn, looking lonely. We need a gray water tank on ours, and this one is 45 gallons! I measured it and found I could mount it behind the axles, but I had to move one frame crossmember. We still have two weeks before we are going to Dublin for St. Patrick's day rally. Inside our Airstream, I realized moving the drain lines from the bathroom to the gray water tank would be easier to accomplish with the bathtub and sink removed. They need to be refinished anyway, and hey, we still have two weeks. I cut the belly pan out, and cut the frame to fit the tank in place. I welded a new crossmember about an inch forward of the old one. The tank fits good, so I riveted the belly pan in place, and bolted the tank support in place. I took out the entire bath, which only took about four hours, and cleaned all the dust and dirt as I went. I knew the subfloor was rotten along the back edge, so I was able to replace the plywood, and make it sturdy again. Shelly is slightly freaking out seeing the entire back of the Airstream wrecked, but I assure her we still have a week and a half left. I was able to replace several pieces of flooring that got wet, and looked bad. We sanded and repainted all of the plastic pieces, including the tub and sink. They now look much better. I cut the drain line from the kitchen, and ran it into the front of the gray tank. The bath tub and sink was run into the back of the tank. Each line is connected to a separate vent, so one will act as a vent, when the other is in use. Now we're down to less than a week, but I can start putting the pieces back together again. The bathroom was back in place I less than a day. I mounted the solar panels, and ran the 6 gauge wire down through the kitchen vent, and out under the kitchen cabinet.

I had ordered a Trimetric battery monitor to be able to keep track of the batteries better. We only have room for one battery, and I want to add a second one. The one outside storage compartment is the logical spot for a second battery, but it is open to the inside of the Airstream. I will need a sealed battery box, and a place to vent  it outside. With hours to spare, we got the Airstream ready for the rally. The rally was great, as usual, but we chickened out on Saturday when they called for a good chance of severe thunderstorms that afternoon.

 Back to work on the Airstream. I have been hearing the horror stories on rock damage to the fronts of trailers on the Alcan highway. I read Mike and Terri Church's suggestion to cover the front of the trailer with cardboard and tape, but didn't like the mental picture I got. This is my version of an Alaska rock guard.

I wanted a clear window guard, so I can see through the Airstream, but all I have found are the solar tinted ones. I think it looks better than cardboard and tape, and it is only temporary. I added an outside shower, which will come in handy in isolated campsites. Very isolated.

We used the radio and CD player from the wrecked 2006 and replaced the original radio and 8 track  player which did not work. 

The radio also has a DVD player. 

I think we're almost ready. I still need to build a canoe rack. When did I have time to work?

1959 Tradewind maiden voyage

Thursday, February 13, 2014

It is time to test out the brand new 1959 Airstream! We drove to Union Grove park on Stillhouse hollow lake near Salado. The HOTC unit is having a camp out here this weekend, and the weather is supposed to be in the 70's all weekend. We were the first to arrive, and set up in site 8. We had camped here about 13 years ago in our first Airstream when we went to the Parker thanksgiving. It is a nice Corps park, and would be right on the water if the lake was full, but the lake looks like Whitney lake; about 12 feet low. We got here without any problems, but did have to adjust the striker plate on the door to allow the deadbolt to latch. Since we were the first to arrive, we decided to go to an estate sale down the road to find junk we didn't know we needed. We did! It was a deacon's bench turned into a double rocking chair. It will be great for the screened porch, and in the meantime we will look like the Beverly hillbillies on their way to California. Only I couldn't talk Shelly into riding in the back in the rocking chair. Oh well, the mental picture still makes me laugh. We built a fire in the evening, and visited with Debi and Jim Rich.

 Friday, February 14

Valentines day! Beautiful morning, but the wind got gusty in the afternoon. About 40 miles per hour gusts. Ugh. We showed the Airstream to several people, and everyone was impressed. By the evening, the wind had let up, and we were able to build a fire by the screened shelters. It was a central location, and had a wind break. Shelly cooked taco soup, and a pecan pie for the pot luck supper. Both went over well. By 8 o'clock the wind was almost calm, and the moon coming up over the lake made for a perfect evening. We sat by the fire until about 10.

