Chicken Fried RV

update on Fridge Fans

2012-02-05T15:03:00.002-07:00

I finally moved my "Fridge Fans" up to the air vent, a buddy came over and helped, (I installed a set on his rig the day before)..

updated http://chickenfriedrv.blogspot.com/2011/04/fridge-fans.html

Adding an hour meter to Honda EU2000i - another project file

2011-10-18T03:03:00.011-06:00

Another project done, I have a list of projects I would like to do. I have time, and materials, so another project off the list, and a couple added, someday the list may be empty... Then I will have no motivation to get out of bed. :o(

I belong to a yahoo group called Honda EU2000 Generators

One of the discussions has been adding an hour meter, there are many different styles of hour meters, I had bought an electronic trigger LCD meter/tach off Amazon with it's own battery, but found a mechanical hour meter at Harbor Freight Tools. An hour meter gives you an accurate time span so the oil can be properly changed, not just guessed at. It can also help monitor your usage and calculate future fuel expenses.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Here is the working face of the Honda EU2000i genset, including the basically useless 8 AMP 12 volt connector/circuit breaker in the lower right corner. Really who needs an 8 AMP/12 volt charger (and you have to have a "special" connector, a trailer converter/charger will put out 30 to 100 amps of 12 volt power when plugged into the 120 volt outlet.

For those with a Honda Companion model and no 12v connector, try searching for "REDINGTON 722-0001" , "Hobbs 20001-17" or even "AC hour meter" on eBay.. and just connect the available 120v to the AC powered (90-240VAC) Quartz Hour Meter.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

dropping the face reveals the connections and components

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

12 volt connector comes out easily

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

leaving a square hole

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

The 12 volt connector unconnects easily, just press the little pink rectangle tab and the 2 wires just slip out. Make note of the positive (red/white) and negative (red/black) wires.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Japanese for press here to release?

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

depth of meter vs. 12 volt connector, notice the Jan 06 date code on the 12v connector?

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Specs on the Harbor Freight meter #66754 http://www.harborfreight.com/hour-meter-66754.html

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Bonus, NOT MADE in CHINA, hope India is better. We'll see how it holds up.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

sizing ring and meter clamp included, ready to cut, I actually cut the three corners at an angle so the meter wouldn't turn.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Small cuts with multi-tool and it fits

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

clamped in and a bit of permanent marker coverup

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Good physical connection, ready for solder

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Soldered and placed with correct polarity, red/white is positive, red/black is Neg.
Be sure no metal is sticking out, there is a green ground fitting in the back wall of the component enclosure

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

With genset running, hundredths and tenths show, tenths are 6 minutes , and hundredths are 36 seconds.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

aha, caught the little red blinky LED showing the genset is running, like I couldn't tell.

From Honda EU2000i genset hour meter

Finished project with tools

One of my projects in Seaview, GM 1999-2007 classic Door bushings and hinge pins

2011-10-11T02:40:00.005-06:00

GM 1999-2007 classic Door bushings and hinge pins

My door was drooping a bit after 148000 miles, so I spiffed it up.

Using instructions from heymccall on the Diesel Place forum.

1. Roll the window down.
2. Remove door sill plate (pull straight up, starting at the front)
3. Remove kick panel (1st, pull firewall edge of the kickpanel towards the center of the truck to release that edge, then pull the pillar side of cover toward the rear of the truck)

4. Undo rubber accordion in in the hinge area by rolling the edge on the A-pillar away from the A-pillar. (only need to do one side)

5. Depress the two tabs on the white plastic insert (revealed in step 4) and slide it up the harness toward the door.
6. Now unplug the door harness that was made accessible in step three and pull it out thru the hole in the A-pillar.
7. Place the door halfway closed and remove the 10mm headed bolt on the door post that holds the door check.
8. Open the door fully and remove the single 10mm headed bolt in each hinge.
9. Standing in the door opening, grab the inner door grab/armrest and lift the door straight up and carry it away. (or lay it on a handy table)

10. Follow the instructions in this kit that you will have pre-purchased

(a) cut swaged pins off (4.5 inch angle grinder/cutter blade worked well)

(b) pull out pins with Vise Grips and/or light taps from hammer/punch, don't bend the hinges out of alignment...

(c) pop out old cheap GM bushings

(d) install new bushings and pins by pulling them in with a nut, then using a lock nut to hold them per instructions in kit

11. Reinstall door by reversing steps 1 thru 9.

It was rather fun and reassuring the number of people that came around to see what this crazy guy was doing now... One week, the front hub assembly, and the next week the door.

Cleaning a Fiberglass roof in Hagerman, ID.

2011-06-26T23:49:00.003-06:00

I've been cleaning up the New Horizons fifth wheel which has been sitting in my mothers driveway since April 2008, the last time Diesel shot up over $4... Since getting my lot in Seaview, WA. I have been planning to move the 5th wheel up. I am cleaning it up a bit, checking all the seams, getting the tubes of Dicor ready, or maybe just Eternabond the seams, that should keep any Washington weather out....

The roof (fiberglass) was sprayed with a mix of Dawn and Bleach, allowed to set for a minute or so and then pressure washed, as you can see the dirt and grime just fly off and the roof is restored to the white beauty.

I'll get it loaded up and out of here, I should be back up in Washington by July 15th, but I'm missing a bunch of my friends comedy up in Seattle, Check out Abbey Drake on Facebook.. or on YouTube (p.s. I knew her when...)

Workin' on the Lot

2011-06-16T00:39:00.009-06:00

A while back I wrote about buying an RV lot in Seaview, Washington, the lot is about a mile from the beach. I've been working on the lot getting it ready for my New Horizons fifth wheel to be moved onto it. Below are the photos from the Safari Associations website, it already had a 1991 thirty one (31) foot Dutchman trailer on it, which is in poor shape, as a tree had fallen on it a couple of years ago, but someone rebuilt the front part of the trailer. I'm making it into a storage area and workshop.

Below is the same lot, I turned the Dutchman around and have been fighting the weeds, I am down to gravel in some places now. The small Nash trailer will be moved so I can fit the larger New Horizons fifth wheel in it's place. I'll get the fifth wheel set up sometime in mid-July. So Saturday or Sunday I'll be heading back down to Hagerman, ID. to get the fifth wheel ready.

Fridge Fans

2011-04-18T21:51:00.012-06:00

I know, it's been so long, I've been busy with everything, it's no excuse. I'm sitting at the Thousand Trails in Las Vegas, Nv, trying to stay cool. I've had a few requests for this when I put "had to add a fan in my fridge coils" on my Facebook wall the other day. As I watched the temperature in my freezer climb, I remembered I had bought a couple of six inch computer fans for the reason of setting up a cooling stack on the refrigerator. The ideal position is above the coils near the roof, to draw the heat up, rather than blow air up. But you have to take the top fridge cover off, stand on a ladder and all sorts of contortions. So mine blow instead of suck.

As you should know the refrigerators in out RV's use an older, more rugged technology, ammonia absorption. Rather than repeat what others have, here is a good explanation.

I thought about mounting the fans on hard mounts, either metal or wood and bracing them in the rear refrigerator compartment, but in traveling down the road the trailer flexes, so I figured the mounts needed to flex, I used nylon flex ties for mounting. (and it was a faster install)

Getting the tools and parts ready..
Crimper, side cutters, wire, #10 push-on lugs, 14-16 push-ons, 75 degree thermal switch (NO) and 12 volt, 4.2 watt 6 inch fan.

Location to place fans

One fan placed to push air UP the stack.

Looking up the stack/absorption coils.

Finished project.

Looking up at second fan..

Thermal switch and ground connector, I can pull apart the ground to open the circuit and stop the fans if I don't want them using power. I'm taking power off the 12 volt lines to the fridge board, a 20 amp fused circuit. Both fans, when on, will use about .6 (six-tenths) amps total (4.2 watts each.)

To sum it up, the thermal switch will turn on both fans about 75 F and push air up through the absorber coils, making the system more efficient. I can disconnect the negative side connecters if I don't want the fans to turn on, or the entire system can be quickly removed and later replaced for service if needed.

Addition (2-4-2012)

I moved the fans to the proper place (above the cooling fins/coils) it was very simple, I added a length of wire to the power portion of the fans and plugged it into the right places.. I also swapped out the thermal switch to a 30 degree C (86F) NO switch. I had a problem with the lower fan creating such an airflow it would suck the flame from the thermocouple making the igniter think the pilot was not on. So it was firing the igniter dozens of times, while the fans worked well during resort/electric operation, during the LP operation the igniter would fire dozens of times..

Closeup of fan in upper fridge flue..

Position of fans, and wire ties to "hang" the fans

One side buttoned up, with small wire ties, wire tie on center bar provided "strain relief" to wire going down to thermal switch/power below.

Christmas (and New Years) with the WIN's

2011-01-05T13:03:00.004-07:00

View WIN Christmas and New Years Eve in a larger map

Spent Christmas and New Years with the WIN's, with friends, Diana did an excellent job as usual with reporting what happened in her blog, Life on the Open Road...

Food, bagpipes, gifts, and dancing for all.. special memories.

P.S. Just be aware of the planes spraying stuff in the air, we (Mom, pup and I) feel better now that we left.

How can you travel through the Palm Springs area without a DATE SHAKE?

2010-12-01T23:26:00.002-07:00

I've been the in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area for about 3 weeks, this area is famous for the date shake. My first date shake was last year, when we drove up from the Slabs to Oasis Date Garden and had shakes and many date samples. This year I tried three different stores, all recommended for the date shakes. Besides Oasis, I tried Shields Date Garden and Hadleys Date and Fruit Stand. While Oasis has a good shake and they use date puree, Shields tastes better, more date flavor and you could taste date through the last drop, whereas the Oasis, after a while, you could not taste the dates. Shields uses date flakes, and it's important for them to sit a while in the ice cream for full flavor.

However, neither have the flavor and creaminess of the Hadleys Date Shake, made with real ice cream and date puree, plenty of it, the Hadleys shake was creamy and tasty to the last drop, and then I wanted more, if I wasn't 50 miles away from the store, I would be tempted to have one every day. So far, of the ones I've tried, Hadleys takes the WIN. The sampling room at Oasis make the stop worth while, you can get your fill of dates for free, then you want to take some home too.

Apparently it's not as easy as I thought.

2010-11-05T14:39:00.004-06:00

As promised here are some shots of me loading my ATV on the truck. Once I look at the photo, I know this attempt was "DOOMED TO FAILURE" (the majority of my weight (considerable) is behind the rear axle, popping the front end up.) A couple of more attempts just get me sideways as I try to correct the problem, on the last attempt, I get on top, my weight is so far forward, my "dicky doo" is pressing the horn button and I can't engage the brakes, so I roll backwards all the way down. I reposition the truck, stop, and look at photos, and reposition the truck again. (Apparently it's not as easy as I thought...)

I've loaded this damn thing on and off over 20 times now, sometimes it's easy and sometimes not, today was NOT

What's that old saying? "Reposition and try again" (various puns come to mind)

I'm at Delta Shores once again, getting ready to continue my journey and go to Palm Springs on Saturday..

Found a nice place in Ilwaco/Seaview area for my New Horizons fifth wheel

2010-09-13T05:16:00.005-06:00

I've been looking for a while now for a place to settle down and think I've found it. I love ocean communities. Since retiring I have ventured up and down both coasts, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Don't get me wrong, I love the mountains also, but never liked shoveling the snow in the winter, but then again, the skiing was good. Getting older, I've skied less and less. (and started traveling.)

Enough of that, back in 2004, I came across the communities of Long Beach, Seaview and Ilwaco during the Washington State International Kite Festival, as you can see in my blog, I have returned again and again. I have put in an application to buy a place/membership in the "Safari Association of Ilwaco." There are a few wonderful places for sale there and I am looking at getting into one. I hope to place my New Horizons 34 foot fifth wheel on a lot there. I'll still be traveling with the smaller travel trailer (until I can't travel anymore) but would like a place (near the ocean) to settle down. The New Horizons fifth wheel has been a lot of places in the country, I've put 28000 miles on it, that I can track, but with the price of diesel now, it's just too heavy to keep pulling around the country.

Whoohoo, just learned that the Board of Directors has approved my application, now to make offers and get the New Horizons fifth wheel approved (update 9-13-10 12:25p)

On the road near Kamiah, Idaho.(with mom.)

Parked in the driveway of the house in Idaho.

Making a pit stop in Zion National Park. (Utah)

Ocean Mist- K/M Resort

2010-08-27T22:21:00.005-06:00

The totem marking the entrance to Ocean Mist from the beach side.

Sand dunes and driftwood...

Beach side of resort.

I'm staying on the coast away from the heat in the interior of the country, so I'm at Ocean Mist, a K/M resort, between Ocean City and Copalis Beach, Washington.

Kite fest again, WIN's nearby

2010-08-20T02:09:00.005-06:00

I'm in Chinook, Washington near the Long Beach Peninsula where the International Kite Festival is now taking place. A local remarked today was the sixth day of sun this summer, what a great day to fly kites. The WIN group is nearby and oh boy, do they have a full plate? From kayak trips, lighthouses, interpretive centers and watching salt being made, to campfires on the beach, they are on the go.

Also I got an ATV to test drive, a rather small Yamaha Moto-4 200, shaft drive, after extensive rust rehabilitation and working on the fuel system, it appears to be running fair, there is more work to be done on it although the plastic and rubber is in good shape. There are places all over Oregon to ATV and miles of beach at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. There doesn't seem to be much ATVing area in Washington, or maybe I just haven't found it yet. I have found you CANNOT ride ATV's on the beach, although other licensed vehicles are fine as are scooters.

Northwood Mfg. made a new Friend, and hot cities.

2010-07-27T12:36:00.002-06:00

Traveling west again to the Coast where it will be cool, it's too hot here. I was in LaGrande, Or. (96F) at Northwood MFG. getting the hole in my Nash trailer repaired, I got a new front end.... they did a super job for about 1/4 the cost they quoted and in 1/4 the time. It's always great when a company goes "beyond expectations." They also manufacture Arctic Fox and Desert Fox toy haulers, campers, and trailers. I got the trailer to them about 8 am, met with Matt, went and got some donuts, I was just getting ready to get on the internet near a Starbucks, when I got the call about 1030, "It's done" a voice said, "Already, I didn't even get my nap yet" said I, "Come on in and we'll lighten your wallet" says the voice. I checked out my trailer, it's looks better and brighter than when I bought it... I walked into the office and met with the voice (Matt), he lays down a sheet with the price, my jaw drops, I'm in a quandary at this point, you see, I filed an insurance claim after getting the quote. and the price for the repair is the same as my deductible. (way less than the quote.) I'm hopeing that I can cancel the claim and my State Farm insurance will just forget about it and NOT RAISE the cost of my insurance...

