Less than 2 months to go...

 

I'm pulling out of my driveway at 08:00, exactly 8 weeks from this coming Saturday morning! I keep finding more stuff to do to my RV though, so I don't know if I will actually be finished, or even at a good stopping point by then. I also need to start putting items together for the food and beverage. I'm still planning to do a brisket at home to bring up for potluck night.

 

Don't fix too much Doug. Don't want to do all that for the next guy...

 

I'm trying to be less of an embarrassment to those I will be camped near.

The tub fixture needed to be replaced as the current one is not only really shabby, it also dumps a fair amount of the shower water directly into the drain, instead of putting it into the shower nozzle where it can be used. There is such a small amount of water coming from the shower nozzle already, a little extra will be nice. Jodi hasn't yet even tried an RV shower, so this will be a new experience for her. I would like to make is as pleasant as possible.

I replaced the wheels and tyres with new before I picked up my RV from my parents' place last year, but left the old caps on. They are showing their age and really detract from otherwise decent looking wheels, and a freshly polished and waxed exterior.

Resealing the valves did nothing, so I am buying the valve to put on the end of the sewer pipe. At $6 per kit, the seals were worth a shot. At $60 each for new cable operated valves, I was not going to spend the money for the next guy.

 

Do yourself and Jodi a big favor and order the Oxygenics shower head while you're at it. Don't need all the new fancy ones, just the original at about $30 makes the experience much better.

 

Thanks for the tip Scott. I have considered that before, and will certainly have it on my next RV, but for now, we only expect a grand total of 14 showers remaining to be taken in this RV before it is sold or traded, so will skip the additional cost above replacing the faucet assembly. I know the reputation of the Oxygenics and would like to have one, but I was able to get a good price on an entire setup to replace what is already there now.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I'm really stoked about this trip! Going to start preparing start of the week. Finally got approval for the RV cover from the city, which will definitely help in washing and waxing IF I can get it put up before the trip.

 

6 weeks from right now, many of us will be gathered around the campfire (by Monty's rig), enjoying refreshing beverages and each others' company, catching up on old times and getting away from the day to day grind.

That being said, advance reservations for cave tours are recommended, so it would be a good idea to start gathering a head count for those interested. I won't be able to try to book reservations for at least another week from now, but if anyone else has time to book them, my feelings won't be hurt. Jodi and I want to go for sure, so that's 2 for us.

Kind of along the "organizing things" line, I enjoyed the pot luck meal we did in The Dells two years ago and was thinking Wednesday night might be a good time to do that again - if anyone is interested. Jodi and I - along with several others - will be pulling out relatively early Friday morning, so being up late drinking moonshine Thursday night during a potluck could make for a miserable or dangerous trip home Friday. Jodi and I are planning to do a brisket again this year, but will not be bringing the pulled pork.

I can't wait for the next few weeks to pass. I have a few more last minute things to do to prepare our RV for the trip, and then shop and pack. Perhaps on a future trip, I will have a portable smoker and we can have fresh Texas brisket right off of the smoker.

 

I am SO ready for vacation this year. Never been one to wish my life away, but this vacation will be the longest I've ever taken in 31 years of work and I'm anxious. I will be in Myrtle Beach for 13 days and then an overnight stay around Nashville for a night and then onto to Mammoth Cave. Hoping that our pup Ginger will be able to join us this year as she and Doug got to know each other well after a a few quarts of moonshine

There will be 5 of us for the caves as it will be Jeriann, Trent and I plus my partner and her husband.

Man I am so looking forward to this trip!!

 

Doug, quickly looking at the MCNP website, it would appear there are 11 different tours available. Have you looked into it further where you know of one tour that runs the whole gamut? I'm not sure if there is a on size fits all tour available or should it be broken up into a few different trips? I thought it would be easy when I clicked the link but found more options than I was expecting.

https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvis...g-schedule.htm

 

Very much looking forward to it guys.
Jen seemed apprehensive about the cave tour last time i talked about it, so it might just be me. I'll get clarification tonight.

 

No cave tour while visiting Mammoth Cave Chad?

 

Getting close! Wish we could join you guys this year, but stuff.

Watch out for them cave spiders!

 

Doug's going to make brisket out of them...

 

Pot luck of locally gathered ingredients only?