SeaDawg

Glad to see you finally made it! Have a wonderful summer... Sherry & Paul

Congrats on your many adventures. We follow your blog, and posts. Our Oliver has also served us well, now into our second year, and working on 18,000 miles. We're finishing up three plus weeks in New Zealand and coastal Australia in rented motorhomes, and I can tell you, I wish I had my Oliver here... Our Australian built motorhome has a panel where the water heater, water pump switch, and most other switches are located together overhead, taking up the space of one storage cabinet. Nice, but I'd rather have the cabinet. I keep three big bins under the bed in the ollie, and have had the water heater switch come on by accident only once or twice. A switch just beyond the bed, or near the water pump switch, would be great, if the wires didn't interfere with the generous drawer space. We have one thermostat, for the furnace. Controls for the fan are on the fan, and on the A/C for the A/C, which we almost never use. So, I guess it's ok for us. On our rental unit, we have an electric heat pump, and an extremely confusing remote, which gives us problems all the time, getting heat when we want AC, and vice versa. I guess we'd get used to it if we had one... (It is quiet, though...) I think a permanent place allowing for a grey water connection is an excellent idea. Grey water often fills faster than black, and it is ok to leave that connected where you have full hookups. (Black will get "clogged" without enough liquids...). In Australia, many campers have a grey water connection with a faucet and connector up forward, on the triangle of the frame, and it works well. Many with small tanks drain into a bucket, and water the trees (with the park owner's permission) as they're battling drought conditions in many parts of the country... though floods in others. Both our camper in New Zealand and here in Australia had "cassette toilets" something new for us. The whole (small) black tank pulls out, and is dumped like a blue boy at a dump point, no hose. Grey tanks are very small, too (30 liters instead of 30 gallons)... in our rentals, and it's the same in most other campers we've seen as well. Lots of ultralights and popups here, and tiny tow vehicles. Tiny everything. But campgrounds are set up with camp kitchens, big amenity blocks, gas grills, and lots of extras to make camping on the small side easier. (Australia has very strict rules on campers, caravans and motorhomes. The Queensland camper guide warns against even minimal modifications made to campers... warning owners that they may invalidate the state certifications for their vehicles. Our rental in New Zealand had a very annoying vent in the door... very cold at night, and drafting in vehicle exhaust on the highway during the day. The Australian motorhome has a permanent vent on top. Each country requires fresh air exchange, even in a drafty motorhome. It is also against the law to drive with the propane on.) Our rental here in Australia has European swing up cabinet doors instead of sliders, with push in positive latch buttons.Beautiful cabinetry, and full access to the interior spaces. However, after only 6000 kilometers (this camper is just about brand new), one of the hinges has already broken in our rental, and several of the cabinets have popped open going down the road, sending the contents tumbling everywhere.... Not fun. If Oliver goes to swing up doors someday, I hope they find a better system than this camper has. I think we'd all agree that Oliver came up with an amazing, tough little trailer, and has an equally amazing, willing, and friendly staff to repair any problems that arise, or do any modifications that we may desire. After three weeks in rentals, I'm so looking forward to being in my own Oliver again! Sherry

Thanks for the link. We'll take a look when we have more bandwidth. Sailboats being near and dear to our hearts... for all our adult lives. The wind is the fuel, the journey is the adventure.... Sherry

Love the trees on the Mongolian rim... I'm sure it's a lot cooler there!! Can't imagine 100 in mid-may... just too hot for me. (I know the old adage, it's a dry heat... but heat is heat, I think.) Wishing you both a great trip up to Colorado. Sherry

Happy Mother's Day, everyone. Larry, Betty, Chuck & Geri, looks like you're having a grand time at the Spa!!! Sherry & Paul

Yup, it's "Grapes of Wrath" revisited.... But knowing you two, I'm sure you need everything you're carrying. Good luck, and have a great summer... Sherry & Paul PS See you in Trujillo Meadows, we hope. (Missed the spring catfish... going for summer trout... ) Seriously, have a blast. In MHO, the management is so lucky to have you two up there on the mountain. Sherry

Thanks for the updates, Aubrey. Looking forward to hearing how it works out in practice when you go camping. Perhaps it will also help in some of the Hot/Cold jolts when showering with the cutoff. I'm going to have to take a look at how this works, but my assumption is, it keeps the hot water line (and supply) full most of the time, instead of the pump filling the little space in the line with cold... Sherry

Ps My mom and dad are the heroes of my life. I suspect your kids feel the same. Happy Mother's day, early, because I"ll be out of touch on the real day next Sunday. Sherry

Jennifer, My own mom is such a great role model for me... and I can perfectly picture the guitar minus one string, and all the fun.... Sounds so much like my mom years ago with our daughter and my nephew. We still laugh today that the only quarrels Kate and Jonny had in six years were about a twenty-five cent flyswatter... they both spent at least two months together, every summer with gramma and grampa in their young years... What memories you are making, parking in the driveway. Grandkids, according to my mom, are the best gift from God ever. I know you share her sentiments from your writing. I wish you all the best. My heart if full, thinking of the little kids, the exploration, and the guitar (minus one string... totally fun). Even the beat home, to escape forecasted weather. I remember one night when I flew home to pick up the kids, and stay a few days, and we had an non-forecasted tornado rip through. Gramma sensed it, got everybody up and into the cellar. Our damage was confined to a picnic set ripped from the backyard, bouncing off every car in the driveway, and landing in the street. Neighbors on the next street lost trees and shingles. Us? Oh, we were cosy, and laughing, and having fun with word puzzles in the basement, thanks to my mom. If my mom could see your posts (I wish she could, she's just not all that keen on computers) I know she'd be cheering you on. And , in my mind, she' s A1 Gramma Supreme .... (totally the same image my daughter has.... many years past spending the summer with Gramma) Safe and happy travels, Sherry

