BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff

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BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff

22 Aug 03 - 05:27 PM (#1006692)
Subject: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: GUEST,CarolC at the Ypsilanti district Library

Last night we heard on the radio that there was a tornado headed our way. I don't know what the best tornado preparation procedure is for people living in travel trailers. We put up our awning and I put anything small that might blow away into the van. We never even got any high winds. Just a lot of rain. But I was pretty nervous just the same.

Our neighbors didn't make any preparations for the storm, and this morning, when I looked out the back window of our trailer, I saw the equivalent of a large hot tub full of water in their awning, which was bowed almost to the ground. Earl, one of our neighbors in the New Hudson campground, told us that you have to put your awning up with one side hanging down lower than the other so water will run off of it. I've noticed that a lot of people don't do that.

When we were in the campground in New Hudson, a hot air balloon made a crash landing in the lake on the edge of the campground. The first landing put the basket into the water to a depth of about two feet. The balloon operator pulled the thingie for the gas jets and the balloon struggled to get about fifty or so feet into the air. Then it headed back for the water.

The balloon kept going up and down like that until the operator managed to get it to the shore of the lake, maybe fifteen minutes later. Then he made a perfect landing. We got most of it on videotape. If we had come home from dinner just a few minutes later, we would have missed it.

I've learned a lot about plumbing and sewage lines and tanks. Maybe I'll talk some more about those next time I post to this thread. The library is going to kick me off this computer in a few minutes.

22 Aug 03 - 06:53 PM (#1006719)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Stilly River Sage

Carol, if there is a tornado in the area, get away from the trailer and into a shallow area (like a ditch) if there isn't a permanent building nearby. Perhaps a cinderblock laundry or shower room?

Here is a link to a weather information page on our local television weather channel. Among other things, it says:

If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.

I had a travel trailer I used for a couple of seasons to live in when I was park ranger with the national park service. Better than living in a crew house, even if it was very small. It was mine, it was private, and it was actually quite comfortable. I also had a nice picnic table and grill in my site.

SRS

22 Aug 03 - 11:00 PM (#1006800)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: open mike

i should think putting up any awning would be contra-indicated
no matter at what slant...it would act as a sail for any wind..
and away you go....!

22 Aug 03 - 11:36 PM (#1006812)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Strick

Good grief, Carol, I didn't think about you guys being on the northern end of Tornado Alley. The advice about leaving the trailer is good, but information is almost more important. You might be able to check out the local emergency plans and find out somewhere secure you can go if things get close and you don't want to spend a rainy night out in a ditch. Unfortunately, down here the conditions are ripe for tornados so much of the year, you wouldn't want to react to every warning. Do you understand the different threat levels so you know how serious the conditions are and how much attention you need to pay to the weather? You really need to know where the bad weather is and which direction it's moving. Do they have sirens near you like they do down here? Do you know which radio and TV stations are part of the emergency broadcasting system? A good battery powered radio and some flashlights are important because the bad weather can take out the power lines and you might not know you're in the line of danger. A little planning will help when things get scary.

You might also want to talk to Rob about what you're going to do if the weather comes in and you're not together. Things like calling each other if you get a tornado watch or if you decide to take shelter, where you'd go if you have to leave the trailer but can't reach each other, how you might get in touch with each if the phones aren't working (you may not be able to call each other directly with the lines down, but both of you could reach a third party), that kind of thing. The worst is when you don't know what's happening to someone you love.

Hang in there. I've been in a lot of really bad weather, even seen a couple of twisters, but they really aren't that frightening once you get used to what you need to do and realize they aren't coming everytime you get a warning.

23 Aug 03 - 02:23 AM (#1006846)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: mack/misophist

One last bit of advice; open the windows a little because the fluxuations in air pressure can shatter them. At least, that's what they told us in school.

26 Aug 03 - 04:22 PM (#1008548)
Subject: Tornados, Plumbing, and Watersheds
From: GUEST,CarolC

Sorry open mike. I was using the term "put up" for both setting up the awning as well as putting it away. My mistake. Earl said you should have the awning on a slant whenever it's in it's out position. We roll it up in its 'put away' position when high winds are predicted, and when we leave the trailer for more than a day. Also we have the awning tied down with stakes and rope so it should be able to handle some amount of wind.

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone. As far as getting into a ditch for protection is concerned, our trailer is practically in a ditch as it is. It seems like we're at the lowest point in the RV park. Whenever it rains, we get a big lake just outside the door of the trailer.

Strick, we were listening to the radio until well after the tornado warning was over, but I have to confess I didn't know where we would go if one was spotted in our area. As it turned out, there was some damage to the north and northwest of us, but I didn't hear about any casualties.

So far, I've learned about how to connect sewer line hoses, water hoses, water filters, and how to drain the tanks. I think my next plumbing adventure will probably be hosing down the inside of the black water tank to get it properly cleaned out. I can't tell you all how much I'm looking forward to that (*ahem*). The people who sold us the trailer didn't give us any instructions. They said we could download them from the maker's website. That will be my next on-line project, I guess.

