Bob Henry's 4x7

[bobhenry]

ME SNORE !!!! You ain't heard the bride she wakes me up sleeping in the recliner in the next room.

The panels just made a more finished look. My builds tend to get "campable" and that's where they die. I am determined to complete this one.

It has drug it about 150 miles in the last few days and all is good to go.

Got a few more tweaks to go but they will wait if I don't get to them.

[S. Heisley]

Bob Henry wrote:

I tradeded in the mini casement window
for a fixed lexan one

Do you still have a window or vent that opens to let in fresh air? Chili & Beans could be a problem, ya know. (TeeHee!)

[LDK]

Hey Bob

Just wondering, did you make your matress out of that foam rubber yet?



Your really moving along on this build. It's lookin good.

[bobhenry]

Do you still have a window or vent that opens to let in fresh air? Chili & Beans could be a problem, ya know. (TeeHee!)

Small double hung aluminum storm window with 1/2 screen at the bottom.

I can open top or bottom sash and move screen to top or bottom. With the top open and a little box fan hung in front I can point in for fresh air or out for exhaust it has been all we have needed in the bigger 5x10 build and these are the same windows.

[bobhenry]

Hey Bob

Just wondering, did you make your matress out of that foam rubber yet?



Your really moving along on this build. It's lookin good.

Nope that load in the picture went into the barn build. I was able to retreive a tempera mattress that was being tossed to the curb because it had a rip from being moved. I cut it to fit and will be sewing a bed sack for it out of the left over material that I used on the walls.

[bobhenry]

Well Rip Van Winkle is going campin' tonight.

Last night we made up the bed and I installed a temporary inside door latch at her insistance.

The bride is taking him behind her little Scion XB and going to her sisters cottage to use it as an extra bedroom. The tribe is all in town and they are gonna gather.

No not me ! I am gonna be getting ready for the Hoosier fall gathering the 14th. So I'm staying home making a check list and packing a bit so I don't have to run around and do it all at the last minute.

[bobhenry]

Well Rip is loaded mattress to ceiling with good campin'
junk and ready for the 1/14/12 Shivaree in just 10 more
days. I just need to load a cooler and a dry box of
groceries and we are ready to roll.

I intend to get a dozen or so great photo's of him in
action. He will be sporting his 10 x 10 kitchen with a
4x4 half bath. Both bat wing tables will be installed
and ready for some serious cookin'. The bride took
him camping in October but this will be my first out
with him. I am looking forward to seeing just how
well he works as he is the smallest sleep in tiny trailer
I have built.

[WhitneyK]

...ready for the 1/14/12 Shivaree.....need to load a cooler...

Really Bob? Load a cooler in January? How long have you lived in Indiana? Oh wait, maybe it's to protect your "stuff" FROM freezing?

[bobhenry]

YEP ! Keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.......

Got time for a story.....

I worked very briefly for Wabash Trailer the semi trailer people.

At lunch on day I was pouring soup out of my thermos
and as the steam rose from it I couldn't help but notice
the startled look on a fellow employees face. I said Hi
and asked his name. In a very thick Southern accent
he introduced himself as Leroy. Seems Leroy was from
coal country in Hazzard KY. He could contain his curiosity
no longer and asked about the silver bottle. I explained
it was a thermos. He asked what it was for and I
explained that it kept hot things hot, and cold things cold.
He stated that as soon as he got his 1st check he was gonna
get him one. Several days passed and I finally spotted
him in the lunch area with the largest damn thermos I
had ever seen. When he spotted me he made a bee line
over to show me his treasure. Playing with him I asked
what it was for. Well it keeps hot things hot and cold
things cold was his rehersed answer. Then I had to ask...
What ya got in it? The answer kinda startled me when
I heard "chicken soup and iced tea".

I still wonder how it tasted

[Deryk the Pirate]

lol.... sounds mighty different

[Jst83]

Really Bob? Load a cooler in January? How long have you lived in Indiana? Oh wait, maybe it's to protect your "stuff" FROM freezing?

It's for sure to help keep things from freezing, No ice needed. First Shivaree I had my drink of choice literally slush up in my hand while drinking it cooler was the on;y thing that kept me from having pop cycles

[bobhenry]

I never will forget the look on Vickie's face when her frozen coffee hit her in the nose after one of her long winded stories.

Ah ! The joys of the Shivarees

[bobhenry]

I thank all the brave souls who showed up whether to visit or
camp with us at the 2012 shivaree. It was fun to just enjoy
the fire and talk.

I showed up at 4:30 Friday and was almost certain I was to
be alone when Jeff2 and his trailer showed up. I was very
impressed with Rip van winkle It was roomier than I ever
dreamed and was very easy to heat. I had a tiny ceramic
heater with thermostat and it cycled in and out on about
30 to 45 minute increments. I had to leave mid day Saturday .
I simply can not sleep 12 - 13 hours and once the sun is down
the only warm place was my tiny trailer. I was up once or
twice playing with the fire and emptying the wood out of
the truck for something to do. I really wish I had brought
a TV or at least a radio. I felt like a prisoner to the cold.
I couldn't face a second night and was very sad to leave
a good bunch of guys mid day Saturday.

Things I learned this gathering. Harkening back to the movie
a christmas story and the tongue on the flag pole I knew
better than to touch my tongue to the ice ladened paddelock
on the trailer to melt the ice in it while hooking up at home
early Friday, yet while breathing on it ,somehow it touched
for an instant and panic set in. Luckily I escaped.

In the cold dawn of Saturday morning mother nature called
and a hike to the pit toilet was in order. I disrobed enough
to get my wide frame in the 34" wide cubical and stared at
the stainless steel seat and wondered if I would be found
stuck to it. That's when I learned your butt won't stick to
steel like a wet tongue will.

I insulated the sleeping area of Rip but not the front bulkhead
and cabinets. This turned out to be a great design feature.
The uninsulated cabinet gained enough heat from the interior warmth
to stay a nice 34 - 38 degrees despite the outside temp dipping
to 13 degrees. It made a perfect refrigerator The milk I stored
in there was nice and cold to drink but remained unfrozen.

P.S. Whitney : The tongue mounted old steel cooler kept the
beer at a wonderful 34 to 38 degrees despite the 13 degree
outside temps. So it really will
"keep hot things hot and cold things cold"


Here is a couple of pics thanks to Verna one of our visitors.

[LDK]

Now thats dedication! You're just an ole diehard Bob.

[bobhenry]

It's a long time between outings for Rip Van Winkle Has it really been 2 1/2 years?

Well I dusted him off and coupled him to the little Suzuki Esteem and off we went. We were fully loaded with a bunch of cookin' iron and pop ups and food and barley pops and on and on. It went down the road without a care. It handled behind the "not rated to tow" Suzuki like it wasn't there. It was a 60 mile trip to the gathering and the gas gage barely moved.

Sadie my Scottish Terrier and I slept quite comfortably in the little 4 x 7 trailer.

Here are a few pics of the weekend.........