Location, At home, CA
We did go to the local Chevy dealer on Saturday to just look. Yeah, right. We did look at some used cars but they either had high mileage or the warranty was about to run out. Eventually we dickered on a 2007 Chevy Equinox which was new. We hated the color so used that as a bargaining chip. Clyda did all the bargaining as she gave them a firm price to work from.
Eventually we came to terms and drove home with a new black amethyst metallic Equinox. The car goes back tomorrow for detailing as the service department wasn’t open Saturday to do the job. Maybe pictures tomorrow.
I am still working on the trailer. Today I cleaned the sinks and shower and dumped the tanks. I also vacuumed the whole rig from top to bottom inside. The carpets need cleaning and I may do that tomorrow if the weather cooperates. It has been really foggy and cold and I want a day when it is a little warmer so the carpets will dry.
I did get the data entered in spread sheets from our trip for miles and camping.
We traveled 11,006 total miles with 7912 miles pulling the trailer. Our average camping cost per day was $17.40. We averaged 11.8 MPG throughout the trip.
The highest price for fuel was in Canada at $4.04 per gallon while the lowest was $2.70 per gallon in Texas. The highest in the states was at Mohave, CA, my last fill up at $3.65 per gallon. Diesel fuel locally now is $3.75 per gallon.
I also am watching a lot of college basketball. This is my time of year. So many games in a few days. I love it. We went to one local college game last week and will go again tonight. Both games are the men’s team. We have yet to see the ladies play as they have been on the road.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
More of the same!
Location, At home, CA
More of the same today. Working on things in the trailer, stowing things I don’t need right now, and cleaning up computer files.
I also had 3 requests for books from Paperback Swap. I had put my account on hold while we were gone and I guess it became active again today. It is very unusual to receive 3 requests in one day but it makes the trip to the post office worth while. I need to mail all of them tomorrow.
The major item is the car. We may go to our local Chevy dealer tomorrow and see what they have on the lot. It’s a start anyway.
More of the same today. Working on things in the trailer, stowing things I don’t need right now, and cleaning up computer files.
I also had 3 requests for books from Paperback Swap. I had put my account on hold while we were gone and I guess it became active again today. It is very unusual to receive 3 requests in one day but it makes the trip to the post office worth while. I need to mail all of them tomorrow.
The major item is the car. We may go to our local Chevy dealer tomorrow and see what they have on the lot. It’s a start anyway.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Unloading the trailer
Location, At home, CA
Just a short note tonight as I am beat from working on all of the items on my to-do list. I made an appointment for my annual physical, started the process to buy a car (called a lady at the local Chevrolet dealer and told her what I was looking for), checked on some real estate investments, and of course continued to unload the trailer. My-oh-my, we sure had a lot of stuff in there.
The amount of books alone was unbelievable. I had bought, borrowed, and traded books as we traveled. I had also bought several jars of pickles and beets in Wisconsin and unloaded those. We had a box of jams and jellies given to us by family and friends along the way as well as too much canned goods which all adds to the weight.
I still have mail to go through but I think I have looked at all the critical items. I have completed some of the filing of important papers but there is another whole box that needs looking at.
Craig said the WiFi router wasn’t working so he by-passed it and went directly to the computer with the DSL cable. I put everything back as it should be and the WiFi came up just fine. I think what happened is that the router had sat unused while we were gone and just needed to be rebooted by disconnecting the power and restarting it.
Enough for today.
Just a short note tonight as I am beat from working on all of the items on my to-do list. I made an appointment for my annual physical, started the process to buy a car (called a lady at the local Chevrolet dealer and told her what I was looking for), checked on some real estate investments, and of course continued to unload the trailer. My-oh-my, we sure had a lot of stuff in there.
The amount of books alone was unbelievable. I had bought, borrowed, and traded books as we traveled. I had also bought several jars of pickles and beets in Wisconsin and unloaded those. We had a box of jams and jellies given to us by family and friends along the way as well as too much canned goods which all adds to the weight.
I still have mail to go through but I think I have looked at all the critical items. I have completed some of the filing of important papers but there is another whole box that needs looking at.
Craig said the WiFi router wasn’t working so he by-passed it and went directly to the computer with the DSL cable. I put everything back as it should be and the WiFi came up just fine. I think what happened is that the router had sat unused while we were gone and just needed to be rebooted by disconnecting the power and restarting it.