I've decided to take a pro-active approach to the lake that forms in our site when it rains. The campground people said they would put gravel in our site to fix the problem, but I'm not holding my breath. I've decided to dig a very small trench around the area where we have our astro-turf lawn (under the awning area), to divert it away from our outside livingroom, and fill the trench with a little bit of gravel. That ought to keep some of the mud off of our fake lawn.

The other issue that needs to be addressed is the fact that the outlet for our black water tank is only a little bit higher than the pipe in the ground for the septic and grey water. So we don't get any siphon effect and I spend a lot of time draining the hose by lifting it up to drain the water out of it. The hose is probably twenty feet long because of where the trailer is parked in relation to the pipe in the ground, so draining it is a lot of fun.

I'm thinking about maybe putting some more levelers under the tires of the trailer to raise it up a bit. I have to admit I'm tempted to take a hacksaw to the pipe in the ground to lower it a bit. The campground people said they'd put gravel in our site to raise our trailer up higher, but as I said, I'm not holding my breath.

We had a big thunderstorm last night. I was watching it from the window right next to where I sleep (more about how our trailer is set up in another post). It was amazing to be so close to nature and still feel protected from it as I did last night. That's part of the beauty of living in a travel trailer, I think. More tomorrow or the next day.

27 Aug 03 - 08:04 AM (#1008861)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Jack the Sailor

Carol has described the situation quite well. We've both got cell phones. Carol has my voicemail at work. We can look into other contacts. The nearest cinder block to the KOA is probably the Kroger about two miles away. A tornado would have to cross a small forest to get to us. We are probably safer staying put. But we can ask the Campground people whattheir emergency plans are.

The Balloon made a forced landing. It was more of a "thump" than a crash. :D It was quite interesting watching the pilot inching the basket to dry land after touching down on the surface of the lake.

27 Aug 03 - 03:04 PM (#1009145)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: JohnInKansas

A couple of things that might be of help if you're new to travel trailers.

You've already noted that you need to stow your awning any time you're away, or if high winds are expected. We tend to risk a little higher winds in my area than is recommended by the awning makers. They say anything over 15 or 20 mph should be reason to fold up; but around here 25 mph is about average. Use good judgement, but be especially cautious if "gusty" conditions are present or expected.

You do need to keep enough "tilt" in the awning so that it will drain. Be careful about keeping the awning high over the door, so that the door doesn't wear a hole in it, and lower the other end (subject to local wind direction, of course).

There is no way to be safe in such trailers (or tents, etc) if a tornado hits; and there's really not much you can do to "protect" the trailer. Get out and go someplace safe. It might be worth noting that on the road many people seem to want to pull off under an overpass for "protection." DON'T PARK THERE. The problem is that the underpass acts as a "funnel," or sort of a "wind tunnel," and winds of 50 mph in the open can be "piped" to 150 mph going through that "slot."

On more mundane subjects, it is very important that you get your trailer level if you have a propane refrigerator. Drains and stuff will work better too, but the main point is that your "camper" refrigerator WILL DIE if it's operated for too long in an unlevel position. Replacement refrigerators are very expensive, with the smallest units around $1K US.

Most RV dealers, and probably most WallyWorld type places, have "foldable" sewer hose support racks (about $10 US) that you can use to support your drain hose so that it doesn't sag and retain the big lumps. It doesn't take much slope to keep the hose running, but there's no way to keep one straight unless it's supported in some way. A short piece of house gutter and a couple of rocks would work, or even just a scrap board - if you can keep the hose from "snaking off" when you flush.

My dealer recommends that you NOT leave the "blackwater" outlet open continuously. Let it accumulate a little, and when the tank is half full go out and "dump." If you keep the tank empty all the time, the "stuff" hardens into something a little more durable than concrete. If you keep it "wet," the stuff stays "flowable." You can leave the "graywater" outlet open, since there's less "hardenable stuff" there.

John

27 Aug 03 - 06:06 PM (#1009229)
Subject: Gravity, Nature, and World Citizenship
From: GUEST,CarolC

Thanks, John. We've already got one of those support racks for the hose, but the top of the pipe in the ground is higher than the top of the far end of the rack. So the hose has to go up to go into the pipe in the ground. I guess I'll take a look around and see if they make any support racks that are taller at the far end than the one we have. I've got the trailer pretty level. It's perfectly level side to side, and the bubble's well within the lines front to back. Thanks for the heads up about the refrigerators though. That's good to know.

I had a chat with one of the people who work here in the campground. He gave me a lot of useful advice for getting the blackwater tank sorted out. So that's going to be a lot of fun.

Our trailer -

We got one of those hybrid types that is like a regular hard shell trailer, but it has fold-down beds at either end. These beds look like part of a tent trailer stuck to the end of a regular travel trailer: click here for picture (ours is at the top of the page, or you can click on 'Aerolite Cub'). We like it because it's lightweight and pretty easy to haul. It's only 23', but it has about as much living space as a 33' trailer when the beds are folded out and the room extender on the side (the part with the dinette and the couch) is out.

