tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76039095081670707742024-03-21T01:57:57.572-07:00Blue Roads Journal<b>Our tales of life on the road, as we explore the USA in our leisurely way. </b>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.comBlogger296125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-73158888418461791102022-04-12T17:53:00.002-07:002022-04-12T17:53:50.450-07:00South for the Winter<p> Odometer 71,855 miles</p><p>Trip Meter- resting</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjn0gfLChBGHSmnt0DfFj4kkL4KeMQyFnhBymQxniTxez7z04FVHUx41KN6b8pauDMWdf-iCWDUF2XuUonledEJ5PvroFkOn8mxm-Zzg_NT2_xGpWWoXdWo1JWNQtdoZyuaMxhm0JrjjOoyQkx9LzaVjIlSbSKmixW7DBDW256Y0uGQUSFjNct1-D/s2978/970B4362-B6DC-4EEB-BA45-66943088ADB3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2209" data-original-width="2978" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjn0gfLChBGHSmnt0DfFj4kkL4KeMQyFnhBymQxniTxez7z04FVHUx41KN6b8pauDMWdf-iCWDUF2XuUonledEJ5PvroFkOn8mxm-Zzg_NT2_xGpWWoXdWo1JWNQtdoZyuaMxhm0JrjjOoyQkx9LzaVjIlSbSKmixW7DBDW256Y0uGQUSFjNct1-D/w640-h474/970B4362-B6DC-4EEB-BA45-66943088ADB3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>One of the great perks for our situation here in north Phoenix is that our hosts assign us a Model T to drive while we are here! This year, as last time in 2019, we were assigned the 1917 touring shown above. The conditions are that we drive, service and maintain the car as if it were our own. This particular car is a very original hand started car (yep, the crank in front is the only starter). This car has the original 1917 four cylinder 170 cubic inch engine, which has been rebuilt about 25 years ago. The car has been stored for most of those years and not driven very much. That means the engine is still young and that we get almost all of the original 20 horsepower that it can produce. Twenty horsepower with a two speed gearbox means that you can “fly” along at a brisk 40 miles per hour on the flat, and somewhat slower climbing hills. For various reasons, skinny tires on wood spoke wheels among them, 40 mph is plenty fast in this car. We drive the car frequently, and find it to be a great car for shopping and trekking out for breakfast or lunch at a local restaurant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Od1PT80IRaE8M9SnmwS5hwwN2e6tLjp8Ol8plUBP01nvtcTusmRtsraKUH-jNpERr39T3wo38NoTS7QtsSa-T6-Gj5FT582-Mg46m4T_qRyUD7Xo3j5xR-eegDHvpV0e26fYFopZpL2onb9PmgNMwx0IJt0BhNKs3hNIl8sTmAMAEzD91YWWt_An/s4032/75A6B6D4-F2E0-4F02-9F1D-F089A1A016F8.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Od1PT80IRaE8M9SnmwS5hwwN2e6tLjp8Ol8plUBP01nvtcTusmRtsraKUH-jNpERr39T3wo38NoTS7QtsSa-T6-Gj5FT582-Mg46m4T_qRyUD7Xo3j5xR-eegDHvpV0e26fYFopZpL2onb9PmgNMwx0IJt0BhNKs3hNIl8sTmAMAEzD91YWWt_An/w640-h480/75A6B6D4-F2E0-4F02-9F1D-F089A1A016F8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Gckz_Rx1VVrqdidQeInaMXxJ5WjRJTxeMoGKTZWw-M4LKtO3E0r8D0WRQLT1yw-AaM91aa8ecEepwP6zw5KSMLn2oWiKOy6iZWs1U8aoxIgQ42qdENwXNnvaNmMRmhSx7bCUgGFqpE35XrX0IuT19xuXc-bJbPWBr5vQkbjBbPulBfa2BA0j0XcT/s4032/E06B9841-A14E-4249-92E2-201DFE5DDF93.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Gckz_Rx1VVrqdidQeInaMXxJ5WjRJTxeMoGKTZWw-M4LKtO3E0r8D0WRQLT1yw-AaM91aa8ecEepwP6zw5KSMLn2oWiKOy6iZWs1U8aoxIgQ42qdENwXNnvaNmMRmhSx7bCUgGFqpE35XrX0IuT19xuXc-bJbPWBr5vQkbjBbPulBfa2BA0j0XcT/s320/E06B9841-A14E-4249-92E2-201DFE5DDF93.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>One of our favorite times of the year is the annual Hidden in the Hills Art show in Cave Creek, and Carefree. Over a hundred local artists open their homes and studios to the public and put on amazing displays of their works. There are examples of just about every conceivable art media somewhere in the show. We watched artists sculpting, painting, carving, blacksmithing, making jewelry, glass blowing, weaving, and much more.<div>To make it even more fun, we would drive with several other couples, all in our Model Ts to each home and studio.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our hosts had recently purchased a classic 1956 Thunderbird sports car, and it needed a bit of attention, which gave us a shop project.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6VEeaEYXpXdT6GGQkWjLezgDvFg6vA98qN7Lf_0f4sJo9V0qycv4Vhgur5kwb5zOKJz8aL2t_s2B4k8RYId30ZojBL-uKrO0bNcypBqx8QlIMu7eONYKesyy8VE5U_RNkitR-SaeeTiiy4dwxvXD-vDb1clOvRUXVhL0DPbqt7u0o-fMkcqXLmAr/s640/D0DD8A9B-282C-4743-A70F-781C60D824D5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6VEeaEYXpXdT6GGQkWjLezgDvFg6vA98qN7Lf_0f4sJo9V0qycv4Vhgur5kwb5zOKJz8aL2t_s2B4k8RYId30ZojBL-uKrO0bNcypBqx8QlIMu7eONYKesyy8VE5U_RNkitR-SaeeTiiy4dwxvXD-vDb1clOvRUXVhL0DPbqt7u0o-fMkcqXLmAr/w640-h480/D0DD8A9B-282C-4743-A70F-781C60D824D5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>We chased down a short circuit in the dash wiring, repair the turn signal switch, clean the plugs, and mount the spare tire.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEp5pfXlVirDB89lPaP2SV4HMl1_Ftm72pNDIuJeibiyG7ABGjSOo3ifaFDUQK0EAZP_SKmNFGPju-imPlQW70UIsYFSAYZGppiZOrO32zY1Ldpc8rJ_EvBsHvJeqYwG5ExYl8D-3dycg4toN5zpdgUlHYfV4xlMjqgjhwfVAuM431Tzp2x0ESchd/s4029/66A0D85F-27B3-46D7-8AD5-9909472EECA4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="4029" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEp5pfXlVirDB89lPaP2SV4HMl1_Ftm72pNDIuJeibiyG7ABGjSOo3ifaFDUQK0EAZP_SKmNFGPju-imPlQW70UIsYFSAYZGppiZOrO32zY1Ldpc8rJ_EvBsHvJeqYwG5ExYl8D-3dycg4toN5zpdgUlHYfV4xlMjqgjhwfVAuM431Tzp2x0ESchd/w640-h326/66A0D85F-27B3-46D7-8AD5-9909472EECA4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For the last several Christmases we have been decorating the Model Ts with colored lights and going in groups around to the various neighborhoods to view the Christmas lights an decorations. This year was chilly and we all dressed in puffy coats, wool hats and gloves. There is no heater in a T ! The 1917 we were driving had no running lights, brake lights, or turn signals so I had to hustle and get some LED lights tastefully mounted and hooked up, as well as decorating with light strings.<div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia__kGUPEQRMEukGbKgH88tb5E5nuB0555i4bz8YSAn4ZVbTFBMkoNDFC1kWQQt0f-V4lV2qApIIqdRvweEp-x4qX9NVVARPD9GC5DUizN5830sif5uBDZCyf-wGteGCFh3_9MWxwYZEM1MTj3OiEnSSUbe_wnya0g_1Jo_m5l_-dhknTVTqDCeKH/s4032/D12F57DA-926F-41A0-AEA6-E18F82D6B28D.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia__kGUPEQRMEukGbKgH88tb5E5nuB0555i4bz8YSAn4ZVbTFBMkoNDFC1kWQQt0f-V4lV2qApIIqdRvweEp-x4qX9NVVARPD9GC5DUizN5830sif5uBDZCyf-wGteGCFh3_9MWxwYZEM1MTj3OiEnSSUbe_wnya0g_1Jo_m5l_-dhknTVTqDCeKH/w320-h240/D12F57DA-926F-41A0-AEA6-E18F82D6B28D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off my drywall prowess</td></tr></tbody></table>Another project for Jeff was our hosts kitchen ceiling which had been damaged by a roof leak last year. The house has a new roof now, so it was time to come to grips with the damage done by the water intrusion. We went to Lowes and bought a few drywall tools and some tape and compound. Another trip, this time to Harbor freight netted us a texture gun and hopper. While we were at it, we decided to upgrade the kitchen lighting with some new LED fixtures.