I happily pay my share, wave goodbye, (blow kisses at the women) and sail into the sunset.. (oh... thats another story)

On the way from Seattle to LaGrande, Or. I had planned on boondocking, casino-docking or whatever so I could hit Northwood Mfg. early Monday morning for my appointment. While in the planning stages, I got an invitation from a new friend, he said I could stay at his place in Cove, Or. just 12 miles from the Nash factory. I gratefully accepted and was amazed at the little slice of heaven, he and his wife have carved out for themselves (and wandering AFP's*.) Phrases like "salt of the earth" and "good people" do not do justice, they fed me, gave me wonderful well water, powered the trailer, let me wash my trailer and truck and many other things. We laughed, fixed things, and watched nature take it's course. Deer and birds abound and wander around his place. The last evening dropped a gorgeous sunset on us as we looked out over the valley. Truly wonderful people and "Thank you"

It was 102F in downtown Pendleton, Or. 100F in Hermiston where I stopped for lunch, and 108F at Three Mile canyon near the Columbia River. I'm at TT Sunriver-Bend for a couple of days before I hit Coos Bay, Or.

*AFP's =Arctic Fox people (and other Northwood products too)

How long can your shower be?

2010-07-06T09:54:00.004-06:00

It's been a while since I wrote a satirical post on the blog. Although I have spread the good cheer and wrote elsewhere. The following is from a AFNash.com forum discussion. I'm afraid after seeing who asked the question, I may have abused him one too many times, but doggone it, he makes it so easy.

nate- I'm really curious as to how long you guy's get with a hot shower. I know it has a 30 gal tank, but I'm sure the hot water heater couldn't keep up with it that fast. Reason is, when we get back from long back-country hikes, I need to know how to "divide" up the shower time, and I'm just really curious to see what others on here get. I didn't plan on taking a 20-30 minute shower, but perhaps 10 minutes of hot water?

(Understand this is a 22 foot trailer with a 6 gallon water heater fired by propane, there were several comments about "Navy" showers before mine)

My answer:
Great question, lots of variables to consider. facetiously speaking however,

The final answer is: 8 minutes

I'm "assuming" a great many things here...

You like hot showers..
The water tank is 6 gallons (higher is longer)
The heating of the replaced water in the tank is exactly the same as the colder water introduced into the tank during the shower. (So we have exactly 6 gallons of hot water in the formula)

The temperature of the water in the tank is 180F (it may or may not be)(lower is shorter)
The temperature of the ground water is 50F (very common)(higher-longer/lower shorter)
(The temperature will vary depending on temp of the water in the hose, for a small amount of time)

If we use the formula (Va * Ta) + (Vb * Tb) / Va + Vb = T
Va = Volume of water in hot water tank
Ta = Temperature of water in tank
Vb = Volume of water from ground source
Tb = Temperature of ground water
T = total temperature of the combined volume
(6 *180) + (6 * 50) / 12 = T
1080 + 300 /12 = 115 degrees F.
Again an assumption made of half and half (6 gal. hot water and 6 gal. ground water)
Therefore we have 12 gallons of 115F water
Typical shower head flow restriction is 1.5 gpm
12 gallons / 1.5 gpm = 8 minutes.

Fire retardant suit on..

(It's not like I didn't leave hints in my comment "facetious", "assume", "fire retardant suit")

I only had one comment on it, RF said, Love it! Thanks...Wouldn't think of any kind of flaming response....

Props to you RF...

Not a good day, View from the Front...

2010-07-02T21:40:00.003-06:00

While traveling through Boise Idaho heading out from the Northwood Rally, I... well I'll let the photos talk first.

A semi-truck in front of me tossed "something" into my lane, not able to avoid it completely, I ran over it and kicked it up into the trailer. I checked when I stopped and found this.

A few pictures and an email to Dave Mann/Northwood brought back the quick response, of an $800 job. Looks like I'll be heading back to LaGrande, Or. But for the moment, I'm in Hagerman Id. and will be doing my yearly Bratwurst sales with the Moose(Lodge #305,) in Buhl ID. for the Fourth of July Celebration at the Park.
Mid-July I'll be heading to Seattle to see a close friend, back to LaGrande, Or. for a July 26th appointment to get the trailer fixed, then over to the Coast (Or.-Wa.) again. Aug. 11th, I'll be in the Long Beach, Wa. area, I'll meet up with the WIN's again.

As usual, the plans are written in Jello, (green you know.)

A valiant sacrifice, my Hughes autoformer dies...

2010-06-08T23:27:00.012-06:00

I am in Rock Springs, Wyoming, at my friends place, the one with the shop and all. If you remember, I blogged about the voltage problems last year while staying here. At the time it was low voltage, and the electric company changed a tap on the pole transformer to make things better.

My line voltage alarm went off while sitting in my trailer today, I was taking a rest, from a small welding project I did. I checked the alarm and it showed 137 volts, my inverter circuit had kicked in protecting my TV and computer, but the Norcold fridge is on the circuit and a few other things. I heard a pop and a hiss, and white smoke started filling the trailer, I have heard the pop hiss before working in electronics, and the smell was reminiscent of fried capacitors and/or transformers, I ran around flipping off circuit breakers and the main battery switch, the smoke continued filling the trailer and forcing me outside. I unplugged the trailer and waited for the smoke to disperse, rushing in to open my electric area, and rushing back out when throat and eyes started burning. My fans wouldn't work (I had turned off the 12v power.) Since I could not see flames nor smell burning wood, I waited a bit with extinguisher in hand. The smoke cleared and I could see my autoformer was smoking and had left some goo splattered around. I pulled the autoformer out, still hot and smoking and took it outside.

I pulled the autoformer apart, and checked the wiring and circuitry, I am unhappy, there were no MOV's in the unit, it appears they were not installed. MOV's are small self sacrificing components to protect from over-voltage and voltage spikes. Instead the autoformer sacrificed itself to protect the trailer. The goo is the transformer potting material that was heated into liquid goo and smoke.

The autoformer got hot enough to melt the vinyl flooring making it stick to the autoformer, the wood underneath is not burnt but has some goo on it.

If I had a Surge-guard inline this would not have happened, or if the autoformer had overvoltage/undervoltage protection. I have been very happy with my Hughes Autoformer and undervoltage problems up till this point, it seems it was an older unit that did not have the MOV surge/overvoltage protection. After my research it seems that Franks RV voltage booster has under/over voltage protection built in.

Also see I'm tired of RV resort excuses for Voltage

You know..

2010-05-30T12:19:00.009-06:00

I started this blog to chronicle my journey in retirement, to express myself, to inform, to teach. I always have something to write about, I'm afraid it just won't interest people, because it's everyday life for me.

Then I read about other people's lives and they fascinate me, like Nick Russell, Bob Parker and Donna Huffer, Diana Tolerico, Karen Minard, even Jim Twamley at times. I follow a lot of blogs and the people are so interesting.

The hits on my blog mostly show up around my Hughes Autoformer (rv voltage regulator) discussion, my 454 Casull and Raging Bull blog, and the Delta Shores blog, so I can see what people are searching for.

Very few people visit the Natalie Anderson blogs, even though she's a fascinating person, she has not been discovered yet. One of these days, I will say "I knew her when..." or "I was in a serious relationship with..."

Ahh, memories..., soon I will have some more, I plan on attending the All Class Reunion in Greybull Wyoming, I graduated high school way-back when. I've been in Idaho, doing the yearly thing on my mothers yard, setting up watering, killing/chopping weeds and various "getting ready for summer" things to the house.

I did take a 3 day trip up to Lewiston, Id. to pick up a single ATV rack, all aluminum, even though I don't have an ATV yet, I'd like to be prepared when I find that perfect bargain. The first night(60AH) we (I took Mom) stayed by the road side on Hwy 95 near Mesa, Id., the second night(112AH) we "wallydocked" in Clarkston, Wa. and the third night I found a cute little RV park near Huntington/Farewell Bend, Or. (Oasis RV) $13 for full hookups. This allowed me to recharge the batteries(down 80 AH), get a shower and dump the black water tanks before getting back to Mom's home in Idaho. We even spent the day in Nampa/Boise going from Treasure Shop to Treasure Shop.

On recharging the house batteries while driving.. since I listed the AH (Total Amp Hours used) each night. Whether this will be of interest to anyone will be seen in the hit counters.

I've found driving on the road will recharge the batteries about 10 AH for every hour of driving with my diode setup, I suspect if I used a solenoid, I would get better recharging since I would not have the voltage drop of the diodes. I have a Trace 500 amp-hour meter and battery monitor, to go along with the Tripp-Lite 3000 watt inverter.

I am HERE among you.

2010-04-26T13:15:00.005-06:00

And you never knew..

Of course I'm in Las Vegas at the moment, (Vegas baby) What goes on here stays here.. Unless they have photo's...

It's getting rather warm during the day, so it's time to head north, chasing that 70 degree weather. Then I find out it's still snowing up north. I'll just run the A/C a few more days.

Went down to Fremont Street to enjoy the FREE shows, wandered around and was introduced to the "Shark Tank", a swimming pool with shark tank in the middle, a thin piece of glass separating you from the sharks. What fun, like swimming with the sharks....

Fruity Ideas

2010-04-15T16:25:00.005-06:00

Most people have heard about the new Apple I-pad that was just introduced, some people like it some don't. You know Apple has the I-pod with I-tunes, I-phone, I-touch, besides the I-pad.

All of Apples' technology is geared towards the younger generations, that's not to say that I can't use it, it's just not geared toward me. One of the complaints I've heard is that the fonts are too small, hard to see with "older eyes," the movements, flicks, taps, pinches and drags need to be quick, and we often don't feel like being "quick."

I'm marketing technology called "Prune" for obvious reasons. It's geared toward the large "retired" generation, using familiar movements and ideas, I'll have Prune (P) technology, I already have several items ready, there is the P-ad, which can be written on with the P-encil, the P-en or the Shar-P. I also have a cellular P-hone, which will take P-hotos, and my P-pods are nutritious and good to eat. I also have a P-touch, but I'm not going to elaborate on that function.

(c) Prune-Tech/Ron King/P-tech

Wow, what a pizza experience..

2010-02-26T21:43:00.002-07:00

I'm staying in the Phoenix area with the WIN group, tonight we went out for pizza, all I can say is WOW. The pizza itself was okay, I don't like crunchy crust pizza myself, preferring a chewy pie instead.

The best thing? the tremendous show, the Worlds Largest Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. Some information about the organ, the organist started with "76 Trombones", then played the theme from "Titanic","Pink Panther" and many others. It's hard to believe all of the flutes, pipes, strings, drums, cymbals, bells, accordion, tambourines, birds, and oohgah horns came from one person at the console, stroking keys, flipping switches and pushing pedals. It was the best show ever, (I stayed through two sets) for only the price of a pizza. The sounds soared through the rafters and vibrated through the floor, one moment taking you on a flight of fancy and then crashing to the earth. It was one of those WOW moments....

Salvation Mountain - Midnight Ridazz

2010-02-14T09:35:00.004-07:00

Shouts out to the Midnight Ridazz that I met at Slab City and Salvation Mountain. From Yuma/Winterhaven area, I decided to hit Slab City before moving east.
The WIN dance rally will be in Casa Grande, Az. and it sounds like fun. Hope my feet can handle it, I've been walking between 3 and 5 miles a day so the feet are tougher. Salvation Mountain (wiki) (official website) was a hoot, so much has been written about it, but you have to go there to see and experience it for yourself, nothing will prepare you for the grandeur, love and color in the area. I took a few photos, (Midnight Ridazz) but cannot hope to capture the feeling there.

Quartzsite-2010 style

2010-01-30T04:09:00.008-07:00

"Necessity is the mother of all invention" didn't get it far wrong. I had decided to stay in a warmer climate again this year. The place I had stayed in years past in Quartzsite Arizona was having legal problems along with the rest of the town of Quartzsite.

Out of necessity I decided to try boondocking, I have a different rig, more efficient than the New Horizons fifth wheel I had before, so I parked out at the Dome Rock 14 day area for a while and then moved up to Plomosa Road after seeing the WIN group had an area. I finally managed to join the (W)andering (I)ndividuals (N)etwork and even had Diana Tolerico, who writes the excellent "Life on the Open Road" blog sponsor me into the group.

I am not the "purist" with solar panels that a lot of boondockers are, I only get by with the help of a Honda EU2000i generator. With my electronic laden lifestyle (satellite television, cell phone, Verizon aircard internet and laptop) I can buy a lot of gas for the cost of a photovoltaic system (which experts say will NEVER pay for itself). The other side would say it leaves a smaller carbon footprint (I'm not so sure) (is greener) (less noisy.) However, I almost bought a windmill, and saw a couple mobile ones being put to good use. However, after studying mounting specs, I don't think the metal sided Nash 22h would be a good base to mount it. But in the typical male way, I buy gas and survive nicely, thank you. I moved back out to Dome Rock, (it has faster Internet.)

By the time I get to Yuma, (Feb 3rd,) I will have been in the Quartzsite area an entire month, I went to the big RV tent show, got some bargains there, didn't see much new RV stuff like earlier years though. I have managed to scour the other swap meets in the area for desperately needed items, (like I have room,) I got many items for future projects, but didn't manage to get a compact ladder yet, which I need for some "projects."

Again, Quartzsite has some of the most wonderful sunsets. (and Dome Rock is in the photo.)

Of lights and flames, and lonely moths

2009-12-27T07:48:00.004-07:00

Do you ever wonder why a moth will circle and circle around a light, or a flame?
It's lonely, it is drawn to the light, it's a bit like salvation and the other side all in one.
It wants to renew itself someway, to feel young again, to not be alone.
To do the impossible once again, to feel love, a sense of belonging.
If it goes into the light, it can be totally absorbed and wander forever in a loving place.
If it goes into the flame, it can be consumed and renewed, if only in the mind.
Meanwhile, it circles and circles, sometimes singeing it's wings, hurting and wanting.

My life and my story continues, I want to acknowledge my light, Natalie, and my flame, CJ.
I wish you both the best in life, I hope you each find love, laughter and happiness.
Each of you in your own way changed my life, I will not abandon a moment of my memories, although some times tears start falling, I am blessed to have such people in my life.

Thank you.

