Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 04-27-2014

• Date: 04-27-2014

• Current City: Arlington, TX
• Current Location: Treetops Carefree RV Resort
• Site Number: 163B
• Wi-fi Signal: Verizon – Very Strong / AT&T – Very Strong
• Mission: Weekend!

• Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
• Captain: Eric Highland
• Navigator: Brittany Highland
• 1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator

• Weather: Overcast / 87°
• Precipitation: 10%
• Humidity: 33%
• Wind: 3 mph

• Fuel: 33 Gallons of Diesel – 1/3 capacity
• Odometer: 100,620
• Generator Hours: 4611.8

• Estimated Date of Departure: Saturday, May 3rd
• Next Destination: Brownwood, Texas

Special Orders: Install Wheel Covers

Captain’s Remarks

13:00 – It’s been a nice Sunday. Slept in until 8AM (that’s pretty good for us), then made the decision to go out and get new iPhone covers. Stopped at Best Buy, which is very close to our RV Park, and picked up the new Mophie Juice Pack Plus Charging Case $119.00. Basically it is a protective case for the iPhone with a battery pack which is pretty sexy.

Then we went to Camping World in Fort Worth about 20 minutes away. Picked up some new tire covers that Brittany has been wanting as well as a few other supplies including Dicor Lap Sealant for roof maintenance. Oh and a fancy re-usable damp rid bag for moisture which our friend Jill Sessa turned us onto. Our total expenses at Camping World $186.00

We’re constantly learning so much about our new home, and we’re not afraid to try to do some things ourselves. We’re getting bolder each month. We hope to get up on the roof later this week and check for any spots that need touch ups on seals as part of our standard maintenance routine.

14:31 – Wheel covers are on. We learned that in order to put them on, we actually need to do so while the airbags on the coach are filled. So we had to drop the jacks and start the coach. As the air in the bags inflated and raised the clearance between the tires and the wheel wells we were able to get the covers in place. Of course then we had to re-level the coach.

Spoke to our neighbor Judy, she seems like a really nice lady and she was shocked that we were full-timing so young. We’ve been well pleased to find that most RVers are pretty nice folks. Judy has a little puppy named “Sammy” that is soft as a blanket and cute as a button. She has a trailer now, but longs for a fifth wheel. Told her about RVillage.com and had a nice short chat with her.

14:37 – There has been no real sign of this mysterious thunderstorm, hail and tornado front that seems to have missed us completely. We’re very thankful for that.

Broke for lunch and we are now just relaxing for the day. Work week starts tomorrow. ~ E

Navigator’s Addendum

Outside around 8 AM this morning with a bucket and brush to clean our windows, as I planned yesterday. Washed all the exterior windows on Meriwether and Smaug, but found that the drying blade on the other side of the brush had become warped and was pretty much useless. The windows are all spotted now, but at least the bugs are gone.

Speaking of bugs, I know why so many owners can be seen diligently cleaning the front of their rigs on a regular basis. I tried to clean ours today for the first time, after traveling two thousand miles over two months. What are bugs made of these days?? Progress was made, but the front of Meriwether is not clean.

Guess we’ll need to pick up some of that bug cleaning solution at Camping World. Any other exterior cleaning tips would be appreciated! I do really care about upkeep, but full work weeks (and wanting to explore and play during downtime!) make maintenance time short.

Downloaded the app Evernote yesterday, and I’m using it to keep receipts and other notes organized. I can take pictures of my receipts and Evernote translates the images into searchable text. I have “notebooks” for Personal Receipts, Business Receipts, and Maintenance Receipts.

Eric and I also took the time to make a record in one place (also on Evernote) of all the repairs, maintenance, additions and upgrades Meriwether has had since we bought him. It’s easy to focus on all the things we still need to do and buy. But I was surprised to see how much we’ve already done!

Upcoming maintenance planned: Spray down slide mechanisms with rust-fighting lubricant, dicor the roof.

Upcoming RV purchases planned: heavy-duty tool bag for Eric, fireproof and waterproof safe. -B