The DisFort's Chit Chat Cafe

[Part-Time Paradise]

We finished picking up leaves today. I think we found a few.

This is at the end when I was trying to push the pile a little tighter. I'm 6'4" and I was about eye level with the pile when I was done. Going to make for a quick fire some day soon.

 

[jbrostek]

wow @Part-Time Paradise that is one big ole pile. I just run the mower over them with the chute blocker engaged and mulch them down so they turn into great fertilizer by spring.

This past weekend DW and kids went to PA to visit family. Since I did not have a pet sitter lined up, I stayed home adn worked on some projects. The biggest one was finally buildng a proper wood shed for my fire pit. It is not huge, only 3'x6' and tall enough to hold around 2/3rd a cord.



Over the weeknd also rented a splitter to take care of some ash and oak rounds from all the standing dead I took out this year. Most of it is ready to burn now, but some will require a little more seasoning. With the wood he took comming from standing dead that has been cut and stacked as rounds for over a year, they are pretty much ready to go.



All in told I think we split shy of 2 cords in about 7 hours and that included moving the machine twice. First round was some big logs Ken brought that filled the first 1/4 of the trailer. The rest came from rounds behind my white shed, when Ken left that trailer was full its my 7'x10' and we stacked about 2' high. And then I split all the ash from that branch that came down in spring to stack and season for next years use. I still have more ash rounds, probably around 1/2 cord or more and then 1/2 cord of red oak to the right of the shed to split too. The shed is full, so those can wait and ill split more next year and refill it.

 

[garneska]

Great job on the weekend projects @jbrostek.

Here is our situation, with a little background. We booked the trip to Gulf Shores with not a lot of plans in mind. Our hope was to spend some time trying to fix some of our rig issues ourselves, with You Tube videos of course. We had a few things that need fixed for our Disney trip at the end of Jan. We wanted to fix the hydro hot, not firing on diesel, and do the routine maintenance on it. I was hoping the storage facility could do that work but they don't have anyone who works on hydro hots. The second big thing is the slide seal. We were hoping it would be something we could do. Well since we canceled Gulf Shores due to the flat tire, we now needed the tire fixed, the hydro hot fixed, and at that point the slide seal.

First thing was to call the shop we used to use when we lived in Douglasville. The goal was to see if they could do the work and fit us in before our trip. Well they can do the work but the first appointment they had was for Jan 17. that is very close to when we leave for Disney on Jan 27. That was the first call. We said we would take Jan 17 but may cancel if we can find something else.

The second call was back to the storage place. They are actually great. They came to the facility on sunday afternoon (it is closed on sunday) filled the tire enough so they could move the RV inside. They had on the list to call the tire place (which is just a few buildings down the street) and coordinate getting the tire fixed. It is the same place who did the tires. The good thing is this meant we did not have to go up there and take it. The storage people would handle it. I am still hoping it is just a stem issue. I told them if they find a hydro hot person to let us know and that we had an appointment on Jan 17 for the work. They gave us the name of two other places to try to get it in sooner.

The third call was to Appalachee RV to see if they could do the service. Well they can and we have a drop off appointment on Monday Nov 21. that is a lot better as I hope we have the rig back in time for Jan 27 (much better shot). First time we are using them but other storage people had good luck.

Called back storage said keep working on the tire but we had an appointment for Nov 21 so not to bury it in the building.

We used one vacation day today and will work the rest of the week, so gained 4 back. However taking a day now on Nov 21 to transport RV. That nets me 3 days and if we get the RV back before next year i can use one of those day.

TL;DR: Storage place is coordinating to get the tire fixed. We have a drop off appointment next monday to fix the hydro hot, the slide seal, and a roof inspection. Hopefully in good shape for Disney Jan 27.

 

[jbrostek]

@garneska Thanks! I hope to spend a few evenings in the comming weeks working out in the RV finishing up some of those projects I started and preparing for next season. I also have the china cabinet to complete the refinishing of the upper cabinet. I am all set to get that started and will be sanding away soon. At least the garage is moderatly insulated so running a heater can get it to the 50s and maintain it when its 30s outside.

That is a lot of logistics to do on the fly. I have had those days, like when my truck needed service while towing the RV home when a #2 injector suddenly had an internal short and stopped firing.

I hope you can get everything fixed and back to you. I feel like as long as they are not waiting on parts, places around here are seem to turn around quicky once they get to you.

 

[garneska]

Verdict on the tire was a bad extension hose to fill it. They removed it and filled tire. Will put it on the list for service. At this point if i am going to have the rig in the shop they might as well take care of as much as possible.

