Digi-Art

I like to photograph and enjoy using Photoshop and Coral Paint to enhance and create digi art treatements in my spare time.  These are my first published efforts, which I expect the folder to grow with time.  Click on the boat to see the folder.

Its all about the season!

Just over a week away from parking the TT at Kentucky Lake for Thanksgiving and preparations are well underway.  My spare time is full up but well be well worth it once we arrive.  Planning is everything!  We are all really looking forward to spending time parked overlooking the lake and enjoying the campground this time of season. 

The photo's below were taken in late October.

Chestnut loop entrance

Lake side campsite

Barge plying the waters of Lake Kentucky

Sanitizing Fresh Water Hose

We all know about sanitizing our water systems in our RV’s but what about the hoses used to connect from the water supply to the camper? I am of the opinion (and am also guilty) that few RVers think to clean their hoses. This year I decided to make it part of my seasonal cleaning ritual and here is what I  did.

EQUIPMENT:
Sanitizer
Food grade 5 gallon bucket
Rubber Gloves
Protective Eye Wear

METHOD:
Star San:
I use a food grade acidic cleaner called Star San. It is Oder less, tasteless and only takes 30 seconds of contact to kill bacteria. It also will not harm clothing and does not have to be rinsed. It can be purchased on line, just Google “home brewing supply”. I do not recommend the Iodine sanitizer for hoses. Star San is the same cleanser restaurants use to clean their beverage lines.

Bleach:

You can also use plain bleach and achieve the same results but you have to handle it a little differently than the Star San. Wear old cloths, add 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water and soak your hoses for 20 minutes and finish by rinsing them thoroughly.

Tightly coil the hose to fit into the bucket then massage the hose to fill with sanitizer.  After sanitation drain and I use an air compressor and blow out the lines though that is optional.  Let dry and you’re done but for the cleanup.

 

Cleaning Fresh Water Tank

We purchased the Premier a week before our fall trip to St George Island SP in Florida and I did not have enough time to clean the fresh waster tank before the trip.  It had been winterized buy the dealer but drained and partially filled with fresh water.  We didn't really need the water but kept it for the overnights on the road.  It was not drinkable but used for the bathroom and heating up for dishes.  Today is the 7th of November and I'd normally have the camper winterized by now. But since we are going to use it for 8 days around Thanksgiving and again for 3 nights during a trade show in early December, I'm filling the holding tank not draining it!I decided to go ahead and sanitize the tank today and used the recommended method from the owners manual.  Its a little extra work this late in the season but worth is since there will be no water hook ups for those 11 days.  I'm not too concerned about freezing at Thanksgiving but I am for the December show.  When we loaded out last year on Sunday night it was 11 degrees!
Anyway, I'm glad I cleaned the fresh water tank and am ready for the upcoming trips.

Thanksgiving Camping

We are making plans for our first Thanksgiving while camping.  I've done it once before about 18 years ago when my parents came down to Tennessee and we went to a state park.  I was still using a pop-up and that was a bit drafty, hah hah!  Mom and Dad had their 5th wheel so there was always a place to warm up.  Thanksgiving diner was a simple affair.  They brought down turkey meat they'd prepared at home and a pre-made casserole that Mom popped into the oven and made the mashed potatoes on the stove top.  It was cool weather but dry and we had a roaring fire going most of the time.  The campground at Montgomery Bell SP was nearly empty though there were other hardy souls out there doing the same thing.  The deer would come right up to you in the campground and feed from your hand.
So this is our year for Thanksgiving camping.  We'll be parking the Premier at Kentucky Lake and smoking a turkey in the large Weber kettle grill I'll bring for the occasion.  Got a killer green bean casserole recipe for crock pot from RV.net forum and will do the 'taters while there.  Janet will make her fabulous sweet potato pie and  take it along.  Should be a good time!
I'm including a pic. of the loop we plan to back into...it'll be awesome looking out over the lake through the big picture window in the back of the Premier! 

I-65 through Birmingham Alabama

How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways..

( A parody of “Let me count the ways”)

How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.
I loathe thee to the depth of my shock absorbers as they bottom out
My cabinet doors doth open and all matter of supplies have fallen out.
The jars have torn the bike rack asunder and I have found them dragging long behind
As the weld in the bumper tore and the bikes became junk and became intertwined.
For the ends of the road will leave a camper in disarray
and all the travelers luncheons will have to be cleaned up along the way.
I loathe thee to the level all in a day’s ride
Most quiet need of smooth highway I can certainly abide.
I loathe thee freely, as we travel through;
To the land of the sun and the gulf so blue.
I loathe thee purely; as you turn my camper into ham
I loathe thee with the passion as we put it back together as best we can.
In my grief I shout, fix this damn road! but in my faith I have my doubts.
For travel it we must if we want a holiday,
from somewhere up north down to the gulf’s ocean spray.
Please fix the dang road is all I can say
as we lurch, and bump and make our way.

St George Island SP Florida

Staying at site 56 for the 2nd time this year.  Works for us!  October weather had been good until today when we had flooding conditions and winds keep us indoors.  Fishing was ok and I caught a nice flounder  yesterday on shrimp.  The gulf is really churned up now so I think fishing won't be very good for the rest of our week. Maybe shelling will though!  Love the new camper and I can't say enough good things about all the features it has.  Tomorrow the weather will change and cooler temps are in store for us the rest of the week...oh well, thats camping.