New bus blocks for Gracie

We had asked Jimmy to keep an eye out for 6"x6" wood that we could make into bus blocks 6"x6"x12".

We use the blocks under the jacks of the motorhome so the springs on the jacks don't need to extend/stretch so far. The original 4 blocks were made by Dwayne back when we had the Bluebird, Miss Doozie (thus the name "bus blocks"). We got two additional ones a couple of years ago when we were in Virginia. We have been putting two under each of the back jacks and one under each of the front jacks. A couple of our existing 6 are cracking a little, so we wanted new ones. We also decided that we'd like to have 8 with us so we can put two under the front jacks too to carry the load.

One of the existing bus blocks under one of the front jacks

Two of the original bus blocks under a rear jack (you can see another two beyond under the other rear jack). You may be able to see that the left most of the closest two blocks is a bit cracked -- they aren't falling apart yet, but they are definitely showing wear.

You can also see the springs on the jacks in those two pictures -- they bring the jacks up, and, over time, they get weaker, and sometimes get to the point that you need to have a long 2x4 to encourage the jack to go up. We try not to have the jacks at a long extension so we don't put undue stretch on the springs, and the blocks help us with this -- getting level without too much jack extension.

When we got to the farm, Jimmy had a number of potential pieces...

Cutting the blocks -- once he cut into the wood, it was obvious that some of the pieces were rotten in the core -- not good for Gracie to use as bus blocks. But there were enough pieces of wood that we could get the 4 new ones that we wanted.

The completed bus blocks with eye bolts in the end -- that makes them easier to grab with a hook from under the rig, and also easier to carry between the bay and the jack.

We are happy to have our complete set of bus blocks to take along with us!

New engine batteries for Gracie

A couple of times in the past few weeks, Gracie has not even engaged the starter when we turned the key to start her up. Carl knew that Jimmy has a good battery load tester so asked him to test the batteries while we were on the farm...

Jimmy tested the batteries and he found that one of the two engine batteries were weak. 

We put these in 3 years ago -- the type of battery is 31S ("s" is for screw top).

We called around and found good prices at Battery Barn in Petersburg -- it was a bit of a drive, but saved us $55/battery over the next lowest priced competitor!

New batteries installed and operational! Hurrah!

Great nephews helping during childrens sermon

Ricky's three boys were the only children participating in children's sermon on Sunday...

I took a picture of what was showing on the screen as they helped the leader who was giving the children's sermon... Such helpful young men!

Field day of the past

Field Day of the Past was going on while we were in Virginia (https://fielddayofthepast.net/), so we drove over to see what there was to see on Saturday.

Chain saw carving

This machine was set up to make broom handles...

... unfortunately, it wasn't running at the time we were there.

This machine was set up to cut wooden spoons (like for ice cream).

An example of one of the spoons along with the waste wood that was cut off (probably not the waste wood from that specific spoon, just as an example).

This lady does caning - cane bottom chairs and rush bottom chairs -- preserving an art from the past.

These ladies were spinning fiber (I think yarn).

This lady was making a broom...

... this gentleman was also in the broom-making area -- I think he may have been tying the reeds together.

Is that a reproduction of an early RV?

Inside the "early RV"

Right nice looking!

Examples of barbed wire

The fellow with the "RV" was recruiting cowboys -- he attempted to recruit my 3 great-nephews...

They learned how to brand (a piece of wood).

Finished brand

He wrote a personal message to each of the boys on the back of their branded piece of wood.

This lady and her husband were demonstrating twisting cord (or yarn) to make rope.

Each of the boys got to pick out three colors of yarn, and then she had them twist it into a length of "rope" that each could tie around his wrist.

This man was demonstrating turning a wooden bowl.

Some of his finished product

We enjoyed listening to this bluegrass, country, gospel group -- Mountain Highway. A dad, his two daughters, and a friend make up the group -- if you want to see some videos, you can find some here: https://mountainhighway.com/videos/

It was a fun day!

New transportation method for our eBikes

A couple of years ago, we got Lectric XPremium eBikes (https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2022/08/our-new-rides.html). They are foldable and we have been transporting them in the back of the Jeep (Jee-rage). This kept them out of the weather and safe, but meant that we could not use the back of the Jeep unless we took the bikes out.

We want to pick up Carl's stereo system from Kim in Texas, so we realized that we need to get the eBikes out of the Jeep for part of our travel back to Arizona. We've been looking for eBike carriers on CraigsList and Facebook Marketplace, but have not had success in finding anything that we thought would work. Our eBikes are about 65 pounds each, and they need to be supported from underneath -- so we needed a pretty heavy duty non-hanging bike rack. We decided to go ahead and order one while we're at the farm since we know that we can have it delivered and we would have a place to work on it.

Unboxing

And just like that, it is finished! Ha! (Actual elapsed time, just under 1 hour)

eBikes on the rack -- it is just long enough

The rack came with a ramp -- we saw another one that did not have a ramp, but the one with the ramp was on a special price, so we got it. We are thankful that we got the one with the ramp -- while we *can* lift the bikes, it is a lot easier to push them up a ramp!

We're glad we got the bike rack here as it is allowing us to take a few things from the container here on the farm. Hopefully we'll have the room in the Jeerage we need for Carl's stereo system too!

Friday Cruise-In at the racetrack

The last New Kent Cruisers Cruise-In for the season was Friday night at Colonial Downs.

There were a lot of cars to see since it was the last event of the season.

The owner of this car likes shiny paint, shiny chrome, shiny aluminum, and shiny steel! He is also the organizer of the Outer Banks Rod and Custom Festival(https://obxrodandcustomfestival.com/). (We should have gotten a picture of the whole car, but you'll need to trust me that it was shiny!)

Interesting customized pickup truck

Some interesting window stickers...

United Wrenches of America?

A pretend permit (Carl wants to get a Texas Street Racing permit for our RV, Gracie. You can get one for your state through https://streetrace.us/products/texas-street-racing-permit -- note that it provides you a permit for absolutely nothing!)

Unlike race cars or other vehicles that have sponsors, most of (probably all of) these are sponsored by each owner's wallets!

It was interesting to see the different vehicles and to talk with some of the owners.

A trip to get grain

Carl went with Jimmy to get corn at the farm where Ricky works..

Securing the bin to the front end loader

Dumping the corn into the container

Much easier than shoveling it in!

Putting the load back on the pickup truck

Carl got to see where Ricky works too.

A brilliant sunset

When Carl and Jimmy were on their way back from the processor, Carl texted me to look at the sunset...

It was, indeed, a beautiful sunset!

 

A youngster

Nephew Ricky's son was being shy during fellowship time after church...

"If I hide under this table, no one can see me..."

"...especially if I get behind the center leg of the table!"

Regardless of his hiding ability, Carl was able to capture his picture!

To the processor

On the day after we arrived at Jimmy and Regina's farm, they were to select 4 beeves to take to the processor.

Jimmy got the beeves up in the handling system and put them through one-by-one in the scale -- though the scale was inoperable so he measured them by a girth measurement.

There was a terrapin there near the handling system -- closed all up when it realized that we were nearby!

The ones selected to go to the processor were put in the trailer and taken over to the barnyard for the night.

Next day, they were loaded in the trailer and taken to the processor -- Carl rode along...

Four of those were the ones that came from the farm. I guess others were from another farm.

Part of the process on a beef farm -- sure do love the delicious beef!