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bwoodtx · 06-28-2011, 07:07 AM

I can only hope that my floor turns out as well. Great idea about putting it AROUND the cabinets etc in case of needed repair. Makes perfect sense!!

oh2bcarefree · 06-28-2011, 07:16 AM

That looks great - it really ties the project together as a whole. You are doing such beautiful work.

Tina

pbearsailor · 06-28-2011, 09:45 AM

Thanks everybody!

Big change in appearance and the trailer really looks done now, even though it isn't.

Didn't document it, but I'm also following Toastie's idea of putting a bead of Vulkem around the inside wall perimeter. Probably won't help much on water intrusion from a leak, but it can't hurt.

cheers,

steve

pbearsailor · 07-15-2011, 07:48 PM

Pretty good odds of finding two TV's with Airforums stickers in a little state park and even pretty good for having a couple of Airstreams. But, how about those two Airstreams both being 1957 Caravanners parked at Birch Bay State Park?

Island Girl just had her initial camping outing since her rebuild and she got to celebrate that with a meet with Prickly Pear and pienjim on their way back to Texas from Alaska with their new '57 Caravanner in tow. Just great to meet Jim and Paula and see a trailer that looks a whole bunch like mine did 2 1/2 years ago: nice skin, bad subfloor, and lots of potential.

As for Island Girl's shakedown, everything worked just fine. I fit in the shower and the toilet flushes. The ice cream freezes and the water gets hot. We ran everything electrical we had for two days in a very dark spot and rolled out with the batteries sitting on 12.9 volts. I do like LED's.

As the pictures show, the first cut of polishing is still in progress, but I'm closing in on it.

So much fun to get to attach faces to a forum name, see their trailer, and actually camp in ours. Brissy the cat is still recovering.

Special thanks to our Hospice nurse who was willing to do his weekly visit with Pam while we were there.

Cheers,

steve

Lance M · 07-15-2011, 08:08 PM

Beautiful Caravanners!

HiHoAgRV · 07-15-2011, 08:21 PM

She looks GREAT!

tinman54 · 07-16-2011, 05:46 AM

Congratulations Steve on the first trip in island girl! She looks great out where she belongs!
Doug

Melody Ranch · 07-16-2011, 06:13 AM

It is beautiful....

pbearsailor · 07-16-2011, 10:39 AM

Thanks everybody!

Still lots to do, especially on the polishing end, but it did sure feel good to get her out camping.

And, so cool to meet up with Paula and Jim and their new trailer. Appreciate their effort to do it too, since they probably wound up adding several hundred miles to their already long long trip to do it.

cheers,
steve

3Ms75Argosy · 07-16-2011, 11:42 AM

Wow Steve, she's looking great! Glad you TWO were able to get out! Enjoy!
Marc

tallytwo1994 · 07-16-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbearsailor

Pretty good odds of finding two TV's with Airforums stickers in a little state park and even pretty good for having a couple of Airstreams. But, how about those two Airstreams both being 1957 Caravanners parked at Birch Bay State Park?

Island Girl just had her initial camping outing since her rebuild and she got to celebrate that with a meet with Prickly Pear and pienjim on their way back to Texas from Alaska with their new '57 Caravanner in tow. Just great to meet Jim and Paula and see a trailer that looks a whole bunch like mine did 2 1/2 years ago: nice skin, bad subfloor, and lots of potential.

As for Island Girl's shakedown, everything worked just fine. I fit in the shower and the toilet flushes. The ice cream freezes and the water gets hot. We ran everything electrical we had for two days in a very dark spot and rolled out with the batteries sitting on 12.9 volts. I do like LED's.

As the pictures show, the first cut of polishing is still in progress, but I'm closing in on it.

So much fun to get to attach faces to a forum name, see their trailer, and actually camp in ours. Brissy the cat is still recovering.

Special thanks to our Hospice nurse who was willing to do his weekly visit with Pam while we were there.

Cheers,

steve

Steve,
I second all the accolades you've already received and just hope your new friends saw more positive potential than discouraging hard work when comparing the two. Certainly worth it work though!

Carol

safari62 · 07-16-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbearsailor

As for Island Girl's shakedown, everything worked just fine. I fit in the shower and the toilet flushes. The ice cream freezes and the water gets hot.
steve

Hi Steve
Glad to read the first test run went well. It sounded much better the ours which involved repeated trips to the local hardware store after various plumbing mishaps. And many spare towels.

But I think I see song new lyrics for the Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours in your post. But fitting in the shower may have some connection to the consuming of that ice cream....so be careful!