It's a nice compromise. Most of it is like a house, only really small, but when we sleep, it's almost like being outside. In the bed compartment, I feel like I'm completely surrounded by nature, which I guess I actually am. Most of the time I find it quite soothing. Sometimes it's kind of weird having people sitting around their campfire only a few feet from my head, but that doesn't happen too often.

We have an inside stovetop (and oven), and we have an outside stovetop and a grill. We've been doing a lot of veggie grilling, which we both think is about the best way to eat veggies, and it's nice to be able to do the regular cooking outside as well. The less heat we put into the trailer while cooking, the less often we have to use the air-conditioner.

We're both feeling pretty good about having a lifestyle that allows us to make a fairly small impact on the planet at this point in time. And it's nice to be able to migrate with the seasons. In a month or two, when it starts to get cold here, we'll be heading south where it'll still feel like summer.

I had a funny realization recently. Our actual physical address is in Alabama. I have an Alabama driver's license, our vehicles are registered in Alabama, and I'm registered to vote in Alabama, but because of the quirky timing of our move, I've never actually spent even one night in Alabama. These days when people aske me where I'm from, I usually just say I'm originally from Rhode Island (where I was born and lived for 9 1/2 years). But a few days ago when someone asked me where JtS and I are from, I found myself saying "pretty much all over... we're citizens of the world these days".

Addendum to yesterday's post:

I dug my diversion ditch (about 3" deep and about 4" wide), and filled it with river rock (about 1" diameter average). It seems to be working. We had a good rain last night along with a thunder storm, and there was no mud on our fake lawn in the morning. (Huzzah!)

27 Aug 03 - 06:33 PM (#1009247)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Sorcha

Carole, I need to ask a sort of rude question. How much for the Cub and are they available used? Friend needs a travel trailer for dog showing.

27 Aug 03 - 07:03 PM (#1009259)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Bobert

I understand that hot air baloon surfin' is now being considered for the 2012 Olympics. See, CarolC, you were there when the sport hatched out fir the world's entertainment...

Ahhhh, if yer in these parts with J the S, do stop in and have a look at my 1953 30ft tandum Spartenette trailer that I'm in the process of refurbrishin' and modernizin'. I could us a lecture on that plumbing stuff. I got Wes Ginny Plumbin' 101 down purdy good but now, travel trailers go a tad further.

Bobert

28 Aug 03 - 02:08 AM (#1009414)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: JohnInKansas

Sorcha -

For new trailers, you can find links to most of the manufacturers at RV Manufacturers dot com.

It's not a pretty site, but most of the types you're likely to find at the dealers will have good links. Identifying local dealers is a little "iffy." The RV dealers seem to swap brands frequently.

For used trailers, you might try RV Classified dot com. Lots of listings, but note that a lot of dealers put blind ads up there. Ignore anything that doesn't show an asking price. Photos of quite a few used things.

Used trailers of almost any description sell quickly in my area, unless they're not realistically priced. If you decide what you want (or what your friend wants) be prepared to GO if you identify a good one. And be suspicious of anything that's on the market for more than a week.

New "hardwall" travel trailers start at around $13K - $15K in the smallest sizes - plus or minus a few thou. Pop-ups are a little cheaper, but less secure. There is no upper limit on how much you can spend.

As to used prices, we sold our 7 year old 12-foot Jayco popup for $3K within 2 hours after the ad hit the street in the newsrag. That was discounted about $1K below "book" because of a dead refrigerator (quoted replacement, $980).

Most of the pop-ups can be towed with about any vehicle you have. Most travel trailers (including "pop-outs") will force you to exceed manufacturer's ratings for your tow vehicle. The majority of people who are "into" travel trailers end up, soon, getting a "dedicated" tow vehicle. Two of our friends have "burned out" a total of 3 heavy duty (1-ton or better) trucks in the past few years towing relatively modest sized trailers back and forth to Winfield and surrounding areas. (No comment on how "sensibly" I believe they were travelling.)

John

28 Aug 03 - 08:58 AM (#1009539)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Jack the Sailor

We bought a Dodge Ram 1500 van for towing. With the towing package its rated for 7900 pounts the empty trailer is about 4000. we hope we're ok.

Our trailer had a $17,000 price tag, we paid a lot less. we got a quote from the internet and used that as a bargaining point.

28 Aug 03 - 09:54 AM (#1009573)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Sorcha

Thanks, apparently, a pop up is right out because her husband wants a bathroom.........towing unit is a 97 Ford cargo van. Don't know what size engine.

28 Aug 03 - 10:17 AM (#1009587)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Bobert

Well, my 1953 Spartenette was $2000 and rivals Airstream in quality and ammenities. I'm going to pull it with my 1963 Chev ramp truck, which I have found a motor home (cheap) with a low mileage 454 engine and 400 transmission to go in the ramp truck. The motor home also has lots of goodies to raid for the Spartanette including a nice Onan generator which I can mount in a box under the ramp truck, a roof top air conditioner for the trailer and gas/electric refrigerator, gas stove and miscellaneiou plumbing things. Now to top off my little retirement package, the 1963 VW Karmann Ghia is gonna ride on the ramp truck so when I get where I want to be, the gas guzzling tow vehicle can sit...

Heck of a plan...

