Starting a New Adventure in a RV
September, 2015
Day : 1 Date : 9.28.15 Monday
Str Cty : Home Str Mls. : 0
End Cty : Nook's End Mls : 406
Dly Mls : 406 Tot Mls : 406
Time. : 6:30 Hrs
Worked out with trainers, got a 46$k cashiers check, packed and left Madison at noon. Got to Kelzie's at 7:30 local. Typical shared drive at 75+ mph in the Porsche. This should now be non-predictive. Having lived on a boat twice, we figured we could live in a small space and move very frequently to see what can come next.
Day : 2 Date : 9.29.15 Tuesday
Str Cty : Nook's Str Mls. : 20877 + 180 miles
End Cty : Lexington / Cincinnati End Mls : 20992
Dly Mls : 295/ 115 to Ff. Tot Mls : 295
Time. : 7 Hrs Notes : on our way in the Porsche to get the RV in Lexington from Clayton and Leigh Anne Wells. Arrived at 11 in the rain so we went to a parking lot and checked things out. Left there at 1:30 to drive to Fairfield, Ohio Camping World with Marnie following in the car. New franchise that did not know members are privileged to camp/plug in ... But they gave us a cord and we spent the nite in the parking lot. Slept well on partially comfortable bed. The van drove nicely and at interstate speeds inspite of the rain. Nice to have the surround mirrors on either side and back camera for the middle of the rear.
Day : 3 Date : 9.30.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Fairfield, OH Str Mls. : 20992
End Cty : thru Jackson Center OH andAirstream then on to Bloomington End Mls : 21303
Dly Mls : 311 Tot Mls : 606
Time. : 12 Hrs Notes : to Airstream Service for consult
We arrived there about 10 and started our consult. We learned a lot and as hoped can get 2 new solar panels (100 watts each) and an additional set of batteries installed. Filled with 1 gallon of propane and gauge only registered 1/3 full, so we need to check it out at service time. Left Airstream at 1:30 and drove 2 lane 36 to 9 to Columbus IN/46 to avoid 37, arriving at 6:00, exhausted. Hope Marnie will go back to Airstream with me on Monday.
Day : 4 Date : 10.1.15 Thursday
Str Cty : Nook's Str Mls. : 21303
End Cty : Lake Monroe End Mls : 21321
Dly Mls : 18 Tot Mls : 624
Time. : 1Hrs Notes : camping out off the grid
Awake early thinking this whole project is a mistake and too consuming for the other things in our lives - Biking, perennials, foreign travel...etc. Left in AM for Lake Monroe - overnight test! Stayed in campsite #58 in the forest. First day out! Went to Paynetown State camp grounds and their rate is 30$ for non-service (electric and water). We moved on to Hardin Ridge National Recreation Area and with our senior card and non-service paid $10. We changed sites to get more level and closer to the big bath area. This area is where we used to buy our Guinea hens.
Can't shut off radio, remote does not change channel on front tv..can't get phone book on the RV phone tho paired, Nook book for complicated parts of me wood, hotspot works well, lite over bed..
Ran the generator with no problem, tested the heater to warm the house PM and AM and tested the battery charge. Read most of the evening and bed at 10:30 for great sleep in the forest. Overnight we went from 100 to 65% battery. Got up to generator, furnace, and coffee. We keep the inverter off unless we need 110 volts.
Day : 5 Date : 10.2.15 Friday
Str Cty : Hardin Ridge Str Mls : 21321
End Cty : Nook's End Mls : 21369
Dly Mls : 48 Tot Mls : 672
Time : 4 hrs Notes : drove the back roads
Up at 7 to coffee and walk. Nice bathroom facilities and impressive setting. Dvd for Kenwood did not work... Drove all over the park roads to see the lake. Then took Hardin Ridge road to 37, looked up old friends no longer there, and came to town to get diesel fuel - 12 gallons for 250 miles. To Kelzie's after going to IU Surplus. We waited at K's until 5 PM to go to the shelter w/K to care for rabbits. Dinner at Yogi's.
