Things were going so well....I had vacillated between Payson, Campe Verde, Wickenburg and Congress - two campgrounds and two boondocking. Since the boondocking outside Wickenburg was at a higher altitude, that was where I finally decided to head.
I took US 60 - gorgeous route but glad my Brake Buddy was working. No photos...I was too busy driving. Around 1:30 about 20 miles north of Sun City, I pulled over for some lunch. Did a walk around, all looked good. Headed on to Wickenburg, about another 20 miles. I needed to get gas before heading to the boonies so I pulled into a Shell station on the south side of town.
As I walked to the back of the rig to be sure the hose would reach, I noticed a trail of reddish fluid under the RV. I followed it back to the front...first thought was transmission fluid because of the color, second thought was oil because I had an oil change done in Tucson and thought maybe the filter was loose (that's about as mechanical as I get). I checked the oil...the engine was warm enough I had to put on a glove. It was a quart low...I often have to add a quart now and then between oil changes.
As I finished pumping the gas and walked back to the front, the gentleman in the truck on the other side was peering underneath. There was now a large puddle under the engine and he thought it was transmission fluid. So I proceeded to check that...nothing showed. His son came out and he looked as well....said he thought it was probably either the front seal or the pump. Both would require the transmission to be pulled. Sigh....
I went in and told the manager that I needed to park on the side until the tow truck came. She said that was fine. Another gentleman came along and helped me put in two quarts of transmission fluid so I could pull it around the building and park it out of the way without seizing something.
I had called Coach-Net and after getting all the pertinent information she asked I wanted to hold for the technician or have them call back. Since my cell phone battery was getting low, I chose having them call back. Within 10 minutes he called and we went through all the particulars. Since it was Saturday afternoon he wasn't sure if he would be able to get someone to tow me to a place where I could stay in the RV. I told him I had no problem dry camping here until Monday morning.
He had to find the closest service spot and call me back. In less than 5 minutes he did just that...the closest service spot would be the Ford dealer in Glendale and they wouldn't allow me to stay in the motorhome over the weekend. So he will contact them Monday and call me to let me know who will come and when they will arrive.
In the meantime, I'm safe and comfortable...boy am I ever glad I have solar! My )2 Cool 12 volt fan is working wonderfully in combination with my fantastic fan, the car is unhooked and ready for any excursions, I have plenty of water, my tanks are all but empty, I have EVDO Internet & cell access...life is good.
Tomorrow is supposed to be over 90, that's the only downside (well, other than a BIG hit to my pocketbook). But I do have a full gas tank so I can run the generator for a couple of the worst hours. There is a nice park in town just behind the Bashas' Grocery store. I'll hit McDonald's for a breakfast splurge, take my coffee and a book and enjoy the park for a few hours. Other than that, I'll just try to not spend too much money...but I will see what Bashas' has to offer.
Monday will bring a new adventure...getting the Lily Pad towed. I have posted in the Escapee forum for anything I need to be aware of....any tips or gotchas to watch out for. At least it didn't happen while I was boondocking in the middle of no where with no cell phone access! LOL!!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Why does it happen on the weekend?
Friday, May 02, 2008
On the move....already adapting....
The day started off perfectly...cool & sunny. I took my time getting things packed up, nice to have a park with a noon checkout time for us folks that like to sleep in a bit. LOL! I stopped at the office to get propane and pay my electric ($9.10 for a week, not bad since I ran the A/C quite a bit). Told them I'd be posting a positive review in RV Park Reviews....I check that site any time I'm looking at campgrounds.
Hit the road around 10:30, stopped in Willcox and got gas ($3.43/gal unleaded) - $90 worth. UGH! Headed north with the intention of trying to find a boondocking spot just south of Safford in the Coronado National Forest. I had used Google Earth to look at the area and THOUGHT it might work out. Well, it looked good on paper....my first warning was a sign that said no vehicles over 40'. The second said the same but pointed out a turn around area just ahead. I decided to pull off to the side and recheck my maps & Google Earth. I also posted a quick notice in the Escapees Forum to see if anyone had any input that might help.
After watching several vehicles head on, I thought I'd give it a try. Yes, I could have unhooked the car and gone up there but was worried about leaving the motorhome parked in the turn around area...hate to come back and find it towed away. I made it up to the entrance where there was a wide pull-off. The bicyclist I had seen riding was paused there and I got out and asked if he was familiar with the local area. He was and we chatted. He strongly advised against going in much further...there was a campground by the next ridge, definitely no further than that. I didn't want to pay a campground for the night and that combined with the tight, twisting road with multiple 10-15 mph hairpins, I opted to head back down.