But still looking for a web site to lerntz myself this fancy plumbin'.. Anyone know of one?????

Bobert

28 Aug 03 - 10:32 AM (#1009593)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Stilly River Sage

That's a very nice looking trailer. Have you ever read Steinbeck's Travels With Charley?

SRS

28 Aug 03 - 10:50 AM (#1009601)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Sorcha

Hmmm. She is having a conniption fit about what they cost....looks like they can't get ANYTHING for under $9,000 US. Do you know how many motel rooms you can get for $9,000? A lot..........and they have useable showers and toilets.

28 Aug 03 - 11:04 AM (#1009614)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Stilly River Sage

You can buy a used one in very good condition--the dealers with new ones will have trade-ins to look at. I bought a used one years ago, and sold it when I didn't have any place to park it. I wish I'd kept it!

SRS

28 Aug 03 - 01:10 PM (#1009689)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: JohnInKansas

Sorcha -

The 12 foot Jayco pop-up we just got rid of had a potty and a shower. (And refrigerator and 3-burner indoor/outdoor cooktop)

When we got it, you had to choose between an air conditioner or the potty/shower combo in the 12 foot units, but newer ones in the same size range (about the last 3 or 4 years) are coming out with both. I'm not quite sure how they manage it, since the 8" or 10" wheels they put on most of them are only good for about 1,000 pounds each (2,000 pounds per axle, roughly) and our old unit was near the 2K Lb axle limit (rated) when empty. Older 14 foot units (2 axles) may have both, and a little more room, if you're looking for a used model.

Some small units do use a "port-a-pot" that you have to take out and sit under a tree with; but the built-ins are typically a small (suitcase sized) cassette that you slip out (from the outside of the trailer) and dump into the nearest "stool" or RV dump when it gets full.

Quite a few of the newer pop-ups also incorporate "slide-outs" to expand the "living room" when you get to your camp.

The pop-ups are much easier to tow than any hardwall travel trailer. This is partly due to the lighter weight, but also due to the low height, which lets you see over the trailer while towing and gives much lower wind drag. The main disadvantages of pop-ups are:

1.) security - not much better than a tent - and an important consideration if you're carrying quite a few instruments(?)

2.) the limited life of the "canvas," good for about 10 years(?) but actually "replaceable," fairly economically if you've got the energy to do it yourself.

3.) cranking up and down everytime you want to get into it for maintenance during the off season (although electric cranks are available on some models).

3a.) In many areas, mine included, it's a constant battle with the weather to do off-season puttering with a pop-up. If you open it while the weather is damp, you have to leave it up until it's dry. Even a heavy dew while it's up means waiting for a hot, dry day to put it back down. Any dampness when you close up will result in mildew, which drastically shortens the life of the canvas. Even if the canvas is "impervious to mildew" (see the ads) the dust on the surface will get moldy, and will eat a hole in the adjacent fabric.

We did look recently at the "mini" hardside trailers like Scamp and Casita. We found that these generally gave you less space and convenience than comparably sized (and much cheaper) pop-ups. With most models of these "minis," you do as much "unfolding and folding" of the stuff inside as with a pop-up.

In "standard size" travel trailers, in the lower price ranges, we were very favorably impressed with both the Aerolite (see the Cub above) and R-Vision (which we bought). These appear to be the "lightest" towing ones on the current "new units" market (according to the spec sheets), unless you're willing to pay quite a bit more for one of the "exotics." There are a number of other brands that come fairly close for "towability," and your own intended usage may make other features more important.

John

06 Sep 03 - 02:57 PM (#1013996)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: CarolC

Sorry I haven't been back in a while. We were in Minnisota last weekend and we've both been sick with colds all this week. I have to go do laundry now, but I'll try to be back and respond soon.

09 Sep 03 - 02:34 PM (#1015623)
Subject: Acorns, Squirrels, and General Wesley Clark
From: CarolC

Hey Bobert. Your rig/ensemble sounds very interesting. You have to learn the plumbing thing by doing it, I think. I succeeded in getting the blackwater tank to register "empty" on the moniter panel by filling the tank with a lot of water and special septic tank enzymes, and then letting it sit while we were gone for the weekend (and then flushing it).

Why don't you get your rig(s) hooked up and head on up here to Michigan for a visit? We'll be here for a few more weeks. (P.S. You might be happy to know that I'm considering voting for Wesley Clark if he decides to run.)

Good luck to your friend, Sorcha. One of the reasons we decided to get a trailer was so we wouldn't have to spend so much money on hotels. The bathroom in our trailer is the biggest I've ever seen in any type of trailer or RV. Having such a (relatively) big bathroom and shower is one of the things that keeps us sane while we're living on the road.

Thanks, SRS. I've read everything of Stienbeck's that I could get my hands on, including Travels With Charley. I remember that I enjoyed it quite a lot, but that was many years ago. It might be about time for me to read it again.