Sunset

 Saturday, February 15

Sunrise over the lake

Almost a repeat of yesterday, but the winds were only gusting to about 20 mph. We drove to Salado, and went to several antique stores. We watched a glassblower make a custom vase for a lady, which was very interesting.on the way back to camp, we stopped at the same estate sale to look for a small pan. As we were leaving, we noticed a stack of firewood, and asked if it was for sale. He took $5 for the stack, which was handy, because we were out of firewood after the last two nights. Doesn't everyone buy firewood at estate sales? We stuffed ourselves again at the potluck, and sat by the estate sale firewood fire until about 11. The wind had calmed again, and the moon over the lake made for another great night. 

Sunday, February 16

These days are running together, and almost carbon copies of each other. Which is great, since they are almost perfect days. We decided on staying here another night since there were 4 other couples staying. Shelly and I drove to Killeen, just to say we've been there. We've been there. We stopped at a flea market, and were amazed at how much stuff there was we didn't need. It was a bizarre bazaar, but now we can say we've been there. We sat by another campfire and visited with Lance and Laura, Debi and Jim, Henry and Shari, and Jennifer and Craig. The wind let up again just after dark, and made for another picture perfect evening.

 Monday, February, 17

 Got packed up to leave, and said bye to the others. We called twin lakes rv, and found they don't have any sites for the next two nights. We planned on staying at Stephen F Austin state park, if the rv park was full. It was about a 3 and a half hour drive, but would have been shorter if I wouldn't have got off of hwy 36 in Brenham. Maybe I should drive with my eyes open next time. Checked into the state park, and walked the dogs down to the river. We drove into Sealy to wash clothes and buy groceries.

One of the fun things to do on a road trip!

After waiting at the laundromat for about an hour and a half, Shelly shows up almost in tears. She lost her IPhone! I don't have my phone anymore, so we had to find wifi for the IPad. McDonalds came through again with wifi. We were able to put the phone in lost mode using the IPad, and it showed the phone to be behind Subway on hwy 36. That was close to Walmart where Shelly lost the phone, so off we go! We checked the service desk at Walmart again, but no phone. Shelly retraced her steps again, and found the phone tucked away next to a pink shirt that matched the phone. Whew! We got lucky! Amazing how much we rely on that thing. Back at camp we relaxed after an exciting afternoon.

 Tuesday, February 18

We packed up fairly early (9ish) and drove through Houston on the north tollway. $10.50 We got to Tyler and Ashlee's about 11. We visited for a while, and then I got to go play in the sand pile with Parker. We walked to a playground about a mile away, and I got to play on the slides with Parker and Dallas. Dallas seems to have no fear of heights, and loves even the tallest slide, giggling all the way down. Parker seems a little more hesitant on the tall slide, but still laughs all the way down.

Parker loves Gramma's and Grampa's camper, and kept asking to go see it. He is in the "why?" Stage and wants to know everything. 

Dallas checking the polish on the Airstream

Parker and Dallas going for a drive

Shelly and Dallas

Tyler and Ashlee

 Ashlee ordered pizza from Dominoes while we were at the park, and it showed up just as we were getting back to the house. Perfect timing, and good pizza. After getting ready for bed, Parker got a bit cranky. I think we wore each other out. 

Wednesday, February 19

We put Parker's model rocket together after breakfast, and drove to an empty subdivision to fly it. We used all six engines, and had fun. I think Ashlee, Tyler, and I had more fun than Parker, but he enjoyed the countdown, and chasing the falling rocket. Ashlee's grandfather got to see the last two times we shot the rocket, and enjoyed seeing it. After lunch, we left and drove south to Shore Acres to see Connie and Johnny. Connie fixed crab cakes and salad. We visited on the front porch until about 11, and tried to make up our mind on whether to go on to galveston. We decided to wait until morning to make that decision.

Thursday, February, 20

 We decided on heading north instead of Galveston because of the weather. Rain and wind are predicted for today.

Connie and Johnny's campsite!

We made it home in one piece, despite the wind. We have several minor fixes on the Airstream, but it was a  great maiden voyage!