I'm tired... of RV resort excuses for voltage

2009-12-17T18:01:00.013-07:00

/rant on

Over half of the RV resorts I frequent have low voltage. I've seen voltages under 100 volts, when powering up the microwave. It's one of the reasons I have the microwave on the inverter side of the 120 volt system. RV techs warn RV'ers that continuous operation of motors under 108 volts will damage and shorten their life expectancy. I recently purchased a Hughes Autoformer to combat the problem. Autoformers boost the voltage by two percent whenever they are plugged in, until the voltage gets to 116 volts, then a boost feature kicks in, boosting the voltage by ten (10) percent. When at 116 the voltage will magically jump to 127 or 128 volts, which everything happily consumes.

We as consumers have been slowly led to believe 110 volts is normal, IT IS NOT.. Check your labels, 120 volts is what everything has been designed for, and the appliances are happy with anything up to 132 volts, 135 volts is when most overvoltage situations kick in. Voltages lower than 120 lead to more heat, and then lead to shorter life of the appliance. It's a conspiracy, shorter life of product means more sales over the consumers life, and it's all about money, folks. /rant off

A friend emailed me a question recently.

"Is the autoformer the voltage regulator/booster device?
Why are you getting it? I know I have hit a few older parks with shakey power, is that why?
They looked kinda pricey just for the voltage regilator.
Just curious and also where you gonna put it?"

You hit the nail on the head, unfortunately the the majority of the parks I've stayed in have low voltage. I define low voltage as anything under 110 volts. It's one of the things I keep track of.

As you may or may not know, in a travel trailer there are two types of loads, resistive and inductive. That is, heaters/lights/fridge (resistive)(fans-inductive) and air conditioning/ microwave (inductive), the converter (120 to ~12v) is inductive. Getting a little deeper into electric theory, Power is made up of two things, the voltage and the amperage. They have a direct relationship as expressed by the formula (P=EI) (P)ower is expressed in watts, (E)lectro motive force is measured in voltage and I (current) is measured in amperage.

Resistive loads are usually happy with whatever they are fed, if they get low voltage, they may be a little dimmer, but it doesn't hurt the resistive load, the amperage/current is used to heat directly. (an incandescent light bulb heats a wire until it glows and gives out light.)

However, most lights in trailers are 12+- volts, so the actual 120 volts doesn't affect brightness or performance.

Onto inductive loads, anything with a motor or transformer, they are most happy and will last longer with higher voltage and lower current/amperage. The reason is current flowing through a wire heats it to some degree, resistive loads depend on the concept, unfortunately the motor/transformer does not need heat, it literally can destroy the motor (usually by melting the wire covering, be it enamel or vinyl/plastic/rubber and shorting out the device.) Motors and transformers in converters are wire wrapped devices and a short (or open) makes it not want to work, (an open causing the current to stop flowing, and a short causing the current to flow more with the possibility of fire.)

Motors need a certain amount of Power to run, for an easy example, say a motor requires 1200 watts of power, that would be 10 amps at 120 volts. The motor is usually (if 100% duty cycle) designed to handle the amount of heat 10 amps produces. If your voltage drops to 100 volts, the motor now requires 12 amps to run continuously, producing more heat, and over time it will affect the life of the device because it's running hotter than design. However, the air conditioner (13.5k BTU) will pull about 23 amps/120 volts (~2800 watts) to start, then settle down to run at 10 amps. If starting at 100 volts, it will pull at least 28 amps, a great increase in amperage (and heat.) (remember, heat destroys)

By the way, these are real world figures for my trailer,(Nash 22H,) as I had some time and voltage problems on my hands in Rock Springs, Wy. The problems were cured by the power company changing the center tap on the pole transformer (a larger autoformer) and giving the house/shop it's rightful 124 volts.

To sum it up, higher voltages (to about 135v) are better because they produce lower current (heat.) The electric company doesn't care, they get paid for "power" (kilowatts actually). You ever wonder how they get away with using such small lines across the country to deliver it? They use the same theory, very high voltage and small current, (remember, current heats) and then use various transformers/pole transformers to reduce the voltage to something usable by us little guys.

The autoformer/power booster helps the trailer to be more reliable and your appliances to be longer lived. A popular booster increases the voltage by 10% whenever the voltage drops below 116v, ie: 116 + 11.6 volts = 127 volts, if the voltage goes to 110 volts (very common) your voltage would be 121 volts.

Contrary to popular belief and despite what park managers will tell you, an autoformer does NOT steal power, it merely makes what is AVAILABLE more efficient, the autoformer by itself only drops about 1 percent of the load making it 99% efficient.

So while in Palm Desert/Palm Springs, I installed my new (to me) autoformer.

Area formerly under the Jack Knife bed, (now storage area-see blog) where 120/12 volt wiring and panel are. Seems there is some room in betwixt those wires.

A slight modification to the cord box, a little insulation and presto, it fits along all the other wiring.

I converted the 30 amp power cord with appropriate plugs/receptacles so I can use any 30 amp extension. I can also bypass the autoformer if needed.

For a wiring diagram, see my other blog posts on installing the 3000 watt inverter.

I am not affiliated in anyway with Hughes Autoformer, Franks RV power booster, Surge Guard Voltage Regulators or Powermaster Voltage Booster.

By way of CV, I graduated from Denver Institute of Technology with an Electronic Engineering Certificate (AAS) and spent a couple of years working for Texas Instruments (North Building) in Dallas, Tx. A couple of years working on televisions and radios in Rock Springs, Wy. then years of hobby electronics, including hidden cameras, power supply's, building and troubleshooting my own computers, becoming a computer forensics expert, and designing simple circuits for jobs around the house/trailer.

Also see Valiant Sacrifice my hughes autoformer dies

Women RVers: Reading labels

2009-12-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

Reminds me of a pet peeve- Going Green in the RV (11-08) Women RVers: Reading labels I read labels too...

Delta Shores, beautiful and sunny

2009-11-23T17:03:00.004-07:00

I'm at Delta Shores once again, delta-dawn-whats-that-oh-delta-shores.html

It's on my list of good places to stay, the days are warm, with a little breeze and it's within reach of anyplace in Northern/Central California, It's an hour from both Sacramento and San Fransisco, the traffic is a bit lighter here than the bigger cites, but it's still more than I'm used to for the last year. Everything is accessible, and I visited my first Fry's Electronics, (oh my, the money I spent there.) (More mods upcoming on the trailer from that shopping trip) The resort is wonderful as before, the cost is perhaps the best part. $2 a night, full hookups. Ice cream socials, pancake breakfasts and potlucks every week, even Thanksgiving dinner. It's a K/M sister park and K/M members are treated royally here. There are quite a few big rigs here, more than I've seen here before, although some are leaving today. My little travel trailer looks funny parked around them.

Headin' to warmer weather?

2009-11-21T21:38:00.005-07:00

Here I am, below Gold Beach, Oregon headed south under cloudy skies. To the east I can see snow capped hills, and the Siskiyou's reported 12 inches new snow.

I stayed dry all the way into California. Near Port Orford the wind was gusting, and the waves were crashing, I wanted to stay and watch but the truck and trailer were rocking from side to side.

I ran out of dry road and into darkness just north of Eureka, and have pulled into a rest stop on Hwy. 101. California Rest Areas let you stay (rest) for 8 hours during a 24 hour period. I have batteries and an inverter, propane, onboard water and dump tanks, why not just take advantage of anything California offers for free? I'm even getting 15 channels of TV (8 digital) With the Verizon Air card I have internet access and get to upload a photo. LIFE IS GOOD...

A reason to like the West Coast

2009-11-04T17:34:00.014-07:00

One of the reasons to like the West Coast is the Sunsets, the most beautiful sunsets are here. Now I suppose if you live on the East Coast you could brag about the sunrises, I'm never up at that time of day anymore, so I could care less about the sunrise. (It's enough just to wake up these days. Whether the sun is up or not, the question does not arise until I poke my head outside.) One of the reasons to dislike the West Coast is California, which takes up a majority of the coast. (Is there a joke there?) I could go on with California jokes here, from Guv Ahnold to Hollywood Hijinks. I say it's a fine place to visit briefly, as long as you can afford it. I am here on the Long Beach Peninsula (Washington) enjoying Stud Clam Chowder once again at the Portside Cafe. A friend in the area also recommends Chico's Pizza, says all the locals dig it.

Birds on Wire.. Seattle.. and moving again?

2009-11-03T20:05:00.007-07:00

As you may be able to tell, I went up to the Seattle area again, some rainy weather, some nice weather, my friend was moving again, this time from Kent into Seattle proper. Talk about location, she's now downtown, close to EVERYTHING... and the cutest apartment. By the way, the above photo is one of her paintings/mixed media in a series titled "Birds on Wire" I had a fun time, got tired and sweaty at times... but everything was finally accomplished before I got snowed on again, (I got a little snow at Tall Chief RV Resort near Redmond.) On finishing I headed down to the Long Beach Peninsula (Chinook, Ilwaco, Seaview, and Long Beach)

Mother Natures Way of telling me to move on...

2009-10-05T09:08:00.004-06:00

One day I'm under the trailer, checking brackets and rustproofing the frame, the next day?

I have to find my one pair of socks, my one pair of boot like shoes (Doc Martens,) and my one pair of Levis. Of course I'm kinda skimpy on coats also, but I have a fleece/Goretex combo that will do in a pinch.

Thats over 6.5 inches on the hood.

Looks like a good test for the new bumper boxes.

Now I gotta air up my trailer tires because the Pressure Pro system is telling me I only have 43 lbs in one of the tires, (maybe the 22 degree out side temperature has something to do with it.)

The trailer is performing like a champ, keeping me warm and toasty, I had unhooked the water and put 15 gallons more in the water tank when I saw the temps dropping. The small electric heater on low (900/1500 watt) keeps the bedroom area about 66 and the rest of the inside about 61.

At .04 KWH, it's cheaper than propane. The conversion factor is 27 (26.85) in deciding what to use. (.04 x 26.85 = $1.08, meaning propane would have to cost less to be more cost effective. $0.12 KWH is about the break even point for most of the country) Of course the bathroom seat is a little chilly and puckers me a bit. The Hunter Digital thermostat kicks the furnace on when the temps get real low. I set it to kick on a couple of times during the night to keep the water tanks from freezing.

I'm doing inside projects now until I can pull out of Rock Springs, Wy. and head toward the nearest coast. (magnetic catches on the screen door, couple of 12 volt wiring projects, some more LED lighting, cleaning the crevices and such.)

I encountered a couple of sub-freezing days and one kinda snow day while wintering on the Oregon coast last year. Nothing like Wyoming to bring back memories though. I lived in Southwest Wyoming for 12 or so years, and in Park City Utah for 16 years, so dealing with snow is one of the reasons I went on the road, still chasing that perfect 70 degree weather.

I can't stop...

2009-09-28T06:20:00.003-06:00

The Modifications. I look at the trailer and see ways to make things better, since I've got time on my hands, I grab cutters, welders, grinders and paint cans and go to work. Check out the following additions to the bumper boxes and trailer.

I took my boxes off, added a pair of holes through the base for a hitch pin and welded on a 3/8 nut (with hole behind it), so I could tighten anything I put in the tube down tight.

The rear tire folding down makes a nice spot for holding bags, but can I make this more useful?

It only goes down part way? Hmmm...

A couple of cuts with a 4.5 inch metal cutting wheel, a hammer and a pair of visegrips bend the metal.

OK I made the tire lie down flat, it holds things better now. But can I make it better?

Holds all the bags unloaded from the box, but?

Just steal the table top off a small 30 inch wide table and bolt it on the tire carrier.

Folded up and reinforced with small metal plate.

Looks almost normal with tire on.

Table folded out, ready for work and to stack stuff on. But I need a light to work on things in the evening.

So I added a 12 volt light with a switch, on the 22H, the bathroom light switch is directly behind the outside light, making it easy access and hookup to 12 volts.

I had space between the trailer and boxes, I had to fill it...
My friend gave me a couple of 5.25 inch vinyl fence posts, (check background below) he was getting rid of them. so I used them to hold things. Like Sewer tubes and rain gutter slinky support.

A bit wider view.

I still have access to drain the water heater.

Arrrghhh... Woke up early Saturday to a phone call, decided to stay up, so I went down to the steel yard and bought a 6 foot piece of steel, ($11) 1.5 inch square tube x .083, Got out the chop saw, the grinder and the MIG, a couple of spray cans and began cutting, grinding, welding, and painting, horrible day. This is what I came up with...

Notice the T handle bolt on the bottom of the sat dish pole, it tightens up fine, rock solid dish mount, about 270-280 degree view of the sky depending on the side I put the mount on, I made the other pole just to have a blank, maybe a flag pole, lantern pole, bug lantern, what ever, maybe I need to cut it and mount a grill.

The poles are offset from the locks, so the boxes are still accessible.

Hmmm, now maybe a rear awning is in order, so I can work on things during the day, or maybe an umbrella on one of my poles to block the sun.

9-28-09, I'm headed to Idaho to get my mothers place winterized so she can head out to the coast. I'll be back in Rock Springs Thursday or Friday, just in time for below freezing weather. A stopover in Salt Lake to pick up and drop off items, and to see my beautiful friends.

A View from the Rear.

2009-09-13T17:31:00.006-06:00

Another adventure in design and modification, I've seen many trailers with generators and boxes and platforms on the rear. After looking at many, I decided I would like to have some more storage for my junk.

I began planning to add storage to the rear bumper, I looked at many boxes, rubber maid and other various plastic boxes. They seemed pretty cheap and I could carry a lot but all of them were at least 25 inches at the bottom.

I looked at many truck boxes from various manufacturers. Most of these run 17 to 19 inches on the bottom, but 20-24 inches across the top. I decided with a tire carrier on one side and a truck box on the other, the trailer would look lopsided, plus I wasn't happy with adding 22 inches to the rear of the trailer, that would be 10 or more inches beyond the spare tire.
I began looking at tongue boxes, I could put one on each side of the tire and it would look balanced. A bit triangle shaped, I looked at Harbor Freight and many others, even on eBay. I found a person on eBay making tongue boxes, and custom Diamond Plate items. EVEN CUSTOM BOXES.... MAP Welding and Fabrication . I emailed and called Mark Proul to discuss what I needed, he quickly gave me a quote, I checked 4 places on the west coast that make custom boxes and a local person, the price quoted was less than most could buy the metal for.
I paid for the boxes quickly, these are nice custom boxes, My dimensions were 30 inches wide, 12 inches front to back and 16 inches high. The rear bumper is 92 inches, the spare is about 27 inches, but If I got larger tires in the future they would not be over 32 inches. So each box became 30 inches. 16 inches high does not cover the license plate from the rear. And the 12 inches is very close to the amount the spare tire sticks out.

