I Found A Crack…
November 1, 2011
in the kitchen sink plumbing assembly.
Shortly before our arrival at Mary’s home on October 10th, she indicated to me that there was water in the compartment under the kitchen sink. Since we are not at this moment living in the motorhome is was not a priority issue for me. I finally got to looking at the situation yesterday…
The inspection revealed one of the plastic components had a small crack which allowed for the minor leaking. I was able to find the replacement part at the local hardware store and replaced the broken piece. Then using a solution of backing soda and vinegar I cleaned the inside of the pipes and now all is well once again.
In an earlier Blog entry I discussed how it helps to be technically minded/inclined when you are an RVer. With a little of my time…of which I have plenty…and $1.10 for the replacement part…the problem was resolved. I’m betting a place like Camping World would have gotten me a minimum of one hour’s labor for the job…which translates into $120. Then how much would they mark-up a $1.10 part? Don’t forget the sales tax.
A little technical skill goes a long way as an RVer. I’d much rather take the about $130 I would have paid at Camping World and put that money in the motorhome’s gas tank. A much better use for that money!
This was just one of the several other things I accomplished yesterday. 27 days until my departure.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
Do I look like Stanley Steamer???
October 31, 2011
The extended weather forecast is indicating that the delightful sunny days with temperatures in the 70′s are coming to an end within a couple of days. So I need to finish my motorhome and Bronco cleaning soon. Fortunately I’m nearing the end.
I decided yesterday that I had better get Mary’s carpet cleaning machine busy on the motorhome carpeting…
This machine allows a person to spray on a cleaning solution and immediately follow with a strong suction which pulls the dirt out/off of the carpeting. It’s interesting to see how black the waste water is from this cleaning activity. As I’ve said before the road of life is a dusty and dirty one.
The vacuuming does not thoroughly dry the carpeting..but it should all be dry today…with our last…for now… day to be in the 70′s. The two-week forecast has us scheduled for day temps in the low 50′s and night-time in the high 20′s. Brrr…and I’m not scheduled to depart until four weeks from today.
Cleaning a sluggish shower drain completed my work day.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
How Do I Mount This Thing???
October 27, 2011
A few days back I indicated we have decided to upgrade the TV in the motorhome. After thorough research on the Internet…we decided on a 26″LG Lcd Led TV.
We are replacing this seven year-old behemoth monster that is 20 inches deep and weighs a whopping 58.4 pounds…
That came out of this gaping hole…
With this TV that is 1.6 inches deep…weighs only 11 pounds and was designed to either sit on a table or mount on a wall…
I usually like to do my own work. But I know when I’m over my head (do not possess the skills) and do not have the proper tools to do a job.
That’s when I turn to the experts. In this case it’s Mary’s youngest son Doug who is a master carpenter. When he first looked at the project last Friday…he came up with the idea of mounting it on the back of the existing frame…which I must admit was a good idea. However when he arrived yesterday he informed us he had re-considered the problem and decided to build a new frame instead of using the old frame. Here he is doing just that…
He left for home…taking the new frame with him…indicating he needed to blunt/round sharp edges, sand and stain it. He said he’d be back in a couple of days.
In the meantime I’ve gone ahead and re-run all of the wiring connections and tested them to make sure I’ve routed them properly. Once Doug returns we’ll install everything…hopefully with no problems. Combined with our six-channel surround system we will soon be enjoying a home theater experience in the motorhome.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
The Cleaning Continues…
October 26, 2011
We arrived Marys home in central California October 10th. I’m currently scheduled to depart for southern California the Monday after Thanksgiving. Mary is currently scheduled to meet me some where in Arizona on January 10th.
During my roughly seven weeks here…my primary job is a very through cleaning of the motorhome and our towed ford Bronco II. The road of life is both a dirty and dusty one and both vehicles were ready to be cleaned.
My job yesterday was to complete at application of a product called Protect-All to the Bronco which I started a couple of days ago…
Protect-All is an all-purpose cleaner, polisher, wax and treatment product which contains a UV blocker. It can be applied to just about any surface to slow the deterioration from the sun and other weather elements. The outside of the Bronco is now bright and shiny once again. Now to attack the inside sometime soon…
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
A Slow Day In Never-Never Land…
October 24, 2011
In yesterday’s Blog entry I described helping Mary with her yard sale…something which I swore 16 years ago I would never-never do again after departing my house to begin my full-time RVing lifestyle. Due to her inexperience with such matters..she made it a two-day event. Shoulda made it a one day thing as there were few customers yesterday.
