MERMAIDS & MANATEES

This time last year I ventured out on my own for my first solo trip in our 2004 Airstream to Crystal River, FL. I had a blast! So when this gathering came around again I jumped at the chance to go. It’s held every year over the long MLK Holiday weekend. 

It was again a great outing. Fourty members attended. All in vintage/retro rigs, tents or cabins. The opportunity to meet other ladies out on their own, doing their own thing is an amazing inspiration for all. The Sisters on The Fly is a fabulous group to belong to with over 800 events held every year here in the US there is opportunity for everyone. 

Nine of us ventured out to go paddling. I was the only one on a paddle board. This was one of the most gorgeous paddling trips I have ever done here in Florida. And the weather was perfect! 

Usually we head south from Crystal River to go see the Mermaids in Weeki Wachee. However the park is under renovations currently and the Mermaids were off somewhere farther south taking a well deserved winter break. We were still able to go swim with the manatees! Last year I chose to paddle during this adventure. It was cold & windy. So this year I decided to take the pontoon boat option and have a better chance at seeing them. Boy was I right! They swim near you, go under you, check you out and then do a gentle barrel roll to wait for a belly rub. AMAZING! What an experience. One to remember for quite awhile. 

Some of our other activities included an open house to tour our rigs, hiking, attending the Manatee Festival and nightly campfires. 

Other events that are held with SOTF touch on welding, cowgirl college, photography, rodeos, fly fishing and diving. The opportunities are endless. So much to do it’s hard to decide on my next event to attend with them. 

CLEARING OUT AND MOVING THE HOT MESS

I just returned from an adventurous solo trip (separate post) with the ‘04 Airstream. Having met up with 40 other wonderful ladies (in their vintage or retro rigs) to paddle board, kayak, swim with manatees and to get into other mischievous campfire activities. Tim calls it my Man Haters Club. Prior to my departure Tim was able to remove the first layer of items from the interior of The Hot Mess. Then we both worked on moving it to the backyard. 







One more thing we discovered was the fact that the previous owner was a smoker. We didn’t count but there had to of been at least a half a dozen ashtrays and one of the cardboard storage boxes found inside was from a case of cigarettes. 



The interior has had somewhat of a transformation just with a little clearing out, removal of curtains and the bulk of what was inside removed. It has really opened up and the layout can be understood. I am hoping to get inside later this week to do a dry sweep of the entire interior then do a light pressure washing being careful of the wood left. MrRivet will need the wood preserved as much as possible to use as patterns.





The move of The Hot Mess to the backyard was a tightly orchestrated event. Since we live on a bike trail we had to make a temporary gate, then tow him down the bike trail at the perfect moment when the coast was clear (dang those cyclists are fast) and then back him in on very soft unpacked Florida sugar sand. We made it happen and he now sits safely in the backyard next to his older sister who is awaiting her shell transfer. 

THE HOT MESS CONTINUES ...

To sit on my driveway. The plan today is to get The Hot Mess moved to the backyard. It’s too exposed and easily accessible on our driveway. Tim is having to rig a temporary gate on our back fence line to get it back there. Since the new frame to the ‘48 sits in the way belly-up unable to move we will need to come in from the back. Did I mention we live on a bike trail?



We did not realize until The Hot Mess got home that there was not only a toaster oven in a box but a brand new right off the shelf electric grill with the sales information tag still attached to it sitting nestled in a box waiting for the first meal to be prepared on it. By the way someone took the toaster oven from our garbage on garbage day. Ewww!!! 


One of the two Byam hooks in the bathroom. 



The gas light with globe attached ready for a late night read. 



Baby Moon wheel caps stored safely out of the way in hopes of one day hitting the road again. 



The previous owner loved his morning cup of coffee. He enjoyed a cup of tea on occasion mid afternoon. He took pride in cooking a pot of beans and brauts or the best darn good pot roast in his crock pot. 

He also prepared the coach as best he could before departure. He would lay oil soaked rags over the hubs and even laid out bars of soap about to help keep rodents at bay. Well the rodents ate what they could of those bars. I felt a bit intrusive on the move. I didn’t judge. Only soaked it in and imagined what his time there would have been like.

INTERIOR TIME CAPSULE ...

Here it is. Untouched since 1984. I will tell the story as best I can guess from what we found. 



Since no one had keys we had to pop door pins to gain entry. Carpet had been laid on top of two layers of flooring. The carpet hung out from underneath the door making a perfect wicking of water to the interior. 