I knew I had several options...there was a Wal-Mart in Safford that was supposed to allow overnight parking and worst case, it was only about 80 miles to the Apache Gold Casino just outside Globe, AZ. Soooo...I headed to the Wal-Mart in Safford where there was supposed to be overnight parking. Being Friday it was busy-busy-buys. I tried two spots..that was when I noticed the No Overnight Parking signs. Since it was only 3pm rather than try to find out if that was true, I opted to head to Globe where I am now dry camping at the Apache Gold Casino (free - the RV Park dry camp, $5 night, was full).
There was only a travel trailer at one and and a truck camper at the other end of the free (dirt) area. I parked about 20-25 feet from the travel trailer, pulling forward enough that the car was also in the dirt. About an hour later a 30-32' Class A pulls in on the other side of me...opposite direction, not straight, angled in towards me, the front end less then 10' from my rig...and his door exactly opposite my door. Jeesh....if he had just pulled up completely the other way, his door would have been opposite my car and we BOTH would have more privacy. Plus, now that they have headed into the Casino, their dog is unhappy. Hope that stops soon....even worse, when they come back I expect the generator to be fired off. Oh well, it's only one night...
The trip from Safford north to Globe was a pretty one but the winds seemed to pick up a bit. There were a lot of pullover spots, some even with trash cans and some with semi-trucks parking in them. I pulled into one when I felt drowsy...and it also gave the folks behind me time to pass. Definite difference between pulling the trailer/motorcycle and the car. Glad I have the Brake Buddy for the downhill grades.
Still working on where I will head from here...trying to get more information on boondocking in Payson, otherwise I may opt to go through Show Low instead.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Friday, April 25, 2008
Move 'em on, head 'em out Rawhide!
Quick update....been delayed once more the last two days. I ended up with a propane leak that had to be fixed. The Extend-a-Stay valve vibrated too much and loosened up - leak detector kicked in and turned off all my appliances but until I turned off the main valve, it continued to leak propane. Now that is an exciting moment when you open your door to the very STRONG smell of propane...NOT!
The other delay was getting up the next morning and discovering that less than 2 hours of sun have heated up the door lock enough that it once again is jammed. Several more trips from the mobile mechanic....he created the perfect support for the Extend-a-Stay valve so no more leaks (one can only hope) and he ended up completely replacing the door lock.
Since the weather forecast to the south appears to be for warmer temps than I like, I'm going to bypass the 2-3 days of boondocking and am heading to a Passport America park, Tombstone Territories RV Park. I plan to stay three nights, meet up with some friends, see Tombstone & Bisbee, then head northeast where I plan to boondock several nights in the Coronado National Forest. I should be blogging before heading that way...no telling if I will have Internet access then or not.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
PS. Thank you to Rawhide - the song and the series!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Can you find me now?
If you have been following my blog, you remember my post about passing out and hitting my head one night while sick. Several folks made comments about setting up a way to have others local to you check in on you, nightly/daily check-in phone calls, etc.
None of these are perfect...if you like to boondock in the middle of nowhere, there isn't someone you can ask to check on you. And if you're a solo lady, that in of itself is a bit scary (asking someone you don't know....). A daily check-in by phone can be difficult as well...you might be out of cell phone range is the first problem. The second is inconveniencing someone on a daily basis.
In one of my favorite motorcycle forums they have been discussing Personal Locator Beacon solutions.
"The PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) is a pocket-sized emergency 406MHz beacon, a scaled down version of the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) that boaters and pilots, respectively, have had available to them for years."
~ Landfall Navigation
These items were brought up in a boondocking session I attended at RV Life on Wheels recently. While a nice option, they are pricey...VERY pricey at $500-700 although there are no annual fees.
Recently some new products have come into the marketplace. One is the TracMe Beacon, only $99 and again, no annual fees. Note that this is not satellite communication and it does not automatically start a search & rescue operation. Not does it allow you to notify someone that you are okay. But it is one newer solution to be considered.
The new product now being discussed in The Motorcycle Tourer's Forum is the SPOT Satellite Messenger. Priced at $170 by the manufacturer, it is in the affordable range. (The cheapest price I found was at Amazon.com, at under $135.) There is an annual fee of $99 for the basic services with a couple of upgrade options. But for the $99 you get a lot...
- ALERT 9-1-1:
Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location. Unlimited usage included. - CHECK IN:
Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay. Unlimited usage included. - ASK FOR HELP:
Request help from friends and family at your exact location. Unlimited usage included.
It's not perfect...like any satellite solution it needs a clear line of sight for the best signal. It can take up to 20 minutes to lock onto the signal. Too many trees or other obstructions and the signal may not go out. But if you have been using the CHECK IN feature, then your last location sent is available as a starting point.
Here are some reviews I found, Lets Go Mobile and Wild Snow, as well as a good FAQ page on the emergency service. One of the motorcyclists has sent check in updates to his blog! I really like this product and think it will only get better. I think I see one in my near future....
