Tag Archives: Ackbar Tech Issues

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.

 

 

 

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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

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Getting New Experiences

Lets see if I can get this post done tonight…..lol Right now, sitting by the fire, stars are out, we are at Gunsite Wash BLM just south of Why, AZ, the nearest fellow RVers are a couple 100 yds away, … Continue reading