Chapter 19 The Inspiration

                                                                              

The inspiration for the design of our Boles Aero Montecito came directly from a trip we took aboard The Orient Express Train on our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

We were too poor to have a wedding when we married in 1985.  On that June first, so many years ago, I stood in front of borrowed roses and candles (there were three large weddings at Church that day and the first one had set up the night before and graciously consented to our 20 minute wedding using their backdrop) I was crying puppy dog tears large enough to hear them hit my shoes.

Dave being Dave, after many years of working weddings, decided on our 15th, to give me the wedding we never had..... as a surprise.  He and his lovely mother, Norma, traversed the city over a years time planning it unbeknownst to me. It was a lovely candle lit affair with all our friends, full of song, music, flowers, food, and cake. Dave had painstakingly made my dress, the one you saw in the pictures of our 30th Anniversary on Mackinac Island. My husband had hired a significant portion of The Arkansas Symphony to play Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, and dear friends Don and Lisa Doss gave of their music, Dave's assistant Suzanne and her husband Andre' sang our song, "Somewhere Out There" and the incomparable Nikki Parish sang "My Heart Will Go On".......

I cried through the whole thing.

After all this, I wanted to return Dave's kindness. 

Years ago, when we started our business, I chose to subscribe to a magazine to place in the waiting area called "Victoria".  In the first issue was a spread on the reopening of The Orient Express Train.  It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I knew full well we could not afford it but the information was free, so, I sent for it.  I poured over the pages trying my best to insert myself into the pictures.  I kept it, like a keepsake.  Years would pass and, when we would move, I would rediscover it, sit down with a cup of tea, and dream.

After that wonderful wedding I never had and finally did I told Dave, "The 25th is mine."

The years passed and as our Silver Anniversary approached, times had changed.  I would plan a trip to Europe, flying into Rome and out of London and traversing Europe in between.  Every day, everything thing, would be a surprise for Dave.  He would not know where we were going or even what he would wear until I told him.  He loved it.

Rome to the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and onto Venice and it was there, in Venezia, we would one morning board The Orient Express Train bound for Paris.

I have goose bumps as I type this recalling the look on Dave's face when we walked down the platform to board. He thought the commuter train to the left was ours then he glanced at the long gleaming coaches of the VSOE ( Venice Simplon Orient Express ) and said, "I wonder what THAT is!"  I said, "Why don't you go and take a look?" "Oh, I couldn't do that", he said. "Sure you can", I smiled, "You have tickets."  "Well, that's a nice train....." 

Still, no recognition.

I said, "Read the plaque."  We were walking along down the platform and stopped for him to read, "The Venice......Simplon......ORIENT EXPRESS !!!"  He turned and I took this picture.

"Really?! Really?!", he sputtered.  "Yes, dear." I said softly. 

OMG! I'm tearing up writing this...... 

"How long?  Where are we going ?!" came in rapid succession.  In a calming tone I said, "We are traveling to Paris and it's an overnight trip, 24 glorious hours."

We started walking again and saw the uniformed, capped, and white gloved stewards in the distance.  When we met them, a tall, handsome man with a friendly smile, took our luggage and escorted us to our cabin where I captured Dave again.

It was late morning as we pulled out of Venice, beautiful Venice, where we had attended the La Fenice Opera House to see Madamme Butterfly, toured The Doge's Palace, San Marco Square, and lodged at The Danieli. I even arranged for a midnight Gondola ride through the darkened canals while Venice slept.  It was heaven. 

 

 

 

I had made all our dining selections prior to boarding and lunch was in the Etoile Du Nord dining car.  We feasted as the Italian countryside moved past our window.

Afterward, we explored the train.  Many purchases were made in the gift shop and we relaxed in the bar car with piano music from the baby grand filling the space.  While sitting there, delighting in the experience, I noticed an older couple trying to take a picture of themselves.  I offered. They thanked us and took the picture below for us and we began to talk.  Brigitte and her husband were also on an Anniversary trip, their 38th.  They lived in Paris and their daughter married an American and lived in Florida. They traveled back and forth to see them.  Their English was excellent.  We were having a terrific time, the four of us visiting, all the while the other people in the car seemed to be bored to tears.  Which begged the question I asked of Brigitte, "Why isn't everyone on this train having the time of their lives ?"  She leaned forward and surreptitiously glanced left then right and stated matter of factly, "It's because these Rich Bastards don't know how to have a good time!"  I do not know if I have ever laughed so genuinely in my entire life.

