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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Fired up and the camper van



For me, Monday evening was the official start of the firewood burning season. My lovely wife and I had been gone for an overnight visit in Maine. When we got home it was only in the 50s and very damp. Temperatures are supposed to drop to 35 tonight. That’s cool enough in my book for a fire in the woodstove.

I’ve been burning stuff in the kitchen woodstove, but not any really steady fires. Mostly the woodstove is a good way to get rid of all the political junk mail that’s been coming in by the bucketful. Beats the heck out of a shredder for destroying records. The warm weather is supposed to return in a few days, but this a good test run.

Speaking of test runs, the ambulance/camper conversion keeps on running just fine. The waste veggie fuel system is functioning the way it’s supposed to.

My lovely wife and I spent Sunday night sleeping in it over in Maine. We both had a pretty good night’s rest. We’ve been slowly loading it up with all the things we need for camping. For an overnight, all we have to do is throw in our clothes, a bit of fresh food in the 12 volt cooler, and we were good to go.

Instead of stopping at coffee shops, we make coffee or tea in the microwave. We refill our water bottles from the stored water in the van. If we need a snack, there’s an assortment of goodies in the cupboards. Savings add up.

The wiring system on the van is slowly giving up its secrets. Eventually, I want to mount solar panels on the roof and need to know the best way to wire them up. No manuals came with this vehicle, so I’ve had to follow wires and figure things out for myself. The huge bundles of wires and components look imposing, but it’s all a matter of doing one thing at a time.

Not much else going on. Sure, I could rant on every day about the state of world, but don’t we all deserve some time off from that? I’m not quite old enough to be a full time curmudgeon.

-Sixbears



12 comments:

  1. You travel wisely. I remember my folks using similar tricks when I was a kid.

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    1. Gotta save a few bucks somewhere or we won't be able to travel at all.

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  2. This weekend in Oklahoma would have been a beautiful weekend to camp. Temperatures all around have changed radically, and that's a good thing. Our lowes 49 - 55 degrees and highs 70 -80 degrees. Later today, the highs 90's. But we didn't go, thank God we didn't because our son had been in the ER Friday night and again last night (for those wonderful teenager stupid things). Anyway, I'm happy to hear you and your lovely wife were able to camp and have a wonderful time doing so. Have you searched the internet for a manual or schematics for the ambulance? We search the net for manuals on several items we've purchased 2nd hand and we have all kinds of luck. Have a great day!

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    1. Hope your son is Okay.

      Finding info on the van itself isn't that hard. The ambulance part on the other hand is impossible. The conversion comapany keeps its info close the the vest. That way they have a lock on servicing.

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  3. There is still great pride from all of us here at Berlin EMS that our old Med 3 being used still in such a cool way. Awesome way for an old ambulance to retire

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  4. Just got back from setting up the Deer hunting camp out at Holopaw. Was only 90 degrees and HUMID !

    Ready for six months of fun in the sun...

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    1. Fall is beautiful here. The plan is to use the van as mobile hunting camp.

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  5. How about some updated pics of the camper? I love the way you make things to fit your needs!

    I have a feeling we could learn a lot from you, buddy!

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  6. We drive to the beach take a cooler with food, water keeping it icy cold, thermos full of hot water for cocoa, and homemade breakfast stuff I have baked, won't be going much this fall our gasoline is nearing $5.00 and predicted $6.00 soon, the amtrak is cheaper than driving to anyplace and we get a 2 for 1 because we are older than dirt! love your blog, today is 9/11/12 we so remember and our only child lives in NYC works near the whole shebang that happened she meets many who lost family in the towers, everyone should stop and remember and never forget, I think it could happen out west where we live in california, those yahoos who did the dirty dirty deeds hate highly populated and financial areas...Proud to be an american but it could happen again,God's blessings to you and your lovely wife, enjoy your camping trips, we can only sigh over the fact we won't be spending nearly $6.00 a gallon to go anywhere, amtrak is far cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  7. We don't live in california, was just saying it could happen there since it is so highly populated and financial areas..we live in wonderful washington state, the beaches are rugged and lovely the state has many mountains, and dry weather too, but at the cost of the gasoline we are unable to go anyplace may just camp in our backyard, it rains pretty much most of the year and we are to have snow, ice and rain soon, due to an unusal hot and humid summer with temps on the 90 and 100's we normallly don't get anywhere near those temps, it is green all the time and mossy, but we love love love it, still lovely unhabited areas, to fish, hike, snow ski, walk and bike, if you enjoy inclement weather most of the year!!!!!!!!!

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