Month: September 2018

Bigger and better

Our bigger and better gazebo arrived and we went to pick it up.

We were in the old beater truck as the package we were collecting weighed 550 lbs. As we got into Nanaimo we stopped at a light and I noticed wisps of smoke coming from the left front wheel well. Great, that’s all we needed.

We got to Lowes, dropped off the old gazebo and waited for the fork lift to load the new one. All the time I was worrying about how we were going to get home with a busted truck.

They eventually brought out the package and we tried to load it onto the truck. There were three of us pushing with Rosalie supervising. The darn thing got stuck and wouldn’t slide off the forks. But then somehow the lid of the box popped open and low and behold, inside were six smaller packages. Now it was easy.

We still had to get home though. The problem we had was that the brake was dragging intermittently. I found that if I hammered the brake pedal with my foot it would free it up for a while. It worked and we got home just fine with no more smoke. Another job for another day.

That afternoon, I opened all the boxes and checked the contents to make sure all the parts were there. This took about two hours. Holy smoke, there were a lot of parts. I couldn’t start without Peter who was coming the next day. I had to have him to supervise, lose bits and generally get in the way. I jest! I couldn’t have done it without him. Thanks again Peter.

Gazebo parts
Lots of bits

So, the construction begins. The instruction said that it would take six to eight people two and a half hours to erect. Peter and I reckoned we could halve that time. We had started at about 10:30 that morning and at four o’clock I called it a day with about an hour’s work left which I finished up the following morning.

We would have completed it a lot sooner but neighbours kept dropping by. Some out of curiosity and one to offer a second ladder which we found very handy.  I didn’t mind the interruptions as one brough me a bottle of wine for helping him find a TV antenna.

While Peter and I were working Rosalie had gone to the monthly campground meeting. She returned with the news that they had been discussing gazebos in the park. I don’t know what it was about but it was up now and no way was it coming down anytime soon.

gazebo
All done but the walls

We love it, it’s comfortable and way back in the trees where the air is coolest. If it gets too cool we can close the walls and light the new chiminea. Which is another story for another day.

Gazebo

As we plan to live at the trailer all summer, I suggested to Rosalie that we need somewhere comfortable to sit outside; and possibly nap. So, we decided to buy a gazebo and add some comfortable furniture.

We found a gazebo on-line at Lowes. We decided on a soft top as they were by far less expensive. But, as I soon learned, you get what you pay for. I gave them a call and some young guy told me that they had a similar one in stock. Having nothing better to do that day we drove into town to take a look. They had nothing like the one we wanted. It was a wasted journey so we went home, ordered the one on-line and waited.

It finally arrived so I had my handy sidekick and supervisor, Peter, come and help me put it up.

The instructions said it would take four people four hours to erect; we did it in an hour and a half. Time to sit have a beer and enjoy the fruits of our labour.

Gazebo
Peter and Rosalie found it comfortable.

The following week, Peter and Suzie came for a visit.  While the girls went for a walk Peter and I decided there was too much beer in the fridge so we had better try reducing the stock.

We were sitting in the gazebo when it started to rain. Nothing serious, it only lasted fifteen minutes. However, I felt a drop of water hit my head. The darn gazebo with its weather proof roof was leaking. I guess rain doesn’t qualify as weather. Eventually a lot of drops got through meaning we had to return it.

Off to Lowes again. We eventually found a bigger, better one with a metal roof. The original price was $1,699, but had been reduced to $999. The salesman then told us that it had been further reduced to $830. Not only that, but that day only,  they a 10% sale as well. It endedup, that we got a better, bigger gazebo for about $100 more. Since it came without walls, it ended up costing a total of $300 more.

When they phoned to say it had arrived, I took down the previous gazebo and loaded it into the old beater truck ready to take back and get the new one. Now all I had to do was get Peter to supervise the next erection. (?)