Tech

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Put It on the View Screen, Lieutenant

Miranda’s only fault is that she doesn’t come with a back up/rearview camera system. I can barely back up with a car and I won’t have any help in guiding me into tight spots. So, I couldn’t imagine hitting the road without this device.

Finding one to purchase was quite tough. The electronics stores I visited sold components for the systems, but not whole ones, and the staff wasn’t very knowledgeable about these things. I don’t have much experience or knowledge of electronic systems, so I didn’t want to go the piecemeal route. Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire have complete systems, but they are cheap and not well rated, as well as wireless, which wouldn’t work on a 31’+ rig.

Googling, I found some sites offering systems for prices ranging from 350$ to several thousand dollars.

Finally, I went to the Escapees forum I belong to (and where people have been inordinately patient with all my questions!). Someone recommended an eBay seller he’s personally dealt with and who has excellent feedback. The cheapest system was 250$ (plus 30$ shipping to Quebec) and seemed very good–weatherproof camera and cable, all the hardware needed, colour monitor, and more. So, I added one more ‘officialism’ to my list and purchased the system.

The seller also offers side cameras. Since the monitor I purchased can be hooked up to three cameras total, I had a flash of my adding two side cameras to give me a 360 degree view around my coach… not unlike the view screen on the Enterprise!

Installing the camera seems easy enough, all things considered, except, of course, for the part that involves climbing up onto the roof. 🙂

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First Purchases for Miranda!

I had a lovely time in upstate New York yesterday and picked up a few items for my RV (ignore all prices on the websites, I only picked up stuff on sale!!!):

–Garmin Nuvi 260 GPS (how, praytell, have I traveled all this time without a GPS?!);

–APS 750V battery back-up system (UPS) and surge protector, for my computer set up of course;

–Black & Decker Pet Series hand vac, which they claim is specifically engineered to pick up pet hair (the reviews support this);

–Corelle Sandstone dinnerware–I decided after a lot of hemming and hawing to get a plain colour because the RV was going to look ‘busy’ enough;

–Stanley Stud Sensor, because I want to make as few holes as possible in my coach (and got quite the lesson in the mobile house);

–collapsible over the sink strainer;

–collapsible measuring cups (and matching spoons);

and, finally, let’s not forget my

–Wonder Wash, which was a gift.

The trip was well worth the time and gas I expended… especially since gas is so much cheaper in the US. When I bought two gallons worth at the last gas station before the border, the attendant took my ten bucks and laughed, saying that it’s easy to spot Canadians these days–they’re the ones topping off their almost full tanks before going home!

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Proverbial Stone

Whew, I didn’t intend to get insurance issues sorted out today, but I did! I’m thrilled with the coverage and price I got for a ‘Globe Trotter Plus Nomad’ (love that!) policy… that includes road side assistance for the RV. One less thing to research. *Rae heaves a huge sigh of relief*

I still need to check if my plans will affect my car policy (which I’ll need to maintain with my current insurer), so I could still be in for surprises, insurance-wise, but I think the worst is over.

The fact that I will be out of Quebec for a year was a huge problem and I had to swear up and down and promise my firstborn child that I would not go to the United States for more than a couple of weeks at a time, and for no more than 6 months total, as well as pay a premium. I can’t figure out why my country is so difficult about people crossing its provincial borders for more than 6 months. I know it has something to do with the health care regimes and provincial income tax, but all of that comes out in the wash if you ask me. *rolls eyes*

Okay, so now I’m waiting for the financing to be settled. This is stressing me out, probably more than it should. It’s just that plans B through Z aren’t nearly as advantageous as plan A and could really cramp my style.

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The Count Down Begins…

Monday, I’m having my first official meeting (by phone) about financing pre-approval. I’ve done a lot of research about this, listened to both sides of the arguments, and concluded that, for me, I’m better off financing than using my savings. I have a good feeling about this lady I’ll be working with. I emailed her at 8PM tonight… and she called me from home at 9:15 to schedule Monday’s meeting. Talk about dedication to customer service.

Tuesday, the coach goes in for the mechanical inspection. Soon as I have the results from that, the owner and I are going to talk money. I’m dreading this talk. The guy put the coach on sale for 32K. It’s a gorgeous unit, quite luxurious, and as close to a brand new rig as I could have ever dreamt (I’m itching to show pictures). But the book value for this rig is only 16K. If I factor in fair market value for some of the accessories he’d be throwing in, I still don’t get at more than 18, 19K. The financing lady who has been in the RV business for many years came up with a figure of 17K, including accessories. That’s 15K less than they’re asking. Do I risk insulting them and losing out on this near perfect unit. I really don’t have much time to look for anything else. The seller said that he’s motivated, but how much so? His coach as been advertised all over the place since April. His wife is excited at the idea that the coach she loved and babied so much could pass into the hands of someone whose travels she’d be able to follow via a blog. I loathe talking money in this sort of scenario. If he was a dealer, no problem. I mean, I’m the one who got her brand new car financed at 0% for the ‘paid in cash’ price.

Auuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.

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Bus Plans

Well, June has come. Or, rather, by Monday June will have come. June was my deadline for moving to Manitoba in a ‘traditional’ way; ie. packing up my stuff, finding a place there, taking on a steady job, etc.

I haven’t heard back about the job I interviewed for and I now realise that I don’t want the position at this time! As time crept on, I began to wonder what more amazing plans the gods have in store for me, and they finally became clear this week.

After much prodding, I managed to speak with someone in human resources at work about taking a leave of absence. The terms are amazing–my current position is guaranteed for a year, I can keep paying into my pension and health benefits, and I can take on any number of short term assignments with other employers and without losing my sabbatical privileges.

This helped me formulate an amazing plan for the next year, or, rather, cemented the loose plan I’ve been working on. I’m having difficulty committing to it without having in hand the rejection letter from the job in Winnipeg, but I’m still taking baby steps.

What’s this plan, you wonder?

Well, it sure doesn’t involved freezing my tookus off in Winnipeg next winter.

I’m going back with my original plan of buying a bus conversion motorhome by the fall. I’ll then take two or three weeks and drive to British Columbia with it. BC has the mildest climate in Canada, with some areas having very easy winters. Lots of RV parks are open year round. I’m thinking of making Kelowna my very final destination, after spending perhaps a couple of weeks each in Victoria and Vancouver, but that’ll depend on part two of the plan.

Part two hinges on making successful contact with a placement agency willing to help me find short term assignments (up to 3 weeks, ideally) so that I can have money coming in throughout my sabbatical.

I’d like to stay in BC for four months, October to the end of February, and stay in a few different places if I can get sufficient work. Then, I’d like to spend March and April in Alberta and Saskatchewan doing the same thing. I might stay in Alberta longer since there are so many jobs there, even for unskilled labour. Then, I’d do something I’ve wanted to do since I was three apples high–spend several months touring the Territories.

Come fall of ’09, I’d have the option of going to Winnipeg to settle down with a real job, a house, etc. and be a grown up, or, if the whole traveling and working thing is working out for me, I could keep traveling for another four years.

The idea of taking a year off is so appealing…. Ideally, I’d like to find a balance between assignments and/or part-time jobs and working on developing my web business. Taking a year to breathe, to see new things, to do new things, to get out of this rut I keep spinning myself into…. Oh, yes, what an amazing year it could end up being.

I’ve already got a bus in mind. It’s a lot older than what I thought I’d end up considering, same age as me, in fact. It’s a 1979, but a Blue Bird Wanderlodge, which is considered to be the cream of the crop. Even a Bird that old is worth getting. The one I’m eyeing seems to be in good shape, even though the only slightly updated 1970’s decor is making me flashback to my mobile house (yellow sink, tub, and toilet; ‘wood’ laminate’, plastic door handles, etc.). I’ve gotten some advice from other Wanderlodge owners and the consensus is that it’s priced way too high, but if I can get the price down to NADA levels, then I would be making a solid investment in a good, sound bus with an excellent reputation, lots of available parts, lots of support from other owners, etc. For a first time owner who is short on time and doesn’t want to import from the US, I probably could not do better than this bus.

It’s a 35’er; shorter than what I’d been looking at (40′), but when I consider that I’d be hauling my car, too, it’s a more reasonable length. Even though I’d want to update the interior (PAINT), replace the dinette and couches with furniture I would actually use, add solar panels and more heaters, etc. I could end up with a really good bus under 20K, provided the current owner is willing to see that his price is not realistic.

What sold me on the Wanderlodges is the cockpit; filled with tons of dials and gauges enabling the owner to monitor all systems as they work, rather than waiting for a light to tell them there’s a problem that is probably beyond an easy fix. I also like that the Wanderlodges were built in the Blue Bird factory on an assembly line, so their systems are all the same. If I got a bus that was converted privately, chances are no one could help me muddle through any problems I’d have. The 1970’s decor would be a small trade off.

I’m tempted to recontact the owner and tell him that I’m interested, but that NADA values are X and seeing his response.

Before I do, that, though, I really should investigate the following things:

-how much it’ll cost me to import this bus into Quebec and plate it;
-how much the insurance would be (for the bus, liability, contents, etc. since this would be my full-time home at some point);
-if there are any ‘seasonal’ spots left at any of the local campgrounds or if a storage facility would let me take the bus out on weekends to go to campgrounds (the latter would probably be cheaper)

And that’s not counting getting the towing accessories, any mechanical fixes that need to be done immediately, etc.

I’m already working on finding someone who could do a cursory mechanical inspection for me before I drive 20 hours round trip to view the bus in person.

Financing? One call to the bank and a couple of signatures later and that’s already been taken care of. It was my first step to committing to this plan. 🙂

I’ll let the owner sweat a few more days as I continue to research this bus.