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Most recent to a few weeks ago

This morning, today, and until 1:00 PM, CPR and First Aid training. 

Stacy and I haven't had any CPR training in several years so it was good to get back in it and be current again. Today's class was taught by the area ISP (Idaho State Police, think CHP) Officer.
 Last time we'd had any training AED (Automatic Electronic Defibrillator) machines weren't even considered back then, too new and too expensive back then, now in the video course they recommend grabbing the AED and taking it with you for almost any incident!
In the photo above I'm holding the camera with Stacy at the lower left and the rest of our entire department working on the new style CPR training manikins. The red and yellow device in front of Stacy is the training AED. 100 to 120 CPR compressions a minute! That is a lot!! 

Last Friday, the 22nd, the Spokane area RV Show and Sale at the Spokane County Fairgrounds:

When I first read about this show several months ago, Stacy and I had agreed to take the Friday off and go to the show as to beat the weekend crowds. We aren't in the market for a new RV at the moment but we did want to see the new trends in the RV world and look for some deals in things I wanted to get for our trailer. 


Above and below: While I didn't take photos in everything we looked at or looked in, I did take photos at things and units that interested us. These two photos are of a smaller Class C motorhome. What used to be the front cab over bunk was now the entertainment area with storage in this unit. And as shown below to get the bed to fit when the bed's slideout is closed in, the mattress has to slide up and over the other half while the slide out comes in! While it looked interesting I didn't think this weird feature set was worth the "sale" price of $125,000.00!!! That plus the fact that to use the toilet in the small room at the foot of the bed would require either leaving the bathroom door open or removing one's right leg to close that door! In our 2009 trailer you had to leave the bathroom door open to use the toilet and after experiencing that inconvenience Stacy and I agree, NEVER again!!



Below: Another Class 'C' model we looked at. Again, nice, HOWEVER, not worth the price! The slideout helped quite a bit in this model but again, the bathroom isn't practical for real use as it was too small!


 Next few photos, Stacy has a soft spot for Airstream trailers. Her family has owned them and used one for several family trips so she has some good memories in them. I do admit they look nice and look to be nicely put together.
But no living space increasing slide out option is even available for these and they cost thousands more than any comparable trailer so the interest stops there for me.
The 16 foot "Bambi" mini trailer was $55,000.00! The trailer Stacy is sitting at the dinette table below was around $80,000.00.
Nice, but not that nice! Unless of course we should win the lottery!
I told Stacy I think of the Airstream brand and the "Apple" of RV's, really nice to look at, made with nice finishes and expensive touches and totally overpriced for what they are, just like Apple products!!


Below are various photos from the other Airstream trailers on display.



Above, if you'll notice the "porthole" at the left of the photo. That was to the bathroom in this model, an interesting touch in keeping with the old "Land Yacht" Airstream ideal.




The next 2 photos below are of this "Prism" model Class 'C' powered with a Mercedes running chassis and diesel engine. Not too many diesel engines available in the Class C models, too bad too as Stacy and I are definitely fans of diesel engines for trucks for that superior fuel economy and driveability. Stacy liked the turnaround front seats for the driver and passenger and that narrow table attachment with this model and the interior wasn't too bad either.  On sale for $103,000.00 I didn't like the lack of outside storage compartments and that it was on a one ton chassis where most class C's are on ton and a half chassis now. Stronger chassis less wiggle!






The last group of photos are of a 5th wheel trailer I liked. I personally think 5th wheels are the way to go for storage and living space. And most people who "full time" live in 5th wheel trailers.



Above: from the kitchen sink area looking toward the back of the main living area, the large flat screen TV, an electric fireplace below, 5,000 BTU with an available flame 'look' while using for ambiance. Dual opposing slideouts give a lot of living space. 
Below: A new trend in many RVs we looked in are these large clear skylights. This one wasn't as big as some we saw, it had screens you could pull over to block the light if needed, the only problem in this model was having to get a ladder to reach the area of the skylight! Too high up to just reach up and close it. It had a sale price of  $60,000.00 but at 8,100 pounds, while not too heavy considering what it has, it is more than I'd want to spend. 


Above: same trailer and showing the really big windows! And the free standing table and chairs, tied down for travel of course. 
And below: Me taking a photo of the very large bedroom area with the bed slideout and the front of the trailer being a full closet .  

Last photo below: Looking from the TV area towards the front of this 5th wheel showing the island sink and double door RV, not residential, fridge/freezer. A nice shelf and built in wine rack below the cabinet with glass accent doors.




The Winter weather:

These photos were taken Sunday morning the 24th when I had to go get some fuel for the snow thrower and power tools. I have to drive about 20 miles to get the ethanol free premium we use after spending a lot of money on equipment repair because the ethanol wrecks the machines carburetors!! 

While we have had a nice winter this year, much nicer than last year by far snow wise, with snow from before Christmas and still a lot around now, the overall snowfall is still less than the old "normal"was. Since the weekend though, and it snowed all day long on Saturday, it has warmed up to the low 40s and switched to a lot of rain so I do believe that for the most part, the real winter of 2015 / 2016 is probably over now and we'll work into a long spring. 


Above: right out our front gate! I feel that much of photography is being in the right place at the right moment to get a chance at that great shot! The ground radiation fog with the low clouds behind looked spectacular!



Below: last photo in this post, the Elmira Store as I was driving back North on Highway 95 towards home. Once a real community with a railroad stop and everything, like so many places in the area, this is the General Store, Post Office, Restaurant and Barber Shop for the community.



Till next post! Tad



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