Strolling Amok

Pops goes on tour.

Archive for the category “Daily Life”

26 Jun 2013
9 Comments

The Battle Goes Slowly, Sire

This turntable is actually for DJs. I don't care about the speed matching a bit, but the direct-drive and general toughness are handy in a camper.

This turntable is actually for DJs. I don’t care about the speed matching a bit, but the direct-drive, dust cover and general toughness are handy in a camper.

Feels like things are going slowly, anyway. On the record front, I’m tackling the 78 RPM records first because, song for song, they are the bulkiest and heaviest by far. It takes only about 6 minutes per side to record them, and I’ve managed to go through 3 cartons so far. In general, a carton of 78s takes two very long days to record. Now and then, a record will be in such rough shape that it’s unplayable, or it will be warpy enough that the stylus won’t be able to maintain contact. In the latter case, the thing to do is to kick the turntable speed down to 45 or 33 RPM to keep the needle planted, and then raise the speed back up later, in software. It takes much longer to record, but the needle stays in the groove.

I'm looking from the old section of the park toward the new. The spaces in my area are shorter and narrower. Except for weekends, it's less crowded, too.

I’m looking from the old section of the park toward the new. The spaces in my area are shorter and narrower. Except for weekends, it’s less crowded, too.

Yesterday, I began an unusual Read more…

Posted in Daily Life and tagged
20 Jun 2013
12 Comments

What’cha Doin’?

First time I've deployed the awning since I got the trailer! The afternoon sun comes in through the doorway and heats up the trailer something fierce, and the awning lowers temps a heap. But it's something else to monitor during the frequent thunderstorms.

First time I’ve deployed the awning since I got the trailer! The afternoon sun comes in through the doorway and heats up the trailer something fierce, and the awning lowers temps a heap. But it’s something else to monitor during the frequent thunderstorms.

Hey, why no adventurous tales of traveling and wildlife encounters? Clean-up. See, besides pestering the kids, my tasks here in Marengo, Illinois are to record expenses, deal with the IRS, the State of Illinois DMV, my Will, and my storage unit. I must also repair or modify certain things on the trailer for the next go, and of course sweat and stink in the humid summer heat. I’m still living in the trailer of course, and still have the solar panels deployed, since electricity in my part of this campsite is billed at industrial rates. The fridge is running on electricity full-time, in the hope that this will extend the life of the propane-powered section of it, for the road. Other gizmos are on shore power or solar, depending on weather and using a desulphater on each battery pack in turn.

The storage unit is the most imposing activity by far, because my hope is to Read more…

Posted in Daily Life and tagged
21 May 2013
2 Comments

Oddball Hail

Yesterday afternoon, about the same time a massive tornado was leveling Moore, Oklahoma, I thought it notable that heavy cloud cover way over here in Grants, New Mexico started dumping about 15 minutes-worth of small hail. It was odd because the forecast was for mostly cloudy skies with 0% chance of precipitation. I was recording music at the time and, after checking the useless weather forecast, watched the hail closely to see if the size was going to increase. That would determine whether I was going to have to bail out and swing down the solar panels. They’re tempered glass and are rated for something like 1″ hail, but why take chances? Fortunately for me, they stayed at about 1/4″ in diameter. Seemed peculiar that it continued for such a long while.

In a week, I’ll be departing the area and making my way up toward Nebraska as part of the final run. Oklahoma and Missouri aren’t part of the route, so I should be able to confine my adventures to the usual mechanical mishaps. By the way, down here, a 10% chance of rain means that it will rain for awhile at least once. A 20% chance means it will rain several times, off and on. A 30% chance means it’ll rain enough to puddle. Interesting place, the Southwest.

Posted in Daily Life and tagged
18 May 2013
6 Comments

On the Level

The offending party.

The offending party.

The Dometic refrigerator/freezer has always been marginal in operation, rolling from too-cold to too-warm at the toss of a coin. The “thermostat” doesn’t hold set temperatures – it only asks for colder or warmer in some generic way. This is aggravated by all these types of fridges having a weak cooling system that takes a long time to overcome placing new, warm items inside, or being able to deal with being lightly loaded. It’s the nature of the beast. This one also shuts down now and then, requiring an alert eye to prevent excessive warming up before restarting it. Fortunately, it has never failed to start right up…so far.

