Fulltime RVing…it can get harrowing

Although our Plan A usually gets changed to Plan B and even Plan C (“our plans are like jello” is one of our mottos) we have a pretty routine fulltime life….this harrowing experience was an exception!

Our travel plans took an unexpected turn when Dulee, our 12 year old rescue Bichon Frise, suddenly had a health issue in his spine.  A local Jackson, MS veterinarian X-rayed him and referred us to the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine which is located 2+ hours away. With the possibility of spine surgery we decided to move from Jackson to Belaire RV Park in Starkville for two weeks of observation and treatment. 

We had a lovely grassy site but it rained, a LOT, during the entire two weeks in Starkville! The night before we were due to leave, neither of us slept very well, worrying about the probability of a troublesome muddy exit.

Our fears were not unfounded!  When GET backed the truck up to the 5th wheel we could see that the ground was VERY VERY mucky.  He pulled forward about five feet and then the wheels started spinning…oh no!  Putting the truck into four-wheel drive did absolutely nothing!  Big ruts in the mud!  Let’s try a shovel, nope; boards in front of the tires, nope. 

GET called Chris, the park owner who also happens to have a garbage business.  “Can you help?”  “Sure, I’ll be there in about an hour” and he was. With his garbage container hooked up and both his truck and our GMC in four-wheel drive…NOTHING!  The ruts in the mud only got deeper!

This called for greater measures! (our 17,500lb 5th wheel plus the approximate 7,000lb truck makes for a pretty heavy load)  Chris unloaded the garbage dumpster and hooked his hydraulic cable line onto the tow hook on our truck. 

HIS TRUCK WORKED HARD!  OUR TRUCK WORKED HARD!  

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Little by little there was movement and finally success!   Oh my, it is scary to see your home and all  of your belongings shimmying, shaking and listing to the side as it struggles through thick mud! 

Both the truck and the 5th wheel were heavily splattered with mud.  Wish I had thought to get pictures but by that time our shoes were soaked and we were cold!

However, we were out of the mud and back on the road.  Next stop Natchez!

Fulltime RV life on the road can be harrowing!! Never a dull moment.

P.S. A few days later our equipment is all clean…no sign of the mucky mud!

P.P.S. Dulee responded to medication and didn’t require surgery!

Fulltime RVing…another home improvement

I’ve shared the home improvements we’ve made so far in our Landmark Fifth Wheel:  all of the twelve window valances have been recovered, seven in the living area and five upstairs, new blue sofa, and headboard and bench are recovered.

 

We were anxious to get on with painting the kitchen island.  Before, it was nice but too dark and too too brown!

BUT we were more than a little hesitant about embarking on it.

• What if we mess it up? 
• What if the paint peels? 
• What if we choose the wrong color?
• What if…? What if…? 

I did a lot of research about paint, primer coats, methods, top coats etc. leading into the project and before heading out for supplies.  Boy, did we luck out at Home Depot!  The paint department guy, wish I knew his name, was wonderful.  Most likely looking very confused, we were standing in front of the paint we had determined might be right for our project when he said “No, not that one, this is much better. You don’t need a primer or top coat.  Use these sandpaper blocks.  Buy this very good brush.”  He was wonderful!  We left the store, pretty confident, and all set to go.

Mega Blue paint color is chosen from dozens of sample chips and paint is being applied with the “very good” brush. Two coats did the job.

But first, a thorough overall sanding.  Supervisor in charge of sanding is Zodiac.

And the dreaded time-consuming taping off.

One final touch was replacing the brushed nickel knobs in the kitchen area of the rig with these I bought on E-Bay. $26 for 24 knobs!

But, what a great result!  Were we pleased?  OH YES!

A little add-on project.  The carpet on the steps leading “upstairs” was beyond cleaning so GET replaced and painted the new steps the same color as the island. So far the paint is holding up really well to daily traffic wear.

Another project completed!

Happy Thanksgiving

from my home on wheels to yours!