Afternoon Tea was served in our cabin as we were climbing through The Alps.  I had noticed that our cabin steward had been standing at the ready just outside our door.  His was the first compartment and ours was the second and we began to visit.  I told him about how I had planned the trip and I sheepishly asked, "Can you tell me your name?"  He leaned over and said, "My name is Wolfgang Epildauer........but.....my friends call me Wolfi."  I replied, "I LOVE YOUR NAME!"

It was right then, we became friends. 

The conversation flowed and the scenery passed.  At one particular point, the tracks curved, and we all hung out the windows to see the length of the train before us.
                   
                                            

This was magic and I knew it at the time it was happening.  Day gave way to evening and we dressed  for dinner.  We would dine in the L'Oriental Car and it was fabulous.  Dinner on The Orient Express! I had chosen the later seating and when we were finished, found our cabin which had been turned for sleeping.  Wolfi's handiwork and it was a lovely surprise.  I had not seen Wolfi after dinner, he was no doubt, busy.

You will never sleep better than on The Orient Express.

We woke, dressed for breakfast, and there was Wolfi, standing in his spot at the ready.  I showed him the picture of us at dinner.  He said, "Oh! You should have woken me to see, Tres' Chic, is Empire, no ?", commenting on my dress.  "I'm so sorry, Wolfi.... I didn't know I could", I said softly.  "I am here for you any time you need." he added and it didn't feel obsequious in the slightest.

We took our breakfast in the Cote D' Azur Dining Car also known as the Lalique Dining Car.  The sun was bright in the fields of France as we neared Paris.  The meal, all the meals, were heaven.  The experience was divine, and the service impeccable.  I truly feel it's the finest thing you can do on planet Earth.

Returning to our cabin, we found our compartment converted to seating and our luggage packed.  Our trip was ending but I did not want it to.  When we pulled into the train station, Wolfi picked up our luggage and helped us to disembark.  He turned to me and said tenderly, "I'm a little sad." "Why Wolfi?" I responded in kind. 'Because, I don't want to say goodbye...." he trailed off.  I looked in his eyes and said, "I don't want to leave."

As I turned to walk away holding Dave's hand, something was tugging at my heart.  We walked about thirty feet and I turned to see Wolfi still looking at us.  I let go of Dave and my luggage and ran to Wolfi, threw my arms around him, and said through tears, "Thank you, thank you so much for making our trip so special.  I, I, want to stay in touch, may I please have your address?"  Without saying a word he pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket that already had his name and address on it.  "I wanted to give this to you, but....I was too shy." he whispered.  "Thank you, Wolfi! I promise, I will write!"

We broke our embrace and I skipped back to Dave who had been watching from where he stood.  I turned again, Wolfi still watching, and waved largely as we walked into the terminal.

Now.  

You surely understand the impact all of this had on me.  It's a memory, I will treasure, forever.

But how do you keep the memory alive ?  

Well, I did write Wolfi and when the Internet came we kept in touch, to this very day.  And when it came time to renovate our Boles Aero, I would endeavor to recreate in it the experience of being aboard The Orient Express Train.  We would Christen and name our trailer "Wolfi" in honor of my dear friend.  

These memories would sustain me through all the back breaking work, disappointment, torment, expense, anger, frustration, anguish, and physical pain of creating our beautiful trailer.  In this way, I could be aboard The Orient Express any time I wished. 

It was to be the repository of my perfect memories during our Silver Anniversary Trip.

A tall order you say ? 

You have no idea. 

Chapter 18 The Boles Restoration Continues......

When we came back to the shop the next Friday I had a surprise waiting for me......

The battery wires for the 12v system had been ran to a location under the sink, not where it was supposed to be.  This was the work of the lead technician whom I had confronted on issues regarding the holding tank for the toilet.

I questioned him about it.

"I was trying to get more weight in front of the axle for the trailer to be stable", he said in a tone I was now recognizing as imperious.

The concept of weight distribution I already understood.  

What he did not understand was I knew exactly what I was doing.  You see, I had weighed everything that went in the trailer.  The refrigerator, head board, mattress, water tank when full, battery, spare tire and mount, inverter, charger, sofas, dishes, pots, pans, and silverware, and even the bathroom door.  I had calculated the weight distribution before I had designed the layout and I had a place for everything and the battery was not in it's proper place.

