Okay! It's time to get this tiny home on wheels on the road,
again, and see what's shaking - literally.
I'll have some photos up tonight or tomorrow showing the
parts, the completed unit and the installed unit that is now the counter space
for the tiny galley area and the storage below for utensils, dry and canned
foods, my clothes and behind the unit, water storage. I also installed window
blackouts in two of the van's windows and created blackout curtains/drapes with
black felt and held in place with Velcro for the other windows and to close off
the living area from the cockpit for privacy.
So, when I said it's time for a little shakedown road trip,
I meant that literally, for sure. I'm on the road to my hometown of Clifton,
New Jersey for a few days. On Saturday, September 21st, I'll be attending a
barbecue bash at Uncle Roy Yokelson's house in Bloomfield, New Jersey, not far
from the border of Clifton. That's an annual event Uncle Roy (his moniker)
throws every year (this is the 8th and my first one to finally attend) for the
voice-over talent in the NYC, northern NJ and nearby NY state and CT group.
Although, there are some who travel there from much greater distances for this
fun event.
So, My McVansion is on the road to see what shakes, rattles
and rolls so I can figure out ways to tighten, shim, prop, pad and make any
other modifications and adjustments necessary. While it's ready for sleeping in
again, meals and bathroom necessities are still not installed, so I will need
to use other means for taking care of these requirements of life on this trip.
I will have a cooler onboard with certain things and I can carry some dry
foods, so I will have some meals "at home," so to speak. The bathroom
situation is another matter. I have acquired and will have with me a yellow
plastic milk container that I can use for certain requirements when public
facilities are not readily available. I'll let you figure out what I mean by
that.
The desk/computer workstation area is set up, as was evident
in earlier photos. However, it's not complete, yet. There is no wiring for
power, no speaker system, no capability for printing, etc. Additionally, this
area will also easily and quickly convert to a voice-over booth when the
necessity for either my own projects or a client's project arises. But, the
plans and materials for that are all in hand at this time. It's just a matter
of fabrication and installation.
There is no house 12 volt DC or 110 AC source on board, yet.
However, I recently located a source for a 245-amp hour, sealed, deep cycle,
marine/industrial/RV battery at a very good price. Of course, the thing weighs
158 pounds (not too much different than a couple 100 amp hour, sealed, deep
cycle batteries - combined weight). So, that will be added later this fall
along with 12-vdc wiring and outlets in the appropriate places and an
appropriate sized 110-vac inverter to handle the small refrigerator to be added
along with the small microwave - to be used in very tiny spurts from time to
time.
But, for now, it's shakedown the currently installed
furnishings and get it checked out and ready for the next stage of
improvements. While in northern New Jersey and, more specifically, my hometown
and hometown area of Governor Chris Christie's state, I'll be stopping to visit
and photograph all my old homesteads where I lived with my family as a kid
through college. I'll pass by my old schools and take photos of them as well. I
might just stop at the police department first to let them know who I am and
why I'm taking photos - in our present day world, one very different than when
I grew up Clifton, I can easily see me being reported to the police by some
nosey (and properly aware) neighbor and then being picked up for
"suspicious activity." That would certainly put a damper on my
"hometown going" trip.
I also plan to make a stop at my favorite hot dog stand,
Rutt's Hut (since 1928) and my favorite Italian restaurant, Mario's, whose
pizza is my standard that I measure all other pizza by. I'm hoping to hit at
least one of the old diners my family took us to for our occasional dining out
treats (eating out in the 40's, 50's and 60's wasn't near as common as it is
today). And, there are other familiar sights that hold fond memories that I'll
photographically (and maybe a little video, too) document while I'm in the
area. Of course, while I'm doing this all for myself, I'm also doing it for my
son who has probably only been to my hometown on four to six occasions during
his 35 year lifespan. I'd like him to at least have some pictures of his/my
roots.
Of course, there are some old friends I hope to spend some
time with - or at least look up. One of them I recall visiting around 1990 and
I can't find a trace of him, which leads me to believe he has already gone to
the great beyond. Others, I just haven't seen in 20 to 35 years and it would be
nice to at least touch base after all this time.
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