2008 Mallard Glamper (the RV overhaul)

 

Last year (2015) we did a road trip with our trailer around the Great Northern Circle Route and ended up with a water leak in the floor where the slide meets the trailer at the front. After having it repaired (expensive repair) we decided that before the new flooring went in we would renovate the whole trailer. It is now our glamper.

We started by removing all the doors, counters, lights, carpet, bathroom cabinets, rv tub and surround and all fixtures. Bunk bed was removed. Painting was accomplished after cleaning, degreasing and scuffing all paintable surfaces. Any blemishes and holes were filled and sanded. You do not need anything special to paint cabinets. Just make sure they are very clean and that you prime them first. Walls as well. We spent a fair bit of time deciding on colours so that everything blended together well.

Once everything was painted, the wainscot went in was painted and caulked. Counter tops were built, kitchen sink and faucet plumbed and installed. Stove re-installed. Bathroom was rebuilt with then new shower pan, shower wall insert, and plumbing. Take time here, as you do not want things leaking once it is all back together. Cabinet doors and hardware was reinstalled. Flooring was next and went in very easy with the Allure Trafficmaster Vinyl flooring. We bought a variety of pre-primed trim for around the floors and slide. Makes a huge difference when everything is trimmed and caulked. It hides all the imperfections. Fridge door inserts were replaced with 1/8 melamine and painted with chalkboard paint. All lights were replaced with led’s from eBay.

Pictures are Neil Walton Photography and Kaila Walton Photography photos and mounted on laminate by London Drugs. Mounted on the wall with 2-sided tape. Couch is a used futon from my dad and covered in several fitted sheets. The curtains were trimmed for size and mounted using dowels and eye bolts so that they are easy to put up and take down and are nearly flush to the walls. We found faux bamboo blinds from Walmart that fit just right and near flush as well.

The project took two solid weeks 8 hours a day to complete and is still a work in progress as there are some areas that need touched up.

All in all we love it. It makes it look so much larger with the lighter paint and all the light trimmings.

Neil

 

Amazon.ca

• InterDesign Curved Adjustable Shower Rod, InterDesign T-Bar Shower Hooks, AutoPartsWay Lyons Shower Pan, Dura Faucet Shower Faucet, Body Spa Oxygenics Shower

Ikea

• Butcher Block Counter Top, Stainless Steel Sink, Kitchen Sink Faucet, Bathroom Vanity and Sink, Bathroom Cabinet, Bath Mat, Magnetic Wall Spice Rack, table and chairs

Carpet Super Store; Prince George

• Roll End Carpet For Slide

Dulux Paints; Prince George

• Cabinet Paint and Primer

Home Depot; Prince George

• Trafficmaster Allure Brushed Oak Taupe Vinyl Plank Flooring, Marquee by Bear Wall Paints, Wainscot, Trim, Bathroom Vanity and Sink, Shower Insert Panels, Wood Dowels for Curtains, Curtains, Chalkboard Paint, assorted wood products, assorted hardware and plumbing supplies

Walmart

• Faux Wood Blinds

Instabind Canada

• Carpet Edge Binding

 

 

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Long Range Commuting

When your commute is 8500 miles (14000 kms) one way, you never really know what or whom you will meet.

My stop in Frankfurt was about 12 hours, so I took the time to venture downtown and see the sights. Airport shuttle, train, and foot power got me to the center of town where the weather was wonderfully warm, the people friendly, and the food in the street market tasty.

The first thing that I noticed was the smells of the market foods. Like a Labrador retriever, I used my nose to find the tastiest of them all. Steak cooked over an open barbeque, French fries, and a glass of beer was the choice of the day.

It was at an open market table where I met Alexander. He is an intriguing young stop-film director, writer, editor, and womanizer. Originally from Israel he now lives in many different parts of the world. Not really sure where he calls home.

It was interesting spending the afternoon with him and exploring the inner city of Frankfurt through his eyes. He is a very gregarious, enigmatic young man, and as we parted ways for our respective flights, I was left with an admiration for a person who chases their dreams, and passions to the worlds end. He is also someone who encourages others to do the same.

We will see Alexander Katzowicz directed movies on the silver screen one day.

Here are some

Till next time…

Neil

 

Shooting Grizzlies In The Bella Coola Valley

As we descended down Heckman Pass into the Bella Coola Valley to shoot Grizzlies, we really had no idea what was in store.

