August 17, 2005 Finally! 9 months of weekends later, it's ready to go on it's first Road Trip, even though the exterior is still cosmetically "rough" and the gas isn't hooked up, it's structurally ready for a test cruise to the coast for a weekend.

Big Nyx, an important high-ranking dignitary from the Feline Nation enters the lounge. He eventually went to sleep in one of the lounge chairs.

The back-side of the closet is a perfect spot to hang a guitar. Not while moving however. I took a short illegal ride as a passenger to see how things moved and jiggled. On our washboarded gravel road, the interior is a cacophony of things rolling around in the drawers and clinking in the cupboards, but the structural integrity of the trailer itself is stiff and springy. This gives new insight on correct stowage of items in transit! The guitar rides on the bed, under a blanket..all tucked in to not slide around! Little blobs of monkey putty tape work wonders for anchoring small items, little cacti in pots, etc. Notice the string of red Chrismas lights( lit in some of the following photos). They create a nice mellow ambiance when on "shore power". None of the 12v fixtures are installed yet. I made all the curtains, which are simple roll-up-&-tie shades that are light-blocking and insulated with wool batting. The rear bedroom one has elastic loops & tiny gold hooks to hold it against the curve of the wall when down for the night.

Another view of the lounge area. Festive lighting as well as the regular table overhead fixture are running on "shore power". My old 1903 Singer hand-cranked (non-electric) sewing machine is on the table. I was working on the curtains & took a photo break. Look at that gorgeous cedar T&G ceiling! You can see the edge of a stainless-steel vintage towel rack hanging from the ceiling near the entry. That's my "walkin' stick" leaning against the chair.

Meanwhile outside, R. is reinstalling the bottom aluminum trim rails, followed by side gutter rails and the awning rail on top, all with lots of putty tape and new screws. Eventually the rims will get sanded & painted & the moon hubcaps replaced.

Back inside! its SO PRETTY! I love being in this cozy space. Didn't make the bed very well...the mattress foam is too wide for the space (it came out of an old hideabed couch). We will be getting some correctly sized foam soon, but that stuff is expensive! This is couchy but not trim and tidy looking. under the bed is a laundry basket.

Looking forward from the back corner on the bed. No sink yet...just a piece of 3/4" plywood for setting all my doo-dads on when we're home. I do use the icebox (without ice usually) to store snacks and a jug of water, and the oven is a hardware & tool storage facility until we get a new approved gas bottle and hook it all up.

Small things that still need done...... putty tape trimmings make great temporary fillers in potential rodent/insect/water entance points body holes until correct fixtures are obtained...this is the wiring for the streetside taillight. We have a great set of temporary light to put in the back window for this weekend's test run, which will all be daylight driving anyway. Since this trailer is mainly intended as a backyard retreat rather than a rally showpiece, personally pleasing interior restoration has taken precedence over exterior appearance. Plus, we want to look unobtrusively" local" from the outside, in fitting with our "low-tech" rural aesthetic. Things look used and loved on our land.

She has a voluptuous, curvy rear-end like a 50's pin-up girl..... Hubba Hubba! Love that deep arrow shape in the paintwork, a classic 50's design. R is going to hit it with elbow grease & rubbing compound & see if any of the original thin coat of oxidized paint stays attached. If not, we'll repaint the same colors. I love the yellow & white. Cheerfulness!