SeaDawg

Larry, Our hearts are with you and Betty. I'm sure there's a quiet void that can't be filled with Dillon gone. Our best, Sherry and Paul

We just got back from Orlando and the International Builders Show. The best part of the show, to me, was the time we spent with the students designing the 20 new solar, zero energy homes for the upcoming Solar Decathlon in the Washington DC metro area this fall. Students from 20 universities, vetted from initial entries, will compete for the best, affordable, small (600-1000 square foot living space) home, with amazing regionally inspired designs. All the designs we saw in the models represented regional vernacular design spun in a contemporary fashion, along with eco inspired management of energy and water. Paul and I spent two cold and sloggy days in the frigid rain in 2009 touring the Decathlon homes, and learned a lot. We're thinking about a rally this fall in Virginia, with a focus on solar and energy responsibility. With so many Oliver owners already using solar, or thinking about it, we thought it could be a natural. Anyone interested? The Decathlon is the last week of September, concluding October 2, I think. The traditional location is the national mall, but will be moved to somewhere else in the DC area this year because of the impact of the thousands of visitors in the past, and the set of the twenty houses moved from campus by truck to the Decathlon site. We'd love to get a group together and tour. We had a wonderful, educational time in 2009. After the Decathlon, thinking about a trip down through the Shenendoah National Park, and on thru the Blue Ridge Parkway. What do you think? Sherry PS Here's a link to the Decathlon site: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/ sponsored by the DOE We are lucky enough to have two teams from Florida: Team Florida, a group of northern Universities, and a bright group from Florida International in Miami as well. Each team of the 20 Universities selected has a blog and website. You may be interested in following the group from your region, as well.

We chain neither Oliver (the dog) nor Oliver (the trailer). Four wheel drive and a hemi, with appropriate tires. Merry Christmas to all of you! Sherry PS Chuck, I suspect the snow may be gone already up there. Here, with a sunny 65 today, I don't think we have to worry in Florida.... Though the temp is supposed to drop tomorrow night.

We were back in North Carolina this past week to play in the snow. For those of you who have camped with us on our property outside Ashville, you'll see how different it looks in the snow: 4x4 only on the snowy hills. The little "shabin" sits snug and cozy in the winter white stuff. You can barely make out the outline of the campfire ring in the snow. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sherry

A very Merry Christmas to you and Geri, and to all the board members! We're in the mountains of western North Carolina, and awoke to a fresh inch of snow dusting the trees and the ground. It really feels like Christmas, with the sun glinting off the fresh white stuff, and the chilly temperatures. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011 to all of you! Sherry

Thanks, Jonathan and Mountainborn, for the updates. Sherry

Love the old Texaco sign! Hope you have a good seas on in Kentucky. Sherry PS Did you see the segment on workcampers in Campbellsville, KY on ABC news tonight? We thought of you and Betty, of course...

Hi. Chuck, I did update my map... now it takes two maps to keep up with our travels, US and Canada. We rolled over 43,000 miles on the Oliver long before we got home last month... I suspect that there are a few states that we simply drove thru, but didn't camp in, that don't appear on my maps. That's ok, because I never knew the right protocol.... so I just wing it. Looking forward to seeing you at the freezer! Sherry

This one is fun, not funny. The Iowa Welcome center on north end of I-35 is built in the iconic shape of the Iowa barn: big, red, gambreled roof... oh, and a silo,too! Inside is a wealth of information and friendly folks offering travel tips, brochures, and maps, of course. Not far from here, traveling south, you'll see the new icon of rural Iowa: wind turbine farms. Iowa is one of the nation's leaders in energy production from windpower. Sherry

We made another (short) trip back to NC. The leaves are, amazingly, still beautiful at lower elevations. All down on the ground at the higher elevations. We're back in Florida since about midnight last night. Sherry

In October, a number of Oliver owners met up in lovely Plumtree NC, and camped together to enjoy the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, and the little Valle Crucis Country Fair in the tiny town of the same name. Same weekend. Little Valle Crucis Fair is run by volunteers from the area, in a hayfield. Beautiful, and amazing, artisans in the booths, homemade food (chlili, bbq pork, hot dogs, roasted sweet corn, stew...). The traffic is pretty awful, because the roads are tiny and winding, but when you get there, you're rewarded with a delightful, all Americana event. Great country/mountain music, including a children's tent where the young ones perform, and the whole thing is only a one-day event. You can buy everything from local apples to locally made wooden bowls to handmade woolen scarves and jewelry, and enjoy the true rural spirit of America. Here's a photo of the parking lot: You can see the tents in the background. We enjoyed a beautiful October day in the "valley of the cross", in the Appalachian Mountains. If you're ever in the area the second Saturday in October, I hope you'll do the same. Sherry

Hey, Larry and Betty! Great to hear from you. I see from your blog you spent some time in beautiful Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Loved the kitchy photos of the leaping deer statue in Deerwood (very close to my brother's home). Did you and Betty also get to see the giant walleye statue in nearby Garrison? Minnesota is dotted with "giant" fun statues, and I love them all! Hope you love your new place in Kentucky, and that you have a good season. Sherry and Paul

