Photo journey of "Road to Arizona"

[kdmac]

Just a few photos from my very slow advernture from Oregon to Arizona. Got stuck along the way with truck repairs...stuff happens.


Parked my trailer and dry camped at the base of this ridge (Tioga Pass area) while truck was in shop in Lee Vining CA


Close up of the Mountain


After truck was fixed in Carson City I drove up to Lake Tahoe before leaving to test the truck.


Dry camped at Fort Churchill campground, the Cottonwoods were huge and gave lovely shade


Another view of campground and my site under the cottonwoods


Ruins of Fort Churchill-built in 1850 to protect wagon trains and Pony Express riders


The wagon train trail through the Fort


Walker Lake Sunrise, dry camped there for two days was so peaceful


Dry camped at Rhyolite, an old Ghost town, once population of 4000 in 1860's beautiful view from my pulloff site


New bridge at Hoover Dam...900 ft above river...everything at the dam is hundreds of feet in the air...breathtaking




kinda hard to get good shots of the dam itself


I love art deco, always wanted to see these winged creatures...finally made it.


new visitor building maintained the art deco style of the dam


Thought it so appropriate that an RV is in the shot...Snowbird Mecca!!

[Bethers]

Neat pics - written while sitting in a Ford dealers where I will be spending the night tonight. Well, tonight we'll be in the rig, knowing we have to be up and ready to leave it at 7 am for them to take back over. Ah, don't we all know what "repairs" mean .

[kdmac]

Neat pics - written while sitting in a Ford dealers where I will be spending the night tonight. Well, tonight we'll be in the rig, knowing we have to be up and ready to leave it at 7 am for them to take back over. Ah, don't we all know what "repairs" mean .

What are the repairs and are you enroute to your Amazon job, or are you already there? You know what everyone says about vehicles that they will always need one thing or the other at one time or the other...but darn, they are so expensive.

Since I had to have a new hub assembly installed here in Boulder City I desided to stay for a week. The whole week has been hot and calm, lake has been like glass. Now that I am leaving on Thursday morning the wind is supposed to blow like blazes and I have to go over the 900 ft high bridge. The bridge even has a sign saying that "high-profile" rigs need to stay in center lane in high winds...so you at least have one lane of room to blow over into...not looking forward to this. If it's too windy I will stay here for one more day hoping the weather "blows over".

[cpatinjones]

Hello KD,

Enjoyed the photos.

A couple of questions for you: 1) Do you use a generator when boondocking? 2) Do you unhook your TT from your truck in will only be there for a night or two?

Thanks.

[Irmi]

Great pictures, KD! I've been waiting for your pictures, so this is great timing. Well, they could have been sooner, but anytime you get around to it is fine. I love the pictures of the dam, but they're all perfect! How is the truck running?

[sharon]

The wind usually blows for at least 3 days in that part of the country, so you learn to either drive in it or sit for a spell. It's unusual that I drive thru there w/o wind, but the best way is to leave as early as possible and get off the road by 2. Let us know where you land in Az, I'll be going thru on the 40 next week sometime. If I EVER get out of Tx, that is! Stuck here in Ft Worth until Thurs because of wind in Amarillo and Alb. Checked the southern route, wind there too. sigh. Loved the pictures!

[BirdbyBird]

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[dpf]

Well you know what they say....if it has tires or testicles...it's going to give your problems.

[snowball]

Pat you made me snicker!
At least you guys are making progress slow but sure! we are still in ID
might leave on Thurs but been saying that for so long that our DD in UT no longer
believes us... Took DH to the Dr today they did labs and said that possibly
one of the reasons of his weariness is he is a little anemic so they are doing further
blood work to see why so they will know what to do...he has an appointment with his
oncologist on Thurs but we will have to reschedule it. Anyway enjoy your trip on to
Quartzsite and actually you don't have to go over the bridge just head on down the
highway going south out of Vegas through Needles to Parker then to Q...you are about
6-8 hours away if that long
See you all later
sheila
Oh and totally enjoyed your pictures loved the sunset so pretty!

