Category Archives: what the hell needs to be fixed now?

MiFi and Admiral Ackbar…

When we started this adventure, we had 2 MiFi hotspots, a Verizon (20gbs) and a AT&T (10gbs) and via a friend, we found another Verizon based one that was unlimited 3G. We also learned how to force both 4g MiFi’s to use only 3g which prevents some of the needless advertisement/bandwidth burning crap for loading, as well as we are learning to surf with our iPads or iPhones more.

Using our WiFi Ranger, we was lucky enough to have a good connection while at TNC Patagonia for 6 months whch you just never realize how good it was until you no longer have access to it. While we was on the road, we only had a few days/stops where we had issues with getting online, but over all we figured it out and life went on.

While staying here at Fort Falgler, we discovered that it also matters how you park, we had issues getting connected while parking East/West and really good connection parking North/South. This is the sort of things you must think about when you live in a box.

Of course, the majority of of our surfing was done using the unlimited MiFi which worked out great until late January when all the sudden, we was not getting any connection at all, which forced us to call the service provider only to be informed that they discontinued the unlimited MiFi as well as their MiFi service, so thanks for the memories and thanks for letting us know in advance.

I love great customer service like that…

So now for the first time in a year plus of living in a box, we are limited on bandwidth and quite honestly, it sucks huge snot balls. (I can keep it clean, or not be gross, I can not do both.)

When you work online, you must be online. But even when you are not working, you want to blog, or read other blogs, or catch the sports scores, or read your favorite news site, watch tutorial videos and whatever else. You find out fast that you burn up a ton of bandwidth on stupid crap like auto play videos and flash and banners of some stupid advertisement or whatever else there is to burn your bandwidth. Not to mention when you are missing episode 2 of “True Detective” on your DVR and do not want to start watching the series until you know you have the bandwidth to finish it via HBOGO.

We had our Verizon shut off 2 days ago for burning 29+gbs. How we got 9+ gbs of over usage before they shut it off, I have no idea, I think it’s insane I can’t see how much I use of it just by looking at it, but I’m starting another rant… And of course the AT&T was also .33 from maxing out, but lucky for us, that was set to reset for the month that night.

It is just too stressful to worry about something stupid like bandwidth, so a few days ago Pauline ordered a new MiFi hotspot and it should arrive tomorrow. It is also a Verizon, this is a newer model that we can not force to stay in 3G, but we have read other blogs who give it positive reviews, so we will now have 50gbs worth of bandwidth.

The plan is to make this new one iPad/iPhone only until we can figure out what the best system is and change as needed.

We decided to start making plans this Spring/Summer for redoing the interior of Ackbar.

We have needed a new overhead cabinet in the driving area since we got Ackbar. The overhead entertainment center was built in 2002 when the TV’s were still square, so we had them take the TV out and I cut the bottom half of the TV area off since it was blocking WAY too much windscreen. Not that we had any use for the entertainment center anyway since we do not even face that direction when we are home having gutted the sofa and table out for our desk.

We think we want to do it ourselves. We tried to hire a friend of a friend, but he declined, and we did find a guy who offered to do it for $350 which we almost (and still might) jump on, he told me it was pretty much to cover the cost of the materials, he just loved wood working.

Pauline and I also love to do woodworking. We just suck at it. And have no real clue. And did not have the space or most of the tools needed. But we do have hard heads and strong wills.

We now have access to a VERY nice wood shop. And if we plan it out right and take our time and do small areas over trying to do it all at once, we can do this on our own.

We think…

Maybe…

For the overhead driving area, we want a nice, but simple cabinet. We need to figure out what we really want to use the space for, to store _____ and build to that end. I have been looking online of “how” and I think I have an idea, but of course the only REAL way of knowing how to do this is tearing out the current particle “wood” cabinets and look at what is holding it up. Not a big deal, its not exactly pleasant to look at now, but I hate the idea of starting something and not being able to finish it.

For the slide out, we want to rip it all out. Everything. The desk, the overhead cabinet. The interior walls. An almost complete gut job, just so we know what is there and that it is done exactly how we want it done. Which means more power outlets desk top high and not on the floor (Need a electrician to do this.)

Remove the over head cabinet that blocks the upper 1/4th of our windows, and putting a cabinet in the center floor area with 4 large sliding baskets, that will take everything food wise we keep in the overhead now. The office related crap in the overhead can go over the drivers. (Which we hardly use at all currently.)

And of course, insulate the entire slide out properly, with the best insulation we can find and as much of it as we can stuff in there. And remove the tile floor with insulated thick carpet.

And pretty much do the same thing with the kitchen are and bathroom. Just not all at once. We are thinking this can be done over the next 1-3 years. It all depends on time, money, knowledge, stress levels etc. But once we start to work on a section, it will need to be done ASAP. So this will take careful, well thought out, advanced planning.

 

 

 

 

 

We are so screwed…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can see once more!

That is always a good thing!

I still have issue with going from a dark, like in a garage, to outside when it’s sunny, but not as much as I had been having.

It has been raining more then usual, I was told we already have already passed the monthly average for the month of March and today is the 6th.

The rain doesn’t really bother me, the wind is my main issue. I grew up in the midwest and have had to deal with tornados too many times, that its something that is “deep inside” that stresses me when the winds are above 25 mph.

The biggest issue I have with the rain, is the trails have huge muddy pools I have to jump around when running, I try to keep a certain pace when I run and even a few hop, skips and a jump, can wear me out faster then I would like, and of course there is always that fear that one day I will slip and get a cold mud bath.

Temps have been GREAT! Mid 40s to low 50s as highs and lows in mid 30s. I can live with that.

