ode to joy, flat spots, 1954,and back in Timberon

Back in 1950 (my birth year), Alfred Eisenstaedt, a Life magazine photographer, was covering the University of Michigan’s famous marching band. He noticed a drum major practicing his high steps over on a playing field, A small boy ran out after him and fell in step behind him. Other children then ran out and fell in line. Eisenstaedt ran after them and took this shot. This is one truly kick-butt joyous photo. Life’s director of photography called ‘Drum Major,’ an ‘ode to joy.’
I would guess that the director of photography enjoyed the fourth movement in Beethoven’s 9th.

I replaced the bland blinds in the Casita with Bali 1” aluminum light blocker ‘forest shadow’ blinds to add some color. In the Nash, I started with the galley blind. I’ll order two more later in the year.
Check out the strips of painter’s tape that I put inside the light covers. The under-cabinet light shown too brightly into my eyes. The cabinet edge should have extended lower. The three layers of painter tape works great at blocking the glare. Also, I found that I didn’t need all the available light so I unplugged the LED bulb from the light on the right.

Going up to Utah in February, put me back in the NMSPs in March as I headed south to Timberon. Not good—spring break. Heron Lake was fine, since there was snow on the ground and stayed cold, most nights I had the place to myself. I liked it.
On cold mornings, M&M either do not want to go out at 6:00 or only stay out for a half hour before wanting to come back in. The day I planned to leave however, Meadow stayed out. I then followed her around trying to snag her. No go. Stayed another day and she was not allowed out in the morning.

Two of the other parks I stayed at were pretty full and at one, I took the last primitive site. I was told all the electric sites at the other cg were taken. I stayed a couple days at Oliver Lee since I had an appointment to have the Nash’s electric brakes fixed.
If one does the NMSPs in the winters, it’s common to come across acquaintances in different parks. I like this aspect. I crossed paths again with the three ladies I first met at Oliver Lee. Always brought smiles. Also, I was really surprised to come across Ric and Linda again. I had thought they would have been back in Massachusetts by now. If their house sells this summer, I might see them in the fall. That would be cool.

The electric brakes have not been working for a while. After being billed $500, they still did not work. Pretty much just for labor, pulling off all four wheels to check the brakes but at least the hubs were lubed. The brakes on the Nash are no longer being made and parts are not available. At some point I will have them converted to the current wider brakes. Unfortunately, this will entail wider drums to the tune of $1,700 for parts and labor. Guano.

I knew about tires developing flat spots when parked for too long. I guess I kinda thought that after the tires have been driven on for awhile, the flat spots would smooth out or it would just be a rough ride. Yet another dumb assumption. If fact, they delaminate. If one looks across the tread, one can see a high spot; delamination forms a bubble a few inches long. So, three new tires. Bummer.

During the summer, I’ll hook up and pull the Nash forward a ways, back it up and park, making sure the tires will be positioned 90-180 degrees from where they were. Have not found anything on the web stating that this might be enough. It would be way too much trouble to take the Nash out on the road for a spin.

From time to time, I listen to an audio book while out walking. I was listening to Michael Palmer’s ‘Resistant,’ when I heard a term I’m quite familiar with. On the last page of chapter 4, three doctors are visiting with the head of the Antibiotic Resistance Unit at the CDC. Remember this is just a novel. One of the doctors said, “You’ve shown us a number of frightening bacteria, is there one species of bacteria that you are most terrified of contracting?” “That’s easy,” came the response. “Streptococcus Pyogenes, cause of the condition known as necrotizing fasciitis. To be eaten alive from the inside out. To go from one limb amputation to another. Would far and away be the worse death imaginable.”
Oh yeah, still got most of my arm!!! Life is good.

On one long hill on the road from Cloudcroft to Timberon, I had to put the Ram down into D1 for over a mile. Certainly did not have to do this last spring; then I stayed in Drive. I took the truck to a shop down in Alamogordo to have them do something about the lack of power. The mechanic could not find anything wrong. But there definitely is something wrong so I’ll be making an appointment with the Dodge dealer. Bummer.
After this, I would really like to have no more unexpected, substantial expenses for quite some time. Enough already.

Last summer when trying to get up the access road to my property, I had a bit of a setback. At one point I wanted to get whatever running start I could and backed up too far. Both back wheels of the Nash ended up hanging free over a slope. The truck could not pull the Nash forward. When I first walked back to look at the wheels, I was not all that hopeful. It certainly did not look good. Granted, I was extremely tired by then from working on the road and way past my last meal. But still. Luckily, after the wheels were supported and I dug out the slope in front of them, the Ram was able to go forward. So far, I think that was the dumbest thing I’ve done so far with the Nash.

I had a flash of a scene from the 1954 movie, ‘The Long Long Trailer,’ with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz playing newlyweds.

Well, I got back to Timberon last month. In one way, I was disappointed. Remember, one of the reasons I purchased this lot was because it was pretty much at the end of a dead end road. There was a berm across it and the last 150 yards or so was not graded. Now the road in front of my lot looks like this. For some reason, they graded the rest of the road over the winter. With what’s in this area, it does not seem to have any purpose. Guano.
Also, the furnace has not worked since I got here. The igniter doesn’t click. I hope I can find out how to fix it; maybe there is a youtube video.

Other than that, it felt really good to be back. The clear air is so refreshing after months down in the valleys.

A recent study has found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it.

Mind how you go.

Goals are only wishes unless you have a plan.
Melinda Gates

RVwest article ‘Following a Free Spirit’

RVwest article ‘The Spaces Between the Places’

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