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKrOu8rukPeslAnIVY_aGxTnNdAKUe68wEWY7EkC_kjoY2Gvcffee-U5eJUIE_C5mTuNYvZNbGlEfB1YwuSv7Hv7tIb6vPQuKUw67mv1v_hgc_4oWRm0yvtxI3AbO3CtJitct77mtZhJqXU78e3Y4E7emE571sLCQcgcYZzu74o9902F1e1bQbve8/s1804/8ACEDEFE-0A1D-4CB9-8D14-D3C784F9AA35.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1804" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKrOu8rukPeslAnIVY_aGxTnNdAKUe68wEWY7EkC_kjoY2Gvcffee-U5eJUIE_C5mTuNYvZNbGlEfB1YwuSv7Hv7tIb6vPQuKUw67mv1v_hgc_4oWRm0yvtxI3AbO3CtJitct77mtZhJqXU78e3Y4E7emE571sLCQcgcYZzu74o9902F1e1bQbve8/w320-h233/8ACEDEFE-0A1D-4CB9-8D14-D3C784F9AA35.jpeg" title="Desert Cottontail Rabbits" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div>Each evening we made it a point to come together on the back porch for happy hour, where , other than conversation and cold drinks, the main attraction was to watch the wild bunnies come looking for carrots strategically placed around the porch. Here we have even attached some to the cactus thorns. Great fun watching them chase each other and compete for the carrots.</div><div>What fun!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Your Traveling Friends</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Marck Script;">Jeff and Joan</span></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-64198277818185192832022-04-12T11:32:00.001-07:002022-04-12T11:32:27.787-07:00On the Road Again!<p> Odometer 70,804 miles</p><p>Trip meter this trip 1051 miles</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_13BoK6AUSQjlAGY3UtvU5tABVyKgbt5ZFL75_QTvvEprNrQQzNTkp0I1hPYeMECy-senZL8bi5G0jnUEPh5pO-CmiFgaR8OfWCG8LZqZtIxk77qhmeIEbNmUAkQwxfLBSYi5P1PYljO8bUcQslo0wGg86VJoWx940JW-OwRT4nBap9PO2wlLuvH/s4032/5DC4A946-5222-423F-9011-E2350FA3783A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_13BoK6AUSQjlAGY3UtvU5tABVyKgbt5ZFL75_QTvvEprNrQQzNTkp0I1hPYeMECy-senZL8bi5G0jnUEPh5pO-CmiFgaR8OfWCG8LZqZtIxk77qhmeIEbNmUAkQwxfLBSYi5P1PYljO8bUcQslo0wGg86VJoWx940JW-OwRT4nBap9PO2wlLuvH/w640-h480/5DC4A946-5222-423F-9011-E2350FA3783A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fast forward to November of 2021, the house is finished, and the Pandemic is at a low ebb, we are all vaccinated and boosted- we see no reason to put our ramblings on hold any longer. We pulled the coach up to the house and began loading up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4r_yn0JTI-HO_cw-j6X0CQ7vYB4CRNOncRgk-9K0R7U-EdlPJSVeGW8cJTETbsJuvW2p6zZlfVK-GPNn-JfSN7aAB3BcqLvYocgThOFJap0AmWaUQc9AmazbOfcDz6s9shBRa9Hyqy13eOK4VXCo6RUuj1G8eNSkrUVEgJK4vjU70D6sPVJIhQ-j/s1579/D02F92AB-504C-4CB6-840F-C27FCB916574.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1579" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4r_yn0JTI-HO_cw-j6X0CQ7vYB4CRNOncRgk-9K0R7U-EdlPJSVeGW8cJTETbsJuvW2p6zZlfVK-GPNn-JfSN7aAB3BcqLvYocgThOFJap0AmWaUQc9AmazbOfcDz6s9shBRa9Hyqy13eOK4VXCo6RUuj1G8eNSkrUVEgJK4vjU70D6sPVJIhQ-j/w640-h380/D02F92AB-504C-4CB6-840F-C27FCB916574.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>A very late start from Grants Pass meant that by the time we had reached Weed, CA on Interstate 5 it was getting dark and we were getting hungry. We pulled up to the curb in the rest area just south of Weed and had a late dinner and retired for the night.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Up early in the morning with hustle all around us. Trucks all around us starting engines and checking loads. I could walk to Starbucks, so I went for a couple hot mochas and sweet rolls before Joan was fully up, and brought them back to the bus. We were all hooked up and road ready, so it took literal minutes to set up the car for towing (insert key and turn to accessory- check braking system and lights) off we went.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Crossing over the mountains in the Shasta Trinity National Forest, skirting the base of Mount Shasta is easily one of my favorite parts of this trip</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2lVIDgqhPkRm761Alkb36MbA2wDzaA2sH9oQIfyCWMxu7DXqNt6rXta6mVTf9lsryj4RqCtaqiJNeXZJsoXhWNAhcVFl76mqwiHPVXCSLQuYpnXwfl8pZolCZA3NemNG5gTJDbnsYAVUQ40pbH8zrTLsPYXzquNQXCUZXfT-dPUHx0faKWaKVVDm/s2496/6AD834D5-03B7-4027-A227-D3FBBA25E1DA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="2496" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2lVIDgqhPkRm761Alkb36MbA2wDzaA2sH9oQIfyCWMxu7DXqNt6rXta6mVTf9lsryj4RqCtaqiJNeXZJsoXhWNAhcVFl76mqwiHPVXCSLQuYpnXwfl8pZolCZA3NemNG5gTJDbnsYAVUQ40pbH8zrTLsPYXzquNQXCUZXfT-dPUHx0faKWaKVVDm/w640-h390/6AD834D5-03B7-4027-A227-D3FBBA25E1DA.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And today is spectacular in the clear clean air and bright sunshine. We see snow as we traverse the high points, but it’s all in drifts beside the road. I feel exhilarated ! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We have coffee at Starbucks in Susanville and set off for Yearington, Nevada where we’ve stayed the night in previous trips. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Our transit through Reno is mostly uneventful, if you don’t count the stopping for fuel. We have a couple fuel stations we find are easy to get in and out of without unhooking the car, and our luck holds at our first stop. We take Exit 78 off US 395, and turn east on N. Red Rock road where we can get to the outside pumps at the Shell station and get away cleanly. A clear win for us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We took Interstate 80 east of Reno, Then jump off on State Route 439 south through a big growing distribution center. The warehouses here are MEGA sized, and there is a new one being built every time we come through. Nevada 439 ends at NV 50 and we have to jog a couple miles south on 50 before we come to the entrance to Alternate US 395 which is the most direct route to connect up to US 395 in Shurz, NV. US395 does a split at Shurz, where you can either go straight north to Fallon, NV on 95 or head north-west and angle over toward Reno. Were now thinking it was too early to stop at Yearington (on Alt 395) so we continue onto Shurz, and turn right onto US395 towards Walker Lake and Hawthorne.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXHNCseqwzWPp2J3-NVQ0JzdOUAvArI_8vmp9H0-evCdAWq_WuUpJo6UmuJIpztpV9m1ov8VtO31pv8psksrtG_OwhGTBKGZdwIgdk813F2hU2K4Y3udahuc9BfcXowEVlyArbK4jtgwnnmGCeo_Dq3_UD_QFP5nkyS6qMyNh29bqI4AmNpoesuba/s3264/4B03ACDA-E6ED-4E9D-8990-32FF960D6BB6.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXHNCseqwzWPp2J3-NVQ0JzdOUAvArI_8vmp9H0-evCdAWq_WuUpJo6UmuJIpztpV9m1ov8VtO31pv8psksrtG_OwhGTBKGZdwIgdk813F2hU2K4Y3udahuc9BfcXowEVlyArbK4jtgwnnmGCeo_Dq3_UD_QFP5nkyS6qMyNh29bqI4AmNpoesuba/w640-h480/4B03ACDA-E6ED-4E9D-8990-32FF960D6BB6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We arrive at Hawthorne and check into Whiskey Flats RV Park. We get there in time to hookup in the waning sunlight and take a walk around the park chatting with the brave few who venture out in the chilly evening air.