North, it is

I chose to head toward Parker, AZ.  The closest from where I was.  I'm actually in Big River, CA.  Yikes!  CA! 

This is BLM land, and so far, pretty quiet.  There is another camping area, Shea Road BLM site.  This sounds to me like Thanksgiving at Ehrenberg, at least according to one of my neighbors. 

Glad I came here. 

North, South or East?

Now that Christmas is over and New Year's Eve holiday weekend, the partiers are starting to move in.  Add to that the RUMOR that the BLM is going to start handing out tickets, I'm getting my stuff ready to leave. 

The closest easiest place to go is Parker, AZ; about 45 miles North of here.  I would like to spend New Year's Eve somewhere I don't have to contend with idiots on 4-wheel ATV's.
The Walmart in Parker allows overnight stays.  I'm thinking about staying there New Year's Eve.  It won't be quiet, but that's ok. 

I could go East in the general direction of Show Low, but it's pretty cold at night there.
I would like to at least walk the property before I buy it!  :)

Then there's Yuma.  South ... it's about 10 degrees warmer there, and there are plenty of places to camp, and 4 Walmarts, 2 Home Depots, a Lowes and a Harbor Freight.  A boondockers dream.  Now if you're one of those boondockers who wants to be as far away from the things of man as you can get... No, it's not.  But it's Southern AZ.  There are many many places that are "Miles from Nowhere".... Lots of choices.  Especially if you like the heat. 

Merry Christmas

I wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas. I would like to say "Happy Birthday" to my Lord Jesus. Thanks for taking what Luci Shaw called "The Risk of Birth".

I hope we all find a way to be a real blessing to someone else today. I think that would be a nice birthday present for He whose birthday we're celebrating.

Love,

Pat

Bob Wells and his followers

First, I'd like to emphasize I have nothing at all negative to say about Bob.  Especially in this post.

This post is about some of his followers here in Ehrenberg, AZ.  There are all kinds of rumors flying about.

To provide some background, in the past, the BLM has had a history of not being very strict about enforcing the 14-day limit...  this limit  applies to almost all federal land where dispersed camping is allowed.  This has has been a poorly-kept secret . Bob even posted a video from this January's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) where a BLM ranger says so.

Now to the current slice of time:  This area, and Bob's forum, are abuzz  with stories of the BLM "cracking down" and kicking us all out.  Supposedly they stopped and told many people they had 14 days starting at that time (this Tuesday, 12/19/17)  .

This has been attributed to all kinds of things.  The theory put forth by many was that it was because of trash.  It's a good thing no one believed in human sacrifice; it could have been time to burn a witch!  Boy, those darn Middle Ages!

Even though I'm no longer a member of the forum, it is still readable.  For everybody.  What I noticed was a distinct lack of anyone who had actually talked to a BLM ranger.

So....
I went out in my truck yesterday and actually talked to people who were camped right on the main road, asking them if they had been told to leave. I talked to 5 or 6 people before I found the ONE GUY who had been told to leave. He even admitted it was probably because he got a little snarky with the Rangers. Remind anybody of anybody else??? :) He told me where the story went from there, and that fit in with all of the hysteria on the forum. I'm sometimes still amazed at how people will pass stories on without bothering to check facts.

What really bugs me about this is that many people were blaming Bob.  Most of these people would not even be out here if it wasn't for Bob Wells and his website and YouTube channel (CHEAPRVLIVING) ... That includes me.  Listening to him encouraged me to hit the road and live in my 6x12 cargo trailer.  And AT NO TIME, did Bob ever say it would always be Rainbows and Moonbeams.  It's REAL LIFE, there are ups and downs and barriers to overcome.

Land

There's a possibility that I may end up buying a tiny piece of land (1 acre) in the boonies outside of Show Low, AZ.  Two of my friends are in the process of buying some there, and if it works out, there are other lots that I could use.

It's definitely not suburbia, but the price is right and the financing is trivial, the main thing would be to have permanent homebase, that I could spend time at if I needed to . 

Who knows?  Not me.

Where's the Wind? I know, you can't SEE IT.

It's been blowing pretty steady for the last week or so.   I heard they even got snow in Texas!

This morning, it seems like the wind is taking a break.  Time to get busy.  I find trying to get any work done outside to be unpleasant.  And since I'm not squatting in a friend's trailer, I feel no sense of need to get things done.  But still, I do have things I want to accomplish while I'm here.  And hanging in the trailer because the wind is blowing is not one of them.

I've been collecting gizmo's from K&B Hardware in Quartzsite that make it easy to use electrical conduit to construct things like awnings and canopies.

Picture of the kind of thing I'm using

I plan to start putting what I have together today.  It was just harder to do when the wind was blowing.  Of course, now I'll have to wait till the next big winds to see if I did a good job of setting them up.

I'm confident I won't have to wait too long!  :)

Me on YouTube babbling about Fringe Dwelling

Those of us who live on the road, especially full-timers, are people I call "fringe dwellers".
We live on the fringes of what is considered "normal" middle-class living in America. Most of us are NOT homeless , we tow our home around with us.  Some of us have brick and mortar homes and apartments where we maintain a living space and /or permanent residency.

But we love the freedom of living on the road.

"What are you going to do today?"

"Huh... I'm not sure.  I'll let you know what I did today tomorrow".

So, here's me babbling on the first YouTube video I've posted in a while.

Me on YouTube

Ehrenberg, AZ after Thanksgiving

I know that for many of you, you stay up all night waiting for just one more post from Pat. I'm so sorry to disappoint you; it has been days since I posted anything.