Day : 6 Date : 10.3.15 Saturday
Str Cty : Nook's Str Mls : 21369
End Cty : Nook's End Mls :
Dly Mls : Tot Mls :
Time : Notes :
Worked cleaning and organizing the RV. Kelzie ran and shopped. We then left at 1:00 for the 3:30 IU football game. Kelzie went to tailgate w/ friends and we stayed in the car to keep warm, eating kettle corn, and read. At game time we joined the mad rush and got to our seats. IU won the first half in effort, OSU screw ups, and score. OSU came on in the second half but IU matched every increase in score so they were never more than 10 points behind. They had a chance to tie on the last play of the game 34-27. Studfeld and 3 running backs went down and the loss of the best personnel weighed heavily on the outcome. Diamonte came in and scored twice, once for 79 yds. We left in 4th due to cold and rain, listening on the radio. Home for great family dinner. Bed late.
Day : 8 Date : 10.4.15 Sunday
Str Cty : Nook's Str Mls : 21369
End Cty : Airstream. Jackson Center End Mls : 21595
Dly Mls : 221 Tot Mls : 1311 miles since home/671
Time : 4 hrs Notes : nice day
Up early and Marnie was off to buy groceries while I loaded. Went to visit Marianne Mitchell with Kelzie and talked for 45 minutes before getting on the road. Bloomington to Columbus, to Shelbyville/9, north to I 70 to I 75, and to Airstream in 4 hours. A truck kicked up a rock and chipped the windshield, so I emailed Rodman re insurance. We pulled into a slot in the Airstream camp, setup on a pad, and got a hose given to us to use for city water house pressure. Had a line in the rear viewer, maybe the sun line.... Watched football but not the Packers. Bed at 9:30 and fine sleep.
Day : 9 Date : 10.5.15 Monday
Str Cty : Airstream Str Mls :
End Cty : Airstream End Mls :
Dly Mls : 0 Tot Mls :
Time : Notes : learning phase
No line in the rear viewer in the AM. Very negative from waking to up-this adventure is a waste and wrong, everything is going wrong and a failure, can't focus on things we had balanced... We practiced putting out the awning, emptying the black water tank, emptying the grey water tank, flushing the black water tank, and emptying the fresh water tank and refilling. No service until tomorrow. Loafed and read. Got plumbing tape.
Day : 10 Date :10.6.15 Tuesday
Str Cty : Airstream Str Mls : 21596
End Cty : Airstream End Mls :
Dly Mls : 0 Tot Mls :
Time : all day Notes : repairs
Brad is the assistant and Kevin is the shop manager. Randy is the mechanic working for us. He removed the one 50 watt solar panel and wired in the 2-100 watts panels, but had not secured them by 4:00. Will secure tomorrow and start on the batteries. Boring day except for the 2pm tour of the factory and I walked over a mile... 540 people work here and trailers and vans are only produced when sold - production is behind sales by over 100 units on each.
Day : 11 Date : 10.7.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Airstream Str Mls :
End Cty : End Mls :
Dly Mls : Tot Mls :
Time : Notes : not finished / one battery.
We were at the door at 6:45 in the fog, which did not dissipate until 1pm. Finished hooking up and securing the solar panels on the roof and replaced a bad seal on the vent fan. They discovered there was only room for one battery on the road side so we did what we could. Because the batteries were so strong we could not make a demand for the solar to be tested. Will run the batteries down thru the nite and try to make the panels work in the AM. Went back to our spot for the third nite next to the field just sprayed with hog byproduct.... Another camping dinner in our front room - turn driving chairs and two second row chairs with table between.
Day : 12 Date : 10.8.15 Thursday
Str Cty : Airstream Str Mls : 21596
End Cty : Nook End Mls : 21802
Dly Mls : 205 Tot Mls : 1518
Time : 5 hrs Notes : done at noon / 4343$
Done at noon and checked out..$4343 with 7 hrs of work discount by Brad. Drove two lanes on 36, 44 and 46 to Bloomington in 5 hours. Exhausted. Went to Werner's but they were 2 hrs away coming from up north after lengthening their stay due to a family death. Kelzie has a busy nite so we are on our own..feel terrible after sitting around for 4 days and my back and front rib line hurt while driving. Arrived at 5, went out to eat and visited with the Werner's after they arrived home.
