Sept 13
Running around today I left Walmart where I had camped and went to Northern tool to do a little shopping to see if they had something to help me make a ladder out of the aluminum poles Britt's mom had given me. After finding no success there, but picking up a new hacksaw, I went to Home Depot to buy the wood for cabinets along top shelf. Unfortunately the wood was $20 a sheet and I got two sheets. Then I picked up wood conditioner and supports for the cabinets. My bill was $60. I only had $20 left of the $300 I accumulated in the past 3 days. And I still had to buy more groceries and gas. I decided on groceries since I knew I had enough fuel to get to Spartanburg. I bought 36 eggs, two pounds of deli meat, hot dogs and buns, and two pounds of cashew halves. A couple of days before I had purchased smoked sausage, cheese, yoohoo drinks, 2 boxes of cheese nips, bag of pepperoni and 3 bags of kettle cooked potato chips. Oh yeah, and a case of bottled water.
After Home Depot I went to Britt's to get the floor rugs and ice, and completely forgot to fill my 5 gallon water jugs with nice clean chlorinated city water.
When I arrived at my home away from home in Spartanburg, I decided to park where my bus could get more light during the day so I could mount the solar panels to the roof without losing precious daylight. I pulled out the trusty swingblade Sandra had given me and made a bus sized clearing in the tall grass. Then I moved my bus onto it. I then unloaded enough stuff that I could walk freely from the front of the bus to the back. I am tired now. I swung that swing blade for just 15 minutes but I have blister developing already. My hands have all the coarseness of a 6mth old baby girl. Maybe I exaggerate, I do have callouses where my fingers meet the palm but my inner thumbs are still tender.
Tomorrow I finish unloading. One of the first projects will be to get those solar panels installed on the roof.
Here I get wise and put on some gloves (and Rambo/Karate Kid Headband).
This is my Unibomber hairstyle, it is all the rage in Cross Anchor.
Sept 14, 2009
I installed solar panels today. Finished up around 2:30 pm. Found out that installing them flat I only get good sun until 4:30 pm this time of the year. I could probably tweak out a couple more hours if I made them movable and able to tilt, but that would require more engineering than I am willing to do right now. I have them where they are permanently mounted and I should be able to drive with them up there. I unloaded a few more things. And then went to my neighbors to retrieve ice bottles I had left with them last time I was here and to refill water jugs.
Set up Hammock.
Sept 15, 2009
Here comes the rain again...it isn't just a Eurythmics song for me. It is pouring rain outside, right after I unloaded most of the rest of my stuff. I am getting the feeling that I am a real life testament to Murphy's Law...if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. Luckily it gave me an hour warning with thunder rolling in the distance. I covered everything with tarps that are not all that water proof, but it was all I could do. I still love being in the bus when it rains, but I do wish I could coordinate the timing better. I will spend the rest of the evening making plans for tomorrow and measuring cuts and deciding paint colors. Maybe I will just sit back for a while and enjoy the cool breezes and the sound of the rain hitting roof. Thunder is sounding raucous, hope lighting doesn't hit my new solar panels...My batteries have enough juice to let me have a late night of watching movies on my laptop. Hmmm, I am liking my rain day more and more. I can blow off work with no guilt and enjoy living. I still have a great selection of food and snacks. Life is good.
A River runs through it (my camp)
A good time to work on keeping digital journal.
Sunday Night(a week later)
The rain has thrown off my whole week. The day after my last entry I got some work done but was hit by unexpected showers before I could put tarps over all my work. Pieces of wood I had cut and painted got saturated by the rain. Wood I had stained and planned on putting polyurethane included. I am kicking myself for not being more prepared. This has been the wettest week thus far since I started this mobile lifestyle. Must be because of the season change. Two of the days I saw 3+ inches of rain. A few days I was seriously bummed out because I thought I had planned so well, I had ample food and supplies. I didn't even feel like reporting on what was going on because I never saw the silver lining to my predicament. It feels as if this week was wasted. But I still have food for a few more days and although the wood is drenched I feel as if it can dry out enough I can get some work done, as long as I take care to keep the forecasted rain from spoiling it yet again. My nearest neighbor, Mark, has allowed me to charge my batteries at his place since my solar panels are worthless in this weather. I also restocked on ice, washed some dishes and even gave Nala a bath at his place. I am ok with the rain and its obscene randomness. Midnight rainstorms don't surprise me any longer and I have learned to keep everything covered or on the bus unless I plan to work with it immediately. This has caused quite a mess on the bus and even with carpets in front of the door dirt and red clay is tracked in by me and the pets. One step forward, two steps back but I still haven't lost sight of my goal. I must admit severe frustration at things beyond my control. At least the weather is cooler. I am reserving the last of my generator fuel for powering tools.
Here is my cat lying in a wet patch of red clay cleaning himself.
A little section dedicated to the insect wildlife...
Fireants...major problem. I kill them with extreme prejudice. Here are some of their tiny corpses.
As I was removing the tarps I found several giagantic spiders (I prefer snakes to spiders). I am not sure if it is the female that is larger but I gingerly lifted all future tarps. Plus my work boot of choice is flip flops. I have even developed distinct tan lines as evidence. But kicking through the grass with those on and the godzilla spiders creeping about always keeps me on my toes.
Mrs. Spider?
Another spider
My working shoes
I call this next insect the pit bull bee. I have never seen anything like it. He was on my bed one morning. Unfortunately he died shortly after these photos were taken. I suspect he got into the poison I sprayed on the bus to kill/prevent fireant infestations.
I got cabinet facings built for upper shelves to make storage a little more organized up there. I don't have a pic right now of the final hunter green paint I used on them.
Before Pic
Prepainted Pic
I am heading back to Cross Anchor today or tomorrow morning. I am eager to get back to finish up most projects. I also just like camping out there. It is just awesome to be away from it all. I am also ready to get on the road soon. Weather is cooling off, work conditions should be optimal.
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