Water Conservation

I have to say, l am quite impressed with myself and how little water l use now.  Of course, it is by necessity, but not really a hardship.

I have filled up my on-board water tank  (not sure how big it is, maybe 20 gallons).  At first l couldn't get the pump working, it was running, just wasn't pushing any water through it.  A friend of mine looked at it.  The same friend who has helped me in the past with issues in the van.  I am pretty handy, what l have learned, l have learned from him....so imagine how much knowledge he has!!!!  :-)  I haven't even learned the tip of the iceberg compared to him.

He unhooked it from the tank to see if it was pumping, it was, and water started to come out, he hooked it back up and Wal-la, l had water.  It must have had a hard time sucking a prime, and that little undoo-ing helped it out.  I flushed out the tank, since l had put some bleach in it a month ago, filled it up, and haven't looked back.

My city water hook up worked fine, it was just my on-board tank pump that didn't.  Now that is all fixed, life is good.  Well, it always was good, it just got liquidity good.

I left the last campground on Wednesday last week, and won't be at the other one until Wednesday of this week, so a whole week without services, and l survived.  Quite nicely too.

I've been staying in various spots, sleeping like a rock.  Although last night after l had batten down the hatches, closed my eyes and was just about to nod off, one of my blinds decided to whip up and retract.  You would think that my heart would have jumped through my chest.  It didn't.  I opened my eyes to see what happened, wasn't too concerned.  I guess l feel really safe in my little home.  As Martha Stewart says, "it's a good thing".

$22.00

I managed to fill up my propane tank Monday.  Actually it was a pretty big necessity since it's not nice outside (it's FREAKIN' FREEZING). It only cost me $22.00, l was tickled pink about that.  To me it looks bigger then a BBQ tank, so l was expecting to have to lay out more cash.  I was even more tickled, really jumping for joy, that the guy didn't seem to mind that he filled a tank that does not have the auto release valve that now is required on propane tanks.  I know this one hasn't been retro fitted.  The cost to retro fit such an old tank, would be in the neighbourhood of $1000 + because you would have to replace the tank also.  The required valves don't fit on the old style tanks.

[caption id="attachment_850" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This is not the right valve"][/caption]

 

I saw snow flakes Monday, which my flakes don't even come close to the 8 inches New York is getting.  All l can say is "Thank God l'm not in New York".

With the propane filled  l can heat the van, heat the water and cook the food...all the basic necessities of life.

If we didn't have those really nice, unseasonable warm days already this year, the weather would be easier to take.  Having the weather behave like an eratic yoyo makes it hard to enjoy the snow, wet, cold days.  But l have heat, so life is good!

What Is That?

Every Day is a discovery in this Ford Falcon.  Last night l discovered the built in alarm clock.  Yeah, don’t laugh.  It’s on the wall above the gauges for the LPG, the Battery, the Gray Tank, Holding Tank, and Fresh Water Tank.



In the picture the bottom display is all the gauges l know about.

The one l knew nothing about is the top wall fixture  the “Micro Alarm” (who knew it was an alarm clock).  One night after getting the van as l was driving home from a friends place after dinner, it went off.  Even though there were no lights displaying(meaning it wasn’t ‘ON’.  I just started hitting buttons trying to make this most annoying buzzing sound go away.  I did drive home with an elevated heart level that night, since l hadn’t had a clue what set it off.  And,  as you know, l have a slight fear of propane and vans exploding.

And here it was all along a flipping’ alarm to wake you up.  Well…..it woke me up, so l guess that was a success.

Honestly, read what is printed around the buttons you push to set this damn thing?  Am l the only one that had to live in this Falcon 5 days to figure it out?

