Today I awoke to the soft patter of rain on the roof. What a delightful sound! It’s cool, 67⁰, and has remained cloudy with periods of rain all day. I got an early start since there was much I wanted to accomplish today. I’ll be back on the road tomorrow so today was the day to finish settling everything into the trailer and to complete my to-do list.My first stop was the laundry facility here at the Lake Pleasant RV Park. $1.00 each for the Washer (full cycle) and Dryer (60 minutes!) is a real bargain. I had two weeks worth of clothes but was done and back at the camper just after 10 AM.
Next on the list was to set up the TV. I have a King Jack’s Antenna that when wired to my TV allows me to pick up digital cable channels for free and I can also connect to the internet and stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Movies, HBO Go and Starz! I had set up a Verizon Jetpack when I first arrived and this little device gives me my own personal internet connection. I also have a WirEng Cell Signal Booster Antenna installed on the trailer that I can wire to the Jetpack. I will order that cable when I get home.  Is this really “camping?”! Well, I haven’t watched any TV yet but I’m glad to have it all set up for that day when I’m trapped indoors and need a diversion.
Next on the list was to set up the Accu Rite Weather gadget I purchased at Walmart. It shows me both the inside and outside temp a forecast, the moon phase, humidity and barometric pressure! TMI but it will sure come in handy if I’m camping out of cell phone range since I always need to keep an eye on the weather so I can keep myself and the camper safe and dry. If I know the weather, I can prevent damage caused by leaving vents or windows open in the rain. The awning will automatically retract if the wind kicks up but better safe than sorry is an adage I pay heed to.

After that job was done, I discovered that I had a leak under my sink. It occurred when I filled the sink to do dishes. The seal around the drain plate that sits in the bottom of the sink has jarred a bit loose on this first part of the road trip. I spoke to the owner at Escape and he helped me troubleshoot the problem. The sink was tested at the factory, but sometimes things shift during that first road trip and problems shake out.  I may try to fix it myself, or more likely just wait until I get home. It’s a relatively simple fix: take apart the drain, apply some plumbers paste around the drain plate and reseat. Since I have a nice plastic sink liner, though, I will most likely just use that until it’s convenient to fix the problem. The camper is has a two-year warranty so if I’m unable to resolve this myself, I can have it serviced at an RV repair shop under warranty. The sink doesn’t leak during normal use, just when it’s plugged and filled with water so it’s not a big deal.

With that problem handled, it was time to set up and implement the Tandem Wheel X Chocks on the trailer wheels. These stabilizers are also a theft deterrent. The device locks between the tandem wheels and help make the trailer more stable and reduce wiggle when I’m moving around inside the camper. I must say though that even without these chocks the camper is rock solid. No shimmy no shake! The chocks also have a place to apply a padlock so they cannot be removed. That, coupled with the King Pin lock should keep any sticky fingers off my Wild Thing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, it was time to torque the lug nuts on my camper wheels. This is a process that is done frequently over the course of the first few hundred miles to snug up the lug nuts as the camper eases into use. It took a bit of elbow grease to apply the correct torque (95#) but my neighbor Don got me started and I was able to complete the job. It feels good to know that I can manage the physical aspects of this trailer myself. One step at a time I’m learning what I need to know…

Tomorrow I’ll hitch her up and head toward Post Falls ID just across the border from Spokane. You can find my Homeward Bound Itinerary in this post  I’m planning to wait until the traffic clears in the morning before I venture out so we’ll see if I can get this rig out of the city and on the open road without too much hassle.
Tonight, though,  I’ll have an enjoyable evening with my new friends Don and Sandy who have invited me to join them for Movie Night! I’m bringing Moulin Rouge!