Today probably marks the end of Autumn in Banner Elk and Avery County. It is snowing, and Sugar Mountain opened for skiing and snowboarding today; Beech Mountain opens in two weeks. Cataloochie in Maggie Valley opened today as well, with both the early openers reporting a gift of real snow from Mother Nature to supplement their snow gun efforts. It is not quite 24 degrees on Sugar at this moment. Ok, my daughter and I are off to the local sports store for the snowboard sale! Sherry

Back in October, we met up with several Oliver friends, and a Casita friend, too, and camped in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennesee. Some nights (and days!) were a bit chilly, but overall we had fantastic weather, and were rewarded by Mother Nature with the splendor of fall--the brilliance of changing leaves, deep blue skies, sparkling sunlight and lovely soft moonlit nights. Mid-October in the Banner Elk, NC area is celebrated in many ways including The Valle Crucis Country Fair and The Woolly Worm Festival, two outstanding, fun, family-oriented festivals in small towns. Both attract what seems to be the entire population of Western North Carolina, and both are lively and interesting, with music, crafts, and arts to suit all. And, kids and adults alike enjoy watching the Woolly Worms (the Ground Hog of WNC) race down strings to determine the big champion owner in this festival that benefits charities throughout the area. A friend of mine suggested that we stop and enjoy dinner and music at a newer development outside of Banner Elk after the Woolly Worm and Valle Crucis Fair. Five of us drove up the mountain for an al fresco BBQ dinner and retro music from a talented local band. The view from our mile-high picnic table beside the open air lodge, overlooking the bandshell that jutted out off the mountainside, was utterly amazing. Our afternoon brought a whole new dimension to the phrase dinner with a view: You can see just the corner of the lodge style bandshell here, and the view from our picnic table. Dinner with friends, mountain views, and great music. Who could ask for more? Great music by a talented local band As sunset approached, we moved to the library deck to watch the brilliant sun drop behind the mountain A whimsical bit of "tree art" With both joy and sadness, we watched the afternoon end.

Hello, Potential New Members, We love adding new members, and hearing new ideas. However, we have had an enormous number of sp @ mmers who have tried to join our forum over the last several months, and we have had to resort to individualized approval before you can be allowed to post. If you are, indeed, a real person, you can gain membership much more readily by choosing a "real" name... something easily recognizable, in English, as a name, nickname, or "handle". If you choose an obscure combination of random vowels and consonants, with, perhaps a number, your application will in all likelihood, be deleted. Why? Because all our moderators are volunteers (read, unpaid), and we just don't have time to figure out if a weird combination of vowels and consonants is a person. Seriously. No offense. We'd love to have you come and hang out, and have some fun, but we also like to think that you are here to do that, and not spread sp @ m. Thanks in advance. Sherry

We are often at home in January and February, also. Please let us know your plans via pm. Love to meet you. Sherry

Good advice, ScubaRx, on the screening. Just this morning, Paul installed window screen material on the air conditioner in preparation for several months' storage. We, too, had the daubers build a big nest for the first time this year, and it was a mess to clean out of the A/C unit. We have the Camping World screens over the hot water heater and furnace vents, and put window screen, fastened with duct tape, on the inside of the refrigerator vent when we're home. I typically turn of the refrigerator after cleaning it out when we're home. We've not (yet) had any problems with the weep holes or jack openings that I'm aware of. Sherry

Wow. Sounds like an amazing trip! We love St. John, and I'm sure you and KiKi will, too. Though our Oliver never sits quite that long, it does winter over in its parking pad beside the house. We do not take the wheels and tires off, but do cover them against the Florida sun. We prefer to leave some weight on the tires, some on the jacks. The Oliver is uncovered, but shaded, and treated to a good application of a quality marine paste wax at season's end. We've never winterized, as it's not likely to freeze here for more than a few hours. We drain the tanks, flush, and add a little water in the black tank plus a double packet of treatment. Periodically, I go out and "flush" the stool with a pint or two of water in a big glass, always leaving a few inches of water in to keep the flush gate valve wet. If your friends can check on the trailer periodically, it would be nice to be able to ventilate the trailer some, but you'll be storing it in the coolest Florida months. I usually leave the main hatch open an inch or so, with a rug under it, but I'm there to check it after rain storms, and to close it in big storms. Make sure to empty the refrigerator, wipe it dry, and prop open both the freezer door and refrigerator door, or you'll have mildew growth in our humid climate, difficult or impossible to remove. I just use a dish towel in each, folded. I also leave all cupboard doors open a few inches to promote air circulation throughout. I think you have the Norcold, too, and the shelves on the door slide off. Take them off, clean them, and lay them in the bottom of the refrigerator or on the counter. Even the tiniest bit of food particle promotes growth here in Florida At season's end, I take everything out of the trailer that I can, and prop the cushions up against each other to allow air movement and keep them away from the side of the hull. I've never had room to take them indoors... That would be nice, but not possible for me. I leave the bathroom vent open a bit, and open the bathroom door to promote some air circulation. I also apply paste wax to the interior once a year, after cleaning. (Not the shower floor, or tile, of course...) Again, our trailer doesn't usually sit for more than a few months, but this has worked for us so far in Florida winters. Hope you have a wonderful trip. We'll look forward to following your blog as you explore the U.S.V.I. Sherry