UPDATE 5/12/08: I have purchased a SPOT Messenger - see the link in the sidebar or click HERE for the best price including Priority Mail shipping.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Too Much.... Too Many.... Too Little....
Too much going on every day, too many photos taken, too little time to post it all! LOL! Yes, this is what retired life should be....living life! So I will try to create a short synopsis of the last several days.
- Beautiful morning sunrises
- Gorgeous evening sunsets
- Hours spent meeting friends, old & new, around the communal campfire
- Some great campfire meals
~ Eggs in a Bag breakfast
~ S'mores
~ Potato Bake & Pot Luck dinner - More great meals
~ Grilled steak shared with friends
~ Community center breakfasts with the group
~ In town breakfast (delicious omelette)
~ In town lasagna (still have the leftover to enjoy)
~ Upcoming pizza (same place as the lasagna) - Perfect weather
- HOT weather
- Six hour motorcycle trip to see Parker Dam & the London Bridge
- Several nice walks around the BLM are where I'm parked
~ Desert flowers blooming
~ Interesting deadwood - Views that I will never forget
On Friday morning I head out of here and wend my way to Tucson and the RV Life on Wheels conference. So I suspect blogs will be infrequent for the next week as well. I will try to check in from time to time though.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Monday, March 03, 2008
Hopped to a new location...
Forgive the lack of posting, some of it due to being busy but some of it due to not being busy! LOL!! Back to the end of last week....
As you read in my last post, I survived my first trip into Mexico. But due to visiting the eye doctor so late in the day, I needed to return to pick up my glasses (often you can get same day service if you visit early). The plan was to go in to get my glasses, do a little more window shopping, meet some of the other Boondockers for dinner & drinks before coming home.
So Friday arrived, the plans were set and we headed into Algodones to get my glasses. Not a bit of trouble other than the over-the-nose & ear fittings that are always a pain. Got two nice cases and we headed to do a little window shopping. I wanted to find the leather guy that I had seen before and Doug wanted to look at throws & rugs. Well, the leather guy had his sign up but the sunglass guy in his spot said he wasn't there but would be on Saturday...oh well. After wandering to more unseen areas and looking at various items, we headed to the restaurant as planned.
We ended up with eleven Boondockers...nice group. The vendors love big tables of people, especially ones with drinks on the table (Marguerita's were the order of the day for most folks). As I said, I like hats and was interested in getting one more good straw hat so when the hat vendor came around I asked if he had anything in a small, fully expecting he wouldn't. Well, he did...and everyone liked it on me. So next came the price negotiation...I turned that over to the crowd. Turns out one of the other ladies wanted one and we ended up with two for $28 as compared to the intially quoted price of one for $25. It's very tightly woven with a small plaid hatband and I really like it. The closest I could find online was this Gambler Hat (not exact - the crown on mine isn't as high).
So fast forward and the group decides to visit the infamous Green Door, known by the locals as Bar Olimpico. It has a reputation for some seedier goings on upstairs but for the most part, it was tame by U.S. adult entertainment standards. Everyone had a good time (some "gooder" than others.....hee-hee!) and we were back home by 10 pm.
Saturday Doug and I took a trip into Yuma so he could get propane, diesel for his truck and we ended up getting groceries and having a light dinner. We found his bank, Wells Fargo, inside a Fry's Grocery store so we opted to go ahead and pick up what we each needed since we planned to hit the road on Sunday. As I wandered the store I kept seeing "Kroger" mentioned.
For those who don't know, that is a chain in the east that is operates under the name of Fry's in the west as well as several other names (more details here). Since I didn't have a Fry's discount card, I decided to ask if my Kroger discount card would work. The cashier assured me that it did and I replied that was a shame since I didn't have my card with me, it was on my other keychain. After ensuring that my keychain was in my RV in the area and NOT back at home in another state, he swpied my order with their courtesy card so I could get the discounts (saved $6 off an $85 total). Once I explained that my keys had better be with me since I was a full-timer, we chatted about his parents who are full-timers. Not sure how well the folks behind me took his chatter but I thought it was interesting.
We stopped at a little spot that looked like a diner out of the past, Brownie's Cafe. Super staff, great food...would definitely visit again. By the way, the older gentleman that welcomed up was Brownie's brother....and a wonderful host!
We missed the 4:00 social hour but made the 7:00 campfire. We left early to get our rigs set for a 7 am departure on Sunday. Why so early? Well, the wind was already picking up on Saturday night and much of southern CA and southwest AZ were under an all day high wind warning with gust up to 40-50 mph. We had about 100 miles to travel and wanted to get a little ahead of the worst of it.
Not many photos but here are the final sunrise and sunset shots I took in Winterhaven, CA. YOU decide which is which....if it matters. LOL!
