Strolling Amok

Pops goes on tour.

Archive for the category “Travelin’ Man”

31 May 2014

Day Seven, Osceola Iowa

A rest stop along I-35 in Osceola, Iowa is yielding a WiFi signal that actually is both open and operative. I’m parked at the outskirts of the lot and need to use the Hawking Range Extender to get a good hold on it, but it works and I’m attempting to update software on the iMac now, a process that this time is going to consume some 233MB of data. Don’t try that on your cellular data account.

This is an especially functional stop for overnights, since it separates RVs from the overnight noise of semi-tractors. The big drawback of staying at rest areas and truck stops is that many old-school truckers still let engines idle for prolonged periods or overnight. Most don’t. A few who don’t instead use an Auxiliary Power Unit that’s little more than a diesel generator in an enclosure. Those are quieter than a cheapie consumer generator, and louder than a Yamaha or Honda generator. The one that parked next to the Defiant last night had one with enough oomph that

Day Six, Paxico Kansas

You might think of Kansas as being nothing but flat turf, but it’s not so. The central portion at least is green, rolling hills perfect for grazing. I could have sworn I saw a promotional sign for Russell County offering free residential and business land, but I’m not able to find anything related on the Internet. It was west of Lincoln County, anyhow. Not a lot of people or towns in the western section of the state – many of the exits off I-70 are to access ranches and such in the area.

It was an uneventful day, with orderly driving and lunch at an Ihop after an attempt to get to The Cozy Inn failed. Although they promised to have the very best burger in the state, it took a two-mile drive into Salina (sah-LIE-na, according to the radio announcer) through an interesting

Day Five, WaKeeney Kansas

Change of plan for today and probably tomorrow. Once I passed from Colorado to Kansas and stopped at their Welcome Center, I saw the light, brothers and sisters! Yes, I was headed for Hays, a Walmart in Hays, with yet another empty promise of WiFi from a nearby motel. Looking at it in Google maps, it looked too congested for a rig like the Defiant. And I hadn’t overnighted at one of the many fine Colorado rest areas because that’s agin’ their law. But the Kansas Welcome Center hands out maps with rest areas pre-marked on them and invites you to stay. Most of the areas even include free dump stations, should you feel so moved, no pun intended.

So I’m about 25 miles short of Hays, moistly soaking in balmy 93-degree temperatures, and will likely wind up at another rest area short of Topeka, Kansas tomorrow. When possible, I prefer to drive for 3-1/2 to 4 hours each day (200+ miles), plus an hour or so for any refueling, pit stops, and lunch. See, I make a late start after a fortifying breakfast of eggs, bacon & ‘taters, then hit a restaurant for lunch, drive some more, and I’m usually back off the road by four o’clock local time. It’s a nice way to travel. My alternate route was a touch shorter but demanded longer daily drives to take just seven days instead of nine, but I decided against it. Why rush? – (if one can call that rushing).

Posted in Travelin' Man and tagged Travel, WaKeeney

29 May 2014

2 Comments

Day Four, Seibert CO

Bunny! Bunny! This was this morning in Walsenburg, Colorado at the truck stop, before I left.

Well, I was supposed to be staying at a wildlife preserve in Flagler Colorado, but it seems that one detail was left out of the site’s description. That would be that the entire parking area has a wicked tilt to it, so I had to give up on it and press on. No amount of boards I had as levelers could compensate.

Well, Bunny didn’t mind me getting up to get the camera, and just decided to take it easy for awhile!

Just a few miles down the road in Seibert, there was a Conoco travel stop with a huge dirt parking lot for semis to stay overnight. However, there was also a place called Shady Grove RV Park, an improvised overnight place in someone’s large yard that still manages to have hookups for sewer, water and 20/30/50 amp electrical service, TV with a million channels, plus free WiFi that I haven’t been able to log onto successfully, and the nice lady in the office is away for 4-1/2 hours to pick up her husband at an airport, probably Denver. I could use some WiFi to be able to let the iMac update its software, but this day is not going according to plan.

The same snow-capped pair as in earlier shots, but I didn’t mention that they were what I always saw right out my dining window, despite the semi-trailer parked next to me!

All of today’s drive was on open grazing land that rolled a bit here and there, but the distances you can see in all directions are incredible. 95% of it was on good two-lane county roads, and just the last bit on I-70. Good thing I had topped up on fuel, and also had a pretty reliable rig, because Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Travelin' Man and tagged Seibert, Travel

27 May 2014

6 Comments

Day Three, Walsenburg CO

Today’s theme is Changing Landscapes, I guess. The Gawk Factor remained high as New Mexico offered its own variations long before getting into Colorado. High desert, high forest, mountains, and sweeping, grass-covered valleys that resembled forty-mile dinnerplates. I would say prime land for cattle, which were there behind fences. But then I started to imagine the same ranchers reintroducing buffalo grass and raising buffalo. No need to load them with antibiotics, or assist births, or watch them freeze in the winter. Just turn them loose, and keep count. As they say, anything is possible if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I’ll simply parade the photos, which will show in order some of the things I was gawking at. One of the shots has a pair of

Day Two, Santa Fe, NM

Today’s travel has taken me into the western half of New Mexico, which provides an abundance of views that are breathtaking (whether the photos are or not). Actually, I can barely tell what’s in these photos, as the software I’m using presents them as images smaller than postage stamps. You’ll also have to forgive tilting and in some cases poor aim – all were taken by simply holding up the camera, without benefit of either viewfinder or LCD display. Just shootin’ blind and hoping one turns out! Regardless, there’s no way to drive I-40 through this state without gawking like a rube in the big city for the first time. Fast transport through this state is a waste of life.

