HEADING SOUTH


 

The Migration of Trials Riders begins !

 Less than a week until the planned departure and things are still looking grim outside...... there has
been some day time thawing but the night time frosts have left a ice glaze over everything making
walking very dangerous and I still have a ton of snow to dig through to get at both the trailer and Safari.

 The workshop which is still the biggest challenge is now further compounded by Brenda wanting to
take the Beemer to AZ as well. Not only do I have to clear access to the shop but now a load more
snow removal to get enough room to turn the 850 lb Bavarian beast round before finally loading that
as well ! Of course it can be done but man oh man its going to be an effort.





Let the shovelling begin....... and all because the lady wants to take the
BMW to Arizona 

 I'd better attempt the task in an order of common sense priorities and first tackle the bus and see if I
can get her started and ready for the road. She needs digging out all round, switching LP gas sources
and then checking the generator, and then checking for leaks from all the water systems. That was all
good and winterized until someone rented her for a couple of months. Hopefully the under floor heater
and the hot water themostat are still working and nothing else has frozen ....... fingers crossed!


 A path is cut around the trailer in the 2' high snowbank and all the underside ice broken off so maybe
the wheels will go round and then over to the Safari to cut through the drifts and set her free. There are
stalegmites and tites of ice all along the underside which I'm hoping are from the roof drip and run off
and nothing more serious but until I can dig out and open the lower side panels I can't tell where the
water has come from. Once we get the Safari free and give her the once over we will know whether
Buckeye in on or off.




 

This doesn't look good !

 Should the Safari run and leaks be at a minimum then the trailer can be moved forward into a clear
zone which will give me somewhere to shovel all the snow from the workshop which must be close to
5' tall as its all the huge avalanches that fall off the roof and just get higher and higher.

 The Safari is finally unearthed from it's snow hole and things are not looking good!  The monster
propane tank has run dry and all heating finished some time ago! Net result water leaks everywhere
and coming through the floor. The woodwork floor has lifted by the kitchen sink so I'm assuming we
have a major problem under there and of course all the carpets are wet. Another major leak under the
rear wheel arch means that the bath may have a substantial leak as well. We could isolate the bath
itself and run without but things are not looking good as I write as I can't get any response from my RV
guru Howard. However the engine burst into life without any hesitation so think positive !

 Today tackle the huge snow banks by the workshop after moving the trailer to give me somewhere to
dump the white stuff. I see myself out there in the dark tonight trying to complete the task. By 1900 and
with aching arms I've cut through the 5' high snow bank and I'm at the house wall by the Gazebo. Still no
sign of Howard but I'm assuming he will be here on Saturday morning. My plans are now on hold until
we know how Safari is and whether any more digging is worth the effort.





The Beemer's eye view from the workshop door


 Howard arrives and calmness descends and he quickly establishes where the leak is and sets about
the repairs. By 12 he has the leak fixed, there is anti-freeze in everything, the bathroom is up and
running and warm air is circulating the cabin and drying things out. Only problem area seems to be the
kitchen faucet which of course is by the window and is frozen solid ! The warm air finally sorts that out
and now we have water at the desired point in the kitchen. The underside will take some time as I must
gently warm the huge ice lump in the wheel arch and free it from some electrical cables. The jacks are
all down but have about 1 inch of frozen ice over them virtually cementing them into the ground as are
the tires. I think I will be out there with my shrink tape electric dryer which I know produces a lot of heat.

 Well it sounded like we have a go........... but this morning there is yet another fresh fall of snow and the
forecast is more snow up to 16 inches today and tonight!!! The chances of getting out of here tomorrow
I would rate as Zero! ...... and the thought of 400 miles across the reservation on snow covered roads is
foolhardy to say the least. Common sense is kicking in!


 

Hours of shovelling and maybe I can get the Beemer out ?


 Superbowl Sunday and another day of shovelling. Garden chairs and a table along with various flower
pots are unearthed as the dig continues to find King Tut's burried Beemer. The 5' high snow bank is
slowly cleared and enough room made for a turn round area to get the mighty Beemer out to the trailer.
The remote key is located and Germany's best thunders into life. True to the forecast, and despite a
pretty good daytime melt the snow started falling just as the Big game started. This morning yet another
5-6 inches but that should be fairly simple after yesterday's efforts. If I can clear that ALL AGAIN then after
cutting through the new snow banks given to us by the town plow I might be able to cut the Safari jacks
free from their ice prison. If all goes well, and the roads are clear, we may be on our way tomorrow. 

 

Monday morning and another 6"

 More relentless shovelling and all the new 6" is removed and we are back where we were yesterday.
Over at the Safari no more leaks but with more melting the ice lake under the coach is getting thicker with
every night time freeze. By 1 I have one jack free and start on the other two. Lying face down on ice under
a coach trying to swing a hammer is knocking the stuffing out of me and by 4 I can't do any more so we
will not be leaving tomorrow. Brenda brings the carpet cleaner on board but without adding any more
water manages to suck up gallons ! 





Joy of Joys ! and thats the tire in there 

Huge blocks of ice coming down in the wheel arch, imbedded cables and ice all over both tires! More
warming and hammering and a mighty lump eventually breaks free. This still leaves a 12" high berm in
front of the rear wheels with not a cat in hells chance of getting over it so yet more hammering and the
cold masonry chisel is getting a great work out. This ice is so thick that it won't break in any nice size
lump and continues to shatter in little pieces and is getting very frustrating.


 

Ice in your Gin & Tonic Sir ?........... from the wheel arch!


 Tuesday, I break her free! The jacks very slowly retract and after a little rocking the bus escapes its
ice holding area. Let the loading begin!

TONY DOWN