I bought a de-humidifier recently. We've had some problems with condensation on the inside of the tent compartments, especially if I cook something that lets off a lot of steam when it's cold outside. So far the de-humidifier seems to do the trick. Another thing we're finding with this type of trailer is that the tent parts lose a lot of heat at night while we're sleeping, because they have no insulation. I've bought some of those mylar emergency blanket thingies, and I'm going to try use them as a lining in the tent area to see if they provide any insulation. Since we'll be heading south before the winter hits, it shouldn't be a huge problem, but I figure it won't hurt to try to save some heating fuel if possible.

The campground is much quieter now that the summer season is over. It's kind of nice to have fewer people around. There are oak trees all around our campsite and they're dropping their acorns right now. We hear what sounds like cherry bombs going off all day, when the acorns hit the roof of our trailer. I heard what sounded like water rushing from someone's site nearby, and when I investigated, I discovered the sound was actually squirrels chasing each other around in the trees.

It rains a lot in this part of Michigan. It was very brown and dry looking in Minnesota when we were there. I find myself wishing I could send some of our rain to Minnesota. We can certainly spare some of it.

09 Sep 03 - 04:49 PM (#1015720)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Chief Chaos

It's my personal opinion that trailer parks cause tornados.
I did quite a bit of traveling with my family as a youngster in a pop-up (I believe it was a Coleman) and even spent the summer living in it when Grandmas house ran out of room. No A/C but in Springbrook/Elma NY the temps were never that excessive anyway. It finally grew too old and succumbed to mold so we had to get rid of it. The only time that I didn't think it was worth having was when we blew a tire on the Atlanta bypass. When the wheel hit the ground it was driven up into the trailer (mostly cosmetic damage). The trailer immediately swung to the left causing the car to swerve to the right and fishtail. Thank God my father was a good driver. One lesson from that day. Make sure you have a jack and lug wrench that can handle the trailer and the lugnuts on the wheel (some people by used trailers and forget about this).

Citizens of the world? I prefer the term "American Gypsy"
being a military brat who grew up all over the US and in the service now I can at least say I understand how you feel. If I had to stand still in one place for more than four years I'd probably go crazy.
Good Luck.

11 Sep 03 - 02:37 PM (#1017093)
Subject: INTRUDERS, Conquests, and Vagabonds
From: CarolC

Hi Chief Chaos. Thanks for the story and the reminiscences. I've heard that theory about trailer parks causing tornados. Maybe there's something to it.

We don't call ourselves "American Gypsies" because one of us isn't a US American (Jack the Sailor, my husband, is Canadian, and proudly so), and we don't travel exclusively in the US (many of our trips have been and will be taking place in Canada), so we really are "citizens of the world" Also I'm not sure that using the term "Gypsy" to describe ourselves would be particularly respectful of the Romany people, or other historically migrant peoples.

I definitely know what you mean about going crazy if you're in one place for more than four years. I start getting restless after about four or five years in the same place, too.

The squirrels have been burying acorns in our campsite lately. I would love to know how they find them again so long after burying them.

We've been noticing the names on some of the different kinds of RVs and trailers. Some of them make sense, but others have us a bit bemused. A big old RV just went by that has the name "Vagabond" on it. That makes sense to me. Some names are kind of neutral, like "Fleetwood", "Pace Arrow", and "Bluebird". And there's the ones with names that evoke a sense of escape or relaxation, like "Holiday Rambler", "Play Mor", or "Wanderlodge". But we really wonder about the ones with names like "Conquest" and (here's the real winner), INTRUDER. I've seen several of those. Hmmm...

11 Sep 03 - 03:52 PM (#1017130)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Chief Chaos

Well then you're North American Gypsies! Nothing wrong with Canada! I've spent some time in Ontario/Toronto and wondered sometimes why I bothered coming back to the states. The only time I ever got upset was when a border guard decided to harass my brother, sister and I when we were going to pay a visit to the falls. We turned around and went over one of the other bridges and the border guard let us through without a problem. I don't think the romanians would be too upset. the true gypsies that I have met were always more than willing to adopt you. More hands for the work, more voices for the song, more feet for the dance!

Squirrels don't find the acorns (at least not down here). My garden is full of young saplings that the squirrels burried last fall.

11 Sep 03 - 04:10 PM (#1017146)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Bobert

Carol:

I'm a good year and half away from havin' everything renovated and road ready but I *am* making progress. I finally got in interior of the Spartan lookin' decent. I still have to take up the old floor tiles and maybe do some patchin' on the underlayment and retile the danged thing....

I still need a good basic reference book on the water and sewage systems with piccures. Lot of piccures....

Ahhhhh, Wesley Clark? Hmmmmm? Well, that's progress. Guess that Michigan air has cleared some of that Geogia air (and thinkin'...) out of ya". Good on you, girl.

Bobert

11 Sep 03 - 04:34 PM (#1017159)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Chief Chaos

Trailer names are about the same as the names of the SUVs. Men don't want to drive a "Bluebird" They want a Conquistador! Machismo! Sweat and muscles and grit! Lets get out and tame that (concrete and asphalt)wilderness! At least its satisfying to know that 98% will never leave the pavement. I shuddered when I started seeing the adds for luxury SUVs. I don't need yuppies in the woods (hey, there's a song there!)

