The first outing of 2012 with Wilbur

So I got together with a few of my Classic Winnebago friends this last weekend in Cannon Beach Oregon.
We are members of the WIT (Winnebago-Itasca Travelers ) Classic Winnebago Special Interest Club.

Friday night we gather for food and fun in the community rooma t the RV Park.
I guess not everyone looks good in green with a Winnebago on there shirt.

Wilbur is on the right, a '70 in the middle with another '73 at the far end.

We spent Friday and Saturday nights with our friends and then Sophie and I headed up north for a few more days on our way home.  It really is kind of nice to not head right home and go to work Monday morning.

Sunday night we stayed in Seaside, OR at a little place we use to stop at for a cheap night.  But not any more.  They have gone from $10.00 a night to $15.00 the last couple of years to $25.00 a night.  Probably not going to be a stop for us in the near future.

Truckie's Uhaul gas station and RV Park in Seaside.

Before stopping for the night Sunday we parked along the beach and took a long walk on the boardwalk.  That was until it started raining and snowing.  Then we did some inside walking at the mall.

Parked at the South end of Seaside.

We had sun, rain, snow and wind all within an hour.

Then on Monday we drove into Astoria.  The weather was drier but still very cold.  I was happy to have changed out the under dash heater in Wilbur.  It kept us very warm while driving.

This is taken from the Oregon side of the river.  You can see the bridge to WA on the left side.

There is a place we found along the Columbia River in Astoria where we could park, walk along the river and watch the boats go by. 

We spent Monday night in Kelso, WA at the Elks Lodge.  Something we enjoy doing while seeing different towns is to do some boutique store shopping (thrift stores). Astoria has a few good ones and so we did stop for a few treasures.
Sophie loves to shop and what could be better than Kelso where there is a Shopping Mall within walking distance from the Elks.

Tuesday we head home.  The weather has been cold and the forecast is for some possible snow.  We leave Kelso and head South to the Vancouver, WA area for a few Boutique stores and then on home.

The weather got wetter and windier than I like to drive in as we got closer to home, and right now Wilbur is unloaded and parked in the garage ready for another adventure.  The wind and rain has picked up but we had a great time and look forward to a warmer outing.

It's a Bago day today

So today I picked up some new fuel filter filters for Wilbur.  Seems like the last bago I helped rescue needed a few new ones. 

Then I went all out and replaced the heater under the dash in Wilbur.  This last year I had taken my original heater out, cleaned up the motor and even though it ran great when I tested it, after using it for 1/2 hour it smelled like a hot electric motor and ran slower and slower.

So when I came across a '68 Bago being torn apart this last year I took the heater.  Back then they used 2 motors in the heater box.  One for the defroster and one for the heat.  A new motor for my heater, there was only the one,  was going to cost $250.00 so today I took out the original one and put the new (1968) heater in.  I think the heater core is not leaking, but then it will probably only leak at the most inopportune time. 

The fans sound good and I only need to run a few new duct hoses to the defrost vents.  This might be a good upgrade especially if my wife stays warm on those cool days of traveling.

Tow bar brackets

I can't believe how busy retirement is but I still am working on the Subaru tow bar brackets.
Sunday was kind of a dry day and after doing a little RC airplane flying and having coffee with the old guys I did get some time on the Wagon.

On the passenger side the tow hook will have a brace bolted to the upright piece.

The tie down loop is the other bolted attachment for the passenger side.

 At least the tire is in focus in this picture.

I did weld up the bends in the uprights and added the tow hook brace.  Now today was rather wet when I had time to work on it so maybe tomorrow will be better and more will get done.

On the drivers side there is a threaded hole to use.  I have welded a piece

 to bolt to it.

Valentines day

The idea of free candy and a cheap breakfast at the coast had us drive to Lincoln City.  The Chinook Winds Casino has a special (for us mature individuals) every Tuesday this year, yes all of 2012, of a $2.00 breakfast in the Casino buffet or a $2.95 breakfast at the hotel restaurant with an ocean view.

Being the big spender I am, oh and there was a long line for the buffet we ate with the view, but first we picked up our free candy.  WOW free candy and a cheap breakfast, now that's my kind of valentines day celebration.

I didn't get much else done for the day but score points, which will come in handy when I screw up something in the future. Retirement is good.

Cleaning up Wilbur

Today the weather was a taste of Spring and we spent some time in Wilbur doing some final cleaning before we head out for adventure, or at least a trip someplace.

I guess my assistant is needing me inside.

This is my built in vacuum cleaner system.

And I installed the new shower curtain that we bought a year ago or so.

 So where are we headed first?  I cant believe my wife is so excited to go someplace.  We have such good thoughts of past trips.

NO not another old RV

I can not understand why anyone would want so many old RV's but my friend Terry has gone overboard with this addiction. And yes, even I have made another trip to help him.
So this is what he drove home today.

Oh yea it was FREE.  I didn't follow him all the way home this time.  I hope he made it.

My friends new '72 Winnebago

For those who don't have a Winnebago, er make that a Classic Winnebago, there is something enjoyable about having one..................or two of them.  So one one of my friends bought a '72 that of course didn't run, and me being someone who likes the smell of old gas, offered to help him get it home.


Now having helped this same friend work on getting a different Bago running, just this past November, I think it is getting close to pay back time.
So here is the latest find.

This is where he bought it.

Then all it needed was the windshield washed.

And a few gallons of gas,   yea right.

Getting Wilbur ready to use.

Today was a beautiful day to be outside and Wilbur needed to get out too.

My wife has this clean thing and so we backed out Wilbur and started cleaning.  The bedding  was removed and things were wiped down.  The window blinds even got a cleaning.

My 1973 Winnebago Indian.

And one of my Winnebago friends even bought another Classic Bago today.

A 1972 Winnebago.

The tow Bar continued.......

Today I figured out some more of the tow bar brackets.

The main thing was to figure out how high to mount the tow bar on the wagon.  The tow bar should be level when connected to the motor home.

Jack stands work good.

This part can fold up and stay on the wagon.

A trip to the Coast

I just got back from a few days on the Oregon Coast, so that is why the break in my posts.

The weather was really great and it only really rained at night.  The coast is one place my wife and I like to spend time doing nothing.  Our daughter was able to spend time with us, and take my wife shopping while I spent a day in meetings. 

Did you know there are insect eating plants on the Oregon Coast?

This place is on the North side of Florence Oregon close to HWY101.

This picture was taken today at the resort we stayed at.
No RV camping this time.

In Yachats OR.

Yachats Oregon

So back to my Wagon stuff and get this thing ready to tow.