All photos are on Webshots and will open much larger when clicked

Original rear bumper with spare tire attached.

Underneath old bumper-right side.

Bumper and area that will be modified.

Cutting the old bumper off.

Bareback trailer.

Positioning receiver hitch for measurement and testing.

Test fitting receiver and bumper. (Measure many times, cut/weld once)

Left side test fit.

Getting set up for welding, protecting trailer from splatter with cardboard and metal license plates.

Tack weld and measure again. Carefully considering all ramifications of adding metal. Weight, strength, looks were all mulled over and discussed at length.

Full vertical weld left side, I had to practice on some scrap for a while first. It turned out easy with the Millermatic MIG welder.

The bumper welded back on, with receiver hitches underneath.

Bumper raised about 2.25 inches, one of the reasons I didn't use hanging receiver hitches on the bumper, also I wasn't sure of the bumper strength.

Getting ready to build a removeable base for the boxes, 2 inch tube at 21 inches each.

Angle iron, and safety equipment with the obligatory Owners Group hat.

Cutting and grinding my metal for the base.

Tack welding the iron together, to test fit on the trailer.

Delivery of the boxes.

First test fit of the new boxes.

Welded base, the boxes were test fit and holes drilled, I welded the nuts on prior to priming and painting.

Primed box base.

Final coat-Rustoleum semi-gloss black.

Getting ready to place the base in the receivers and pin/bolt them down.

Finished boxes, I used pieces of angle iron and a couple of fender washers to fasten the boxes down to the bases. Each box can be individually removed in a matter of minutes. Something else can be placed in the hitch receiver such as a bike rack or platform.

Outside shower access. (I have never used it)

Underneath left side showing base and bottom of box. I used 3/8 bolts to fasten. (Overbuilt everything)

Right side underneath showing pin, base and welds.

Rusty spare tire carrier, wire brushed.

Spare and carrier, primed, painted and pretty.

Initially I had planned to surround the bottom of the diamond plate boxes with the angle iron, I decided I was over building and that it would detract from the look. So I went with just building a strong base. I had over 350 pounds standing on the bases and they didn't even flex.
The total weight of the boxes, base and receivers is 78 pounds. The last time I weighed the trailer, the front tires were 100 pounds heavier than the rear. This modification allows me to move weight to the rear. and lighten my 1050 pound tongue weight. Total weight is well under the posted limits of the tires, when I hit Oregon in a couple of months I'll check each tire/axle again and reposition weight as necessary.

Thanks to Afnash.com, the Arctic Fox, Nash, Desert Fox, Northwood RV Owners Association for ideas, information and compliments.

Thanks go to Mark Proul at MAP Fabrication and Welding for the wonderful custom inexpensive Diamond Plate boxes. Call 203.228.2164, he can do anything diamond plate, from tongue boxes to toothbrush holders, you give him a design and he can do it. Mention where you saw them.

Thanks to the Burkes in Rock Springs Wyoming, for the use of the shop, welders and space for the project.

Before and After

2009-08-28T14:37:00.004-06:00

Photo is "BEFORE" I started working on my trailer.

And this is the "AFTER" photo, Can you spot the differences?

I'll help you get started, one photo is night time, one is day light, there are two different false license plates, the tire is on the bumper on one and underneath the trailer in the other.

Swine Flu.. Overreaction?

2009-08-24T05:15:00.003-06:00

I wish I knew who took this photo, I would certainly give them credit, they have a creative mind. Piglet actually sent the photo to me, a friend had sent it to her. (Luv ya)

Old Dogs

2009-08-23T17:21:00.005-06:00

Cruising down country roads in Wyoming, I decided I had gone far enough, I pulled into a driveway to turn the big truck around and found a prize. It tickled me, so I figured I'd share.

For those that don't click on the photo to read the fine print, it says:
Old Dog
Young Dog
Several Stupid Dogs
Please Drive Slowly

You've seen the before, here is the after.

2009-06-18T01:38:00.004-06:00

What can I say, I posted photo's I took 23 years ago, here are a couple of more recent photos. The hairstyle has changed, but the beauty shines through. You may have seen her on "Untold stories of the ER" (she's a certified paramedic), "Touched by an Angel" (she's an angel herself), or even at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City, Ut. as "Babe" (she certainly is) in "Crimes of the Heart." Of course she has many other credits to her name, and is going to bust upon the scene again. She'll be in the Seattle theaters for a while honing her skills on stage. She has been writing and may be directing again also.

Here she is on YouTube

This story starts long ago, but technology fell short.

2009-06-12T14:30:00.006-06:00

Then again, some people say the "old way" is the best way. The photos you see here were taken on film in the 1985 - 1986 era and recently digitized. Some of them have appeared elsewhere, although the copyright remains mine. I will include some of the posts appearing on Facebook.

The Classic Pose ie: Bad Girl

A small rant about Actors, Authors, Dancers and Photographers, and about the whole creative process, the motivation, the research, the choreography and the composition, I realize it is hard work with a little luck (and run-on sentences) that make the dream, the quest, the move and the shot come true for the artist inside.

If I could add the poetry that touched my heart, the comedy that makes me laugh, the film that makes me cry, and the paintings that bedazzle the eye, the story should be told that reaches into my soul, but alas, it is not mine to tell, I have but one chapter, one piece, that is mine, I hold it dearly, for it is the foundation of a love and a life...

You know you're a Redneck with P.E.T.A.

2009-05-16T21:05:00.005-06:00

You know you're in redneck country, when you see this sign next to the main road and there are no protesters standing around it, and there is no graffiti.

By the way, I joined P.E.T.A. on Facebook (People Eating Tasty Animals) :)

Working on Sticks and Bricks in Idaho

2009-04-30T23:35:00.004-06:00

Okay, I'm working in the back yard at my mothers house in Idaho, killing weeds and wasps. I hear a chittering sound and look around, lo and behold, I've got an observer watching me and commenting on my lack of motivation. Sitting up on the power pole is this little guy, calmly eating a walnut and making comments. I finish up in the back yard and go to the front.....

And I get followed, this guy is like a supervisor, a micro-manager at that, reminds of some people at work. He's up in the tree watching me intently, as I walk around the tree for fun, he follows, keeping me in sight. This is one of three squirrels that play in the yard, sometimes they are playing tag, sometimes wrestling, and always looking for the next bite.

Movin a friend...

2009-04-01T22:09:00.008-06:00

Here I am at the top of the world? At least the top of the US, heading into Washington after a short jaunt to Canada. I was staying in Birch Bay, Washington (Beechwood, K/M Resort) helping a friend move from Bellingham to Kent.

We got the move completed in three days/three trips so she had time to try to put her place together in Kent. She's changing jobs and changing lives, going back to the creative side, from management. She's professionally accomplished goals I could only aspire to, from being a House Manager for a major theater and supervising over two hundred employees and volunteers, to acting in TV shows, and starring in films.

The traffic in the Seattle area is driving me crazy, I'm not used to the hurry up and wait in line, it's so pointless a lot of the time. The Bellingham area was so beautiful and peaceful compared to Kent. I'm currently at Lake Sawyer RV resort in Black Diamond, Wa., it's the closest affiliate(RPI/C2C) to Kent/Seattle. As usual, they try to stuff too many RV's into a small space.

Lots of people step out the front door right at the sewer connection, a result of poor planning (pull-thrus are slanted the wrong way,) and the power is about 20 amps on 30 amp hookups, there are no 50 amp hookups here. The resort has been around a long time and RV's have gotten larger may be one reason.

Only in TEXAS

2009-02-13T00:47:00.002-07:00

Everything is bigger and better in Texas, and they'll let you know. I've written about chicken fried sushi, and chicken fried steak, the next great thing is Chicken Fried Bacon, as if the first two don't clog the arteries enough.

Check out this video

I haven't tried the delicacy but I might have to swing by the next time I'm in Texas.

Happy Valentines Day to all you lovers out there, and be sure to have a designated driver....

Merry Christmas......

2008-12-25T00:56:00.004-07:00

I hope all my friends are well, I had the best Christmas gift today. My first love called and wished me a "Merry Christmas," we didn't talk for long, we'll leave that for another time and another place, but my eyes were wet when I hung up, I hope her life only gets better, she deserves it...

Trailer modifications

2008-11-29T10:06:00.005-07:00

I've been staying near the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area at my uncles, I've got full hookups 30A/water/sewer, access to Quad ATV's and a table saw....

First I added a cover to the back bathroom vent, a powered vent/fan to the front bedroom and black water vent. (now I can fully vent...)

So I went whole hog, and changed the inside of my new trailer, I added an inverter (3000 watts)
to provide 120 volts from batteries when off grid, I added storage for my mothers scooter, more storage in the empty spaces under the dinette

and a charging station/tool stand.

Click on each Thumbnail for full photo show

After all that, I added an "accumulator" pressure tank, which will assist in saving power, and keep the water pump happy, it also gives some protection against freezing by serving as an expansion tank.

Extra handholds were added throughout, the front door and in the shower, other little things like broom and mop holders, robe hooks, a small desk for the laptop and a 22 inch LCD TV.

I added a Pressure Pro RV tire monitoring system for more safety on the road..

It's been a little bit cooler, mid to low 60's during the day and low 50's to high 40's at night. One night it got to 30F degree for a short time, (nothing froze..) I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving (and Black Friday...) Since one person got trampled and killed at the Walmart nearby, and I've heard of others across the nation..

Going green in the RV?

2008-11-16T14:51:00.008-07:00

As you know, RV's are quite green, leaving a very small carbon footprint on the earth..
They don't require much to heat or cool, just opening or closing of the windows.. Living in the RV makes it easy to recycle, (when you don't have room to store..) All the cans and bottles get separated and put in the appropriate place...
I buy green.. I bought a green dish brush even.
I started reading the back of the tag, mentally patting myself on the back for "going green" "clean water", "save trees", "conserve energy"... reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and renew... Package is made..recycled, brush is made..recycled..blah blah blah...

WAIT A MINUTE, whats that last line? I'll tell you, MADE IN CHINA... in small print..(click to enlarge)

So the Chinese make this out of their recycled material, and send it to the U.S. they send their waste over here??? I mean, we're not sending our waste over, letting them make the brush and send it back...

They are sending their waste products to the United States, like ST (special trailer) tires, every ST trailer tire is "made in china" even Goodyear's.. Chinese put melamine in the dog food and and kill off dogs and in human food and kill off infants... I'm wondering what toys are getting recalled this year, because they are "Made in China" and painted with lead paint.. Is there no way out?? More Chinese BS

Oh yeah, I'm still near the Oregon Dunes NRA/Coos Bay, the days are 70F although the nights get to 40F, it's nice and it's good sleeping weather. ;o)

Let the good times roll...

2008-11-06T00:37:00.002-07:00

Last month I was staying up at Neskowin Creek RV resort,(a membership park SP=K/M) on my trip down Hwy 101 to nearby Lincoln City, I came across this sign on entering Lincoln County. How appropriate... I often wonder how many cars they actually forfeit.

Travelin' the Northwest

2008-09-17T01:18:00.008-06:00

From Birch Bay, I traveled down to Fife, WA. for a day, made some purchases at the Camping World, got some welding cable at a nearby welding shop, and stayed the night at the Camping World parking lot. It was actually very quiet, and nice.. The next morning I woke up late and traveled down to Chinook, Wa. to stay at Columbia Shores, a K/M resort I've used many times, for two weeks the cost was $14. The resort has satellite fed Wifi, so the connection can be slow at times. I made many trips to the Portside Cafe, to have "Studs Clam Chowder." I went and watched the International Kite Festival several days, although a couple were rained out. Gypsy pup decided she liked the sand and surf, so just about every day we drove out to the beach and ran, she loves chasing the ocean waves and birds. She filled my truck up with sand, but it's a small price to pay for the fun we have. I know she looks small and lost in the photo but the birds had just flown out of her reach..

Just beyond the truck in each photo you can see North Head, the southern end of the beaches of Long Beach, and Seaview, Washington.

Birch Bay and my new trailer

2008-08-28T00:20:00.006-06:00

I've had several people ask about my new trailer, I traded down a bit, going from my 34 foot New Horizons fifth wheel (parked in Idaho at the moment) to this 22 foot travel trailer (Nash 22H), so far I'm saving over 30% on fuel and maybe more. I happened to take a photo of the travel trailer and the truck while playing around with my new camera and the panoramic software I got with it. The photo is in Beechwood Resort, a K/M resort near Birch Bay, Washington. This is where I stayed while visiting my most famous friend in nearby Bellingham. Needless to say, I had a good time the one night we went out. Just north of the resort is a small bakery that has the BEST wheat bread, home-style, I discovered it while sampling clam chowder in the area, the chowder was okay, but the home style baked bread was awesome. I've had so much chowder these past few weeks, maybe I need to rename my blog.... ClamChowderRV.com.... hmmmm... just doesn't have the same panache. By the way, Studs Clam Chowder is the best, and I've tried chowder on both coasts and places in between.. Ivars Chowder is pretty good though. Portside Cafe in Ilwaco and Loose Caboose in Long Beach, Wa. both serve Studs..

They're playin my song......

2008-08-06T16:25:00.007-06:00

Life is wonderful, sometimes you find great things by watching other people... I cruise my stats page, I'm amazed at what people search for that gets to my Chicken Fried RV blog. I saw this, listened to it and decided to post the link.. It kinda sums up my blog, yup.. gonna make it my theme song.
Chicken Fried

(along with Red-Neck Yacht Club)

My first YouTube video

2008-07-15T14:57:00.003-06:00

Had to try out my new camera a Panasonic Lumix FZ18, 8.1 megapixal and 18x optical zoom.. I almost bought another Nikon, a D40, but this Leica lens on the Lumix has good resolution and the camera rates very high on all tests, so I took a chance.. I must say so far I am impressed, it's quick to start, and takes good saturated photos, I tried a movie without reading the manual, this is the result...

Gypsy is a YouTube junkie as you will see, Gypsy was rescued about 7 years ago from the Heber Utah animal shelter.

By the way, I'll be in Seattle area by June 19th, 2008. Gonna go see some old friends..

.454 Casull on a raging bull prairie dog or...

2008-07-10T01:27:00.004-06:00

a .44 mag on a mouse?

Clearlake man injured during accidental shooting (URL)

Written by Lake County News reports
Tuesday, 08 July 2008

MENDOCINO COUNTY (California, where else?)– A Clearlake man received minor injuries after he was accidentally shot in an incident that occurred July 3 in Potter Valley.

Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported that the 42-year-old man – whose name has so far not been released – suffered a superficial wound to the front of his groin area and a bullet hole in his pants. (Excuse me, a superficial anything to the groin is gonna hurt.)

Smallcomb reported that on July 3 at 1:20 a.m. the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center received a cellular 911 call of an accidental shooting that occurred at a residence in the 10000 block of Highway 20 in Potter Valley, near the Lake/Mendocino County line.

The caller reported that an adult female and adult male had been shot as a result of an accident, according to Smallcomb.

When deputies arrived, they found the 43-year-old female from Potter Valley, whose name also has not been released, lying partially inside and partially outside of a travel trailer, Smallcomb said.

The female had a through-and-through gunshot wound to her right knee, Smallcomb said. At the same time they also found the wounded man.

Based on statements and physical evidence gathered at the scene, it was determined that the female was carrying a .44 magnum single-action revolver in a holster under her left arm.

Smallcomb said she stepped into the small travel trailer and had the intent to shoot mice that were apparently scurrying around on the floor of the trailer.

When she went to draw the revolver from the holster, the revolver slipped out and fell to the floor. Upon impact with the floor, Smallcomb said the revolver fired one shot, which passed through her right knee cap, then continued upward and traveled across the front of the man's pants, where it struck a set of keys that were hanging from his belt loop.

Smallcomb said the bullet then glanced off the keys and tore a hole in the man's pants, and continued to travel between the pants and a pair of shorts he was wearing.
(a .44 mag "glancing" off keys? how long did it take to make this story up?)

The bullet came to rest when it entered the coin pocket of the males pants, where it was recovered for evidence, Smallcomb said. (hmmm, keys to groin area to coin pocket....How low were these pants hanging? They just took the bullet for evidence? and left them with the gun to finish the job later...)

The female was transported by ground ambulance to the Ukiah Valley Medical Center for treatment, according to Smallcomb's report.

He added that the case was forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for review. (attempting to take mice out of season? SWG? (Stupid with Gun))

Readers Comments Below....

Donna Christopher - U mite be a redneck Author | 07-08-2008 09:08:55
if you go poppin' .44 cal bullets at a house mouse. Instant Karma? Humans - 0, Mouse - 2. You might want to try a mouse trap with peanut butter. I really am surprised the words alcohol and methamphetimine are not also in this article. Geesh!

Tahoe - Listen Registered | 07-08-2008 10:23:37
Can you hear the banjos playin???
kd006 - Everyone Knows... Registered | 07-08-2008 11:36:15
The proper thing to use when mouse hunting in the middle of the night is a .410 shotgun with a Maglight duct-taped under the barrel. If it were a Moose scurrying about the trailer then a .44 Mag may only be used to dispatch the Moose in a humane manner if the shotgun didn't kill it. I would like to clarify for the readers that Moose in this sense does not refer to Moose, Elks or Masons of the fraternal order variety.

Looking forward to Labor Day, let's see who can top this or the burning boat.

kd006 - Feeling Lucky? Registered | 07-08-2008 13:41:44
Overheard just before:

"But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, mouse?"

John - Second attempt Registered | 07-08-2008 15:03:14
I bet this was the same folks who burnt their boat to a crisp with the fireworks.

Fran - A Better Mousetrap? Registered | 07-08-2008 16:10:53
That was one magic bullet!
I thought for a minute I'd stumbled on one of those forwarded urban legends with a moral something like "So you think YOU'VE had a bad day?"
And it will be a great story to tell the Social Worker when they try to sign up for IHSS.
I will admit to having once shot a pocket gopher with a 16 g shotgun, but that was after it had eaten half my garden. There was collateral damage. Several zuccinis that the gopher hadn't already eaten died as a result of the violence.

You know this would never happen in the Heber Valley....

New trailer....

2008-06-20T23:27:00.002-06:00

With the price of diesel skyrocketing, the miles I've accumulated on the fifth wheel (she 's gettin' loose in places.) I decided to get a new (smaller) trailer, I want to cut down on the wind load and weight.

I'll place my fifth wheel either on the coast, or down south..(haven't decided exactly where yet) and use the small trailer for trips around the country..

I looked at this trailer...

Then thought maybe not, I'd have too much fun.

So I'm headed out to look at trailers from Craigslist.org in the Idaho area this weekend..

Do you realize how mortal you are?

2008-06-07T22:27:00.014-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went up to Hailey, Idaho, with my mother, and with some relatives to decorate graves (Memorial Day.) I walked over to the graves of my grandmother and aunt, and saw something that made my heart quiver and travel up into my throat....

Reflecting on my life, I've had good friends and a lot of good times, I remember the good times better, and the bad times don't seem to matter, I've always been that way, I don't stay down very long, I know some people that make a life of putting you down and being down, I feel sorry for them.

I remember my first love, and other loves, but can hardly remember bad things about love and lovers. There are some I don't think about any more and some I think about every day, only they know why. By the way, my first love dedicated a song to me on the radio in 1986, "Thats What Friends Are For" (Dionne Warwick and friends)

Does it sound like I'm getting a bit philosophical? I'm probably closer to my death than my birth, and that just hits a person hard, as you to come realize it. I'm expecting many more sunsets, and love, and plan to travel more... sometimes you just gotta sit and think...

Here is what got me thinking........

All nice and pretty, this gravestone is already laid in the Hailey Idaho Cemetery, it's been bought and paid for, as has the plot itself. All paperwork is in the US Bank safety deposit, Hagerman, ID. Just in case something goes wrong, I want someone to know, to care, and see I'm put in the right place. :0)

By the way, I've decided I want "Loving Her Was Easier" (than anything I've ever do again) (Kris Kristofferson) sung at my funeral. (Dedicated to my famous friend)

and one other song to send me on my way, "Angels Watching Over Me" (Amy Grant.)

Friends

2008-05-26T09:50:00.007-06:00

In the last two weeks, I have been incredibly lucky finding two friends from college days.. And another from work.. One started me skiing, the other I took skiing and maybe started skiing, (it's been a long time,) the third I skied and raced against.
All are still incredible and have done much with their lives. Each helping humanity in their own way. I feel honored to know them and count them as friends.

The first, whom I knew quite well, has become internationally famous as an actress. From humble beginnings in Utah, through college in Rock Springs, Wy. and onto the University of Utah. There she gave great performances in local theaters, including the Egyptian Theatre in Park City, Ut. She eventually left Utah and went to Southern California, where all promising actors go, I guess. She called me on Saturday, (5/24) after hiking in the mountains, and told me about her life since I had last seen her in SoCal/2002. Such a gripping story, but alas, it is hers to tell, when and if she wishes. I still hope she publishes her poems and some more of her art. I have told her, no matter how famous she becomes, she will still be in my heart.

Onto the second, growing up in western Wyoming, and going to college in Rock Springs, Wy., then moving out into the world into Respiratory Therapy. I happened to be on the Internet reading about the first (famous) friend (FFF) and a chance comment left in a blog caught my eye, (an indication FFF was known to the second person,) through the comment section and subsequent emails, I think communication has once again been established. It will be fascinating to hear this story also.

The third person, (from work) will be met in warmer climes in the coming year, I hope, maybe sooner as you never can tell...... (it's cooler in August in Washington State) :o)

Quotes from/for PCPD

2008-05-25T00:14:00.006-06:00

This first is for Lloyd.. Although I didn't say it, I'll copy it and give the quote it's/he's due..

"Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on."

Robert Kennedy (1925-1968)

Other famous quotes......

"Give me a way to win"

"Is it the red book or the blue book today?"

"What about Bob?"

"The square footage of the house, and the further it is up the hill, is directly related to the attention given to a complaint by police administration."

"On any given day, on any given call, my status as a "golden boy" can be changed"
(sorry to see you go but glad you got out of there..RK)

"Do you have a gold card, Sir?"

"He was drunk and he didn't obey me"
(reason given by "cluster" after pepper spraying a man, then doing a cite and release)

Hopefully I'll get some anonymous help here.....

I spent some time

2008-05-20T00:45:00.006-06:00

Spent some time mapping all the places I've been with my trailer, and how many miles I've put on it, and on my truck...

I bought my GMC Sierra Duramax/Allison pickup in March 2004 and now have just over 101,000 miles on it, my first tank of diesel in Kellogg, Idaho cost me $1.83 a gallon.... (4.69 gal today)

I picked up the trailer in Houston, Tx. in April 2005, what a fun trip with a friend, although it could have turned out better, we had fun.... That first trip with the trailer from Houston to Hagerman, Id. was 2160 miles in less than a week. Since I bought the trailer I have put 27,120 miles on it. I've spent about $4000 on upgrades, ($1600 LP genset, $750 rubber pin box, $440 in new rims, $440 in new tires, $300 Surge/Overvoltage Guard, and a few odds and ends.)

I really have enjoyed it all, I've learned a few things, made some new friends and renewed some old friendships.... I look back on my life and pity people who don't take a chance, that always play it safe, those who don't stop and smell the roses..... Slow down, take a look around, and appreciate what you have..

Love and Bless y'all...

Pet Peeves (Flossing)

2008-05-14T11:32:00.006-06:00

The following scenario is a true story......Layton, Utah, Gary, a friend of my paintball teams captain, worked as a manager at Ultimate Electronics. He was finishing his house, and was hanging some of the drywall while alone. The walls were finished, but while trying to hang the overhead, he decided to use the only table in the basement at the time, a pingpong table... Needless to say, it collapsed with the weight, he fell and broke both collarbones and wrists attempting to catch himself. At this point his loving wife takes him to the hospital, where he gets the works, he is placed in a upper body cast from the neck to just above the waist, with both arms forward and out. (reminding me of the lumbering monsters in old movies.)

His loving wife now has to do everything for him, feed him, drive him, and various other things...... About all he can do is click the remote and watch TV, he can't even use a mouse to play on the net.
One night in the first week, she sees him settled in with a Big Gulp and the remote, she tells him she's heading for the store and will be gone just a short while. Fine, everything's cool, UNTIL the Big Gulp is about finished, he wanders into the bathroom. Now picture this, he can't hold himself because his arms/hands are about three feet apart in the upper body cast, so he has to sit and hope it drops enough to hit the toilet, he manages to squirm around enough to get it in. BUT.. while sitting there another natural urge overtakes him, fine, he takes a dump also, after all it's natural....

On getting up, he finds he has managed to close the bathroom door behind him, he doesn't know if his wife is home or not, BUT.. he has another problem, he can't wipe himself, his arms/hands are solidly placed a waist level in front of him... he can't open the door, cause his fingers can't grasp the doorknob, he tries his mouth to open the door to yell for his wife to help....if she's even home.. He can't get the door open, and he's made the room very soundproof because it's close to the downstairs family room.

He's in a quandary, he finally cleans himself up a bit by draping ends of one of the nice bath towels over each hand, stepping over it and using a see saw (flossing) motion.
He leaves the towel in the bathtub, as it's now stinky, eventually his wife comes looking for him, and saves him from the bathroom. Of course, she's not happy with the towel or the bathtub, but after the explanation admits he had no choice......

And that leads me to a new "Pet Peeve"..

I know when you're on the road, you've never used a public bathroom, but if you did, have you ever looked at the bathroom tissue, besides being shiny, made from recycled materials, and placed in a can that only distributes 3 squares at a time, it is only about 3 inches wide, get real, Wal-mart, Target, Flying J.. it's just not fair, do the American public a favor, replace your floss with a brand name.

Should I feel hurt? or is this too funny?

2008-05-03T19:32:00.008-06:00

I found a neat video of racing RV's, I sent it to some people I know who RV, and would get a kick out of it.

Lo and behold, the emails I sent to people at parkcity.org were all returned. with the following message.......

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification

Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

**********@parkcity.org

Technical details of permanent failure:
PERM_FAILURE: Gmail tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the recipient domain. The error that the other server returned was: 551 551 Mailhost is on our global blacklist (Mode: normal). We recommend contacting the other email provider for further information about the cause of this error. Thanks for your continued support. (state 14)

My email address was rejected? by parkcity.org? PERM FAILURE?

A fine example of Park City Municipal/Police Department constipation or obstipation?

This is just too funny, it looks like Park City municipal is scared of me sending emails to some of my old friends..... Or is this part of the general fear of the unknown, am I going to send them virii, worms, trojans, or some such..... yeah, yeah, I gonna DOS them, DDOS em or make the entire Park City network a robot site bending to my will...

Is this another example of the ostrich effect (putting their head in the sand?), I figured the new IT department would know better by now, they were much much smarter than the old Daughtee/Sunday combination.

So I just used another email address to let everyone know, you can't ban them all guys...

BTW, if you say your just banning all gmail addresses, you are losing the ability to recieve messages from millions of Gmail users, do you really want to do that?

P.S. On followup, a nice IT person at recipient Park City Muni unblocked gmail after one of the email recipients complained. It was possibly an over-enthusiastic spam filter....

A quick run to Idaho

2008-04-04T19:07:00.003-06:00

So here I am, back in Idaho and it's cold, now, as most of you know I like cool weather, as long as I don't have to shovel any snow. I'm only saying it's cold because I had to winterize the trailer to make it to Idaho. (drain water tanks, water heater, house lines and put RV antifreeze in the P-traps. About 10 gallons of water in bottles for the toilet.)

I stayed in the warmth of Southern Nevada as long as I could, I returned to the Oasis RV Resort from the Main Street Station, then I went up to Mesquite, NV. Oasis RV park for a week. I kept watching the weather, snow and rain across Utah, Nevada and Idaho hoping for a warming trend as a sign to return to the north........ It didn't happen...... Moms taxes and medical appointments could wait no longer, we had to return..... I left Mesquite fully intending to stay in Salt Lake that evening....

Blam, whap whap whap made it's appearance, another tire blew??? Mile marker 147 on Northbound I-15 about 2pm, I was at the side of the road, waiting once again for the Good Sam Emergency people to come change my tire, I realize I can change it in less then 10 minutes, given the tools I have and the on-board generator, besides a 2000 watt inverter on the truck to run my electric impact wrench. I've got a 12 ton hydraulic jack, that the tow truck operators usually resort to, since the ones they have don't go as high. But I wait, cause I paid for the damn thing (Emergency Road Service), I might as well use it.