Invader? I thought I was a part of this wonderful world!
I subscribe to the philosophy of taking nothing but pictures and leaving nothing but memories.

I go the other route and take the nameplate off and assign it my own name! "RambleShack", "Wandering Winnie", "Vagabond Voyager".
My personal favorite has got to be Gonzo's RV "Titanic".

15 Sep 03 - 03:56 PM (#1019412)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: CarolC

Hey Chief Chaos and Bobert. We were up in Muskegon over the weekend visiting with Big Mick, Seamus Kennedy, and Pete Boom at the Michigan Irish Music Festival. We had a great time.

Seamus has given us a perfect name for our trailer. He called it our "wee hoose (house)". I like it. I'm at the campground office using their internet line, and I can see our wee hoose nestled in amongst the trees on the other side of the horseshoe pits. It looks right homey.

So far, Bobert, Clark is the only potential Democratic candidate I would even consider trusting with my vote. I hope he decides to throw his hat in the ring. I'd like to hear more of what he has to say.

I'm getting bumped off so someone else can use the line. Back soon.

23 Sep 03 - 06:39 PM (#1023899)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: CarolC

I seem to be having my yearly PTSD freakout right now. I seem to have those every year in the late summer or fall. And this year, with the Patriot Act stuff that's going on, there's a lot of material for my fertile imagination to work with.

This past weekend we went to Ontario to visit with some of JtS' family. A strange thing happened when we crossed the border coming back into the US. We had picked up some groceries while in Ontario. I'm allergic to corn, and it's difficult if not impossible to find ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and especially cola beverages in the US that don't contain corn syrup, but in Canada, it is possible to find these products without any corn syrup in them. So we picked up a supply of some of those things, including two twelve-packs of Coca-Cola, and then we went to the duty free store and picked up some beer and wine.

The day before, I had used the computer at JtS' father's office in Ontario to send a couple of e-mails. One of them was to Howard Dean. I told him, in response to his comparison between his philosophy toward the Middle East, and that of President Clinton, that I didn't consider President Clinton to have been an honest broker in the Middle East, and I explained why (with the obligatory links to newspaper articles to support what I was saying).

When we got to the border, the guard was very suspicious of us. When JtS handed him the INS documentation that allows him to return to the US after being in Canada, the guard acted like he'd never seen anything like it before. We showed him JtS' work permit and he acted like he'd never seen one of those either. He asked us a bunch of questions about what we had in the car and what we'd purchased in Canada. We answered all of his questions. He asked us if we had anything else to tell him and we said "no". Then he slapped a card onto the windshield, tucked JtS' documentation under the windshield-wiper, and told us where to pull the car over for the INS guys to tend to us.

After we pulled over, we handed our papers to the men who approached us. One of them looked puzzled when he saw it and said to one of the other men in a puzzled tone of voice, "She's a US citizen. Maybe he's never seen one of these (waving the INS papers) before." He said that two or three times.

They told us to go into the building and wait. Then they searched the car. After maybe fifteen or twenty minutes, a man came to the desk of the building we were in, handed us our papers, and told us we could leave.

When we got home, I couldn't find the two twelve-packs of Coca-Cola anywhere, and a CD that I had brought with me that had some files from one of my old computers was missing from its case.

Now, maybe I'm crazy for being so paranoid. Maybe we forgot to put the Coca-Cola into the car, although I'm pretty sure I remember putting it in there. And maybe the CD was missing from its case before we got to the border. On the other hand, maybe they were both in the car when we got to the border. If so, why take two twelve-packs of Coca-Cola? The CD I guess I can understand.

Could they have put a listening device somewhere in our stuff and they're making recordings of us saying "They took our coke"? Could they have planted some drugs in our car so they can "find" them next time we try to cross the border? Is the patriot act destroying our democracy? Have I gone completely 'round the bend?

Now I'm afraid to go back into Canada (or rather to go there and then attempt to return to the US).

24 Sep 03 - 09:37 AM (#1024310)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Jack the Sailor

I didn't perceive the incident quite the way Carol did. I saw a young, tired bureaucrat (with a large gun) who wasn't sure about my paperwork and wasn't taking any chances. In the larger scheme of things I'd rather they erred on the side of caution. I think that the Candian and US governments should also point fewer fingers and work together on common security. A freer border is in each country's best interest. But one thing I said to Carol, is that if were were detained under the Patriot's Act, I'm sure that a lot of Mudcatters would help protect us by asking the Feds about us and by keeping our detention in the spotlight until charges could be proved.

We can count on you all. Right?

24 Sep 03 - 11:59 AM (#1024334)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Amos

I'm sure that a lot of Mudcatters would help protect us by asking the Feds about us and by keeping our detention in the spotlight until charges could be proved.

Right, JTS!

A

24 Sep 03 - 04:11 PM (#1024527)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: CarolC

Thanks Amos. PTSD is a freaky thing and I know it doesn't make any or at least much sense to those who don't experience it. But for those who do, the fears are very real.

On a lighter note, I found the most delux laundromat I've ever seen last week. It had literally dozens of machines, including double and even 3X size dryers, front loader washers, and something I've never seen before: a centrifuge for stuff that is washed in the front loaders. The sign on the machine says it cuts drying time in half.

