Here we are again, at the end of another year. This has been a busy year for us. We accomplished a lot, although we did have a
lot of help.
Figuring on selling the house in 2023 and heading back ‘on
the road again’, we started the year planning on getting a 5th wheel, that our
F150 could tow, but could not find one large and comfortable enough, so we had
to trade the F150 for a bigger F350, and then found a left-over, new 2021
Keystone Montana 3812 that appeared to suit us for full-timing. In the meantime,
we also wanted a second car (gas) for more economical running around but
because the prices for used vehicles were prohibitive, we ordered a new Ford
Explorer to our individual specs. So, by the end of March, we were all set for
the winter of 2022-2023.
In the fall of 2021, we had contracted with a local company
called Log Care to maintain the log work of the house which was in urgent need
of it. They started work the second week of July and workers spent the next 2
months completing the work. The first step was to sand blast the exterior of
all three buildings, then hand sand all the surfaces, apply 2 coats of stain
and complete the process with a seal coat. Once that process was completed,
they replaced several of the posts supporting the decks, many of the supports
for the deck rails and ALL the railings.
Then, the new wood was stained and sealed. What a mess, but worth it, as it will
increase the value of the house significantly.
If we were still in Wyoming, we would still be trying to clean up the
dust that made it into the inside of the house.
In August we took the 5th wheel to Loveland, CO to have a
generator installed. Then, in October,
we travelled to Shipshewana, IN to have some upgrades made to the 5th wheel
(added 1200 watts of solar panels, and had a 3000-watt Inverter installed. We also converted the gas/electric
refrigerator to a 12 volt system with dual compressors, which made it much more
energy efficient. We then transferred to
Goshen, IN to begin necessary warranty work.
While there we travelled to Buchannan, MI to Lowery’s, our favorite meat
market, and in Shipshewana we found Yoder’s, a great Amish Meat and Cheese
Market. Yummy! We bought tons of stuff to take back to
Wyoming to share with friends.
When we returned to Wyoming, we started the process of
loading the 5th wheel for a 6-month trip south.
Winter 2021-2022 had been mild, without a lot of snow. However, the Old Farmers Almanac’s forecast
for the 2022-2023 winter calling it a “Hibernating Winter” in our area. So, a southern trip seemed warranted. That brings me to our current location:
Texas. We will be in Southeastern Texas until early March, flip-flopping back
and forth between two Thousand Trails membership campgrounds, at which time we
will transit to Florida for 1-2 months, returning to Wyoming, by way of
northern Georgia to visit some friends there, getting to Wyoming in late April
or early May… AFTER (hopefully) most of the snow has melted.
Roxy is enjoying her travel opportunities, even though the
weather has also been very cold down in Texas.
Bill HATES the 5th wheel, as he has always had motorhomes and finds the
5th wheel cramped and everything keeps breaking on it in cold weather. However,
he does love the truck.
In between working with Log Care, and completing upgrades to the 5th wheel, we traveled to Idaho Falls for Bill to have some major Dental work done. When we return to Wyoming, he has one more process to endure and he will have all his dental work done. We hope this finds you and yours healthy, wealthier and wiser; and if not, then that the New Year makes you so.
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