But it is always beautiful music when everythings works.

Looking good!
Gary

pienjim · 07-16-2011, 08:02 PM

...and we were thrilled to meet you, Steve. The extra miles were well worth it! Your Caravanner is coming along beautifully and it is inspirational to see what can be done.

We took the covers off the windows but went through a roll of gorilla tape trying to keep the vent covers and awning cover from blowing off. Who would have thought one could spend not only one night, but eight nights in an "as found" 54-year old Airstream!

Paula

pbearsailor · 07-16-2011, 09:43 PM

Gary

, I'm not sure Antsy will have much to work with on my posts, but I did make the bathroom opening just big enough for my then current dimensions. If I steal too much of Pam's ice cream, I'll either have to do a bathroom redo or get another trailer.

Definitely good for the TWO of us, Marc. Almost didn't go since I didn't want to upset Pam with a new sleeping arrangement but she was just fine and Brissy freaked out all night instead.

Carol, I think Jim and Paula know they'll be able to get there with their trailer. Straight skin is worth so much and they're in good shape there. That pic below is mine when I first got it home. Looked a lot like theirs does now.

Hope the rest of your trip goes well, Paula, and that the gorilla tape holds. How did Pendleton go?

cheers,
steve

Pink1 · 07-16-2011, 09:57 PM

So glad to see you on the road! Sweet that the nurse came out there. And I love the floor. Hope I come across you all at a park someday!
Smiles,
Pink

utee94 · 07-24-2011, 08:38 AM

Island Girl is just beautiful, Steve. You have done an amazing job, I'm in awe. Thanks so much for continuing to share your reno with the rest of us.

So, when are you starting on the next one???

-Marcus

pbearsailor · 07-24-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utee94

Island Girl is just beautiful, Steve. You have done an amazing job, I'm in awe. Thanks so much for continuing to share your reno with the rest of us.

So, when are you starting on the next one???

-Marcus

Thanks, Marcus. Don't see another one happening, but never want to say never. One boat for 23 years, Island Girl is good for another 50, and considerably less left in me. Despite all those flaws that I can see, I'm winding up with a trailer that's really close to what I wanted.

- steve

pbearsailor · 09-11-2011, 06:39 PM

We took the trailer to our first rally last year at the Tin Can Tourist Rally in Lynden, WA, only twelve miles away. Island Girl was an empty shell then, Alzheimer’s wouldn’t let us stay, and the weather was lousy. This year we got to do it right with a nearly complete trailer, and no problems from Alzheimer’s as we’re living in the trailer fulltime anyway. And, the weather was perfect. Lynden is a great, laid back rally where everyone is just into old trailers and some cool old cars as well.

Saturday afternoon a fella came to the door who greeted me with “You have no idea who I am.” When he said his name, though, I did know him as Harold was the son of the original owners of the trailer. He and his wife (they celebrated their honeymoon in the trailer) were visiting friends, had no knowledge of the rally, but happened to drive by when their planned route was closed for construction. They figured they’d just take a drive through the fairgrounds and look at some trailers, but happened to drive by one that was the same model his family had owned.

But, he saw the wheels and knew it was the trailer, not just the model.

If you’ve followed this thread, you know we’d earlier made an email and telephone connection. He’d seen pictures and knew, even though we’d not been in contact for a year or so.

He and his mom have been on my mind. We’d earlier made tentative plans to ride the ferry out to Lopez Island to let her see her trailer when we got done with the work. But this weekend? Fate? The weather is good, things are fairly stable with Pam, so it’s a good time to make the trip, especially since Harold and Kathy are heading to Lopez for a month to celebrate his Mom’s 94th birthday. We’re going to try really hard to make the trip out there next week.

Very very hard to wipe the smile off my face right now.

cheers,
steve

oh2bcarefree · 09-11-2011, 07:06 PM

Steve,
That is just great - things just work out as they should sometimes. Have a great time on the Ferry and to Lopez. You will always remember it!

Your trailer looks fabulous!! I am so glad to hear all is currently going well with Pam and the transition to the trailer has gone good!

Best,

Tina

whitsend · 09-17-2011, 11:02 PM

Steve - Can't wait for your update on your ferry ride to Lopez & your visit with the soon-to-be 94 year old lady that was the original owner!! I'm sure she'll be pleased beyond measure to know somebody has loved the trailer enough to not only bring her back, but all the great updates you've done & that you cared enough to make the effort to travel & share your beautiful work with her. Please do let us know how that visit went!!