projectmidge

A Sky Blue Sky reflected in Midge.

This blog post is to catch you up on what’s been happening around here since last Fall.  We have been busy!

First of all, we had a great trip to Pagosa Springs in October with the Tin Can Tourists.  We met more fantastic people, and thoroughly enjoyed the Bruce Spruce Ranch.  We will definitely be going back there!  It is a commercial campground with full hook ups, but it feels like you are really camping.  It’s in a gorgeous area and the RV sites are large and shaded by trees.  It’s rustic, but has all the conveniences you would want.

I’m going to post some random pictures from Bruce Spruce Ranch.  I did not get a picture of everyone’s trailer, although they were all fantastic!

Walking Lucy 🙂

Bruce Spruce Ranch

Silver Streak!

Jet!

Ooh-La-La! Lucy!

View from Midge’s front window

Getting ready for a party on Midge’s patio!

Beauty at Bruce Spruce Ranch, Pagosa Springs

Midge in all her glory at Bruce Spruce Ranch, Pagosa Springs, CO

Wolf Creek Pass

We had an unfortunate accident on the way home.  We had almost made it all the way when Midge had a blow out on I-25!!  It was incredibly scary.  She is fine, for the most part. The wheel well under the kitchen sink kind of exploded and the gas lines need to be replaced.

Ouch 😦

Damaged wheel well 😦

YIKES!!!

There was no physical damage, other than the wheel well, so we feel incredibly lucky.  It could have been much worse.

We had some issues with the local TCT chapter.  I am not going to go in to detail here, but the main issue was a controlling and egocentric individual.  Several members left TCT because of the issues.  Some of my good friends were treated incredibly unfairly, and it was just a bad situation.  Because of all the issues we had, and the fact that the national TCT organization would do nothing to help us, we have formed a new camping group.  It is called “Friendly Average Campers of Colorado” (FAC).  We are on Facebook, and have a Meetup Page.  If you are interested in joining, contact us!  We already have some trips planned for next summer.  It is a casual and laid back group.  No politics, no drama.  Vintage trailers, dogs and drinking are encouraged, but not required :-).

SILVER STREAK UPDATE:

We have been working on the Silver Streak when time and weather permit.

– We have gutted it and got the new subfloor in.  We are going to install bamboo vinyl plank flooring.  I don’t have a picture of the new subfloor for some reason.  I’ll try to remember to get one and upload it.  I’m not making any promises, though.

Bedroom Gutted

Kitchen Gutted

Hallway

Floor

Dining Area Gutted

– George got all the original cast iron plumbing removed and is just about finished installing the new plumbing lines.  He loves working with PEX, and it’s going quickly.

Old Cast Iron Plumbing

Bathroom

– I salvaged the dinette seats and have reupholstered them.   I purchased Teal Tweed Sunbrella outdoor fabric (on eBay for a steal!), heavy textured teal vinyl (at Colorado Fabrics for KA-CHING $$$$), and black piping for the seats.  I could not use the original back cushions, unfortunately.  I had to trash those because they had been the home to some varmints over the years, and they were just nasty.  I still need to order the foam for the back cushions, but we need to replace the mattresses and I’m hoping we can get a large foam mattress that I can cut in to two bed mattresses and 2 dinette back cushions.  Good Lord, foam cushions are expensive!  I may just have to order custom sized cushions for the dinette, but I’m going to put up a  good fight.

Original Cushions

Dinette Seats Reupholstered with Sunbrella and textured vinyl

– Installed 2 new vent covers.  We still have one pesky leak, but I’m sure we’ll get it taken care of soon.  THERE IS ALWAYS A DAMN LEAK.  I’ve learned not to freak out about it.  For the most part.  Okay. It is driving me flipping crazy.

– Replaced the 2 windows that were broken.  We had a heck of a time figuring out how to remove the old windows.  I finally got on the Silver Streak Facebook page and asked.  The people are so darn helpful!  We had the windows replaced in no time, once we knew what we were doing.

Window Removal

Window Removal

– George has rebuilt the bed frames.  We thought we could salvage the original ones, but they had some water damage, and we decided we’d like to start with a clean slate rather than try to repair and cover up the damage.  I need to stain them.  Amber Shellac was a perfect match for the beautiful golden birch in our Holiday Rambler and I’m hopeful it will  be a great match in the Silver Streak.  Once I shellac the new wood work, I will polyurethane all the wood so they all have a shiny new look.

So, that is our progress – or lack thereof.  It looks a mess, but once we start putting it back together, it will be glorious!

Contrasting awning fabric for scalloped sides.

Curtain Fabric

Upholstery and Awning Fabric

As you can see, we have been busy!  We still have so much to do, and hopefully, the weather will cooperate.  Our first trip is scheduled for Memorial Day at the Starlite Classic Campground.  Our goal is to have the Silver Streak ready for it’s maiden voyage.  That is where Midge went for her maiden voyage, too :-).

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season.  We definitely had a great one!  Our oldest son is attending The Basic School in Quantico, VA, but got to come home on leave for Christmas and New Years.  It may be the last holiday with him at home for a while, and I was so thankful  to have both of my kids here.

Stay tuned for progress on the Silver Streak!