The drive over was amazing...both in the scenery in some spots and in the wind. Phew! Didn't dare take either hand off the steering wheel so no photos of the drive. We stopped in Ehrenberg to dump & take on fresh water and I got propane in Quartzsite at the RV Pit Stop. I can easily manage two weeks on a dump/water stop, and probably could make three if careful. Propane seems to be about a month unless it's really cold.
Anyway, we are now parked between Bouse & Quartzsite, parking on BLM land.I have to take my rig back into Q for a tweak to my inverter but other than that we plan to get the bikes out and hopefully get in some good riding. Here are a few shots of the area.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Reporting in from California!
Been a while....
Someone sent me an email telling me that they always knew when I was having fun because I wasn't blogging. Well in this case it's only somewhat true. We left Tucson around 9:30 on Saturday the 23rd. Had a breathtaking sunset to appreciate on my last night there and nice driving weather for the trip to Yuma area.
The trip was fairly eventful until 5 miles out from a planned stop at Dateland, AZ for a "Date Shake" (I opted for hot apple pie ala mode). My new Pressure Pro system started to alert me to high pressure on my inside right dual. It was running at 93, all the other tires were 83-87. After a 30 minute stop it was still over 90 so we let a little air out and it closely matched the other tires. I don't know what could have happened and think I would like to keep it that way. Thank you Pressure Pro!
Here are a few photos as we approached the east side of Yuma. You'll notice a few wild flowers on the sides of the road from time to time.
We arrived at Ogilby Rd, BLM area just west of Winterhaven, CA and in the Algodones Imperial Sand Dunes area, and got set up. I arrived with a sinus headache and took it pretty easy the rest of the day. I went to bed early and was up in time to snap a couple of sunrise photos (you KNOW how rare that is....LOL!)
The headache was a bit better...until the afternoon when I started losing my voice as I do when exposed to smoke and certain fragrances. At the social hour I got a bit lightheaded and went back to rest...before I knew it, it was Monday morning.
The plans for Monday were to head to the Winterhaven Post Office and pickup my mail, if it had arrived. Then we could use my certified birth certificate and cross the border for my first trip into Mexico, visiting the border town of Los Algondones.
We found the Post Office but unfortunately my mail wasn't in yet. It might arrive that afternoon but we decided to just come back Tuesday afternoon and then head into Mexico for a few hours. On the way out of town we saw some migrant workers picking, cleaning & packing up some lettuce. Quite an interesting and well organized operation.
Last night's sunset was beautiful and I didn't even realize how well the flag stood out until I took a look at them today. Enjoy!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The sun is back!
I made it out of the fairgrounds around 10 am yesterday....it was still somewhat overcast and gray but at least it wasn't raining. HUGE thanks to Nick Russell, Terry Simpson and my gentlemen neighbors on both sides (sorry that I don't remember your names). I had pulled the rig forward so the trailer ramp had enough dry space to load the bike. Then I unloaded the trailer putting everything about 10 feet away on a dry patch of dirt and the guys loaded up the bike.
Picture my little trailer with three guys inside, plus my bike. LOL! Wish I had caught a photo. Unfortunately the transmission was fighting going into gear so I got out one of my small chocks to put behind the rear wheel. I did the tie-downs (YAY!! Okay, did ask for help on one strap since my angle was wrong and I was trying to be expedient...)
Then they all pitched in to help load all the stuff back into the trailer. There was much more than normal since I had a crate and tall wastebasket filled with yard sale stuff that hadn't sold as well as two small folding tables that had gotten tossed in during the bad weather.
I wasn't real clear about where the correct road was to get out of the fairground so I proceeded very carefully. Nick had told me about the motorhome that was being pulled out of the mud since he tried to plow through a large puddle. I ended up taking a roundabout path and believe it or not, almost got stuck myself. I could feel my wheels slipping so I held the steering wheel straight, didn't brake or give it gas and talked very encouragingly to the Lilypad....and we made it. Phew!
The route to Tucson was easy...east on 287, south on 87 to south on I-10. A breeze! At the interchange for 287 to 87, there was no traffic and I decided to pull over to rescue my stick-on thermometer (I've already lost one that way). Good thing I did...remember when I pulled out the chock for the bike? Since I was hurrying (not a good thing as you all know), I hadn't closed or locked the bin. Normally if it's closed (latch turned), then it's secure enough to travel. Well I hadn't done either...sigh...
Back on the road, the sun started shining and the rest of the trip was uneventful. I could see the snow on the mountains around Tucson but knew it wouldn't last too long as the day quickly warmed up. I met up with Doug, who was driving in from Ajo, at the Tucson Truck Terminal. We had lunch and then I proceeded to follow him to the Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson.
We breezed through the visitor center registration, well I do think the clerk was a little overwhelmed with my three registrations & insurance cards...LOL!) and then hit the FAMCAMP registration. We planned on being in the boondocking area where we would have more room so a quick stop for a dump & fresh water and we quickly found our spots & settled in. We do have a nice view of the mountains...if you ignore all the utility poles.