Those of us camped out here for the winter endured Thanksgiving, and now it's back to being quiet and peaceful again. Since a glance at the calendar shows that Christmas is another 4 day weekend, we can expect the same at Christmas.
I plan to move somewhere else for Christmas.

I've started working on yet another "starting-over" on my trailer. At least on the interior layout . I plan to bring the batteries inside (PROPERLY VENTILATED, YO) and turn my bed sideways at the back. The problem is that I'm cramped, and I shouldn't be. I have plenty of wasted space, and I am going to change that .

Below is how it normally looks, here in Ehrenberg.  

My Axle

It has been pointed out that I did not post anything about the results of getting my axle fixed.  I went to Trailer Parts Sales in Avondale, AZ, just west of Phoenix.  They did a great job! 

It cost about $300 , parts and labor.  I got a straight axle (my trailer came with a drop axle) and now have 4" more lift.  It reminds me of my Jeep, which only has a 3" lift! 

I'm loving it. 

Solar Panel

I was hoping to buy another solar panel in Phoenix at Sun Electronics.  But I didn't.
1.  Sun Electronics is NOT a retail store.  It is a warehouse, and no one was in the warehouse.
2.  After spending $300 on my axle, I decided to forgo the panel and get one when I can afford it.

So, right now, I have one pair of batteries in service, and one pair "resting". 

Thanks to Kelly and Theresa

These two folks and their adorable pug have been great neighbors since Crown King Road.
They invited me to join them in E'berg, way out from what's already way out!  :)

In fact, they've become good friends.  I truly enjoy their company.  They like their solitude, and we give each other space. 

Kelly actually seems to like to help me with stuff! 

Friends like them are rare.

Axle and Battery issues

Axle

Somewhere between Pueblo , CO and Page , AZ , I bent the axle on my trailer. 
I believe it happened when I backed in to the tiny campsite near the Entrance to Mesa Verde National Monument.  I believe my wheel was stopped by a very low stump, and I kept pushing back for a moment too long. 

The clue that it was bent was that the outside edge of the tire was almost bald after about 120 miles or so of driving!   The next day , I went to a tire store that worked on trailer axles and the guy told me that the axle was bent.  He turned the tire around so that I could make it to Ehrenberg, AZ. 

My friend Kelly is going to help me take it off, (I'll be handing him wrenches!) and I'll drive to Phoenix to get a new one and move the hubs on the old one, and put them on the new one.
Since the one I have is a "drop axle", and I'll be getting a straight axle, I'll get a 4" lift!

Battery

I've been having battery problems since around Labor Day.  I've gotten a new MPPT controller, thinking it was the controller.  I've let it charge and not used it .  

When I was in Prescott, AZ (Crown King road) , I took them to a chain battery store to check them out, and ended up with 4 NEW batteries.  

Here in E'berg, I found that the multimeter reading for volts does not agree with a reading from a hydrometer.  I'm still not entirely sure that that is the problem that some folks diagnose it.  It probably is, but some articles from those same people say otherwise. 

So... still in troubleshooting mode. 

When I go to Phoenix to get the axle, I plan on getting another panel at Sun Electronics ... they have great prices. 

Views from where I'm staying in AZ

Thus proving the theory that this is terrain that only a full-time boondocker could love. What you can't see in these pictures is that the BLM, has at this time, chosen to NOT enforce the 14-day limit and has not for more than a year. THAT'S the big attraction for folks like me. I have time to work on my trailer, and truck, and not have to worry about getting kicked out.

Also, during the winter, the weather is very pleasant. I think it got close to 80 yesterday, around 2. But it's about 50 degrees now, with a slight breeze.

Thanks to Weldon'

My friend Weldon has been such a great help to me, I just wanted to recognize him here.

I've called on him in so many weird situations,  and he has always come through.   There have been many,  but the time he drove 140 mile round trip to rescue Lacy while I was being taken into custody for an unpaid ticket was one of the best.   If not for Weldon,  Lacy might have gone to the pound.

 He later told me he did it for her.   That was A-ok with me.  :)

Tarp Sunblock

My attempt to provide a "tarp sunblock" to me and Lacy.

I always try to point the front of my trailer due west. That way my side door and window are on the North. Which helps keep that side a little cooler. However, the South side is like a solar panel, except it just generates heat. So, since it's still kind of warm in the afternoons here, I thought that the trailer would stay cooler if I let the tarp reflect the sun's heat. We'll see how it works. I know, it wouldn't pass the "trailer trash" criteria... I couldn't stay in an RV Park anyway!  

A little sunset for your viewing pleasure. 

:

)

Lake Havasu, AZ and Van Build Party 2017

I spent the night outside Lake Havasu City, AZ, at the Van Build that Jamie of the Enigmatic Nomadics YouTube channel puts on. I got to tell Jamie thanks for all the information and inspiration. Lacy made the rounds at the campfire later on, and made lots of friends.

We're heading for Ehrenberg, hopefully to get my axle fixed.

Pointer to Jamie's video about the Party

https://youtu.be/ZVHgTbCaRdg

Post-Court Date activities

I drove back to Colorado as soon as I got my October SSA check.  Went to courthouse, made a court-date for Nov 1.


I had decided I wanted to go to "The Wave" , a place just south of Kanab, UT.

That was taken care of 11/1 and I headed out on 11/2... got to Mesa Verde the first night.

Drove to Page, AZ next day. Most unique landscape I had seen in my life, I think.

Here's the results:
https://www.blm.gov/az/paria/hikingcalendar.cfm?areaid=2

Page is on Lake Powell.

ATT barely works , even in town.  No data service at campsite.
Misplaced JetPack.

Passenger side of trailer tire worn almost bald on outside edge of tread.  Called Kelly.
Bad axle, wheel bearing?  Going to take to Mechanic , Monday, 11/6 ...

I like Page ... and my campsite.  May have to stay till 23, next payday.

The "Wave" requires a permit, which is allotted via a lottery.  They only allow 20 people a day to go in. When I logged in to try to get a permit , I found it was booked for 4 months out.
Clearly , you don't just drive up!  So, I abandoned my plans to do that. 

Page to Flagstaff

I drove to Flagstaff next.  I got there in the dark.  I decided to just park a long the frontage road , as I saw quite a few Semi's and smaller vehicles parked there.  They looked like they were parked for the night.  It was pretty noisy, since it was right by the Interstate.  

Next day I headed toward Lake Havasu City. 

On the Lam

Even I have a hard time believing this, but Ive done it again! I missed my court date!
So I'm on the lam AGAIN. And it's Saturday, so I can't call the Pueblo Cty courthouse and straighten it out. So, thankfully I'm in MON , down the road from BFE. Plan on staying off of the road, even the dirt road I'm on. This is the main road around here. Small-town America. ...I love it!

Your friend,

Fugitive Pat

Crown King Road, AZ.

I had left Southern AZ, where I was checking out an RV Park called Coyote Howls Campground.   It's huge attraction is it's price, and the size of the spaces.  They charge $550/year for a space. 

But it was ~100 degrees F, and I headed back north, to try to find some elevation.  North of Phoenix, I17 starts to climb toward Flagstaff (which is 7000 ft and above , thus much cooler).  I got to about 3000 feet, noticed it had cooled off quite a bit, and it was getting toward sunset.  I had very little money in my bank account, so I decided I would have to find a camping spot. 

I was in the general vicinity of where roads head toward Prescott to the west, and went to freecampsites.net to look for a place to spend the night.

I found this entry on that website:

https://freecampsites.net/#!3979&query=sitedetails

This is for Crown King Road boondock. 

I found a nice place here.  I'm on top of a hill, and loving it.  It is very pleasant, temperature-wise.  It DOES get hot during the day, but if I sit in the shade, it is very comfortable. 
I believe I will stay here the whole 14 days. 

Here's a view toward the West, from my campsite.

Flagstaff.

I stayed in Flagstaff, off of A1 Mountain Rd exit (190) for about a week.
Thanks to my friend Jim's directions, I arrived in the Coconino NF around 2pm. (I think that's the name of this place). It is absolutely beautiful! This is the kind of place I imagined I would stay in as a nomad. I'm staying next to a large meadow that my buddy Jim told me about. Being wide open, there's plenty of opportunity for my solar panel to "get a tan, Man"... lots of rays coming down and generating electrical power and storing it in my batteries.

I can hear Elk calling, and I realized it MUST be hunting season. I'm right, it is. So, I need to put an Orange vest on Lacy. :)

There were Elk and Pronghorn Antelope out here.




Lacy rooting around for snacks   

FSR 518 ... II

Got a little chilly last night! :) My thermometer says it was 20 degrees. I think that's a little inaccurate, but it was cold in the trailer; and that's a fact. The only heat I have is a propane "Mr Buddy".... I don't use it very much because it
1. Generates a LOT of condensation
2. If you forget to do something, you might not wake up. I have forgotten to do something before. Amazingly, I woke up. If I didn't believe in God before, I sure do now. :)

Anyway, my water jugs were outside, and were frozen solid this morning. Hahah. Thankfully, I had one in the truck that was covered in blankets ... So, I could make coffee.

Can still hear Elk calling... wonderful. And it warms up pretty quickly once the sun clears the trees.

FSR 518 ... Favorite spot yet

I'm on Forest Service Road (FSR) 518 in Coconino National Forest.  This is one of the nicest spots I've stayed in since I hit the road 10 months ago.  So far, it's my favorite. 
Very dispersed... one other camper on the other side of the meadow. 

It's hunting season, so there's some traffic from people hunting.  Still very quiet and private.
Which is what I prefer.  I DO like people, and love to talk and even listen at times!  But I prefer solitude the most. 

This is off of exit 190 on I40 West.  Take the first dirt road to your left as soon as you get off of the exit.  Then about 3 miles on a dirt road.  Then there's a large meadow on your left.
Perfect alignment for my solar and trailer.  I like to have the front of the trailer pointing West, and as much sun exposure as possible.  When I park it like that, the door and the window by my bed is on the North side of the trailer, so no direct sunlight on that side.

This is the cleanest camping spot in a National Forest I've seen yet.  Much better than the 2 in Colorado I've stayed at.  They're pigsties compared to this .... haven't seen a single diaper yet.

Arrived in Flagstaff, AZ

Just crossed into Arizona. Man, I'm glad to be back!

(and then, a little later)

A1 Mountain Road

Thanks to my friend Jim's directions, I arrived in the Coconino NF around 2pm. (I think that's the name of this place). It is absolutely beautiful! This is the kind of place I imagined I would stay in as a nomad. I'm staying next to a large meadow that my buddy Jim told me about. Being wide open, there's plenty of opportunity for my solar panel to "get a tan, Man"... lots of rays coming down and generating electrical power and storing it in my batteries.

This place is much nicer than Pike NF and San Isabel NF.... The Colorado campsites in the NF have been trashed so much.  And even though they're cleaner than they have been, they are just trashy compared to this one.  People actually seem to really clean up after themselves here.

I can hear Elk calling, and I realized it MUST be hunting season. I'm right, it is. So, I need to put an Orange vest on Lacy.  

Here's the view from the forest side of the trailer.:H)

Here

Lacy is already covered with dirt from rolling around in it!

She's such a little pig pen.

The view of the meadow on the south side of the trailer.

 My rig.

FS 78 ... San Isabel NF

Forest Service Road 78 ... It's CO 78 until it enters the San Isabel NF ... then it turns into FS78.  There are 6 designated "dispersed" (i.e. primitive , no water, toilet, etc...) camping areas.  The first one , 78A, has sites for about 5 or 6 campers.  It is a big loop.

I'm staying at 78C..  It's only got one fire-ring, so that generally means it's for one camper, or family, group...

It's at 8000 feet, a little bit warmer, and very flat.  Good sun access for my solar panel.

Spotty cell-phone and wifi access.

About 27 miles to Pueblo.

Greenhorn Mountain Road ... San Isabel National Forest

Below is a review of where I went to after Woodland Park.  It was pretty decent.  The road runs for 22 miles, and there are plenty of camping spots along the way.    I only stayed there for 4 nights, because it was SO FAR from any kind of store!  And I did not stock up properly for a place that far away from retail establishments!  :)

-----------------------

I'm in San Isabel NF.  I arrived here Saturday, 9/9/2017 .  I started out on Ophir Creek Road, which ends about 3 miles in.  If you continue on the road to the left (there IS a FS road that continues straight.  I don't know where that goes), the road then becomes called Greenhorn Mountain Road.  This is very helpful because it eventually ends at the base of Greenhorn Mountain at a trailhead. 

Greenhorn Mountain is fairly recognizable from the East side of this Mountain Range.  On I25, just as you are passing the exit for Colorado City, it is directly to the West. 

I initially followed the road to the base of Greenhorn Mountain.  That was a 22 mile drive.  There are plenty of camping spots there, you just pull off of the road.

WARNING to those with trailers:  there are lots of rocks there, and they might rip the bottom out of your trailer; unless you have a trailer with high clearance. 

After parking, and starting to set up, I realized that the surrounding terrain was a very large and pretty meadow.   Then I realized it reminded me of a wind tunnel.

It was at almost 12,000 feet elevation,  2:30 pm, it was 46 degrees F, and the wind was blowing then.  I elected to  forego the wind rocking and rolling my trailer all night long and moved down the hill and in some trees. 

I am now staying at milepost 10, about 11k feet elevation.  It does get cold at night, but very little wind.  It was 45 F this morning.  I stayed in the trailer most of yesterday afternoon, because it was raining off and on all evening. 

I like this spot, but have to remember in the future to stock up well.  It is 41 miles to the closest town with a gas station.  It is 47 miles to a town with many stores.  Canon City.

I might move closer to a bigger town today.  I have a lot of water bottles that need cleaning.  I'm thinking about checking out 78A outside of Beulah.  Closer to Peublo.

Oh, no cell phone or wifi where I'm at. 

Finally out of Camp at Woodland Park!

Wow!  How do I always do this?  I end up with more stuff than I brought. Toward 5pm (after 11 hours of work) , I just started tossing stuff in my trailer.  I stayed in a Motel 6 last night, I was too tired to do anything else.  

Taking a shower with "unlimited" water was like staying in the Taj Mahal.  But man, I was dirty! I'm going to take another shower this morning.  Wow!

I have a lot to do today.  I may stay another day here.

Kicked out on Labor Day!

A forest ranger guy came by today and told me I have to leave.  That I've exceeded the 14 day limit.  Then he issued me a ticket for $105 !  I can't argue , because I have exceeded the 14 day limit.  Actually , by about a week.  And he was nice enough to give me 2 days to get out.  I've heard of LEO's standing there while you pack.

I was fooled by the fact that I haven't seen one.  But apparently, he saw me.  He marked me as arriving on August 18.

First time I've heard of getting a ticket.

He also quizzed me a lot about where I'm going next , do I have a home, where is my home. I've been told to never admit to a ranger that you live in your vehicle.  So, I danced as much as I could without lying.

Anyway, I guess it's "Goodbye to Hollywood"... or , in this case, Rampart Range Road, FS 943.  I've come to like this place a lot.

2 weeks at Rampart Range road

1st week I didn't try to do too much. Just enjoyed being back on the road, waking up to see trees out the window I worked so hard to install.   Watching the stars at night,  doing a little hiking on the trails around the forest service road I'm camped on.  Trying to get my physical condition improved.

The weather has been the kind I love. ... Clear blue skies, 60-70 degrees, light winds  (mostly ).  Some wet dreary days,  but not much.

However, on Friday I put in a good solid 10 hours of work on my trailer, finishing some things I started at Weldon's house.  I cleaned it out enough to put my anti-grav recliner inside, so I can still read or just sit inside when the weather is unpleasant outside.

Here's a picture :

That's the view out of my back door.

Ah , how good it feels!

So, now I'm getting ready to move to a lower elevation and/or further south.  It's almost September,  and that often means snow in the Rockies.   I don't mind snow so much,  but I'd prefer to not get stranded if I can help it.

Peace!

On the Road again

Finally!!!!!


I'm staying at Rampart Range road just a few miles from Woodland Park,  CO.  This is the closest spot i can find to do dispersed camping to Colorado Springs.  That's where my garage is located.

It really is great to be back out here.  Way different from AZ,
and even Lost Creek wilderness.  

It was wonderful to wake up and look out the window I worked so hard to install,  and see a woodland scene. The target shooters get started early on the weekend,  but during the week it was relatively quiet.

I can't believe I waited so freakin long.

YouTube about Jimindenver

This gentlemen , the subject of this video, was someone I got to know before I actually even bought a trailer.  He gave me a solar panel, an old trailer for my Jeep, lots of good advice, and later on a battery (I had given my two to another friend).  He also helped me wire my solar power system .  And as it says, he is an extremely generous human being.