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next morning we drove the motorhome over to Safeway and did a quick shop before heading south again on 395. Always easy when you can wheel your cart over to the door of the RV and stock the refrigerator right from the front door! By 10 AM we were on the road south. We stopped briefly in Tonapah (elevation 6,000 ft) for a lunch from Subway and continued on to Beatty, NV (gateway to Death Valley !). Just north of the town of Beatty we checked into Beatty RV Park for $25/ night full hookups ! That’s a good deal! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbo9qU_8lb6rXsiCpUs30i3rimG1TMKqle3WzR8g_OvdE8AKUZjqiXiNl7sK2ij6bap-AuD35oHXoyapyfDyxdgZvnUFlh-AMka4X_ZX0Cnwpwfxz2GabpXtCmsvummXU9TkRIIE10bcrutQ6kv8KIdVxTYJe6GQSpa37WrlEqhknvSVnct6t6Gnu/s2238/298BD498-EC3E-43D1-BC38-B35BA0598D3A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="2238" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbo9qU_8lb6rXsiCpUs30i3rimG1TMKqle3WzR8g_OvdE8AKUZjqiXiNl7sK2ij6bap-AuD35oHXoyapyfDyxdgZvnUFlh-AMka4X_ZX0Cnwpwfxz2GabpXtCmsvummXU9TkRIIE10bcrutQ6kv8KIdVxTYJe6GQSpa37WrlEqhknvSVnct6t6Gnu/w640-h172/298BD498-EC3E-43D1-BC38-B35BA0598D3A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Relentlessly on, we left Beatty at 8AM (early for us :->) heading 120 miles south to Las Vegas to meet friends. In Vegas, we stopped at our designated rendezvous, the Meadows Mall, only to get a call that our friends had to bail on us. We were close to a Panda Express and Starbucks so Lunch was at hand! After lunch we fueled up a in Henderson at $3.79/ gallon and headed for Kingman, AZ. We chose to go on Interstate 11 which took us over the new bridge over the Colorado gorge just downriver from Hoover Dam. Crossing the bridge is underwhelming, because you can’t really see anything but the road bed, and you don’t get the sensation that you are 890 feet above the river below. Interstate 11 is proposed to replace (or follow the route of) US 93 through Arizona to Phoenix some day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Today we get as far as Kingman before we decide to stop for the night. Fort Beale RV has been our choice in the past, and they have a Passport (discounted) opening for us tonight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Name of the RV Park harkens back to 1857, when the US military had a Camp here (Camp Beale Springs) that was often referred to as Fort Beale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next day saw us on our last leg of our Fall migration. We were late leaving Kingman because the battery had died in our Chevy Tracker towed vehicle, and unbeknownst to us the smart charger we brought with us and hooked up the night before was not working. We jump started the car to stir the oil around for the days towing and with that complete, we were on our way. We have to jog east on I-40 to get to US 93 again (soon to be Interstate 11, remember?). 93 will take us to Wickenburg, AZ where we’ll take US route 60 towards Phoenix and New River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdZ2sDECkyGqCjpNS7bEeZF3paw1HyS22-0XjeAMCkSOjQvPjWgFGQS5vgDC3aWSLb7oJnk3Yyq69YmLkGTLJhT6Y91Ez-0Lr9XVfgxeoiWc6zoopw3xfJaiprCp6Flejx120xXPUAohtyE2oE0nJ4phfdLqNDmoXpH6lbA3YAgs2s1FD7DVZJcGg/s4032/AD2F22B2-F1D8-4FA0-A2DC-F66CEDE1037B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdZ2sDECkyGqCjpNS7bEeZF3paw1HyS22-0XjeAMCkSOjQvPjWgFGQS5vgDC3aWSLb7oJnk3Yyq69YmLkGTLJhT6Y91Ez-0Lr9XVfgxeoiWc6zoopw3xfJaiprCp6Flejx120xXPUAohtyE2oE0nJ4phfdLqNDmoXpH6lbA3YAgs2s1FD7DVZJcGg/w640-h480/AD2F22B2-F1D8-4FA0-A2DC-F66CEDE1037B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>By early afternoon we were safely ensconced in our RV spot on Ralph and Ann’s 2 acres in New River.<div>Home is where we park it, and we are home for a while here in sunny New River.</div><div>November 19th 2021</div><div><br /></div><div>Your Traveling Friends</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Marck Script;">Jeff and Joan</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-71171807436360529732022-04-10T11:25:00.000-07:002022-04-10T11:25:29.391-07:00At Home in Oregon for the Pandemic<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUepWWmi9IGaXfIiMe6P5sEy550aFzUKwS0Czhta4_fmO-QhB87KmgR4Glf0s5f4gA3dtSoV4uAD34_t8ayLczVNTrpTaAErjmhXi0c_NpJQwmtFxQ9DwyRUYNClE5sHWYDlnovDcH6CGzhXI2krcyg-eiFV723UlOUVPUPmgGoIt5W2DQXpPfFuZE/s1462/5426F83B-EBC4-4C7A-A7FB-D4DC925FBD75.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1462" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUepWWmi9IGaXfIiMe6P5sEy550aFzUKwS0Czhta4_fmO-QhB87KmgR4Glf0s5f4gA3dtSoV4uAD34_t8ayLczVNTrpTaAErjmhXi0c_NpJQwmtFxQ9DwyRUYNClE5sHWYDlnovDcH6CGzhXI2krcyg-eiFV723UlOUVPUPmgGoIt5W2DQXpPfFuZE/w640-h378/5426F83B-EBC4-4C7A-A7FB-D4DC925FBD75.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p> Like most people, COVID-19 put a kink in our travels for 2020 and 2021. A lot has happened since our return to Oregon with our fears on high alert in spring of 2020. That trip had us wondering if state borders would suddenly slam shut, if gas stations and RV parks would close, travel restrictions would maroon us somewhere in between our winter and summer homes. Luckily, none of that happened, we arrived safe and secure at our Coastal home in April of 2020. Then, a major change came as we pondered our situation vis-a-vis healthcare and aging in place. For medical reasons we needed to be much closer to emergency healthcare, and our doctors were all a 3-1/2 hour drive inland from here.</p><p>We did a lot of repairs to get our “dream” home ready to sell and started looking in the Rogue Valley along the I-5 corridor. With my sister’s help we won the bidding war on an older ranch style home just outside of Grants Pass. The home site had a 1970’s home on 1.5 acres, and included a 24’x 30’pole barn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJde-edkCuf93Hkqt4XbwsG3-4NMUbwBd5D_CguCQ2wBJVuHrmMRB-QW8Da95ipFQ4iGxlPyDtxoDLktIFHSTGjDxKqCfgncW1hDZeZKHlSoZvHRFq_UvN6GH5fEA_7gQ6BiE2SjI-0scIJtLHL6YHiC2MmGxK2NQDBKVLOfBnMvXKUfRlbyjMnL1L/s733/ACDCAF4E-F1AC-4EAA-9068-2B6C159B037C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="733" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJde-edkCuf93Hkqt4XbwsG3-4NMUbwBd5D_CguCQ2wBJVuHrmMRB-QW8Da95ipFQ4iGxlPyDtxoDLktIFHSTGjDxKqCfgncW1hDZeZKHlSoZvHRFq_UvN6GH5fEA_7gQ6BiE2SjI-0scIJtLHL6YHiC2MmGxK2NQDBKVLOfBnMvXKUfRlbyjMnL1L/w640-h254/ACDCAF4E-F1AC-4EAA-9068-2B6C159B037C.