1st Campout of the Year

Our first campout this year was very enjoyable.  We didn’t go far, only 10 miles in total to Brighton Recreation Area, Bishop Lake Campground.  We were on site #4 in the upper level, a nice level site backing up to trees.  We only got the site because we decided to go a few days early and found out they had a cancelation which was probably do to the rainy cold weather.  Being the hardy campers we are it didn’t bother us.  I had faith that the weather would change, this is Michigan after all.  And change it did.

On Friday our grandson Tristan came to visit for a while before he headed up north for the weekend with his buddy.  Friday afternoon Kevin and the triplets joined us for a couple of nights.  They had a good time doing many activities.

 They road their big wheels, roasted marshmallows and made s’mores.

 

While on a bike ride they met a local policeman who let them sit in his patrol car.

They made lanterns at the parks recreation program.

Play dough is always a fun activity.

 

Painting is fun too.

While the little ones painted the adults played bean bags.  It was a relaxing enjoyable time that I hated to see end.

Until next time,

Kathryn

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Wash Wax All

How to Keep our motorhome clean and shiny was the next thing on my list to look into.  Last year, when we bought Winnie, I made sure to wash her a few times with baby shampoo and a clean shammy.  This year and from now on I want to make sure she is not only clean, but protected with a nice wax job.  I know my limitations and hand waxing a huge motorhome is not feasible for me or my husband.  After reading forums and blogs by other RV’ers we decided to try Wash Wax All by Aero Cosmetics. It is a product that can be used with water or without.  I found it available as an Amazon Prime product so I asked my daughter Melissa to order it for us – free 2 day shipping.  We will receive it tomorrow.  Now all we need is the right weather to try it out.

Until next time,

Kathryn

 

 

On-line Order

 

Campground Guide

After placing our order on-line for the new tail light that was out, I came across a book I think will be very beneficial to us while on the road.  I asked my daughter Melissa to order the book for me on her Amazon Prime account.  We love and prefer camping in state parks and other wooded and rustic type areas as opposed to higher priced crowded private campgrounds with few trees, even though the private campgrounds often have full hook-ups and more amenities.  I know I am generalizing here and that not all private campgrounds fall into that general category.  We also have not ventured too far yet out of our familiar territory.  But, we are excited to get going and look forward to using our status of senior citizens to take advantage of discounted rates in many national and Corps of Engineer Parks.  We purchased our senior park pass for use in National Parks at the beginning of the year.  We wanted to make sure we had them before they raised the rates.  I think you still have time to order your pass if you haven’t already and fall into the senior citizen category.

On another note, today is our 46th Wedding Anniversary.  I can’t believe we are that old!

Until next time,

Kathryn

Tail Light

Today I called the RV special order parts department to find out how much a new tail light would be.  This is the second one that needed replacing.  The first one was when we bought Winnie one year ago and I notice on our way home that it was out.  I was not a happy camper as that should have been taken care of.  After an immediate call to our salesman, expressing my disappointment, he ordered us a new tail light.  Anyway, I had the part # I needed thanks to my son Kevin who checked it out and also priced it online.  The salesman wanted to know the usual and then asked me for the vin number of our motorhome.  Why? I asked do you need that?  I told him I didn’t have it right off and just needed to know how much the part was.  My son found the part for $50 online through amazon.  The RV special order department wanted $70 plus S&H.  I said thanks but no thanks.  That’s some mark-up!  We will be ordering it online and installing it ourselves.

On a more up note, it is official, we will be camping the first full week of June with our daughter Karen and her family in Ohio.  The reservations have been made.  This is the half-way point for both of us, as they are coming up from Kentucky.  I can’t wait.  We should have a really fun and relaxing week.

Until next time,

Kathryn

De-Winterized

It was finally warm enough to work on de-winterizing Winnie.  This is the first time we did it ourselves.  Last year we paid to have the RV service center do it for us.  It’s a good thing we have manuals and a son who is mechanically inclined.  Thanks Kevin, you are really appreciated.  We made sure the antifreeze was drained and all plugs were in place.   Even though the RV Center said they found a leak at the shut-off valve to the ice-maker we found none.  All we can deduce is that the valve was loose and needed tightening.  We will be vigilant and keep our eyes open though for any leaks in the future.

Next thing on our to-do list is to caulk our windows, etc.  I need to figure out exactly what kind of caulk to buy.  We are still concerned about the chassis battery.  We think we still need a new one, as it is not holding a good charge.  And then there is the jack that didn’t retract all the way.  All 4 jacks were suppose to be worked on and fixed last year. We took Winnie in more than once for the same thing.  And you wonder why I have no faith or trust in the RV service department.  Other than that, we are ready to go camping.  Can’t wait.

Until next time,

Kathryn

Glass Covers

We all know how things rattle and roll while moving along on the road.  The tighter they are packed the less chance they have of moving around, but if you pack glass items close together they have a tendency to get scratched, chipped or broken.  I thought of making cozies to cover them, but I don’t need insulation or anything fancy.  I just need to protect my glasses and vases, etc. from damage.  I know, I could just take plastic glasses but I enjoy drinking out of glass, especially a nice glass of wine.

My solution was to make covers as simply and easily as possible that would do the trick.  To accomplish that I cut fleece the height and length to go around and sewed a strip of Velcro to each end.  Fast, easy and it works.  Protection with little fuss.

Until next time,

Kathryn

Just a Little Addition

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest differences.  Today my son Kevin added another runner under the kitchen sink so that I could store more items upright; i.e. cookie sheets, cutting board, serving trays, cast iron griddle, etc.  He found an “L” shaped piece of molding, cut it to fit and placed two lengths next to each other to make a track to place the items in.  To hold the trays upright he has a sticky thing that holds zip ties.  (I know real technical terms).  I am going to use a small bungee cord through the zip ties as my fastener.  The photos show the before and after without my bungee cord. It sure makes it easier to get at what I need when I need it and it takes up less storage space.  I call that a win – win.

Until next time,

Kathryn