Click on the link below, please:
vvvvvvvvvvvv

My friend Jim

Thanks to my friend Weldon.

At his place, about 20 SW of Pueblo... this is where it all started.  We started learning about solar power at Weldon's.  He did most of the work.  I provided some parts to add to what he already had.

He allowed me to store a lot of stuff in his garage, let me stay in his 5th wheel trailer for more than 5 months, helped me with many other issues and problems.  "Above and Beyond".  He helped me with taking Taz to his vet, stood by me while I was broken-hearted about losing Taz.  Has Doggie-sat more than once for Taz and Lacy.

Weldon has become family , as well as friend.

Thanks,

Weldon.

Yep, still in Beulah

I'm packing up my stuff in the 5th wheel trailer where I've been staying, with the intention of FINALLY getting my butt out of there.  I'm feeling like a sqatter!  Since my last post, I've finalized the changes I'm going to make in my trailer  before I hit the road.  I will continue making changes while I'm on the road.

I'm planning on staying up near Woodland Park in CO, off of the Rampart Range area.  That will allow me to drive down to Co. Springs and go to the storage unit.  I have a small workshop set up there, and have enough room to pull my trailer in to the storage unit.
In fact, I think of it as renting a garage more than renting a storage unit.

After I feel like that is settled, I will spend some time in the Lost Creek Wilderness area in Colorado.  Some of the CheapRVLiving (CRVL) folks had a get together last month, and I spent one night there with them.  I really like the dispersed camping facilities there , and would like to return.

Then it's either head for the trip up the Northern California , Oregon and Washington coasts, or head to AZ  ...  at this time, both have real advantages .... we'll see what happens.

If you read this, thanks.  I hope you find at least some of my travels and travails of some interest.

Still in Beulah

I am really ready to get going.  For one thing, I'm doing work early in the morning and will start doing after dark some .   It's just way too hot in the daytime.

At this point, I just want to get enough done to finish on the road.  Fix my bed setup, finish with the electric rewire, make room to sleep and cook, and store the tools and what wood and insulation I can.
Clean out Weldon's 5th wheel, straighten out the garage, police the area for junk and trash.

Say au revoir and head to Guanella Pass.

One of my favorite pictures of Taz.

He's the one on the right.  I know, it's hard to tell. You know what they say about people picking dogs that look like them.

This was about 8 years ago, we were hiking just West of Mt Evans, starting at Guanella Pass.  We ended up summiting Mt Spaulding, instead of Mt Evans.  Hahaha.

This was taken on the way down the mountain.    It was before I adopted Lacy.

Taz update

Last week, I took Taz in to have him euthanized.  He had had a tumor removed from his back right leg.  The vet told me that a biopsy showed he had not been able to get it all.  That surgery cost me $700 , which I borrowed.  His future was chemo, radiation or amputation.  Also, he had suspected liver issues.  He had started to lose his appetite, which is never a good sign.

I had him a great 9 years.   I miss him quite a bit.  I still have a great dog named Lacy, an Australian Cattle Dog that I've had for 7 years.  Taz was special, however.  He had an abundance of personality and we were really close.

I will be spreading his ashes at Guanella Pass in Colorado.  At the base of Mount Bierstadt.  This is about 20 miles south of the town of Georgetown on I70.   You can see Breckenridge and Keystone from the summit of Bierstadt.    We spent many hours hiking the trails around there, and doing a lot of path-finding.  He was really good at finding trails that we had hiked on before; this was REAL helpful when we would be returning to the trailhead.   I would have missed a few turns and wasted energy if it weren't for him.

That's Taz with Mt Bierstadt behind him.  Around 2011. 

This is Lacy, she is now my only dog.  I will be taking her hiking with just the 2 of us now.  For quite a while, it was all 3 of us.  We were the WP pack.  :) 

My buddy , "LostSoul", tour of his van!

Ken did some work on my trailer at the Rendezvous (RTR) this January.  I did not get his contact info before he left.   So, when I saw this video, a tour of his "Box Van", I was pretty happy.

Check it out.  Ken is a good guy, and has a sense of humor compatible with mine.. yes, I know, poor guy!  :)


Tour of Ken's Box Van

A few Do-overs!

I've been close to being through with the work I've been doing on my cargo trailer, thinking I was almost done.  Then I get to a point and see something I didn't think about, and do not like.

IF I was a good planner, I would not run into these problems.  But , clearly I'm not, and have never been.  In fact, as long as I can remember, the harder I try to plan something, the more stuck I get .  I just go round and round in my head, until I'm almost catatonic.

I've always gotten around this by just trying something, and adjusting some, and trying it again.
That's one of the reasons I was pretty good at working with computers.  The best way to solve a problem , in my opinion, is to try one thing and see if it fixes the problem.  You've now eliminated some things that COULD be wrong. Keep moving on until you fix the problem.  Or , as some of the hardware guys would do, replace the hardware!  :)

So, I've started insulating the walls , re-doing what I had done before.  The idea was to put some wood OVER the insulation, then paint it.  Once I started putting the plywood on to use for paneling, I didn't like the way it looked, or how "usable" it would be for future addition of shelves and such.
Also, I'm making a foldaway bed.  I realized I forgot to take into account the depth of the plywood I'm using.  So, I have to start that over again!

Live and Learn?  It doesn't seem like I learn too much!

So, still in Beulah, still working on my trailer.  

5/21/2017

Time spent in Beulah

I was starting to feel a little like I've been putting off going back on the road, considering how long I've been in Beulah.

Then I realized how much I've gotten done while I'm here. And I looked at it another way.

