BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I still have more decorating to do. Bull's skull to get for the front, Elvis pictures to hang, etc. Of course, you can't appreciate the true beauty of the Cresendo until you see it in person...
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Before and After
I thought when I started the project, there's only so much you can do with the inside of an RV. While this is a somewhat true statement, the project of replacing the 80s fabric on all the valances and their sidemates became a much larger one than expected. I was always told, a job worth doing is worth doing right. So 4 weeks after the begin date, here we are. Before and After photos.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I still have more decorating to do. Bull's skull to get for the front, Elvis pictures to hang, etc. Of course, you can't appreciate the true beauty of the Cresendo until you see it in person...
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I still have more decorating to do. Bull's skull to get for the front, Elvis pictures to hang, etc. Of course, you can't appreciate the true beauty of the Cresendo until you see it in person...
Poll: Class B? or not to Class B?
When Ethan and I purchased our precious Crescendo, Ethan took the dealer's word when he said, "Nope, you don't need to get a different license. Your class C will do just fine". Knowing in the back of my mind I shouldn't, I ignored this little detail while making the beginning plans of our adventure. After getting asked about this several times by several different people, we decided to look into the Nevada law for ourselves. Come to find out, in the state of Nevada you need a Class B drivers license in order to drive anything over 26,000 lbs. Our home on wheels weighs approximately 32,000 lbs. We just missed it by a mere 6,000 lbs. Ethan assured me that getting the license would be no problem.
Getting your class B isn't as you might think it is. There are 4 tests you must take in Nevada to earn a class B.
a) Written test. (Typical multiple question test)
b) Pre-inspection test. (A run through to show you know how to work the RV)
c) Skills test. (A "quick" test of parking, maneuvering, backing up etc.)
d) Drive test. (The final proof that you know how to handle the bus)
After studying the 100+ page manual for a week, Ethan went and took the written test. Passed, no problem. I had full confidence. Class B permit in hand.
Ethan then went on to read forum after forum about the pre-inspection test. He found it to be a bit more involved. After studying for another week, from the online material and a homemade checklist, Ethan took the test. At this point I still had full confidence and thought he might be taking this a little too seriously. I couldn't have been more wrong. He FAILED.
(Let me just take a moment to explain how shocking this was. Not to Ethan as much but to me! Unlike myself, Ethan can't remember ANY test that he's ever failed. I was so sure he'd have no problem with any of this. I think this is where I stopped making fun of him for studying so hard.)
After studying for two more days, Ethan went back and took the pre-inspection test. Passed, onto the skills test. Within a few minutes of backing-up...he FAILED, again. AH! Unbelievable.
This will be the appropriate time to explain how Ethan was getting the RV to the testing center, 45 minutes to North Las Vegas. In Nevada, you can drive your RV if you have a permit and someone with a full Class B license in the passenger seat... Ethan found Jerry on craigslist. For $50/day Jerry would go with Ethan and the Crescendo to the testing center and wait for the result. Back to the story.
After Ethan failed the skills test, he and Jerry took 3 hours and practiced backing-up in an empty parking lot. He was sure to get his license now!
After a couple days, he and Jerry went back to the testing center for the skills test. PASSED! YES. Ethan and the testing agent moved along to the final step! The drive test. After 30 minutes of driving around the testing agent told Ethan she was cutting the test short because he's not going to pass. He needs to watch his speed in school zones but keep his speed up at all other times. ANOTHER FAIL!
Instead of paying Jerry for another day, I strongly suggested that Ethan leave the RV there for the night then go to the testing center early in the morning and go 'stand-by' instead of making another appointment. After all, it's almost go time for our trip! Nothing like waiting until the last minute. Luckily, or maybe the agents had pity on him, he only had to wait a few minutes and was taking his drive test by 8:30 am! Finally... he PASSED! After paying Jerry $150 and a few failed attempts, he finally passed!
Getting your class B isn't as you might think it is. There are 4 tests you must take in Nevada to earn a class B.
a) Written test. (Typical multiple question test)
b) Pre-inspection test. (A run through to show you know how to work the RV)
c) Skills test. (A "quick" test of parking, maneuvering, backing up etc.)
d) Drive test. (The final proof that you know how to handle the bus)
After studying the 100+ page manual for a week, Ethan went and took the written test. Passed, no problem. I had full confidence. Class B permit in hand.
Ethan then went on to read forum after forum about the pre-inspection test. He found it to be a bit more involved. After studying for another week, from the online material and a homemade checklist, Ethan took the test. At this point I still had full confidence and thought he might be taking this a little too seriously. I couldn't have been more wrong. He FAILED.
(Let me just take a moment to explain how shocking this was. Not to Ethan as much but to me! Unlike myself, Ethan can't remember ANY test that he's ever failed. I was so sure he'd have no problem with any of this. I think this is where I stopped making fun of him for studying so hard.)
After studying for two more days, Ethan went back and took the pre-inspection test. Passed, onto the skills test. Within a few minutes of backing-up...he FAILED, again. AH! Unbelievable.
This will be the appropriate time to explain how Ethan was getting the RV to the testing center, 45 minutes to North Las Vegas. In Nevada, you can drive your RV if you have a permit and someone with a full Class B license in the passenger seat... Ethan found Jerry on craigslist. For $50/day Jerry would go with Ethan and the Crescendo to the testing center and wait for the result. Back to the story.
After Ethan failed the skills test, he and Jerry took 3 hours and practiced backing-up in an empty parking lot. He was sure to get his license now!
After a couple days, he and Jerry went back to the testing center for the skills test. PASSED! YES. Ethan and the testing agent moved along to the final step! The drive test. After 30 minutes of driving around the testing agent told Ethan she was cutting the test short because he's not going to pass. He needs to watch his speed in school zones but keep his speed up at all other times. ANOTHER FAIL!
Instead of paying Jerry for another day, I strongly suggested that Ethan leave the RV there for the night then go to the testing center early in the morning and go 'stand-by' instead of making another appointment. After all, it's almost go time for our trip! Nothing like waiting until the last minute. Luckily, or maybe the agents had pity on him, he only had to wait a few minutes and was taking his drive test by 8:30 am! Finally... he PASSED! After paying Jerry $150 and a few failed attempts, he finally passed!
That's the story of Ethan's Class B.
It only took 2 weeks and $150 more than expected.
Keeping what you've just read in mind, take a moment to put yourself in my shoes... now, please choose one of the answers below. What do YOU think I should do???
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
France Home-Exchange Follow-Up
For those of you that are new to our blog, Ethan and I spent 3 weeks in France honeymooning/home-exchanging in August. It was a GREAT experience and to make the experience that much better, we landed a front page spot (of the travel section) in the Boston Globe. Thanks Laura!
Left: Blaison family in front of our house.
Right: Amanda on Blaison's front porch in Sannois, France.
Does this photo look familiar? Ethan took this action shot while we were crusin' our rented bikes all over Versailles.
These scans are small so if you'd like to read the article, visit this link.
http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2008/11/30/home_values_only_grow_in_these_exchanges?s_campaign=8315
More RV blogging soon...
Left: Blaison family in front of our house.
Right: Amanda on Blaison's front porch in Sannois, France.
Does this photo look familiar? Ethan took this action shot while we were crusin' our rented bikes all over Versailles.
These scans are small so if you'd like to read the article, visit this link.
http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2008/11/30/home_values_only_grow_in_these_exchanges?s_campaign=8315
More RV blogging soon...
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