I questioned, "Can you please put the battery where I  asked you to."  "No Ma'am, that's a heavy battery and it needs to be in front of the axle", he stated firmly.

He was bracing for a response he did not get.

"Could you please gather up a bunch of the guys in a line over here, please", I said maintaining a piercing glare.  "What for?", he asked quizzically.  "I'm going to do an experiment", I said flatly.

Here came the guys.

Lined up, I asked them each their weight which was met with some uneasy chuckles.  I said, "This isn't a beauty pageant, it's a weight distribution experiment", I said.

Guy one, "I'm about 240"  Guy two, "I'm 180" and so on.

I picked the two heaviest and asked them to get in the back of the trailer as far as they could while I chose another to stand in the kitchen, and I stood in the front, while the last was outside the trailer by the tongue.

Then I said aloud, "You two in the back equal the weight of the mattress, headboard, spare tire and mount, battery, components, and filled water tank.  You in the middle represents the refrigerator when full and all the dishes, pot, pans, and small appliances.  I was in the sitting area and represented the weight of the sofas.

I had brought with me a 1950's metal bathroom scale and a step stool.  Prior to everyone getting into the trailer, I had set up the scale on the stool at the towing level of the trailer.  Lowering the tongue on to the scale would give the "tongue weight".

From inside the trailer I asked what the reading was.  "Looks like about 26 pounds", the guy said.  I got out to look and said, "That can't be right."  The man said, "Maybe your scale is broken."  "It's not I assure you", I clipped.

I raised the jack to find the scale had spun past it's max of 240lbs. So, the the figure was 266 pounds.

I hollered, "You all can come out now."  

They lined up now curious.  On a calculator, while talking it aloud, I divided the tongue weight into the gross weight of the trailer which I already knew from stopping at a Pilot Truck Stop and putting it on their scales. It's 4000 pounds.  The result was 14.28%

Optimum tongue weight is variable but should always fall between 10 and 15% of the gross weight of what you're towing with a 60/40 ratio of distribution, 60% in front of the axle and 40% behind.

I held the calculator up and swept it slowly back and forth in front of their faces while enunciating my words clearly,  "DO YOU SEE THIS ? I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER WORD ABOUT MOVING ANYTHING FROM WHERE I HAVE IT MARKED IN THIS TRAILER AGAIN." 

There was a brief pause and then shuffling of feet. I thanked them for their help and they dispersed. 

Once again, I had put the lead technician on the spot and called him out in front of his peers. I was tiring of this, rapidly.  These were the people who were supposed to know this stuff.....

By this time, the furnace was installed and hooked up.  The tire mount was welded on and the drains had all been attached.

There had been a lot of wires to run down.  Porch lights that didn't work, making sure grounds were correct, the breaker panel to check (required a larger breaker for the a/c than was there) Dead plug on the exterior.  There were shaved wires in the running light wiring in two places. Grounds in the running light wiring blows the fuse in your tow vehicle, believe me, I know.

The next week would see the arrival of a new pressure regulator for our vintage stove. A mint condition Dixie Stove I had found on eBay and had shipped from Indiana.  The man who sold it to me said it belonged to his mother who had recently passed away and he was cleaning the house out to sell.  It was her first stove when she married after WWII and kept it even though later they bought a new house in the early 60's.  It was in the basement and he thought about hauling it to the dump and the friend who was going to help said, "Oh no! Sell it, someone will want this!" That someone was me.

Another pow wow with the lead technician consisted of him telling me, "You should know this is a very dangerous appliance....."  * Like I had never used one of these things in my life, what was it? A cook stove?  What's that for? Was this guy for real ? *  The man was doing The Cabbage Patch on my Jack Ass Button but I kept my mouth shut and politely nodded and smiled like a nice Southern Lady should. 

Insert eyelash flutter *here*

All the work had been completed with the exception of the components in the 12v array under the bed.  It began to seem as if they were putting it off.  The lead technician had to leave for a seminar and all the work stopped.  We were not pleased losing an entire week.  The paint shop was trying to keep their schedule open. We had a deadline to get the trailer back to us by Christmas so that we could finish many interior items before we headed to Palm Springs for Modernism Week.

