2011 Trip across the US
2012 Trip across the US
2014 Trip across the US
2015 Trip to Alaska
2015-16 Southwest Trip
2016 New England Trip
2016 - 17 Southwest Trip
2017 - 18 Trip to Pick Up a New Escape 21 Trailer & More
2018 - 19 Trip to Winnipeg & the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
2019 - 2020 Trip to the Southwest
2021 - 2022 Trip to the Southwest
2022 - 2023 Trip to the Hungry Mother Rally
2023 - 2024 Southwest Trip
2017 Spring Fling
2018 Spring Fling
2019 Spring Fling
2021 Spring Fling
2022 Spring Fling
2023 Spring Fling
2024 Spring Fling
Index:
Tuesday, May 13, Broken Wheel Campground, Petersburg, NY
Wednesday, May 14, Chocorua Camping Village KOA, Chocorua, NH
Thursday, May 15, Chocorua Camping Village KOA, Chocorua, NH, Day 2
Friday, May 16, Chocorua Camping Village KOA, Chocorua, NH, Day 3
Saturday, May 17, Chocorua Camping Village KOA, Chocorua, NH, Day 4
Monday, May 12, 2025 - Still in Oswego
I had hoped to get lots of stuff done during the 3 weeks between returning home from my Southeast Trip and the trip to the Spring Fling, and while I did get some things done the weather has been one of the wettest in years. Lots of doctor & dentist appointments, and my 5 year old hearing aids are due for replacement. I had a hearing test, casts for the new molds (I have weird ear canals that don't hold normal hearing aid "speakers"). All went well & the new hearing aids arrived with the plastic inserts made from the molds. They fit fine, but one of the new hearing aids wouldn't connect to the computer for programing; in fact it wouldn't even turn on. It went back to the factory, so I won't get them until I get back.
The beautiful crate from Escape with my new kitchen window arrived and when it warmed up enough for replacing the window (and no predicted rain for a day) I undid the 12 screws holding the plywood box together that Escape made to hold the window. The box worked great - they used the wall material for the inside packing and no damage to the window in shipping, but they sent a rear passenger side window, not the kitchen window I ordered. I contacted them and unfortunately they don't have a kitchen window in stock and have to order it - 4 weeks minimum. So, that project won't happen until June.
I did manage to replace the tongue jack. The "Smart Jack" I installed two years ago is handy in that you can push some buttons & it cranks the foot to the storage position without needing to hold the button, letting you do more packing up while it cranks away. Particularly useful because it is a very slow jack. The problem is it often freezes & won't start back down when you want to unhook. By multiple pushes of the up & down buttons it has eventually started, but I really don't want to be stuck somewhere and having the foot never coming down. So, I switched to a Barker 24" tongue jack. It is much faster so having to hold the switch is OK, and the 24" version puts the head high enough that I can fully open the tailgate on the F150, at least on level ground.
I also replaced the Lagun table mount with a EZ-Reach mount. While the Lagun is better looking, the plastic bearings wear out in around 6 months requiring replacement. Probably my fault since my table is right at the upper end of the weight & size limits specified by Lagun. The EZ-Mount is steel rather than aluminum, but doesn't have plastic bearings. It stays level, and it doesn't lock as tight as the Lagun when the Lagun has new bearings, but appears not to have the bearing problems that has the table top tilting once the bearings of the Lagun wear. We will see over the next year or so. Of course the mounting plate has holes that don't match those of the Lagun mount so new holes in the face of the rear bench. At least I didn't need to change the position of the angle brackets that the mounting plate bolts to. I have a couple of overhead lamps that are failing, so I ordered some new ones. They won't arrive until the 16th so that will be another "when I get back" project.
On Saturday I printed out my 4 page packing list (with check boxes) and started loading the trailer for the trip. Not as much work as usual since I'm only going for 2 weeks & I left a lot of stuff in the trailer from the winter trip.
The blue jays, red winged blackbirds, grackles and mourning doves are going to miss me - they are currently going through 10 pounds of black oil sunflower seed every day. Speaking of birds, this morning I swore I heard a Sandhill Crane. They don't normally go through this area this time of year, and even then are rare, but I used my Cornell Merlin app to listen to it and it agreed with me. Never saw it, just heard the call.
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My garlic is about 2' tall and the asparagus plants are growing at least an inch per day. I planted a section of snap peas.
Went to do the last mowing of the lawn before I left and my 3 week old Husqvarna riding mower bit the dust. I hit a tree root because I was mowing lower than usual to cut off the dandelion flowers, and the blade bearing separated from the mower housing. Brooks Trailer is going to pick it up, fix it, and return it although I'll be gone by the time that happens.
For anyone keeping track, I started the trip with a total trailer mileage as of 62,103.7, and 1,382 nights in the trailer.
Until Next Time -
This page is maintained by: vermilye@oswego.edu
Last Update:
May 17, 2025