Enough for today.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Home, after 5 months on the road
Location, At home, CA
I am home after 5 months on the road. Actually it is 5 days short of 5 months, but who is counting. Dick and I did stay for the 49er business meeting on Sunday which lasted 2 hours. That put us leaving Death Valley at 3:40 in the afternoon. It sprinkled on us on the way to Death Valley Junction and actually rained on us between Shoshone and Tecopa. By the time we got to a spot in the BLM area it was dark, rainy, and windy. We didn’t put down any jacks so with the wind we rocked and rolled all night. I said it was like “sleeping in a hammock”.
Monday morning we took Dick’s truck as it has 4 wheel drive and drove to Tecopa to look for remains of the Tecopa Rail Road. We did find the right-of-way where it crossed the Old Spanish Trail east of Tecopa. We then drove south on a dirt road which I figured should cross the right of way as it headed east to the mines. We did find the elevated roadbed with a washed out trestle. We walked quit a bit of the right-of-way in both directions. There were still many old ties which had never been removed.
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As the road bed turned south away from our road we picked it up later with binoculars as it climbed to the mines. Later we moved south and east on the paved road with more mines. In this area we again found the roadbed. This may be a future area to explore.
After a date shake at China Ranch we picked up the trailers and drove to Baker, CA and parked behind the Mad Greek restaurant in the large truck parking area. There were several other RV’s already there. We ate dinner at the Mad Greek and went to bed early. I didn’t even put out the slides.
I was awakened about 4:30 AM by a truck parked near us with a refrigeration unit running. Dick left a 6 AM and I left shortly there after. I stopped at the rest stop in Boron on Hwy 58 to shave, eat breakfast, and add 10 gallons of diesel to my tanks.
I stopped in Mohave and topped of the tank at $3.65 per gallon. Ouch!!!!
I arrived home about 12:45 PM.
I am home after 5 months on the road. Actually it is 5 days short of 5 months, but who is counting. Dick and I did stay for the 49er business meeting on Sunday which lasted 2 hours. That put us leaving Death Valley at 3:40 in the afternoon. It sprinkled on us on the way to Death Valley Junction and actually rained on us between Shoshone and Tecopa. By the time we got to a spot in the BLM area it was dark, rainy, and windy. We didn’t put down any jacks so with the wind we rocked and rolled all night. I said it was like “sleeping in a hammock”.
Monday morning we took Dick’s truck as it has 4 wheel drive and drove to Tecopa to look for remains of the Tecopa Rail Road. We did find the right-of-way where it crossed the Old Spanish Trail east of Tecopa. We then drove south on a dirt road which I figured should cross the right of way as it headed east to the mines. We did find the elevated roadbed with a washed out trestle. We walked quit a bit of the right-of-way in both directions. There were still many old ties which had never been removed.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
As the road bed turned south away from our road we picked it up later with binoculars as it climbed to the mines. Later we moved south and east on the paved road with more mines. In this area we again found the roadbed. This may be a future area to explore.
After a date shake at China Ranch we picked up the trailers and drove to Baker, CA and parked behind the Mad Greek restaurant in the large truck parking area. There were several other RV’s already there. We ate dinner at the Mad Greek and went to bed early. I didn’t even put out the slides.
I was awakened about 4:30 AM by a truck parked near us with a refrigeration unit running. Dick left a 6 AM and I left shortly there after. I stopped at the rest stop in Boron on Hwy 58 to shave, eat breakfast, and add 10 gallons of diesel to my tanks.
I stopped in Mohave and topped of the tank at $3.65 per gallon. Ouch!!!!
I arrived home about 12:45 PM.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Western Invitational Art Show
Location, Death Valley, CA
Where has the week gone? We have been busy everyday with the 49er activities so I guess that accounts for most of our time. One of the activities is an invitational western art show. This brings in some really talented artists and show pieces their art. As part of this event, there is a judging contest for the different Medias, a composite painting, where the public can paint under the direction of the artist, two Quick Draw contests, and an Artists breakfast...
The art from the quick draw, the composites, and other donated art are auctioned off and ½ of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund for college students from Death Valley and the surrounding area. This year the prices for some of the artwork was quite high and the scholar ship fund did very well.
I usually attend the quick draw contests and this year also attended the auction after the Artists Breakfast. I did bid on several items but they usually pass well beyond my range as far as prices I am willing to pay. In particular, I have been coveting a painting by Gilbert Jumbo, a Navajo Indian who has been coming for several years. Unfortunately, his paintings command big money. I keep hoping however. I told the auctioneer, Steve Orcutt that I hope to, “steal a painting” one of these days with a low bid.