The tow truck driver arrives, with a air jack, he puts it under the trailer on the axle, I stop him, ummm, you can't do that, he wants to know why, I tell him about Dexter axles, thay are just tubes with rubber rope in them and how they bend very easily. I let him know that I would like new axles, but felt it necessary to warn him anyway. Now, guess what, his jack can't reach the trailer frame, so he borrows two of my blocks to raise his jack up enough. He does have an air impact wrench and makes short work of the tire change. I ask him what he's torquing the lugs to and get told he doesn't have a torque wrench on the truck. I offer him mine and tell him a 100 ft-lbs is fine. He wants to discuss it, saying most 8 lug wheels are much higher, I agree I tell him, but those are usually 9/16 or 5/8 lugs. I politely point out the 1/2 in lugs he just worked with, he considers the point and gives in. Then we have a small discussion about drive axles and trailer axles and the needs of transferring engine torque versus load weight. He takes off and I limp into Payson Utah Walmart, they agree once more it's a road hazard that blew the tire and give me a new tire free of charge...... (since I paid the $9.76 road hazard warranty in 2005.) We stayed the night in the parking lot with Walmarts permission, I ran the generator for a while to warm up using the electric heaters, and taking about 15 minutes to change the new tire and spare back.. (in my shorts and sandals.)

The next morning I got up about 9am (it's a quiet store lot,) and drove into Salt Lake, I parked at Camping World and unhooked. I had a list of things I needed to do, haircut/style at Bella Mia (thanks Jen, I think this makes it about 13 years of haircuts), taxes to PC accountant, alignment check at the local Firestone store, Crown Burger (should be outlawed), Mountain America to check on real estate loans (personal loans are cheaper), Convergys, (drop off a care package...No hug, and yes, I'm whining......)

I make it back to Camping World around 6:30, shop until they close getting some supplies. I hook up and take off to Idaho, it's still cold.... I get into Hagerman at my moms house about 1am. Time for a well deserved rest...

I tucked the trailer in beside the house instead of parking it out front like I usually do, I think it's a sign I'm gonna be here a while doing yardwork.....;o)

Just a tale of woe, hope and perseverance..

THUD THUD Clank CRASH

2008-03-20T01:57:00.002-06:00

I'm still in Las Vegas, currently residing at the Main Street Station RV park. Ok, it's a parking lot with hookups, and at six in the morning I was awoken with loud crashes and screeches. I look out the window and see a nearby building being demolished, it even looks like a nice sunrise (something I don't see a lot of.) I walked out and took a few photos, when my flash went off, a couple of workers ran and got a fire hose and began watering down the building. (guilty conscience?) I went back in my condo on wheels and put in earplugs (memories of sleeping after graveyard shift) and slept peacefully till noon. Fremont Street Experience and Light Show is less than three blocks away, so we went and experienced it for about 4 shows during an evening. I'm waiting for the northern US to warm up, and I'll head north, theres things to to do and people to see, passports to pick up and puppy dogs to get checked out by the vet.

Sunsets

2008-03-08T20:00:00.005-07:00

I just sat out and watched my last sunset this year in Quartzsite, it was nothing spectacular, some nice color and a few westbound neon jet contrails.

I've spent many evenings watching the sunset and appreciating God's splendor and man's contribution of some smog. The colors touch something in the soul. I realized I've missed sunsets every evening for 16 years working in Park City, there are no sunsets, the sun just disappears behind the mountain and the coolness settles in. I did have some great sunrises on graveyard shift, but theres nothing like a good sunset.

My final week in QZ

2008-03-06T02:22:00.003-07:00

I'm leaving Quartzsite on March 9th, my birthday and heading to Las Vegas. It's been fun, I didn't upgrade nearly as much this year, I did all the big stuff last year. I worked on my metal awning covers a bit, making them a bit more sturdy. I did invest in some more tools, still a lot of tool venders in town for some reason. I cleaned and polished the truck and trailer some. It's hard with the water here leaving large salt spots if you don't dry it off immediately, it felt like a losing battle. I did some work on the internet situation, getting a wireless print server and modifying it to receive wifi internet to multiple computers in the trailer. It's using the print server backwards from what it was meant to be, but it works very well and will work well in long term situations. It's not the quickest setup I've used. I need to hack the code a bit and make it more user friendly.

Here is a map to where I've been staying, there is a gray rooftop in the lower left quadrant near the cross roads, a brown rectangle just to the left (concrete slab) I'm parked about 20 feet west (left) of the "slab", last year I was parked on the slab,

View Larger Map

Another pepper spray SAVE in California

2008-03-03T15:38:00.008-07:00

Yes, I sell pepper spray and tasers..... with results like this, why don't you carry pepper spray with you all the time. It's legal and can save you....

Woman drives off El Segundo attacker

By Larry Altman, Staff Writer

Article Launched: 03/01/2008 04:19:21 PM PST

A sexual-assault victim used pepper spray to fend off an assailant who grabbed her and pinned her to the ground as she walked in El Segundo, police said Saturday. The attack occurred at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday as she walked at Franklin Avenue and Richmond Street, close to the city's downtown area and near a residential area of condominiums, apartments and houses. Detectives released a sketch of the suspect in the hope someone can identify him. "We are really just seeking anyone's help," El Segundo police Lt. Bob Turnbull said. "It's a very good composite. Hopefully someone will see that composite and give us some leads." As the 20-year-old woman walked, the assailant grabbed her from behind, spun her around and forced her to the ground between two parked cars. He straddled her and assaulted her through her clothes, Turnbull said. The victim pulled out pepper spray in defense and aimed it at the man. He became overwhelmed, coughed, gagged and ran away. The victim told police the man was white, about 30 years old, 6 feet tall, and about 200 pounds. He had brown eyes and dark brown hair, cut short on the sides and parted on the top. He has a goatee on an unshaven face, a weathered facial complexion, a muscular build and a fat stomach. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and blue jeans. Turnbull said the scariest part of the attack was that it occurred in broad daylight. Despite that, nobody witnessed the assault.

Anyone with information about the attack was asked to call El Segundo police Detective Ken Mulroney at 310-524-2200.

larry.altman@dailybreeze.com

A star appeared in the sky

2008-03-01T10:10:00.004-07:00

Sometimes in this world there are events that affect a lot of people. RVers everywhere will feel the loss of Dave Baleria. He was a great instructor, an avid RVer and a brother in blue. Many RVers have listened to him over the years on issues like self-defense and being practical roaming the heartland, during Life on Wheels courses. A prayer goes out to speed him on his way to the great campground in the sky, where he will be watching over us all.

Avoid - Escape - WIN are the watchwords we all remember.

Reno pepper spray sales up......

2008-02-21T16:40:00.005-07:00

Taser, pepper spray sales soar

Siobhan McAndrew (SMCANDRE@RGJ.COM)
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
February 20, 2008

Area retailers said they can't keep up with the demand for pepper spray.

Local sporting good stores and gun shops have sold thousands of the aerosol spray canisters that can incapacitate an attacker by causing temporary blindness, difficulty breathing, a runny nose and coughing.

The killing of Brianna Denison by what police say is a serial rapist has many young women looking for any line of defense, retail clerks said.

"We probably sell 30 to 40 of them a day," said Robert Currier of the Scotland Yard Spy Shop on Virginia Street. "We have a list of 30 people who have already paid and are waiting for us to stock it again."

The REI store has been turning away customers looking for a spray used to fend off bear attacks as a method of defense.

"Bear spray is not for anyone looking for a product for personal safety," said James Hedges, a manager at REI.

Sports Authority's two Reno locations have been out of pepper spray for a few days; ABC Lock and Glass in Sparks said its stock of more than 1,000 canisters ran out this weekend.

David Currier, owner of the Scotland Yard Spy Shop, drove Tuesday to Sacramento to get 160 canisters after selling almost 400.

The most popular model is a half-ounce canister in a leather case that can be attached to a key chain.

The spray, made from resins found in a variety of peppers including cayenne and chilis, can be a great defense, experts said.

"When people have trained to use it and are using a good product, it works great," Tracy Hawkins, a safety trainer and owner of the Safety and Security Source in Kansas City, Mo., adding that personal alarms also are effective.

"People discount them because they say car alarms just go off in a parking lot and no one pays attention, Hawkins said. "The fact that the car is still in the parking lot proves it works."

Pistol and stun gun sales have increased at local gun shops.

"We have had probably two or three times more people in here looking at guns because of Brianna Denison," said Marion Morreale of the Gun Trader on Plumb Lane.

She said the most popular item has been the Five-Shot .38 revolver that sells for $640.

The C2, a civilian-use Taser designed for women, has been a popular item at Mark Fore & Strike, a sporting goods store on Kietzke Lane.

Reno police recommend that buyers of defense weapons get training.

"I was talking to a young woman the other day who purchased pepper spray and she had no idea how you were supposed to use it," Reno police officer Kellie Fox said. "If you don't know how to use something or you're not comfortable with it, it's not going to help."

Personal weapon rules
Pepper spray: Can be used by anyone 18 and older who is not a felon. No more than 2 fluid ounces of pepper spray can be carried for self-defense. Tear gas, commonly called Mace, sells as a pepper spray product. Some companies still make a product that is a combination of tear gas and pepper spray. Police stopped using tear gas because it causes severe pain and can aggravate more than incapacitate an assailant.
Pistol: Can be purchased by anyone older than 21 after a state and federal background check and must be registered, unless purchased from a private seller. Local gun shops said the background check should take no more than an hour.
Taser or stun gun: Legal to carry in Nevada. Cannot be used by anyone younger than 18 or anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment, is a fugitive, has been arrested or convicted of drug use or possession, is an illegal immigrant, is committed to a mental institution or has been convicted of domestic violence.

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080220/NEWS01/802200444/1016/NEWS

Women with Protection.......

2008-02-12T12:05:00.002-07:00

Weapons For Women

News story

Reported By: Katie Brace

A mother and daughter found murdered outside the Town Center Mall.

Shopper says, "I'm concerned about my safety with what's going on and everything."

Another woman last seen alive leaving the shopping center. Plus, reports of two other attacks.

Shopper says, "I carry pepper spray now and I have a pocket knife."

When it comes to having extra protection and a feeling of security, Joe Rice at Delray Shooting Center is getting a lot more questions these days.

Joe Rice, manager of Delray Shooting Center, says, "We appear to be doing more Taser purchases, more pepper spray purchases and our concealed weapons classes have been full."

In the non-lethal weapons market. Taser is trying to capture your attention with its sultry advertising. Its range of stylish colors doesn’t hurt. At 350 to 400 dollars, it’s not cheap.

Joe Rice says, "It's a decent alternative to buying a gun for someone who doesn't want to buy a gun."

The Taser will buy you time, only if you hit your mark. And, you only have one shot.

Joe Rice says, "You would Tase the person and drop the item to ground. It will operate for thirty seconds you run away."

With the Taser you can stand about 15 feet away, it’s much different than this…stun gun.

Nick Lipschultz, P.A.R. Firearms & Supplies, says, "If someone grabs you push into them and start zapping until they fall to the ground and run." "A football player will go down in five seconds."

Susan Lipschultz, P.A.R. Firearms & Supplies, says, "Unless there in a really heavy jacket, it's going to go through denim it's going to go through clothing."

There’s one product dealers say can potentially disable attacker for up to an hour.

Nick Lipschultz says, "The oil sticks to them and doesn't wipe away."

Kimber’s LifeAct is relatively new on the market. It’s an oil based pepper spray that can be used further away than the aerosol pepper spray you’re probably used to seeing.

Susan Lipschultz says, “Step in spray and leave."

Dealers say it uses a charge like a firearm and is less likely to blow back on your face.

Reporter asks, “If someone wore a mask or glasses?”

Joe Rice says, "It would go around glasses it could go through a mask." “I would rate this up there in the realm as pretty high up in the range of non lethal weapons.”

Dealers say just pulling out one of these weapons can be a deterrent. They also say it can make women more confident making them less likely to be attacked. But, if you’re attacked don’t hesitate.

Susan Lipschultz says, "The biggest mistake is not having the frame of mind, as Nick, said to realize if you're in that situation you have to take action."

Whatever the weapon, the key is you feel comfortable with your choice, so you don’t become a victim.

Lake Havasu City

2008-02-05T00:53:00.000-07:00

I'm in Quartzsite AZ since the first part of January, lots of Flea Markets, swap meets, the QIA PowWow (rock, gem and mineral show) and the BigTent RV Show with all the newest stuff in RVing, that you so desperately need. All I bought was some cinnamon bread, some AmsOil MPHD, and a few LED lights that work great and take very little power from the battery.

I took a trip up to Lake Havasu City, to see the sights, London Bridge, and all that. I never got a good shot of the most photographed thing in LHC, but took photo's of the sunset near the lake.

I'll be meandering north about the first week of March.

Forces..... of Nature?

2008-01-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

Up in Wisconsin where the ice grows deep, a GM Duramax owner tests the ice with his truck. Looks very serene there under the ice, kinda quiet and cold.

And now, they just had to pull it out.......

Coming to you from The Diesel Place

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=207320

Mysterious Forces in the Universe, Tires and Hazards

2008-01-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

I've spent a year and a half on the road, and mysterious forces are at work. I put over 25,000 miles on the trailer, even more on the truck and even after careful maintenance some things just happen.

1. On the first day leaving Coos Bay, Or. the trailer blew a tire, tore up a little of the trailer and put us on the side of the interstate for an hour during evening traffic. We were 10 miles short of our destination in Talent, Or. I called up the Good Sam Emergency Center and they sent out the Tow Truck, we replaced the tire on the side of the road and I limped into Talent. Too late to get into the park, so I camped at Walmart (after asking permission.) I took my blown tire to Walmart, I had originally bought it in 2005 at the St. George, Utah Walmart for $93 and spent $9.76 for the "road hazard" warranty. The tire guy took one look at the shredded tire, the exceptionally good tread depth and said " yep, it was something on the road"" rear tire right?" "We'll cover it, no charge." whoohoooo, they did, and had the tire in stock, saved me $110, although I did pay $13.33 for the new road hazard and lifetime balancing.

2. I've backed my fifth wheel over a hundred times, I've gone almost 90 degrees a few times, I've never had any trouble with the short bed, I even have a slider in my truck, I've used it a couple times just to figure it out. But.... While in Ventura, Ca. I was backing my trailer into a very tight spot, and BAM, my rear window shattered. 96,000 miles and I lose a window. $155 later the truck has a new window, minus all my stickers. The white cardboard kept the glass from flying into the back seat.

