Boy, the manufacturer wasn’t kidding about minus ten being the magic number!

The bedroom was unbearably cold last night and woke me up at 3AM. Additional clothing and bedding weren’t sufficient to make me comfortable. I’m not sure what I can do to insulate the windows, what with all the condensation and moisture up there, so I think I will be sleeping in the study this week.

I had water for a few minutes at 3AM, and then none. This makes me suspect that the water intake, not the whole system, is frozen. I aimed a hair dryer at it for about ten minutes this morning, removing a very thick covering of ice. I hope that full sun will help it further thaw. I’ve asked for advice as to whether I should leave the water connection on or close it and am awaiting a response.

Two winters ago, I sat shivering in a metal box on wheels without water and swore I’d never go through that again. I’ve, yet again, failed to keep a promise to myself. I’m trying to decide if that failure is mitigated by due diligence in picking a suitable Canadian climate for passing the winter (even though said climate has betrayed me) and, well, being on the road.

At least, water and hot showers are just a hop, skip, and a jump across the compound. This sure beats driving into the city to use the gym showers, schleppiung to the village spring for drinking water, and melting snow for non-potable use!

I will get through this, but after surviving the Ice Storm and four winters in the mobile house I’ve earned the right to do so while stomping my feet and jumping up and down shrieking hysterically “IT’S NOT FAIR!” At least, inside my head. On the outside, I’m still trying appear graceful and full of humour. 🙂

Next year, I’m going south. Budget be damned.

I asked the Escapees forum tonight if there was some way for me to tap into the 50A outlet on my power pedestal so I could run my heater. The answer I got was that it was possible, dangerous, and expensive. The solution became more and more complicated until someone suggested that I get a heater with a lower amp draw.

Which made me pull out my manual, whereby I discovered that by using a lower setting, I can reduce both of the heaters’ draws from 12.5 to 7.5A!!! Talk about a DOH moment that had me both blushing and laughing. Even at a lower setting, I’m still getting more heat from the two of them than I would from just the big one on its own.

I continue to be humbled.

It went down to about -8 last night. Everything was hunky dory this morning, not that I was stressed seeing as the magic number is -10.

Today’s high was about -8 and it’s all been downhill from there.

This morning was my favourite weather, the one in which I could live pretty much year round except for two weeks of swimming weather–coldish, dry, and sunny, perfect for wearing a light coat while doing some brisk exercise… like shoveling. But the weather has now degenerated to the ‘bitterly cold’ stage.

Everything is no longer hunky dory. The line from the main part of the plumbing to the toilet room appears to be frozen solid.

I traced the line and realised that, DOH, it’s actually located in a compartment, one that I so seldom use that I tend to forget I even have it. So, I went out to the hardware store and picked up the cheapest heater they had. The clerk tried to ‘upsell’ me to a fancier and pricier model but I made it clear that I had the heaters I needed for inside and I was just looking for something for the basement. He confirmed that the cheapie should work fine.

So, I got the heater installed in the compartment, but there is a problem: I had to use the 15A connection that was running the space heater in the cab. I therefore can no longer run that space heater as I’m out of amperage!

I purchased potable antifreeze, which I’ll add to my pipes periodically (yes, I know it’s not the most efficient way of using the product). I also bought some desiccant crystals to absorb some of the moisture in here.

A reader asked a very pertinent question: why don’t I just leave and escape the weather? The only way out of here is through some pretty bad snow and icy road conditions. It’s safer to make my stand right here.

I’m desperately trying to keep some perspective here. A few days of personal discomfort really won’t matter if I can at least keep my plumbing and other systems from suffering damage. I can wear more clothes, wrap myself in a blanket, or spend the day at the clubhouse.

In January 1998, I lived through what we call THE Ice storm. 21 days without power, living as refugees, and learning to ‘do without.’ A cold snap where I have access to supermarkets, hot showers, and the internet pales in comparison to that event. So, don’t worry about me, but pray for my Miranda!