It has, however, given me the second item on my bucket list. The first was to attend some of the land speed record attempts at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah. No explanation needed there. The second is to hit some portions of decommissioned old Route 66, otherwise known as Historic Route 66 that officially ended its last segment in 1985. As I drove along I-40, I kept seeing Read more…

Posted in Travelin' Man and tagged Santa Fe, Travel

25 May 2014

8 Comments

Day One, Navajo AZ

After stowing the solar panels and arranging the trailer interior for minimal scrambling of contents, I headed south from Tusayan in order to hit I-40 and pass through Flagstaff on my way east. The two memorable things I encountered were snow capped mountains in the distance and smoke in the air from the nearby forest fire. Predictably, it smelled like a campfire.

This Tractor Supply store reveals the main interests in the area: big water tanks and what looks like portable fencing for livestock.

Once you get east of Flagstaff, the earth is a distinctive red. Further east than that, the terrain is a mix of mesas and featureless expanses that look too dry to do much of anything with. Naturally, there are Hopi and Navajo reservations there.

Except for a lot of time wasted at a T/A Petro truck stop, the day was thankfully uneventful. I must look like either a pro or a nutcase as I get out and methodically feel all eight tires and wheel hubs at every stop. I’m not fondling them – I’m checking temperatures. No need to relive the adventures I had last year.

I arrived safe and sound at the Navajo Travel Center, which is just short of the New Mexico border. Tomorrow’s stop will be at a rest area near Santa Fe.

I’m not even sure what kind of critter this used to be. I’m reminded of the old Jonathan Winters routine called “sailcat”, but I suspect this is/was a former rabbit. Let’s just use it as a reminder of the temporary nature of life. Enjoy it while you’ve got it.

Posted in Daily Life, Travelin' Man and tagged Navajo, Travel

18 Apr 2014

10 Comments

Are We There Yet?

Well, besides highlighting my dusty dashboard, rearview mirror with unlucky die, GPS and expired I-Pass tollway gizmo, the other emphasis here is the rapid climb from Congress toward Prescott, AZ.

Soaking in heat is not my idea of fun times, so as Wickenburg heads toward a high of 89 today, the tiny townette of Paulden, AZ is expected to reach just 79 degrees. It’s the higher altitude. I’m just north of Paulden, parked beside a section of “Old US 89”, a bypassed portion of what is now State Route 89 that runs from Congress to Ash Fork. “What to what?” you ask? From what I can tell, US 89 used to run from Mexico to Canada. Since then, it’s been chopped, abandoned, and incorporated into other highways. Information on my little piece of it is especially hard to come by. But let me start at the beginning of the day’s journey.

As long as the pavement is reasonably smooth (and what isn’t after driving in Illinois?) I find piloting the Defiant toward the next destination to be a pure pleasure. Looka that terrain!

The total distance is around 100 miles and takes about 2.5 hours, in theory. The most direct way to head from Wickenburg to Paulden is to take the short stint on 93 from Wickenburg north to Congress, then just stay on 89 to and through Prescott and points north. Naturally, with the Defiant in tow, I can’t do that – just south of Prescott, 89 turns into a twistfest that takes rigs over 40 feet into nightmare territory. Such vehicles are prohibited, and articulation doesn’t matter. Fitted for intergalactic travel, the Defiant measures Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Travelin' Man and tagged Chino Valley, Old 89, Old Route 89, Paulden, Williamson

06 Dec 2013

5 Comments

First Look: Imperial Dam LTVA

No need to search out the wildlife. The wildlife comes to you. The view from my office window two days after arriving.

The trip down toward Yuma from Quartzsite was notable because of the absence of bad. Nice drive, keep it in the lane, smooth pavement, no need to use the GPS, inviting scenery, things I passed that should be seen in detail later, and warmer temps. At one point, the scenery got downright attractive, with numerous small hills, lots of large trees and bushes, and plenty of less common forms of cacti. It made Quartzsite look pretty barren.

Oh, the Ford’s speed control flamed out for a second time, as one of two sensors thinks the brakes are on and refuses to engage. It eventually got over it like it did before. The first 2/3rds of the trip involved a strong headwind that dropped fuel mileage to 7.5 MPG. Dropping speed from 55 to 50 MPG popped it right up to 9 MPG. As the wind died down a bit and the elevation change had its effect, the entire trip averaged 11.2, which was unexpectedly good.

Some kinda balloon/dirigible at the northern edge of the Yuma Proving Grounds.

Once I was within a few miles of the turnoff for Imperial Dam, I noticed what looked like smog! Yuma is sizable, but not Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Travelin' Man

01 Dec 2013

10 Comments

Departing Quartzsite

One of two engine-powered hang gliders lazily makes for home at sunset.

I hadn’t planned on leaving Quartzsite for Yuma, AZ until mid-December, but upcoming cool weather is urging me to get rolling no later than Wednesday of this week (three days from now). After that point, overnight lows are predicted to be in the low 30s all the way down to 28.

The ’94 Gulf Stream Innsbruck is a “temperate weather only” trailer, which means that insulation is functionally cosmetic, and that some of the plumbing is exposed directly to outside temps. The Tankmin freshwater tank in the Ford can fend for itself simply by sheer mass, but the trailer fill hose and related fittings are prone to freezing and plugging up. Inaccessible, freeze-damaged plumbing does not appeal to me, so while most other RVers in travel trailers can easily brave whatever comes, I find it prudent to run for cover when temps approach freezing. I can stay quite comfortable, but it’s a damage risk I choose not to take.

Why so touchy about temps merely approaching freezing? My mercury and electronic Read more…

Posted in Daily Life, Travelin' Man and tagged overnight lows, Quartzsite, RV, Travel, Yuma

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