We'll be here at least a week while Doug gets his truck, trailer and motorcycle all serviced as well as attending to doctor appointments and getting his taxes done. I will be working on the Escapee SOLOs BOF newsletter, which is way overdue, and getting my passport application started. So don't expect many blogs this week...LOL! From here we will head to Yuma for more desert boondocking.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Friday, February 08, 2008
Readers Ask (and make comments, too)
After I posted my solar setup, I received a lot of feedback, questions and comments. Some I could reply to but feel they might interest others, some I couldn't so they are posted here as well.
"I know that rigs & tires are different but do your front tires actually require 80#? My duals require 80# but only 60# for the front. I believe that 80# is the maximum. I guess if your rig is heavier than mine in the front that it could require more than 60#."
Guess I have to plead ignorance here, I am doing what the dealer who installed them told me. My rig is heavy (E-450 chassis) so that may be the difference. "...how on earth do you remember all that you have to check,etc. before moving on?" Well, I could lie and tell you I have my checklists all in order and use them religiously. Actually, they are a work in progress. The biggest thing is taking my time...I don't ever leave in a rush. I do forget things from time to time but so far, thank goodness, it's either been minor or caught quickly. Truthfully, checklists used each and every time is the RIGHT way to go. "You could leave your frig on auto IF the outlet it is plugged into is NOT included as one that the big inverter feeds. If the inverter is connected to the main power line such that it is auto-switching and feeds all the circuits then you don't want it on auto." In my case, the refrigerator will be run on propane unless I am hooked up to shore power. I have to be really careful since when you take the two-way off AUTO, no light shows that it is on gas. What happens is that if the propane goes off, then a CHECK light comes on. So I carefully monitor what I am doing and whether the refrigerator is keeping cold or not. "How did they pull the 10 gauge wire down from the roof?" I wasn't there during this process but I know they fished it down to the refrigerator. I was told that is the standard method. "As a metal fabricator, RV'er and engineer I do not like how they mounted the batteries. I would revisit that whole arena sometime soon. The AGM's require only maintenance to keep the posts clean which can be averted with proper terminal paint found at Freightliner truck dealers. I would make a hinged, drop down tray for the batteries somewhere under the chassis that allowed periodic access yet, secured the batteries hard." I'm assuming that this writer thinks the board is the only thing holding up the batteries. In fact the board was placed across the metal support to provide a slightly wider base for the batteries. They are fully supported by very strong, sturdy, welded metal platform. Thanks for the tip though! "SIX batteries in a Class C rig? And 12 volt not 6 volt? It puzzles me. Most everything I've read recommends 6 volt batteries for their better deep cycle capabilities and longevity versus 12 volt. And SIX of them? Isn't that an awful lot of weight for your rig? I know most Class A's only have 4 6 volt batteries (like mine). Why did you go with so much?" Yes, they are 12-volt batteries. I had intended to go with 6-volt for the added capability but they didn't have them. Yes, there is a fair amount of weight and yes, I am probably slightly overweight (well, the rig....okay, me too....LOL!) and am working on that. I have upgraded my suspension and am hoping that I can reduce some of what I am carrying soon. I have moved some of my heavier basement items into my trailer to help balance things. "I love all of the detail with photos on projects such as this one. It provides a lot of information (especially appreciated by us gals who travel solo) to help understand what each "thing" is, how it works, what is involved with installation, and costs." Thanks, I will continue to this when I can but HOPEFULLY this is my last big purchase. LOL!! :Being able to boondock offers so much more flexibility in the RV lifestyle. And being able to camp in the "boonies" sometimes is what RVing is all about, IMHO. Campgrounds are nice at times but getting out in the desert or forest away from others is a whole different experience - slower paced, relaxing and beautiful. I much prefer looking at nature than at someone else's slideout or awning!" Oh so true...it was hard to come into this campground even for a couple of days. But it's a small one and quite nice. I do enjoy not having to watch how long or when I run my TV or radio. But the more I boondock, the less I will be coming to parks and the more I will enjoy that. LOL! "I could not copy and paste the comment of a friend of mine who I send your solar "blog" to... First of all, are you sure they are 12V and not 6V?... the batteries... He is VERY oncerned about all the weight on one side, the handling, the safety of driving... as above comments they should have been distributed throughout the chassis with equal lenght, size, wiring. The tilting mechanism... you will never use it, just extra weight... and $'s... Glad that you did not go with the original plan of two inverters which also did not make any sense." This is a long one and here is what I replied to the writer:
1) Yes, they are 12 volt AGMs, they didn't have 6 volt ones
2) The handling is just fine...I've driven it several hundred miles without any issues but I will be getting it weighed next week. Remember, I do have air bags that I can use to help compensate for side to side weight differences but so far, no problams.
