Northwood Mfg. made a new Friend, and hot cities.

Traveling west again to the Coast where it will be cool, it's too hot here. I was in LaGrande, Or. (96F) at Northwood MFG. getting the hole in my Nash trailer repaired, I got a new front end.... they did a super job for about 1/4 the cost they quoted and in 1/4 the time. It's always great when a company goes "beyond expectations." They also manufacture Arctic Fox and Desert Fox toy haulers, campers, and trailers. I got the trailer to them about 8 am, met with Matt, went and got some donuts, I was just getting ready to get on the internet near a Starbucks, when I got the call about 1030, "It's done" a voice said, "Already, I didn't even get my nap yet" said I, "Come on in and we'll lighten your wallet" says the voice. I checked out my trailer, it's looks better and brighter than when I bought it... I walked into the office and met with the voice (Matt), he lays down a sheet with the price, my jaw drops, I'm in a quandary at this point, you see, I filed an insurance claim after getting the quote. and the price for the repair is the same as my deductible. (way less than the quote.) I'm hopeing that I can cancel the claim and my State Farm insurance will just forget about it and NOT RAISE the cost of my insurance...

I happily pay my share, wave goodbye, (blow kisses at the women) and sail into the sunset.. (oh... thats another story)

On the way from Seattle to LaGrande, Or. I had planned on boondocking, casino-docking or whatever so I could hit Northwood Mfg. early Monday morning for my appointment. While in the planning stages, I got an invitation from a new friend, he said I could stay at his place in Cove, Or. just 12 miles from the Nash factory. I gratefully accepted and was amazed at the little slice of heaven, he and his wife have carved out for themselves (and wandering AFP's*.) Phrases like "salt of the earth" and "good people" do not do justice, they fed me, gave me wonderful well water, powered the trailer, let me wash my trailer and truck and many other things. We laughed, fixed things, and watched nature take it's course. Deer and birds abound and wander around his place. The last evening dropped a gorgeous sunset on us as we looked out over the valley. Truly wonderful people and "Thank you"

It was 102F in downtown Pendleton, Or. 100F in Hermiston where I stopped for lunch, and 108F at Three Mile canyon near the Columbia River. I'm at TT Sunriver-Bend for a couple of days before I hit Coos Bay, Or.


*AFP's =Arctic Fox people (and other Northwood products too)

How long can your shower be?

It's been a while since I wrote a satirical post on the blog. Although I have spread the good cheer and wrote elsewhere. The following is from a AFNash.com forum discussion. I'm afraid after seeing who asked the question, I may have abused him one too many times, but doggone it, he makes it so easy.

nate- I'm really curious as to how long you guy's get with a hot shower. I know it has a 30 gal tank, but I'm sure the hot water heater couldn't keep up with it that fast. Reason is, when we get back from long back-country hikes, I need to know how to "divide" up the shower time, and I'm just really curious to see what others on here get. I didn't plan on taking a 20-30 minute shower, but perhaps 10 minutes of hot water?

(Understand this is a 22 foot trailer with a 6 gallon water heater fired by propane, there were several comments about "Navy" showers before mine)

My answer:
Great question, lots of variables to consider. facetiously speaking however,

The final answer is: 8 minutes

I'm "assuming" a great many things here...

You like hot showers..
The water tank is 6 gallons (higher is longer)
The heating of the replaced water in the tank is exactly the same as the colder water introduced into the tank during the shower. (So we have exactly 6 gallons of hot water in the formula)

The temperature of the water in the tank is 180F (it may or may not be)(lower is shorter)
The temperature of the ground water is 50F (very common)(higher-longer/lower shorter)
(The temperature will vary depending on temp of the water in the hose, for a small amount of time)

If we use the formula (Va * Ta) + (Vb * Tb) / Va + Vb = T
Va = Volume of water in hot water tank
Ta = Temperature of water in tank
Vb = Volume of water from ground source
Tb = Temperature of ground water
T = total temperature of the combined volume
(6 *180) + (6 * 50) / 12 = T
1080 + 300 /12 = 115 degrees F.
Again an assumption made of half and half (6 gal. hot water and 6 gal. ground water)
Therefore we have 12 gallons of 115F water
Typical shower head flow restriction is 1.5 gpm
12 gallons / 1.5 gpm = 8 minutes.


Fire retardant suit on..

(It's not like I didn't leave hints in my comment "facetious", "assume", "fire retardant suit")

I only had one comment on it, RF said, Love it! Thanks...Wouldn't think of any kind of flaming response....

Props to you RF...

Not a good day, View from the Front...

While traveling through Boise Idaho heading out from the Northwood Rally, I... well I'll let the photos talk first.











A semi-truck in front of me tossed "something" into my lane, not able to avoid it completely, I ran over it and kicked it up into the trailer. I checked when I stopped and found this.

A few pictures and an email to Dave Mann/Northwood brought back the quick response, of an $800 job. Looks like I'll be heading back to LaGrande, Or. But for the moment, I'm in Hagerman Id. and will be doing my yearly Bratwurst sales with the Moose(Lodge #305,) in Buhl ID. for the Fourth of July Celebration at the Park.
Mid-July I'll be heading to Seattle to see a close friend, back to LaGrande, Or. for a July 26th appointment to get the trailer fixed, then over to the Coast (Or.-Wa.) again. Aug. 11th, I'll be in the Long Beach, Wa. area, I'll meet up with the WIN's again.

As usual, the plans are written in Jello, (green you know.)