Whew!

[vickMT]

Hello

What a year! January of 2010 brought us a new (to us) 2008 21' trailer. We were excited to move up from our 12 yr. old popup. After storing it, we moved it home in early May. I started packing it and making up the beds. On May 15, vandals went on a rampage in this small Montana town (highly unusual) and spread paint over 33 vehicles, awnings, streets. But lastly they entered my neighbors shop (across the alley) and set it on fire. My RV was sitting directly across from the fire. This old, wooden shop went up fast and hot. My RV saved my house, taking the brunt of the heat. I was hiding behind the fence with a hose trying to keep enough water on it to save it. My fence was smoking, the garden shed, my garage only made it because it was stucco; I could hear the smoke detector going off in the trailer and watched the propane cover melting. The fire department was delayed because the heat tunneled up the alley and they couldn't get close; they had to circle around through another side yard to get to the fire. My RV was totaled with the outside wall interior melting down.

Last month, (1/12) we finally found a replacement. We are now the proud owners of a 2005 Jayco Jay Feather 25Z. I am not new to RVing, but haven't had a trailer of this size since the '80's. I will have to learn all over again. Since we will never realize restitution and insurance only helped a little, we have to take one step at a time. I am the manager of the animal shelter and have limited resources and close to retirement.

I also traded my van for a spotless, beautiful 2005 Silverado. I have to admit I like her more than I thought I would. She is just like new! Not a ding or a scratch. She belonged to a Sr. gentleman who never towed anything and fussed over this truck. I only have to change out the radio as soon as I can afford it as it has no auxiliary jack for my iPod.

I need all the help and reminders I can get, quirks of the 25Z, Jayco's in general and new friends. We are in beautiful western Montana, 3 hours south of Glacier Park. We don't have to go far to enjoy the most beautiful country imagineable. My hobby is photography and look forward to having more time to pursue this passion of mine. (I also do restoration of old photographs)

Thank you for the welcome.


vicki

[Bethers]

Hi and Welcome VIcki. OMG about what happened to your last trailer. And it's too bad insurance didn't cover it all, but I'm glad you persevered and got another. Now to get you on the road.

I'm also very impressed with anyone who works for an animal shelter (I volunteered at one for years, and spent my last couple years volunteering and on the boad of directors of one until I headed out fulltime). Kudos to you. Our furry friends need all the help and support they can get.

C'mon in and join in anywhere, anytime. Hope to meet you down the road.

[Gentleladybear]

Welcome Vicki. Sorry to hear the problems you have had, glad you got another unit and will keep right on moving. A group of us will be at Glacier Park on our way to Alaska. May you can stop over to see us.

[Sandersmr]

OMG is right on what happened to your trailer. I hope they caught the low-life trash that did that.

And I'm envious that you live in a picturesque part of our country. I will make it up there someday, may be not until I retire though.

And lastly, I applaud you for working in an animal shelter. All of my dogs since I have been grown have been adoptees and my old man, Oscar, is a true rescue, found with his brother on the side of the road.

[VickieP]

Welcome Vicki. You are indeed lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. I went to Montana with my family in my early teens and have always wanted to go back...one day it'll happen.

[WickedLady]

Welcome, Vicki.

[linann]

Welcome to the group. Your description of the fire and afterwards was mesmerizing. Hope it is smooth sailing from here.

[mitch5252]

Welcome, Vicki! We're glad you joined us.
We'll look forward to getting to know you better.

..

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome. So glad that you found us and want to share your adventures, questions and visions with us. Hope to see you down the road in the future and around campfires, real or imagined.

[retiredhappy]

Another big welcome to you. Glad you didn't give up and got another rig. Kudos to you for working at a shelter. All my dogs have been rescues, too. I often think about volunteering but I'm so afraid I'd end up with too many dogs as I fall in love easily.

[Readytogo]

Welcome Vicki, it seems we are being invaded by Vickis (look Out Mitch!!) CArolyns and Sues. You've joined a greeat group, share with us all your plans and dreams. Wendy

[mitch5252]

Welcome Vicki, it seems we are being invaded by Vickis (look Out Mitch!!)

But you forget - there's only ONE mean Vicki(e) and we all know who that is!

..

[cpatinjones]

Welcome to the forum!

[vickMT]

Thanks for the welcome everyone! We will get some pics posted when I bring the trailer out of storage and start packing it. After the fire, we drug everything back out again, before salvage co. picked it up and piled it all in the garage. So I have a bit of a mess to sort through (and hope it doesn't stink too badly from being exposed to the melting plastic and insulation).

I already have my equalizing hitch, new in the box, never got a chance to hook it up to the other trailer, sway bar, etc. But have to get another electric brake as I let mine go with the van. I have some good advice on a Prodigy 2. We have some "mod" plans to hang some new blinds in the trailer as the originals are so easily bent. I have been so busy with my job in the last few years, several of the dogs have never been camping.

I end up with the old dogs, the unadoptable ones. This ought to be a 3-ring circus.

Now if spring will hurry up. We noticed the rhubarb is popping up already. We have had a very mild February so it is confused. We are in western MT near Missoula.

@ the group heading for Alaska. When is your timeframe to be at Glacier Park? I highly recommend the KOA at West Glacier (just 2 miles outside the park entrance). It is spacious and nice and surrounded by trees and mountains.

Once again, thank you much for the welcome.

vicki

[Travelinana]

Welcome Vicki, What an awful thing to happen..but you stayed the course..I looked at a Jay Feather last week..really nice layout..I love Montana, have lived there for a short time many years ago and traveled through a few years ago. We will look forward to many posts and pics.