3) I've talked to at least a dozen folks about his problem with distributing them throughout the chassis and everyone looked at me like I was nuts so not sure about that one...
4) The tilting mechanism was no extra money, they tossed that in for free. There is almost no extra weight, they are aluminum and I doubt there is a pound total. I got them in case I am ever stuck in one spot for a long period and then if I could find someone to put them on, then I could get more sun if needed. Better than getting the flat mounts and never being able to tilt them.
5) I do have two inverters....the big one runs everything except the frig & air conditioner. During the day that is overkill if all I want to do is run my laptop (& maybe printer). I have a 400 watt that I can plug into my 12 volt adapter and run just the laptop. It was $30 from Amazon.com
6) I've discovered that everyone has their own opinion on what is best and there will always be differences between folks....I am confident in what I got and the work that was done. I did go over my budget by the extra $1k but this system will what I need and that's the most important thing.
So that's it for the latest Readers Ask...
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
She tiptoes into the room....
Shhh, quiet....maybe no one will hear me sneak in and I can get a couple of blogs posted before they notice! Yes, I'm way behind and that means some neat things have already escaped from my swiss cheese brain. Sorry....that's what happens when two forces collide - no Verizon aircard reception and having a good time!
The trip from Quartzsite to Ajo was uneventful. A stop at the Super Wal-Mart in Buckeye where we stocked up on food & other stuff and a stop at Holt's Shell in Gila Bend where got gas, fresh water and dumped our tanks. We pulled into the boondocking area outside Ajo about 3:30 pm. Once we figured where I should park for the best sun, I did a few little things to fix what had bounced once too many times coming in on the washboard roads and headed over to the 4:00 pm social hour. Poor Doug paid the penance of living in a trailer...much more set up work (did I mention how happy I am with my motorhome?).
The next couple of days followed a nice routine...running around town seeing the sites (and predictably forgetting my camera which I really missed when we saw a beautiful rainbow). A nice walk in the desert terrain produced the first non-sunrise/sunset photos. I even took one of the first wildlife I encountered in the desert here...you'll have to look close. We walked up a wide wash, easily envisioning it filled with rushing water in flash flood.
We got back in time for me to nab some good sunset shots showing the sun's red-gold reflection on everything around us. To the south it looked like it was raining and that made the golden glow even more precious.
It's been really cold at night, as low as 30-31 several nights. My heater has gotten a work out and it's working well. The days are sunny and sometimes brisk, especially after 4:00 when the sun starts down.
I heard from a friend who lives in Quartzsite that the winds there took down part of the big tent on top of the classic car show....she wrote me this on the 3rd:
"Both of the ends went down but the main section is still standing, and being yanked out of the ground. Everybody was evacuated before the ends went. All of the little tents on the north side are down though. The tent company that erected it are on their way to help get it tied down again so the cars from the Cruise In can be taken out. Hopefully none of the vehicles were damaged bad."
"The other that went... we were making the loop thru town, and right in front of us a vendor tent just picked up, went upside down and landed on top of a "really nice" pickup truck. Abut 50 people just came out of the woodwork to help those folks. IT was really great to see. I'm pretty sure that every vendor in a tent now has been shut down. The wind is outta the south, and it's just not pretty."
EEEEK! Sure am glad I moved a little further south.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Quick note from Ajo, AZ
Just a quick note...my Internet access is limited to "borrowed" satellite access but wanted to let everyone know I have left Quartzsite (on Friday) and am now boondocking outside Ajo, AZ. My phone seems to work most of the time (sometimes it goes to voicemail and I never hear it ring but I eventually get the message). Here are a few shots from the drive out of Q to Ajo.
The area has its own beauty, I hope it warms up a bit so I can do a little riding around the area. Right now it doesn't look real promising...yesterday would have been very nice but Doug is fighting a cold and really feeling under the weather. He got his bike unloaded but needs a new spark plug for it to run right.
Here are some shots out my front door - in one you can see the town of Ajo in the distance.
These were taken about 5pm as the weather to the north got dark and the wind started up.
And here are some of the spectacular sunset last night!
I move to the Ajo Heights RV Park on Wednesday and should have Wi-Fi and will do a more thorough update then. I have gotten a lot of blog comments about my solar setup and will do a blog with replies later. Right now the solar is doing wonderful, I'm enjoying the company and the area and just generally having too much fun!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
It's all about the sun!
I woke up early because I needed to be at Discount Solar by 9 am. The good thing about getting up early is actually SEEING the sun rise. It was beautiful yesterday morning.
