120V w/o Shore Power or Generator

I finished installing an inverter today.  Nothing too special.  Just 1000 watts hooking up to the shore power line.  Enough to watch some TV, or more importantly, run the CPAPs  while dry camping.  Oh the joy!  I also got all crazy dusting, vacuuming, and general cleaning the inside.  It looks a lot better now.  Man, I can't wait.  Only a couple more weeks...

Maintenance

Four stringed nightmare!

My hero!

Now in my third month in a row working weekends...  It doesn't leave much possibility of going RV'ing when the kids are in school.  However, it did make it simpler to get the motorhome into Camping World for repairs.  That pesky rear furnace is working again.  And the water valve to the ice maker that I failed to winterize correctly has now been replaced.  But it was not all just paying to have others fix things.  I have repaired two cabinet doors that had been broken, along with a drawer face.  I also faced down one of any Rver's worst fears...  Day/Night blinds.  Four strings!  I had four of them that were broken.  They have quite a reputation around the RV world for being a pain in the rear-end.  I managed to get them all down, repaired, and replaced.  I pulled all the strings and replaced them all with 130lb test poly fishing leader.  That should fix them for some time.  If not, I'll replace them with some other kind of blinds.  The first one took me four hours!  About thirty minutes a piece after that first one.  Man, what a pain...  This reminds me...  I still have a small piece of trim that needs to be replaced...  The second weekend of June cannot come soon enough.  Silver Springs, Silver Springs, Silver Springs...

Christmas On The Coast

Where's that wide sandy Washington beach?

Beach combing success

Well, almost.  The kids got out of school for Christmas break on a Friday, giving us almost a week before the actual holiday.  We took the RV to Grayland Beach State Park.  This is something that I have wanted to do for some time.  There's just something about being at the coast when it's stormy...  Maybe it's getting back inside and getting warm...  Anyway, we got there as sunset was quickly approaching.  Colton and I trekked out to the actual beach.  We found that with high tide and plenty of rain, the beach was barely even there.  Quite a bit different than what we are used to seeing during the summer.  There were 4 or 5 other camping rigs in our loop.  Everyone appeared to be already inside for the evening.  The rain was pretty much a constant for the period of time that we were there.  This is the first time we've been to the State Park, and found it to be very nice.  We had power and water, but no sewer.  I had really wanted to get out and do some beachcombing, and that finally occurred.  I was able to find some kind of a float.  Happy days!  The kids seemed to have a good time, although they did get a little stir crazy with most of their time spent inside.  Most people in our loop left on the second day we were there...  Weird...  Anyways we had the place mostly to ourselves for two days.  That's different.  I found that there was a different challenge to deal with when camping at the beach in the winter.  Moisture.  Everywhere in the RV.  There was water that formed in all the cabinets on the outside edges of the motorhome.  I'd like to get a good de-humidifier, but holy cow they're kinda expensive.  At least a couple hundred bucks.  We also had to continue dealing with a problem that surfaced on the hunting trip.  The rear furnace wouldn't light off.  It just wouldn't work.  The family played some Monopoly, except for me.  I never have liked that game.  We cleared out in time to get home and then head down to Linda and Marty's house for the customary Christmas celebration.  It was kinda nice having the motorhome there.  It allowed me the chance to imbibe several adult beverages and not have to worry about driving.  I, shall we say, took advantage of the opportunity.  Very well.   We have made reservations to go back to Grayland Beach State Park in the summer of 2011.   

The Deer Hunter(s)

Camp Czwalinski

October 2010 brought the yearly trip to Northport, WA.  First I have to thank Gene and Janet Czwalinski.  Gene and Janet have kinda adopted Vince, Dave, and I on our multiple yearly trips to God's country in NE Washington.  When Mikee was younger, she kinda adopted and moved in with them for an afternoon or two while I hunted.  They have been gracious enough to allow us to use their RV pad at Deep Lake the last couple of years.  Very convenient, and the price is right!  Right next to Deep Lake for fishing and not too far from prime hunting spots.  Yes, 50 amp electrical service, water, and septic.  Earlier in the fall, Gene and Janet had departed for the winter to Utah.  A few days later they got a call telling them that their home on Deep Lake-Boundary Road had burned to the ground.  Thank God they had already left.  We visited the homesite on our arrival.  Very sad that their beautiful place was gone.

Post Fire

However, they are rebuilding, what I'm sure will be another beautiful home.  Anyways, thanks to Gene and Janet!

Beautiful fishing weather

Limit of fall trout

We started with a little fishing.  For some reason, I was the star, catching my limit, and my family's dislike in one morning.  I think everyone else caught something, but I had a really good day at the dock.

Lying in wait

Afternoons and evening were spent at Helen & Merry's farm, looking for elusive white tail bucks.   This fall they weren't too hard to find.

Mikee had a nice 6 point walk across the field in front of her.  Unfortunately, she got a case of buck fever, and couldn't quite get the scope to settle on it.  She just decided she couldn't press the trigger being so unsteady.  It was ok, as we got to watch it for several minutes.  Jana took a shot at a beautiful buck that she said was a 9 or 10 pointer.  Later in the fall, when I was with the guys, I saw what was probably the same buck.  It was a big boy.  Anyway, we found no sign that she had actually hit it, and I retrained her in supported vs. off-handed shooting.  Maybe next time!