It's been a busy few weeks, we bought Keessie the Campervan on Friday the 13th.. a great day for the biggest purchase in my life I guess. And he has been doing us proud on a 6 day mad road trippin adventure to southern California within the first week we owned him. As expected we broke down. Several times.. or rather, we got to know the service station well everytime we fuelled up. An hour of waiting before Keessie fancied firing up again, each stop we made. We were just starting to consider 'hot' fuelling, with the engine running when Keessie finally decided to give up driving too, after some serious hot rod backfiring, shooting big flames out of his exhaust. Scary. But strangely exciting. We ended up roadside on I 70 in Utah, the hot desert not too far from 'Adventure Capital' Moab. So things could be worse. After some fun times talking to our roadside assistance people (God I looooove the British RAC now.. they rock!) we finally managed to organise a tow to Green River, 10 miles away. Leon showed, the tallest man known to earth, chewing chaw and looking like a potential serial killer, matching his name! He was our hero though, and though we were promised over the phone that noone would even look at our van till the next day he had a think and decided it was probably our fuel filter. The fuelfiltershop was closed by then, however his buddy just bought 2 for his own similar RV (=campervan) and would swing by to drop it off. I love small town mechanics... so, 2 minutes later Leon pulled out our fuel filter, realising that the former owners of Keessie had put her on inside out upside down, and fitted our new second hand fuel filter. Both fuel filter and labour free ofcourse. We were back on the road. No Moab adventures for us this trip... California was super awesome by the way. We surfed a lot, best summer swell all season, sunny and hot, great van camping on side of (rail)roads, and the State Park right above the beach, and yummy fish tacos, fun beach cruiser rides and moonlit beach walks to be had. Oh and my beautiful boi proposed under the near full moon... I blame the bottle of red we enjoyed in Keessie, though he says he has planned it for months... aaaah. My finger now sports a beautiful gold- and white gold handmade paul-designed ring with waves on, no diamonds, perfect. Commitment-phobia ends here. Bring it on!
Now back in the Winter Park of Colorado winding down the rafting season planning next steps. Today is guide Mouse's 1600 Upper Colorado river trip. I better start writing that press release telling the world how Mouse pretty much rafted around the world, done 25000 miles, taking around 13000 people down the river. Cool.
For us there is a lot of research ahead- can we even take Keessie as far as Costa Rica or Panama, even if cash flow would allow us? And how do you replace a leaking sewer outlet haha. I imagine owning an RV is like owning a house, I am learning a lot about, flooring, plumbing, propane and curtain design. And about sinking money into your house! But I am loving it. Just getting a little scared now, there is so much info on the interweb, good and bad, about robberies and hijackings, about sewer leaks and dry camping, about living in an RV and life on the road. About solar panels and LED lights. Oh and I am having spanish lessons. Fantastico!
new bamboo floor:
