pull-out tray

SBF is measuring and fitting for the pull-out tray that will go behind the two front seats and house the refrigerator, stove, and something else, making it easy to do all our cooking right outside of the van. Eventually there will also be an awning so if it's raining or sunny and hot, you can be protected while making meals. We'll still get some food smells indoors, but nothing like if we were actually cooking indoors. And it will also be better than boiling water indoors for coffee and tea ... I imagine that just makes it humid and adds moisture we don't need. (There is not a vent fan on the rood and we don't intend to add one.)

CWV's pet spider

We have this gorgeous spider who has made a home on the CWV, and she's growing fast!! This was about a week ago.

This is her now.

Any suggestions for rehoming her? She only gets to stay for two more days because CWV is getting windows tinted to make her even creepier!!

peel-and-stick

Sticking the peel-and-stick flooring onto the subfloor. Apparently on the first try it didn't stick very well, so SBF actually had to get some glue involved. Gia's helping by holding down the floor so it won't go anywhere. Also, it must be super comfy because that girl picked plywood over the soft couch option right behind her! (Thank goodness for some indoor projects because it's crazy hot outside!!)

subfloor

Fitting in the subfloor pieces is the first thing that really makes the CWV look like she's coming along, even tho a million other little things have been done in and around and under her. These pieces of wood are pretty heavy and awkward, but SBF has been taking them in and out by himself to make adjustments and other cuts, etc. I know how heavy and awkward because I helped fit ONE piece in and I was kind of surprised that he was doing all this by himself. I wish I could say I was more helpful, but I also think he likes doing this solo. I'm not very good at being bossed around and he knows exactly how he wants things to go.

Making patterns

I'm not exactly sure what this pattern/template it for, but I think it'll be clear soon ...

Free Love

Saw a van creepier than SBF's today. It offers free love instead of free candy.

Mason-Dixon

Our second and third days of riding were rainy, but in a super good way. I would have never dreamed that I would love riding in the rain so much, but we were prepared and the trails never got sloshy or muddy and after a while it just felt good to be soggy. We weren't cold or hot. It was just perfect. We crossed the Mason-Dixon line on day 3 and then had a 20 mile downhill ride to Cumberland. I highly recommend this adventure and can't wait to go back and hit the second half of the trail from Cumberland to D.C. ... Maybe we'll have the CWV next time and can ride our own bikes?!?!

GAP trail

SBF took two solid weeks off from van work to go on a crazy little adventure I worked up on the East Coast. This involved planes, trains, borrowed cars, and lots of Ubers, but I know we would have benefitted to have the CWV to park and sleep in on a few of our nights. The AirBnBs we picked were nice ... ish ... but I don't know if I ever slept in one bed that I would actually call COMFORTABLE in the whole two weeks we were gone. A foam mat in the back of the van would easily beat every one of them. Anyhoo ... one of the coolest things we did was ride our bikes down the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, Maryland. We rode and camped along the way, carrying a tent, sleeping bags, and some snacks. Just the essentials. Kind of a perfect way to spend three days with nothing to do but ride our bikes through the woods. (After riding our bikes through this really cool city of bridges.)