 Here's my new outlook: I took off for the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) almost totally unprepared. I was standing at my storage unit in Co. Springs just tossing things into my trailer that I thought I might need. My bed was not even set up. My cargo trailer was literally hauling a bunch of cargo.

Jan 10, when I arrived at the RTR, was my first night that I slept in my trailer. In order to do that, I had to unload most everything in the trailer. For almost the next 2 months, I endured snarky comments about "yard sales", and "garage sales".

But since being here in Beulah, I realized that unlike a lot of "full-timers", I didn't work on the trailer until I was ready to venture out on the road. I was forced by circumstances (being laid-off and not being able to afford my apt) to hit the road and work on my trailer while I was out there.

So, letting myself off of the hook, What I had done was this: I stuck my toe in the water, then jumped in. I found out what I think I need to do with my trailer, and I've been doing it while I'm here in Beulah. So, I've been taking a break from the road. But I haven't been taking a break in any other regard. I'll post a list of what I've accomplished below.

 But I now know what I want to do , I have collected some tools (like a table saw and bench grinder), I've learned more about cutting holes in the side of my trailer, and how to put up shelves with less weight and more strength. I REALLY want to learn to weld, because I've cut steel using my grinder, but have attached them to things with bolts and nuts. A nice spot weld pr two would be even better.

 As ALWAYS, a BIG thank you to Weldon and his cousin Debbie for letting me stay here!!!!

You folks have been amazing!!!

  Things acommplished: 
• Moved out of Storage Unit
• put rack on topper
• put Fan-tastic vent in roof
• took original  paneling down and demystified interior of trailer
• put window in side-wall
• re-paneled (still WIP) side wall
• added insulation side walls (still WIP)
• made fold-away bed (still WIP)
• added batteries and redid hold-downs
 Strengthened inside wall with steel where tie-downs are held
 (with a lot of use of my grinder to cut the steel!  :)  )

Still in Beulah

I've almost got one window in to the passenger's side wall. Cut the hole, trying to fit the window (very cheaply made) into the hole. I'm having to make some changes to get it to fit. I've pulled all of the panels off the walls, exposing the outer skin. I'll be adding insulation there, possibly putting some different panels on . Something other than particle board. Probably re-do the electric.. I need to add the 12V wiring and would like to do a clean, easily-maintainable job of it. Thankfully, Weldon hasn't thrown me off the property yet! :) Thanks, Weldon!

Timeout in Beulah

I took a timeout in Beulah... Stayed at my friend's 5th wheel on his land. Like staying in an apartment! Lots of space, running water, shore power. Got my Fan-tastic vent installed, upgraded my solar power system to a 1000-watt inverter, and 4 6v batteries (high-capactiy, deep-cycle golf-cart type batteries) wired to look like 1 12-volt battery (series-parallel). Added some insulation to the walls UNDER the particle-board panels. Also, used some of that "gap-filler" stuff to , yep, you guessed it, fill the gaps. Also put a rack on my truck topper. I'm hoping to install a couple of windows. The vent in the roof is very much like a sun roof, so that has added some ambient light. I'd like to add two windows in the side of the trailer. I'm also going to add some wiring to support 12-volt doodads. The Fan-tastic vent runs on twelve volt. I will be adding some LED lights ... as well as eventually a 12 volt fridge, maybe a HAM radio rig running off of 12v. Weather has been fun to deal with. Rain and snow. However, the surrounding area NEEDS the moisture, so I have tried to be patient. I keep reminding myself that everything is not all about ME! :) I'm very thankful to my friend. He's provided a great place for me to work on my rig.

No See'um's

I've lived in Colorado for 20 years. I have gotten used to NOT having flies and skeeters and gnats flying around while I'm hiking. I just remembered that when I lived in Redding, CA and went hiking, I used to just find a twig with leaves still on it, so that I can brush them away while I hiked. So what, you might ask? Well, I have a job in Northern California this summer. That's what, what. :)

Intro

When I turned 64, I made the decision to become part of a subculture of the American populace .  This subculture call themselves "full-time vandwellers" or "boondockers".

Many choose to live the simplest lifestyle they can, attempting to use primarily sustainable forms of energy, as well as to stay in places that cost no money.  Some live this lifestyle because , for one reason or another, it is the only lifestyle they can afford.  Many have little or no income, other than what they can make on the road.

Intermission

Once I got my first SSA payment, I hauled booty for Colorado.  I had 2 storage units with "stuff" in them. And I was paying $200/month  for one of them.

So, first order of business was to move that out.  My friend Weldon graciously allowed me to store a lot of it in his garage.  I've been going through it for the last 3 weeks, giving as much as possible to Goodwill, and throwing away a lot.

So, I'm taking a timeout right now.  Soon, I will be heading for my trip across Colorado, Utah, Nevada and then up the California Coast on Highway 1.

I'm trying to learn how to install a window and a fan in my cargo trailer.  I am just about there!  I'll post some pictures when I can.


Here's my planned route from next week until mid-June

2 months in

I've spent almost 2 months in the Southern AZ desert.  I have to admit , there have been challenges that have led me to the conclusion that the honeymoon is almost over.

Rain:  It rained pretty hard for a night and a day.  Where I was staying turned into a bit of a quagmire.  The dogs and I spent the whole day in the trailer (reminder: 6x12 cargo trailer).  I decided the wisest thing was to just sleep as much as I could. 
When it stopped, the ground was really squishy.  It took a couple of days for it to harden up. 
On the BRIGHT side, there's no substitute for experience.  I now know more of what to expect and will make plans/changes to the trailer to deal with having to spend time inside when the weather is really bad. Also, to look for the subtle gradations in the spot I park in so that I can find the highest ground and avoid low spots.  Those low spots can turn into creeks with a real heavy rain. 