3. On leaving CatSpa with the trailer, you have to hand in your parking pass/survey. I pulled in close to the security hut so I could hand it in. Before pulling away, I figured I was too close to the hut to let the trailer pass by safely, so I back up about a foot to get a better angle. Hmmm, I forgot it's a security hut....... Backing up that foot punctured my right rear tire on the tire ripper placed there for just that purpose, reminds me of a certain wooden bar that swings up but people manage to hit all the time. At least the bar doesn't really stop anyone. Now why is that?

A RV park has a tire ripper that will stop a vehicle in it's tracks with the push of a button.....

A county jail has a wooden bar that doesn't stop anything unless you hit the brake....

By the way, a tire ripper is a "road hazard" and the $193 Michelan was replaced free at Discount Tire, although it took $24 for the new warranty.

Laf, it reminds me of putting up my Internet Satellite on April 1st one year.

Like I said "mysterious forces at work......"

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

to all the people that communicated with me over the last year. It's good to hear from the old job once in a while. From the old area once in a while and from good friends. May you all retire happy and early. I've had so much fun, seeing places around the country, meeting new friends and contacting old ones. God Bless

Nanny Cam caper captures cruel Canton caretaker -Cherokee County Collars

2007-12-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2007/12/28/nannycam_1229.html

'Nanny cam' catches woman beating Canton toddler

By KAREN ROSEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/28/07

A 23-year-old Rockmart woman was charged with cruelty to children in the first degree after parents of a 13-month old Canton boy filmed her with a "nanny cam."

The Cherokee County Sheriff's detectives arrested her Thursday.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Constance Smith

In one hour of footage, Constance Smith was shown slapping the child in the face, pushing him to the ground and pinching him on the leg.

Sam Yaun, the boy's father, disguised the camera and microphone in a pair of speakers atop the television set in the living room. After viewing the video, he said, "I felt like throwing up. I felt sick. And my wife was hysterical."

Smith had been caring for the boy three days a week since September. She was released from the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center Thursday night on a $22,000 bond.

"We're pretty traumatized by the whole thing," Yaun said. "You can't trust anybody."

Yaun said he and his wife, Jessica, became suspicious because their son was "clingy" when she left the house in the morning.

All of his toys that made noise were turned off and a blanket he loved was left in the crib. They didn't notice any marks on his body, although after seeing the video they saw a bruise on his thigh.

Yaun, who works for a home theater company, said he encourages all parents with nannies or babysitters to set up a hidden camera.

"This is the first time we recorded her and it was for one hour, and that's what we got," Yaun said, "so I just hate to think what she may have been doing that we didn't know and we'll never know."

The Yauns had found Smith on a website.

"Her resume was awesome," Yaun said. "She had supposedly taken care of autistic children, Down syndrome children, hyperactive children."

He said they did a background check and checked three references who all gave Smith high marks.

"I feel like we covered our bases and were really careful about who we let into our house to care for our child," Yaun said. "The fact it's turned out this way is disheartening."

Yaun said that before his wife became suspicious, she wanted him to install a hidden camera "just out of curiosity" to see how Smith interacted with the child.

"I didn't do it," he said. "I told her that I felt really confident with her. It seemed like my son really liked her. I felt like we would be spying on her and didn't feel she deserved that."

Yaun said the video would not be released.

So buy a nanny cam/hidden camera and save a child.

Near the beach,.. and Rats with wings???

2007-12-20T16:26:00.000-07:00

Went down to the beach and the truck gets checked out

This seagull walked along the bed rail checking out everything in the bed of the truck.

One pigeon jumps onto the mirror, I asked the pigeon what it wanted and it just cocked it's head, I told it, you want something? just come on in, and it did! Another took it's place on the mirror. How bold can these rats get?

View Larger Map

Pacific Dunes RV resort, close to the Pacific Ocean and right on Pismo Dunes National Preserve

On the Coast.. In the Redwoods..

2007-12-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Stayed at River Grove RV just outside Santa Cruz, Ca. the last two weeks.

View Larger Map

The trees made it very shady for most of the day, I get some early morning sun light like this and a little in the late afternoon. It's very calm and quiet here, the San Lorenzo River is just steps away and Henry Cowell State Park surrounds the RV park.

Under the giant Redwoods

I made several daytrips, I spent a day in Santa Cruz, then the next day drove to Monterey and had dinner. I stopped several places around the bay and checked out the sights, like the Pacific Ocean crashing beaches in front of the oncoming storm. (It rained for 16 hours the next day.)

Monterey Bay in the fog/smog from an overlook on Highway 1

We traveled down to Gilroy, an experience everyone should have, (home of garlic ice cream) and the World Famous Garlic Festival.

On the way back from Gilroy, and passing through the south part of San Jose, I spotted "City Diner-The Fabulous Fiftys" off in the corner of a mall, since it was about seven in the evening, I decided to stop. Glad I did, the chicken fried steak is the best I've had since the Mt. Air cafe in Park City, Ut. The potion was a little small for the price (everything is more expensive in California) but the taste and tenderness was right on. It was covered with pepper base country gravy instead of sausage gravy, but had real mashed potatoes on the side. Score this place a "10" I think it's the best score I've ever given since the Mt. Air.

P.S. Despite the name of the blog, I only get CFS about once a month, I've had so many bad ones, I always hesitate to order, since it ruins my tastebuds for a couple of months.

Delta Dawn, whats that flower.... Oh Delta Shores aka "on an island"

2007-12-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

Stayed at Delta Shores RV resort for 2 weeks, Delta Shores is a flower in the center of California, with potlucks and ice cream socials every weekend, it's on Brannon Isle in the Delta area of the Sacramento River. Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and Stockton are within an easy days drive back and forth (daytrip.) I had a Thanksgiving in nearby Rio Vista, at the Moose Lodge and another on Saturday at the Delta Shores Park. The breeze is usually warm and moist, it's nice and cool at night (50F) and 65F to 70F during the day.

View Larger Map

Unbeknownst to most RV'ers, Delta Shores is a K/M resort, so K/M members only pay two dollars a night here for full hookups. Coast to Coast people pay $8. It's a benefit of having a camping membership.

On checking in, I met one of the McLoeds, I forget which one, not Doug, maybe Kevin, (I've become terrible with names since I don't write them down anymore.) He was cool, we discussed Neskowin Creek resort in Oregon (another K/M resort) and Two Springs resort, (he invited me over since I was going to stay at CatSpa again.)

We went on several daytrips in the area, one was to the Sacramento LDS Temple and one to the Oakland LDS Temple.

Evening Christmas Lights 2007-Oakland

Ready for Christmas-Oakland Temple

No more maps- How neat is that?

2007-11-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

As I travel around the country, my dash was covered with maps, The Next Exit book and countless guidebooks...... I had my computer in the back seat, ready to put on the pedestal, (it takes up passenger space-duh). I've had Microsoft Streets and Trips, and Delorme Mapping Software.............. NOT ANY MORE!!
I broke down and bought a Personal Travel Assistant-known to some as a GPS, but it's so much more than a GPS, it certainly uses GPS technology. After much research, I went with one of the big names, Garmin, and got the Nuvi 350, looked like the best value for the price and it came with the latest maps.
So you enter an address and follow the voice prompts-easy, even gives street names.

You want to know where the nearest fuel is? Press Menu on the Map screen, and come up with the following screen. Press Where to? and you get to pick Fuel, Lodging (even RV parks), Food, Favorites (custom entries) or have the unit do a search for a name or partial name. Put in GMC and it'll find GMC dealers, showing closest first, how many miles away and direction with arrows, same with Rest Areas, RV dumps, and Walmarts.
You get hungry on the road?, Press Menu, Where to? and Food and choose a food style, from All foods, Barbeque and Chinese to Fast Foods, Italian, Mexican, Seafood, Steaks/Grill and Chicken Fried Steaks.

It'll quickly show the direction and distance to each and then ask if you want to add it to the route. My dash is cleared, I can't believe how useful this PTA is, replacing all the junk.

Safety Alert!! Corporate Liability?? Walmart..........

2007-11-03T04:51:00.003-06:00

I got some Michelin 265/75/16 (E) tires at Walmart, after all, they have the best price. After a couple of months, I happened to go to a real tire dealer getting my heavy trailer on new 3750# rims. He took one look at the trucks rear tires and said "you carrying that 16k trailer on those tires?" I said I was going to, and he said well you have low pressure valve stems in the rims, and he had seen the low pressure valve stems blow out under 80 psi and a heavy load. I of course went Whaaaaaaaa.... He showed me the difference between the low pressure and high pressure valve stems. It seems the low pressure stems handle up to 65 psi, and the high pressure stems up to 120 psi.
I went to the Walmart that installed the tires and complained....they had no clue..... they said "thats the only valve stems we stock"(TR413)....I wander around in a daze looking at the stacks of E rated tires with 80psi and 95 psi and just wondering about the liability of it all, (now that I informed them)...

Anyway, I got some high pressure valve stems (TR600HP) on Walmarts' dollar and they mounted and balanced them again for me, putting the HP valve stems in.

Seems like it's happened all over as the following article describes..

Many "calls have come into the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) from commercial light truck owners complaining of a sudden loss of air in their tires, sometimes at high speeds. One major problem we found is that these individuals were using the wrong valve stems."

Above from Tire Review...
Link to Tire Review Article

TR413, all rubber/EDPM stem. Marked on the bottom/inside part of valve stem.

TR600HP, metal tire stem/EDPM base

TR800HP-TR802HP are longer tire stems, or bent longer stems for dually trucks.

Photos

2007-09-23T11:10:00.002-06:00

I'm really sorry, I tried to upload my photos and the computer I was using began doing strange things to my compact flash card, now the photos can't be accessed. I'm working on the card, but am not holding out much hope for the photo's to be recovered. I had some of the International Kite Fest that I promised and a few signs along the way.

We retreated from Chinook and went down to Neskowin Creek for a while, just above Lincoln City, Oregon. There are five used book stores in Lincoln City, I added a few to my Laurell K. Hamilton collection and finished up a Janet Evanovich collection for my mother.

So the rig is now in NorthBend/Coos Bay at my uncles, full hookups 1.5 miles from the ocean and free, ( less the occasional buying a dinner). My mother and I traveled to Hagerman, Idaho to winterize her house and pick up her car. It seems she will spend the winter in North Bend or perhaps on the road with me. I'm going to travel around Washington State for a month, then journey down to Quartzsite, stopping at Delta Shores near Isleton, Ca., River Grove near Santa Cruz, Ca. and Catspa near Desert Hot Springs, Ca. First of the year I'll be back in Quartzsite, Az. keeping warm and NOT SHOVELING SNOW, not worrying about the cold, the flu or slipping and getting hurt. Although I will miss that great Event, the Sundance Film Festival,"snort". I'm still trying for some photos as I think many times a "picture can say a thousand words." I'll leave a short video on a shoplifter in Aberdeen. :Video:

Wow.... IQuad kite team

2007-08-25T14:05:00.000-06:00

If you ever want to see magic in the air (or indoors) you should check out the IQuad kite flying team. I am currently in Chinook/Ilwaco/Long Beach, Washington attending the International Kite Festival once again. Seems I enjoy the weather, the colors and the area a lot. Back to the story, I watched the team last night fly LED lighted kites, in a magical dance of beauty, passion and rhythm. It was truly awe inspiring, and no way to get pictures of these fast moving marvels. Dancing in the sky appeared simple, from old fashioned starbursts to playing tag and follow the leader, the kites took on a life of their own. I highly recommend anyone within reach of a kite festival to attend and watch these highly skilled pilots. They even fly indoors, without wind, to the delight of grownups and children alike.

I will be posting some kite photos again soon.

I don't want to be...

2007-08-07T10:15:00.000-06:00

an organizational terrorist, but......

Reading through a RV trade digest offered me insight on Park City Municipal Corporation. I'm glad to know PCMC is ahead of the curve here. Also note the turnover rate near the end of the article.

http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2007/08/07/in-the-new-corporate-america-how-much-is-enough/

The article is "on-point" to say the least....

Woman fends off her attacker with pepper spray

2007-07-27T19:04:00.000-06:00

Out of Chicago area, a woman fends off a sexual assault/rape attack with a keychain pepper spray.

Personally I don't think the keychain pepper spray has enough spray to be effective for very long, but it sure makes it handy. This video shows the woman to be "heads up" and actually have the pepper spray in her hand, even though she didn't see the attack coming. Good job on someones part on preparing this non-victim.

Video-NBC in Chicago

In memoriam

2007-07-26T19:17:00.000-06:00

Zen Blend

I found and downed my last bottle of Zen Blend the other day, this concoction was made by SOBE in the early 2000's. Originally Zen Blend was billed as a triple ginseng tea blend with schizandra. The bottle ingredient label reveals it contains Panax Ginseng (50 mg.), siberian ginseng (100mg), American ginseng (50mg), and schizandra (100mg) with 100% RDA Vitamin C.

Other ingredients included grape juice, tea solids, high fructose corn syrup and filtered water. At only 250 calories per 20 ounce bottle it was a treat.

It started getting harder and harder to find, after talking to a SOBE rep, he said rumors were going around about ginseng overdose from people drinking too much. No word yet from SOBE on that one.

The current Zen Tea reminds me of "red zinger" more than the Zen Blend of yesteryear and of course doesn't have the kick it used to have.

Another writers' comments here.

REST in PEACE

Got bit because I didn't have my "bear repellent?"

2007-06-30T23:11:00.000-06:00

http://www.sungazette.com/outdoors/articles.asp?articleID=19842

Grizzly attacks, seriously wounds husband of former Montgomery Borough resident

By ERIC LONG elong@sungazette.com

A man with connections to Montgomery was seriously wounded, but is recovering from, an attack by a grizzly bear on June 13.

Dennis Van Denbos, 54, of Lander, Wyo., is married to Paula McCormick, a former Montgomery resident. He is the son-in-law of Delmar and Marion McCormick of Allenwood.

Van Denbos is a high school science and physical education teacher in Lander and was attending an educators’ conference at the lodge near where he was attacked.

While taking an early morning walk at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, Van Denbos suddenly found himself in the worst possible position — far too close to a sow grizzly and her cubs. The bear attacked, biting Van Denbos on his buttocks and back.

Now recovering from his wounds, he said he is lucky to be alive.

Contacted at his home by telephone last week, Van Denbos said the bear that attacked him was estimated at 350 pounds — small by grizzly standards, but still big enough to be deadly.

“I walked down a road close to the cabins at about 6 a.m.,” he said. “They call it the Wagon Road and it goes through a little draw and up to a bluff.”

On the way out, he saw a cow and calf moose and some elk as well. But, when he decided to come back the same way, his outing took a dramatic change for the worse.