Day :13 Date : 10.9.15 Friday
Str Cty : Nook's Str Mls : 21802
End Cty : Home End Mls : 22232
Dly Mls : 429 Tot Mls : 1948
Time : 7:30 Notes : dumped at CW ..scheduled service
Up 231 to Crawfordsville to I 74 to Bloomington IL and I 39 TO Camping World on 51. Then home by 5 to back under cover.
Days : 14 Date : 10.16.15
Str Cty : Home Str Mls :
End Cty : End Mls : 22318
Dly Mls : Tot Mls :
Time : Notes : cleaned the RV, washed, aligned/rotated tires for 170$, got license plate (H6001), title, paid 2626$+, bought supplies, and made loading lists. Rented a bay at Seybolt Road. Got front aligned and tires rotated...61 psi. Preparing for TRIP 2... SHAKEDOWN TRIP TO THE NORTH
September 19 - 26, 2015
Days : 1 of TRIP 2 Date : 10.19.15 Monday
Str Cty : Home Str Mls : 22318
End Cty : North Wood County End Mls : 22456
Dly Mls : 137 Tot Mls : 137
Time : 5 hrs. Notes : visited Powers Bluff
Shakedown ... Heard a buzzer in the step and after exploring and testing all parts in the area we found it was the awning warning, learning one. Camped in NWCPark near Marshfield in a beautiful spot along the Yellow River. We drove over to view Powers Bluff area where we Beebes skied and had church picnics..formerly known as "Skunk Hill". We set up and tested the awning. The Japanese Beetles are voluminous and pesky. Nice sunny day! $21-30 amp-no water. NWC Park was where our family recreated and picnicked thruout the years. I never remembered but it has 78 various camping sites, the old swimming hole, the River running thru, and a lot of features kids love. And thousands of geese in the river and the meadows.
Day : 2 Date : 10.20.15 Tuesday
Str Cty : NWCPark Str Mls : 22456
End Cty : Red Cliff End Cty : 22661
Dly Mls : 181 Tot Mls : 328
Time : 4 hrs Notes : Red Cliff Indian casino/camp grnds
Up before lite for exercises and walk. We went to Rib Lake after stopping at Doine's to say hi, Bayfield to check the city camping grounds, and Bayfield Information. Ended up at Red Cliff casino on the reservation.. For 38.50$ for the nite with water and electric, well maintained and next to the water. As soon as we parked an Indian lady arrived with her dog, drum, and sacrifices on the ground. She marched around beating and sang up a storm..a serenade if you will. We have a beautiful view of Madeline Island and Lake Superior, tho quite a cold breeze, and are one of only 3 campers. Near Rib Lake we saw two eagles, one sitting and the other flying to roost as well. Above Marshfield all the leaves were off the soft trees species favored for pulp wood, but after fueling in Ashland and turning up the coast the leaves were still on the hardwoods. .beautiful red and burned colors. Had to go to the hotel to catch up on email. The cold wind is whipping off Lake Superior.
Days : 3 Date : 10.21.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Red Cliff Str Mls : 22661
End Cty : end of the Road End Mls : 22917
Dly Mls : 256 Tot Mls : 584 miles
Time : 5:15 Notes : overcast & rainy
Woke to a burst water hose which must have run most of the nite, given the river from our house. No Moose, wolves, or Eagles... But nice ride around the Red Cliff reservation, over the peninsula, and on to Ashland-Duluth and up 61 on the scenic road. Worked on wiper as intermittent rain started and reaimed the back camera. Turned north at Two Harbors and hwy 2 thru the national forest...deer and turkey. Wound our way to Ely info to get the lay of the land. Found the best bakery ( the Plum Bun ) ever and saved the pastry until Mudro Lake canoe landing. There we saw a mink-like animal cross to the water..we are debating what it was... Mink, weasel, the animal we feared on the farm dam, and muskrat .... Then back to the bakery for dessert and AM planning treats. Then to the small town of Winton and east to Lake One (above), the entry to the Boundary Waters...and no more road. Decided to settle for the nite and see if we get kicked down the road...nice music in dwindling twilight.. Reading! No one bothered us, and we were alone! It got down to 32 degrees, and the length of dark at this time of year exceeds our sleep when we go to bed before nine - it was so dark we din't even need to use the curtains.
