The New Year is here!

The New Year is here and we are ready for adventure! Well, I am ready for a vacation really, but that is not what we signed up for. This month will be the busiest and craziest month of all. The boys are now officially out of public school so starting Monday that schooling is all on us. A bit daunting, but exciting too. Greg is going to be the primary homeschooler on the road, but this month with him working and finishing up the camper, I will be the teacher. Eesh! Am I smarter then a 2nd grader? Hope so!

We still have to fix up and rent out our house, finish the camper, compact my office into a brief case, close Greg's biz, file the taxes, school the kids, run my biz, fix up and sell both cars and small pop up camper and get rid of, store and sell all the rest of our stuff! I got all crazy and put all our belongings on Craiglist yesterday and I already sold our bedroom furniture!! They will pick it up next week so, seems I will be sleeping on the floor for a month!

I am half way between elated and nervous. At times, I wish we were moved in the camper and on our way and and other times, when I fall into my big comfy bed, I try to soak up as much of this "comfy" life as I can. I do love my long hot showers and will miss that part too! I am also feeling sadness from the thought of untangling my life from my neighbors, friends and family here. I will really miss my girls nights, especially my monthly bunko and my weekly bible study. The boys are sad at times too. Yesterday Zane says ; " Mom, you know we don't really have to go on this trip." I said; " What?!? Mommy and Daddy have been working for over a year to get ready for this trip... we are going!" Everyday I bring up all the awesome things they are going to experience on this trip and then they get excited again. Lots of mixed feelings for all of us.

I am looking forward to all the new families we will meet who are doing the same crazy thing we are doing.

Our friends Mike and Windy, who we met while cruising our sailboat down the Mexican Coast in 1996 are now embarking on another adventure themselves. They, like us went cruising on thier sailboat in 1996/1998. We met in Cabo San Lucus and became fast friends. After cruising we all settled back into our suburban lives and we each had 2 kids. Now in our 40's we are all on the same page off to creating our own adventures again, sans kids this time! Theyre cruising from Puerto Vallarta Mexico up the coast to Washington and beyond. You can also follow their adventures on http://www.sailboat-cruising-with-kids.com/

Well, that is enough for now, time to tuck to boys in and pass out!

Hugs,

Danielle

1-1-11

The kids are free

Well, we finally did it. We are homeschoolers. Got the kids in a great program funded by State of California, they supply a better lesson plan then our local school and reimburse up to $55 a month of extra activities per student. Since I have become the primary "teacher" I feel good with the direction we are taking our kids. I love teaching them everything, they can sit for hours asking questions and getting straight forward answers. I am overjoyed and blessed to do this for my boys. The last day of official school was tough, leaving their friends and the comforts, but time will heal their wounds and as I told Zane there is nothing that a slurpee can't fix.

Greg

Moving up departure date are we insane

After working 60 to 70 hours a weeks for about six weeks getting a remodel done, I finally have some spare time to get back to working on the RV.

Some of the items working on put in laminate wood flooring , upholster dining area, and wallpapered the majority of camper.

It is weird how things work, the other day Danielle and I were talking how in the world are we going to be able to sell all of our stuff. We live in a homeowners association and of course do not allow garage sales. The alternative would be criagslist but listing everything with pictures would take forever. We were getting frustated and decided not to worry about it, so we just put it off to later date. Two days after we got a letter from the association management company. It was a notice about the semi -annual garage community garage sale and it will be on November 13,2010. Just two and half weeks way. It is weird and wonderful how He works in our life. With added vigor we dug into all the closets and downsized. It was wonderful to not worry about should we keep this or keep that. We just can't keep them, we intend to sell everything and not have storage except for keepsakes.

We have a couple reasons to move the departure date. The first is we got the notice about garage sale. The second is we got our new mortgage rate payment, it will continue to be under $1200 which will allow us to rent out our home for a profit. I think renting out the house has comforted the boys a bit, knowing that we can always come back. Even if we don't. So the sooner we go the better. We plan on renting the house out beginning of January. We will of course stay in the southern california area for the first month, because you can't beat the weather. It will also enable us to work out the bugs running Danielle's business on the road.