We have had to order some parts for our “All in One” washer/dryer. It is a side loader, and has 3 agitators inside and 2 of them suddenly broke off, nothing but plastic tabs that slide in. We ordered 3 new ones ($15 each + s&h) since its only a matter of time for the 3rd one to break. The person Pauline spoke to told her he was not sure how we got this unit. We bought it new just over 1 year ago. It is a 2008 model.

*sigh

That was the biggest debate for us the 2-3 years we discussed this idea of full timing in a RV. Should we get a washer/dryer. It cost $1,200 for the unit we got. And after living in the RV for over a full year now. We made the RIGHT decision. Yes, its noisy, shakes the RV and whatever else, but over all, it is a time saver. Since we have been here, we see how many people use the washer/dryer here at the park. Its free for volunteers. But there is ALWAYS people coming and going from that room. The idea of having to wait in line to wash clothes would be too much.

And this is the dead season. In 2 more months there will be 15-20 more volunteers here.

Right now, the fog is once again covering Whidbey Island, I can just make out the coast line. The other day as I was finishing my run I saw another Submarine going out to sea, with the usual Coast Guard escort. Pauline was out on the trails with the camera, but she got back in time for us to grab a few good shots of it. Which where the first pictures I have taken in a week.

Pauline has been taking the camera out with her each time she walks and she is getting better with her pictures, the ones of the Great Blue Heron are probably the best pictures she has ever taken. The majority of the pictures here she took.

Tomorrow we will do a hour or so of work here in the park before we head to town for supplies and the library. This weekend we have no real plans, other then to do some birding. The current idea is to get up early, like 7am early…. UGH, and eat and go down to the spit and hopefully get some birds.

But then we found that the stupid, outdated, why the hell are we still doing this, time change crap happens.

That means Monday morning will arrive 1 hour faster…

DAMMIT!

Anyway, enjoy the pictures…

Better days? What better days???

I think I spoke way too soon. This is February in the Pacific Northwest. There might be a better day or two, but this is still February in the Pacific Northwest which mean high winds and rain. We have had gust up to 46 mph with sustained wind of 30 mph. It is suppose to calm down in the next few hours to the typical 10-15 mph but until then….

UGH!

Since we are the only RV in the retreat center camp host spot, which has 2 full hook up sites, we did not want to park the typical East/West direction with a view of a building but facing North/South so we could have a perfect view of the water and Whidbey Island and the Cascade Mountains, Mt Baker and at times Mt Rainier.

Worth it!

 

The only issue we have had with this setup, is when the wind comes from the Southeast, it hits our main slide out and shakes the whole rig and when the wind is over 35 mph + the canvas cover over the main slide out flaps in the wind since it is getting hit on the edge so the wind is traveling between the canvas and the top of the slide out like a sail.

There is really nothing we can do to stop this short of pulling the slide out in and living in a even more confined space, and from experience that is just plain miserable to live in.

Now, I kind of wish we pulled in the slide out when the winds are over 35 mph. But reality is, it just isn’t practical.

I went out today to take a better look at the canvas cover and it’s destroyed. There is a 14″+ rip where the canvas meets the RV  on the left side and one of the three straps was so chewed from flapping against the edge of the slide out, I just pulled it off to save time from having to do it later.

We think anything over 50 mph we will bring in our slide out. But until then, we will weather the storm.

I tried to figure out what the best thing to do is, and at this time, I can’t think of anything.  The damage has been done to the existing cover. It will need to be replaced. I don’t want to start putting straps on or weight or whatever on top, since I don’t want the extra weight on the slide out roof, and if the winds did get over 50 mph, I would rather be able to pull it in without having to get a ladder to “free it”.

We estimate this will cost $350-$400 to replace. I have been thinking on this all day and short of pulling the slide out in every time, I can think of no other option we had. The canvas is 12 years old and weak. The wind is strong and constant with the wind coming from the Southeast the angle it’s hitting it is “the perfect storm”.

Since we have been here the wind has hit us from every direction, so short of pulling the slide out in every time or parking in different directions every time the wind shifts, I have not yet figured out what we could have done to prevent this.

We had the canvas replaced with a “vinyl” cover over the bedroom a few months ago due to the same reason, the canvas just gave away. That cost $175. And so far it appears to be holding up, but we have a pretty good wind break protecting us from the West winds. We have been hit by winds from the West, and they rock the RV more then the winds from the East, but they don’t hit the cover on the edge like is happening with the main slide out.

Ok, enough about this subject.

We also have been dealing with internet issues. We had 3 MiFi hotspot’s. 2 used the Verizon network, and the 3rd on the AT&T network. Recently our unlimited MiFi has been cut off with zero chance of coming back so we are now down to 2 and both of those are iffy in the best of times. We do plan to get a 3rd one again, also on the Verizon network, but until then, we have been fighting to get and stay online enough to get our work done.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the last few weeks. It is not all “doom and gloom” here, I just can not think of too many happy thoughts at the moment due to the constant winds getting on my nerves and the internet of tubes is too unreliable so I want to get this posted before the tube burst.

Enjoy the night.

 

 

 

Gallery

We are once again living life on solid ground

This gallery contains 3 photos.

Oy. What a week we have had. First we had our adventure up into the mountains where we somehow took a wrong turn and got into a bad bad bad spot. Lucky we was able to get out of it. … Continue reading

Gallery

4.69 Inches of Rain in 24 hours…

Yep, no joke. It was so bad the flooding washed away some of our rock foundation for the RV so much we was listing to a side, we tried to move the RV and just sunk into the mud. Waiting … Continue reading