I had questioned for two weeks prior about the delay in the electrical system.  As it turned out, the seminar the lead technician went to was a class on how to install lithium iron phosphate battery systems.  We were the first one for him to do and it was done in one day upon his return.  This is new technology and where the industry is going.  They are lighter in weight, do not leak or require maintenance, and have many more charging cycles to them than regular batteries.

Such are the things I've had to learn....

Now began the painting process.  We had taped off the striping for the trailer and four colors would be used to replicate the paint on the train cars of The Orient Express. We also fitted the awning frames that I had designed and Harper Sheet Metal made, perfectly.

The paint shop was not far and we would visit the process weekly as it progressed.  While the body was being primed and painted, the rv dealership shop would work on cleaning and prepping the windows for paint first with an acid wash which removed dirt and brightened the aluminum.  The windows had their original screens and the process made them look brand new. Oh, I left out the part where I pulled a YouTube video and brought to the shop so they would know how to do it.....  The Lord helps those who help themselves.

The windows had to be disassembled for painting and I ordered all new gaskets and butyl tape for reinstallation. That we would do ourselves.  I wasn't trusting anyone when it came to water infiltration.

The paint turned out great, truly marvelous, exceeding our expectations.  I can't say enough good things about Pro Auto who delivered our trailer a week early making up the time we lost at the rv repair shop.  

Back to the rv shop our trailer went for the windows to be reinstalled.  We worked until we could barely feel our fingers putting in all the windows.  The paint shop had even prepainted all the screw heads for us.


Meanwhile, the shop was working under the trailer installing a belly pan.  I had designed it one way but they did it the faster way. We didn't end up with enough time to do it the right way. It would do but not for long.

After all the hard work, there we were, towing our trailer home at 3pm on Christmas Eve. We arrived with just enough time to drop the trailer, clean up, and go to Christmas Eve Services at our Church. That Christmas was spent in pajamas. The day after Christmas, our carpenter whom we have worked with for over 30 years, Ron, came to the house and worked on the trailer with us in the driveway of our home.  He had put off hernia surgery to be there for us in our time of need.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have asked Ron to help us from the beginning therefor avoiding a world of hurt.  The man can do anything. I have never had to sign a lengthy, loop hole filled contract with him.  Never a down payment.  He never has an attitude about redoing anything I have asked over the 30 plus years we have worked together.  Never has he ever thrown up his hands and quit. I just was not in that frame of mind at the time we began this trailer, thinking we could not do all of the things that we now can do.  Sometimes, being forced into a situation, reveals talents you didn't know you had.

There was all the interior trim left to do.  Baseboards, the strips between the paneling, cabinet doors to remake, all the hardware to install, a monstrosity of a bathroom door to rebuild, the bathroom itself to be reworked and sealed properly, closet doors to replace, the wonky pocket door and frame to be rebuilt, kitchen shelves to rework, the base of the bed to rework, the headboard to be reworked, bathroom sink to be set, toilet to be set, wires to be diverted, a wall panel to be redone, stove hood to duct,  two screen doors to build, the front table to install, and all the trim around the windows had to be done.

Dave and I worked on the shellac and varnish over a five day weekend in January.  I installed all the beveled mirrors and Sorrento inlaid wood doors.  I put up the wallpaper medallion in the sitting area and hung all the 110v light fixtures.  We installed the refrigerator door that I had refinished myself after cleaning, disassembling it, adding new insulation, and reassembling it which included the rechromed handle I had sent off.  We hung the antique train rack I had also sent away to be refinished.  The microwave went into place.  I hooked up and tested the sound system along with the retractable flat screen tv. 

There were cornices and draperies to hang that we had made together.

And on, and on, and on, I'm certain I left a lot out but you get the picture and it was not the Portrait of Dorian Gray...... I was not staying young for all that went wrong in my life!

All this activity went on while running a business, getting precious little sleep, and dealing with the pain from all the arching and bending involved.  I went through countless manicures which is only important as it related to my professional appearance at work.  By this time, the entirety of our clientele was living this project right along with us!  They are all very kind and patient people.....

The duration of the punch list provided time for the paint to cure so that we could take it back to the shop for a final buff and then pull it to the sign shop for the logos and lettering to be done.  As a side project, I had been in contact with Fast Signs regarding the insignias on the trailer.  While looking like original logos from The Orient Express Train, they could not be exactly the same because of copyright infringement.  So, we were referred to a computer graphics designer to come up with a custom plan echoing closely the original. That little project took a while.

