At the Park – Days 41 – 43 : Bonus Post

Ok. So I’m in my hotel in Exton PA with some time to kill, so I thought I would post those pictures I’d teased you with last post. Before I do that, let me get you up to date on a few things.

I called the building permit department Monday and asked a few questions. Based on those answers, I’m optimistic that I will have a building permit (and property address) within 10-14 days of getting the septic permit details back from the septic system specialist. Once I get the property address, then I can get the ball rolling to get the local telco to get DSL service setup out there. I think I will call them tomorrow after the plane lands in Phoenix so try to work out some of those details and realistic lead times. I’ll check the property Friday to see if the test holes for the septic systems have been drilled yet.

I also called the solar supply distributor that I was looking to acquire most of my solar setup from to try to get an idea for lead time on the various components of the solar system. An engineer happen to answer the phone rather than a sales person. We talked for a bit about what I was looking for and what i was planning. He thought he could come up with a better design as a free service they provide so I invited him to do so. I am waiting on that to come in to see what he comes up with to see if I like it or not.

Since Sasha decided to wake me up early Monday (5AM ET) and I couldn’t to back to sleep and I was up a bit late Sunday evening, I was rather tired Monday, so I really didn’t do much Monday evening and I turned in early.

Tuesday evening was spent preparing for my early AM Wednesday departure for a business trip. I walked Sasha over to Rusty’s site to introduce her to Rusty’s dogs and the dog run she would spend her days in while I was away. I pointed out to Rusty that she would need to secure the gate as Sasha would open it and let herself out. While we were standing there talking, a new park guest arrived so Rusty needed to hurry off to the office to get them registered. I excused myself and went back to the trailer to keep getting ready leaving Sasha in the dog run with Rusty’s two little dogs.

I came out of the trailer about five minutes later to either put something in the truck or take something out, and there was Sasha laying down beside the trailer. I chuckled and told her that she let herself out and came home quicker than I expected. I hooked her to the rope while I continued to prepare for my departure. Rusty came by in her tiny electric cart thinking Sasha would ride back with her in it. I informed her that the only way I can get Sasha into the truck is to bribe her with a hot dog and a lot of coaxing. So Rusty took the cart home and walked back with the leash. Sasha very reluctantly went with her. I continued to get ready. About 15 – 30 minutes later they were back. Rusty explained that Sasha refused to go into her trailer with her. We agreed that leaving her outside to bark all night at everything that moves during the night was not an option. We agreed that Sasha would stay in my trailer and Rusty would just have to come over and let her out in the morning for a walk. Then walk and put her in at night with food and water – same as the current routine. Just a different care taker. I had already provided Rusty keys to the trailer in case it wasn’t working at her trailer while I was away.

I turned in early as I had to get up early.

I hit Tuscon at 6AM and traffic was light.

I hit Phoenix around the 7AM morning rush hour and crawled along the freeway for about 6 – 7 miles when I got to the exit for the airport. Had an aw-F*ck moment followed by a period of time with some high stress when upon entering the parking garage lane to get the parking garage ticket and passing under their maximum height sign I realized I hit it with the ladder rack on the truck cap and there was traffic behind me and no way to move to the garage with the higher clearance. What do I do? What now??? My decision: forge ahead very slowly and cautiously. I stopped and checked clearance I as I came across a low clearance area. Looked safe. Must have been safe as I didn’t hit as I passed under it. I took one of the first spots I came to that I could easily park in with the truck. I’m praying that exiting the garage will be equally uneventful when I return tomorrow. I may decide to remove what I can off the top of the ladder rack. Part of the problem is I took all of my tools out of the truck and put them in the trailer as part of my departure prep Tuesday evening so I have no tools available to disassemble it. Fingers crossed. They boarded us on time. Closed the cabin door. We sat there for about 5-10 minutes, then they told us that Philly airport was closed due to storms and we were going to have to get off the plane to wait out the delay. They reboarded us 60 – 90 minutes later, then we sat and waited another hour or so at the gate waiting for clearance to take off. It was quite warm on the plane waiting as they were trying to conserve fuel for the flight. Once airborne, the plane was like an icebox most of the flight. The drive to the hotel was uneventful. I checked in around 1 AM (an hour earlier than my colleague who was flying in from Kalamazoo).

Good meeting at work today. Great dinner at the Bamboo Restaurant in Malvern PA with work friends. Returned to the hotel to hear little kids (sounded like probably toddlers – kindergarten age) in the room next to me. Ok. I can deal with that. Then the parents started arguing and he was cursing up a storm. I tried to ignore it for a while. It didn’t end and after listening to it for 15 minutes it was stressing me out. I tried to call the front test to complain, but no answer. I packed up my belongings and went to the front desk to request another room explaining the situation. No problem. If the hotel gets another guest that complains, the couple will be told to leave. Peace and quite in my new room. Ok.. After being in the RV Park and at the property, “peace and quiet” is a very relative phase. At the moment, I hear the hum of the fridge and the dull din of nearby road traffic as oppose the the occasional sounds of nature (bull frogs, crickets, coyotes, other) I hear at night at the park.

You are now up to date so onto the pictures you have been waiting for.