I don't have any pictures to share at this time because my desktop computer isn't set up and hooking up the camera to the laptop is too fussy for the short time frame I have. So, enjoy all the bla bla bla and come back later for pics. :-)
Oh, I've written soooo much about the last almost week, but I need to save some material for a book! :-)
Here are some highlights from the past six days.
Friday August 29, 2008
-I successfully backed up into a busy street at rush hour as I couldn't very well sleep at my mechanic's. No one was injured during this impressive feat of driving. Thank you to David for stopping traffic!
-After spending several hours loading STUFF into the coach, I took off for a sports arena a few blocks from the house to spend my first night as an urban boondocker. The cats took to the RV immediately and slept good nights. Mom was too exhausted to fuss and had a good night, too. The arena wound up being quiet and dark. I didn't suffer for lack of 120V current and I really, really, really enjoyed being able to take a hot shower!
Saturday August 30, 2008
-Up at six, worked non stop, got the house emptied and the RV stuffed by noon, right on schedule.
-Was screwed over by Vidéotron one last time.
-Arrived at the campground absolutely drained and overwhelmed.
-Circled my loop, planned my entry into the site, came back, pulled straight into an empty site, and unhooked my toad, which is where:
Rae learns a very important lesson about towing
Watch where your feet are. The tow bars are heavy and purple toes are NOT a fashion statement.
Toes weren't broken, so I ignored the throbbing pain down there and moved the toad out of the way. Moved the coach back, forward, and back again, getting it into the campsite in one shot. Eyewitness testimony states that I seemed to have been doing it my entire life. Which is where:
Rae discovers that backing up perfectly (in one try) into a campsite is actually not the most important consideration at that time
As it turned out, I had circled my loop and reentered another one. I was in the wrong site. But, in my defense, both sites had neighbours with a blue tent AND both sites were of the same shape as I'd been told to look for!
A very nice park official checked to see if the site would be available for the five nights I was staying. It was. I could stay.
The coach was stuffed to the gills, I was overwhelmed, and just about burst into tears when I saw how much work I had ahead of me. So, I said *expletive deleted* that and went out for a nice dinner during which I formulated a plan of attack.
I slept the sleep of the dead. Never mind that the mattress is really too thick and that I can barely roll over. I was on my own mattress with my feather duvet and pillows. The cats were by my side. I could hear crickets outside. The wind was whispering a lullaby. I was home.
Sunday August 31, 2008
I slept so late I was disoriented upon waking up. I mean, the day is half gone by the time 9:30 arrives!
I hadn't been able to plug in my coach on Saturday since the prongs on my cord didn't match the holes in the electrical post. So, I just dragged the coffee maker and toaster out onto the picnic table.
A few hours later, as order begins to emerge from the chaos that was the basement:
Rae finds something that no longer makes it necessary for her to run an extension cord from her electrical post to the coffee maker set on a picnic table.
She believes it's a 'cheater adapter.' Possibly. Whatever it is called, it's an adapter. She now has 15AMP service!
One of the most useful things I did on Sunday was label a tote TOWING and put in it all the odd bits that I use for towing.
I took the afternoon off to get organizational stuff at Wal-mart's, then I head off to a friend's for a Labour Day BBQ. Her mom gave me a hibachi she had lying around in the shed and I am now able to char my own barbecue sauced bird!
Monday September 1, 2008
I was spending the day with a friend so I woke up early and attacked the basement. I got it so well sorted and organized that it is no longer stuffed to the gills!
At some point during this day:
Rae has a real light bulb moment involving a too highly chlorinated fresh water holding tank
"Gee the water is caustic. I can't wait to empty the tank and put in fresh water. Waitaminute. The tank is only a third full. Maybe I can use the new hose I bought yesterday at Wal-mart at a major discount and top up the tank with fresh, unchlorinated, water and dilute what's left?"
Tuesday September 2, 2008
WORK! I finalised all my files and opened cases and packed since I knew Wednesday would be a wash.
A separate entry will follow about the evening.
Which brings us to today, Wednesday September 3, 2008
I did some real work, spent some time on line, shed copious tears, received and gave a ton of hugs, and left the way I've always dreamt of leaving a place, with a tug of regret.
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4 comments:
There are two adapters you will need. I suspect your RV is set up for 30 Amp which is very common in most parks so you will be OK 90% of the time. For parks that only supply 50 Amps you will need a 50/30 Amp adapter (sometimes called a "dog Bone"). This has a 50 Amp male connector on one end of a 18" or so cable and a 30 Amp female connector on the other end. You plug the large end of this short cable into the pedestal and the RV into the other end.
The other adapter you will need in a 15 Amp adapter that you use when plugging your rig into a normal "household" sized receptacle. This will happen when you are plugging into a friends house or in 75% of RV parks in Mexico. When you use this one remember that you only have 15 Amps available and cannot use your air conditioner. You also will not be able to make coffee, toast and watch TV at the same time.
These connectors are both available a WalMart.
You'll be missed at work!
Denise Ayotte (Dee)
Croft: Yup, the adapter I found was to go from 30 AMPS to 15. That was perfect for me, so I doubt I'll spring for 30 AMPS very often. I pretty much only used the power for the coffeemaker and computer.
Dee: Thanks for stopping in! Have fun working today while I'm sitting here in Val D'Or enjoying a semblance of retirement. Bwa ha ha! :-)
A trick many of us have learned is to carry a small 110 volt space heater. Now when you are plugged into a campground that does not meter your electric you can save propane by using this heater instead of the furnace. 30 amps is best for this.
I had to try a couple of heaters to find one that was silent enough for the RV.
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