[Colliemom]

Beautiful pictures. Now you've got me wanting to hit the road. I'm still a couple of years away from retirement, but believe me, if I can find a way to make it happen sooner, I will be outta here. The lake shots look so nice and peaceful. A good place to spend a summer.

I too was wondering if you use a generator when you are dry camping.

Thanks for sharing. I enjoy your trip tales. Hope the truck doesn't give you any more troubles.

[Liz]

Absolutely stunning Kathy. Love your boondocking spots. So glad you're posting again.

[kdmac]

Hello KD,

Enjoyed the photos.

A couple of questions for you: 1) Do you use a generator when boondocking? 2) Do you unhook your TT from your truck in will only be there for a night or two?

Thanks.

Yes, I use a Honda 3000 generator. I make sure to run it at least two hours each night and one hour in the AM to be sure my battery stays well charged. I keep the generator chained inside the truck. In some boondocking areas they are stolen alot, so I am told by those who have gone before me. If your battery should get low and your slide won't go in then you can crank up the generator and, of course, that will power your slide and anything else you may need.

I won't unhook the truck from the trailer for one or even two nights (unless I need the truck for exploring the area). BUT I NEVER FORGET TO UNPLUG as the trailer will drain the truck battery if left unplugged from the truck. And since there is only one of me I don't always lower my jacks either...suppose that's just plain lazy. I always set my trucks emergency break so that the "transmission gear teeth" aren't the only thing holding the truck still from the movement of the trailer as I am in it.

[cpatinjones]

Thanks KD for the info.

A couple of more questions, the power cord to your TT, is it in the front or rear of your TT? If in the rear are you having to add an extension power cord to reach the truck bed where your generator is chained?

I am trying to learn what RVers are using and how when boondocking. All this will help me when I get on the road FT or PFT. Thanks.

[kdmac]

Thanks KD for the info.

A couple of more questions, the power cord to your TT, is it in the front or rear of your TT? If in the rear are you having to add an extension power cord to reach the truck bed where your generator is chained?

I am trying to learn what RVers are using and how when boondocking. All this will help me when I get on the road FT or PFT. Thanks.

My trailer power chord is in the middle of the TT but has a good long stretch when fully extended out of it's little cubby-hole, maybe 12 feet or so.. But I have a heavey-duty extension chord on a windup reel that I keep in the truck. I plug my extension chord into the generator than plug it into the extended trailer chord. Always good to have an extension chord as you never know what your parking configuration will be.

You probably know there are "phantom" draws on your RV battery, things such as the little lights on various panels, things you don't think of are trickling power from your rv battery. Boondocking isn't possible without a source of "recharge" and driving isn't enough. The battery will generally be depleted after one full day and night without having a generator or a seriously adequate solar recharge system. The little solar stands that you may see some people have attached to their battery are actually less of a charge than the typical battery chargers you can buy at the autoparts store. So, you can't depend on those. So, most people have generators and some have the multi battery, multi solar panel set up which is too expensive for me. Today's new generators are very quiet and some even have remotes so you can turn it off from inside so you don't have to go out in the dark at night to turn it off.

[Forestgal]

Hello KD,

Enjoyed the photos.

A couple of questions for you: 1) Do you use a generator when boondocking? 2) Do you unhook your TT from your truck in will only be there for a night or two?

Thanks.

Yes, I use a Honda 3000 generator. I make sure to run it at least two hours each night and one hour in the AM to be sure my battery stays well charged. I keep the generator chained inside the truck. In some boondocking areas they are stolen alot, so I am told by those who have gone before me. If your battery should get low and your slide won't go in then you can crank up the generator and, of course, that will power your slide and anything else you may need.

I won't unhook the truck from the trailer for one or even two nights (unless I need the truck for exploring the area). BUT I NEVER FORGET TO UNPLUG as the trailer will drain the truck battery if left unplugged from the truck. And since there is only one of me I don't always lower my jacks either...suppose that's just plain lazy. I always set my trucks emergency break so that the "transmission gear teeth" aren't the only thing holding the truck still from the movement of the trailer as I am in it.

You might want to put the tongue jack down, though, just to take some of the load off of your truck. Just remember to put it up when you're ready to roll.