By the time we finished the interior with all of it's challenges, we were all limping.  Ron, Dave, and myself included.  Ron finished and went to the surgeon, Dave to the massage therapist, and me to the bubble bath.

The trip to California was looming and I reflected on our Maiden Voyage in Sprocket, our first little camper.  While the bubbles popped and the chocolate melted in my mouth, I kept thinking, "Oh Dear LORD, please don't let it be the same as THAT trip!"

We had tested everything and we were packed and ready to go on Sunday before the Thursday we left, February 16, 2017.

This would be an excursion to remember......

Chapter 17 Renovation Begins On Our Boles Aero Montecito

After all that we've been through with our first trailer. We were willing to do it again......But only once more.

Our theme would be a car on The Orient Express Train with touches from The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. This would be a tall order and I wasn't sure we would be able to pull it off. Although we had funds to do the project, they weren't unlimited. The sale of our Shasta would supplement the budget. We would have to be creative, something we're good at. 

We had narrowed our choices down to a few shops for the restoration of our 1954 Boles Aero Montecito.
This was not an easy process.  I would have gone back to John and Dennis, who did our Shasta Compact, in a second but this was a larger trailer and would not fit in their building.

If only....

The shop we interviewed first was far away but had a great reputation, we had seen their work in person, and followed them for some time.  It took a plane flight and a road trip dodging forest fires to see them in person.  We were impressed.  There were trailers for sale, in progress, but the waiting list was long.  It was now July and we would be "penciled in" for the following June. 

Hmmmmmmm.




We discussed at length what our design for the trailer would be as I had brought extensive drawings.  One person got our concept and another said, "We have a certain aesthetic here and we don't want to do anything too cute."  CUTE ... the four letter word of decorating! This was going to be anything but CUTE.

That put me off.

Well, that and the ballpark cost, which was near six figures.  We would end up paying almost that but, at the time, it was sobering. Also, there was the distance, waiting period, and non participation in person factor. 


I'm very hands on. We would look elsewhere.

I would later regret this decision. 


We spent the better part of the summer getting acquainted with our Boles Aero.  On our knees, we measured every inch of the trailer, and devised a floor plan to meet our needs.  A bathroom was top priority along with the build back to be as authentic as possible even though it was a total redo. We needed a bed that was always a bed. Everything modern would be hidden and the materials were to be unusual for a camper. Onyx cabinet tops, ceramic tile kitchen counter and back splash, etched glass, stained glass, antique mirrors, vintage light fixtures, reproduction switches, and Sorrento inlaid wooden panels. 

I knew the trailer well by the end of summer. Precisely, as I had measured and remeasured everything. This familiarity would come in handy when dealing with the renovation.  There would be many discussions and downright arguing over where items would be placed. I knew precisely what would fit and where, well in advance of these Badminton Matches.  I assure you, they did not have the bigger Shuttlecock 🏸 

We have been in situations with two houses where the money got ahead of the work, despite our efforts to prevent it. There is no worse place to be as a customer. Add bad quality of work and misinterpretation of design for one stinky stew. You have no leverage and it usually ends badly. 

Let us pause here for a nine month prayer....

During this time my husband nearly died, this time for real.

Dave had emergency gallbladder surgery and was hospitalized a week for what is normally outpatient surgery.  I didn't give thought to the trailer and it's unending problems and stress. I had more important things to do. 

Time would pass before we would have control of our trailer and when work began again, it was in earnest.

This was now August of 2016 and I had in the back of my mind a goal, to show at Modernism Week in Palm Springs, February of 2017. It's an invitational event and was five months away. 

We are certainly not professionals at this but I do have a way of getting things done.

Anyone who knows me understands that I have grit and determination to spare and nothing or no one will get the best of me.  It's pretty much been the story of my life.

We started with the undercarriage and good people I could trust.  So, I called Liberty Trailer and talked to Buddy again, this time with a different camper. "Bring it on out, we'll see what we can do." he said in his easy going way. 

And so we did. 

I told Buddy when we dropped it off, "We have really been through it on this one."  "Well, we'll get you squared away." And, I knew he would. He called me later and said, "It's a real shame, the axle is really great, straight as it can be, BUT we can't use it." Our Boles originally had hydraulic brakes that hooked into your car.... back in 1954! 

