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Prepping for the schlepping

Posted by on April 25, 2019

Shelving unit

Shelving unit

We are 12 days away from the start of the Fifth Trip North (TN5). I have abandoned all hope of getting more work done on the shed – including getting the air conditioner installed – but still have a long list of tasks to be completed before we go. I have already done some of the work:

  • Dropped off our clothing donations at Goodwill.
  • Made a final trip to Costco to return some items and to get a few new ones.
  • Turned in our Florida Lottery scratch ticket “winnings.” That $40 will get us… about 100 miles.
  • Got some cigarettes to keep Jett calm.
  • Painted the shed door.
  • Installed a shelf in the shed and got shed items stashed away on it. Neatness counts.
  • Got the modem and router moved to the shed.

This last item was more difficult than it should have been.  While the electrician ran the cable line to the shed, he didn’t install connectors on either end.  My first two attempts to add the connectors failed miserably.  But my third attempt – using screw-on connectors – was successful.

Even though the air conditioner won’t be installed before we leave, I intend to start it up and get it to communicate with the router.  Then, if we get the contractor to install it while we are away, I will be able to control it remotely.

There is still much to be done.  Besides prepping the air conditioner, I also need to talk to both the contractor about doing the work while we are away and coordinating the electrical inspection with the electrician.  Then I need to stash away anything that we intend to leave behind – most notably the fiberglass steps.

There is work to be done to ready the Corolla for the trip north, too.  Mostly it is cleaning the car and removing stuff we want to leave behind, but I also need to swap GPS units with the truck, leave driving authorization for brother-in-law Ray and put the EZPass unit in the car – useful for tolls in New England.

The truck is ready but still needs to be loaded up.  The grill, the lawn chairs, the RV wheel covers, the 5-gallon reserve can of diesel fuel and the toolbox.  And tire pressures need to be tested and adjusted on both the truck and the RV.

Then hitch up, point the truck north and go. And keep our fingers crossed that, unlike our previous trips north and south, this one will be disaster-free.

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