The refit work and updates never stop...

This is what it's like owning an older RV (heck, I bet this is like owning a new one except those folks will never fess up about it!). Always projects and updates to keep up with the old stuff and making sure things are in working order.

The list isn't that bad: 1) fix some original skylights that no one wanted to deal with except with duct tape; 2) check out the Dometic fridge that was working but now seems to be more particular with how it works; 3) trouble shoot an apparently-related issue with the ONAN gen set with the switching and starter; 4) fix other leaks and clean up all the moss trying to establish a foothold on the LH2!5) and lets not forget the new potty!!!

Let's all check out the new skylights on the roof!! No more duct taped ones or totally missing plumbing vents here!

A typical existing skylight complete with poor foam gasket, taped shut and busted parts. The entire rim was curled up off the roof!

Work in progress for the ONAN genset, battery bank and other rear bits. It pays to do regular maintenance on this stuff.

Picture showing the new potty in the bathroom. Guess we'll keep the shag carpet for now. Nice on the bare feet.

Dometic gas burner in action after lots of cleaning and checking of connections. Still, the thermocouple (copper tube just above flame) has been ordered so it's now started to work again....

Lot's of projects but none at this point that are crazy or big enough to halt the progress. I can't believe I'm saying this but after getting used to the nightmare of the LH1 ('77 Tioga) I have to say that this rig is a lot better to work on. Most of the projects are just trying to get this to run completely as new or add some conveniences to our trips. Thanks for reading!!

Dog Days of August: making family memories!

With the Allegro making it to and back from Association Island we have planned two more trips in August on the weekends. One is to Watkins Glen (keeping to NYS and working the bugs out on shorter trips) and the other is to Herkimer. Here are a few pics of Watkins KOA.

This place should be a blast if the weather holds out. We like the KOA spots because at least most try and provide some activities for the kids so we don't have to keep driving the Class A around or have a toad to get us around. Should be great fun!

The next series of pics is of Herkimer KOA and the "diamond" mines there. Hey, at least the kids can have fun learning about geology and find some cool quartz minerals! Just hide the educational value like you do when you sneak vegetables in the spaghetti sauce and meatballs!

I've got some more work to do on the Allegro. I've bought a new potty, water pump and other bits to get the plumbing systems working as they should. Hoping to get that all installed this weekend and tested before we go on our next trip! More later about the glitchy Dometic fridge on the next post. I did manage to rip off the old Solid State TV antenna and patch that leaky spot. More later!

Back in the Saddle Again....

Air shocks are terrific!

I took a bit of a break from this blog for several reasons. Some of it had to do with moving on to a new day job that doesn't have the flexibility of my old job. When you work for the State, you gotta follow the rules. Plus I have not given up my old job so the remaining time not at the day job gets filled with my other projects and I still have to balance the family life. Result: stuff like this gets but waaay back on the "to do" list. On the RV todo list was installing the air shocks on the front springs. Done!! That was about 2 hours of cutting, pulling, pushing and inflating. Boy, do they make a difference! I run them at about 70 psi.

Well, the family did manage to pull off a Week-after-Memorial Day vacation trip to the 1000 Islands to a KOA located on Association Island. It was a YMCA camp in the '50's and then somehow became a KOA campground. Many of the old buildings are still there including one BIG barn building they call the "Town Hall".

http://koa.com/campgrounds/association-island/

The water level on Lake Ontario is very high and expected to only crest sometime in later June. From what I saw, there is about another 12"-18" of rise this place can take before things like the marina and septic systems will become non-functional. Hope that the water level drops down and they can get back to normal!!

Photo courtesy of Association Island KOA.

We took the scenic route from our home up to 104 East up through Oswego and then up Route 3 to Henderson, NY. Three days there (Saturday, Sunday and part of Monday) and it rained for about half the time but we managed to get some good times in with campfire dogs and smores the first evening (after the wind died down! Wow that was something!). Saturday was grey but ok and that night we tested out the roof with the major downpours and thunderstorms late that night! Sunday was a mix of drizzle and such but you could get out and explore.

Arrival at Association Island after a nearly 3 hour wind-swept drive. 

The LH2 sitting pretty on our not-so-tropical island....

The drive up was in high winds and the Allegro certainly is a bit of a challenge driving and staying on track in that kind of situation! The last part was an exciting drive on the narrow causeway to the island. We got about 5.1 mpg with the generator running the entire time (lots of hills and not much highway traffic). On the way back we took 81 south to the Thruway back home and got almost 7 mpg with the generator ( and major rainstorms!).

photos of our constant fire pit that weekend. We managed to keep it going even with the rains with driftwood scraps!

 We hope to get the water pump replaced and get the plumbing all up and running the next trip but pretty much everything else worked just fine! Until the next trip this spring/summer!