A "joining the forum and saying 'Hi'" thread (for anyone)

[Blue~Go]

Hi folks,

I thought it might be nice to have a thread where folks could stop in and say "Hi" if they wanted to. Sort of a landing pad when first stopping in - maybe make a little introduction. Nothing forced, and I'm all for privacy, but just whatever people feel like saying (if anything).

I got my 1999 Concourse last January, after having almost bought one a few years ago. Instead I got a Class B van at that time. I enjoyed the heck out of that rig, but decided I wanted just a scoch more room (but without giving up the nimble factor), and turned back to the Chinook. Coming from boats, I like the fiberglass shell.

A few of the newer Chinooks caught my eye, and I almost bought a 2003 with a cherry interior. But then I thought it was so pretty/new that maybe I'd be afraid to make any mods. Plus, for some reason, it just wasn't "me." And I do have a soft spot for the "classic" Concourse stripes too, especially the blue ones. So I went back and forth in my mind, all the while looking for just the right one, plus considering other brands/models.

One day last January, I had driven to a far-away city to look at a different brand of RV, and when that one turned out not to be a keeper I turned to local ads on the spur of the moment late that evening. You know, "There has to be something! I don't want this trip to be a complete waste! Where is an RV I can buy! For Pete's sake, I'm tired of looking at duds!" Lo and behold, there was a Concourse that had just been listed an hour or so before. Low mileage, stored in a warehouse (shiny!) and... classic blue stripes! Fingers crossed, I called and made an appointment to be there ASAP -- the next morning at 7:30 a.m. And so here I am, with a 1999 Concourse sporting the classic blue stripes

For me, it's just the right combo of clean/shiny/new enough it's going to last awhile, and yet not so new and expensive I'm afraid to touch anything and can only think of resale. I enjoy setting things up and customizing them a bit, and too, I knew I would need to pretty much overhaul the electrical/charging system on any rig (I like to boondock). So I went for an older but nice rig that would leave me some funds for upgrading, not crush my "But the resale!" nerves, and yet also be something I would be thrilled to come out of the store and see in the parking lot. That'd be the Blue~Go

I'm looking forward to reading about (and seeing photos of) mods, fixes, and trips people have taken. This should be a lot of fun!

Dale
1999 Concourse

[AmyJo]

Back in the '90's I was wasting time with my college-age nephew when we came across an RV sale in a parking lot of a mall. We wandered in and entered a Chinook. My nephew was raised on a sailboat and he was thrilled with the interior of the Chinook. I was too. I dragged my husband to see it and we bought it knowing anything about Chinooks or owning a motor home. My husband who was tall liked that he could stand up in it. I think it was a 1988 18+ maroon and cream. We drove that Chinook all over the U.S. and Canada. I sold it after my husband died but always went bonkers when ever I saw a Chinook. One day I spotted a 1997 blue and white Concourse in a friend's yard covered with algae and in need of major repairs. To make a long story short I bought it for $10,000 and am still working to restore it to its former beauty. It took me to Alaska in 2012 and to Michigan this summer and to many Chinook rallies on the East Coast. I love the blue interior and wood floor which I had installed. I enjoy going to the Chinook Rallies and meeting all the lovely people who travel as I do. I have learned a lot from reading posts on the yahoo group and hope to do the same here.

Amy Jo, Gainesville, FL

[Blue~Go]

Hi AmyJo,

Neat back-story, and how cool that you had an 18+ and it took you on so many adventures! Your '97 must feel rather familiar now (Since there are so many basic similarities between the Chinooks over the years.)

Sounds like you also like the classic Concourse exterior in blue. Me too

I would love to see what you have done with the flooring - that's on my list too. Would you consider making a thread and posting some photos? If you are unfamiliar with how, I'd be happy to help.

Plus... surely you must have pent up projects to post (Which I would sure enjoy reading about!) One thing about buying something a bit neglected: It gives you a dramatic "before" and "after" contrast. My Chinook was in really nice shape, but I have had the before and after with many boats.

[AmyJo]

I do have a couple of pictures of my laminate flooring. What should the thread be named? Would it be a sub-topic? I may need help posting the pictures. They are on my computer. Is that a problem?

Amy Jo

[Manitou]

just a suggestion, but start a thread under the "Projects,..." section. It could be called "My laminate flooring". You can get more creative if you like too. Maybe you know what brand your flooring is?

[Blue~Go]

Hi AmyJo,
As Manitou says, a thread in the "projects" sub-forum would be perfect. Just go there and then click on the "new topic" button, and make up a subject that tells what will be in the post, such as "Laminate flooring in my Concourse." I sometimes find that my posts, once written, aren't exactly what I had first envisioned, so I find it works well to add the subject line after I have written the post (just before posting it), so I can make it echo just what is in the post.

Here is what you do to add photos from your computer (you can click on any of the images to make them larger).

1) Know where they are and what they are named on your hard drive, and have them be under 250kb each. I usually make a special little album on my hard drive for "forum posts" and copy versions of the photos to that album that I can reduce in size (PM me if you would like help with this).

2) When you are writing up your post, go down below the text box, and past the "Preview/Submit/Save Draft/Cancel" area, and you will see this. Click "Browse..." to start adding photos from your hard drive.

3) On my computer, here is what the Browse window looks like. Yours may not be the same but this gives the general idea. Select one photo at a time and highlight, then click "open." (You can change the order of these around when you actually add them to your post if you want to.)

4) Now you "Add the file," like this:

[Blue~Go]

5) Next, you will see the "Progress bar." You may have to wait a few moments for this to clear.

6) Once that clears, you can add the photo to your post (or you can load up to three photos in a row, and then do this step; either way works). You put the cursor where you want the photo to end up, go down and select it from the Attachments list (use the little triangle, highlight the one you want), then click "Place inline."

7) This will place a string of "code" in the text of your post, which will turn into an image when you Preview or Submit your post.

[Blue~Go]

8) Here is the code turned into an image like how it will appear in the real post:

Once that's all done (much quicker to do it than to write about it!) and I'm ready to make my post, I like to click "Preview" first to get a look at how it will all come out. At that time it's easy to make any changes (you can also Submit, then see issues, then Edit, but this is better, I think).

Then Submit and we can all admire your new flooring!

As you can see, I simply make "replies" to my first post if I want to add more photos (limit three per post).

[AmyJo]

Thank you for the information. I am having problems with my pictures. They are located in a picture file on my hard drive (Windows 8.1). I tried to move a picture to Microsoft Picture Manager to downsize it but then I don't know how to get it out of there. I can only move it to an email or Microsoft Office. I am totally frustrated and ready to give up the idea of posting pictures. Is KiB the same as KB? What does BM mean? Post me?

Thanks for any more help or advice you can give. I am not a computer nerd.

[Blue~Go]

Hi AmyJo,

I see you posted a thread about your flooring (and it has an attachment icon!), so I will go see how you made out. But if you are still having any problems, feel free to send me a PM (or I will send you one).

I'm not a computer nerd either, but geez you almost have to be these days. It can be so frustrating! Sounds like a pack of sailors got loose in my computer room sometimes