SeaDawg

The trailer's last birthday present arrived while we were camping. A pressure/temperature sensing system. I think there's already a thread started by Pete or JuniorBirdman, so I'll look and add details there. I believe it's the same as at least one of theirs. The trailer is feeling pretty "downtown, right now, with new tires and batteries, and more accessories to be installed after a wash and wax tomorrow. Must be time for a long camping trip!! Sher

As our trailers age, we'll all find new items to discuss, I'm sure. Someday, I'd love to see your binder, but it might become a bit heavy to carry! Sherry

Jennifer, I think you're wise to look into every system while you have the time. It's how we all learned. Please do pm if you ever travel our way. Sherry PS I still would look into replacing the household light with a compatible cfl or led. We replaced all of our kitchen lights (recessed cans, quite a few...) with cfls, and it's quite nice. No heat, and though they burn a bit orange-ey at the beginning, it's a nice warm light (as advertised on the package) when warm. These lights are not on a dimmer, so a standard, relatively inexpensive cfl is adequate. S.

So, in honor of our trailer's third birthday, it got new tires and batteries. Wow. The 34,000 mile Duros were replaced by Maxxis m8008 10 ply, e rated tires. (We kept the best of the two duros for Alaska...). Sadly, duros were not available locally, and not e rated... 34 K is long enough to keep trailer tires, and one tire was wearing a bit thin... Both tires had been replaced when we changed from a five to a six lug axle long ago. Paul chose AGM batteries, since we have solar, and the local battery friend/guru gave him a great price on a pair of (very heavy) AGMs that fit the tray. We had thought about replacing our original betteries with the same type, but it was an upgrade we could not refuse.... Now, we don't have to worry about the water level anymore. We'll keep you posted on performance. Happy birthday to the trailer. We celebrated with a trip to Blue Spring State Park. More on that in another thread under Oliver Camping.... Sherry Ps I added up the miles. We rolled over 42,000 on the way home. Sweet. I'm so grateful we got the Oliver when we did. S.

I'd start with spraying a lubricant and working the handle in and out. Spray, and work again. Repeat as necessary. In all likelihood, it's simply binding up a little, since you don't use the handle very often... Graphite probably smells a little less than wd40 in the confined area. Either way, point the little nozzle, and turn your face to the open air as you spray. Close your eyes, or wear goggles. Leave the shower door open. If you have graphite, try that first. And you should have it anyway, because it works on the window tracks, too. A bound cable is a more complex issue. Hope that isn't it. Spray, work and repeat. It may clear it all up without a lot of work. Sherry PS Never force anything. I know you don't think you're really strong, but you"re stronger than you think, in most cases. Work a little at a time. S.

We haven't had any pathway lights fail, since we rarely use them. In your house, a halogen in an enclosed, or even semi-enclosed space is likely to cause problems with heat. You may want to look for a cfl or led replacement at home. Carrying a spare for one pathway light would not work for me... too many lights, too few uses. We never turn them on because the light cast is too bright for the other person who is (hopefully) still asleep. It's great to hear from you again. Are you coming east or north someday? Sherry

Hi, Jam49, Great to hear from you! Probably, some of this discussion needs to be tempered by a few things: 1. You said the handle (to the grey tank drain, in the shower) is hard for you to pull. Ours is not. Perhaps it need lubrication? 2. How often do you use the indoor shower. We rarely use ours. We use public facilities, and the outdoor shower, more than the indoor shower. Probably, because we have so much stuff stored in the bathroom that's hard to move. For us, it wouldn't make sense to do the mod Perhaps it would for you. Sherry

Phil, Thanks for the photos! Looks like a great time going on at Hillapalooza. Was there a hat contest? I loved the coonskin caps, straw hats, and prairie bonnets... Horseshoes with toilet seats looks like amazing fun... And, how did you get all those folks to wear overalls???? Most impressive, all the kids seemed to be having fun in the multi-generational extravaganza, too. Hope we make it out there one year... Sherry

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