Money:  Even with some money borrowed from a good friend, I spent the last week with not much.  I had $6 , and sitting on empty in my truck.  The closest gas station (in Felicity, CA) was $3.59 / gallon.  I was down to one bottle of the small green propane tanks.  So, I didn't cook anything if I didn't have to.  After the rain, my solar was a little depleted, and I was out of petrol for the generator, so I avoided using any electrical plug ins.  The situation was almost like being on a backpacking trip.  The bright side:  I had a roof over my head, I had books to read, I had canned food to eat (one of my more sensible purchases) as well as some food that two guys, John and Bob, left with me when they went back to El Paso.  Also, I came away from that experience with a new determination to do some financial planning like other adults do.  And do a better job of stretching my money.

So, I have to admit, there have been times when I missed living in sticks and bricks over the last month.
But I remind myself that when I was working as a cog in the Corporate Machine, I at times was just plain tired of living.
Now, I occasionally miss the comforts of the old lifestyle, but I love my life.   This last 2 months have been some of the best times I've had in my entire life. 

One of the big factors has been some of the remarkable and helpful people on this forum, and those I've met and spent time with on the road.  Once again, I must thank AKRVBOB for starting all this.  And thanks to all of you.

Pat

First SSA check today!!!! Not broke anymore!

My very first Social Security (SSA) check was deposited into my Bank last night! Yay! I'm actually proud of myself for accepting my situation and living within my limitations for the last week. Heading for Co Springs today. Need to get some important stuff out of my Storage unit, such as my PASSPORT.  I've been to Mexico twice in the last month and only had my CO Driver's license for ID.
Since it's a "RealID", they accepted it without issue.  But if I want to go to Baja, for example, I would prefer to have my passport.  And I need to find somewhere to leave my guns.  THAT could land me in Mexican prison.  So, THERE'S an example of me being careful! :)

Mojave Road?

I've been wanting to go here since I first heard about it.

I'm contemplating going here next.  This would be my route if I did leave from here.

I'm trying to embed this map into the blog here, but am not sure how to do it. For now, I'll just leave the HTML text in there.

Here's the pointer to the National Preserve website

https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/mojave-road.htm

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m26!1m12!1m3!1d3383446.6824834705!2d-118.2259738403983!3d34.09137059882707!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m11!3e6!4m3!3m2!1d32.74317!2d-114.7833824!4m5!1s0x80c5a3bb06df65fb%3A0xe5c0652f9a876c81!2sZzyzx%2C+CA!3m2!1d35.14278!2d-116.10388999999999!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1487652613379" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

map (from Felicity to Mojave Road)

Personal Hygiene

I was asked recently if I ONLY shower once a week. I have to respond, there aren't any showers out here in the free camping spots. Even tho I have a truck and trailer, think year-long backpacking trip as far as AMENITIES go. I'm on the "minimalist" trek. People with the BIG Motorhomes and even smaller travel trailers have showers. I don't. I close the door to my trailer and take "cat baths" , except for those times that I splurge and pay for a shower. And I don't spend much time near any metropolitan centers where they have 24-Hour Fitness and such. Quartzsite only had the amenities it did because it's a 3-exit stop on the Interstate AND the town increases population 10-fold in the winter. In the summer, it's largely a ghost town. So, no, I don't take a lot of showers. I hope I don't offend! :)



I do plan on getting a Helio shower in the future... such as this:

Helio shower on Amazon

Got a summer job!

I followed the information provided on Bob Wells forum (cheaprvliving.com)  and his YouTube channel "CheapRV Living" and looked for a campground host job from California Land Management.  I went to their website and found several campgrounds that appealed to me. 
I applied for jobs at 2 of them.  They are in Inyo National Forest, just east of Yosemite.  They are both at about 10000 feel elevation and have no hookups.  That is no electric, water or sewer service that most RV's rely on.   So, it caters mostly to campers, which is just fine with me. 

It does have pit toilets, so I will need to get my very own Hazmat suit.  That is, one of my responsibilities will be clean up.  YUK.  Hence, the respirator and Hazmat suit.  :) 

The job is stated as Mid-June through October, depending on the weather.  In other words, it could start later and/or end earlier.  Still , Yosemite is on my bucket-list, and there are miles and miles of hiking trails around there...

So, I had a phone interview with the hiring manager this afternoon.  He offered me a job, and I gladly accepted! 

I think I'm going to love it.

Seeds and Stems, financially

This is the brokest I think I have ever been.  My truck is just a hair above E, I've got one can of propane left, I'm out of dog food, and I'm down to $5 .  I DO have food to eat, I DO have a roof over my head, I've got my health (as far as I know!)  and I SHOULD get my Social Security check Wednesday.    It's a challenge, but one I caused by not being frugal enough, and I've still got it better than millions of others around the globe. 

So, I think it's a good experience for me to go through.  And I've still got lots to be thankful for.

Q&A session

A friend from back in the Springs asked some questions... I thought they and my answers would make for a good post of what's going on.  Currently, I am still in Felicity CA.

So what is next? Saving the Pacific coast for spring?

It looks like I need to go back to the Springs for a week or so.  My dog Taz needs to see a Vet and there's only 3 in the whole city of Yuma.  I also need to get some things out of my storage unit and also get rid of stuff in there.  

After that, I am considering visiting my Son, Sister and Niece in Texas. 

Then back to the West.  I've applied for a job as a campground host  at 2 campgrounds on the East side of Yosemite.  If I get the job, it will be from June to October.  It won't pay much, but will provide a stable site without having to move, and near Yosemite! 

