Thursday, September 1, 2011

Preparations

In five days we will bring her home! 


Over the weekend Craig and I trimmed lots of low branches in "Merikay's Woods".


I went around with a big measuring stick. The stick itself is 10' 9" and is our "Official Christmas Tree Measuring Stick".  We have taken it along to the tree farms to measure trees so we don't cut one that is either too tall or too short!  I added an extension onto it so it would be 14' (a good clearance for our 13'1" Alfa).


On Wednesday a crew from a tree service company spent several hours cutting out high dead wood and branches that could fall onto her in a storm.
  
I didn't think to take an overhead before picture, but this is the "after" view of the sky above.


The slab she will be resting on is from the shed I had torn down last year.  It was the first big thing I did to start us on this path! 


Little did I know that the foundation of that rat infested, leaky building would be the new resting place for our RV!


Speaking of rats and mice, we are hoping that the descendants of the critters that called the shed home have happily set up nesting in the forest where they belong.  But to try to discourage them from coming onboard, I have bought a couple of boxes of moth balls, and some Bounce dryer sheets.  I read that you if you put  moth balls in a Tupperware type container, punch holes in it, and place several under your RV the mice "might" not come in.


I also read that Bounce dryer sheets discourage mice, so I'm going to put some in all the basement bays.


Craig doesn't like the smell of Bounce so I won't put any inside.


I read that pepermint oil is also a deterrent, and I will probably get some of that for the cupboards if needed.


I also plan on keeping a sharp look out for any "signs."  


We simply are not thinking beyond driving it home and parking it.  Trip planning can start next week!  


Poor Craig was not a "happy camper" this morning.  He hurt his back  when working outside over the weekend.  He rarely has problems with sore muscles, and when he does he usually gets over them quickly. So when he was still in pain this morning I was a bit concerned.


One of the byproducts of having the trees worked on was a couple of large piles of future firewood. It has to be split and seasoned, but at least we don't have to drag it out of the forest.  


I would like to get as much of it down from the parking pad to the wood storage area by the house as I can.  We have a power wagon, so the actual moving is not difficult.  Yesterday I brought down much of what I could lift into the wagon easily. 


Realizing Craig will not be able to help this weekend, I started working on those rounds that were a bit bigger, but still with in my ability to lift.  


The really big ones can just stay up there until Craig's back is better.  Two of us with sore backs won't do!


I took care of all the "business" stuff earlier this week.  extended warranty, emergency road service, and regular insurance on the motorhome.  All expensive but necessary.  At least with the warranty I don't have to think about it for another four years, and three for Coachnet. 


Craig on the other hand has been busy buying a camcorder. I said I wanted to video record our walk thru so we could remember all the "how to" dos and "what to" dos.  I've read about people doing that, and it really seems like a good idea. My little point and shoot camera is also a video camera and would have been just fine for the job, but Craig wanted something a little better. 


Not just for the walk thru, but to record our future adventures. He wants to shoot a video of Old Faithful!


I'll be walking around it.


I've told him he should start his own blog so he could post them and share them with others.  But I have a feeling  his videos will be an added feature of my blog in the future. 


 That's OK!  As long as we go together.


Post script:  Craig says his back is fine tonight and he will be able to help me this weekend.

17 comments:

  1. Glad Craig is feeling better. Sore backs are no fun. Sure sounds like you are really prepared for the RV. I also read somewhere that Irish Spring soap placed in the bays and cabinets helps keep the critters away. Haven't tried it so don't know from personal experience...but it sure smells nice!

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  2. You guys have the best ideas! Video-ing the walk through is brilliant...

    I am so excited for you to get her, so I can live vicariously through you. One day, maybe I can have one too.

    Happy long weekend ahead, friend! :)

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  3. We plan on video-taping our walk through too. Great idea! Glad to hear Craig's back is feeling better. Sounds like he's getting excited :-)

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  4. Hope Craig's back is better real soon. Back issues can become serious so take care!
    Man...you had a lot of trees to trim and cut to get the new baby settled in her new home!
    We have never had "critter" troubles but I have read about all the things you are doing...hope it works for you. :-)
    Take care!!

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  5. hope the ideas you have to deter new 'residents' works..going to have to keep that idea in my head for future reference!..
    only a few more days and your home on wheels will be home!!..we are so excited for the you both!!!
    take a breath once in a while!..you are going to need it..soon you will be loading Alfa up!!!

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  6. Happy that the back is better. It helps to have someone very strong to help with the heavy work.

    Love the video idea!

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  7. Good luck with the critter battle, especially with fall coming up. Great idea using that stick as a guide to what needed to be trimmed.

    Will you take the Alfa to the Rose Bowl Parade??

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  8. Sounds like you guys are in full preparation mode. That's wonderful. I can't wait for you to have your RV home and hear about your adventures in it. Sounds like Craig is getting excited about the traveling!

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  9. For what it's worth, I highly recommend the JVC brand of camcorder. The two I've owned have served me well.

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  10. Can you believe it? You've bought the rig and now you're ready for it. You've done a lot in a short time. Can't wait for you to get her home and start moving things in. That part is so much fun!
    Glad Craig's back is improving. :)

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  11. ALEVE is your friend. :) Congrats on getting the location prepped. I wish we had a pad to put our rig on, would make fixing the stupid thing so much easier.

    Erik

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  12. You know, it never occurred to me that mice and rats would move into a rig. Learning a lot from reading about your preparations.

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  13. I wish that I'd recorded my walk through when I got Olivia. It would have helped me so much. I know I'd have a lot fewer fears than I've experienced. Well, it's a learning curve and I'll know what to do with the next one. I'm so happy for you.

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  14. How exciting for you. It's so fun for us to see your preparations (even though it's hard work for you guys) and share your anticipation and excitement. Sure glad Craig is feeling better. Try not to let him over doe this week-end.

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  16. Congrats on the RV purchase - feels great having that done, I bet. Your 'parking spot' looks so inviting; the hard [and painful!] hard work has paid off.

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  17. Wow! It sure sounds like you have covered all the bases. I wish that I had thought of taking a video of my PDI. I took notes and some friends were with to help. (more eyes and ears) I am still coming up with questions about "how do I?"

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