Here is hoping there are no hard to get parts needed for any of my fixes.

 

[Teamubr]

Verdict on the tire was a bad extension hose to fill it. They removed it and filled tire. Will put it on the list for service. At this point if i am going to have the rig in the shop they might as well take care of as much as possible.

Here is hoping there are no hard to get parts needed for any of my fixes.

Those darn extensions. I have had one break in half and one that wouldn't stay tight. Fleetwood had a recall on them for a long time, but I think it expired. I've replaced all mine and got some I can tighten with a wrench. Glad that was an easy fix.

If you want help with the seal and/or Hydrohot, Southwest says I can fly in on a Friday and home Sunday for $200. That's barely more than I can drive there.

j

 

[Sjm9911]

Ok , so I am officially looking for work. As soon as I find something, I will retire. Though retiring from one job to get another isn't really retirement. Lol. We will see. Just looking for something like part time for an extra 30 k a year. But looking at full time stuff as nothing I want or can do is open. So weird for me. After 26 years of doing something I was really good at, I will be looking to start over. It is what it is.

 

[jbrostek]

@Sjm9911 you will be surprised how much you can do with your experience even as part time. Just have to see past doing exactly what you are doing today. There are a lot out there.

 

[team bradfield]

I cancelled our SunPass today, our MH comes with a BestPass transponder according to the website, brochure and the "salesman" its good on all tollways in the US, anyone have experience with it?

edit: anyone in the FMCA RV Club, pros/cons?

 

[jbrostek]

FMCA is like Good Sam, gets access to some camping and other discounts. I have a current discount code from TSD that has me considering it, plus you get some discounts on Passport America, their version of roadside assistance which AFAIK is equal to Coach-Net level of service.

As for Best Pass they are just another one of those nationwide toll tag companies. I still only have EZpass, I have yet to need more. But if you alreayd have TSD for diesel discount compare best pass to TSDs offering and go with whatever has the best overall costs.

 

[Teamubr]

I just joined FMCA for the road side assistance. It seemed the better plan for us when compared to Coach-Net (the only two I would consider based on forum experiences with others). Other than the magazine, I haven't used FMCA for anything else.

I'll have to look into TSD and FMCAs toll pass programs. I didn't realize they both had a program. I have an E-Pass free sticker (different from EZ-Pass- but basically the same for where I travel) that works on the FL Tollway.

j

 

[Teamubr]

Disney, camping and Cards baseball. Three of my favorite things. Plan on hitting Disneyland Paris next year. Will definitely get some camping in and picked up our Cards ticket pack today!



j

 

[jbrostek]

The day before most of will stuff a turkey and then stuff ourselves. This year Thanksgiving will be low key, our DD are off to their fathers. We invited my mom and sis over, so will be 4 of us for dinner. Beyond that most of the plan is some last bits of yard work like cleaning up about 800 honey locust seed pods and dumping them in my little wooded grove, taking care of the last of some of my leaves. And then time to light this place up and make National Lampoons Christmas proud.

 

[JP6972]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Hopeing you all have a great day with family and friends you can be with today.

 

[friendofeeyore]

I hope everyones Thanksgiving was blessed!!

 

[Sjm9911]

Ok , so I will officially put my papers in to retire on August 1st of this year. Now idea of whats next, or even if thier should be a next. Way to early for me. But as everyone else said , probably for the better. I erased the rest of the rant. Lol. So, Ed , at what campground am I meeting you at!

 

[tigger92662]

Got a new campsite sign

 

[Sjm9911]

Lol, that didn't come off well vs my post. I missed the I got a new sign at first!

 

[tigger92662]

Lol, that didn't come off well vs my post. I missed the I got a new sign at first!

Oops, my bad. I didn't see your post before I posted mine

 

[bama_ed]

So, Ed , at what campground am I meeting you at!

God Bless You, Spencer. You fought the good fight.

For the Fall 2023, I only have one camping trip planned at Gulf State Park for early November. GSP has 500 camsites and once we get to Nov 1, they only leave 50 or so for short term (less than 14 nights) to book as they use the other 450 for snowbirds to book at a monthly rate. Lots of our posters have been to GSP. Fall and spring are my preferred times (April and October) but I am extending to November this year. I'll cook the shrimp and snapper for you.

Between Now and Fall I have several plans. If you are want an Early Fall break, come down my way and join us for an Alabama football game.

But I've been in your shoes and left when it wasn't all my time of choosing.

You and your family are in my prayers.

ED

PS - as far as I know, we will be in the Pittsburgh, PA area for a week in June 2023 as FYI. Thats as close as I will be up your way in the foreseeable future. Maybe we can chat ...