Tonight is the Fiddle Contest finals which we will attend. Tomorrow, Dick and I will stay here for the business meeting and then move to the BLM area outside of Tecopa, CA for one night. On Monday we will explore some mines near Tecopa and then move to Baker, CA for the night. I will return home on Tuesday after nearly 5 months on the road. Five months is a long tome but actually, I am not really ready to go home. Quartzsite, AZ is calling.
Where has the week gone? We have been busy everyday with the 49er activities so I guess that accounts for most of our time. One of the activities is an invitational western art show. This brings in some really talented artists and show pieces their art. As part of this event, there is a judging contest for the different Medias, a composite painting, where the public can paint under the direction of the artist, two Quick Draw contests, and an Artists breakfast...
The art from the quick draw, the composites, and other donated art are auctioned off and ½ of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund for college students from Death Valley and the surrounding area. This year the prices for some of the artwork was quite high and the scholar ship fund did very well.
I usually attend the quick draw contests and this year also attended the auction after the Artists Breakfast. I did bid on several items but they usually pass well beyond my range as far as prices I am willing to pay. In particular, I have been coveting a painting by Gilbert Jumbo, a Navajo Indian who has been coming for several years. Unfortunately, his paintings command big money. I keep hoping however. I told the auctioneer, Steve Orcutt that I hope to, “steal a painting” one of these days with a low bid.
Tonight is the Fiddle Contest finals which we will attend. Tomorrow, Dick and I will stay here for the business meeting and then move to the BLM area outside of Tecopa, CA for one night. On Monday we will explore some mines near Tecopa and then move to Baker, CA for the night. I will return home on Tuesday after nearly 5 months on the road. Five months is a long tome but actually, I am not really ready to go home. Quartzsite, AZ is calling.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Groceries, etc
Location, Death Valley, CA
Yesterday was grocery day. Actually it was more than just grocery day, it was pancake breakfast day, Shoshone Days, Tecopa Hot Springs day, date shake day, propane day, fuel day, Burger King day, and then grocery day. We pack a full day into the first Saturday in November.
We started out with a pancake breakfast in the date grove at Furnace Creek Ranch put on by the local high school. For $6 we get pancakes, bacon, juice and coffee. By 8:30 AM we are on the road to Shoshone about an hours drive out of Death Valley. Shoshone is a wide spot in the road but each fall while the 49 er’s are in Death Valley, they take advantage of the people coming in to hold their fall festival. There are arts and crafts, a BBQ, music, and the museum is open. We spend about 45 minutes looking at everything. It is the same each year so we know what to expect.
Then it is off to Tecopa to the hot springs for a soak. The baths were open to the public with no charge for years but the county took it over a few years ago and now charge $5 admission. They are in the process of upgrading the bathrooms and showers so the charge is justified. The pools are segregated by sexes with the men in one building and the ladies in another. A shower before entering the pool is mandatory and no clothing is allowed. A twenty minute soak is adequate as the temperature can approach 104 degrees. It feels so good!!!! I meant to post a picture of the Hot Springs but forgot to take the picture while we were there.
After the soak we drove south to China Ranch for a date shake. China Ranch is off the Old Spanish Trail and down in a canyon reached by a steep dirt one-way road. Date trees were planted here by a Chinese man many years ago. The dates are processed locally and sold locally or by orders. The little store sells several kinds of dates, date nut bread, cookies, and of course date shakes. They also have southwest arts and crafts.
From China Ranch we back tracked to Shoshone and drove East to Pahrump, NV where we purchased propane, fuel for the truck, stopped at Burger King (it is handy to the grocery store) and bought groceries. We returned to Death Valley via the Pahrump Road which put us back in camp about 4 PM. The weather in Pahrump was nice but it was really hot in Death Valley when we returned.
I cooked a chicken casserole for dinner and Deanna supplied a very nice cabbage salad. Dessert was pound cake covered with banana cream pudding, bananas and blue berries with a dollop of whipped cream. The blue berries were from Washington and had been in my freezer since July. Very tasty!!
Nobby and Deanna left early this morning. With day light saving time going in to effect last night, many people were up early so the camp was too noisy to sleep in this morning.
We have over cast skies this morning so I tilted my solar panels to get more amps into the batteries. Normally I just leave them flat as the 175 watts from the panels keeps the batteries charged.
Yesterday was grocery day. Actually it was more than just grocery day, it was pancake breakfast day, Shoshone Days, Tecopa Hot Springs day, date shake day, propane day, fuel day, Burger King day, and then grocery day. We pack a full day into the first Saturday in November.