Now that's a well-traveled travel bug! Cool. Sherry

Chris and Mountainborn, Thanks for the input. If we get a Verizon aircard, I guess we'll have to watch the bytes. Ouch. (I know this is very important to Chris and Cherie often actually work via aircard. My use is mostly "recreational" and staying in touch with family and friends.) Sherry

I'm curious as to how the antennae have worked out for all of you. We're getting ready for summer camping, and thinking about adding an antenna to the mix. Thanks. Sherry

We use both Verizon (Paul) and T-mobile (me and daughter, family plan). In many places we get great coverage with T-mobile, and they have some family services we love (at least on our old plan...) like unlimited texting for a small fee, and international service at a reasonable charge. However, in the mountains of North Carolina, T-mobile has zip for coverage most times, and Paul's Verizon almost always works. We got the cheapest single plan (and cheapest phone) in Ashville, because we got tired of driving down the road for a mile or two to find a few bars on T-mobile. Since we carry two phones with different services, we have pretty good coverage now in most places. Thinking about adding an aircard in the future, and I think we'll probably go with Verizon. Sherry

That's a nice mod, and so considerate. The light of one of the little down lights would be just enough to negotiate your path to the bathroom. Our "nightlight" is just the blue light from the stereo, and an LED flashlight velcroed to the wall. Sherry

Interesting vid. I enjoy watching all the "Tales from Technomadia" youtube vids when I get the chance... There's quite a collection. The 22 looks beautiful! Thanks, Chris & Cherie. Sherry

Actually, I can hear the trout calling to us. Yes, I'd rather eat walleye, but I like pan-fried crispy skin mountain trout as well. Flip a coin. We sincerely hope to find our way up the mountain to Trujillo Meadows sometime this summer. We have about three months (plus or minus a few weeks....) of freedom, and we'd really like to take our Oliver through the Rocky mountains (via NE Missouri..mom and dad... and Minnesota... my sisters and brothers... we visited Paul's family last year in western New York. My turn, this year.)...If a Class A can go up the mountain, we know we're golden, even with the extended length of the new quad cab truck & trailer combo. Even if we don't make it to Alaska this year, we'll wait a year or two... It'll be there.' Sherry

And you and Betty need to go thru this pass to your workcamping site? I know you were up there last year. What's the road like going up there? What types of rigs usually camp at Trujillo, or is it mostly tenters and smaller trailers like our Olivers? Sherry

Ok, this Scottish guy isn't towing a camper, though I'm sure he could. Take a look at this for some inspired, and incredible, riding.

These look great. As a non-permanent solution, we've used shelf liner pieces cut from rolls from IKEA and Lowe's to keep the cushions in place. I'm careful to not buy products that have any latex whatsoever, as a part latex liner under a rug on my tile kitchen floor left a lot of residue (and removal work) for me. Both the non-latex Ikea and Lowe's products have worked well for me, both in keeping the cushions in place and no residue in humid, hot Florida.... (Check the labels, both stores carry products with and without latex. Typical grocery store woven shelf liner has some latex ...) I suspect latex would leave marks even tougher to remove on gelcoat than ceramic tile, given our heat and humdity. On the kitchen ceramic tile, I can use a rough scrubbie and magic eraser. I have to be far gentler on the gelcoat, to avoid scratches. Sherry

Nice job, DCKiefer. The existing shelf is beautiful, but not quite wide enough for some items, and too wide for others... Your shelf looks great. Ours mostly holds eyeglasses, bear spray, paperback book, etc. A small box of kleenex. Sherry PS We always take our shelf out when traveling. What do the rest of you do?

I've seen that mod on several forums. Is it difficult to install? Sherry

Larry, Your friend did a marvelous job with the slide show. Please thank him for us. What a beautiful spot. I loved the photos of Haw Creek Falls, and the spring wildflowers. Unfortunately, we're missing all the spring wildflowers in NC this year, too. If this is an annual event, you'll be sure to see us next year. Would have been there this year if any way possible. Sherry PS So glad to see Chelsie wearing her life jacket. Small dogs can all swim, but they tire easily, especially on cold waters. It's a great idea to get them used to the jackets when they're young, and think they're "special" in their formal on-the-water wear...

Steve, It was great talking to you. Glad you're doing so well! Our best wishes for a speedy recovery. We were so sorry to be unable to make it to Lake Greeson. And, yes, we read all the stories and watched all the videos. Next best thing to being there.... Looks like everyone had a wonderful time. Maybe ready for the mountains in June??? Our best to Tali, too. Hope to see you this summer. Sherry and Paul

Looks great! (So does the secret sauce...)... Hope you had a great dinner.

Jam49, We've heard some great things about the new MaxAirs in combo with the Fantastic Fan on other forums. Looking forward to good reports from you, as well. Happy travels. Sherry