I got the the shop about 15 minutes early, after a short defugalty with my inadvertently leaving my front door unlatched (happens when you exit one door, fully intending to re-enter that door but get side tracked and actually enter the driver's cab door...LOL)
They got us right in and we went through my requirements again. When I initially set up the appointment I was going with two Kyocera 130 watt solar panels. After much thought & discussion that day, I went with three since the additional labor was only $50 if done now. Since then I had decided to add another 64 watt panel if there was room...I would only be slightly over my budget and since I would be saving labor charges, it made sense.
They got up on the roof and laid out a plan for the three panels and possible location for the fourth, smaller one. We went inside to discover that there were no more 64 watt panels, there was a 55 watt and while they were measuring it I asked about the 80. We went to the showroom and they were all sold as well (that's what happens when you get your solar at the end of th Quartzsite show rather than before). While we were discussing the option of adding the 55 watt panel, one of the salesman broke in and said he had one 80 watt that had been saved for someone, no money down, no name, no phone number. Turns out the owner had been asked by someone he knew to hold it...he checked it out and released it to me. (Yes, I need a bumper sticker that says I AM A POWER PIG)
So the final panel setup was four Kyocera solar panels - three 130 watt panels (7.4 amps each) and one 80 watt panel (4.5 amp).
Next battle was the batteries. I had ordered six AGM 12 volt batteries, IF we could find room for them. I was sure I could easily fit four but again, Power Pig at work here. We opened the various compartments on side of the rig and they started measuring. At the same time we discussed where my inverter and Solar Boost controller would go. I opted to add the tilt mounts (more money) so if I am parked for a longer time and need them tilted, I have the capability (if I can find someone willing to go up on the roof & do it...and someone to undo it later...LOL!)
In the end they managed to fit five of the batteries in the battery compartment and one in the next storage bin where they also mounted the controller and inverter. Now the work started....one on the roof mounting the panels, one doing the batteries, both of them involved in pulling the wiring and one more doing the supervising and the final inverter wiring and setup.
I took a lot of photos as the day progressed, here they are and then I'll outline my final setup for you.
Inside the Store
Measuring the 80 watt Panel
Battery Setup
Installing Solar Panels, Tilt Mounts & Sealing Roof
Inverter/Charger, Solar Boost & Remotes
Last night I mostly charged my laptop which was almost 100% depleted. This morning I ran the TV, DirecTV DVR, the microwave for less than two minutes, my laptop, the water pump, the water heater and catalytic heater...just as the sun was coming up. I could see a small charge coming in and that meant only 8 amps were going out. I was impressed!
Here is the final setup:
- 3 Kyocera 130 watt (7.4 amp) Solar Panels
- 1 Kyocera 80 watt (4.5 amp) Solar Panel
- 4 Sets of Tilt Mounts (tilt to either side of the rig)
- 6 Lifeline AGM 12 volt Batteries
- Blue Sky Solar Boost 3024i 30 amp Charge Controller with remote IPN
NOTE: can piggy-back another of the same controller to handle more solar panels - Prosine 2.0 Inverter/Charger with remote panel
2000 watts pure sine wave with 4500 watt surge capability
Remote temperature sensor - mounted on battery in storage compartment (unvented) - 10 gauge wire from panels to junction box
- 6 gauge wire from junction box to batteries
- 300 amp T fuse
- 50 amp bullet fuse
Now for a couple of Readers Ask questions (remember folks, I can't email reply to your comments unless you log in and use an email address - so the best way to get a reply is to email me directly if you have a question):
One caution to anyone considering a catalytic heater...because they require oxygen to run (just like we do), you must leave a window slightly cracked to allow more oxygen to enter your RV.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Boondocking - The Lily Pad gets ready
I've mentioned boondocking in some previous blogs and forgot that some folks might not understand the term. So first, in the most basic terms, boondocking is camping without hookups. That said, some consider any overnight stay without hookups as boondocking. Others insist that it's only boondocking when you are in the middle of the "boonies". Regardless, it's a way to save on campground fees. For some further information try "Boondocking—Making It Work" by Paul Bernhagen and "What is Boondocking?" by Bob Wells as well as Boondocking.org.
For me it will be the ability to park in the boonies as well as other dry camping spots, thus saving me considerable money on campground fees. But this doesn't come cheap....not if done right. I've been fortunate to be able to spend a week with a wide variety of folks who boondock, sometimes weeks on end. I've learned much more about what I can and can't accomplish with the solar setup I am getting. I already knew that my microwave & A/C were off limits but I've also learned about replacing my reading lamp (40watt Halogen bulb) with a small fluorescent light. I've learned that having a small but bright LED light at the front & back of my rig will help me locate it in the dark.
I've learned the difference between a converter and an inverter. I learned about controllers aka regulators. I've learned about different size inverters and what they will run. I've learned that I need to keep my refrigerator on propane rather than auto so it doesn't pull down my batteries. I've learned that a catalytic heater won't use any electricity like my big furnace (and my space heater) and uses less propane than my big furnace.
