Strolling Amok

Pops goes on tour.

02 Jan 2014
13 Comments

Spartan Luxury

Here's a rig that will redefine your concept of "independent living".

Here’s a rig that will redefine your concept of “independent living”.

There was a rig in camp that stayed for a week or so, and caught my attention. You will soon see why. Jeeps are formidable off-road vehicles, but are very limited as to what they can tow. This one was serious without the bravado of glamour pieces: massive front bumper with built-in power winch, four auxiliary off-roading lights, no top, overhead rack holding at least two spare tires and a spare steel wheel for the Jeep, plus the standard spare on its factory rear carrier. The front bumper projected outward far enough that a fiberglass rod was mounted at each corner to help gauge clearance in tight spaces – a sign that the thing wasn’t just there to impress others. Another clue of actual usage: nobody but nobody spends money on this many extra spare tires just for show. Were they there to offer a more aggressive tread design instead? I didn’t notice, but it’s unlikely.

Okay, the sky is pretty distracting here, but it just highlights the goal of what this rig is all about.

Okay, the sky is pretty distracting here, but it just highlights the goal of what this rig is all about.

If the Jeep was notable, what was behind it was arresting – it was a tiny Read more…

Posted in Camper Nirvana and tagged ,
30 Dec 2013
5 Comments

Riotous Living Dept.

I Like to PartyI stole this from my daughter-in-law’s Facebook page, which often presents Universal Truths like this. I’ve found that partying fits neatly into the mobile lifestyle. I am one party monster!

Posted in Navel Gazing and tagged
24 Dec 2013
9 Comments

Merry Christmas, Cowboys and Cowgirls!

Vintage ad. I'm sure she'll have a merry Christmas, right after she finds a place to bury the body.

Ow! Vintage ad. I’m sure she’ll have a merry Christmas, right after she finds a place to bury the body.

Whatever one’s chosen functional role in a relationship, it’s nice to have one’s efforts be appreciated or one’s tasks made easier, and not so good to have that role be considered to be who you are in that relationship, or why you exist. Young children can get away with it. Adults, well, not so much.

Enjoy the respite from work, such as that may be for you. May your employer not be one of those who gladly sacrifices your life at minimum wage to scratch for every last retail dime out there. For those of you who enjoy get-togethers and traditions and decorations and feasting, have at it! For those who see it as a chance to quietly step back and take a moment to review, go to it. For those followers of Christ, continue to seek to honor Him in what you do and how you do it. Celebrate Him.

The "Christmas Parade" at the LTVA consists of a handful of crazed RVers who load Christmas lights on their pickups and/or trailers and idle around together in the blackness for two nights (so far).

The “Christmas Parade” at the LTVA consists of a handful of crazed RVers who load Christmas lights on their pickups and/or trailers and idle around together in the blackness for two nights (so far).

Posted in Navel Gazing and tagged
23 Dec 2013
2 Comments

What’s Your Angle, Bud?

With support poles at a slight tilt, this has been my only concession to following the sun's lower winter arc.

With support poles at a slight tilt, this has been my only concession to following the sun’s lower winter arc.

Well, I was out admiring the Enterprise again and noticed that the sun at noon was not even remotely perpendicular to the solar panels, which were too close to horizontal to be very efficient. A panel that’s markedly out of position in relation to the sun presents a smaller surface area to it, and captures less light. The limited daylight of the winter sun is bad enough, and so is the inability to physically follow it across the sky. Why waste it further by having the basic panel tilt way off?

I looked up the seasonal data for my latitude, which is just shy of 33 degrees above the equator. Turns out the recommended panel winter angle for my location is Read more…

Posted in Mod Squad, The Enterprise and tagged , ,
19 Dec 2013
21 Comments

A Look Around the LTVA

A high wind in the late afternoon still brings a beautiful sky, in its own way.

A high wind in the late afternoon still brings a beautiful sky, in its own way.

I’ve been surprisingly busy ever since arriving here to the Imperial Dam LTVA. Much time was consumed scouting for grocery stores that carry what I need, because Yuma is actually huge in layout. I’ve been ordering items online that are not available locally, and it took two trips to Los Algodones, Mexico to get a year’s worth of a prescription that has proven helpful.

An area along Gravel Pit Road is about 30 feet lower, which keeps it out of the wind. But such areas are a no-go for my cellular modem.

An area along Gravel Pit Road is about 30 feet lower, which keeps it out of the wind. But such areas are a no-go for my cellular modem.

Mexico?? Yep, lots of folks head for a couple of towns just across the border for prescriptions and dental work. You yourself might shiver at the idea of either, but the actual results for dental seem to be Read more…

Posted in Campsites, Tourista! and tagged
08 Dec 2013
26 Comments

The Quest for Fume-Free Heat

Thermosyphon_NEWThe photo above might rightly lead you to suspect that this will be the weirdest blog post ever, even on this website. That’s saying something. It was pulled from the 1919 edition of The Gasoline Automobile, which was one of a few efforts to attempt to capture what was a very rapidly changing state of the art. The odd part is that I’ll be referring to it later.

But let me shift gears to the true goal of this post. Heat. Extraordinarily clean heat.

Getting heat in RVs is no problem. You can turn on the built-in furnace for pollutant-free heat (as measured in the interior), or use heat sources that use propane, kerosene, or what-have-you. The square footage of most RVs is usually big enough that you won’t asphyxiate yourself with carbon monoxide, though the unholy stink of kerosene is notable.

Getting heat in a van or truck camper is a little more involved because of the Read more…

Posted in Mod Squad and tagged , , ,
06 Dec 2013
5 Comments

First Look: Imperial Dam LTVA

No need to search out the wildlife. The wildlife comes to you.

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.

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
02 Dec 2013
13 Comments

Camp Swankie, LLC

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Camp Swankie offers amenities found only in the most exclusive homes.

The good life can be yours! The recent fad to spend big bucks for outdoor kitchens and living spaces for sticks & bricks residences has always struck me as odd. Why pay huge amounts of money to regress? You want to go outside – then go outside. Then I realized why as I viewed Camp Swankie, located several miles east of the Enterprise. Camp Swankie is the real thing: a true outdoor kitchen area, with a separate 3-season living area. Seeing this camp made those posh homes seem like they were struggling to get vestigial camping experiences built into them. Actually, I guess Swankie’s screened canopy qualifies as a 4-season room, because it is “location-adjustable”. To be able to comfortably use it in winter or summer, you change altitude.

But these amenities here are not just for show. Today’s exercise was to add Read more…

Posted in Daily Life and tagged ,
01 Dec 2013
10 Comments

Departing Quartzsite

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

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 , , , ,
27 Nov 2013
14 Comments

Life at Rancho Begley

"A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Used to be, the thought of sitting outside for a half-hour or hour to watch the sun go down seemed like a peculiar waste of time. Sure, it’s nice. Appreciate it, take a mental photo and go on to the next thing. These days, I’m noticing that it can greatly change appearance in a mere minute – or less. My mind, as always, wanders and considers things, but is no longer “somewhere else” entirely.

Another translation of Proverbs 16:9 is, “We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” I actually only planned to live in a travel trailer that would be able to go from place to place as needed. The actual goal, in lofty terms, has been to widen my view of life, and determine my place in it. Most folks have this done by the time they’re halfway through their twenties. Me, I’m more of a late bloomer. Still, I finally feel as though I’m on track. Right place, right time, right life. All of it just feels right, and necessary.

The Strolling Amok blog is ostensibly about “mobile living”, or at least one form of it from one guy’s perspective. It is that, but don’t assume that Read more…

Posted in Daily Life, Navel Gazing and tagged , , ,

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