Days : 4 Date : 10.22.15 Thursday
Str Cty : Ely / Lake One Str Mls : 22917
End Cty : Zippel Bay End Mls : 23151
Dly Mls : 235 Tot Mls : 820
Time : 4:50 Notes : in the Birch
Left at sun up from the road end, drove into Ely to our bakery for more great pastry and then settled in across the street for coffee and wifi. We left town bound for International Falls and there had brunch in a parking lot. Onto to Zippel Bay State Park on Lake of the Woods. We got here because I originally thought this area was Boundary Waters, so we saw this as a goal. Now we have proceeded here from the real BWs. Arrived at the Park, dumped and drove to the water's edge hoping we would not have to move back to the wooded parking in the birch. We have never seen so many and dense birch trees, as seen in this picture. We hiked the shore and woods before settling for reading by the canoe access to the lake. Very dark, little wind off the lake, and amazing strip of RED light at dawn in the east over calm waters. No one came to roust us from this lakeside No Parking area, as we were the only campers tonight! Do not know if I could do this for a month or more.
Days : 5 Date : 10.23.15 Friday
Str Cty : Ely / Lake One Str Mls : 22917
End Cty : south Sand Lake Rec End Mls : 23355
Dly Mls : 202 Tot Mls : 1022 miles
Time : 4:30 Notes : federal camp grounds
Propane furnace heat in the morning as we watched sunrise and drank coffee- like home but in a smaller space. Many sightings of Eagles yesterday and today. Rain all day and below 53 degrees. Cross country to Grand Rapids, McDees wifi, and onto the federal recreation area we had picked out. Tried to violate the rules on the lake dam and got stopped by a pleasant federal park worker. Got water for grey water and setup to read. We have googled and found the animal we saw at the Boundary Waters...a MINK. Walked around the camp area of Sand Lake, a lake developed by damming the Sand River just before entering the Mississippi. The camp ground and water cost $6 with our senior passes. We have never gone below 80% on electric any of the last three dry camping nites. Discussed plans to sell the beast by spring- this is not our life style and even if in better weather we are not sit-around read people or joiners. Will think it thru and discuss what our possibilities are with Airstream.
Days : 6 Date : 10.24.15 Saturday
Str Cty : south Sand Lake Rec Str Mls : 23355
End Cty : Boulder Junction End Mls : 23632
Dly Mls : 277 Tot Mls : 1299 miles
Time : 7 hours Notes : Patty Allen Mabie's
Awake late in the warmest conditions we've had. Decided to explore selling the Airstream cuz the style of life is not what we want - too passive, non-engaging, and not healthy for us. Drove to Duluth, stopping at Aerostitch, passing thru downtown, and going to the upscale dock areas with hotels, shopping and eateries. Then down 53 to 70-Hayward and across country to Flambeau and Boulder Junction. More miles than we wanted. Waiting for Patty and she returned at 3:45. We kabitzed and then went to dinner at a popular supper club in Boulder Junction.
In the process of feeding the dogs one went after the other but bit Patty in the leg...since the bleeding did not stop we went to the emergency room in Minoqua after dinner. Home at 10:30 and to bed.
Days : 7 Date : 10.25.15 Saturday
Str Cty : Boulder Junction Str Mls : 23632
End Cty : Home End Mls : 23908
Dly Mls : 275 / 237 Tot Mls : 1575 miles
Time : 6 Notes : emptying out!
We woke up at 7 and had coffee. Went into Patty's for breakfast and prepared to leave by 10:00. We had a beautiful drive to 51 and south, arriving at Camping World to dump by 2:00. We drove home and immediately emptied the RV and began cleaning. We were exhausted and moped the rest of the day and evening.
Date : 10.28.15 Wednesday
Str Cty : Home Str Mls : 23900
End Cty : Home End Mls : 24090
Dly Mls : 186 Tot Mls : 1700 miles
Time : 6 Notes : visit to Ewald Airstream
Met with Paul Beitzel to see the dealership for Airstream ... Talked with him about selling the RV ... Retail 109000$ with wholesale about 90000$ ... Use RVTrader, sell privately thru him as referral, or sell to the dealership. To sell or not to sell? Cleaned and stored on Thursday...
