Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
Very much so, magnus. We're figuring out which compartments to leave empty so they'll have a place to put their stuff. Then we'll measure it and tell them this is how many cubic inches they'll have. Hope they have a lot of space bags, or plan on going out to the basement frequently.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Czarny, black cat
Rainbow Bridge: Spotacus, Alexander the Grrreat, and so very many more
|
magnusfide
On the Road Again and Again and Again...
Senior Member
Joined: 10/30/2009
View Profile
|
Here's a thought: tents and hammocks.
"The only time you should fear cast iron is if your wife is fixin' to hit you with it."-Kent Rollins
First law of science: don't spit into the wind.
Magnus
|
Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Well, the Alaska trip is off for this year. L'Andante was attacked by 35 knot sustained winds with 50 knot gusts, and the wind got underneath the fiberglass roof skin and ripped it right off, exposing the fiberglass encrusted plywood. I ran all over the campground, picking up fiberglass, while WLToo cut the rest of the loose stuff back to where it was still secure. Lost about 3/5 of the whole thing. She's in a repair shop now, under cover and waiting for the insurance adjuster to show up. This shop specializes in RV body repairs, luckily for us. But it will likely be a couple weeks or so before L'Andante is ready to take us anywhere.
Meanwhile, we found some other things that will require repairs/replacement, so rather than keep pushing the Alaska trip back, we decided to cancel for this year. Get L'Andante fixed completely first, then determine if she's Alaska capable or trade for a newer one. WLToo is getting the new RV bug...
The Liberty is much too small to haul Spotacus' and Alex' cages, so we'll have to rent a van to get them safely home, then drive back up here when L'Andante is ready.
Meanwhile, the cats have the run of Mom's house, which is about twice the size of ours. Hallway races are rather popular...
Sleeping arrangements are kinda tight. WLToo, me, and two cats in a double bed simply does not work. But with so many other nice choices, they're not spending too much time crowding us out.
The first night in the RV, Spotacus tried to take over the entire short queen. None of us slept well. The next night, he decided stretching out between us was a better idea. Alex took his usual spot between our pillows, and we slept much better thereafter.
I knew Alex would be fine in the RV, but was very surprised at how well Spotacus adapted. Makes me even more sure that he was a Winter Texan's cat and got lost from the RV park.
They stayed in Mom's bedroom during the day, while we cleaned and organized for her 90th birthday party, then went back to the RV with us at night. The party was Saturday, then the wind smacked L'Andante on Sunday. All but one of my other siblings had left on Sunday, so there was room for us to move over to Mom's house. And here we'll be until we know more from the adjustor and repair facility.
Good thing we're retired. Meanwhile, Tall Friend and Short Friend are holding down the Wanderlost fort and making other RVing arrangements for this year, since they won't go to Alaska until we can go. They're looking into work camping - hope they can get a good one, and we'll come visit.
Over 100 people showed up to Mom's party. I visited with cousins I've not seen in over 30 years, high school classmates, and parents of childhood friends. It was exhausting, but fun. And now we can visit with some more, since we're not leaving yet...
|
Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Insurance ok'ed us renting a vehicle large enough for the cat cages, so we came home. Traveled halfway, stayed at a pet friendly hotel, then came on home the next day - both days traveling in rain, which is desperately needed all over Texas.
Riding in a car isn't quite the same as riding in an RV, so Spotacus complained until I turned on a country music station. As long as men sang country songs, Spotacus was quiet. If I had to change the station, he howled until I found another country male voice. Alex howled each time he woke up, since he didn't know where he was, but when I spoke, he calmed down. I don't think he cares what kind of music is playing...
When we got home, Spotacus got out of the cage and dashed off on patrol. We didn't see him until dinnertime, then he went back out until we carried him in at bedtime. Alex came inside and all was fine.
Turns out the RV repair facility was the insurance company's new regional adjuster, and the delay was because the transition was still underway. They got the estimate and report to the IC within a few days of us handing L'Andante over to them. But I had to call and be pushy before the IC finally approved all the repairs and our expenses just yesterday.
Now we need a new battery charger and a radio antenna to take with us, and be prepared to rush back up there when L'Andante is ready to come home in a couple weeks. The cats will stay with the vet, as our friends will be enroute to work at Old Faithful all summer. We're planning to visit them after the summer rush, then we'll come back together.
Meanwhile, Mama Doe Lassie and Leoghaire are still hanging together, although less and less as MDL's pregnancy advances. She normally births the fawn around 31 May, so we'll be here to see it.
The first barn swallow hatchlings are making a huge noise -- I do love those birds. Another set are not hatched yet, but I do look forward to cheeps on both porches.
Everyone else is outside, filling the trench in the asphalt from repairing/replacing the sewer run from where our friends' fifth wheel is parked. I can't help; I have tendonitis in both elbows. Sheesh.
