RV Show

The weather lately has been better, you can actually go outside. Its not below Zero. YA!

This weekend the anuall RV show is being held in the Minneapolis auditorium. We headed down there around 10:30 Sunday morning. Hey maybe we can find something we like!

We parked in a parking ramp near the auditorium and took the sky way to the show. We really didn't have to go out side at all. From our heated garage to the sky ways to the show. So why am I whining about the weather?

As bad as the economy is suppose to be there were a lot of people there. At $10 a pop to get in there still must be some money left in the world.

We checked out a few Class A rigs and a few fifth wheels. and walked up and down the rows.

I did find a cool inflatable kayak for 2 with bike pedals for propulsion. Looks like it would fit in the basement of the Dutch Star. I'll have to keep that in mind.


We had lunch and a beer at one of the concession stands then continued walking the floor.

Margaret found some recliner chairs she likes for the coach at the Camping World booth for a good price but we didn't want to carry them so she negotiated the same price if we pick them up next weekend at the Camping World store on 101 and 94. I guess we are going to Camping World next weekend.


Mean while just across the aisle I found a cool way to mount a TV in the basement storage unit of a motor home. I just may have to get me one of these!

On the way out we both decided there wasn't any RV's there that we liked better than our current Dutch Star. Well at least anything we could actually afford to purchase. That a good thing!

Relief from Winter

It got down close to –20 again last night. Today Saturday January 24th we might get to a high of –5 to 0. A great day to be alive in Minnesota Yeah Right!

Rather than cry about it we decided to take a tropical vacation.But where you say can you go in Minnesota?….Wait I’ve got it! The Como Park Conservatory. For a mere $2 donation you can go sit for a while in a tropical green house.

From Conservitory

From Conservitory

So we were off trudging thought the sub zero snow banks, and ice for a park bench under a palm tree with a three toe’d sloth sitting in the crook of the branches.

From Conservitory

We sat for a couple of hours in the rainforest atmosphere just enjoying the humidity and temperature. It was good for the soul!

From Conservitory

From Conservitory

The winter carnival was hosting their annual Orchids competition. Not that I’d know the difference between an orchid and A thistle. The sign told me what they were.

From Conservitory

From Conservitory

Occasionally we would move to another bench and a different view

From Conservitory

I might just live through the winter after all.

Sprung a leak

Late last week one of the water pipes that feed the Condo complex that we live in sprung a minor leak. We noticed a sign on the bulletin board Saturday morning that the management had been notified and it would be fixed as soon as possible.
Well I have been keeping an eye on it off and on. (I have a bit of experience as a plumber). I also have a pretty good idea what will happen when a 4" wide pressure pipe with running water blows. (not going to be pretty) The drains will not keep up and the garage will be flooded and since its cold out all that water will freeze then start to pool in the garage.Well short story as the leak worsened at about 3:00PM Sunday afternoon and no one has fixed it. I moved the Jeep out of the garage. I'm about to go take my shower now for tomorrow Just in case we have no water.

From Scott

From Scott

New look for the Jeep

A few days ago I ordered a set of stainless steal tube rails (Running boards) for the Jeep from a company in Florida. They arrived Friday the 9th. I had them shipped directly to the loading dock at work. So today that's what I'm doing most of the morning I'm putting the new rails on the Jeep.
Of course nothing ever goes easy, and after checking the boxes of parts out I didn't have the tools necessary to put them on correctly, so I had to run to Sears and get some tools. This wasn't really a big problem because the tools I purchased were on my list to acquire before summer anyway so I sort of killed two birds with one stone (Right Margaret?)

$150 worth of tools sure fits in a small box

From Scott

So with the tools acquired its time to put on the new rails

From Scott

As you can probably guess I had a couple of visits from Margaret with her camera while I was working

From Scott

It only took a couple of hours to get the brackets mounted and put the rails on. I also applied a coat of wax to the rails before I mounted them to help protect them from the lovely tropical Minnesota winters.

From Scott

Looks pretty sporty now the rails make it look much lower to the ground.

From Scott

Birthday Wish for a special person

Its my wife and partners Birthday today. This will undoubtedly be the beginning of a big year for her. I wish you all the best Margaret and hope you have many more Birthdays to come. I love you and you mean everything to me

Lots of Snow

Well we finally made it up to the lake lot today. Sunday 12/28) We left around 8 in the morning, stopped for coffee and picked up a couple of sandwiches for lunch arriving around 11:30 at the lake. Our neighbor John's driveway was plowed and since we share the approach we parked in the driveway and had our sandwich before climbing thought the mountains of snow to check things out. There is LOTS! of snow there. almost 2 feet deep on the level. "Poor lonely coach"

From December 08 at the Lake

I shoveled the snow a way from the doors, and off the solar panel for the coach then checked around the lot. Other than a few rabbit and wood chuck tracks nothing to be seen. The rabbits haven't even chewed off any baby trees yet. I don't remember seeing the snow this deep this early before. Looks like we will be replenishing the ground water this year.

From December 08 at the Lake

We waded through the snow to check out the shed and found the usually rabbit freeway under the shed's deck for the winter. I suppose under all the snow many of our shrubs are getting chewed off.

Even as cold as it is barely above zero. The spring at the edge of our beach still keeps the ice from freezing.

From December 08 at the Lake

We didn't last long both our fingers were freezing up. Margaret went back to car to warm up but I managed to get down to the lake and snap a few picture.

Cold in Minnesota

Last year in Minnesota the lakes didn't even freeze fully until January 15th. well this year we shot that all to hell! Real winter is back in Minnesota just like it use to be in the old days! It has been snowing almost every or every other day for the last couple weeks. Not much snow, but enough to make a mess on the roads. It also COLD! we have had a couple of days less than -20 and plenty below zero and its not even Christmas yet.

View from the Porch on this cold day

We were going to go up North to the lake to check on the coach and the lot, but the snow storm this weekend canceled that idea. Maybe next weekend after Christmas we will go. So for this weekend I'm just sitting in the corner staying warm and working on the computer.