LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN

HO-HUM, WE MADE IT THROUGH THE 30TH LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN MOTORCYCLE RALLY. IT JUST HASN’T BEEN THE SAME IN THE LAST YEARS, THE POLICE HAVE HELD DOWN THE FUN.

EVEN THE CASINO GAZING WASN’T UP TO PAR.  MAYBE BIKER CHICKS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS WE’VE BEEN HERE.

OH WELL, SUMMER IS ONLY ANOTHER MONTH AWAY AND THE CALIFORNIA GIRLS WIL BE PARADEING THRU THE CASINO ON THEIR WAY TO THE POOL AND BEACH…..

THE CASINO PUT US IN BIKER T-SHIRTS FOR WORK, SO WE WERE COMFORTABLE WORKING AT LEAST.  THOUGHT YOU MIGHT GET A CHUCKLE OUT OF THE OLE HAPPY CAMPERS IN MATCHING MOTORCYCLE SHIRTS…..

   “SUNNY & 80”

MINI HEAT WAVE

WE HAD A MINI HEAT WAVE LAST WEEK-END AND IT SURELY GOT THE REMAINING SNOWBIRDS FLYING NORTH AND OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST.  WE TOPPED OUT LAST SUNDAY AT ABOUT 106 DEGREES.

THAT GOT US MOVING AND THINKING ABOUT OUR BEDROOM AIR CONDITIONER AND WATER FAN FOR THE PORCH. THEY’VE BEEN SAFELY STORED IN THE BACK CORNER OF THE SHED SINCE LAST OCTOBER.



OF COURSE I PUT THE FAN AWAY DIRTY.  FIRST THING I HAD TO DO WAS TAKE IT ALL APART AND CLEAN IT.



I GOT IT BACK TOGETHER AND IT’S BLOWING NICE COOL AIR ON ME NOW, AS I TYPE THIS SITTING AT MY DESK OUT ON THE PORCH.

NEXT CAME THE A/C FOR THE BEDROOM.  THIS IS WHAT THE UNIT LOOKS LIKE AS IT SITS ON THE PORCH HALF WAY TO THE BEDROOM.



IT’S BEEN A GOOD UNIT FOR US AND RATED AT 11,000 BTU’S IT COOLS THE BEDROOM IN SHORT ORDER.  IT’S BEEN COOLING OFF NICELY AT NIGHT AND WE HAVEN’T HAD TO USE IT YET, BUT THE TIME IS COMING.

THE LAST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO PACK UP MR. HEATER AND SEND IT TO THE SHED FOR THE SUMMER.



ALSO ON OUR DAYS OFF WE MANAGED TO GET THE PICK-UP WAXED, SO CROSS THAT OFF THE LIST. 
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN.  THAT MEANS PLENTY OF HOURS AT WORK AND THE BEST CASINO GAZING OF THE YEAR.

APRIL AND OCTOBER

APRIL AND OCTOBER ARE OUR TWO FAVORITE MONTHS ON THE MOHAVE DESERT.

THE FIRST REASON IS THE “SUNNY & 80” WEATHER.

THE SECOND REASON IS THAT THE SNOWBIRDS AREN’T HERE AND NEITHER ARE THE SUMMER PEOPLE. BUSINESS IN THE CASINOS IS SLOWER SO WE GET MORE TIME OFF.

IT’S MUCH EASIER TO DRIVE AROUND TOWN WITHOUT THE TRAFFIC, AND THERE IS HARDLY EVER A LINE AT WALMART.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH APRIL IS THAT IT’S FOLLOWED BY MAY AND TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES.

THIS SUMMER WE HAVE A WEEK IN JULY AND A WEEK IN AUGUST SCHEDULLED “OFF” FROM WORK AND WE ARE GOING TO ESCAPE THE HEAT WITH AT LEAST ONE TRIP TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.

WE HAVE NEVER VISITED THE WHITE MOUNTAINS WHICH ARE LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF ARIZONA AND MAKE UP THE HEART OF THE APACHE TERRITORY.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF VACATION IN THE MOUNTAINS AND A FEW WEEKS OF HOUSE SITTING WHERE THERE ARE BACKYARD SWIMMING POOLS WILL HELP MAKE THE THE LONG HOT SUMMER ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT A LITTLE MORE BAREABLE.

APRIL 23RD

THREE YEARS AGO THIS SUMMER WE PICKED OUT SUSIE-Q AT THE HENDERSON DOG POUND.  ALL THEY TOLD US ABOUT HER BIRTHDAY WAS THAT SHE WAS ABOUT 8 WEEKS OLD.  COUNTING BACKWARDS PUT HER BIRTHDAY IN THE LATTER PART OF APRIL SO I PICKED APRIL 23 RD AS SUSIE’S BIRTHDAY BECAUSE IT’S EASY FOR ME TO REMEMBER AS THAT WAS MY DAD’S BIRTHDAY.

