Maine, NH, new friends

 As mentioned before, I met Mary at Quill Hill in Rangely, ME and then followed her to the Bigelow Preserve where she had found a great free camping spot by Flagstaff Lake.  The first night, I shared here site because it was big enough for 2 vans and the 2nd night, I moved to another spot to give her a bit more space.  I didn't take the spot closest to the lake because it wasn't that level.  Then a young couple full timing in their car (and a tent) parked there and pretty much blocked my view.  Oh well.  I considered asking them to move their car to another spot so that I could have some view, but decided it really just didn't matter.  I took my chair down to the beach and enjoyed that.  That's something I need to work on - wanting everything to be perfect.  It just isn't going to be perfect and it's easier to accept that than try to make it perfect.

Cooling down.  It was HOT!  Zoe actually laid down in the water and tried laying flat, but quickly realized that wasn't going to work.  I've never see her lie down in water before.

Gypsy!  Dutch Shepherd.  Such a beauty!

Mary and Gypsy

Sunset

Morning mist

Cooling off again

This site was very sandy and being dirty is something I'm not good at.  I figure that living in a van, essentially camping, I'm going to have to get used to it.  I'm slowly managing that and getting better.  I try not to track too much dirt/grass into the van, but sometimes it happens and it's a pain to take shoes off at the door.  No mud room in here!  I need to get something to put outside the door as a mud room of sorts.  Something that packs small and lightweight.  I want to be more OK with dirty, but not TOO OK with dirty!!!  

Speaking of which, while I was here on Flagstaff lake I decided to finally try out my indoor shower.  The outdoor shower would have made a mess due to the sand and I really wanted to test out the indoor shower. anyway.  I had asked the builder for magnets in the ceiling and magnetic hooks so that I didn't have hardware hanging from the ceiling all the time.  I worried that maybe the magnets wouldn't be strong enough once the curtain got wet, but it seems good. I'm sure if I caught the curtain too hard with my elbow or something it would come down.  Anyway, all went well except for the fact that I couldn't get hot water.  I had turned on the water heater over an hour ago, so it should get warm.  Well, it didn't.  And why didn't it??  Operator error!  I had flicked the switch for the gray tank dump valve instead.  (They are not marked!)  So, I wasted a lot of water and had a cold shower.  Thankfully the weather was warm and I didn't mind the cold shower too much.  I just couldn't see not getting clean at this point, so proceeded with the cold shower!  The shower head is great and there is plenty of water pressure if I want it, but I reduced the pressure significantly.

Shower ready for me!

Drying out the shower curtain and towels.  Since moisture in a van is deadly I'll try to only use the shower at times that I can dry out the curtain.  

Then we moved on to Lee, NH for a gathering of women travelers.  Some in vans, a super cool bus, and many women in cars.  One car was super tiny and she says she's happy in it.  I can't imagine, but then I don't like to be inconvenienced.  Yes, even my van, which is pretty plush, is pretty inconvenient.  Basically it's all the things you don't need to think about in a house. 

Gray water - I have a 5 gallon (realistically I found that it's best to empty with 2.5 gallons or less if possible!) gray tank under my sink.  It's not easy/convenient to empty it, especially if it's full.  And if I use the shower, there is a gray tank under the van that needs to be emptied.  

Urine - I have a urine diverting/composting toilet, so there is a jug that collects the urine.  I love having this for when I need to go in the night or any other time I don't have easy access to a clean bathroom.  But I have to empty this every 2 days at the latest.  There is an LED that indicates it's getting full, but I prefer to empty before that lights up as I don't trust it.  What if is stops working???  YUK!

#2 - The toilet has the #2 section, which ultimately will need to be changed out for clean compost material.  I have to say that it is wonderful to have this and it really does not smell once it's mixed in!  If I can use a regular toilet, then that's my choice, but I love having this toilet!

Sorry if that is TMI for any of you!

A few photos from the weekend gathering:

It's hard to tell, but this is the back of a short bus that is open to the outside.  Outside kitchen.  LOVE IT!!!

Salt water pool.  I was not a brave one and only dangled my legs in.

Awaiting my return