Tag: airstreaming

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Out With PA, In With Vermont

The day started with coffee (of course), packing up the Airstream and the crew, performing the always delightful tank dumping (sorry, no photos), saying our goodbyes to the PA family and hitting the road once again in the Airstreaming fashion.

Miette and Emma each with their own birthday cake. Yes, you do see a giant rooster in the photo.
Miette and Emma each with their own birthday cake. Yes, you do see a giant rooster in the photo.

We arrived in Vermont this evening after a leisurely stroll through northern Pennsylvania, middle New York and the western edge of the Vermont countryside. We arrived in Wallingford. I think there’s a Wallingford in every state. This one is a little version so far. This Wallingford also had a birthday cake waiting for Miette and one for her cousins since their birthdays are close together.

An update on the coffee situation: We have been able to use our old Rancilio Silvia espresso machine and Rancilio Rocky grinder while in Oakland Mills but now must revert back to the Moka Pot and the hand crank conical burr grinder. I’m not entirely upset since the Moka Pot is another coffee skill that needs to be added. Maybe I’ll try and make a how-to blog post on the Moka Pot. It would fall under our “Natural Family Living” category of course, since coffee is, well, natural. Snapped some photos of Vermont and the towing rig windshield setup. Off to bed…

3 screens… the Motorola GPS is off due to outdated maps and having HSPA+ service on the Nexus 4… with current Google maps.
Stopping for a quick shot with the Vermont countryside.
A shot of the sun setting on the Vermont hills.
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Super Duper Bummed

Our first trip in Miette’s Airstream is appearing to be in serious jeopardy. We were heading out of town, going up hill and the truck started having problems. The computer on the truck reduced the engine power and we couldn’t go over 35-40 mph up the hill. This will be a slight problem heading across the country, climbing over the Rockies and the hills, etc. So we had to turn around and come back home. Miette was super bummed and crying. Poor girl. All the preparation, excitement and anticipation of her big trip all came crashing down on her (and the rest of the family). It was a long day trying to get the truck fixed and she was pooped. We are working diligently to find a way to get this truck to haul her Airstream up a hill and have the funds to fix it and keep her trip possible. One possible fix is GM Part # 20832565 (fuel line assemble) or the GMC technical bulletin of PIP4526; darn you GMC, now is not a good time.

Even with this bad news, one thing we try and remember to keep things in perspective is this: at this time last year our Sunday nights were spent getting ready to head into chemo treatment for 3 or 5 days. The daunting sadness that caused is no longer a part of our life. For that we are grateful. It would be extremely nice to get to leave on Miette’s trip but as always, it could be worse.

We’ll keep you updated.

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Preparing the Silver Eagle

Before we embark on the big trip across the country to visit friends and family that Miette wanted to do as part of her “wish”, the Silver Eagle needs some preparation work done to it. Even though the volunteers who worked on the Airstream worked their butt off and made it beautiful, time limited them from getting it travel ready. The electric brakes don’t currently work, some outside compartment doors aren’t weather proof which is bad for the electrical system (its 41 years old!) and a jack stand needs replacing. The Airstream will be going in for a systems check at our local RV service shop, RV Supply Specialties. Mark was an integral part of this Airstream project happening and Susie has nothing but great things to say about him. We look forward to meeting him! Anyone completely willing to donate time, energy, money, materials or whatever for children who have gone through the nastiness of chemo and the outright fear of cancer must really understand the value of their assistance in helping families in these situations. “Thank you” seems so small in comparison.