Hideousness!

                                                         Survived the Long Drive Home

                                                              Unhooking from the Van

                                                                          Up It Goes

                                                                     A Bit Confused

So the lovely old camper is now sitting on our driveway. Once it was opened, we immediately bug bombed it. I never saw any live bugs but you can't be too careful! After the toxic fumes were aired out, I vacuumed it. So fun to suck up dead bugs and old wasp nests. In one cabinet there were old newspapers from 1998. I was hoping to find some hidden money but no luck :)

We tossed out the mattresses and couch cushions (no sign of mice nests which was good!) and the curtains as well. I am all for vintage things, but I draw the line on old stuff like that!

                                                                  Vintage Curtains

                                                                  Vintage Mattress

Now, there are several things that need to be addressed before we can use it (or sell it). Whilst opening it, a hinge broke that holds the side to the roof. Seems necessary so that will be replaced. Then a living hinge broke (something to do with holding the side in place-again, important to replace.) A nice rainstorm blew through so we found some places where the camper leaks. I believe you stuff foam in those areas. There are numerous cracks on the exterior but that would just be cosmetic so I don't think we would buy those parts. There are so many nooks and crannies that are really hard to clean. Between the bug bomb smell and the bleach smell, you can imagine the stink.

Now Tony is still all gung-ho to keep it and use it. My major concern is mold. There are two plexiglass windows that have mold between the layers. We can replace those but I am worried about unseen mold. We know it leaks so who knows if in the past it had water in it. I would like to fix it up a bit and then sell it. Then in the spring look for a new or newer one. We are still debating this whole issue!

Interior Pictures of the Semi-Cleaned Camper to follow...

Heading Home (hopefully!)

I took the van in yesterday to have the electrical hooked up so the camper can have brake lights. This afternoon Tony is going to go see if the brake lights work. If so, then Orange Flame is coming home. (yes, we named the camper Orange Flame. Maybe we need to get some flame decals on it!) Should be a fun hour and a half drive back! And the first step this weekend is the BUG BOMB!!!

Something to Sit On

We made our second purchase for the interior renovation today at Home Depot. (The first being the two bed-in-a-bags). They had a clearance on outdoor patio furniture cushions so we bought a bunch. Until we have the camper here, I can't try them out so we either need 4 or 8, depending on which direction they fit best on the seats. And then we have to see how they look when the painting and flooring is complete. But I can't pass up a bargain and we can return them if necessary.

Official Apache Owners!

We drove 1 1/2 hours to pick up our camper today. We picked up our friend and he led us to the camper. We drove up and there she was, all set up. First impressions... she was TINY and to be honest, a little creepy! I am trying hard to visualize the finished product after the renovation! We only took a quick glimpse inside because the property has an apple orchard so there were bees everywhere. Nicholas was freaking out so I took the kids away from that area to find a bee-free zone. (the van doors were open so bees flew in there!) We wandered down to the pond until the bees found us, went to the neighbor's to look at their burned-out house and then sat down in the grass away from all trees and flowers. I happened to look down and found a four-leaf clover which I took as a sign that buying the camper was a good thing :)

Tony took some time to check out the camper and it looks like it is in great shape. No gaping holes or stinky smells :) He paid, lowered the pop-up and hitched it up. We successfully drove it several miles to another property where it can wait for us. Tony has to get the van wired for the brake lights and then he can go back and bring it all the way home.

Our plans are to set off a bug bomb, power wash the exterior, paint all the wooden surfaces inside and bleach the heck out of it!

And the fun begins...

What better place to search for pop-up decorating ideas, than Pinterest. Once you get immersed in that website, it may be difficult to get out! But the ideas are endless and led me to some decorating decisions.

I love the red painted cabinets. I think a red oil-based paint would be durable and look great!

This bedding would go great with the red cabinets. This is a bed-in-a-bag so I would use the sheets and dust ruffle to create valences and the curtain that hangs from each bed section.

     

I think black and white flooring would look great with the red cabinets. And stick down tiles are easy to install and durable!

Proud New Owners

On August 28, 2013 we purchased a 1976 Apache Mesa Pop-Up camper! We had been searching for a camper since our last camping trip. I was done with tent camping and all the joys that encompasses. (That could be an entire blog itself!) Thus the search for a camper began. Our first possibility turned out to be a smelly, moldy, micey mess. On to the next. Options included financing a new camper or splitting the cost with friends. But a friend called with information on an older camper at a bargain price. He inspected it for us and thought it had great possibilities. So based on some pictures and his advice, we bought it! The next step is to get the right hitch attachment for our van and go pick her up!

We plan on renovating the interior...the first step we'll be throwing out the mattresses, cushions and fabric! After a thorough bleaching and inspection for bugs and rodents (shudder!) we will be ready to start the fun renovation. We have a camping weekend planned for the end of September so we will see how much we can accomplish in a month!