Since it was so slow activity day…I decided to work on a couple of my to-do list items. First job was to put on a new steering wheel cover on my Bronco. After 25 years the sun was finally taking its toll…
Online I found and ordered a product called Wheelskins and went to work…
The directions said installation time was about 60 minutes. That’s if you know what you’re doing. In my case…being the meticulous type…installation proved to be three hours. The instructions also indicated “Tight is Right”…so after each stitch you must pull very heartily to end up with a tight fit. My hands are still kind of sore this morning…but I’m pleased with the results. Good for another 25 years…
The second job of my day was changing out the rear-view camera on the motorhome. The company sent me a free replacement after I advised them that out unit had moisture inside of the glass covering the lens. I blame this on poor sealant techniques at the factory…so I went ahead and applied my own sealant on top of the factory sealant.
Hopefully we’ll have no more moisture-inside-of-the-camera problems.
When we completed our day…Mary said never-never again about her yard sale. Hopefully we will never-ever do another one again!
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
Some PM…
October 19, 2011
Since we arrived back at Mary’s home nine days ago I’ve been busy cleaning the outside of the motorhome. The outside cleaning is finally done so yesterday I shifted gears and did a little preventative maintenance. Up on the roof once again. This time to perform an annual job of re-sealing the roof caulking…
When RV’s are manufactured the factory seals all the opening they have cut in the roof for things such as vents and TV antennas, etc. with caulking. As time progresses…the caulking will eventually dry out and crack. Unless the RV owner address this fact…sooner or later he will be facing a leaky roof situation.
I’ve been Rving for many years. As long as I’ve owned a hardtop RV…I’ve made it a practice to re-seal the roof caulking/joints annually with a wonderful product called ProSeal. At $20 a quart it’s pricey stuff…but it does a wonderful job. It all that time I’ve never experienced water leaking in because a leaky roof. That’s one RVing experience I do not need to have and that’s why I was up on the roof again yesterday.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
Time To Wash The Motorhome…
October 17, 2011
As part of the total cleaning process…yesterday I washed the outside of the motorhome. It’s only 27 feet but when it’s really dirty…like it was…it seems like a really big rig.
And now it’s looking good again…at least on the outside.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
Up On the Roof…
October 15, 2011
Have you ever wondered what’s up on the roof of an RV?
Most likely you haven’t…But…just in case you have…here’s your chance to find out. RV roofs tend to be similar. I took this photo a couple of days ago while cleaning the roof on our motorhome. You may click to the photo to enlarge it. The below numbers describe the item…
1- A 360 degree television antenna for receiving over the air television signal. We never use it. I could remove it…but it’s not bothering anyone so I let it alone.
2- XM Radio antenna which allows us 24 hour a day commercial free music.
3- Antenna for electronic signal amplifier for cell phone and Internet signals.
4- Kitchen area roof vent.
5- Refrigerator vent.
6- Air conditioner.
7- Air flow rotating vent which extracts odors from black and gray waste-water tanks.
8- Solar panel which allows us to get electricity from the sun.
9- Rear view camera and antenna which transmits the signal to a monitor in the driver’s cockpit area.
10- Bathroom vent.
11- Translucent plastic cover which allows light to enter the shower in the bathroom.
12- The ladder which allows access to the roof.
There…I bet knowing this information will help you sleep better tonight. Your welcome! 
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
The First Step…
October 12, 2011
in the cleaning of the motorhome process happened yesterday…since it was raining when we arrived on Monday. That first step was to move the motorhome up close to Mary’s house to facilitate the unloading.
I started with the first load of laundry. During this stop…essentially everything that can be…will get washed. As I mentioned yesterday…the road of life is a dusty and dirty one. Then the perishable foods, toiletries, computers, books, clothing, etc. Finally I emptied the refrigerator of all its contents. That’s my job for today…a thorough cleaning of the refrigerator. Mary is staying busy with her house stuff…catching up on mail, etc…
In other news…
If you have been following our blogs…you’ll remember that only nine days ago we documented a terrible tragedy of two women bicyclists being stuck by an automobile on a Oregon coast highway. This morning we received another nice Email from one of the them telling us she returned to Canada yesterday and the other one is expected to return to Canada today. Considering the circumstances…they are on the mend and appear to be in good spirits.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust
First Test Video On New Camera…
July 31, 2011
Yesterday it was time to do a video test run on my new Sony Cyber-Shot DSC 4X5V Camera. The four-minute test includes everything from bright sunshine to quite dark and I also give you a brief tour of our motorhome while doing so. Be sure your speakers are turned up.
If the video does not work, click this link…
http://youtu.be/lw9JFsNGIkg
As I indicate in the video…this camera has an amazing five different levels of video. In this test…I use the lowest level because it is the one recommended for emails and websites…which most likely is going to the primary use for me. As far as I’m concerned…it passed the test just fine.
All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust
2gadabout
ramblinmanjimj
