Closet Disaster #2

Yep, it happened again. We stopped in Erie Pennsylvania, set up camp and opened our closet to find another disaster.

This time the new piece of hardware that Terry installed broke.

Terry fixed it again - this time using  industrial strength hardware.

I'm happy to report that when we arrived in Monroe, MI yesterday all of our clothes were still hanging neatly in the closet.  - Amanda

A funny thing happened on the way to the Finger Lakes

About half-way into our drive from Pennsylvania to New York, I had to go to the bathroom. We were also very worried about the canoe and kayak on the back of Betty. This was our first trip moving with the boats on the back of the trailer and we weren't sure if they were shaking loose. It's not easy stopping with a 39 foot long trailer which weighs 10 tons. So, we were both searching for a rest area, or big box store where we could stop. Finally, Terry spots a long gravel area to the right of the road, and he pulls over. There is nothing around except a cemetery. As I jump out of the truck to go and check on our boats, I quip "Too bad I can't pee in the cemetery".  I walked to the back of Betty, checked on the boats (which were surprisingly ok), and jumped back into the passenger seat. I managed to hold my pee until we were parked in our new campsite in the Finger Lakes.  Here's the funny part. Hours later, it occurred to me that when I went back to check on the boats, I passed the door to our trailer -- and our very own bathroom -- which is always accessible when we're on the road. I told Terry. And since it hadn't occurred to him either -- we both burst out laughing.

Shhhhhh.... don't tell anyone we were dumb enough to not realize we were towing our own bathroom!  - Amanda

WENT LOOKING FOR WATERFALLS

So we went looking for some waterfalls the other day and guess what there appears to be a lot of  'em around here.  here are a couple we went to over by Cornell and north of Ithaca NY.  sorry but I have to find a way to correct the rotation of photos.  If they were taken with an I-Phone there is a fix in for that but not SLR's.  - Terry

Getting Ready for New Adventuer

Getting Sam and Betty ready for this new life style has become interesting. Mounting the 8' ladder, kayak and canoe has been interesting on how NOT to block her view and yet have a secure travel arrangement.
not happy with the outcome but it works.

Added a bike rack to pickup for my bike and we are set to go and will leave in the morning

- Terry

Closet Disaster!

Well, we sold our Williamsport, PA home and loaded Betty while she was camped at the Riverside Campground in Montgomery, PA. It had been a month since we moved her, so Terry and I carefully stowed anything that could move or bounce around.  We are developing a 'Breaking Camp' checklist so we don't forget anything.

After a 3 and a half hour drive north to the Finger Lakes, we parked Betty in a beautiful spot between two of the Finger Lakes. Here is the view from Betty's front door:

Once Betty was all settled in, we checked inside Betty and everything looked like it had stayed in place during our first journey with Betty fully loaded. So, we relaxed a bit (which means wine for me).  Then, when I opened our bedroom closet, I discovered a mess.

We quickly determined the cause. The clothing rod had bounced off of its center support, which bowed the rod and caused one end to pop out of its bracket. Then, down it went with all of our clothes.














Here is the original center bracket:

After searching the hardware section of several stores, Terry purchased a center bracket (that goes completely around the rod) and installed it:

Problem solved!

- Amanda

Handyman on Board

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We've been living on Betty for just under 2 months and Terry has been very busy getting her outfitted and making repairs. Anyone considering this lifestyle should definitely be handy, or married to someone who is.

Here's a partial list of Terry's work on Betty to date:

• Fixed leak in hydraulic system
• Installed screen door bar (handle)
• Installed screen door push latch
• Modified the insides of several cupboards to better fit our stuff
• Added a handle and sliding lock to our second master bedroom closet door
• Modified the basement with shelves, hooks and mounts to keep the grill, fishing rods, kayak oars, lawn chairs, hoses, tools, Christmas tree and a myriad  of other stuff organized.
• Replaced the light bulbs in the hanging pendant lights with LEDs
• Fixed the bathroom fan when it stopped working
• Installed a latch on the bedroom door to keep it open.
• Installed a new toilet paper holder (after the original broke)
• Repaired the broken screws holding our ladder onto the back of Betty
• Added a cargo carrier to the back to hold the canoe, kayak and extra ladder
• Installed new Smoke and CO alarms (as recommended by Mac The Fire Guy)
• Mounted new fire extinguishers and glass hammers (.... Mac again)
• Installed a paper towel holder
• Installed 2 reading lamps in our bedroom
• Added key hooks to the front closet
• Replaced the bathroom shower head with an Oxygenics shower head
• Mounted a soap and shampoo rack in our shower
• Replaced the locks on the outside storage compartments

Thank you Terry!

- Amanda

Break-in!

One month after putting some of our furniture into storage, we got a call from the self-storage company.  Young Melissa calmly told me that during her every-other-day walk around she noticed that there was no lock on our unit. She opened the door and found a cut lock on the floor. On the other end of the phone, I immediately started freaking out. Our storage unit was broken into!! Not a good way to start our full time RVing life!

Since Melissa didn't know what we put into storage, she couldn't tell me what was missing. I called my son Jon and asked him to drive over and take photos. Jon drove over and sent me a live video of the contents of the unit. I compared the video image to the photo we took a month ago.  Amazingly, the contents looked undisturbed!!! Nothing was taken!!!  What a relief! My emotional switch flipped from upset and angry to happy and relieved.









So what happened?

• My Theory: A thief was attempting to steal stuff from our unit, but was interrupted.
• The Self Storage Manager's Theory: Another renter forgot his key, thought our unit was his and innocently cut the lock. When he saw the "wrong" stuff inside, he tossed the lock on the floor, closed the door and left.
• Jeremy's Theory: Someone was trying to break into their ex's storage locker, but realized they had the wrong one, closed it back up and took off! 

Actually, Jeremy's theory is the best bet and the only one that truly explains all the facts (i.e. no other units were broken into, nothing was taken from our unit, and he left the cut lock behind).

The manager assured me that his facility is safe. He's been there since 2005 and there has been only one break-in during that time -- in 2006. Jon purchased a new, stronger lock and locked up our unit. So now, we have decided not to worry -- and to continue our journey.  - Amanda