Best I could tell the previous owner closed it up at the end of winter in 1984. Experation dates on food items gave us this hint. Everything packed and stored for his return the next winter. Tires, ladder and even his work pants lay patiently waiting his owners return. 



He was married and had at least one daughter. None of them came from Michigan for the winter as he only kept one lawn chair on hand at his hunt camp. 



He was a simple man. A loner. Liked a little Crown on occasion and kept the property and Airstream neat, clean and tidy. 




I think I would have enjoyed getting to know him. Hanging out getting details of his life. What was his story and why? I have questions. 

WAIT FOR IT . . .

Yesterday while I was at work Tim worked all day on his Hot Mess in the driveway. I really wish I had been there to supervise. I’m hoping it will be fine?! Hmm ... TV show idea?? I’ll pitch that to my Producers and the Studio before I finish my current project this week!



It’s starting to look promising ...



Wow ...



Wait for it ...





I think he did find MY diamond!!!

Interior pictures and what we found in there coming soon.

IT’S HIS FAULT THIS TIME!

The first Airstream was my fault. Tim was at work and I found my dream Airstream (‘04 28’ International) online at a dealer just over an hour away. Airstream #2 I acquired about the same way he was at work but it was a risky Craig’s list find. It was a successful purchase (‘48 Liner) and only thirty minutes from the house. So now we had both a usable Airstream and a project Airstream. 

Now let’s move forward to present time. Tim has retired and I was at work. He was working on Airstream #2 when he gets a call last week. So this time it’s his fault and this is what has followed him home ...



Airstream #3 now sits in our yard as well. It’s a 1963 Safari. It’s a hot mess but it’s his hot mess. The ‘48 Liner will take a sideline for a few days while he is assessing the hot mess of a situation and getting at least a few layers of crud off. It had sat in a nearby forest since 1976 unmoved. It was a true rescue mission! The best we can tell the owner, at the time, was last inside it in 1984. A time capsule. Left as it was with anticipation of returning to his hunt camp the next winter. 



Now we will see how much good a wash does!

HOLDING TANK MOCK-UP ...

After many delays Tim was able to finally complete the mock-up of the holding tank supports.

Plumbing and new belly pan work coming next. 

GLORIOUSLY ISOLATED

That’s Savannah! A few weeks ago Tim and I met with our Canadian friends for a long week in Savannah, Georgia. The original plan was to meet in North Florida. Ground Zero for Hurricane Michael. Plans quickly changed as the storm neared. Savannah was the best choice that accommodated both our rigs. 

Skidaway State Park is beautiful. Isolated and surrounded by nothing but marshes and piney woods. In Savannah they have rules. “Rule number one: Always stick around for one more drink. That’s when things happen. That’s when you find out everything you want to know.” That for the most part holds true but it’s also a famous line from one of my favorite books/movies “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” that takes place in Savannah. Before your next trip to Savannah I would highly recommend watching the movie or taking in a good read. 

We revisited great places to eat, Bonaventure Cemetery and the town squares. Explored Tybee Island some but for the most part just relaxed. I needed a little brake from the project I’m currently working on. Tim and I had the best time with our Canadian friends and will see them again in February. 

The Panhandle of Florida has a very long recovery ahead of them. And we hope it happens safely and quickly for them as we have many friends there who lost their homes and everything they owned. We will re-visit the Panhandle when the time is right and when we can lend a hand. 

BELLY UP!!!

Today was kind of exciting! In preparation for an easier install of the holding tanks, plumbing, insulation and a new belly pan Tim and I flipped the frame today. The process was easier than I anticipated and no one got hurt.  

__________________

C-CHANNEL COMPLETE

Over the last couple of weeks we have finished the subfloor epoxy coating and installation. The DIY sheet metal brake that Tim constructed several months ago was finally pressed into service with all of the required C-channel being bent. The C-channel runs the perimeter of the subfloor decking and is used to attach the wall ribs and both the exterior and interior walls to it. This weekend Tim was able to install the final sections of C-channel onto the subfloor. This upcoming week we hope to drop the axle and flip the frame to begin installation of the holding tanks, insulation and belly pans. Of course this will depend on Tropical Storm/Hurricane Michaels track. 

SUBFLOOR CUT ...

We have finally completed cutting the subfloor pieces this weekend and have begun to drill all of the panels for the elevator bolt and screws. We are going to do a temporary install of the subfloor and then remove it from the frame to be throughly coated with penetrating epoxy to help prevent future damage from any leaks that we may experience in the future. This will allow us to epoxy the bolt and screw holes as an added precaution. 

Safe Travels !!

Tim