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what a war it was! We saw the house hit the market via a web link to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) the web server that holds housing data for all real estate offices. I called our agent at 7AM and she arranged a “showing” for us at 9:30 AM that same day. We were one of 18 offers that were received by the owners that evening. Of all those, our bid was the one selected! We all bid over the asking price of $330,000- (some of us way over) and our combination of all cash and no contingencies (other than home inspection)- won out. Our home at the coast was still in escrow, so my sister stepped in to help with a bridge loan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>Joan and I had planned to do some extensive remodeling, to modernize and update this 1970 home. We were perfectly happy to stay in the motorhome on the property while we removed ceilings and walls to brighten and open up the floor plan. We drew up the floor plan on the computer using a program called Sketchup and this allowed us to experiment with different options</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikayv8tzc4knf-ZUq_kI8djLEOuXnmVmTG4gk4MAbfCLt24G8nV-g1vPma5nE-9X5f6ihVNXpkodXIgU3oMtYHj0ORuH56pDOJat0WMNDizJ9glAMCs8UqcI4jrHpztnOTkLA7bI9iL99j4emVS6ZVfYpHKv495280fAjjM8odMjEi9FlA9KG9AF7x/s2049/6B0651AE-CD60-48D3-8FDB-7430E371F749.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikayv8tzc4knf-ZUq_kI8djLEOuXnmVmTG4gk4MAbfCLt24G8nV-g1vPma5nE-9X5f6ihVNXpkodXIgU3oMtYHj0ORuH56pDOJat0WMNDizJ9glAMCs8UqcI4jrHpztnOTkLA7bI9iL99j4emVS6ZVfYpHKv495280fAjjM8odMjEi9FlA9KG9AF7x/w640-h480/6B0651AE-CD60-48D3-8FDB-7430E371F749.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walls that are shown with squiggles (clouds) around them are walls that we no longer wanted. Not shown here are the walls around the original small kitchen, which we also eliminated to stretch the kitchen across the whole exterior wall.</div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFd7xLlIubfNFWaO7ggf_MIuY4l-xzc9ipKjjH4qtFAi1aIfm1fgGJO23M7KO3g063yqoEIe6mdvi2mdVE8OoDSPa0pmF0Nw1TVZCi59wXxjJayMW7KqZwF190o6Okp-kz1lLJ9kKI10JVH7m25wmjHlZ2ObmjRFj3rTCkMvqKm6xyczr5tJfWpFN2/s4032/86EEA12F-D2DE-41D1-BFFD-F0C981C4A8A7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFd7xLlIubfNFWaO7ggf_MIuY4l-xzc9ipKjjH4qtFAi1aIfm1fgGJO23M7KO3g063yqoEIe6mdvi2mdVE8OoDSPa0pmF0Nw1TVZCi59wXxjJayMW7KqZwF190o6Okp-kz1lLJ9kKI10JVH7m25wmjHlZ2ObmjRFj3rTCkMvqKm6xyczr5tJfWpFN2/w640-h480/86EEA12F-D2DE-41D1-BFFD-F0C981C4A8A7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These walls in the old kitchen and entry way must come down</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>We wanted to do most of the work ourselves, and we wanted to have a big kitchen and dining area, large island in kitchen, views to the back yard, and sight lines into the living room. We also wanted to remove the lowered ceilings everywhere and raise them back up to 8’. We have no idea why they were all so low, but the original occupant must have liked the “cozy” ? feeling. Structurally there was no obstacle to taking out the old supports and putting in new drywall ceilings at the top of wall</div><br /><div>We worked diligently from July to November of 2020 to get the house finished so we could move in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjksRxH6ElMEMG3awpipjLvEGxIwm0BVYH1QZgrzK8DLAAdEcWWWqseQetinys_oQIfEy70_mApEbbIX7eHbyKyZcq7W5qOTDlM9Sri0zP-93TG6OsI9wL2kCWSrLYrX7FknNs6WqcFekySldLv5-ZGPEesQ3-wcoUqor3Ig1KY8OY2SGS0Jo71jzB/s2049/FF146730-1532-4376-B582-1CFB98A3A43C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjksRxH6ElMEMG3awpipjLvEGxIwm0BVYH1QZgrzK8DLAAdEcWWWqseQetinys_oQIfEy70_mApEbbIX7eHbyKyZcq7W5qOTDlM9Sri0zP-93TG6OsI9wL2kCWSrLYrX7FknNs6WqcFekySldLv5-ZGPEesQ3-wcoUqor3Ig1KY8OY2SGS0Jo71jzB/w640-h480/FF146730-1532-4376-B582-1CFB98A3A43C.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We drew some rather rudimentry drawings of what we wanted the kitchen to look like. Our idea was to have windows between the upper and lower cabinets to let in light and give views to the back yard while sitting at the island or in the dining room. We shopped online for cabinets in kit form, that we would assemble and install ourselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ3JmPJgg9ZGQ9vE2g5A11v33fOCvPplm01Ie0OYWSoD0Z0MRaQhLVZIlQTDnKjB5gbzMgBm0ivVeFhoC0gYJhZrTzx3QFCoVu0zVkkWj0tDUsXp8Yx1QuJNBwtLWO0NlJVaoYVlXzkZRpgv9nfUbCMmxZoiYBbPDJd_uO82h7exBU88YnVPz-Z0q/s4032/2054CD34-8FC4-40C7-8FE7-075614A7FAC7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ3JmPJgg9ZGQ9vE2g5A11v33fOCvPplm01Ie0OYWSoD0Z0MRaQhLVZIlQTDnKjB5gbzMgBm0ivVeFhoC0gYJhZrTzx3QFCoVu0zVkkWj0tDUsXp8Yx1QuJNBwtLWO0NlJVaoYVlXzkZRpgv9nfUbCMmxZoiYBbPDJd_uO82h7exBU88YnVPz-Z0q/w640-h480/2054CD34-8FC4-40C7-8FE7-075614A7FAC7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div>To do the windows this way, meant taking down the existing exterior wall and re-framing it with the new window openings. That meant building permits and plan review. We drew up our plans on a free copy of Sketchup and got them approved, with a few corrections.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl0cI47NKI-RRIUqytCMi430gofxaxhEpt9C3M0-jmlAGLrYHmk6WMwhTjbY8TU8-wZcswFl_QcHhMWxmZVgdBb4L-ODSsFCLHI_sEG-0INOR2XSrNCMY374WuZzAQHvpAtwQUqjujqrAmcUDAa9nXIzIfO4Upb2yrcda11D9HS-5l0s-C5_GSPTF/s2049/952158D5-73A4-4710-A0FB-EB2919235253.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl0cI47NKI-RRIUqytCMi430gofxaxhEpt9C3M0-jmlAGLrYHmk6WMwhTjbY8TU8-wZcswFl_QcHhMWxmZVgdBb4L-ODSsFCLHI_sEG-0INOR2XSrNCMY374WuZzAQHvpAtwQUqjujqrAmcUDAa9nXIzIfO4Upb2yrcda11D9HS-5l0s-C5_GSPTF/w640-h480/952158D5-73A4-4710-A0FB-EB2919235253.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assembling the cabinets was easy and a lot of fun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcD67QyG_qalEIdddwEou8gdMzPsDTskWpYzO8k58MQ4_5eVTGtIUctIs_70fZBqZeAmmBKC5ntHqKWL2W-pNZQm_znfs__g0Kdm-iQ7SeNXgQvpbdjGJnhMdu5H9GCtc2LNNCIPCBbg8HVolDO_a7ZqTZzImhf7m4M8y8eEp_Eli6TRjptBYKkuMY/s2049/2C519DEC-EC32-4280-B62D-49B7326F01AF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcD67QyG_qalEIdddwEou8gdMzPsDTskWpYzO8k58MQ4_5eVTGtIUctIs_70fZBqZeAmmBKC5ntHqKWL2W-pNZQm_znfs__g0Kdm-iQ7SeNXgQvpbdjGJnhMdu5H9GCtc2LNNCIPCBbg8HVolDO_a7ZqTZzImhf7m4M8y8eEp_Eli6TRjptBYKkuMY/w640-h480/2C519DEC-EC32-4280-B62D-49B7326F01AF.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We built the island on a custom base I made and used 36” wall cabinets and a plywood top<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN48CbJ---wFXO1fduGcQGwDgd-Ezlmkzyt6zZF2nbIjhpORaQLS-J3inYKZkFL_e_YRdwozvSrxjCpzOQSTy2TZa7jafeENxNmUMwW832GhoF0lE_6Ir1HBF1VwnP6jW2StArUf6HO9cYuEw_7Cz5SmTnppGH06DhHM4vtkF2uTseAjGvLgAvP9lt/s2049/30629F34-2337-4DD5-B6B1-334277BD4C5C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN48CbJ---wFXO1fduGcQGwDgd-Ezlmkzyt6zZF2nbIjhpORaQLS-J3inYKZkFL_e_YRdwozvSrxjCpzOQSTy2TZa7jafeENxNmUMwW832GhoF0lE_6Ir1HBF1VwnP6jW2StArUf6HO9cYuEw_7Cz5SmTnppGH06DhHM4vtkF2uTseAjGvLgAvP9lt/w640-h480/30629F34-2337-4DD5-B6B1-334277BD4C5C.