When I stayed overnight at Bluewater Lake State Park, I noticed that the refrigerator was suddenly unable to maintain minimum temperatures, even at full throttle. I attributed it to high winds or bad luck. It improved a little when the winds died off at night. The problem got a little better in transit, and then worse again once I parked in the Cibola National Forest. Watching food spoil while parked miles from the nearest town is not the best.

Now, a failing fridge is not something you want unless Read more…

Posted in Daily Life, Mod Squad, The Enterprise and tagged ,
15 May 2013

I’m Adaptable, I Guess

The $8 campsite at Bluewater Lake State Park, New Mexico.

The $8 campsite at Bluewater Lake State Park, New Mexico.

Well, I have to say that come 2016 (assuming some things), I think I’ll be able to make some adjustments from purist boondocking to hitting a pay campsite now and then. There are many campsites here at Bluewater Lake State Park that offer a full range of hookups for $4 additional, each. Ain’t any hookups where I’m parked, the Verizon signal is the strongest I’ve seen for months, and apart from a stout wind the majority of the afternoon – which doesn’t matter much because I’m headed straight into it – it’s mighty, mighty fine here. Oh, yes.

I-40 Eastbound in New Mexico

I-40 Eastbound in New Mexico.

Even the trip over was pleasant. First, there was a 20 MPH tailwind, which pumped mileage up to 15 MPG. The Ford’s cruise control started working again, which I now understand isn’t Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Daily Life, Travelin' Man | Leave a comment
14 May 2013

Winslow, Arizona!

Greetings from McHood Park! McHood Park is several miles south of town, and is quite picturesque. A stiff wind has suddenly come up since I arrived at about 2:30, but that doesn’t affect the view. I’ll be staying here overnight, but could theoretically stay for about a week and a half if I wanted to. At the moment, the thermometer reads 97 degrees, so I may not. The data signal is courtesy of a tall tower I passed on the way out here.

20130514-152647.jpg

As far as I’m aware, FR573 is at about 5K feet, and on the way here I passed over the “Arizona Divide” at 7K feet. It’s been downhill from there, probably back to 5k. A modest tailwind netted me 12.5 MPG overall, which was a geeky delight.

The only difficulty was that the cruise control on the Mighty Furd flamed out 1/3 of the way here, making me actually have to use the gas pedal! Once again, the gradual slopes fooled me – I was sure I was going uphill, but the turbo’s boost gauge proved otherwise. Two of the trailer’s wheel bearings were notably warm to the touch, but not objectionably hot. The Ford’s rear wheels were warm, too. There’s at Ford Dealer in Winslow, and I went in to discuss, but they were so busy they could only diagnose it tomorrow for $200, though they would take three weeks to repair it! Seems they’re backed up with Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Daily Life, The Enterprise, Travelin' Man and tagged | Leave a comment
10 May 2013

One Tough Job

Oh, so you think you have it tough, huh? Really? While researching Summer volunteer opportunities in the Great Southwest (which I won’t be doing this year), I came across the “Lake Host” position described below. I have bolded certain sentences in the Description just so you’ll be sure to notice them.

The http://volunteer.gov/ website lists many opportunities for volunteers, mainly for the National Park Service and US Forest Service. Many of the volunteer positions provide RV pads with electricity, water, sewage, and sometimes propane. Among RVers, it’s considered a great way to stay somewhat busy and also camp for free.

I think you’ll agree, the position below is brutal. Just brutal. I am prepared for such a difficult situation though, just in case. Of all the stuff I was forced to to leave in my storage unit back in Illinois because of trailer space limitations, my fishing gear wasn’t among it. It’s here with me. I’m packin’. Bring it on.

Lake Host

Becker Lake

Oh, the humanity!

Oh, the humanity!