“It was time for me to get back, so I turned around to head back up the road and saw a cow elk in the sagebrush running and acting erratically,” he said. “It ran down back at me and stopped and moved off to my right.”

When he turned again to head back to the lodge, Van Denbos suddenly found himself about 10 feet away from the sow grizzly, which was charging at him.

“I knew this was a really bad situation,” he said grimly.

“The attack was three bites. She came at me and decided not to take me. I was yelling and she moved to the side a little, then I dove to the side of the road away from her, pulled my arms up underneath me and she bit me in the back.”

He told the Wood River Journal, a Hailey, Idaho, newspaper that he was not thinking about pain during the attack but felt the power of the bites.

The two other bites followed while he played dead. Van Denbos said he was not aware how long the attack lasted.

People from nearby cabins, which were only 40 feet away, heard him yelling and also began yelling in an effort to distract the bear.

Van Denbos was rescued by Amy Gray, a recent high school graduate, who was driving a chuckwagon pickup truck up the road. She was on her way to cook breakfast for a horseback trail ride.

When Gray saw the bears, she slammed on the brakes of her truck, scaring the bears away from Van Denbos.

“I got up and walked to the truck and they said, ’Are you OK?’ ” Van Denbos said.

He got into the truck and immediately was attended to by a doctor from Montana who happened to be there.

Van Denbos was taken to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson and later transferred to a hospital in Lander. He underwent surgery and now is recovering at home, although he still must receive regular treatments at the hospital to clean out the wounds he suffered.

The attack was the first bear attack in the Grand Teton since 2001. No action has been taken against the bear by wildlife officials and Van Denbos said he is not angry at the bear.

“She was just trying to make a living and raise a family,” he said. “She has gotten used to people and a lot of people have photos of her.”

Park officials have closed roads and trails off in that area as a precaution.

Van Denbos said he normally would have had bear repellent, which actually is a strong mace pepper spray, but did not on that occasion.

“I will definitely be carrying bear spray with me in bear country from now on,” he said.

Section: Posted: 7/1/2007

HOT days and hot nights

2007-06-24T23:38:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I trip down to Salt Lake to clean out my storage shed, and the weather is unseasonably HOT, Damn HOT. I'm standing in the shed at noon, feeling heat from all sides, it's a real oven, I should just bring my panini for lunch and crisp it a little. This is almost a repeat from last year, cleaning out the condo, a bit more dust and heat here. So far , about 40 boxes/bags to Deseret Industries, five to Salt Lake County Library, and about 25 to trash. I'm about 2/3 done as I write this.

Anyway, I should be around until the first week of July, then up to Wyoming to see if it's any cooler up there. Third week of August is the International Kite Festival in Washington State, I'll probably head up there again and down the Oregon Coast in September. I think I'll stay on the West Coast this year. (unless something comes up :o))

Pepper Spray/Bear Spray WORKS

2007-06-14T15:45:00.000-06:00

Here is another reason to have a canister of Pepper Spray around.

Only if the original link goes down, the article is reprinted in full below.

http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/06/14/features/open_spaces/530d85f1a47cfbf0872572f900544af9.txt

Jackson Hole Star Tribune/June 14, 2007

Bear spray can save your life

By BRODIE FARQUHAR
Casper Star-Tribune correspondent

[oas:jacksonholestartrib.com/features:Middle]

As a visitor to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, you're naturally curious about bears. You'd like to see bears, but not up close and personal -- that's more than a little scary -- especially after a Montana photographer recently got mauled in Yellowstone.

You'd like to do some hiking in and around Yellowstone, ranging from maybe half an hour's walk to a full day. Maybe you're more ambitious and plan on a backpacking trip.

You've heard that pepper spray is a good deterrent to bears, both black and grizzly. Heck, you already have a little key-chain canister of mace or pepper spray, so you're good to go, right?

Wrong.

A charging grizzly bear is not the same thing as a mugger on a street corner, or even a charging pit bull. A grizzly bear can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and outrun an Olympic sprinter, so you need a "bear" pepper spray deterrent that's up to the job.

The Sierra Club Grizzly Bear Project's Monica Fella said to make sure that the canister:

* Says the product is made for stopping or preventing bear attacks.

* Contains at least 7.9 ounces of spray.

* Contains 1-2 percent capsaicin/capsaicinoids.

* Can spray a minimum of 25 feet.

* Has a minimum spray duration of 6 seconds, and is EPA registered.

* Is immediately at hand in a belt or chest holster. It doesn't do any good in a knapsack.

Canisters smaller than this may not last long enough or spray far enough to stop a bear's charge.

Fella said she worries that visitors to bear country might rationalize the purchase of smaller canisters, when shopping for pepper spray.

"You really need the bigger canister," she said.

Unlike a gun, bear pepper spray does not have to be aimed precisely to stop a charging bear. The bear pepper spray makes a hanging fog in the air, and when the spray hits the bear, or visa versa, it causes immediate irritation in the eyes, nose, mouth, throat and lungs, temporarily disabling the bear. According to experts, there is no better way to stop an attack by an aggressive grizzly.

University of Calgary grizzly bear expert Stephen Herrero analyzed dozens of human-bear encounters and found bear pepper spray to be 94 percent effective in deterring aggressive bears.

Of course, bear pepper spray is not a substitute for staying alert and taking basic precautions. In the backcountry, hikers should exercise good judgment and follow recommended safety procedures, such as making noise and traveling in a group.

Bear pepper spray should only be used if you are charged by a bear. Point the canister toward the charging bear, slightly downward, and if possible, spray before the bear is within 30-40 feet. Do not use bear pepper spray to harass or chase animals out of your yard. Call your local wildlife management agency to assist you.

Fella said the Sierra Club is working with Idaho and Montana wildlife agencies to offer practice sessions with inert (no active ingredients) canisters of spray. Wyoming has long offered such practice sessions.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department allows people to practice spraying inert training canisters at the annual Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo and offers demonstrations for community groups by special request. Mark Bruscino, leader of the department's bear team, said you don't want to practice with real bear pepper spray, because mistakes can be extremely unpleasant.

"We offer chances to practice at all our workshops," Bruscino said. Game wardens play the role of a charging grizzly bear. "Of course, that's when we really want to make sure that they're using an inert can," Bruscino said.

Gary Clutter, a big game hunter from Bozeman, had a face-to-face encounter with a grizzly while hunting a few years ago, and says bear spray saved him from a dire situation.

"I caught the bear (with bear pepper spray) full in the face when it was four feet away. It was like it hit a wall. The grizzly turned and ran so fast toward her cub she ran over it," Clutter said. "Then, cub and sow were gone. This worked exactly the way it was designed to work. The bears didn't die and all I'm out is a can of bear pepper spray."

Stop and smell the ...

2007-06-02T14:56:00.000-06:00

Roses

As I said in my June 16th, 2006 blog, sometimes we find the most beautiful things in our own backyard. The shots are from my mothers yard in Idaho.

These roses are called "Josephs Coat." The roses go through at least four distinct color changes and many shades in between.

Hint: Click on the photo and view it "full size"

CatSpa

2007-05-21T14:42:00.001-06:00

Catalina Spa and RV park for those "in the know." A wonderful place, not too far from Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs. Luxurious spas with hot tubs and warm pools, quiet neighbors and little fellows.

The hummingbirds and other birds in the area eat all the bugs, like this one is. I stayed for a week and could have stayed longer. My total cost for the weeks stay? $56 including water, electric, sewer and wifi. This is one of the best places I've stayed at, even if it was in California.

A year?

2007-05-21T14:15:00.000-06:00

Theres been a lot of changes I see. Still can't get the stop lights right?

Has it really been that long? Well howdy all, it's been a year since I left Park City. I hear people have left both the city and the county. Most likely because of the people in power and the work conditions. Seems there is no trust in law enforcement these days. It's a damn shame when cops are treated as suspects for internal matters. Nuf said on that subject. Thanks to all that correspond, it's fun hearing about the shit and not having to play the game. Anyone else retire, isn't it about time? I'm having the time of my life. I've driven around the US once, so far. I plan on doing it again, visiting more places, meeting more friends. Canada is not for this year, but next year. Passports are getting here slowly. Y'all can leave a message for me here in the comments or email me directly. :o) Best of luck and stay safe!!

I figured I'd just post this picture for the hell of it.
I don't have to worry about my friends either, or what we do.

I cringe

2007-05-21T14:05:00.000-06:00

Every time I see someone hauling a car with the 1 inch ATV straps on it. I found this in Southern California, behind you can see the Fraizer Park Chevron just off I-5. I think his tongue weight is too high. Why don't the damn brakes work on this Humvee? It's not the acceleration that gets you, it's the braking.

Movin on..

2007-03-04T02:09:00.000-07:00

This is my site in Quartzsite, AZ since December 27.
I'm moving on today and heading to the West Coast,
up the coast ending up in Oregon in April or so.
I'm trying to make it to Canada this summer.
I may hit some RV rallies in the US, but I stocked up
on RV items here and made many upgrades to both
the truck and the fifth-wheel, from AGM batteries
and new trailer rims to a lift pump/pre filter on the truck.

Wonderful views of ....

2007-02-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

Saguaro Cactus, Chaparral, Palo Verde and
mountains with weird sounding names like Harquahala

I saw this T-shirt ....

2007-02-04T20:12:00.001-07:00

and immediately thought of Leo Witt, what do you think?

Pepper Spray

2007-01-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

Here is some more reasons everyone should carry pepper spray.

Police Chief said "Mace more effective than a gun"

Woman fends off attacker with pepper spray

Woman fends off feral dogs with pepper spray

Students find ways to protect themselves

Driving down the road I saw a ....

2006-12-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Great big CAT
(largest free fare bus line in the US)
It has a NightCat, dubbed "The Vomit Comet"
A truly fun little town full of energy.
Where am I?

One of the interesting road signs in my travels.
This was found next to the levee in the background
and where I was introduced to a real satsuma.
Where am I?

Strong Odor of ......

2006-12-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

OIL?

In a state that prides itself on Barbeque, this small town rolls up the sidewalk at 6pm, no BBQ to be had. So I drive over to the Pizza Hut just a quarter mile down the road. As I'm preparing to get out of my truck I smell an odor, hmmm, might be a little diesel from the last fill up.. I open the door and the odorous air assaults my lungs, I choke and cough, my eyes tearing up from the strong odor of OIL. Crude I'd guess. Just about lost my appetite right there. I look around and find a pumpjack nearby emitting the noxious odors. But... after looking around some more, they are all over town, hiding.. the flamingo was the odoriferous one..

behind the Dairy Queen (check out the DQ chaps)

in front of the Dollar General store,

in back of the Dollar General store,

over by the railroad tracks.

By the way the Barbecue at the "City Market" was great, you walk in to the back smokehouse, they grab some paper, pile on the ribs, brisket and links that you order, grab handfuls of sliced white bread and toss it on the top, you walk out dripping grease on the floor over to your table. You go dish up some beans, grab a bottle of local BBQ sauce(mustard/vinegar base), some sweet tea, sit down and chow!

About Luling

Where Am I? Updated 11-29-06

2006-11-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

My trip itinerary since May 15, 2006

Some of the locations I've been to more than once, and some others are in the immediate future!

This should help those attempting to guess where the photos were taken.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Coos Bay, Oregon
Neskowin, Oregon
Chinook, Washington
Hagerman, Idaho
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Elm Creek, Nebraska
Des Moines, Iowa
Nauvoo, Illinois
Joliet/Chicago, Illinois
Goshen, Indiana
Van Wert, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Washington D. C.
Gasburg, Virginia
Clemson, South Carolina
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Kingsland, Georgia
Kissimmee, Florida (Orlando)
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Lake City, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Robert, Louisiana (New Orleans)
Livingston, Texas (Houston)
Luling, Texas (San Antonio)
Junction, Texas
Balmorhea, Texas
Deming, New Mexico
Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix)
Quartzsite, Arizona

A different Foothill Drive

2006-11-27T00:19:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most beautiful drives during October.

I made this drive several times over a 10 day period, both when overcast and sunny, I was always delighted with the changes each time.

Birds of a feather?

2006-11-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

A great egret at Fort Clinch

Little blue heron stationed under the above egret

Surveying his kingdom, outside my fifthwheel. (Coopers Hawk)

A pair of great egrets on Tamiami Trail

The most fascinating bird, the American Darter, aka anhinga, when I first saw this, I thought it was a snake in the water until it climbed out totally wet and dried off the wings to fly.

Check out this four in one photo. I'm not sure what the bottom bird is, American darter on the top, great blue heron in the second position, snowy egret in the third center position.

Looking for dinner?

Stayed for 3 weeks in this neat state, taking my time to watch birds from Fort Clinch to Tamiami Trail.

Local people brag about the moonshine

2006-11-26T22:56:00.001-07:00

Do you think the mountains in the background are rather smoky?

Check out these photos, can you guess where I was? I have seen so many colors in the mountains as I move from north to south and warmer weather.

Colors on the Sand

2006-10-11T23:10:00.000-06:00

Where is this?

and this?

Where Am I?

2006-10-11T21:05:00.000-06:00

!!UPDATED!!! 11-18-06

Wow, time goes by so fast.

I'd update the site more, but I don't always have solid internet access. I'm working on a solution for that. Many of you have wondered where I am, what I'm doing, this is for you. Thanks for the emails and comments on the blog. Here is my itinerary so far.

After Vegas, I went to Washington State, International Kite Festival in Long Beach, Ilwaco and Chinook.

Hagerman, Idaho
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Elm Creek, Nebraska
Des Moines, Iowa
Nauvoo, Illinois
Joliet/Chicago, Illinois
Goshen, Indiana
Van Wert, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Washington D. C.
Gasburg, Virginia
Clemson, South Carolina
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Kingsland, Georgia
Kissimmee, Florida
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Lake City, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Robert, Louisiana
Livingston, Texas

I revisited the Portside Cafe where I found the wonderful chicken fried and plattercakes.

I'll upload more photos, maybe a comment or two, and let you guess where they come from.

Vegas-Nevada Police and Fire Games

2006-08-23T00:17:00.000-06:00

Props to the Peddling Pigs of Park City, I managed to get a few photos of their prowess. Results

Oles has his game face on!

Sarge getting a send off from Clouse on the 10.5 mile time trial.

Listen up!!!

Okay, there will be two cops at the turnaround cone so you don't go too far this time. Do you think it'll help your time?

"NAH"

Plotting the demise of a certain other team, while in the midst of cohorts.

Still there about one third of the way on the Road Race.

Check out the view!!

Ed's there for the ride and having a good time!

He's hangin!

Red shoes in the Red Rocks area!