LAST YEAR WHEN UNCLE NEIL PICKED UP “AZ” FOR US AND WAS DOING THE THE PAPERWORK HE WAS FACED WITH THE SAME SITUATION. KNOWING THE KITTEN WAS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OLD AND COUNTING BACKWARDS TO THE LATTER PART OF APRIL, NEIL PICKED APRIL 23 RD AS “AZ”’S BITRTHDAY. THE SAME BIRTHDAY OF HIS DAD.

IMAGINE THAT !!!  BOTH OUR CATS HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY ONLY TWO YEARS APART!!!  OF COURSE UNCLE NEIL AND I HAD THE SAME DAD, SO IT FIGURES.

SO, HOY !!! HOY !!! HOY !!! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUSIE AND “AZ”.

 

DONE

FINALLY DONE WITH DRAWERS AND DOORS! GEES, THAT WAS A LONG PROJECT.

GLAD IT ONLY TOOK TWO COATS OF VARNISH ON EACH DOOR AND NOT SEVEN COATS LIKE A KITCHEN PROJECT THAT HEATHER JUST FINISHED IN LA CROSSE.
NEXT PROJECT ON THE LIST IS WAX THE CAR AND PICK-UP.  UNLIKE THE MIDWEST, YOU DON’T JUST DRIVE UP UNDER A SHADY TREE AT YELLOW RIVER WITH A CASE OF BEER AND WAX YOUR CAR. 

HERE ON THE DESERT, YOU HAVE TO FIND A PARKING RAMP AT ONE OF THE LOCAL CASINOS AND KEEP THE BEER COOLER HIDDEN IN THE TRUNK WHERE THE SURVALANCE OPERATORS CAN’T SEE IT, SO THEY DON’T SEND CASINO SECURITY TO ROUST YOUR ASS BACK OUT IN THE DESERT SUN TO WAX YOUR CAR, AND YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP AWAY FROM THE CRAPS TABLE AND THE CASINO BARS OR YOU’LL NEVER GET THE JOB DONE.



FIRST TIME WAX JOB ON THIS HONDA AND IT SURE LOOKS NICE.


    “SUNNY & 80”

GOOD KITTY

ALL YOU PAST AND PRESENT CAT OWNERS OUT THERE CAN TELL STORIES OF YOUR CAT CATCHING A MOUSE, MOLE, OR VOLE AND BRINGING IT HOME TO SHOW OFF THEIR KILL OR CAPTURE.

I KNOW PAULIE’S CAT AT HOME IN FRANKVILLE USED TO DRAG SOME PRETTY DISGUSTING THINGS UP TO THE FRONT DOOR AFTER BEING OUT ALL NIGHT.

BACK IN THE MOUSE WAR DAYS IN OATMAN SUSIE NEVER DID CATCH A MOUSE, BUT SHE ALERTED ME TO WHERE THE BODIES WERE HIDDEN, AND WHEN THERE WAS A NEW ONE THAT MOVED INSIDE THE CAMPER.  TOGETHER WITH THE MOUSE TRAPS, PEANUT BUTTER, AND SUSIE WE MADE A GOOD TEAM AND MANAGED TO KEEP MARY IN CAMP.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE LAST WEEK ONE DAY WHEN I WENT OUT TO MY DESK ON THE PORCH AND FOUND THIS TROPHY.

 

I’VE GOT NO PROBLEMS FEEDING CATS THAT HUNT DOWN AND KILL SCORPIONS INSIDE MY PORCH !!!

GOOD KITTY !!!

   “SUNNY & 80”

ANOTHER BOX?

WHAT’S GO’IN ON REX ? ANOTHER NEW BOX WAS DELIVERED ? DID YOU WIN $640 MILLION IN THE MEGA BUCKS LOTTO OR WHAT?

YEARS AGO THE RV INDUSTRY ELIMINATED THE RV STOVE WITH AN OVEN, AND REPLACED IT WITH A MICROWAVE OVEN THAT ALSO BAKES AS A REGULAR OVEN.  IN OUR MONTANA IT’S CALLED THE 1/2 TIME OVEN BECAUSE IT ALSO BAKES AS A CONVECTION OVEN.

THE “CON” SIDE OF THIS MOVE IS THAT THE OVEN IS ONLY THE SIZE OF A MICROWAVE. A SMALLER OVEN MEANS NEW BAKEING PANS, ESPECIALLY COOKIE SHEETS. THE “PRO” SIDE OF THIS MOVE IS A WHOLE NEW BIG CUPBOAD BELOW THE BURNER COOKTOP.