We started out with a pancake breakfast in the date grove at Furnace Creek Ranch put on by the local high school. For $6 we get pancakes, bacon, juice and coffee. By 8:30 AM we are on the road to Shoshone about an hours drive out of Death Valley. Shoshone is a wide spot in the road but each fall while the 49 er’s are in Death Valley, they take advantage of the people coming in to hold their fall festival. There are arts and crafts, a BBQ, music, and the museum is open. We spend about 45 minutes looking at everything. It is the same each year so we know what to expect.
Then it is off to Tecopa to the hot springs for a soak. The baths were open to the public with no charge for years but the county took it over a few years ago and now charge $5 admission. They are in the process of upgrading the bathrooms and showers so the charge is justified. The pools are segregated by sexes with the men in one building and the ladies in another. A shower before entering the pool is mandatory and no clothing is allowed. A twenty minute soak is adequate as the temperature can approach 104 degrees. It feels so good!!!! I meant to post a picture of the Hot Springs but forgot to take the picture while we were there.
After the soak we drove south to China Ranch for a date shake. China Ranch is off the Old Spanish Trail and down in a canyon reached by a steep dirt one-way road. Date trees were planted here by a Chinese man many years ago. The dates are processed locally and sold locally or by orders. The little store sells several kinds of dates, date nut bread, cookies, and of course date shakes. They also have southwest arts and crafts.
From China Ranch we back tracked to Shoshone and drove East to Pahrump, NV where we purchased propane, fuel for the truck, stopped at Burger King (it is handy to the grocery store) and bought groceries. We returned to Death Valley via the Pahrump Road which put us back in camp about 4 PM. The weather in Pahrump was nice but it was really hot in Death Valley when we returned.
I cooked a chicken casserole for dinner and Deanna supplied a very nice cabbage salad. Dessert was pound cake covered with banana cream pudding, bananas and blue berries with a dollop of whipped cream. The blue berries were from Washington and had been in my freezer since July. Very tasty!!
Nobby and Deanna left early this morning. With day light saving time going in to effect last night, many people were up early so the camp was too noisy to sleep in this morning.
We have over cast skies this morning so I tilted my solar panels to get more amps into the batteries. Normally I just leave them flat as the 175 watts from the panels keeps the batteries charged.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Beautiful Death Valley
Location, Death Valley, CA
It is a glorious day here in the valley. Sunny, no clouds with a light breeze. The temperature may get into the low 90’s today. Just beautiful.
Nobby and Deanna arrived late Monday evening. I had made dinner with enough for them also but the rest of us had eaten earlier. I reheated the casserole and had salad and brownies with mint patties and ice cream for dessert.
Nobby also brought more wood so we have enough to last us for a month at least. Someone came by last night and wanted to know if we are selling wood. We gave them a bundle.
There is still lots of room in all campgrounds. I am afraid it may be a lean year for the 49’ers. The Death Valley 49’ers is an organization started in 1949 to promote Death Valley. Each year in the first weekend of November, members gather for music, horse shoes, gold panning, a horse ride from Ridgecrest, CA, a wagon train, and much more to commemorate the first white people to traverse Death Valley in 1849.
The music has been going on for some time now. Each evening from 6-9 PM a group of musicians gather in Sunset campground for an impromptu music session. It is open to all who can play an instrument or think they can play.
I have added pictures to Sundays blog.
It is a glorious day here in the valley. Sunny, no clouds with a light breeze. The temperature may get into the low 90’s today. Just beautiful.
Nobby and Deanna arrived late Monday evening. I had made dinner with enough for them also but the rest of us had eaten earlier. I reheated the casserole and had salad and brownies with mint patties and ice cream for dessert.
Nobby also brought more wood so we have enough to last us for a month at least. Someone came by last night and wanted to know if we are selling wood. We gave them a bundle.
There is still lots of room in all campgrounds. I am afraid it may be a lean year for the 49’ers. The Death Valley 49’ers is an organization started in 1949 to promote Death Valley. Each year in the first weekend of November, members gather for music, horse shoes, gold panning, a horse ride from Ridgecrest, CA, a wagon train, and much more to commemorate the first white people to traverse Death Valley in 1849.
The music has been going on for some time now. Each evening from 6-9 PM a group of musicians gather in Sunset campground for an impromptu music session. It is open to all who can play an instrument or think they can play.
I have added pictures to Sundays blog.
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