This was our 2013 Jayco Flight Swift 198 RD

THIS WAS OUR 2013 JAYCO FLIGHT SWIFT 198RD, PARKED AT THE TOMBSTONE TERRITORIES RV PARK IN ARIZONA



Tuesday 11 May 2021

Happenings at our place

Yes, I know another blog post is overdue so here it is. While the spring weather has been rather disappointing here in our part of the province with abnormal cold days and several frosty nights, we went ahead and tried to do all the things we had planned anyway. Every year at springtime I look forward to the blossoming of my Azaleas and just about every year, just as the shrub is in full bloom, we get some heavy rain ruining the blossoms. However, for a few days the red blooms looked good until the rain came down. 

 

















The Hummingbirds, Finches, and Orioles arrived about mid April and I spotted a Brown Thrasher in the yard among the Robins. I put out the usual sugar feeders and some grape jelly for the Orioles, but what I hadn’t counted on was that other birds, like the House Sparrows and Wrens, all like the jelly too, and they are fighting over it!  

 










































































It was in our plan to do something with our driveway this year. For the most part is was covered with gravel up to the concrete pad that is to the side of our house. I have been struggling keeping the weeds at bay that sprout out of it no matter what I do. Also at the side where the travel trailer is parked, we have a bit of a retaining wall made from 4x4” pressure treated wood that developed a bit of a slant. With the purchase of longer travel trailers over the years the space between the RV and the garage has become pretty tight to maneuver our truck. So a few weeks ago we took out the first two of the ornamental shrubs that were next to the concrete pad so we could widen the pad for easier access to the garage. I had to relocate a bunch of spring flowers too and saved some of the good dirt from the flowerbed.

Next Benno went and dug up a section of the drainage pipe from the RV pad so it could be extended since our present trailer has the drainage outlet further back. Also the post for the electrical hookup and water faucet were dismantled and Benno will construct a new one.

 
















We had hired Ciliska Contractor, a local company close by. We know their quality work because they did our seeping tiles and sump years ago and other jobs on and off for us, who sent a crew to start working on the driveway. They removed the clear stone gravel, brought more sand and a different type of gravel was installed to compact and prepare the ground. Then the area was graded with the help of a laser level that sat on a tripod so the lane will be slightly sloped for water runoff. The retaining wall that was made from pressure treated 4x4 wood got ripped out and for several hours Benno painstakingly pulled out the long rebar rods with a vise grip that were holding the old layers of 4x4 wood together. The whole driveway and RV parking spot were then covered with wire mesh inside of the concrete forming. In the existing concrete pad there were holes drilled into its sides for the insertion of rods to bond the new and the old slabs and to insure they sat at the same level. 

 



















In-between we had a weekend and then the concrete trucks were booked out so we had to wait another day. Finally the concrete was poured. It took 18 cubic yards to fill the new addition.

 

For a final photo of the driveway you have to wait a couple of weeks, I guess. And you know I just realized that we could now easily park a 52 foot Tiffin Class A motorhome in front of our place. 

Now that's a thought ;-)

 




8 comments:

  1. Very nice expansion of the Driveway Pad. It will also be easier for cleaning the Driveway if you are home next winter.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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    1. Thank you. Having a solid surface when clearing the driveway will for sure be much easier. No more flying gravel through the air!

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  2. GREAT driveway. Even I might be able to back into it!! Do you think Furrion is making any money????? LOL

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  3. Thanks, yes we love the new driveway. For the price of this Furrion RV with the whirlybird and hot tub you could probably purchase the whole damn RV Park.

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  4. Wow! That is awesome! I enjoyed watching a new concrete pad being poured at our house in London for our 5th wheels. Just one guy did it with Bill's help. Nice job!
    Can't wait to see the new rv!! haha

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    1. We already had a large concrete pad next to the house so this is an addition. The most work goes into the prep for the foundation then the concrete pour is kind of the icing on the cake. That Furrion RV would be the ultimate set of wheels when we win the lottery but in the meantime I think we are happy with what we got :-))

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  5. That is a huge change to your lot. Very tempting for a 40 footer to come visit. Quite the RV.

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    1. The concrete foundation will make it so much nicer to park our travel trailer and I can't wait to see how it will work out. Sigh, I have to be patient because the concrete has to cure several weeks.

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