In fact, I have to limit the typing, too, so I'll sign off before they start hurting again.
Later, y'all.
|
Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
The barn swallows have fledged, the first fawn was born as we watched from the porch last Monday. Mama Doe Lassie and Gimpy should have theirs any day now. The hummingbirds are already fussing when the nectar level gets low, and it's beyond saturated around here from all the rain.
Spotacus has me a bit concerned. After a solid two weeks of hardly wanting to be in the house, today he has shown zero interest in going outside. And he's talking, which is even more unusual. His appetite is fine, but he's licking his rear feet and stomach a fair amount. Relief seems to come from laying in my bathroom sink after I've run some water through it. I'm seriously considering rubbing a bit of coconut oil into his skin, although that will take two people, because he hates to have his rear feet touched.
Alex just threw up, but it was mostly bile and gravy. He's fine now.
The RV repair place called yesterday with an update - L'Andante will be ready mid-next week. Still some stuff we need to work on, like installing flat screen TVs in analog spaces and fixing a crack in the shower surround, but she came through her ordeal pretty well, considering.
After WLToo mumbled something about getting a new RV, I spent a few hours looking at current and used RVs, and I have to say I like L'Andante's layout and features far better than any other I've seen. So I voted we keep her. Now it's WLToo's turn to research. If opinions differ, we'll talk.
Meanwhile, life remains good, in spite of the recurring tendonitis, for which the only treatment is time.![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes")
Oh, I see a fawn. Off to watch.
Later, y'all.
|
|
|
Stephany
Brier, WA (just north of Seattle)
Full Member
Joined: 12/03/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Hi,
I love your posts and still look forward to them!
I wanted to let you know that I have found that using Magnesium Oil helped with tendonitis and arthritis. Magnesium helps with inflammation and it is more effectively absorbed through the skin than taking it orally. I found the Oil (which is not actually oil, it just feels that way) on Amazon. But if you soak in Epsom Salts, you are also getting Magnesium through your skin.
Hope this helps you feel better.
Stephany
Stephany & Wally Schneider + 2 grown kids, a ball-obsessed beagle, and a camping cat
2004 Sunnybrook 2850SL
2002 GMC 2500HD Duramax crew cab short bed
|
Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks, Stephany. I'll pop over to Amazon and order some oil.
|
magnusfide
On the Road Again and Again and Again...
Senior Member
Joined: 10/30/2009
View Profile
|
Stephany wrote:Hi,
I love your posts and still look forward to them!
Double ditto. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/cool.gif "cool")
|
Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Boy, it's wet. Major flash flooding all around us, but since we live on a hill, doesn't affect us at all. It did get my nephew's attention from Afghanistan, though -- he sent a text message wondering what's happening.
A number of RVers have lost their rigs, as several RV parks were in the flood zones. Saw the pictures in the local news reports. Luckily, no one hurt.
Our swimming pool is overflowing. I've always wanted an infinity edge pool, but I don't think it's supposed to work quite like this...
Saw another fawn as we returned from town on Friday, but it's not MDL's. She and Leoghaire were just here. MDL does have her fawn right around 31 May, so she should have it by the time we get back with L'Andante.
Spotacus has moved into a box. No appetite problem, but he's definitely not himself, although he seems more lively today than yesterday or the day before. Ah, well, he'll be under vets' eyes the next few days, so if he does need treatment, they'll take care of him.
I see the hummingbird feeder needs a refill - they're buzzing the window.
Later, y'all.
|
Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Our lake is 9.84 feet above full pool level, but nowhere near flood level. The feeder river did flood not too far upstream from the lake, but no reports of serious damage. After several years of only one boat ramp being open, they all are. The island in the middle is once again an island, and several peninsulas are back under water. Our local Fire/EMS folks were busy helping other localities badly affected. Our area is basically unscathed -- for the moment. Afternoon thunderstorms could be intense; we're under tornado and flash flood watches again. Yep, definitely good to live above it all.
Spotacus and Alex are zonked on the porch. Keeping a close watch on them, due to yesterday's event. MDL and Leoghaire were at the porch and I was tearing up some rather tasteless corn tortillas for them, when they both went on alert. I looked the same direction and saw a fox trotting up the fenceline in broad daylight. It stopped, stared at a cardinal on the fence above it, then turned and trotted back down the fenceline -- inside our property. Might be out and about because its den is wet -- wouldn't be flooded, as the rock here is very porous limestone. Our standing water after a severe rain lasts less than two hours before soaking down into the acquifer.
Still, because of all the wet, we actually have mosquitoes this year, darn it. We have no standing water on our place, so I guess one or more of the neighbors have buckets, old tires, who knows what that's filled with stagnant water.
Time to get moving. Later, y'all.
|
|
|
|