Normally I'm a complete laundry slob, and I don't bother with sorting or any of that stuff. But at the delux laundromat, there was almost a reverent feeling toward the doing of laundry. And since there were so many machines (and not very many people using them), I was able to really take my time with the shaking out and folding procedures. I really got into the zen of laundry doing and the being-here-nowness of laundry. I even shook each piece of laundry before putting it into the dryer.

You should have seen JtS' shirts when they came out of the dryer. Not a wrinkle in any of them. That's a first for me.

It's definitely fall here in Michigan. I guess it's going to feel a bit strange to go from a place where winter is just around the corner, back to Alabama where summer will just be ending (probably in late November).

We're probably going to go back to Canada for maybe a week or two in October. We'll be visiting famiily, and hopefully connecting with friends while we're there. We'll also probably be going to Niagra Falls to celebrate our first wedding aniversary. I've never been to Niagra Falls. Should we book the honeymoon suite with the heart shaped bed and the champagne glass shaped hot tub?

I hope JtS is right and the border guards didn't take the CD with my computer files on it. That CD had all of my PMs from LR Mole stored on it.

30 Sep 03 - 12:18 PM (#1026677)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: GUEST,JTS

Carol told me she spent $350.00 at that landromat yesterday. I hope she was joking :(

30 Sep 03 - 01:18 PM (#1026723)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Chief Chaos

I've been trying to post on this for a couple of days but it wouldn't let me. Niagra is a wonderful place. Stay on the Canadian side at one of the smaller motels along the Lake. More private and serene. Much more beautiful. If you've never done it, take the tour beneath the falls, the maid of the mist and then cross over to the American side to see the falls from Goat Island.
I spent some time there each summer growing up. Mom and Dad are from outside Buffalo, NY. Have fun. I'll just sit here lonesome and homesick 'till you get back, don't worry about me....

01 Oct 03 - 07:52 AM (#1027110)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: GUEST,JTS

Thanks Chief.

We'd like to invite you along ...but.... well.... we'll be busy!

01 Oct 03 - 12:14 PM (#1027330)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: GUEST,JTS

The room is booked. I used some Marriott reward points to get a room in the Marriott FallsView. We'll be sure to raise a glass to you all as we gaze out over the Falls.

01 Oct 03 - 01:06 PM (#1027357)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Metchosin

Carol, a friend went across the strait to Port Angeles, in the US, last weekend and was worried about racial profiling, as he looks decidedly middle eastern. Fortunately he also has a Metís Card, so there was absolutely no problem on the US side.

However, when he was returning to Canada, the Canadian side swabed his steering wheel. He sat for a long time waiting for the results, sweating bullets, because we have been told here, that most larger denomination US currency has coke residue on it and he was sure with his luck, he might have inadvertently handled a contaminated bill.

The swab came back negative and he was free to proceed, but paranoia when crossing the border is common now regarding stuff other than national security too.

01 Oct 03 - 04:07 PM (#1027484)
Subject: I'm very glad I'm not a duck
From: CarolC

Thanks, Metchosin. What's a Metis Card?

Hey Chief Chaos. Thanks for the tips on where to stay and what to do in Niagra. Sorry we can't take you with us, but I guess you can probably understand ;-)

We've had quite a lot of rain in the past couple of weeks. A lot of it has been a really heavy drenching downpour kind of rain. We ran out of LP gas last Thursday night. I was still learning how the system works, and I didn't stay on top of the supply situation. It was raining hard and the temperature was probably in the 40s (F) when the gas ran out. That was a cold, damp, night. The de-humidifier wasn't up to the job. It puts out a small amount of heat, and I turned the computer on just to have the little bit of heat it puts out. They probably helped a tiny little bit, but Friday morning was cold and wet and no fun at all.

I got the LP tanks filled, and that was a big improvement. Then I wrapped up the tent compartment where we sleep in mylar emergency blankets that I taped together, and then duct-taped to the trailer. What a difference! Last Friday night was the best night's sleep I'd had in weeks. It was the first time I didn't feel damp all night long. It was also nice to have a more even temperature in the sleeping compartment. On the cooler nights in the past, I'd feel toasty warm under the blankets, but any exposed skin would feel cold. I find that distracting when I'm trying to sleep.

After a few days of using the mylar, I've discovered that it's important to provide some kind of drainage for the water that collects on the inside of the mylar due to condensation. So I've taped some drinking straws through the mylar where the water is most likely to collect, so that they can be outlets for the water. They seem to be working quite well.

The rain we had last week was so heavy, water was washing over the river rock in my diversion ditch, and depositing mud all over our astro-turf. The nice thing about the astro-turf is that I can take it over to a little grassy hillock and hose it down with our garden hose. I pulled the edge of the astro-turf slightly over the gravel in the ditch at the upper end, and I'm hoping that'll help divert the water under the astro-turf instead of the water flowing over it. So far, so good.

