The Saga Continues.....and a Decision is made

Well, just when things were looking like they may be moving forward.....

I got a call from the guys doing the work on the camper. All of the parts came in, they took the old axle off ready to put the new one on and discovered that the old leaf springs were not only a different size than the new ones that are the right size for the appropriate axle, but the old leaf springs were welded in place. This is apparently not a good thing.

So they had to spend extra time (and $$$) to remove the old springs and put on the right kind of mountings for the new springs. They are saying I should get it back at the "beginning of the week".

To keep myself busy, I did a little more shopping for the camper. I now have the electric cord and adaptors for various plug-ins. I also got some of the plastic tubs I know we will need to get everything stowed away under the back bed. I was tempted to pick up kitchen stuff like towels and silverware, but resisted the urge since I have a bunch of camping stuff in the garage that I need to go through first.

I did decide, with the help of a good friend (thanks Lisa) about the interior design. While wanting to keep it period appropriate, what I really want from the camper is to be able to love being in it and using it. So I have decided to make it feel like the place in the world that I love most, our creek house in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

It isn't going to look exactly like it of course, but I want the whole "Up North" vibe. So there will be browns and greens and pine trees (with pine cones, of course) and birch trees and ferns and hummingbirds and dragonflies and bears and all of the stuff that makes me happy and relaxed. But no creek, I know my limitations.

The floor, which was definately going to be a very cool black and white check will now be linoleum that looks like a wood floor, or some kind of stone. I'm leaning toward wood unless I can find linoleum that looks like the creek bottom, small rocks and pebbles. I think that would look kind of interesting.

So now that I know for sure what I'm aiming for, I can make progress when I get the camper back. I will have 9 weekend days before the shakedown trip because of previous plans. It will be fun to see how much I can get done. Today I am going to locate one of the 4 sewing machines in the house so that I can sew the curtains after I find the right fabric. I plan on temporary seat coverings for this year, and better ones with new foam and everything next year.

Here's a picture of the creek:

Still Waiting

Well, I am still waiting to pick up my camper. It should be ready "probably" next Friday. I am anxious to get it back so that I can start working on it. I've been gathering helpful information and tips from folks who know more than me about these things, gathering supplies that I'll need, and gathering a lot more comments from people - some funny and some kind of not so funny.

I'm also putting together a notebook of inspirational pictures and ideas so that I can pull together a more specific idea of what I want the final product to look like. Since I can't do it all at once, I have to make sure what I do now won't be counterproductive for later.

Since I'm pretty sure the flooring will be replaced this year, due to my aversion to walking barefoot on somebody else's dirty, icky carpet, a major decision has to be made about the end decor. If I go with the fifties diner look (heavily favored because who doesn't like black and white flooring and red and chrome booths?) that is one floor choice that is easily made. It would also go great with a black, white and pink theme (think flamingos).

But I am also thinking that wood floors were very much standard issue in 1950's homes and it would be easy to come up with a decorating theme using that as well. Wood would also fit the retro cowgirl look that appeals to me. They do make very nice looking vinyl flooring that looks like wood. I just watched The Long, Long Trailer again and those floors are the black and white tile and the place was decorated like a house and not a diner, so I could do that as well.

Oh the choices! Stay tuned to see what pops up next.

Waiting, waiting, waiting.....

Well, the trailer is in the shop waiting on parts and I'm waiting at home trying hard not to be impatient. That, for those of you who do not know me, is really hard.

I am spending the time planning for the time it comes home. You know how when you are having a baby and the nine months go really, really fast and really, really slow at the same time? Well this is a lot like that.

I'm putting together a list of things I think I will need for traveling with the camper, a list of things I think I"ll need to make it livable for this summer, a list of what I think I want to do with it next summer, and a final list of what I need to finish it off (the exterior) the summer after that. So by 2010 I want it finished. A conservative estimate. A big Powerball win would speed up the completion date.

The camper does not yet have a name. When people ask about the year and make, I'm saying it's a 1950's Mystery. Because the tow vehicle is referred to as "The Beast" there have been many suggestions along the lines of "The Beauty" or "Belle", which is quite ironic.

I'm also planning it's maiden voyage, a weekend campout about a 45 mintue drive from here. Because I live in Colorado, that puts me in a nice little campground tucked away in the foothills of the Rockies. Not too shabby. That will be a shakedown trip to make sure I have everything I'll need for the long trip at the end of June.

That trip is scheduled for the weekend of June 20th, which is why I'm anxious to get the camper home. There's lots of work to do!