Address:  Eastern Arizona Springerville, AZ 85935
Contact:  Kelly Meyer xxx-xxx-xxxx
Availability:  5/1/2013–9/10/2013
Created:  4/16/2013

Suitability:  Adults, Seniors, Family

Difficulty:  Not Difficult

Volunteer Activities
• Visitor Information
• Fish/Wildlife

Photo Courtesy of AZGFD

Description
Lake Host: Need two hosts to live at a trophy rainbow trout water. Becker Lake is an 100 acre lake that has 22″ and growing trout. Lake is at 6500 feet elevation within the city limits of Springerville. Lake is in a grassland so there is little shade but it is very productive and grows large trout. Host would be the only ones living next to the lake.
Duties: Hosts will be expected to inform people on catch and release fishing, act as a witness for any violations, and call the hotline when violations occur. Hosts are encouraged to fish during duty. They will also conduct creel surveys to assess the success of the fishery.

Hours. Host are expected to be at the lake at night when on duty. We are expecting a one week on and one week off duty cycle. Or alternating 4 days off and 3 days on then 4 days on and 3 daysoff . Hosts are welcome to stay at the campsite when not on duty.

Housing AvailabilityHOUSING & AMENITIES
Type: Trailer/RV Pads
Description: free electricity and sewage dump. Can provide 800 gallon tank with water line at site for the two RV sites
Posted in Campsites, Daily Life | Leave a comment
08 May 2013

Biking FR9711D

At sunset, the sun came out and, WOW! Beautious.

At sunset, the sun came out and, WOW! Beautious.

A couple of days ago, it was overcast with sporadic rain predicted in the afternoon, so I briefly stopped by the VanDweller’s camp to give them a hard time, and then biked what I thought might be the loop approved for motor vehicle travel and camping, FR 9711D. Well, I was both right and wrong. I turned off FR573 too early, and caught an unapproved shortcut, FR9711C. Wow, it was rough going! It finally intersected FR9711D and I continued on around what was left of the loop.

FR9711C had a few sections that I decided to walk, since rocks and ruts can make the going tricky. Could have biked it, but why?

FR9711C had a few sections that I decided to walk, since rocks and ruts can make the going tricky. Could have biked it, but why?

Interesting that 9711D is approved, because there’s no way the Enterprise would make it down that trail! Then again, forest roads listed for camping and vehicle access don’t Read more…

Posted in Daily Life, Tourista! and tagged | Leave a comment
07 May 2013

The Red Ryder’s Fate

A long walk in the middle of nowhere turned up one more sign of humanity.

A long walk in the middle of nowhere turned up one more sign of humanity.

Originally posted 4/28/2013

Yesterday’s cross-country hike was pleasing, although I did spend a lot more time watching where I was going than I did taking in the scenery. Between the cacti and the rattlesnakes in this area, you have to watch just ahead, make some noise while you walk, and remind yourself to look up every now and then to take in the view. I’m getting the hang of it, I think. Suburbanite Gone Wild. I have no idea how far fellow camper Mike and I went, but I had to rest up a couple of times afterward, during the day.

Though there are surrounding hills and ridges, this area had what I'd have to call meadows. I've just never seen any quite like these before.

Though there are surrounding hills and ridges, this area had what I’d have to call meadows. I’ve just never seen any quite like these before.

Mike had come across a smaller rattlesnake crossing the road while  Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Daily Life and tagged , | Leave a comment
07 May 2013

Mr. Swiffer

I was going to point out how the passenger seat in this camping van has been cleverly turned around to make a nice easy chair, but this irresistible little terrier Tony got in the way. Completely silent, adorable and affectionate to strangers, a guard dog he is not.

I was going to point out how the passenger seat in this camping van has been cleverly turned around to make a nice easy chair, but this irresistible little terrier Tony got in the way. Completely silent, adorable and affectionate to strangers, a guard dog he is not.

Originally posted 4/25/2013

I made a walking tour toward the entrance to Forest Road 573 a couple of days ago after another camper checked in to see if the newbie in the area was still alive. That’s her dog above, and yes, he came from a rescue place in the middle of nowhere. So many people wanted him (several dozen) that they had to draw numbers to pick the winner. This nice lady considers that she won, and I must admit that he’s the perfect travel companion. Extremely well-mannered.

I remembered the initial climb into this NF area and had thought, oh no, here we go again. But it quickly leveled off and varied from fine to rutted deeply enough to drag the trailer axles if I let them drop in. They aren’t made for that kind of action, so I was careful, you betcha. Temperatures here are in the mid-70s during the day, and about 40 at night. My planned move to Kaibab National Forest a week from now looks like a  Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Daily Life | Leave a comment

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