I was not shot in rural Oklahoma

"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
10/20/2020 at 16:33 • Filed to: None

But man, with weather it might as well have been Maine.

What a sunrise

Makin da cawfee

Puprito?

It rained a bit the night before the inspection

DISCUSSION (32)

ttyymmnn > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 16:44

But I did not shoot the deputy.

ttyymmnn > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 16:45

That’s either the cold front that never made it to Austin or the one that is going to cool things down later in the week.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 16:50

The fog over the lake is pretty.. .

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 16:53

Any day where I wasn’t shot is a good day.

That’s a neat setup in the small version of the Sienna. Did you ever show us the details?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 16:59

Yup - so chilly here the last couple days. Felt like sleet on my short walk at lunch yesterday.

(and I have my daughter’s soccer match to watch this evening - might require hot chocolate...)

Glad you’re still with us - ha!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 17:03

What no dents? My aunts Sienna had both corners caved within 5 years.

Kinja'd!!!

smobgirl > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/20/2020 at 17:14

Now I’m not sure whether calling it the Camryvan is simply inaccurate or will cause the dents to spontaneously appear.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 17:20

I think there would be Oppo interest in a deep dive on your cameryvan camping setup.

smobgirl > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/20/2020 at 17:23

Here’s a few more pics from when I got it: https://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-bought-a-thing-1843023665

There’s a company here called Oasis Campervans that does the builds but this one was made for the company owner’s dad before they existed. He has since upgraded to a 2017 Sienna . The sink is a gallon bottle that drains into a bucket so the insurance doesn’t consider it “plumbing.”

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 17:24

Very likely, it’s like saying “I haven’t gotten a flat tire in ages” boom flat tire.

vondon302 > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 17:34

I missed the van purchase. Cool setup!

WilliamsSW > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 17:36

The only thing in this universe cooler than that camper set up is the puprito.

AestheticsInMotion > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/20/2020 at 18:37

Seconded!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 18:40

‘Rained a bit’....looks like it rained a bit more than a bit!

Also....t hat is one snuggled pupper! :D

How’s the Siennacampah2000 treating you?

Thomas Donohue > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 19:04

Very cool setup in the minivan. I am glad no shots were fired. (or maybe there were, but none hit you. Either way, win! )

You need some rain- proof golf pants. Safe travels.

smobgirl > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/20/2020 at 19:40

The drive was so weird. It was regular fall weather in Denver, but east Colorado/west Kansas were horrible. Fog freezing on the mirrors and edges of the windshield and pretty windy. After that I was happy to see 40s again in Oklahoma!

smobgirl > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2020 at 19:42

It was definitely picturesque but not what I had in mind when I booked that site. Then again cold and gloomy means tick likelihood goes way down!

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/20/2020 at 19:43

Well there was also a surprise 20 acres of swamp that I had a hard time maneuvering around. Some of the shoe water is from sinking in a bit...

It’s been great for what it is but I definitely miss having something more suitable for local mountain drives

I’m working on that but we’ll see how things pan out.

smobgirl > Thomas Donohue
10/20/2020 at 19:45

It’s a tough battle with briars, swamps, ticks, snakes, and rain. Those pants and shoes are treated with permethrin but I should buy some waterproof spray as well and see how it works.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 19:50

Lower it with some suspension mods for handling and chuck a turbo on there? :P

Kinja'd!!!

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/20/2020 at 19:55

Lol. I was considering lifting it but the clearance is already pretty good! I ran over a tire chunk somewhere in Kansas and braced myself for the worst but...nothing. The Fiat probably would’ve needed thousands in repairs.

The Ghost of Oppo > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 20:19

I don’t see any waving wheat

shop-teacher > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 21:49

Glad to hear you're safe :)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 22:18

Impressive even a sink

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 22:50

Yuck - I hate nasty weather like that on road trips. How many miles do you do a year?

smobgirl > The Ghost of Oppo
10/20/2020 at 23:08

I was practically in Arkansas! I got a good 10 hours of waving wheat on the way.

smobgirl > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/20/2020 at 23:15

Normally I fly more, but the virus did enough damage to airline schedules (and my workload) that I’ve driven a lot more this year. Like this trip would’ve been more than $300 for flights and probably would have required an overnight if I flew, but with gas at $1.80/gallon in Kansas and Oklahoma it was easier cheaper to just drive. It was a little over $100 in gas, $14 to camp, $16 for food and I saved $80 on kennel fees.

But TL;DR - probably 20k miles since March?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
10/20/2020 at 23:26

If I have the time, I don’t mind driving at all.

Looks like you’ve got a good copilot.

smobgirl > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2020 at 00:18

I could happily wait another few decades before I drive one more mile on I-70 in Kansas. Otherwise I don’t mind too much!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
10/21/2020 at 07:26

Ha! Yes...

Stop at Ray’s Pharmacy in Quinter, KS, on your way back (unless you’re already back).

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl
10/21/2020 at 13:58

Thanks. That is very nice. That might give me some ideas.

smobgirl > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/21/2020 at 17:36

I had been checking out their website/Instagram for ideas before I accidentally stumbled across this van for sale. I was actually searching Craigslist for minivans intending on buying one to build out later... In hindsight it’s better for everyone that I found one already made.

But some notes:

- N ewer vans are at least 10 inches longer, which is nice for anyone taller than me (5’7”) trying to sleep. I’ve considered seeing whether I can hinge the chair back in mine to fold down for that extra 2-3 inches of space (and also for convenience when I’m using it as a stuff-hauler around town)

- Stow and go seats give more storage space once removed, which I think helps them a lot with the kitchen area now.

- I have magnets and squares of window screen for the front windows and with a small fan it’s tolerable enough even in warm weather, but a newer van with rear windows that go down would be even nicer.

- I plan on swapping the wood veneer kitchen cabinet top for a piece of formica or something more sturdy/waterproof eventually.

- They do most of their builds the same layout as mine, with entry to the “camper” area on the driver’s side. As someone who street parks the vehicle at home I almost feel like it would be easier if it was reversed (curb side entry) for loading/unloading and I don’t think it would make a difference on the road.