I'm a bit surprised at the number of people who live more or less permanently in campgrounds. I knew about people staying in campgrounds for a whole season, because my parents used to spend four or five months of the year (the warmer part) in a fifth-wheel trailer they had set up in a campground on Mount Desert Island in Maine. But there are people for whom the campground is their only home and they live there (here) all year long. It appears that there are several families and individuals who stay here at the KOA all year, and I get the impression that it is a pretty common thing at many other campgrounds. I'm not sure why they do it. It isn't really very cheap to stay in a campground if you use the electric and septic hook-ups. The monthly rent for our lot in the mobile home park in Alabama is less than a quarter of what it is here in the KOA Kampground.

I'm also suprised at the number of tenters who use the campground as home, presumably while they're looking for someplace else to live. Two of the sites across the little roadlet from us have people who are staying in tents and who appear to go off to work during the day. And I've noticed several others during the time we've been here. I really felt for them during the heavy downpour and the cold. Our cold, damp trailer was luxurious compared to their little dome tents sitting right on the sopping wet ground.

Another thing that amazes me (just a little) is how fast the campground can fill up and then empty out. Eary in the day on Friday, I noticed that our part of the campground was almost empty. Then later in the evening, the sites were almost completely full. It reminds me a bit of how mushrooms suddenly pop up in their dozens after a rain.

Dean and Linda cleared out of their site here at the KOA on this past Saturday, heading for another campground. They'd been our neighbors since we came here. They're from Minnesota. Dean is an airplane mechanic (at the supervisor level). Several months ago, Dean's job dissappeared, and because his is a union job, he bumped someone with less seniority from his or her job here in Michigan. So they've been living in their camper here at the KOA until they could sell their house back in Minnesota. Now they've learned that a shop in another part of the country (Nashville, I think) might be terminated, and Dean might get bumped from his job here. I asked Dean if people should be worried about the fact that the airlines are cutting back on the number of mechanics they employ. He said not yet, but maybe some time in the future. He said that these days one mechanic is expected to do the same amount of work that two mechanics used to do. He said that the routine maintenance is getting done, but sometimes there isn't time to do the non-routine maintenance. They both still travel by airplane and they aren't worried yet.

Anyway, thanks goodness for duct tape is what I say.

01 Oct 03 - 05:10 PM (#1027521)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: GUEST,JTS

Carol
A Metis is a person of mixed French and native canadian origins.
See you at home.

Rob

02 Oct 03 - 12:23 AM (#1027721)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: Metchosin

Carol a Metís Card is a card issued by various provincial Metís groups in Canada and I think some parts of the US. Some in Canada have used it to pass freely at the border and work in the US, although this is not strictly legal, as Metís do not have recognized aboriginal rights or the same status as aboriginal people. There has been some legal concessions in Canada as to hunting and fishing rights as far as I know.

The card can be handy though, to prove your ancestry when crossing the border, as it does indicate you are a descendant of First Nations people and a lot of guards on the border sometimes think that the Metís are some Indian tribe in Canada.

The most famous Metís in Canada was Louis Riel and perhaps the most controversial figure in Canadian history.

25 Oct 03 - 11:37 AM (#1041625)
Subject: RE: BS: Trailers, Balloons, Tornados, and stuff
From: CarolC

Thanks Metchosin. That's very interesting.

It's been a busy last few weeks. On October 8th we put the trailer in the shop for service and then left for a week in Canada to visit family. Since we got back, I've been getting the trailer ready for cold weather. The mylar's gone, and now in it's place I've put insulation made from bubble wrap coated with aluminum on both sides. It's great stuff, and it works really well for this kind of thing. I still need to insulate and put heat tape on the outside water hose.

We've moved to a site that has only grass and no trees. It's really nice for the fall season because we don't have the mud problem we had before, and the sun, when it's out, provides solar heating for the trailer during the day. Most of the KOA is closed to the public until spring, and now it's just the die-hards who are still staying here. I feel some sense of comradeship with these people that I didn't with the summer kampers. I'm not sure why.

We went to Canada and came back without incident. We didn't get nabbed. I'm thankful for that. We celebrated (Canadian) Thanksgiving with JtS' mother in southern Ontario. Thanksgiving in mid-October, even in the Great White North, has a very different feel to it than Thanksgiving in late November. The leaves weren't even in their full fall color yet, and the days were beautiful, and mostly warm and sunny.

We celebrated our first wedding aniversary in Niagra Falls, Ontario. We had a room overlooking the falls. While I think Niagra Falls would be a lot nicer if there weren't any hotels at all in the vicinity, I did enjoy that room overlooking the falls. It was a good first aniversary

We took a day trip up to Orillia while we were in Ontario. It was my first time there since the winter of 2001. It was great to be back, even though we only had a few short hours to spend there. We met Little Hawk at Rombos for lunch (yum) and then went over to his place for a visit.. We met the dachshunds. Everything LH says about them is true ;-)

Today is gray and wet. We'll be heading into beautiful downtown Ypsilanti soon to check out the farmer's market. I think I need to spend more time on-line. I'm starting to get rusty at this. Hopefully I'll have more time for it next week.

Here's a couple of pictures from our visit with LH and his monkey:

JtS, the monkey, and me

LH, the monkey, and me (and Kermit the Frog)