Other than that we are hopeful for the future and continue to work on the home and rv.

Peace to all

Greg

Still going strong

Well, after 60 to 70 hour weeks for the past month and a half I finally have some time to get back to work on the beast. Looks like our scheduled date will be moving up by a month or two. We hope to rent the house out by January 1st. Then stick around southern Ca for a month of so and then start heading east. We decided to rent out the house instead of sell, just in case, and I think it will help the boys during the transition. Danielle and I were talking the other day of how we were going to sell everything that has filled up our home and our lives. We talked and talked and the following day we got a notice from the homeowners association telling everyone there will be a community garage sale Nov 13, 2010. He does answer prayer in weird ways. Here is some progress shots

Most of it is done except for front area where Danielle and I will sleep but it is coming together

Still plugging away

We are still plugging away toward our goal of leaving for our big adventure. Several things have changed since our last post. We are no longer going through Mexico and Central America. There have been too much in the news about all the violence going on with the drug lords. We are not willing to risk being in the crossfire.

Plan B? We are going to explore the good ole USA and hope to go up through Canada and maybe Alaska. We will leave mid to late March and head east to Arizona to start our adventure. More on that to come.....

As for the camper, we are working hard. Well, when I say we, I really mean Greg! He has been working diligently and it shows. He has installed solar panels, welded a rack for the canoe and a latter to reach the roof, the flooring is done, most of the painting and upholstered cushions in the dinette area. I sewed curtains for the boys bunks and will soon be putting up wall paper. It is really starting to look like a home.

ROAD TEST FINALLY AFTER TWO MONTHS BUILDING EVERY WEEKEND. THAT SUCKED BUT I CAN SAFELY SAY 90% IS DONE. STILL NEED TO FIBERGLASS POP-UP HARDSIDE BACK PANEL. INSTALL BATTERY FOR KITCHEN AREA. FINISH KITCHEN AREA. IT FUNCTIONS HAVE SOLID MOUNTED TWO BURNER PROPANE STOVE ATTACHED TO 2 LB TANK THAT I FABED MOUNTING BRACKETS TO SPARE TIRE IN FRONT. HAVE ROLL OUT FOR COOLER. JUST NEED TO INSTALL STAINLESS STOVE SURROUND AND LAMINATE FORMICA TO COUNTERTOP( LEFTOVER FOR REMODEL JOB, ITS GOOD BEING GENERAL CONTRACTOR)

DROVE UP TO CENTRAL COAST FOR TWO WEEKS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. SOLVED SOME STORAGE ISSUES. BUT DID GREAT. WENT OVER SOME TERRAIN, BUT WILL SEE HOW IT REALLY DOES OFFROAD ONCE THE DESERT STARTS THE COOL DOWN.

DECIDED TO PAINT AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE FOR NOW TO FJ. USED WHITE FOR THE POP-UP. GREY FOR THE BODY AND USED UNDERCOATER THE BOTTOM EDGES

NEXT WAS SEALING THE OUTSIDE WOOD. I KNEW LUAN EVEN PAINTED WOULDN'T HOLDUP TO LONG SO DECIDED TO FIBERGLASS OUTSIDE. FIRST SEALER/BONDING COAT. USED POLYESTER RESIN AND ACETONE MIXTURE TO SATURATE WOOD. ONCE TACKY. LAID 6 OZ FIBERGLASS. LAID ANOTHER COAT OF RESIN. APPLIED FINAL COAT RESIN. WASNT TO BAD. LIVED AND WORKED ON MY CRUISING SAILBOATS IN THE PAST. BEING A SURFER DOESN'T HURT EITHER. THAT IS WHY I FINALLY WENT WITH POLYESTER RESIN INSTEAD OF EPOXY.

AFTER BUILDING WALLS STARTED WIRING NEW RECESSED LIGHTS IN LIFT TAILGATE (KITCHEN AREA) AND DECIDED ON PAINT SCHEME. DECIDED TO USE ADJUSTABLE TENT POLES HAD LAYING AROUND INSTEAD OF TAILGATE GAS SHOCKS.

