Last day of work before the big trip

We worked into the night that we left. Partially letting that patch dry with the multiple coats of resin, and also other finishing touches.

We got to add the inside walls!

Our epoxy resin masterpiece! Once that resin gets on something, it totally ruins it as we've said, but one man's trash is  Evan and Kristy's art.

Kelly added a stencil of the Pika name. Unfortunately, it just didn't have time to dry and when she pulled off the tape, it pulled off the paint. 

Evelyn added an adorable Pika on the side. Also didn't quite come out as hoped, but with a little touch up it might look nice again. 

We leave tomorrow, when uh oh....

Our first two drives with the Pika ended up in minor disasters. They were both resolved pretty easily, but could have been a lot worse. The first one, I was taking the Pika around the block on a test run, and it went great. Until I was trying to back it up into the drive way. It was hard to do, and not because it's hard to back a trailer up into a spot, but because it was physically hard to turn the wheel. Now I know that my muscles were very tired from all the hard work, but it should not have been that hard! So we took the Subaru to mechanic, and they said "well, if it isn't the belt, and it isn't leaking, it is probably the power steering pump." Which would take many days to fix because they would need to order a replacement pump. Uh oh, we are supposed to leave on Friday and it is Wednesday! They said they would take a look at it during the day to "see if it is anything stupid". Turned out, there was a crimp in the line leading out or into the pump, making the power steering fail when it wasn't moving fast. So first crisis averted, or at least dealt with.

THEN on Thursday we drive it in to have it weighed officially. We were going to do that Wednesday, but obviously car troubles... It got to the weighing station just fine, we are very proud to announce that Pika was 850lbs at birth. Then, buoyed by our light camper, and successful driving, we decided to go to the DMV to get it registered. Luckily we took the back roads, because over a train track we go, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, then "SCRATCH!!!RATTLE!" the Pika came off the hitch, and starting dragging by the security chains. I put on my breaks as soon as I realized what that chain rattle meant, and the hitch went right through the front of Pika. Oh my, that was devastating. We were lucky it happened while we were still in Columbus, so that we could patch it up. The more concerning thing is WHY it happened. There is a bolt inside the coupler that tightened it, and we think that it just wasn't tight enough before. But no worries, it has not happened again, and it made it across the country!

The damage.

Just one little hole is ok right?

I have a bad feeling about this. 

We'll patch it up in no time! Exactly two days no time, because that's all we have!

Pretty painting.

This door will never be done! 

Well it looks good on the tape!

Evan helps make the camper water tight. Unfortunately that seal didn't work (too thick) but then when I put a different seal on, it didn't really work either in the pouring rain that we had on our drive to Chicago. 

Window installation 

I can see out!

Kelly working late into the night.

Don't worry, we didn't just make Kelly work late into the night, we did too!

Oh no! You painted over all the beauty! 

"That didn't look too hard, let me try"-Kristy "Kelly, it's too hard, can you help me?" - Kristy when she was trying to cut out the little tiny trees.

I can handle painting over the tape, that I can do.

Inside walls!

You figured it out, this post spans a couple days. Those last days we had for working were spent working, not taking photos! We do love our blog followers, but I mean, we also love to have a finished (sort of) product.

Painting!

Before...

More before...

Ah, painting in the hot hot sun that is making the paint dry before I even roll it once is so much fun!

I thought it looked sort of cool just like this.

But no! paint on!

Ta-da! After! Well, after all the "Dove's Cry" has been painted on. Next we paint on the "Pine Bark" on the lower level. 

Teaser! We have a specialist, our resident artist. 

And some Wild Kingdom, a starling eating another bird. I've never seen that before! That's probably what made the dove cry. 

Evan makes some windows, Kristy makes a door and Nina learns how to change a tire

As you probably know, the Pika is out in the world now, but I still want to update in order of occurrence, so if you are just eager to see the "finish" result, you'll have to wait! Or maybe you already mostly saw it in person. In the meantime-enjoy the process!

Evan makes very narrow strips of walnut for his windows.

Double pained side window, from Evan's parent's old fire place!

Kristy's entrance door.

Chiseling is fun. 

Nina got to learn the fine art of changing a tire.