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Flooring was the last hurdle to moving in, so we spent a week or more installing oak tongue and groove flooring throughout the house. Joan did the layout and I glued and nailed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a_TOSEu5930cwaObge5Ft5aIsoKCuYj_TpzdYD5JslKwbpA86WaNIsxdqXkU7wQZvnghRF0g1ROIn_WrUCieHOck99Y90_47QR3r7LlHMyfG6J6OsR2rjv82ZlUV2MBYsdvy91pNhM67Oqz42PIN2mtEF46T72yw0lBHTtZZLu60gF6xtHTnE3pe/s2049/3ACDEFB0-5E9C-46EB-A039-957CE7FFC6CE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a_TOSEu5930cwaObge5Ft5aIsoKCuYj_TpzdYD5JslKwbpA86WaNIsxdqXkU7wQZvnghRF0g1ROIn_WrUCieHOck99Y90_47QR3r7LlHMyfG6J6OsR2rjv82ZlUV2MBYsdvy91pNhM67Oqz42PIN2mtEF46T72yw0lBHTtZZLu60gF6xtHTnE3pe/w320-h240/3ACDEFB0-5E9C-46EB-A039-957CE7FFC6CE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcJvzNfP3_t5J0CrvVKyVtYthckfTz-JEHRrTaEoInxL3-f9wWLr-OXFKarKHEhL7Dj70o-bdiUoqNX-5I4WkK2xGA2rsDqY4GV2YOaPOJNOX2zNbi1M8CpK7AiYiir0EcCIRJh0VZu5_JKWApNxHS0Y8y494RiDn7rMFPQdpSiyzIl8RBYqKKzmv/s4032/7E0DBCA0-ADC4-4874-BBA3-1E0A069203C1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcJvzNfP3_t5J0CrvVKyVtYthckfTz-JEHRrTaEoInxL3-f9wWLr-OXFKarKHEhL7Dj70o-bdiUoqNX-5I4WkK2xGA2rsDqY4GV2YOaPOJNOX2zNbi1M8CpK7AiYiir0EcCIRJh0VZu5_JKWApNxHS0Y8y494RiDn7rMFPQdpSiyzIl8RBYqKKzmv/w320-h240/7E0DBCA0-ADC4-4874-BBA3-1E0A069203C1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRIVlN8uBGeW1ACB9ex4JpY52SrnQhuDjwKvyb_ytmQBFpjbDC8iZIrcEU6dxY6c6-ghuFxDmn8n1Ifx2FaZlSM4Xy7seR7f6KHxd5AgB9grFR3mFFuQk7q_MoKqem30EEqOw1sFofZC9asnygPj-RBOtXGYttT6-tfI9PnU0Y8_cbMdvM0B0AUya/s4032/4479C59D-2149-45E1-BAA6-B7540047B502.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRIVlN8uBGeW1ACB9ex4JpY52SrnQhuDjwKvyb_ytmQBFpjbDC8iZIrcEU6dxY6c6-ghuFxDmn8n1Ifx2FaZlSM4Xy7seR7f6KHxd5AgB9grFR3mFFuQk7q_MoKqem30EEqOw1sFofZC9asnygPj-RBOtXGYttT6-tfI9PnU0Y8_cbMdvM0B0AUya/w320-h240/4479C59D-2149-45E1-BAA6-B7540047B502.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally by November 16th 2020, nearly 5 months since we purchased the home, we were ready to move into it for the first time. Thoroughly modern, new wiring, lighting, some new plumbing, all new paint and decor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now to wait out the pandemic, here in our “new” home and see when traveling became possible again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Home. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Your Traveling Friends</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script;">Jeff and Joan</span></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-74423116770486164572019-12-01T20:04:00.000-08:002019-12-01T20:04:10.908-08:00Trials in a T<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 67964<br />
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New River, AZ<br />
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Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sf65g2ansgKB7Tf_cYuXrDerYcj5ob3ZQ_-eJVFB19bZXKnlhXC34bdiLPTtIlGTefrp5yZNzz4-m3l7QnMZFMlcB0lsOfSxNFrMDBebiA9_MQvtclPE11Uj12KmMh4WsLVA7VdKUA0/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="640" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sf65g2ansgKB7Tf_cYuXrDerYcj5ob3ZQ_-eJVFB19bZXKnlhXC34bdiLPTtIlGTefrp5yZNzz4-m3l7QnMZFMlcB0lsOfSxNFrMDBebiA9_MQvtclPE11Uj12KmMh4WsLVA7VdKUA0/s640/sunset.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over New River, AZ</td></tr>
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We sure did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQh1CCH6goLMtKkCkJ-7fLaXD_RjVcOM9QyveM-2sZwi3uWz5KRSgT6CUngC5cvG2JkJ7xslNZFvavaIgPBg9FHLR0sf33R_fS4JWaV_WRWaFf4ImGXh0kCmR8TdVgNNqn9ZSC4lS6OQ/s1600/broke+wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="608" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQh1CCH6goLMtKkCkJ-7fLaXD_RjVcOM9QyveM-2sZwi3uWz5KRSgT6CUngC5cvG2JkJ7xslNZFvavaIgPBg9FHLR0sf33R_fS4JWaV_WRWaFf4ImGXh0kCmR8TdVgNNqn9ZSC4lS6OQ/s640/broke+wheel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheel shattered on right hand turn- we end up on sidewalk</td></tr>
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On our last T- tour to Cave Creek Joan and I were driving the 1915 while the 1917 was waiting on parts. We made a sweeping turn off Carefree Highway to get fueled up and got an unexpected ride. While we were in mid-turn the left front wheel spokes broke and we lost our steerage when the axle dropped to the pavement. I'd like to say I did a great job of maneuvering the car out of traffic, but in fact I had nothing to do with it- we just ended up here!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1tNSnyDP0i3gbZwxny6AteF0LdA6LrY85glowAz_LoRIWEJ7aaCXEYPLi7LVskYvcz8WisEbZb8dQZnoUJ6csPShpvr-NmrUoT49S3GS9lRKTb4hMGFl8sa2bmAFRYD5p6zKllFgGa8/s1600/new+wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1tNSnyDP0i3gbZwxny6AteF0LdA6LrY85glowAz_LoRIWEJ7aaCXEYPLi7LVskYvcz8WisEbZb8dQZnoUJ6csPShpvr-NmrUoT49S3GS9lRKTb4hMGFl8sa2bmAFRYD5p6zKllFgGa8/s320/new+wheel.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replacement wheel arrives</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN666wWTQGOv1XP7ir7ZhYdlsfUVOPzheSj5456O3_udeaA15g2ksKXsmHcIEjozExRctLFu8EC-Ux72erPEbY_jLtDtGMVO5SWb5bcWpZBtANkbBEQTQjKfgWHsmnpkMZSNkexdAFYMw/s1600/good+as+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="586" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN666wWTQGOv1XP7ir7ZhYdlsfUVOPzheSj5456O3_udeaA15g2ksKXsmHcIEjozExRctLFu8EC-Ux72erPEbY_jLtDtGMVO5SWb5bcWpZBtANkbBEQTQjKfgWHsmnpkMZSNkexdAFYMw/s320/good+as+new.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replacement wheel is installed and we are ready to go</td></tr>
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Ralph saw my predicament and headed for home (13 miles) for a replacement wheel right away and we were back on the road in less than an hour. The Model T has a spare tire mounted to a steel rim so the wheel is not replaced in a normal tire change- just the rim with tire attached. This situation is not normal and the very old wheel spokes just got too fatigued.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhePpHanGtd6aINKRxYiDUmzswn9qfZJuR_mPair9HoRkbE7qV9K9kCjUx12-WH2USj0_XNJX1xadpxXbGYIBMAEKYB9G3uRkK9VxfSS3hTqq9n4mzf70ab9xdKeV1NoSe20phJb4v64/s1600/alt+mount.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="640" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhePpHanGtd6aINKRxYiDUmzswn9qfZJuR_mPair9HoRkbE7qV9K9kCjUx12-WH2USj0_XNJX1xadpxXbGYIBMAEKYB9G3uRkK9VxfSS3hTqq9n4mzf70ab9xdKeV1NoSe20phJb4v64/s640/alt+mount.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></b><br />
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Our visit to a local collector yielded a new casting for the front of the 1917 motor. As you can see in the picture above the parts that broke were parts that bolt on. (shiny black color in the photo above). We opted to go with a later model casting that belongs on a 1919 or later car and has the option of accepting a gear drive generator in this location. (or as shown in the picture even an alternator)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7xihbyeZo7qGbAU-Ye2DPtuBSekLfWLBwTeTfwvB4vPmAmTWZvyYuWVf7prg8JIP2HC5BpTDwGYh9UujuCWtyhfuppcup0ZLqZmqZwkr8CvVD59WJM3X8ReIdb2WbbeI1ae5rKhGjJ4/s1600/sheet+music+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7xihbyeZo7qGbAU-Ye2DPtuBSekLfWLBwTeTfwvB4vPmAmTWZvyYuWVf7prg8JIP2HC5BpTDwGYh9UujuCWtyhfuppcup0ZLqZmqZwkr8CvVD59WJM3X8ReIdb2WbbeI1ae5rKhGjJ4/s320/sheet+music+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheet music cover page</td></tr>
