Six days of driving and I need a day off. The passes over the Sierra are still closed, so taking I-80 was the choice. They were skiing at Truckee, so I guess the snowpack is pretty good this year. It sure is pretty in the mountains right now. And Spring is blooming on the lowlands. For my friends in Arizona, fuel prices here for regular are around 2.15. In the mountains it was around 2.80, and I saw 3.10 in an ultra-remote place. For California,...
It was a long hard drive today. As expected, I didn't see any other wildflowers to speak about. The run east to west to Lone Pine involves first a long climb, then a drop into the Panamint Valley. Then comes the real climb to get over the Panamint Mountains. 35 mph was the best I could do, and since it twists and turns so much there's no hope of anyone getting around me. Luckily those following didn't seem to mind. I pulled in at a viewpoint...
Usually when I visit DV the large parking-lot RV campground is closed because it's off-season. This time I get to stay in it. Hey, something new. It's remarkable that I can't see a single rental RV anywhere. Rentals are almost always used by Europeans, and were regularly seen in big numbers at the big-name national parks. It's odd not to see any at all around here. I'm not impressed with the wildflower bloom. There are some typical flowers to be...
It's been eleven months since I was here last. I'm assuming things will work out better this time. I made a stop in Quartzsite last night, and Steve and Sandy came by on their way to the Phoenix area, so we had dinner at Silly Al's. Q is a nice place except for those two weeks during the tent show. Anytime Death Valley is in play as I travel I take a look at it. The weather is excellent right now, and I spotted some talk that the wildflowers are...
On Monday I plan to leave Yuma and head to Chimacum. I have a doctor's appointment on March 24, so I need to get there by then. That leaves a month for the trip. The idea is to keep it moving through California, then slow down through Oregon. While the weather forecast looks favorable for me until I reach Oregon, I expect things to be quite different there. I plan on laying up frequently to wait out rain storms.
While they were great guys, I doubt either of us was sad to see me go out of there today. The work is well done. For the insurance work, I think the insurance company got screwed. My deductible was waived, so it cost me nothing. It was done entirely to my satisfaction. The price for the work on my bedroom slide came out of Junior's bullshit port in about a 1/2 second: $350. The work was done quickly and far exceeding my expectations. Since I was...
The guys are motivated now. They went like crazy today, then told me the rig would have to move indoors for spray painting. So I hitched up, then handed the truck keys to the owner's son. I couldn't even see how to maneuver through a gate, turn 180 degrees, then get through a narrow garage door. Backwards. I've watched Junior shuffle all kinds of vehicles around, so I knew he could do it. First time I've seen my house moved around by someone...
It's 85 this afternoon, and slowly warming up day by day. I like it. The guys are actually doing some real work on my RV this afternoon. I'm not going to look at what they are doing until they finish. I'm not in a rush to get out of here. I almost got pissed off when they presented the insurance check to me for endorsement this morning. "C'mon guys, do the work first". Part of me understands why they do this, but most of me is offended they'd...
Well, nothing has happened at the body shop. Nothing on my rig, that is. I've learned not to ask anything because I will just be bullshitted. Sooner or later they'll need the space, and the check from the insurance company. So, I'm planning on staying here for a while. One of the utility workers is apparently also a cook, and he set up grills, tables, and a mini-kitchen and made lunch for all the workers (and me). Excellent grilled banana...
This morning a car was rolled out from the paint booth, a new Mustang done in chartreuse. It looked great but on closer examination is was gold-flaked, which added a tremendous amount of appeal to the color. Gawd was it beautiful. Then the guys began taping it up for a racing stripe. Grown, oh no that will mess it up. Everyone in the shop agreed. They hate doing it but the customer wants it. The big black swipe down the middle from the front to...
When I came into the body shop first thing Monday, I saw that there wasn't a full-hookup parking place after all. Well, there is a water spigot nearby in the shop, and an outdoor outlet next to me, but it's used all day long by the workers. Last night I had dinner with Dave and Kathy and joked that I might still be camped here on Friday. Since it's now end of day Tuesday and no work has been done, that is probably not a joke. I've been promised...
I found a shop to repair the bent sheet metal from my wheel problem. They recommended I open an insurance claim, which I did, and it sounds like it will work out to my advantage. They have full hookup parking in their lot, so I'll move into the shop's lot on Monday morning for a few days (I hope). I'm looking forward to getting this fixed....