Getting closer!

Today I decided to do a little jaunt around the neighborhood with Waddles, just to test things out.  I got her all hooked up to the car, did a 'pre-flight' walk around making sure everything was secured.  I tested the lights, and UH OH.... no lights!   They were plugged in, and worked the last time I tried them (last fall when I brought her home).  I unplugged, replugged, unplugged, replugged...looked at the wires under the trailer in case some mouse had been busy over the winter.  Nothing.

So I abandoned the jaunt until I could talk with my trailer expert, who is in Mexico still.    I pulled Waddles away from the house a bit, and pulled out the screen tent I bought to use with her, and set it up.   I had set it up once inside the garage this winter, but not outside.   After a few mis-assembly mistakes, I got it up.  Moved it over behind Waddles to see if I could open the kitchen hatch under the tent.... SUCCESS!      I took the tent down and got it back in it's bag, and backed Waddles into her parking place.   I left the car running and did a little walk around to see if she was in the right place, and low and behold the lights were working!    That made me nervous....  working intermittently is worse than not at all as far as I'm concerned.

So I decided to take our little jaunt after all.   I drove up to the nearby campground.   Got out and checked... lights were still working.   I drove into Parkdale and stopped at the store for something to drink (I figure I need to get used to parking and such).   Then I drove home.   No problem.  Lights were working; I'm getting comfortable driving with Waddles behind me.

Got a call from my trailer expert as I was backing into the parking spot, and his suggestion is that the ground might not have been a solid connection, evidently a somewhat common problem.  Moving the car around probably adjusted the ground so it worked.  He told me ways to check it also.    I'm taking the car to get the trailer wiring changed from 4-plug to 7-plug on Tuesday so I'll consult with them on how to mitigate this issue.

Everything else seems to be good.   I'm making lists of things to check before driving off with the trailer, when I get to a camp site, before I leave Waddles alone at a campsite.  What I need for my kitchen and other things for living out of the trailer.    I now have a box for all the kitchen items, a bag for all the security and parking items (chocks, locks, and such).    I also purchased more security items.   A wheel lock, to deter a would-be thief (this is a little trailer, easy to hook up and drive off with!).

I also broke down and bought a little can of mace.  I never thought I would do that, but traveling across country, alone, it seems like a good idea.  AND my theory is, if I have it, I won't need it.

I also tried out the kitchen today.....

Hot water from the propane stove?  Check.  

Refrigerator works? Check.  

Yellow pot holders for added cuteness?  Check.   

I think we are about ready to roll.  Oh and the problem with the back hatch locks mentioned in an earlier post, operator error... Fixed!

I'm feeling more confident, and my first trip is only for 2 nights, starting next week, so if I forget something critical it will be a lesson learned, and not a disaster!