Another YouTube video.. this one explicitly about the RTR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS5Zxedcnrw

This keeps me motivated to keep moving out of my apartment!  :)

RTR event Jan 10

I am a follower and member of the CHEAPRVLIVING.COM website and forum.  It was started and maintained by a gentleman named Bob Wells.    He also has a YouTube channel devoted to folks like me.    Here's a link to one of his video's.  Please consider subscribing to his channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHo3MzO7xMA

There is an event in Quartzite, Arizona starting Jan 10, 2017 called the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) which I hope to be able to attend and participate in.  I already have most of what I will need in my trailer to live in it.  It is just not "setup" yet.  In other words, I have done no customization to create a bed frame and shelves , or setup my Solar Energy System.  I do have a borrowed Honda Generator that I can use for cooking and heat until I get my Solar panels, batteries , controller and wiring set up.

That is something I believe I can do at the RTR.  And possibly have some assistance.

I am really looking forward to it.

Picked up my trailer from friend's house

yesterday I drove down to my friend Weldon's house.  We just spent a few hours hanging out.  That's how we celebrated Christmas.  We had my 2 dogs and his 3 dogs and 1 cat.  It was kind of like a party.   I certainly enjoyed it.

I drove back home in some of the highest winds I've experienced since I lived on the coast of N. Carolina!  Walking the dogs, the wind almost blew me over a few times.  And I am NOT a small guy!
I was very proud that I was able to back it into a parking spot!  I've been really challenged on that.  I AM getting better... I've spent time just backing up around my storage facility and the odd empty parking lot.   Still got a ways to go, but I'm making progress.

The Trip from Hell!

This is what I posted on Cheaprvliving.com about my trip to pick up my trailer in Waco, TX.
-----

The Trip from hell (and yes, I know it could have been much worse! )  
As far as my journey went... the agent for Haulmark discovered an issue about the delivery the day I was going to pick it up. 
I ended up meeting a delivery guy that he hired in a WalMart parking lot.   It took all day to make this happen.  
I was in Waco, TX , which is on the Freeway corridor from Dallas to San Antone... heavy traffic, fast nutty drivers, lots of tight lanes and lane changes .  First time ever driving anything bigger than say a 4x8 Uhaul... lots of stress. 

My dog, Taz , was freaking out... he jumped up in the front seat twice while my son and I were driving back to Austin.  More on that later.   

Again, since I am new at driving a trailer, I got stuck twice and had to have someone help me to back it up.  Again, never driven a trailer this long.  

Then the weather hit when I was just south of Lubbock.  Got down to about 3 degrees in a few hours.  I ended up spending two nights in a motel... Colorado was socked in and roads shut down.   Spent a lot of time watching YouTube video's about backing up a trailer... I have a much better idea how to do it now.  I had forgotten what little I did know from a long time ago.  

Left Sunday morning, heading back to Colorado.  About 20 miles north of Lubbock, while walking my dogs away from the Interstate, my dog Taz got off of the leash.  Next thing I see him hightailing down a 1 lane dirt country road.  Away from me. 
the "ignoring therapy" didn't quite work. Took me an hour to find him, driving around, stopping at farmhouses, asking if they'd seen him.  Was on the phone with my sister , asking for moral and prayer support , when I saw him running toward me about a mile away.    Wow!  I ignored the vet's instructions and gave him *2* of the tranq's she had given and told me to give IN ADVANCE. He calmed down in about 15 minutes, and was calm the rest of the trip.  Clearly, in advance was not the solution. We'll see if this is. 


I had to drive through a little bit of snow... again , a first for me with a trailer.   That was no problem, I just drove slow and steady and made NO sudden changes. 

So, yep, it COULD have been worse.  And I rolled with most of the punches , trying to learn as much as I could from them.  So, all-in-all, a success.

PHASE 1 of My Driveabout adventure is coming to a close ... that would be the preparation phase... I am heading out this morning to pick up my cargo trailer. I'll be stopping to see Mary and the Kid.
Plan to pick it up on Friday. Next step , start to convert it to a livable space ... adding a bed, a primitive "kitchen", solar panels, etc...

YAHOOO!!!!

Cargo Trailer ready for PICKUP!

I just got notication that my trailer is ready to be picked up. I plan on leaving Wednesday after my Doctor's appt, and picking it up in Waco on Friday.

YAHOO!

An Introduction to Quartzsite, AZ from another full-time vandweller.

This lady is amazing.  I just subscribed to her YouTube channel.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0hhxpWyYVE

Fly Fishing in the Desert

I want to learn to fly-fish, but I believe I will be spending a lot of my DriveAbout time in the desert.
So, it will be like shadow-boxing ...

After watching an episode of The Walking Dead last night, I decided that I would also like to learn some Aikido forms involving sticks like Morgan uses.  You CAN do that by yourself...

My Cargo Trailer

My cargo trailer is scheduled to be produced today!  Let's hope it's ready to be picked up soon!
I plan to pick it up at their Waco, TX branch... Pretty excited about that!

New Topper

Traded in my used topper for a new one
This one has a functioning liftgate... which keeps the rain and snow out
It also has a slightly higher roof, which will help when I have to sleep in it.

Issue related to finances... posted on Facebook also:

BOTTOM LINE: I have a serious problem ... I will figure it out, but will probably NOT be able to get my cargo trailer at this time and will probably have to sell my truck.

This is me whining and bitching.

Details: 
According to a piece of mail I just received, it looks like either
1. I seriously misunderstood the severance documentation that was given to me by my former employer (let's call them IQ)
2 . I got f*d by IQ.

I just received a payment from IQ, that was roughly a tenth of what I thought I was going to receive after reading the severance documentation.

I'm 64, I know better than to count my chickens before they hatch, or to believe any large corporation or what they say.

So, you prayer warriors start your engines.... I need a good idea..
:) Thanks!

I'm trying to keep this in chronological order, but I forgot to mention I've met 2 people from the Forum I've been following: cheaprvliving.com.

JiminDenver gave me a trailer I can use for off-roading with my 1998 Jeep XJ... it is perfect for getting to remote trailheads and cruising rough backroads... I expect I will use it for hiking, longer-term backpacking and hunting.
Thanks, Jim.

I've also met masterplumber twice.  He showed me his 6x12 converted cargo trailer and has shared plans with me for a teardrop trailer.... I may actually use one of those sometime.

Thanks to both of you, and the group that participate in CheapRVLiving... very helpful group of people...

Everytime I look at a map I get excited!  :)

SOME things have happened since last post.  One of the most important was that I have an assembly date of December 10, 2016 for my 6x12 cargo trailer.

Also, I went ahead and ordered a NEW topper for my truck pickup bed... the used one I have is missing the liftgate, and I could find no one who would even cut a piece of glass for it. One issue is that it's curved slightly on the z-axis.. and the edges are not straight; therefore it's much harder to cut.
My truck is a 2001 Ford F150 with a flareside, small crew cab, and a short bed.  Not exactly a common configuration.  Thus, not much of a 2nd-hand market. BUT, that means I'm paying another $700 for a liftgate... that stings.

Back to the cargo trailer: hopefully, I'll be able to pick it up in Waco around 12/15 ... I'll be driving Isaiah's stuff to him on the way down. I'll have to rent a U-Haul , one-way , drop it off in Austin somewhere, and then drive back to Waco.  Hopefully, I will get to do a "drive-by" with Mary in New Braunfels, TX on the way back to COS.