Live Edge Table or Last Days in Friend

Wednesday, 6/26, after another night of lightning, storms, rain and the thunder that comes with the lightning. Jeff has permission to head out to Omaha, to see the SAC museum. The museum is located just west, so it will be about an hour drive from our location. But, I don't think that will happen today. Why, you might ask. Well, the farm roads get a little muddy when it rains this hard, and there car is a low riding one. But, hey stranger things have happened. So, we'll see.

What else has been going on ? Well for one, Jeff and Linda's slide went kaput on the way back out.

Notice the 2 holes. This is a common failure mode. 

So, what to do, leave slide in and as in, and they take off for Utah and Charlie's service and switch to a center slide system or ? They don't know. 

First off, let me state, there really is nothing wrong with the system design. The main issue for failures are operator usage and after-marker repair. 

One of the biggest issue is the way we retract and extend the slide (living room). Whether it is a End or Center slide, the slide motor produces a lot of power, when operating. 

Another reason, improper lock washers, used on the bolts to mount the motor and the side cover (support plate, right side in above drawing) installation.

With 2 of the 5 casting mounts sheard off, I still had 3, in a triangle to work with. So, with what I had to work with, I made a rough template of the 3 mounting casting, and transfer it to the motor plate. Not an easy task, but with a dremel and small grinding stone, and a Smartphone on selfie mode, taking many photos I was able to remount the motor to operate the slide. 

Even though I completed this task, there is still the underlying issue of why it failed. It required about 4 hours to complete the first task, getting the motor mounted and allowing the slide to come out. 

Since this would have been the 4th time for motor replacement, I can only surmised what could have happened. Upon first placement, incorrect lock washers were used on the motor bolts (qty 3). Next, some people may think the plate on the opposite side of the motor is a cover, it is really a support plate. This plates keep the motor mounting plate steady. However, when bolts (qty 4) are left out or just not tighten, the motor will vibrate thereby breaking the casting motor mounting studs. 

Finally, to ensure the motor will not vibrate, I installed a brace (angle iron) from the motor support plate to a section of metal underneath or adjoining to the motor bracket of the frame. Now with the improved brace, this should provide longer lasting motor.

And finally, the River Edge Table was completed enough to install inside our home.

Outside Trial Dinner

Placement - Corner - Across from Stove (Super SoLong Slide)

Safe Journeys

DaGirls Rv 

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me 

Ear Hematoma or how i survied

Dakota here, so plase donnt mind spellling, as I vae big paws.

Arrived and Breanne told my mom, yes I vae a hemmatoma in my ear. Place to go was found in Seward and off she toook me.

I love animal hospital seward, the smells peoplle were so nice.  Got me in early, and did my ear that day. I go home 5. Love them, love them . reallly good.

Dad didn't take phots but we did what he calls walk-around town, when i went back. I got mi photos lots of places :

At end dad and me went to get aa drink

bye for now dada lets me use computter when on.

Finally an Update

Alright, we’ve been here at the Derr Family Farm since, Oh the 3^rd of June. Since that that time, repaired Venable's A/C, cut grass, spread gravel. About 20 tons, worked in the shop on our Live Edge Table, made a new cabinet door for Jeff and Linda, and Cooked on my new Traeger Ranger Pellet Grill.

Not only did I cook on the grill, Linda made her Alfa Roadrunners  famous Jalapeno Poppers. Jeff fired up the Traeger and cook Poppers, not once nor twice but 3 times.

We especially enjoyed Andy’s 3-2-1 BBQ Ribs on Father’s day. Along with the ribs, homemade cinnamon rolls, small baked potatoes, grilled veggies, chocolate cake and other delicious goodies.

Ok, a few photos are in order:

All done using a 40 year-old Skid-Steer.

Linda Venabile Jalapeno Poppers 

And Almost Completed well half-way through our Live Edge Table

Not everything was easy:

Video's say, use Wax, they instructed Use Wax.

Well, wax was the one thing that the epoxy stuck to. Not Wax-paper, Clear packing tape, melamine white panel. Spend some time in removing and sanding the bottom of the legs and table. 

Right now I am spending time is doing the small areas, will post additional photos at a latered date.

Safe Travels and journeys Everyone

DaGirls Rv

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me

We won–Brisket

So, let’s recap what’s been going on, since we landed in Friend, Ne., or really Beaver Crossing, Ne.

Susan is prepping to head over to the Chicago area to see relatives. While she is getting ready, I am doing a few things to Rv along with other small things.

Prepping for our Live River’s Edge Table, fixing Jeff & Linda’s AC, seems the condenser motor, which was replaced, went south. Called Ronnie, explained and he sent a new one out. Jeff’s instructions, send old one back and pay Via PayPal for a new Start Capacitor, which I rather install.

So, since Wed. here it is Saturday, work on table, do some work for Sharon Tisdale, move rock to out site to even up the ground, work with and instruct Jeff, on what to do in replacing the motor and re-installing AC unit.

And seeing Dwight in the hospital, after knee replacement.

But one of the biggest things? Brisket – Yes  Brisket, the Brisket that Andy’s makes , and boy is it good. Which he made and we ate on Friday. A whole 12 lbs, of brisket.

So, just a few things accomplished.

Along with a few photos of Seward, Ne. 

Safe Travels and Journeys

DaGirls Rv

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me

Completing the Journey North

We done did it. We completed our journey North from "Get Out of Texas".
Stayed in 8 different locations.
Stopped, visited or photo op 7 different places.
Close to 1060 miles since Beaumont, Tx.
175 Gallons.

You read about our stop in Chaute, Ks. When we left, our goal was a COE on the Melvern lake. Plan spend 3 days, near the lake and sit back. What we found?

Yes, road closed signs. Instead of driving around on the Loop? you have to back out. Yep won't work for DaGirls, although Dakota was thinking hey, this might be good. Next to a lake, water, fun and a place to run, well maybe run. You know that lease law.

However we choose to cancel and continue our journey. Using our usual resources, we landed in Westmoreland, Ks. A bustling town of 757 (2017). Where they have a very nice full hookup sites (50 amps). This is a stop-over place only for 1 nite, as the rates have been raised to $35. So, not many Rv stop-over. Especially in a place you can walk up and down main-street in less then 20 minutes, including photo ops.

Good place to stop in ? Ice Cream Parlor

So, we enjoyed our short stay, the night was cool and quite, until morning (Stupid bird). Then we fueled up and continued our journey north. 

As we continue on the road, we spied a sign, Marysville Rv Park, Come stay with us. Ye-Ah, lets find it. Well we did but the inn was full. However we did score a large parking space on the street. Why you ask? Because we could but also we spied this:

What we spied, as we were coming into town, besides the Rv park, is what really drew us was seeing these:

Black Squirrel ? Squirrel !.

Well, we did not spied any Squirrels but we did see:

 Squirrel !

 Squirrel !

This is some serious BBQ'ing. 

Before I forget - Farmers Market, this one was going on as we drove thru the town of  Frankford.

Not a bad take-away here. If you see something of interest, stop, take a-while and walk around. You never know what you will find. 

Safe Journeys and Travels

DaGirls Rv

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me