I went back to Miranda tonight to hopefully finish the floors. I almost got done before I ran out of light and steam. I’m at the ‘really finicky lots of measuring and fitting of itty bitty pieces in a tiny space stage’, which is not fun at all.

I’ve made two discoveries this week.

Until Sunday, Miranda had a secret basement compartment with a door I couldn’t open. I tried every key and had my friend try, too, when she came last Tuesday. Neither one of us could get that door open. Sunday, I decided to try again and I got in (wish I could remember what key I used). Guess what I found behind the door? An outdoor shower!!! YES! *score*! And there I was disappointed that not only do I have a rig without enclosed tanks, I also don’t have an outdoor shower. My rig is truly awesome! 🙂

Second discovery came from spending about an hour sitting on the entrance steps. I looked up and noticed a switch under the kitchen counter, just above the drawers. I’d of course seen it in pictures, but hadn’t really clued in to the fact that there was something there. Curious, I hit the switch. Miranda roared to life. Yes, folks. I found the on switch for the generator. I had no idea that a generator could be turned on from inside! There’s even a little counter that keeps track of the generator hours. I’ll be filling up the tank on Friday and will exercise the generator this weekend.

Tonight was the first time I turned lights on in the rig and doing so caused a shift in consciousness. Miranda is parked by her lonesome in a rural setting, by farmland, and surrounded by trees. Soon as the sun set, the crickets came out. As I turned lights on in my current metal tube on wheels set in such a familiar setting, I was instantly home. I can’t wait to move in.

Wow, my body has really forgotten what these sorts of days are like. I really don’t have the stamina for weekend-long renovation bursts like I did when I had the house. I could barely move when I got up this morning, so I puttered around a bit until I limbered up. Then, it was off to North Gower by way of Home Depot (needed another box of ‘chocolate’) and more carpet ripping out until I couldn’t move at all any more.

Please visit the page about the lounge for pictures.

First order of business was to finish ripping out the carpet in the study. That done, it was time to rip out the carpet in the dining/lounge area. That proved to be… fun. I can’t remove the chairs so I had to cut around them. Same thing for the dinette benches. Have you any idea how much work (and blades and dust) is involved in cutting carpet?

Before I started, I looked at the bar.

Not entirely useless (there is a table), but almost. I opened the door and discovered that the bar was attached to the coach with only four screws. Away with it!

EEEP! I thought the carpet was in good shape. This really showed me how worn and disgusting it actually was! I kept the bar for parts but will most definitely be putting a bookcase between the chairs. Unfortunately, Ikea has the very thing I’m envisioning, so I’ll have to go there.

This room isn’t finished. By the time I got done with the half I did do, I was beat. What’s left will involve a lot of cutting, measuring, and fiddling, so I felt it best to leave it for next week. I just put wax paper down over the stick strips to keep dust off them.

What about the desk, you ask.

Next week. I’m taking the shake down cruise of all shake down cruises: going to Montreal’s south shore to visit family. If I can traverse the island of Montreal in one piece, I will have nothing to fear after. My mother is much more skilled and creative than I am in matters of carpentry, so she’ll help me put together a desk. While there, I’ll also dewinterize the coach (it’ll be SO NICE to have the bathroom working, LOL!) and possibly wire the back up camera monitor.

Tomorrow will be my first full day all alone with Miranda.

I’ve been reading a lot this week.

Miranda’s various manuals have proven invaluable in making me feel that I can learn her systems on my own, without anyone to help me. The Ford manuals (and, incidentally, I can’t believe I own a Ford), has schematics of the electrical set up which will aid me in installing the backup camera monitor.

Also, I purchased the following two books on Amazon:

Managing 12 Volts: How to Upgrade, Operate, and Troubleshoot 12 Volt Electrical Systems

and

RV Repair and Maintenance Manual: Updated and Expanded (RV Repair and Maintenance Manual)

Neither is the sort of book you want to curl up in bed with (unless you want to be put to sleep!), but they are very informative and will be helpful tomorrow as I start to make modifications to my coach. The language used in both tomes is precise, but doesn’t fall into ‘technobabble.’

Unfortunately, ‘they’re’ calling for rain all weekend, so I probably won’t be able to install my back up camera. I will try to do the inside work, though, and will then focus on getting the study set up.

I plan to spend about an hour with Miranda at the storage place, unloading more boxes, securing what’s been unloaded, trying out the awning, and making sure I know where various components like the water heater and furnace are. Then, we’re off to Home Depot and then possibly Ikea and Lee Valley. I made a list of what I want at the latter and their prices, so that I can compare products at the Home Depot.

Tomorrow’s ‘I hope I can do all this!’ list:

-Properly install Majel (the GPS unit);
-Wire the backup camera monitor into Miranda’s 12V system;
-Remove both beds from the bedroom;
-Remove the carpet from the bedroom;
-Install Allure flooring in the bedroom;
-Reinstall the left-side bed

I doubt I’ll get to the desk, so I’ll probably have to go back to Miranda on Sunday. Since spending the night at the storage place isn’t an option, driving home and back is a more cost-effective plan than would be going to a campground. That’s for next weekend!