We were fortunate to have a clear, sunny day to tour Campobello, FDR's summer home in New Brunswick, Canada. On Canadian soil, operated and staffed jointly by Canada and the U.S., Campobello is a unique international park. The old Roosevelt home and grounds are immaculately maintained and restored to their original state. Though the home has many rooms (over thirty), the rooms are small, cozy, and homey. The park is part of an island, reached by ferry or the bridge from Lubec, Maine. We took the ferry over, and the bridge back, as we re-entered the U.S. through customs in Lubec. There is a nice campground on Campobello, some wooded sites, a few with a view of the sea. Here you are at the edge of Fundy Bay, a rugged coast with amazing tides, and an abundance of wildlife. The lighthouse on the point of the island is one of the few in the world to retain the cross symbol. The house is actually on a small island at the point, and you can walk out at low tide, though warned not to because of rip tides. If the tide comes up, you'll be stuck for hours till the tide changes, as it does drastically, every six hours and fifteen minutes. This area experiences tidal changes of 25-35 feet and more with each cycle. The friendly, homey Dutch Colonial was the summer home of Eleanor and Franklin and children for many years. FDR's parents had a different home on the island, and he spent many summers of his childhood there, as well. It was here that he learned to sail, and hiked the islands in the bay. Dinnerplate Dahlias were in full bloom This photo by Dorothea Lange is one of my daughter's favorites, and part of an exhibit on FDR and his role in ending the Depression. From the bridge, crossing into the U.S. at tiny Lubec, Maine from Campobello

A few weeks back, we found ourselves again on I 26, traveling from the Erwin, TN area to Asheville. In NC at least, a sign proclaims I 26 as a scenic byway... and oh, yes, it is, especially traveling from TN into NC. Our friend traveling with us was experiencing "check engine" light problems, so we stopped at just about every rest area along the way, consulting with the nice folks at an Asheville Dodge dealership. I didn't get any photos, but this is posted on the web, and probably better photos than I would have taken, anyway: after you scroll thru the first section of photos, click on the NC section, too. On a clear day, the views are expansive and amazing, with layered mountains and deep valleys... Sherry

It is important to match wheel and tire. Unfortunately, most of that info is stamped on the inside of the wheel, and not apparent unless you look or specify. It's also important to remember that a certain portion of the weight of the trailer is transferred to the tongue. 1900x2 is 3800 on the axle. Our tongue weight is about 400 lbs., our trailer, loaded, is around 3900 pounds. Leaves us a 10% or so margin of safety. I'm ok with that. If we routinely carried 5000 pounds, (taking the rock collection along...), we'd upgrade the wheels. The 5200 pound axle, for us, is overkill, but provides, I guess, another margin of safety. Our duro tires now have over 27,000 miles on them. I'd like to replace them with the same, as we've had good experience. By the time we get home and have time to wait for a special order, we're likely in the 30,000 mile range on these tires. No complaints so far. Sherry .

Wow. Driving Highway 200 must have felt like driving through a beautiful painting! Beautiful. Thanks for sharing that one! Sherry

We camped three nights near Campobello, Roosevelt's summer home in New Brunswick. We seemed to get up earlier and go to bed later each day as there was so much to see... whales, seals, the amazing tides of Fundy Bay, eagles, and, on our last morning, this amazing sunrise: What a splendid way to start the day! Sherry

We've stopped at some really nice rest areas in our travels. Our recent trip through southern Quebec, from Montreal area around the Gaspe Peninsula and into New Brunswick, topped the list for me. Labeled "Halte" in French-speaking Quebec, each rest stop was better than the next, especially the ones run by the various towns, labeled "Halte Municipale". In towns large and small, some had little "restos" with cafe menus and good, quick food for the weary traveler, but most had nice parking lots, lovely buildings, and a nice view to enjoy. Here's one example: Plenty of parking for our rigs, a cute little building with typically spotless bathrooms, a picnic area with some tables with a roof for protection on a rainy day, and around back, a lovely view of the water. In front, a map of the town to help you find a grocery store or gas station, a little history of the town, and a hearty welcome from the community. By the restroom doors, a sign (in French, of course), asking you to notify the manager of any problems. A little sign by the big chairs invited you to sit, relax, and enjoy the view of the sea. The bathroom, extremely clean, had an outlet for shaving, an adjustable mirror, paper cups, and an air freshener with a lovely orange scent. The town of Paspebiac outdid themselves on this one, but we enjoyed our stops everywhere at haltes in Quebec. Sherry

Welcome to the Forums, RjCasita!