The morning before we leave the house and paint is still wet. That’s the fresh water tank underneath the bed on the left.
Leaving tomorrow, and I still have to make the elaborate piece that will cover the face of the kitchen cabinet. Things are still a bit rough, but it’s definitely getting much easier to envision the end product. The difference between the dark wood and paint, and the white and birch, really is like night and day.
We’re still waiting on window trim before putting the new bedroom window in. Plywood windows are classy, though.
We’d gotten done what we could. The kids’ room and kitchen were nicely set up (if slightly incomplete). Plumbing was working. We had brake lights and turn signals, new fuel line and filter, air filter, coolant, etc.. We had used all but two pieces of wood, which had been returned, along with about two dozen other miscellaneous items, to Home Depot. Laundry was done, and food was in the fridge.
Our Airbnb rental was over, and our reservation at the Fort Pickens campground was waiting. Nothing left to do (for now) but hit the road.
We drove to the campground, settled in, and twenty minutes later it began to rain for the first time in nearly three weeks. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. I took that break to hang up curtain rods as a final last minute job for the day.
Fortunately, the rain didn’t last and we were able to wander over the hill to the Pensacola Bay side of the island.
The next day we hit the beach on the Gulf side. Shallow, clear, and a surprisingly comfortable temperature. Always great to be back in the water.
Schoolwork getting done, and the grill ready to go. Feels good to be on the road again.
I realize I’m late to the lithium game (even though I have had pretty good sized lithium sector trades on for a long time), but I can’t get over the size (if you don’t know, that’s tiny) of a 300ah lithium battery. And it weighs half of what a normal deep cycle battery does. Actually, it weighs a sixth, since it would take three 8D batteries to give me this many usable amp hours.
The bathroom, obviously, is a work in progress. Importantly, the new toilet performs its function. The sink we ordered hasn’t arrived, so I haven’t finished the plumbing in there yet, but it’s ready to go. Floors will wait a while, like the rest of them. Until we get a little further along, there’s no sense in putting them in.
The kitchen still needs trim, a backsplash, paint, and a stove (another item that didn’t quite arrive in time), but so long as we have a sink we’re not too concerned over the rest.
The Victron Multiplex 3000 fit nicely in this wasted space next to the wheel well.
And the battery fits nicely in the closet next to the wheel well enclosure. The AC fuse box is in this closet, too. All that’s left is for me to actually wire all this stuff together. After that is finished we can finish up the closet with shelves built where they need to go, and a coat of paint.
So, while we are nowhere near as far along as we would like, we’re making progress. We’re comfortable, have everything we need, and we’re back out on the road exploring, learning, and stretching our legs.
10 Comments on “A Work in Progress”
On lithium and alternators. You will want a way to limit amps out of the bus alternator as internal resistance in lifepo4 is very low. That can allow a non regulated alternator to burn up from staying at max amp load too long. You probably know that though. Love the Bus camper…
Yeah, already have this, https://amzn.to/3c7xKXH, sitting in the closet waiting for an install with the rest of the electrical system.
In the upper right hand corner of your bathroom window shot….the water stain is a shark….
dduuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun
Some one say shark?
The kids’ room is adorable, but where do the adults sleep?
I was wondering that myself 😉
Currently I’m on the couch behind the driver’s seat, and Pat is on a mishmash of other cushions on the floor. We’ll get something set up when we visit family soon. Always an adventure. 😉
Hi guys! Been following since the beginning and am loving your adventure as always. You guys actually helped plant the seed to travel by boat and rv long time ago and we have just returned from our maiden voyage in our self built out Sprinter Van. Took almost six weeks from Wisconsin to Florida(boat shopping) and around to Texas following the coast and back home. Our Van is done and we just have to find the right Trawler/yacht for our winters! We probably crossed paths around Fort Pickens. Keep doing what you do…..It means a lot to some of us! PS……. I ordered a hat around July 8th and forgot all about it till just now, but havent seen it yet.
Thx
Hi Brian,
Sounds like you had a good trip and an awesome plan (like ours!). Boats and Roads, can’t beat it. I sent you an email about the missing Bum Hat – darn kids. 🙂