Heckman Pass is a 20 minute descent down the “Hill” on highway 20 (Freedom Highway). Its 18% grades, switchbacks, and shear drop offs to the valley bottom are not for the faint of heart. Make sure your brakes are good!

The campsite we chose was the Bailey Bridge Campsite about 15 minutes out of Bella Coola. It is situated along the banks of the Bella Coola river. Here we saw Eagles, fly fisherman, and drift boats meandering the twisty Bella Coola RIver.

Our hope was to spend time along the river to see Grizzlies fishing for the plentiful Coho Salmon but unfortunately we were either a month too early or the floods that have enveloped the valley over the past few years have all but wiped out the salmon runs. We saw only one bear during our three days in the Valley but we did have a wonderful time exploring the area.

I took many photos that I have yet to process but have attached some here of our journey from Prince George to Bella Coola and back.

Here are but a few.

Neil

Tweedsmuir Park Entrance

Bailey Bridge Campsite

Fly Fisher Bella Coola River

Bailey Bridge Bella Coola River

Chilcotin Horses

Clayton Falls

Tweedsmuir Park Lake

Highway 20 Lake

Chilcotin Farm

Hagensburg Barn

Birdhouses Hagensburg

The Chilcotin From The Top Of Hantzville Canyon

Hantzville Canyon

More Bird Houses

Trying to be creative in Africa

Its been a while since I posted last. I have to admit that I really have not been very enthusiastic about photography lately. I think its partly due to being in a place where you are not welcome with a camera. For those of us that are used to having a camera surgically attached to our limbs that presents a problem. The other issue is just getting into a rut. I have been here in Angola for nearing 50 days and have flown for only 12. It gets a bit monotonous after a while and you just loose your drive.

Well thats about to change as I will be on my way home soon and will getting reattached to my camera, and equipment so I hope you will be seeing many images coming out in the next few months.

Recently my colleagues and I walked to a local Angolan grave yard. They are massive! Of course I took my camera with me and as soon as we walked through the gates we were immediately told that there was no photography allowed. I am not sure why, but it seems to be a theme everywhere we go here. Its really too bad because there are so many wonderful images one could be taking. It was difficult but I did get a couple of good black and white images that I am sharing here.

Stay safe, new posts will follow.

Neil

Becoming a Visual Artist

If you take a picture and it does not touch your heart, don’t expect it to touch anyone else’s.

When I first discovered photography I never thought it would take me down the paths that it has.

I had been thinking long and hard about what it is that I wanted out of photography. But then I realized it was not what I wanted but what I needed. Sitting in a Smug meet in Nanaimo, listening to Rocky Lee describe his path to becoming a visual artist, I realized what direction it was I was going to head.

The time has come to rebrand myself.

There is much more to do but in the months to come but the butterfly will emerge from its cocoon.

Neil

Back to the African Continent

Well it’s April and I am back where I never thought I would be.

Hello Angola.

Angola is located on the south west coast of Africa, and is in recovery mode after a 27 year civil war.  It recently discovered oil and diamonds, and is in the process of rebuilding infrastructure and housing. The signs of the old civil war are still everywhere. It is your typical african nation with its poverty and gluttony. It does not seem to be as violent as some that I have been to but you still need to have your wits about you.

I will be trying to gather as many great photos as I can as I travel around the country but will need to be extra vigilant to not have my gear liberated.

Neil

Spring has sprung its time for change

There will be many changes this year, one of them is our families move to Prince George, BC. The focus will be more on my photography business, moving to re-define, and rebrand myself, and a move towards full time shooting.

I recently spent the day at the Bear Creek Ranch shooting the Island Barrel Racing warm ups for the 2012 season. Having never shot this type of event was challenging, especially with it being indoors. There were no lights to deal with so that was nice, and we had natural light coming from the white covering on the roof. The hardest part was finding a nice background in this venue. My D7000 did a masterful job at super high iso’s, and my 85mm f1.8 was plenty long enough to fill the frame in most cases.  I do see longer prime lenses in my future for this sort of stuff.

My photography career is starting to take off, with recent publishings in Canadian Skies Magazine, and inFlight, Maldivian Air Taxi’s in flight magazine. It is my hope and dream to one day be published in National Geographic, its a long ways off, but still a dream.

Here is hoping your spring cleaning goes as well as ours!