In the years past, we’ve traveled during the warmer seasons and wintered back home in VT. This year, following 2 short-ish trips to Maine and Toronto, we spent the rest of the summer at home, and we’re heading out now on a fall trip to the Southwest. This is definitely a part of the country we can’t visit in the summer as we’re heat wimps. Also for the first time, the trip is open-ended. We’re not sure when we’re coming back – presumably, we’ll know when it’s time.
Of course, what’s not changing is seeking out adventure, friends, and music along the way. But first, we needed to get a few things in order…
Our time at home was productive, as it allowed us to get caught up on a few maintenance projects on our aging homes – both the RV and our ‘sticks-and-bricks’ house. After replacing the leaking cargo door of the RV early in the summer (detailed in an earlier post), the top priority was repairing the leaky and similarly damaged entrance door to the RV. Doug completely disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt the water damaged area, fabricated a new interior panel to replace the old, and upgraded the weather stripping and caulking to (hopefully!) prevent further leaks. It looks at least as good as the original!
In the 9 years we’ve owned the motorhome (which is, itself, 15 years old), we’ve spent a total of almost 4 years living in it, and the original foam mattress and dinette bench seat cushions had degraded to the point of discomfort. (We spend A LOT of time being supported by these pieces of foam, just sayin’.) The 2-piece mattress is a fairly complicated piece of furniture with an integrated frame and support structure, and the design was changed in 2010. However, Winnebago was able to build us a custom-made replacement, and it arrived just in time for our departure. It fits perfectly and feels great! Also we got new foam and padding for a DIY rebuild of the dinette seats. Both are ahhhhhhhhhhh….
As for the homestead, our garage has a shiny new roof and there’s a spanking new boiler in the basement. A couple of problems in the second floor shower and the basement were diagnosed and arrangements are in place to fix them over the winter. Several trees that had been about to take over the house were cut back (WAY back), along with a few that were threatening the garage. Our neighbors at the West Hill Sugar Orchard gathered up the left-over logs for next spring’s maple syrup production, and branches and brush turned into… a giant bonfire pile.
Wait! We’re not gonna be around in the fall – when will we have the bonfire party? In a bit of self-imposed chaos, along with the RV repair, packing, home repair and prepping for departure, a few days before leaving we threw a bonfire party down in the bowl behind the house. And we’re glad we did as we got to visit with a bunch of friends before heading out. Back when the snow flies…
For anyone interested, more RV repair and bonfire pix… Video courtesy of Deb P – TY!