5/6 Captain's Log
Some kind of closure to the adventures of our maiden voyage seems in order, but I am overwhelmed when I think about how to go about it. An abbreviated recap, like a sort of video on fast forward, doesn't seem appropriate. Perhaps some reflections on the highs & lows of our trip would feel better.
The weather was a dominant force during our first several weeks. After
a wet & dank Oregon November & December, I was aching for some
California sun. How ironic that what eventually developed into a "100
year storm" struck California the day that we departed from Eugene
& it, along with its sequels, created havoc all over the southwest
for weeks to come. I had more than a psychic need for sun, with my solar
powered rig I was dependent upon it. Yet sunshine would be a scarce commodity
where we were headed.
After less than a week, we were forced to change plans & find RV parking
with electrical hookups. Our stay in Watsonville was really wet, but we had great visits with extended family in the
Santa Cruz area. The first wave of storms finally ended by while we were
at Pismo Beach, allowing us to enjoy our stay there.
The other early theme was the learning curve that I had to scale. A friend
likes to say "how do you know what you don't know if you don't know
it?" There was a lot I didn't know I didn't know when I pulled out
of the driveway back in December. We were further challenged by some equipment
failures, which all came together: When we limped into Phoenix in January,
the solar wasn't working because of a defective fuse holder, the satellite
transmitter had crapped out & I couldn't even operate the slideout
on Gypsy because of a broken shear pin. That had to be the low point of
the voyage.
Yet just a few days later we were boondocking at Lake Pleasant &
living the dream. We still had to dodge the weather a few more times retreating
to places with electrical hookups, but we completed the trip by going
almost 6 weeks on solar alone. Lake Pleasant was also where we had the
fabulous sunset rainbow; those images are some of my favorites. Our encounters
with wildlife there were also memorable: the peccaries (javalinas) &
burros in particular.
Then it was on to a fun family visit in Bullhead City, exploring the
Dells near Prescott & reveling in the fantastic desert wildflower
bloom in Arizona & Southern Cal. More high points were the star gazing
evening at Joshua Tree & the wonderful display at the California Poppy
Preserve. I really would have liked to have gotten to Death Valley. Blame
that on the storms too, for wiping out the main highway & forcing
us up that awesome Panamint grade. I learned a lot there about towing
5 tons up a steep grade, & though I'm not anxious to try that one
again, I think the experience helped me more effectively take on the I5
grades coming home.
Spending 3 weeks in the Diablos with Morpheus & Shannon was great. It's a wonderful place to be in the spring. And we figured out that there's another road up there, so I don't have to cope with that awful road out of Livermore any more. Maybe a plug for Camping World is in order too, since they were so flexible & easy to work with in getting our awning replaced on the road.
And just to tidy up the record at Lake Shastina, I did barbecue that steak (it was kinda tough) & fish one more time at sunset (no luck). But let the record also show that I have already been up the McKenzie River with my fishin' buddy Rhett & have broken my 05 oh'fer. I caught a nice hatchery trout that Rhett had for dinner. While we're keeping score, we totaled 8,000 miles & averaged over 12 miles per gallon.
More trips up the McKenzie are on the near term agenda & we'll probably camp up there for a week or maybe 2 next month. I'd like to get over to the coast too. And I'll be thinking about our summer voyage which already has one week pegged in eastern Oregon in August & a stop in Sacramento at the end of September. eBoy's leaky transmission seals have been replaced, so as soon as Gypsy's warranty work is done, we'll be good to go.
Four months ago I didn't know if this whole idea was going to work out, but I knew I had to try it. It was a steep learning curve to begin with & I'm sure we have more challenges ahead of us, but I like the mobile lifestyle a lot. The adventure continues...
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