[caption id="attachment_831" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Alarm - sorry it's blurry best l could get with a crappy camera"][/caption]

Oh well l guess l wanted an adventure.  Who would have thought, l could get it right here in my own van. :-)

Accomplishments

Friday did end up being a very busy day for me,  l got a lot done.  The box that was made Thursday is now painted a chocolate brown to match the vans exterior colors. The vans mostly loaded - just needs straightening up and final things put in it (which today - Sunday - still seems like a lot).  I had a chance to actually poke around the van on Friday, l found some switches that l didn't know l had.  I located the fuses, not just the fuse panel, but the random ones.  One is back by the battery, another one under the fridge - beside the furnace.

[caption id="attachment_799" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Storage Box"][/caption]

l de-winterized it, flushed out all the lovely pink anti-freeze.  They had hooked up a plumbing by-pass for the winterizing so l reversed that, ran water through the city water connection. Kitchen sink, shower and toilet all function. Yeah!

I washed and waxed the van and it looks really good.  It's like l gave the old girl a face lift.  I can't get some of the age spots off of her, but l am happy with the result.  Not bad for a 1988 Ford Falcon.  I fixed the door trim that was falling off on the passenger side door.  Snug as a bug now.

[caption id="attachment_798" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="All Sparkly & Clean"][/caption]

Also on Friday l went to a friends for dinner and had to earn my keep by moving some of her furniture around (just kidding).  She has a condo that had a flood a month ago (apartment 5 floors up sprung a leak) and has just had all the floors redone and needed her furniture moved back.  Dinner was delicious.

Then it was Saturday.

On Saturday l went back to  J's, the friend that built the box for me and helped him rake his yard for a couple of hours.  He has almost 10 acres, so it was no small feat.  I've got the blisters to prove it. Okay, we didn't do the whole ten acres, not by far, and there were a number of people there helping....but l still got the blisters.

I had also forgotten to get a piece of wood cut for my tub/shower when l was there on Thursday.  The wood is to cover my tub/shower so l can place the kitty litter on it while the shower is not in use.

 

[caption id="attachment_802" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Kitty Toilet"][/caption]

I know Glenn from http://www.tosimplify.net/ choose to take out the passenger seat for the kitty litter for his navigator, but that seat is just too comfortable and l will need it for my office.  So for now, the cats will have to go to the bathroom in well, the bathroom.

I did meet a couple from the conference l went to a couple of weeks ago that have trained their cat to use the toilet, even in the RV.  Can you teach a couple of old cats, new tricks?  Maybe after their trauma of moving into a house that moves l will give it a shot!

J also helped me fire up the water heater, furnace, stove and fridge.  I have to admit, l am a bit leery of propane.  And since this Falcon hadn't had the propane appliance used in over a year, l wanted the comfort of someone l trust, that is handy, there with me when they were fired up for the first time.

You see, l've had a bad experience with this liquid called propane.  J and l had a landscaping and pool business many many years ago.  We had had a propane van.  One that actually ran on propane.  It was an old city van that was converted by the city to run on propane instead of gas.  Well, that van exploded on us one day.  Needless to say, l have been traumatized  and a bit scar'd by it!

We had it stored inside in our storage unit, when we went to the unit one morning, we entered the unit, and then plugged a tool in (don't remember what it was).  That was a big enough spark to ignite the propane that had leaked out of the van overnight.  Propane is a heavy gas, and lays low on the ground.  Next thing l remember is flames shooting across my sneakers in a wave.

I lost some eyebrows (just temporary) and J had some pretty bad burns (also temporary - since propane is a gas once it's gone, it doesn't damage the skin anymore.  Where as gasoline is a liquid, it boils as it burns, causing more skin damage, and results in scars).  It put a healthy dose of fear in me for that propane.  For a long time, just lighting a BBQ scared the shit out of me.

Good news is....no wait....GREAT news is that the stove, water heater and furnace works!  Double Yeah! The verdict is still out on the fridge.  We could get it to ignite.....but it wasn't on long enough to see if it gets cold.  I am very pleased that everything seems to be working, since l didn't try anything and took the vendors word for it - and even then they only took the guy they bought it from 'word for it'.