USED 4 18 X30" WINDOWS FROM ANOTHER PROJECT THAT NEVER HAPPENED

SKINNING THE INSIDE WAS EASY BECAUSE I DECIDED TO USE LOW CUT LOOP CARPET ON WALLS. THE INSIDE CURVES I JUST ANGLED INSTEAD OF FAIRING TO MATCH OUTSIDE. REASON FOR CARPET WAS TWO FOLD. FIRST IT ADDS R VALUE/ SOUNDPROOFING AND SECOND I DECIDED NOT TO RUN ELECTRICAL WIRING BECAUSE COULDN'T DECIDE LIGHT LOCATION. SO INSTEAD I USED LED TAP LIGHTS USING VELCRO. IT WORKED OUT PERFECT. WE CAN MOVE AROUND ANYWHERE BECAUSE INTERIOR IS ALL CARPET. ALSO WE CAN ATTACH VELCRO TO OTHER STUFF LIKE DVD PLAYER FOR THE KIDS.

SKINNING THE OUTSIDE WAS A DIFFERENT STORY BECAUSE OF ALL THE ANGLES. DID KERF CUT ON BACK SIDES OF SKIN IN THOSE AREAS. USED BONDO THE FAIR EVERYTHING OUT. TURNED OUT GOOD.

STARTED WALL BUILDOUT. USED 1X3 FOR FRAME KREG SCREWED AND GORILLA GLUED. DID FRAMES . ATTACHED TOGETHER MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WHEN IT LOOKED GOOD. TOOK APART AND SKINNED WITH 1/4 LUAN PLY AND SANDWICHED WITH 3/4 RIDGID INSULATION WITH FOIL BACKING FOR BETTER R VALUE

AFTER PUTTING ON TEMP LIGHTS FOR DMV I PUT ON BECK. USED 3/4 INCH EXTERIOR GRADE PLY OVERLAPED IN MIDDLE. I ENDED UP USING TINTED ELASTOMERIC PAINT ON UNDERSIDE

PICKED UP THREE JEEP CHEROKEE RIMS AND TIRES(31'S) FROM CRAIGSLIST FOR $200.00. ORIGINALLY WANTED BOLT PATTERN TO MATCH FJ BUT FJ RIMS WERE TOO MUCH MONEY. HAD TO STICK TO BUDGET OF UNDER $1500.00. FINAL RIDE HEIGHT WAS SAME AS FJ IN THE END.

AFTER FRAME WAS BUILT SPRAYED WITH UNDERCOATER(RUBBERIZED)

LOOKED ON LINE AND LOOKED A PREMADE FRAMES BUT NOTHING SUITED MY NEEDS FOR BEEFINESS. DECIDED TO BUILD MY OWN. STARTED OUT WITH A JIG MADE OUT OF TWO SHEETS OF 1/2 OSB ATTACHED TOGETHER. DID FRAME LAYOUT AND USED IT TO MOCK UP CUT METAL. I USED 2X2" .120 SQUARE TUBING I GOT FROM LOCAL METAL SUPPLIER FOR $.50 A POUND. NEXT I ORDERED MY AXLE. AFTER REVIEWING POST ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE I WENT WITH A 3500# LB AXLE AND LEAFS

OFFROAD TRAILER BUILD PICS

AFTER CAMPING IN TENTS AND TENT TRAILERS DECIDED TO BUILD MY OWN OFFROAD TRAILER. WINDY IN DESERT AND WHEN IN OFFICAL CAMP GROUND CANT STAND HEARING EVERYTHING. SO A HARD SIDED TRAILER THAT CAN FIT IN MY GARAGE AND CAN SLEEP MY WHOLE FAMILY. IT HAS A FULL SIZE PILLOW TOP MATTRESS FOR US (ADULTS) AND DESIGNED POP UP FOR TWO BOYS. BUT, AFTER MAIDEN 1200 MILE VOYAGE UP TO CENTRAL COAST ADDED A MID BUNK FOR SMALLEST BOY 6 YEAR OLD.