Cats in an RV

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Photos From My Last Day At the Beach

What a busy day it’s been on the beach as it’s the last day of March break. It’s been overcast (I didn’t get a full charge today) but very muggy, so all the windows and roof hatches have been open.

Late afternoon, I decided to walk the two miles (four miles round trip) to the saloon for a beer and a burger, forgetting that today is St Patrick’s Day. The saloon was full to bursting so I instead got my burger to go and ate it on a windy bench on the beach, about halfway to home so the food was still at an acceptable temperature. I just wish I could have had one last ice cold Dos Equis, ‘dressed’ with salt and lime (damn you L for introducing them to me, LOL).

It was a really nice walk except for the fact that there is no way to get to the Saloon but along the main road and it was very busy tonight with folks heading back to civilization.

I won’t miss the wind, but I will otherwise miss everything about this truly magical place. I am so blessed to have been able to spend time here. I have about 14 hours left before I pull out.

 

Portrait of contentment, Neelix version.

Portrait of contentment, Neelix version.

Until these folks with a Fleetwood Flair pulled in, I was sure my deadbolt was added on a by a previous owner. This is the first time I have seen an entrance door exactly like mine.

Until these folks with a Fleetwood Flair pulled in, I was sure my deadbolt was added on a by a previous owner. This is the first time I have seen an entrance door exactly like mine.

My neighbours' dog is SOOOOOOO cute. She's about half the size of Tabitha!!! Her name is Daisy and she is 8 years old.

My neighbours’ dog is SOOOOOOO cute. She’s about half the size of Tabitha!!! Her name is Daisy and she is 8 years old.

Portrait of contentment, Tabitha version.

Portrait of contentment, Tabitha version.

The beach was PACKED and this is only a small part of it!

The beach was PACKED and this is only a small part of it!

This school bus was selling hot food tonight to my surprise.

This school bus was selling hot food tonight to my surprise.

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The beach is on one side of the road and this lagoon is on the other side.

The beach is on one side of the road and this lagoon is on the other side.

I love these taller palms with the orange bits.

I love these taller palms with the orange bits.

See the orange bit?

See the orange bit?

The volunteer fire department.

The volunteer fire department.

Cute VW bug for sale, but I've been told that such a car would be much too light to tow.

Cute VW bug for sale, but I’ve been told that such a car would be much too light to tow.

I love how the bold colour makes this otherwise utilitarian home a real jewel.

I love how the bold colour makes this otherwise utilitarian home a real jewel.

Octagonal house.

Octagonal house.

JT One Stop has gas, groceries, fishing supplies, cold beer, a grill, coffee, and more.

JT One Stop has gas, groceries, fishing supplies, cold beer, a grill, coffee, and more.

Entrance to the Saltwater Saloon.

Entrance to the Saltwater Saloon.

The rickety crabbing bridge.

The rickety crabbing bridge.

At the vehicular entrance to the beach.

At the vehicular entrance to the beach.

Spot Miranda!

Spot Miranda!

AT LAST, a snake! I think it was dead, though. :(

AT LAST, a snake! I think it was dead, though. 🙁

Folks here wrap their slides to prevent the awning from flapping.

Folks here wrap their slides to prevent the awning from flapping.

About halfway home from the last picture.

About halfway home from the last picture.

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You can just see Miranda's overhang.

You can just see Miranda’s overhang.

Gulls frolicking in a tide pool.

Gulls frolicking in a tide pool.

We can see one of the big yellow buoys that recently washed up on the beach.

We can see one of the big yellow buoys that recently washed up on the beach.

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A Homey Day

Today was really low key. It’s a chilly and windy out there, so I’ve stayed in. An invasion force of pterodactyl-like pelicans landed this morning and have been providing Neelix and me with entertainment all day.

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Caroline and her husband came by in the afternoon to tour the rig. Her husband gave me his thoughts on how and where I could add a giant monitor to my office setup. The number one thing keeping me from doing so is that I want to run the monitor off DC, not AC, so that I don’t have to turn on the inverter. He said that it’s doable so I’m going to do a bit more research on that.

Caroline had a nice present for me, a cross-stitch project that she’ll never get to, so I’ve already started on that and will continue tonight with a movie. I found a DVD with eight surprisingly good movies on it for just $5 at Walmart and have been watching one a night. It’ll be nice to have something to keep my hands busy in the evenings now.

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A Useful Tool For Deep RV Compartments

I would like to introduce you to one of my favourite little gadgets, my Grabby Thingie:

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Officially, it’s a 36″ pick-up & reach tool.

I got this wonderful tool from Donna and Ken, whose RV should have really been named Ali Baba’s Cave.

As you can see, there is a handle at one end and a gripper at the other. You just squeeze the handle and the gripper closes to grab whatever you need to fetch that is beyond arm’s reach.

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This gripper is very strong. I have actually used it to pick up heavy tools like my hammer and drill from the main floor while working in the loft. The warning sticker that says to wear goggles while using it (LOL) puts its capacity is 2lbs. It also has teeth that actually grab the item.

I mostly use the gripper to grab things deep in my pass-through compartments so that I don’t have to empty everything out and then crawl in.

Donna claimed not have much use for it, so I don’t feel too guilty about having accepted the gift since I use it several times a week. 🙂

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Electrical Status Report On a Crisp Cold Beach Morning

I first woke up at about 6:00 this morning and I couldn’t get back to sleep without checking the state of my batteries.

I had gone to bed at 97% charge and voltage around 12.5. I woke up at 95.2% charge and voltage around 12.5. Amp hours used by bedtime were 7.2 (3% of 240, so the monitor’s math is right). Amp hours used by this morning about 11. The fridge uses 0.5A so 7 hours x 0.5A= 3.5 amp hours. 7.2AH + 3.5AH = 10.7. The fraction extra could be from the fridge cycling on and off. No concerns there.

You know what I did? I plugged in the electric blanket (dang it was COLD this morning) and the cats and I went right back to bed. 🙂

I got up just a few minutes at about 8:00 and my numbers were close to what they had been at 6:00 with 45 minutes of blanket use factored in (about 4.5AH).

All was well so far. But I hadn’t yet tried to charge my batteries through the alternator with the new solenoid installed.

I ran the engine for less than a minute, just to make sure the two battery banks were talking to each other and I saw amps going in start at nearly 30 and then go down steadily, which makes sense since both batteries are at just about full capacity.

I’m too jaded to do a happy dance, but I am optimistic this morning.

In other news, cats are dumb, right? Then how come by the time I was done fiddling with the electric blanket settings they were already under the blankets staking out the warmest part of said electric blanket?

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License to Kilz

I awoke to bright blue skies, a gentle sea breeze, and no pressing projects ahead of me for a few days. It was time to start work on repainting the front room!!!

Unfortunately, I had a lot less Kilz left than I thought I did, barely enough for the new wall and one side of the pocket door. I am going to need more, which sucks since I’m going to end up with leftovers.

The primer dried almost immediately, so I was able to put the first coat of yellow on the new wall. I’ll do a second coat this afternoon, then let the two cure for a day or two. That will give me time to wash down the other walls with TSP and then I’ll do two more coats over the entire room.

My boos are not happy about being locked in the rear part of the rig, which has the best view, with only food, water, the litter box, and several soft lounging spots for comfort. Must be tough being a cat.

L came over a moment ago to ask me if I wanted to work on the solenoid this afternoon. YES! So this is going to be a day for projects.