J also build a little shelf for me.  Took him 5 minutes with his table saw, and just needs to be painted.  It's not going to be chocolate brown like the box, so it will have to wait until l decide what to paint the interior of the van.  I also still need to do interior work on the van, new laminate floors, the carpet in the front needs to be ripped out, and what ever other adjustments l need ot make to it to work for me.  For now, she's almost ready to roll (save, what l have to do today).



 

To Start or to Not Start

That was the question this morning.  My trusty little van decided to not start this morning.  It actually started (or to not start) last night after l moved my van for my sister to get her car out.  My automatic locks wouldn't work, and when l pressed the button, l actually got a "humming" sound out of it.  Which was puzzling.

So l went to start my van again (looking back, l'm not sure why l decided to start it again), and it wouldn't start!  My lights wouldn't come on, nothing electrical would work, and it wouldn't turn over.

I popped the hood to see if the battery was still connected, it was.  I put it in gear, wiggled the gear shift it around a bit.  Still nothing.  So what did l do next.  Of course l called a friend.  Who was just as puzzled as l was.

It was dark out now, so l decided to wait until the morning to see if the battery was dead (which l thought not possible since l had just started it prior to when this fiasco started).

So this morning with the friend back on the phone, l went out to see what we could figure out.  Once again, tried everything, thinking maybe the gremlins had disappeared overnight.  No such luck. :-(

I popped the hood, put the jumper cables on the battery to see if l could get a spark.  Yep.  Real strong spark.  So it wasn't the battery (that saved me digging out the house battery for a boost).  My friend suggested to look at the starter that was installed not too long ago ( a month ago - but really the van wasn't driven much since l have been out of town with rental cars).  Of course, l went down below with my trusty hammer and gave it a wack ( a love tap) when l was down there.  I was looking to see any loose wires around the starter, l couldn't see shit!

I then went back in the van and for shits and giggles, tried starting the van and Voila......the bugger started.

Friend was just as puzzled as l was.  I guess l will have to go back to where it was installed and get them to take a look- see at it.  I'm so glad it wasn't something else.  If it was a short in the wires.....where would one begin to look!!  So the fact that it was the starter again....l'm actually happy!

2 Days It's Friday, Friday!!!!

I Just have to get through today.  Which won't be hard.  I need to head to the airport by 1:30pm to catch my flight home.  My work day will be short, however, my travel day won't end until after midnight.

My count down is almost over.  Looking back, it seems to have flown by.

I received a call yesterday that will change my plans a wee bit.  Good job l am flexible. :-)   The change in my plans are that as soon as l get back from the conference in Palm Springs, l have two days to pack up, then l will start my new job.  A project came up that needs to be done right away.

I was planning on taking a week off to work on "renovating" the van, but that will have to be put on the back burning for a little while.  I really wanted to paint it (the interior), and l may do that on the Sunday or the Monday before l leave since it will be much easier to do while it is empty and l am not living in it.  That will depend on the weather when l get home.

Actually as l type this, l realize when l get back it will be Easter Sunday, so  it will have to wait until Monday, since our stores in Canada will be closed for the Easter Sunday Holiday.

Whatever happens, However it happens, will happen just the way it's supposed to so......no stress here!!!!

Have a great Friday Every Body!  :-)

13 Days

Yesterday l spent the day organizing and consolidating my files for my travels.  Pretty boring stuff, but totally necessary.  Easier to do in my home then trying to do it in the van.  Of course, the less l take the better.

I also jumped outside for a bit to check the fluids in the van, and  change the air filter.  Now that it's a bit warmer out, the van seems to stutter when l start it.  I think the choke needs to be adjusted.  When it was cold the choke would rev the engine enough, l never had any problems.  Just the last two days it sounds like its about to stall (just when l start it - until l drive off).  But when l changed the air filter, it wasn't that dirty.  So, l'm thinking it's the choke that needs to be adjusted or there is a bit of water in the gas tank.  The last two times l have gone to a independant gas station and filled up one of my gas tanks there.  I have now flipped it over to the other gas tank and will see tomorrow am when l head to work if l have the same issue.

