Monday, January 28, 2013

On the rocks

{By Kelly}

In an attempt to reclaim the driveway and access to the carport, I started brainstorming alternative parking locations for our 26-foot behemoth. 

We don't have a big yard, so our options were limited. I measured the south end of our backyard and was elated to discover the Airstream would fit along the fence line on the side of the house, in front of the shed. It would be a tight squeeze between the fence and cabbage palms, but if my measurements were correct, the door would be perfectly aligned between two palm trees. 

Justin had to rework the sprinklers a bit, then we created a pad of pebbles and river rocks. FINALLY, a use for all the rocks I've collected over the years from North Carolina streams and the California coast! We had enough rocks for the border and we purchased two yards of Chattahoochee river rock pebbles to fill the interior area.
On the rocks
Ample shade and the proximity to the shed would make it a much better location for our renovation work, which is nicely concealed by the fence. When our work is finished, it will make for a perfect "guest house" and party pad.

The most impressive part of the move from the driveway to the backyard was Justin's keen "backing up" skills. He removed two fence panels and a 4x4 post so we could accomodate the 8-foot wide trailer. Backing that Land Yacht through a slalom of trees and bushes in the front yard and a 12-foot opening would be no small feat.

I took a deep breath and prepared for a barrage of cussing as I tried my best to direct Justin, our Ford F-150 Super Crew, and 26-foot Airstream through this narrow chute and onto the 10 by 30-foot pad. Bear in mind, there's still an A/C unit mounted on the front street-side window of the camper, blocking Justin's view. I winced as our neighbor, George, walked over to watch this spectacle, afraid he would witness what would surely end in foul language and yelling. 

Miraculously, I was able to shout loud enough for Justin to hear me and he carefully maneuvered the Airstream into her new home. I was thoroughly impressed and so was George. Justin was rather proud of himself, and rightfully so.

Apparently, Justin perfected his skills as a youngster on a riding lawn mower hooked to a short-tongued utility trailer. He also gets lots of practice at the boat ramp. I've made it one of my goals this year to become proficient at backing up the boat, then I'll progress to the camper.

A new parking spot in the back yard, in front of the shed.
After we moved the Airstream to the backyard, Justin reinstalled the fence panels and we were set! Eventually, we'll install a large gate, but she's not going anywhere for a while. It makes me so happy to look out the kitchen window and see our shiny aluminum abode instead of a fence.

As I admired the Airstream from the kitchen, I knew she needed a name. I'd been kicking around several ideas with Justin and my Mom, but nothing seemed original or appropriate enough. I knew I wanted to incorporate kitschy flamingos into the decorating theme, so I tried to think of a name with the word "nest" in it, or something bird related. Once the word "roost" crossed my mind, I knew I had it: "The Riveted Roost" or "Riva" for short.

I searched through Airstream Forums about camper names, then Google and couldn't find where anyone else had used the name. I ran it by Justin and received his seal approval, and then it was official. I created this blog, started a Facebook page and claimed the Twitter handle, @RivetedRoost. I can't wait to work with Justin on a Riveted Roost logo... the wheels are already turning. Stay tuned!

It was a tight squeeze between the fence and the palm trees, but she fits!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Strip Tease

{By Kelly}

Our first order of business was to take inventory of what needed to be replaced on our 1960 Land Yacht. Here's what we came up with during our initial inspection of the Airstream:
  • Vents (1 would be replaced with a rooftop A/C unit, 2 with vents)
  • The window A/C unit needed to come out and be replaced with aluminum sheeting
  • Several windows were cracked
  • All screens would need to be replaced
  • The full-size pink porcelain toilet would need a lighter, road-worthy replacement
  • The existing flooring needed to be removed so we could examine the plywood sub-floor
  • Exterior and interior lights/fixtures needed to be replaced
  • Fix or replace entrance step
  • Refrigerator would need to be replaced (wasn't original anyway)
  • Holding tanks were non-existent, as the camper had been hooked up to a septic system of some sort - new fresh, gray and black water tanks will need to be installed
1960 Airstream cabinets, before
Drawers and doors: BEFORE, in shades of mint and light blue
It appeared that the front vent had leaked, so Justin fashioned a makeshift vent to keep water out until a new vent could be installed. 

Numerous repairs would need to be made, as well as an electrical, propane and plumbing assessment.

We started with a task we knew we could tackle. Justin removed all the drawers, cabinet doors and hardware so we could strip the paint. It was obvious that there were many thick layers and sanding simply wouldn't suffice.

The chemical stripping process revealed that the wooden cabinetry had been painted at least three shades in the past 52 years: first pink, then turquoise, and then a mint green or light blue most recently. It appears from my research that the original cabinets in the 1960 Airstreams were unpainted and just had a coat of varnish.

Justin applies the paint stripper
Justin, the [paint] stripper
Some cabinet doors were in poor shape due to insect invasion and others had been replaced for unknown reasons. We decided that we would need to paint all the cabinets and install new facings in a few areas to achieve a uniform appearance.

After stripping the doors and drawers, we sanded the remaining paint away. Justin filled in holes with wood putty, repaired any damaged veneer, and replaced the faces of a few drawers that were beyond repair. 

I taped off the edges to prepare them for a fresh coat of paint, but alas, it was all just a tease. Now they sit in our carport, as Justin discovered several other issues that needed to be addressed before we can even begin to think about painting and reinstalling the cabinet doors and drawers. [SIGH]

As you can see from some of the photos, above, we still needed to move the Airstream out of our driveway. AND she needed a name...