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Some friends of ours were gifted these booklets of sheet music that have early car themes. The titles are just hilarious!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6PMfolYZcyiRh49NkikAkiay9Ar3yx4y25V6lnxeO8Bd_ifdmX2EGiTMQJRgC8ZdH98xU1JrfXvtKlcZUUP95DPoqCmi6xjfq-pJcaLfQjUxUaFbqjvBK-FTB4qLFjpCCXUAfV-qW6s/s1600/music2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6PMfolYZcyiRh49NkikAkiay9Ar3yx4y25V6lnxeO8Bd_ifdmX2EGiTMQJRgC8ZdH98xU1JrfXvtKlcZUUP95DPoqCmi6xjfq-pJcaLfQjUxUaFbqjvBK-FTB4qLFjpCCXUAfV-qW6s/s320/music2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More music -Henry Made a Lady out of Lizzie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_B__Z6q4ptYb-KIUL31vzditC835gMCTPVlXzXn5ALT3gHGGz3KruUY1P-aMjQklu9fMnU4oSQkvgVGP4O1AI_7MqWg-yqrkWIqNkK3HoVJP4WE5QtDetIC_eXJS9BCtS2WJUxbkA30/s1600/music3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_B__Z6q4ptYb-KIUL31vzditC835gMCTPVlXzXn5ALT3gHGGz3KruUY1P-aMjQklu9fMnU4oSQkvgVGP4O1AI_7MqWg-yqrkWIqNkK3HoVJP4WE5QtDetIC_eXJS9BCtS2WJUxbkA30/s320/music3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheet music with a motoring theme</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVnltteTze4zXScrcXAR8Kds58tt_RofGms7Vz5RqJupZbiZVOAOObEfqaxZRnNGVZ_Mcaom0kvVhlOM4SnXQywPw-9yoLyM91RuXHEW80Cru8lH4cJkFAQSrC5TG-DhhhyphenhyphenD1ksybaEg/s1600/music4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVnltteTze4zXScrcXAR8Kds58tt_RofGms7Vz5RqJupZbiZVOAOObEfqaxZRnNGVZ_Mcaom0kvVhlOM4SnXQywPw-9yoLyM91RuXHEW80Cru8lH4cJkFAQSrC5TG-DhhhyphenhyphenD1ksybaEg/s320/music4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music to drive a Ford by- you could whistle it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgxBpKzTPPyQm3_J_y5xdOaMYY8wzK2807nobwEYuLIpWu1LkjSO-op24F0va5Zqu4_bW-DdZtMSRrBEb8eV9XVIVBC3EAc6z1uvxnShUa3gU3kGWytWmuk6CFdmI8OYTxfUtXN1H5oU/s1600/music5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgxBpKzTPPyQm3_J_y5xdOaMYY8wzK2807nobwEYuLIpWu1LkjSO-op24F0va5Zqu4_bW-DdZtMSRrBEb8eV9XVIVBC3EAc6z1uvxnShUa3gU3kGWytWmuk6CFdmI8OYTxfUtXN1H5oU/s320/music5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A love story in a song about two cars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoSdoZrcOQEG7lXVxcIUzSFvLSYz7wXtzW3-pHhMsDcPGmu_ZAkEqnEBjnQGfrCI6NcbT0ABneoLAVy9WAfbJRhGTtgAoe-Fj_oGD-FaQkW6qtmm6Jj27NBbddHICZ005j_Q4EtB07bY/s1600/rain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoSdoZrcOQEG7lXVxcIUzSFvLSYz7wXtzW3-pHhMsDcPGmu_ZAkEqnEBjnQGfrCI6NcbT0ABneoLAVy9WAfbJRhGTtgAoe-Fj_oGD-FaQkW6qtmm6Jj27NBbddHICZ005j_Q4EtB07bY/s640/rain2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain floods the driveway to our friends shop</td></tr>
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It has been a fairly wet Fall. Luckily we have a lot of shop projects that we can do while we wait for the rains to pass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxy-Xx_QCQO0EmoyZAoWr6I6uVEfVs84TnlyJ6_vTYkmLG7kM9nFZpPHwsCjZpWr0ou6EJh0eWJiFHNCGGEDd3wU3nQncJu_ADXGtaXDSVukdXwnXZkWxahrtG-gWhzVUHkQwp8tOMNo/s1600/skunk+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="634" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxy-Xx_QCQO0EmoyZAoWr6I6uVEfVs84TnlyJ6_vTYkmLG7kM9nFZpPHwsCjZpWr0ou6EJh0eWJiFHNCGGEDd3wU3nQncJu_ADXGtaXDSVukdXwnXZkWxahrtG-gWhzVUHkQwp8tOMNo/s640/skunk+creek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our favorite route to the hardware store gets closed when the arroyos start to flood the low spots. This stream is labeled "Skunk Creek" - really ! 99% of the year it is a dry road crossing.</div>
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Next several days are going to be in the mid to high 60's with lots of sun- yea!</div>
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-58119707480169873212019-11-23T19:26:00.000-08:002019-11-23T19:26:55.735-08:00T Time again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 67964</b><br />
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<b>New River, AZ</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmy6CGfpRvWhkH5gPHODm8jc15daL70ZSmvkFUBb2O4aqd7uz1vM2tgjznxXpCTTm2_EpDemlW_I8kyBKuZ5SqzMIrrBOjVT4Tslv2SacQhgBUjiF2my6lD9ANynyChbuyAYPTEyLMb0/s1600/1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmy6CGfpRvWhkH5gPHODm8jc15daL70ZSmvkFUBb2O4aqd7uz1vM2tgjznxXpCTTm2_EpDemlW_I8kyBKuZ5SqzMIrrBOjVT4Tslv2SacQhgBUjiF2my6lD9ANynyChbuyAYPTEyLMb0/s320/1917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The '17 Touring gets a scrubbing</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEgXjVWdwnJEXmPE7avPKxA1RufFChGpdCq9W1unYIIY2FBWhnbbAbrRS5VDT_8tIIs2Kcm15D8AxJehvqm9tePAO389sYUiTS636p2IC_CpJ6Sok_rDTGmwnorG6iqeOco_8coefgl8/s1600/Sweet+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="413" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEgXjVWdwnJEXmPE7avPKxA1RufFChGpdCq9W1unYIIY2FBWhnbbAbrRS5VDT_8tIIs2Kcm15D8AxJehvqm9tePAO389sYUiTS636p2IC_CpJ6Sok_rDTGmwnorG6iqeOco_8coefgl8/s320/Sweet+17.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new girl in town is a 1917 Model T Touring car</td></tr>
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We are back at Model T world and a new girl just came into my world. She is a 1917 Model T touring that has been stored for the last 6 years. Was a good runner when put away. I get the job of going over her and checking everything out. Oil change, water in the radiator, plugs cleaned and gapped, coils all delivering voltage, gas tank removed and cleaned, fuel tap removed and cleaned, gas line blown out with compressed air, carburetor cleaned and adjusted, battery charged (replaced with new). This one is hand cranked only. After some adjusting the mixture we got the engine to start, but the running was ragged. It took me several hours of tuning to get it to run well- and it was worth it! Joan and I spent the next several days touring it around our neighborhood.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1n46K_DeOph0aYyed1zO0b_HZIwJ01FH_clRtnVY7K8fqKmjn7zD_qAHAOCcZEPBGdqEt8USs-hCvDOi6kmWr914Ml1fuk-54On1iiVJ1cUSBq2a51bcPYRViivQYJqzLnrb_JJ2yXc/s1600/broken+fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1n46K_DeOph0aYyed1zO0b_HZIwJ01FH_clRtnVY7K8fqKmjn7zD_qAHAOCcZEPBGdqEt8USs-hCvDOi6kmWr914Ml1fuk-54On1iiVJ1cUSBq2a51bcPYRViivQYJqzLnrb_JJ2yXc/s400/broken+fan.jpg" width="300" /></a> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken fan blade</td></tr>
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Then the unexpected happened. A blade broke on the 4 bladed fan throwing the remaining three blades into a wobble that threw one blade into the casting that is the cover on the front of the engine block, and one nearly into the radiator core.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnQ0WotA4yPda_ewlEkApEgj6DIXKYzw7JlOMRyxf5cRc8Gb-VLrjrrJ625hsImw1bPT056AeJrPFAk1qSv9ysQEHoXwvnm2ViYszgPXMW8kYJoN6uUVECLTVFNqbXKIKjfJy3S_HMUQ/s1600/broken+blade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnQ0WotA4yPda_ewlEkApEgj6DIXKYzw7JlOMRyxf5cRc8Gb-VLrjrrJ625hsImw1bPT056AeJrPFAk1qSv9ysQEHoXwvnm2ViYszgPXMW8kYJoN6uUVECLTVFNqbXKIKjfJy3S_HMUQ/s320/broken+blade.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken fan and offending blade</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7ED2wVWN7FB8Mhknt1LgNYeDK4JF790n2RTAGmVmbpoX0nreI8m5jdWf6siNeqhHCu8wqa6ginuWX0iiWfm90EJaqHNfTXgO6_2oovcWTy0P_0U9HOXdW1pBUL66ztcaQtcEfxsvZkE/s1600/broken+fan+%25282%2529_LI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7ED2wVWN7FB8Mhknt1LgNYeDK4JF790n2RTAGmVmbpoX0nreI8m5jdWf6siNeqhHCu8wqa6ginuWX0iiWfm90EJaqHNfTXgO6_2oovcWTy0P_0U9HOXdW1pBUL66ztcaQtcEfxsvZkE/s320/broken+fan+%25282%2529_LI.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damage to the engine casting</td></tr>