At the big tent I found a great price on a Olympian Wave 6 catalytic heater as well as the legs that you attach to make it a portable unit (allowing me to move it from the living area during the day to the bedroom/bathroom area at night/morning). Here is a photo I found on the internet...mine looks just like this except I don't store it in the shower, I store it in the cockpit area (mine is a step-down) and keep it covered with an old pillow case to keep the dust out (much cheaper than the $25 color they sell for it....LOL!)
Next step was finding someone to install a propane shut-off valve & quick disconnect as well as the hose to allow me to move it around. Yesterday I had an appointment to get that done as well as get a 12 volt outlet (cigarette lighter) installed close to the door where my desk will eventually go. That will allow me to run a 400 watt inverter for my laptop during the day, rather than firing up the large inverter. Here is a photo of the shut-off valve with the quick disconnect and one of the 12 volt outlet mounted at the top of the stairwell.
Tomorrow is my solar installation which will take pretty much all day. I will write about my setup once it's done just in case there are any last minute changes. I'm getting excited!
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Life at its best and its worst....
What a day....woke at 3 am (and 4 am and 5 am and 6 am) to rain starting & stopping. Nothing serious but enough to change my sleep pattern. I finally rolled out of be at 7:30 and grabbed a shot of what should have been sunrise.
Doug came over around 9 am, we chatted for a bit, ate some breakfast and made plans to hit the local solar vendor that many were recommending. The night before he and Doc had laid out what should be a good working solar environment for me and we wanted to get a quote from these folks.
We visited them and got what we felt was a fair quote and set an appointment for next Wednesday. It will take most of the day for the installation and on Thursday the system will start charging and I will enter a new way of boondocking.
From there we got diesel in the truck, grabbed a quick sandwich and hit a couple of little auto parts stores trying to find a decent quality, flush mount 12 volt power outlet (cigarette lighter style).
Nothing found, we continued over to the main event. I wanted to see if the better quality roll-up tables had arrived as well as check out the catalytic heaters (running the big furnace is counter-productive to the energy efficiency of the solar lifestyle
On the way there I managed to find a LARGE table full of hats! Yup, still searching for a good mesh hat for warmer weather. I managed to actually find one that fit close enough to satisfy me and looked decent enough to buy. Continuing into the tent we wandered a bit and it felt to me that the vendor I wanted was on the midway outside so we took the next exit. Voila! There was the one I wanted. The tables still weren't what I was looking for but I did find the catalytic heater I hoped would work. If it was too large, I could bring it back and exchange it for the smaller one. I then asked the salesman if he happened to know where the SHURflo vendor was. He did...since it was their space as well...we headed there and Doug got his questions answered.
Time to head back to the truck but as we passed an ice cream stand....who wanted a real dinner anyway! LOL! Super double scoop (one flavor or two) ice creams cones hit the spot and we got to sit a bit and rest our legs before the last stretch of walking.
The final stop was at Herb's Hardware where we managed to find a 12 volt outlet that would work (so I can get a small inverter to run my laptop during the daytime), a cap for my trailer ball and a small bottle of Gorilla Glue. But the best part was locating a young gentleman who will come out to my rig and install the shut-off and quick-connect for my catalytic heater.
A quick trip to the campfire for social hour where I continued to really enjoy the Boondocking group. They have made me feel very welcome and I look forward to many more good times with them. Finally back to the rig where I snapped a couple of sunset shots.
Shortly after returning from the social hour, my cell phone beeped that I had voicemail. Strange since I never heard it ring but that seems to happen out here, sometimes it never rings for me but goes right to voicemail. Anyway, my good day was about to go bad.
The call was from my youngest brother in Florida. One of my cousins and her family live in the same town...and everyone also rides motorcycles. On his way to work this morning, her husband was killed. The details aren't important but he was not at fault. A co-worker was just behind him and was almost involved as well. This was not the way to end what had been a good day.
As I said, today was life at its best and its worst....Tim, you will be sorely missed. I know you died doing what you loved, riding, but we are left here without your shining presence. DTFR...forever. What a ride it's been...
Folks, tell your loved ones how much you care about them....you never know when the final moment will occur.
Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Where did she disappear to?
Yup, the best laid plans of men (and women) are set in Jell-O and mine have changed. I got up this morning with full intentions of getting out early to get gas and head to the campground in Bouse where I had reservations.
Things were moving along swimmingly until I started checking my tire pressure. My left rear outside dually decided to start spewing air out the valve stem. All I had done was check the pressure and next thing I know the stupid thing is SPITTING air at me! I took a bit but I managed to get the dust cap back on but I could still hear it hissing, although slower.
I headed to the SOLO campfire area to see if there was anyone who might be able to help me. One of the guys came over with managed to get it unstuck and I got enough air in it