I know, we've done lots of traveling over the last year. But poor Sherman was a little jealous of the little blue car's adventures over the past couple of months while he just sat here. Sherman has been sitting here for over a year now!
The last time we were exploring in the motorhome was March 15 ...of last year!
It was a good experiment exploring in the little blue car for two and a half months or so, but we really missed the convenience of having your home with you. The worst part was not having a decent refrigerator or cooking facilities.
And on Monday, we take off for another three weeks in the little blue car!
And so we've been in the process of getting Sherman ready for sitting yet another six months or so. Poor Sherman. We have a hard time looking this far in advance, but we think that next winter we will be exploring with the motorhome! Maybe northern Mexico and maybe even the south western U.S.!
We did take Sherman for a short drive last November when we arrived here, and we're going to take him for another drive today or tomorrow just to give him some exercise and make sure everything is still working okay. Yesterday, I even plugged him in to electricity and ran his air conditioning unit just to make sure it doesn't seize up or something!
Kevin, cleaning Sherman's roof.
So yesterday morning before the sun got too strong, I climbed up and cleaned Sherman's roof. Should be done every three months or so, and all of the caulking seams on the roof need to be checked at that interval as well. So I scrubbed it yesterday, and today I'll check all the seams and recaulk as necessary. That should keep Sherman leak free through the summer rainy season.
It was hard work...took me about two hours of scrubbing!
I put the charger on his battery, and checked all the tire pressures. When we take him for a drive today or tomorrow we'll stop in at the gas station and put a few litres of fresh fuel in the tank...the stuff that's in there is a year old.
In the meantime, Ruth has been sorting through the interior items figuring out what we need to bring north with us. We won't be bringing anything in the way of camping gear so that will free up some room in the car. And, we have to keep in mind that we won't likely be coming back with the car, so anything that comes north with us will not be coming back south next fall. It's going to be interesting figuring out what we need with us for the next six or seven months until we return!
Hopefully you won't have any fuel issues. I would do the whole 'fuel stabiliser' thing if I didn't think I'd go through a tank within about six months or so.
ReplyDeleteCleaning the roof was never one of my favourite things, BUT while I was up there (in our driveway of course) I could very easily peek into and clean out our eaves troughs on that one hard to reach section of the house.
Had to make the best of it I suppose.
Sherman survived well last summer without any issues with the fuel so we don't foresee any problems this summer. It was good to put some fresh fuel in Sherman and also get him out for a drive.
DeleteDon't forget to cover tires with plastic or something, they will rot in sun and such. Also stop in at an oil change store and have the bottom sprayed with their combi oil and diesel. It will protect underside from rust and the mexicanos told me the diesel is an excellent anti parisito repellent especially for termites!! Don't figure, I had my trailers done!!!
ReplyDeleteLuckily we don't need to worry about rust as we are far from the ocean and it's spray. Also we never had any problems with bugs or rodents last summer so hopefully we won't this year either.
DeletePoor Sherman. Glad you're taking the time to let him know you still love him. I know I would really miss my home if I was traveling without it now. It just becomes a part of you.
ReplyDeleteWe are looking forward to traveling with him again in the fall and winter of this year. We definitely missed traveling with him this past winter.
DeleteHard to believe over a year has gone by since you were out travelling in Sherman. However it has been year of different adventures with more to come. I don't envy Ruth's decisions, at least we can pack it all back home with us.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is the nice benefit of travelling with your motorhome, everything goes with you. Next winter will be much easier.
DeleteWe've enjoyed reading about your winter travels and are looking forward to what comes next. Safe travels north!
ReplyDeleteConnie & Barry in PA
Interesting to see how this works out with what you take and what you bring back.
ReplyDeleteMaybe given your new circumstances it is time to consider a 5th wheel a truck instead. Changes have a habit of creeping up on you but it is good that you realise that you haven't used Sherman as a motorhome for over a year and can plan accordingly.
ReplyDeleteNope, don't want a 5th wheel. We decided that the motorhome is the best way to travel for us. That doesn't mean that we won't be planning some backpacking trips in the future.
DeleteWe have trouble leaving our coach even for a day. We really don't enjoying travelling without it anymore. Guess you don't need him up north this summer, enjoy your new journey anyway.
ReplyDelete