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The photo on the left shows the crack made in the cast metal timing cover and the cam gear cover both!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF_sMluXNODBEna1Om2pRra1X7PNquD7T1oTkjmA7gmkKmkNk6fCeprl38jMDpdbV39hfKoQtdFLZLZ0tBIWWbh-ZvfpG_K5UvEN1gde3RUw0FekbFmPZGCeQwe1cSofdx2b06kiPW8w/s1600/storm+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="540" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF_sMluXNODBEna1Om2pRra1X7PNquD7T1oTkjmA7gmkKmkNk6fCeprl38jMDpdbV39hfKoQtdFLZLZ0tBIWWbh-ZvfpG_K5UvEN1gde3RUw0FekbFmPZGCeQwe1cSofdx2b06kiPW8w/s640/storm+clouds.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ominous rain clouds move in</td></tr>
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We are in for a spell of bad weather so I dig in and take the T apart to fix the damage. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkS9GR1tBgwaapQjGAldUFfI2HY0-6w99KBx__9w-k__JLI-eXBYggjS6TU5pRBvDl1lmbZcSNL-D6QDC4OakSe6PNUIzEStUeTiQU-LqTCxEsWmLDDPIUaQec1h5bE2p6AxKlN6qL40/s1600/exposed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkS9GR1tBgwaapQjGAldUFfI2HY0-6w99KBx__9w-k__JLI-eXBYggjS6TU5pRBvDl1lmbZcSNL-D6QDC4OakSe6PNUIzEStUeTiQU-LqTCxEsWmLDDPIUaQec1h5bE2p6AxKlN6qL40/s640/exposed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down to the heart of the problem</td></tr>
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I quickly decide trying to remove the radiator. Getting everything off without this step is possible, but taking the radiator off just makes the whole job a lot more fun.</div>
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We have a LOT of T parts around so we set out looking for a timing cover for this model year.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-qvLomYhaNW8xMVFe94WaCvlMTV-y1GuFEV6T960IygCRFjRZOb19HGw3UHzcaGJkNted_rqnrsFQstF0PdTO2m-vxCm453zFeypk1ykMn1Fg91fM1KSr_3fBNXRJhbFVukJ1SROhWo/s1600/wrong+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-qvLomYhaNW8xMVFe94WaCvlMTV-y1GuFEV6T960IygCRFjRZOb19HGw3UHzcaGJkNted_rqnrsFQstF0PdTO2m-vxCm453zFeypk1ykMn1Fg91fM1KSr_3fBNXRJhbFVukJ1SROhWo/s320/wrong+cover.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test fitting a later cover on and early engine</td></tr>
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We found some cast covers, but none were the correct one for this engine. This one is too wide to the left (picture left, <u>car</u> right), but fits all the rest. If I can find a generator mount from a later car, this cover will work- and I could mount a generator on this motor at some future date. Hmmm.</div>
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One thing is certain, the car is out of service until we either locate another original cover or a generator casting to go with this one.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHk1EcEQHf-1hao8jYKcSSBsMvhfgbQZiYWsK-cATtpO__-8uawy_gXVLWaZVGlw0VzsP6AjlszmrrRVmpAtnjThiQQ6BnqhkJvXsCExqD1fAQayLrSRJ58DRDry3byBWBdESOW101qHk/s1600/fixing+the+T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHk1EcEQHf-1hao8jYKcSSBsMvhfgbQZiYWsK-cATtpO__-8uawy_gXVLWaZVGlw0VzsP6AjlszmrrRVmpAtnjThiQQ6BnqhkJvXsCExqD1fAQayLrSRJ58DRDry3byBWBdESOW101qHk/s320/fixing+the+T.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning the ways of the T</td></tr>
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We are making plans to visit a fellow "collector" to see if we can find the parts we need to get this flivver back on the road. That can't happen until Monday because tomorrow we are going to take the Model Ts (there are lots of spares) on an Art tour called Hidden in the Hills. We've done this for a couple years now and I blogged about it here if you want to know more about this very cool event this link will open in a new page and you can return here whenever you want. <a href="https://wheeledhorizons.blogspot.com/2017/11/hidden-in-hills.html" target="_blank">Hidden in the Hills</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidma_Gt_wH_6fyv37ZJMPmIYUXN5wnXupyN0jDQZ5ka4ZhIvcfVrUuWuqew1ca1Deyef5FHvfVwpQ0qO8cZ_2Y1j4EG53lIIBbrZ-ieRm_z3NMJ5jWPmdlZz9HXY31u09JnWGZpBDlp90/s1600/rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1600" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidma_Gt_wH_6fyv37ZJMPmIYUXN5wnXupyN0jDQZ5ka4ZhIvcfVrUuWuqew1ca1Deyef5FHvfVwpQ0qO8cZ_2Y1j4EG53lIIBbrZ-ieRm_z3NMJ5jWPmdlZz9HXY31u09JnWGZpBDlp90/s640/rain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stormy landscape outside our window</td></tr>
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Then, just as predicted, the heavens opened up and the rains came down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9t_qXENMoxNz6G1WygUQnKINdTmYdeD6fuobTGx_adan2RIq_LMGE9Nfys9q5gqeGmeL0wdu8Vc4Lo4IyFphnc12h0UXTR1v_KdUzGeJ8rokZrqDh2zyEOywUito2ugCNE6KPGwwUMs/s1600/stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9t_qXENMoxNz6G1WygUQnKINdTmYdeD6fuobTGx_adan2RIq_LMGE9Nfys9q5gqeGmeL0wdu8Vc4Lo4IyFphnc12h0UXTR1v_KdUzGeJ8rokZrqDh2zyEOywUito2ugCNE6KPGwwUMs/s640/stream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normally dry stream bead is brimming with runoff</td></tr>
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Two inches of rain gives me good reason to stay in the shop and work on the T's !<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-44084923635000209752019-11-22T20:36:00.001-08:002019-11-22T20:36:36.204-08:00San D to Phoenix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 67,964</b><br />
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<b>San Diego to Phoenix</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTis_goPFt3SaCGRXhRwFycknqfZJvCTKa5Hx6iDy0-3Dgj1ruf1FfYx3AZBie6Ax89Xi7rRAFeJ4_EVu6Me29Z1E8IQtazrTPUVio4_wQJy7kfc5jyUEHudk9H9oI6oz0p9IzaLv-S-g/s1600/empty+on+the+gauge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTis_goPFt3SaCGRXhRwFycknqfZJvCTKa5Hx6iDy0-3Dgj1ruf1FfYx3AZBie6Ax89Xi7rRAFeJ4_EVu6Me29Z1E8IQtazrTPUVio4_wQJy7kfc5jyUEHudk9H9oI6oz0p9IzaLv-S-g/s320/empty+on+the+gauge.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuel close to E</td></tr>
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We are in a unique situation this morning. Joan and I are headed for Yuma for a couple nights before continuing on to our friends house in New River, AZ The unique part is that we normally tank up on arrival, because I don't like the tanks to have air space where condensation can form in them, as the ambient, and day- night temperature changes.<br />