We drove a 2011 Frontier at the time with a tow package for electric brakes. The axle could not be used because the wheel hubs would have to be retrofitted for electric brakes and there was no good way to do it. It could be done but it would not be a standard modern part if we were caught on the road with an issue. So, a new axle it was with new electric brakes. We put scissor jacks on the trailer, new steps, and had them rustproof underneath beginning the first part of the undercarriage work. 

An Internet search found us a flooring installation company ( Dominquez Flooring, Clarksville, Ark.) who actually came to our driveway and installed our bordered flooring in my custom design the first time and to absolute perfection. The green part was one continuous piece throughout the entire trailer with the black bordering it with sharp corners just exactly the way I wanted it. We were extremely pleased 😁

Our previous flooring of the same design (new materials) were wasted by a supposed "professional shop" who subbed it out and due to improper cutting and lack of supervision led to our parting ways.  One thousand dollars down the drain.  Not to mention the destruction of a panel of etched glass that truly and completely burned my butter. More money gone.  Fortunately, I had purchased an identical pair so, I had a back up but the lack of respect for our materials was obvious.

                                            

Dave had been making calls around our local area. We had an incredibly incomplete trailer and would need someone willing to take it on. 

There wasn't a lot to choose from but we had heard good things about a family owned RV dealership that had been in business over 40 years. We made an appointment and towed the trailer to the shop. The initial once over was thorough and they agreed to do the work.

We were relieved, for a while anyway. 

It would seem that trouble followed this project from the beginning and achieving anything had been an uphill battle but I was not giving up. Our first trailer was so easy to do thanks to John and Dennis.  But this trailer was a problem from the purchase forward.  I was the same person with the same expectations with both trailers and I kept questioning, "Why is this so difficult to accomplish ?" 

Our trailer would need a full propane system as we already had a combination propane and electric water heater installed but not hooked up. We also wanted a propane furnace installed. The trailer would need holding tanks for waste and for fresh water with all the various plumbing parts and the 12v system with a 3000w inverter, charger, and battery bank. None of which had yet been installed. 

Boring, I know, but very important. It's wonderful to have a great vintage trailer but you don't need to die in it. Your systems have to be installed correctly as in right side up. When renovating, it's important to block the trailer properly or you could have a dangerous tipping problem with people inside.  Don't forget a smoke and CO2 detector, it was on our list!

We went back the next week to check the progress on our trailer. Something looked odd to me. The propane line was installed on the outside of the tongue. Was that how it's supposed to be? I questioned immediately and was told that was regulation and how it had to be done. Period. It could not be moved. I had a feeling it was wrong when I was suddenly distracted by the lead technician telling me I couldn't have a holding tank for the toilet.

Now, you do not tell a prissy glamper she cannot have the proper facilities to be dainty in. 

He was not expecting what happened next. I got down underneath the trailer and pointed out to him how it would be done. Red faced and very much looking like a cartoon character with steam coming out his ears, he with his jaw clenched said, "Ma'am! I'm telling you it can't be done!" To which I replied, "We'll see about that."  😠

*When would this ever end?*

I had just met this man a week prior and I had already insulted him by not taking his word for it. I had the absolute effrontery to look for myself. I had it up to here with a certain type of Southern Man, Cracker, Redneck, Whatever, that is offended by a woman who knows her own mind. I had tried to work with people before, be nice, be patient, bake muffins, trying to get a better job but as I've gotten older and particularly on this project, I'm tired of people's crap.

So, I ignored him. Flat turned my back.

The dealership had arranged for us to meet a painter who had a fleet division painting larger vehicles and motor homes. The rep was a very nice young man whom we discussed paint colors with and it was understood we would receive a sample board the following Friday.

We left the shop boiling at the thought of not having a holding tank for the toilet quite desperately searching for a solution not to mention the prospect of the propane system not being safe.

One highly motivated Internet search revealed that indeed the propane system was installed incorrectly and I found a holding tank for the toilet that would prove beneficial. 

I was incensed.

He we were again, throwing our hard earned money at people who were jerking us around.  I will let you know, we pay our bills and do not mind shelling out for quality work.  Work completed to our standards and specifications, that is.

Monday morning, I left work and drove to the RV shop to confront the Service Manager in person after a message I had left was not returned. Before going in the office, I walked the lot. Not a single one, not one trailer for sale had a propane line installed on the outside of the tongue. Just as I had found online, it would not be safe to make a hard turn or jack knife and rupture a gas line! I must have been simmering in a way that only another woman could sense because the receptionist was wide eyed when I asked to see the General Manager. 