OUR 1/2 TIME OVEN NO LONGER BAKES, BUT THE MICROWAVE PART STILL WORKS AND OF COURSE THE HOLE IN THE WALL WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SIZE OVEN.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE NEIGHBOR GAVE US HIS OLD TOASTER OVEN WHICH WE HAVE USED A LOT, ESPECIALLY OUT ON THE PORCH IN THE SUMMER.

WITH SUMMER COMING ON AND ALL OUR COOKING DONE OUTSIDE WE DECIDED TO GET A BIG COUNTER TOP OVEN FOR THE PORCH.

OF COURSE IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH FOOD, “AZ” IS ALWAYS IN THE PICTURE……

(THE CURRENT “DOORS AND DRAWERS” SCORE: 44 DONE, AND 6 TO GO.)

      “SUNNY & 80”

New Stamp Not Working

The Postal Services created a stamp with a picture of President Obama on it.

The Postal Service noticed that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes.

This enraged the President, who demanded a full investigation.

After a month of testing and $1.73 million in congressional spending, a special Presidential commission presented the following findings:

1.The stamp is in perfect order.

2. There is nothing wrong with the glue.

3. People are spitting on the wrong side.

Motorcycle Lift

By Uncle Hans
This is how it all started. I have been formulating a plan for years to put my motorcycle on the back of something for the purposes of hauling it and leaving the trailer home. These are my latest doodles........



......................my neighbor and Wallyball friend is a mechanical engineer and a welder. these are his doodles, which are more professional than mine. Together we massaged the design (the Miller Lite never hurts this process!) until we ordered the steel..........


...............This is $400 worth of steel tubing and two crank jacks, like you see on the front of trailers.......



.......the tough part is attaching it to the frame of the motorhome. The receiver hitch carries most of the load, but it is maxxed out at 600 lbs and the bike and rack weigh in at 750. So we had to bolt two "outrigger" tubes to the frame of the rig.........



......the work was done at Danny's place.......


......we had fun. Grinding here, but welding stuff too.............


............ this is the result, ready for testing. It breaks down into two pieces. One attaches to the motorhome and the other is the lifting section, which bolts to the other piece...........





....this is the part that attaches at three points to the rig. It may stay in place if it looks OK painted. It makes a swell bumper!.........


........now the drama begins as we start loading concrete blocks onto those planks........



...........it looks OK, but the true test is driving it down the road. That is almost 700 lbs of load and the bike weighs 550......


.....we drove it to our house, about 300 yards. It looks pretty good, the back end does not sag..........





......the rig has some levels on it for seeing if it is level (probably news to no one on an RV blog). It also has some air bag load leveling rear shocks, which we adjusted to 75 psi and that is why she is so level..............


.....time for final "adjustments" and some International Harvestor red paint. The three tubes that attach the thing were not exactly parallel, which is hard to weld. So we got Danny" "adjusters", a green one and a yellow one. Amazing what heavy duty hydraulics can adjust.........


......and the final product, ready for a real road test. We took it up to some friends place in Brule Wisconsin, near the south shore of Lake Superior. We camped overnight and drove some really crappy secondary roads, about 200 miles. When we got home we climbed underneath and checked for cracks or failures. Nothing yet.
 


The real test comes during a future ride to Savannah Georgia to do some exploring with the bike and lay on the beaches of Hilton Head.
Sound like a blog?..........
By Uncle Hans

DOORS AND DRAWERS UPDATE

DAMN, WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO VARNISH 50 DRAWERS AND DOORS? IT’S A PROJECT WE STARTED TWO MONTHS AGO.

WE FINALLY GOT DONE WITH THE BATHROOM AND BEDROOM, AND HEADED TO THE KITCHEN WHEN WE RAN INTO THESE.

PRETTY AREN’T THEY? THERE ARE SIX OF THESE CUPBOARD DOORS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE GLASS IS HELD IN WITH SOME KIND OF CAULK THAT HAS DRIED OUT IN THE DESERT SUN, AND THEY NEED TO BE –CAULKED.

 

THEN WHEN YOU TAPE THEM TO VARNISH, YOU RUN INTO THIS CURVE ON THE GLASS.

 

SO YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR ANOTHER SOLUTION TO ANOTHER PROBLEM…..

I THINK WE SCREWED AROUND WITH THESE SIX DOORS AT LEAST TEN DAYS BEFORE WE GOT THEM RE-HUNG IN PLACE.

HELL, EVEN SUSIE IS SICK OF DOORS AND DRAWERS.

(THE CURRENT “DOORS AND DRAWERS” SCORE: 32 DONE, AND 18 TO GO.)

Como Park

By Uncle Hans
   ........We had some more free time in the Twin Cities so Renee asked if we could relive a childhood memory she had and do the St Paul Conservatory at Como Park.................



......I'll just spew out the pictures and not drone on and on about nothing like I usually do.......






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