Backup Lighting project continues.....

Worked a little more on the backup lighting project to complete the LED wheel well lighting which will light up the wheels when I am backing up so I can see them and any obstructions.

I purchased the LED strips at AutoZone which included two 4" long White LED segments backed with 3M automotive adhesive strips.  To install them I found that I could place them inside the metal trim strip lining the wheel wells.  There is a strip that I could install and secure the wires with some super strong gorilla tape and some washers installed over the existing screws.  Some silicone adhesive would be good as well for the tough spots.

Only a few basics needed for installation.

Prior to beginning the installation I cleaned the trim piece with water and soap, and after dry, I cleaned again with some rubbing alcohol to be sure it was good and clean for the adhesives of the tape to bond.  I first placed the lights and tested them, and then slowly worked the wire towards the back of the wheel well.   As I approached each trim screw, I backed out the screw, ran the wire and tape, and then added a washer to the screw to clamp the assembly back together.

The LED Strip on the trim and the protected wire.

The overall goal is to have these light the wheel well area lightly but also the surrounding ground so that we can see where the wheels are and the boards we are placing there or any rocks in the way as we back into the site or the parking spot here at home.  They are wired to come on only with the reverse lights that I added at this point (Yellow Wire in the Harness), but I do have the ability to separate them later and have on a switch if needed.

Testing them out, work great!

Colonial Woods Weekend #3

Yes,... another weekend at Colonial Woods.  This year we really took advantage of their spring special offering by camping these three consecutive weekends.  This time, since it was Mother's Day weekend, we drove separate over to the camp so that I had the truck to tow our camper home and Becky and Bella could leave early on Sunday to attend the Mom and Daughter Painting in East Greenville at Art On Main.

Pennsylvania has been a monsoon the past 7 days, nearly raining each day.  I think we have gotten nearly 2 inches of rain total which was supposed to break by the weekend.  Well,... it didn't, and we had scattered showers on our arrival with some throughout the weekend.  We made the best of it though and still got to do lots of fun activities and fishing.

Madison exploring with her umbrella

Yes, a photo of me relaxing!

My lovely Becky cooking up some grilled cheese today!

After lunch on Saturday the girls wanted to go fishing at the pond.  Of course, we get there and 10 minutes later Bella doesn't want to fish anymore.  But, we stuck it out for a while and then we were starting to get some activity.  The girls were catching some bluegills here and there and then we caught a few nice bass!  I managed to pull in a small trout too before the day was over.  It's always fun how the kids react when they get a decent fish on the line and now they are all able to handle most of the fishing themselves, it has made it more enjoyable for Becky and I.  Here are a few snapshots of our catch!

Madie caught,... well, reeled in a bass.

Bella didn't want a kiss from the fish!

Ally caught it by herself!  Biggest of the weekend!

I'm glad we had a mild winter as that left me plenty of camp fire wood for this season.  However, if I burn it all, you know next year will be very cold and I'll be running short.  Nice hot campfires are the best on the damp days in the woods.  We all huddled up around the fire each night when we had it going.

Warm campfires each night were great!

We had an early campfire so we could go and play BINGO at the lodge.  $2 each to play, with cash payouts of $5 for regular BINGO and $20 for specials.  Then, the Coverall is the rest of the pot, usually over $100.  Tonight, Becky was the winner on the "X" special and came back with $20 bucks!

Back home on the enlarged parking pad and drying out in the SUN!

Time to get back to making some modifications to the camper and doing some work around the house.  No trips for a few weeks as that gets done, but I"ll have some more posts regarding the modifications I'll be working on.

Colonial Woods - Weekend #2

Weekend #2 at Colonial Woods was a damp and chilly one, with little sunshine and lots of rain coming in on Sunday.  What a difference a week makes in the weather and the campground was only at about 40% capacity compared to last weekends nearly full house.  This was nice though as the kids could ride around the drives without much traffic to be worried about.

As a surprise to Isabella, we invited her best friend Courtney to join us camping for the weekend.  Her dad brought her over after work, shortly after I got home, and we were off to the campground.  Since it was dinner time on our arrival, we stopped and picked up some pizza at a nearby Pizza Bella, which made it nice as I was busy opening and setting up things.  The forecast had rain in it for Friday evening with some scattered showers and then a cloudy and damp day on Saturday.  Luckily, the rain held off and the canvas stayed dry on Saturday afternoon.

That's a lot of streamers,.... 

Who's That?.... PopPop stole Bella's bike and is riding with Madie

Since this weekend was so empty at the campground, so would be the lake.  When Pop, Ally, and I arrived we were the only ones there and it seemed like the fish would be ours for the taking as they were hitting the top out in the middle.  Pop caught a trout, but it rolled free as it got to the lilly pads at the edge of the lake.  Ally was catching bluegills like crazy.  She would barely have the bobber hit the water and she was able to catch another.  Those special wax worms of Pops were the ticket.  I managed to get three bluegills, but nothing else.  Pop loosely hooked another trout which got away at the shore when they went to net it.

Ally,... Ally,... this fishy is hungry,... and Pop is waiving!

Ally caught another one

My Cutie, Cowgirl Madie waiting for the big bite

Everyone had a good time fishing even though we didn't catch any really big ones.  Maybe next time we can get a big trout or catfish!

Back at the campsite the girls took to riding the bikes again and also playing in the creek.  The weather was holding off and the heavy rain was forecasting to arrive early Sunday morning.  I noticed that the rear bunk upper corner looked different.  I don't know if it was something the kids did or if it just worked loose somehow, but the plastic canvas jointing that holds the canvas into the metal track was popping out in the corner.  I had to unscrew the trim and pull of the plastic trim piece for the bunk and I was able to stretch things back into place and use a flat blade screwdriver and some pressure.  The white canvas joins into this door jamb trim with a snap and slot type system, so maybe it just wasn't clicked in right and took this long to become noticeable.  Trim piece installed, I'll keep and eye on it.

Courtney with her crayfish catch 

With the cool damp air, campfires are a must.  Since there was BINGO tonight, the fire was started early and we had dinner and campfire S'mores at the same time.

Super S'More = Chocolate Chip Cookie + Thin Mint + Marshmallow 

Makin S'Mores!

MMmmmm.....Yes,.. Its that good!

With the heavy weather in the outlook, we decided to clean up and pack it in for the weekend.  We wouldn't have an issue if we were taking it home on Sunday, but I didn't want to leave a wet/damp canvas closed up camper all week.  Becky and I packed things up and then everyone went to BINGO.  Even though a late night by the time we got to the house, it was a smart decision.  So, another weekend done, albeit a little earlier than we had hoped.  We will be back for Weekend No 3 and then I'll have to pack everything up and tow the camper home to the improved parking pad.