ON a side note; when l went to Canadian Tire to buy the air filter, a couple of guys drove up beside me when l hopped back in the van to head home.  One of the guys has a similar van and just wanted to chit chat about it.  Nice guy.  I guess in the summer l can expect people to come up all the time since they won't be freezing their butts off.

Deadsville..... 15 Days to go

Yep.  My fault.  No one to blame but me.

Yesterday when l went to work it was foggy, a bit thick in places so l turned on my headlights.  Well, l forgot to turn them off when l got to work.  It was sunny then, and the last thing on my mind was headlights.

Fiona is a bit long in the tooth and not up to the fancy standards of the new vehicles that will scream at you if you leave the lights on after you turn off the car and open the door.  Fiona was quiet as l exited her.  So of course, 8 hours later when l came out to drive her to a dinner with friends, she refused to turn over.

I knew it wasn't the starter this time, since l had fixed that problem.  The problem was me.  Yep, me.

I must develop a system that will remind me that in the dawn if l turn on my lights, l hang something, tie something on a part of the van l can't miss as l exit.

So, l got a boost, she started up fine, and l was on my way.  I was at work longer then l was expecting, then to have the battery be dead on top of it, let's say l was really happy to drive out of the parking lot.  And of course, now there are only 15 more days to go! :-)

Day 22, 21 and 20

Day 22 - Lending a hand to a Friend

Saturday, l spent the day helping a friend build the closets for his house.  Well actually, get the wood ready for the assembly.  We were at a friends of his work shop and were cutting and putting the edges( the finished edges that are glued on the cut ends) on the shelves.  I kept joking with him that he was putting big enough closets together for "Kate plus 8".  He was doing his and her closets for the master bedroom, two linen closets.

We had an assembly line going, C was cutting the 4 x 8 sheets of plywood.  J (my friend) was running them thru the machine to put the tape on them.  And l was sanding and cutting  the excess tape and taking the excess glue off.  I was there about 7 hours, l then went to visit my Grandpa for a couple of hours.

Day 21 - Cleaning the Van

The weather man was right.  It was a very nice day, sunny and around 58 degrees.  It was gorgeous.

I spent the day in the my van.  I was equipped with a bucket of soapy water and a bottle of fantastic.  It was great being in there when it was warm.  I flipped the sofa/ bed down, measured it and actually think l will keep it as is for now.  I trashed the foam mattress in the overhead bunk. Cleaned all the cupboards, lined them with shelf paper. Yanked down the lace curtains - not my style....lol.  Scrubbed the stove top, cleaned the fridge.  It was all in pretty good condition, l just wanted it all cleaned.

I wonder who thought shag carpeting in a camper van was a good idea?  It's been ripped out of the rear part and a cheap cracking laminate is down now.  Up front is still shag, and of course the Dog House is covered about half way up with shag too.

The flooring project will come in April before l take off, and will include new flooring in the back and front.

 

Day 20 - Yuck!

I don't want to go to work.  Only 20 more days though....l can do it, l can do it......:-)

Day 25 Start 'er up

I have an appointment booked this morning to fix my starter.  I bought the part on Saturday, but today is the day for the fix.

Yesterday l had to crawl under the van 3 separate times to lightly tap the starter to get the van to start.  That was fun.   l'm so thankful that it started each time with ease after the little nudge from the hammer.  While it's in the shop l'm going to get them to change the thermostat also.  I'm not sure if it's on its way out, but l think it is.  So better to be safe then sorry.

****

I just got out of the mechanics.  Starters in, new thermostat is in.  He also repaired the spout on the water pump, so l can avoid buying a new one.  So, $300 and 3 hours later, Fiona is running great.  I will put my hammer back in my tool box instead of beside my drivers seat.