52 years of paint
The stripping process revealed several layers of paint, first pink, then turquoise, and finally a mint or light blue shade.
1960 Airstream cabinets, after
Drawers and doors: AFTER and ready for paint
Follow our Airstream adventure on Twitter @RivetedRoost or find us on Facebook.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Florida's top destinations: Weeki Wachee Springs

{By Kelly}

When most people think of Florida's top attraction, they think Disney World. As a fifth generation Florida native, I feel it's my duty to provide some advice on the Sunshine State's must-see destinations. In my opinion, the mouse house isn't in Florida's top 10 - or top 20 for that matter.

My weekend as a Weeki Wachee mermaid
Florida has a rich history and an abundance of natural beauty waiting to be explored. Our state parks offer a glimpse of our great state's original landscape and wildlife - and there are many to choose from. My FAVORITE state park is Weeki Wachee Springs, located on the Gulf Coast in Springhill, about an hour north of Tampa. It opened as a privately owned theme park in 1947 and is by far Florida's most unique roadside attraction.

This spring is much more than a swimming hole - it's a magical place where mermaids enchant visitors during daily performances. Yes, real, live mermaids. There's also the occasional manatee and lots of fish and turtles.

I had the privilege of attending mermaid camp at this legendary park in September of 2012. It certainly was the most amazing experience of my life. Swimming in that incredible spring is invigorating and magical.

Here is a link to an article I wrote about my 2012 mermaid adventure at Weeki Wachee Springs, "You too can learn to be a 'siren of the deep.'"

Justin and Dad paddle the Weeki Wachee River
In addition to the mermaid shows, the park offers wildlife exhibits, river tours, a spring-fed water park called Buccaneer Bay, and canoe/kayak rentals. I brought my stand-up paddle board and Justin and my dad rented a canoe for a 5-mile, one-way trip down the Weeki Wachee River. The water is crystal clear with a nice current that carries you through the preserve. Midway through our paddle, we stopped at a rope swing and took a dip in the 72-degree water - refreshing! The rental company provides transportation back to the launch, so you don't have to fight the current on your return trip.

Our most recent trip to Weeki Wachee was pre-Airstream, but we certainly intend on returning to camp. NaturallyHernando.org is a great resource for locating accommodations and campgrounds in the area. Learn more about Weeki Wachee by visiting WeekiWachee.com, or call (352) 592-5656.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Retro déjà vu

{By Justin}

It all started when I was about 15 years old. I was in Sebastian standing in my Uncle Tim’s backyard about to make my first handshake agreement. 

I was too young to fully understand what I was getting myself into, but my dad and Uncle Tim were excited about the project so I just tried to play it cool. 

Dad and Uncle Tim are interesting characters. Uncle Tim has a habit of collecting a bit more than he could ever use and Dad can’t back down from a mechanical challenge. 

That’s where I came in. Uncle Tim had every intention of restoring his 1967 Chevelle Malibu to its original glory; however, it hadn’t moved an inch in more than a decade. 

Me, Dad and the '67 Chevelle Malibu circa 1998
Dad saw the restoration project as the perfect opportunity to teach me how to turn a wrench while spending quality time together. Although, I’m sure having a classic hot rod at his disposal helped move the project along. 

A few thousand dollars and a couple busted knuckles later, we were finally able to spin the tires on that Chevelle just enough to get ourselves into a little bit of trouble. 

Fast-forward 15 years and I somehow found myself in Sebastian about to plunge headfirst into yet another restoration project without fully understanding what I was getting myself into. 

It was love at first sight for my wife, Kelly, but this Airstream had to grow on me. Sure, she had the curves and retro look, but it’s what was under that shiny Aluminum skirt that made me nervous. 

The 35-mile tow from Vero Beach to our home in Stuart went surprisingly well, considering I couldn’t see around the window AC unit jutting out about two feet on the driver’s side. A set of four suspect tires added to the drive time and we eventually made it home where the neighbors gathered around as we backed her into the driveway. 

It was all giggles and grins at first, but two months later, she was still in the driveway, creating quite the scene. Unfortunately, we don’t have any photos of the Airstream in front of the house, but you might be able to find some in the City of Stuart code enforcement files ;)

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Trailer for sale (or rent)

Wanderlust... curbside
{By Kelly}

It was love at first sight.

Interior with pink appliances and sinks
I first spotted this sterling princess in Sebastian, Florida en route to my parent's house. I immediately asked my husband, Justin, to make a U-turn so we could go back and inspect. He was willing but wary.

The first thing that caught my eye was her obvious vintage heritage and relatively good condition. Inside, her pink appliances (minus the fridge) and sinks shouted retro chic. Her cabinetry and interior had been painted and a wall-shaker A/C unit (yikes!) was installed below the window next to a dinette/sleeper setup - the most striking modifications.

The serial number led us to believe that she is a 1960 26-foot Land Yacht Overlander, born in Santa Fe Springs, California.

I knew in an instant that I had to show this beauty to my mother. We had discussed going Dutch on an Airstream camper just a few months prior. I wasn't actively looking, but somehow, this aluminum beauty found us.

Dinette
As I had hoped, Mom fell in love too, and the darling seller, Delores, helped seal the deal. Justin and my father were shaking their heads at the acquisition, leery of the amount of work it would take to help this Land Yacht find her sea legs again. She had been parked for quite some time.

The next day, she was ours. Yes, we committed the cardinal sin... we bought the first Airstream we looked at. I can see you shaking your heads at me through cyber space.

After an emergency trip to Wal-Mart (double yikes!) for a smaller ball hitch, she was on the road. We drove her 15 miles south to my in-law's house in Vero Beach (without incident), the first leg of her journey with us.

After the rose-colored glasses came off, we began to realize that we had our work cut out for ourselves. But we're "Do-It-Yourselfers" with a few major projects under our belts (a 1974 home, 1972 and 1969 Boston Whaler, 1967 Chevelle Malibu).

We welcomed the challenge...
Streetside