We were only two weeks into this part of the project and I wasn't yet familiar with all the players. I only knew the lead technician and the service manager. There was a great deal of running around, opening and closing of doors, etc. Then, after about 20 minutes of watching this Bubba Ballet the service manager walked up to me and asked, "How can I help you?" I locked eyes with the man and I detected the slightest flare in them when I stated, "You know why I'm here." "Oh. The propane system is being moved as we speak", he added quickly. "Why is that?" I asked. "Because that's what you wanted", he said. "That's not the reason", I stated flatly. "I just came in from walking your lot and there is not a single unit for sale that has the propane line installed on the outside of the tongue. This tells me our propane line was improperly installed." "It's being moved now", he parroted. "Fine. Will it be ready by Friday and will we see the welder and painter at that time?"  "That's the plan", he murmured with a blank stare. 

I left. 

That Friday I came bearing gifts.

One black water holding tank and a can of pink spray paint    ( yes, I chose pink on purpose). I met with the welder first. We discussed the spare tire rack that I was later to find out was called a "stinger mount" who knew?

Then came the moment of truth. I got the lead technician, the welder, and myself under the trailer. I whipped out my can of pink spray paint and began marking the metal framing underneath the toilet. 

Pssssst.  Pssssst. Pissssst. Pissssst.....

We had arrived with the bathroom partially built and had a sewer connection through the floor. Lying there knowing I had these two men's wrapped attention, I asked the welder, "If you make cuts here, here, and here. Then, join here and here, it will make room for this holding tank,  as I lifted it into place. The welder looked and said, "Yep. That'll work." All the while the lead technician had not a word to say.

Although I was right, right can be exhausting. 

The painter showed up and had a sample board for us to see, it was excellent! He also had worked out a novel idea to some.... a timeline.  Imagine that. The welder would work during the week as he fabricated the tire mount and made room for the holding tank for the toilet.

It can't be done..... My Aunt Fannie! 

                  

Now before you think I'm some priss pot, who never gets her hands dirty, here's a picture of me installing the kitchen tile. Ceramic tile. In a trailer. Something I had been warned would not work. Huh. I designed a counter and back splash base that would "float" inside the trailer and not be subjected to the stresses of the shifting walls.  I also had cross supports put in the walls and ceiling under the paneling to reduce shifting.  Crossing the continental U.S. would show I had not so much as a crack in the grout.  We hit some substantial bumps and holes along the way and everything has stayed just the way I put it.

I'm very proud of this tile not only for the outcome but that I persevered through trying conditions.

I also learned how to rivet out of necessity as I couldn't find anyone who could do it.  Well, why not give it a try, it couldn't be worse than it was.  I bought all the stuff and watched a Youtube video.  Seemed pretty straight forward.  Along with Buddy at Liberty Trailer I had also gotten to know Dana, at Harper Sheet Metal.  He had precut the aluminum for me to use on the trailer and told me how to countersink and drill out the holes. I suddenly had a flashback to middle school shop class and the garden trowel I had made! I was familiar with this....  So, I went after it.  I was amazed at how easy it was.  If they find out, every monkey in the zoo will be in line at Boeing looking for a job!

The next week would show an installed black water tank (precisely where it was supposed to be) and a discussion regarding drain pipes.

What had been impossible had been done.

You cannot listen to people who tell you no.  There is always a different way.  What is no in their mind is their limitation, not yours.

Needless to say, the RV dealership service department did not have anyone who could rivet and I had an idea.  I wanted 'C' channel to receive awnings that would be coming.  I wanted the "brows" above the windows to be moved up and then the old holes to be used for the rivets for the "C" channel.  The only choice was to do it ourselves.  Dave helped remove all the "brows" with their attending 60+ year old putty which we took home and cleaned with fingernail polish remover while watching the remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

                              Dammit Janet!

We came back to the shop the next week and reputtied all the "brows" and I got to riveting. As I worked, wearing a seasonally appropriate Halloween Scarf, one by one the workers casually dropped by to see what I was doing.  One said, "Looks like you've got it under control!"  Another said, "So many people come in here and don't even know where to hook up the water.....

I was gaining their respect, not all, but some....