I am curious… is it costing more/less than you expected?  How are your beasts liking it? 

It costs about what I expected.  During the earlier transition time, I ate at the McDonalds in Quartzsite for Sausage Egg McMuffin more than I should have.  I paid to shower at the truck stop in town about once a week.  That was $12 each time. Other than that, camping has been free because I always stay in free campgrounds or just out in the desert.  I DO have to buy water for drinking, since I'm mobile and don't have a mountain spring in my trailer! :) But it IS the desert and there are many places to do that.  And drinking water is 25 cents / gallon everywhere I've been.  

Taz and Lacy seem to love the life.  They're both good dogs and seem to just want to be where I am.  Taz is still having anxiety issues with actually riding in the car.  Getting a little better, maybe.  But I don't look forward to going on a long drive. 

Anything that you didn’t think of that caught you off guard? 

I had the idea that I would be able to have more space around me where I parked and camped.  There are a LOT of people out here, most from northern states and Canada. 
I've had to park near a few Class A motorhomes and giant 5th-wheels.  Most RV parks are full of them, but surprisingly, so are the free spots on BLM land. 
Where I am now, I'm about 50 yards from one that has 2 shelties that bark everytime they see us.   I HAVE found some places on the other side of the Interstate  that are more deserted. 

Another thing that I've found out here is that I can just keep going on dirt roads and end up in Yuma without getting on the Interstate.  When a sign says "No outlet", that isn't completely true!  Especially if you have a 4X4 and are stupid enough to try to keep going.  :)  It often means that state or county maintenance of the road ends at that spot.  

Post more pics... can you stand up in your trailer? 

I CAN stand up in there.   It's about 6'3".  I will post more pics of the inside after I've done some more work in there.  I'm taking my time customizing it in order to get a better idea of what I want/need.   I know a few things I need to do... and am getting more realistic about what I CAN do..  I've seen a few cargo trailers that are REALLY nice on the inside, but most of the guys with them are carpenters and such.  

Pictures from Felicity CA

That , at the horizon, is the Mexican border.  I walked out there yesterday.   The sand got real soft, so I turned around. I was probably still a mile from the border.

There are LOTS of planes, choppers , Border Patrol trucks patrolling CONSTANTLY ....

A nice full moon with a little sunset thrown in.  It's a shame the other motorhomes and the power lines are there!

My new hot water heater

Take this and fill with water

Then add this:

Wait an hour or two , and you have hot water for shaving and bathing.  I left it out there most of the afternoon, and the water was nice and warm.

Moved to Felicity, CA

Have moved to Felicity CA , about 2 miles West of the Q Casino.. I was feeling claustrophobic! Too many dang Class A motorhomes! Felt like there was an HOA! I can see the Imperial Sand Dunes from where I'm sitting. Beautiful! And it's HOT! Taz, Lacy and I are sitting in the shade.
I've included a link to a thread in the CRVL forum about my first month on the road. Feel free to peruse at your leisure.

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-1-Month-In

 

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-1-Month-In 

I'm a celebrity! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeZ3abCpxJo&lc=z13zjrpw3n3jivl5n04cingy4m20hlfh4bc.1486118694788497

me at 1:33 and4:05

RESCUE!

Friday of last week, Jim and I went to rescue our "compadre" from the CheapRVLiving forum; a gentleman nicknamed Gunny. He had jacknifed his trailer on I10 just West of Palm Springs. About 200 miles. Neither of us had ever actually MET Gunny in person, but had communicated with him online. A really decent fellow. Jim pulled his trailer with HIS truck, and we drove him back to our spot in the parking lot at the Q Casino. Saturday we spent taking him to an RV repair place, to get his trailer up to snuff.
Sunday he recuperated some before heading off for Fort Worth, TX! It was quite an experience ; and I felt good about paying forward the many acts of generosity I've received from family and friend! This is the kind of guy my friend Jim is.

Q Casino (near Algodones, MX)

I moved away from the skeeters and the constant traffic on the road near the lake. I'm staying in the parking lot of the "Q Casino" on the Quechan Indian Reservation, just about a mile from the Mexican border. I would never in my life have imagined I would enjoy staying in a parking lot , but no kidding, it's like being at the beach. 
This stuff is crazy... and I've been doing it for about a month!

This is where the doggies and I went for a long walk this morning. 

Taz and Lacy outside Jim's trailer. 

Jim's new baby , Max... 

Mittry Lake

Mittry Lake (outside of Yuma, AZ) This is BLM land... free camping, but only 10 days a year.

the trailer campsite and Mittry Lake... it got HOT here today! Geez... Lisa and Marvin, you need to come visit. There's enough skeeters to make you think you're back in the South! hahahah

RTR 3 ... solar build

RTR 2

RTR one

albuquerque 1/8/2017

I made it to Albuquerque today... I've got 2 days to get to Quartzsite, Az for the RTR (Rendezvous) ... I might drive South to I10 instead of West on I40. Maybe visit White Sands Nat Monument. It was 1961 that I was there last! :)

It's a lot warmer here in NM... :)

out of my apartment!!!!

FINALLY got out of  my apartment!

It only took 2 more days than I estimated!

Got to my friend Weldon's house last night.  Have  been staying in his 5th wheel trailer.  It was in the single digits and snowing this morning.  Was glad to have a trailer with heat!  :)  Hence my plan to haul booty for Southern Arizona.  I may stay here as late as Sunday... it IS supposed to warm up some tomorrow and thru the weekend.

So, I didn't actually rough it last night, but I am now a nomad.   It still feels like an adventure.  I hope I never lose that feeling!