1959 Tradewind restoration wrapping it up

Wow, what a project! After about 1000 hours over a period of 9 months, I can say the Airstream is finally done. Yeehaw! The last few weeks has been busy finishing the end table, dinette, and upper cabinets for the bathroom and kitchen. Then polyurethaning all of it and reinstalling. I finished hooking up the vent hood, and added the vanity lights, and under cabinet lights in the kitchen. I cut the cushions to the right size using an electric knife, which worked great. I was able to reuse most of the cushions from the 2006, which saved quite a bit of money. Shelly sewed all the curtains, and shower curtain which turned out great. She told me if I wanted zippers on the cushion upholstery, I would have to do them myself. She hates zippers, and me being hard headed, I thought I would try. Thankfully, they are on the backs of the cushions, but by the last one, I had gotten pretty good at sewing them on.  I only had to make one window screen, and had enough latches to put two on the bottoms of each window. I used mirror brackets on the tops to hold the in place. 

This is the preliminary  placement.

In the meantime, we went to a WBCCI rally at the L B J grasslands near Decatur, Texas. It was a boondocking rally, and the weather was great for January. There were almost thirty Airstreams attending this rally. Just about everyone had their dog or dogs there, and was interesting to see the interactions of all the different dogs enjoying the freedom. 

I got to

 Hike about two miles to another ridge for this shot

The awning was the last major accomplishment. The awning is from the 2006, and apparently is a slight different  curve than the 1959. 

 Rebuilding the awning

 Attaching the awning

I learned a lot rebuilding this Airstream, and still plan on rebuilding our 1957 Overlander. But that will have to wait until next fall before I start. 

1959 Tradewind restoration -- woodworking and mechanical systems

 After taking a break to vacation with Damon and Erica, I am finally back to work on the Tradewind. I plumbed the camper with pex water lines, which seems to be the greatest stuff. It is easy to work with, light, and supposed to be freeze resistant. I'll try not to test that theory. I set the bathtub, and ran the drain lines and vent pipes. Next was the 110 volt wiring, and finishing all the outlets. That took about a day to finish, but the 12 volt system took almost two days to complete. 

I used vinyl composition tiles for the floor, and like the look and the price. It was about $100 for the tiles and glue. It took about four hours to prep the floor, and about six hours to put the floor down. I knew the walls would take time to put in, but trying to be a perfectionist can drive a person crazy. Crazier, I mean. Each wall panel is slightly different, and trying do determine plumb in a round camper is fun. I fitted and cut each panel about ten times each, so I am getting my exercise. 

This is the kitchen and bath walls with the refrigerator opening.

This is the riveted aluminum shower wall. 

Next was the bath vanity. It has to cover the drain pipes, fit on an angled wall, allow for the water, drain and vent pipes, and fit next to the tub. It also has the shower control built on the side, and the sink and faucet on top. 

I started the wardrobe closet next, which was basically the same fitting, and cutting. I am going to use the wardrobe door as the bathroom door to save weight. The biggest problem is the frame for the door has to be perfect both directions so it will close properly. The vent pipe goes through the wardrobe and I built a cover for it from oak and oak plywood. 

The next project was the bath storage, and cover for the water heater and breaker box. All of these pieces are only set in place, and will be taken out to polyurethane and finish.

 The kitchen cabinet took quite a while. It has to fit over the wheel well, allow for water, and drain pipes, and fit up against a curved wall. And then try to get the most storage as possible, while maintaining symmetry and fitting a sink and stove top. My parents don't want a microwave, but I am putting a space for one below the stove. 

The bed frame was almost easy after the kitchen, but still took some thinking and fitting.

Next will be the end table, and dinette last. Then, I get to take everything out again to polyurethane. Then the final assembly. It is slow, but it is coming together.

We have had great weather for a few days, so I decided to stop making cabinets, and polyurethane the ones already done. Everything came out without a problem, and now I am ready to install the cabinets for the last time. Yea! 

 I have reinstalled the cabinets, and the refrigerator, and got to check out the propane system. Only two small leaks. The water system had a few more issues. The three way switch in the bathroom did not work, and the water pump quit working after about 30 seconds. I took the water pump out of the 2006 wrecked Airstream, and hooked it up. There were no leaks, but apparently a wasp had built a nest in the hot water line. The nest stopped up all three faucets, and I had to disconnect each faucet to   use air pressure to blow the line out. What a pain. Oh well, it is done now, and I was able to check out the water heater and furnace, and both worked like they should. Six weeks ago, I thought I was about a month away from being done, but I think I am about a month away from being done now. We'll see in about a month. 

It is starting to look finished!