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We are in this situation because on our way in on Thursday, we could not find a diesel station to save our soul. Joan started actively looking about 15 miles out of town. Usually we can find a truck plaza or a bigger station we can get into. We jumped off the freeway once only to find the station too small to get into.<br />
Resigned to our situation we went to the RV park and settled in.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhiuLJ7r094ErG5Mtr2_y-IijCJCUNvkfc_1bwHMRioxn8BRx7r5Z1VvUJ6I4Qj7KsQO5iXJdL6UPKoMXDc9-rt7kDjkwUEU5UlbkpWm8IahM5DlXHj1fzWQU3IU4SGlVuBHUXtRqc2g/s1600/and+the+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="336" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhiuLJ7r094ErG5Mtr2_y-IijCJCUNvkfc_1bwHMRioxn8BRx7r5Z1VvUJ6I4Qj7KsQO5iXJdL6UPKoMXDc9-rt7kDjkwUEU5UlbkpWm8IahM5DlXHj1fzWQU3IU4SGlVuBHUXtRqc2g/s320/and+the+light.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low fuel warning light</td></tr>
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We are going out on the same route, so our first chance at fuel will probably be 22 miles out. It'll be as familiar as I like to get with the bottom of the fuel tank in this beast.<br />
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I was actually doing fine as we headed out. I was feeling pretty sure that we'd see a station on this side of the freeway that we hadn't seen on our way in, but no. I have no idea what trucks do on their way in and out of here- but I will never come this way on low tanks again!<br />
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Just when I'd calmed down a bit the fuel warning light came on- I'll be honest with you- I didn't even know this bus had a warning light!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nOM1NlViSY0zw2SnE9VcJyEwSHrWA6wCPDNGKGhrNLDLmfz0-fH06qllcGBSc67TeIX_c8czO50N2wAs1X3JgqFOTe5FbekC8BaZZkxBGFzfmMstwIZ-rFERhrDYHbA0xdJbLKYqaeE/s1600/map+to+Campo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nOM1NlViSY0zw2SnE9VcJyEwSHrWA6wCPDNGKGhrNLDLmfz0-fH06qllcGBSc67TeIX_c8czO50N2wAs1X3JgqFOTe5FbekC8BaZZkxBGFzfmMstwIZ-rFERhrDYHbA0xdJbLKYqaeE/s640/map+to+Campo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An hour on empty tanks finally we reach our last chance fuel station</td></tr>
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We kept looking at each exit and sometimes we'd see one that had possibilities AFTER we were past the off ramp. California, unlike Oregon apparently doesn't encourage stations to put an informational sign on the freeway before the off ramps- we saw none.<br />
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Finally, when I was sure we'd be dead alongside the highway, we made it to Campo, CA and the Golden Acorn Casino and truck stop. If you read my previous blog, you'll remember that we are in the Rocky Mountains here- 4 summits of 4,000 feet- working the Kitty Kat diesel motor hard.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns9mBL7uUOa2TK91g9tgMG0S4IRJ1XkNByLlTmOsCovOihcS6ZOsMtRWMwmAhajiny-ZUjIhDmAUI4BNjynyGkGcCccy2PSV00NRLoUTTlqKLRYNodMpOxx7r6MBby6dvUM7Emvc6wFs/s1600/fueling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns9mBL7uUOa2TK91g9tgMG0S4IRJ1XkNByLlTmOsCovOihcS6ZOsMtRWMwmAhajiny-ZUjIhDmAUI4BNjynyGkGcCccy2PSV00NRLoUTTlqKLRYNodMpOxx7r6MBby6dvUM7Emvc6wFs/s320/fueling.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm happier than I look here</td></tr>
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Our motorhome has a rather flat fill hose and it is sometimes a real pain. The nozzle has to be held in the horizontal position for the whole fill. Our tanks take up to 90 gallons and it keeps you pinned down for the whole time.<br />
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The fuel this far away from town is usually expensive, and California has a 40 cent surcharge on their fuel. We were only going to get a few gallons at $4.10/ gal. and wait until Yuma, AZ where the fuel would be a dollar a gallon cheaper. Well, that was the plan... The uneasy feeling I got watching the needle settle on E made me put in 30 gallons. We'll get 'er topped off in Yuma, but for now we'll douse that pesky low fuel warning light for a long while<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7krx8ZM5_lDNj-NOHbGmyJSSWba8cuh1RBbvfqhg5yauJqaovXtMMzu6SyAYtnYk-8wZNZpP__P_z7M6SCZffU3dL5rMBa5lmdz_2W1eDV-vzNxfc6xBKQoCL5IcYH41EL_gBrJ7hvq0/s1600/sanded+air+umbil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7krx8ZM5_lDNj-NOHbGmyJSSWba8cuh1RBbvfqhg5yauJqaovXtMMzu6SyAYtnYk-8wZNZpP__P_z7M6SCZffU3dL5rMBa5lmdz_2W1eDV-vzNxfc6xBKQoCL5IcYH41EL_gBrJ7hvq0/s320/sanded+air+umbil.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air umbilical to towed car</td></tr>
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My happiness melted when I walked back to check on the Tracker we tow behind the motor home. We have an air line that connects the motor home brakes to a braking system in the car. Somehow the air fitting came loose from the car an has been dragging on the pavement.<br />
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Nothing I can do about this here, and we have towed without brakes before- it is no problem for this size tow vehicle, still I want to get it fixed as soon as possible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TBfVrMB2xDmoM8aQFuvYkhXFM2rVwWuCrIqmhr4E7UykgAif3i1_1qaGfOaxfVT9dGYwgvaj3Gtzj8DU3cXJoIQI5lJQby1oAraygML5tuiK7yd_u_oDHrJm7xX3sm94DuYXh1uQXzQ/s1600/Westwind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="526" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TBfVrMB2xDmoM8aQFuvYkhXFM2rVwWuCrIqmhr4E7UykgAif3i1_1qaGfOaxfVT9dGYwgvaj3Gtzj8DU3cXJoIQI5lJQby1oAraygML5tuiK7yd_u_oDHrJm7xX3sm94DuYXh1uQXzQ/s320/Westwind.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucked in at the Westwind RV Resort Yuma, AZ</td></tr>
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We finished the transit to Yuma and checked in at the Westwind RV Resort for a couple nights on our Passport 1/2 price card.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPuuNmwqIWJMdh4SRmKMBiH72O1sOGveJ3OT7pArbAVnCViPvkCkKKf9KEctp1dyenkarolvLtazc2idoELG8hB3pJPl1q4WvL2PNPggXOhnMI8uB6OkoBhfzsEe-G9-opFUSpjfjVXw/s1600/new+Air+kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPuuNmwqIWJMdh4SRmKMBiH72O1sOGveJ3OT7pArbAVnCViPvkCkKKf9KEctp1dyenkarolvLtazc2idoELG8hB3pJPl1q4WvL2PNPggXOhnMI8uB6OkoBhfzsEe-G9-opFUSpjfjVXw/s320/new+Air+kit.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SMI repair kit for the air line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love the discount variety stores that abound in Yuma. I did a hasty set up and took off for Wally's World and the RV Superstore. I had a list of items I needed for maintenance, and I just wanted to see some of the cool stuff they always have. I wanted some plastic drawer catches, which are getting hard to find. I didn't find them here either, but I did find some 50 pc packs of electrical crimp on connectors, some steel stakes for staking down my satellite dish, some screw driver tips for my impact driver and a few other things I didn't know I needed, all at bargain prices.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi9HLhgB275z-Jtas5ZI83UDRYzjxOZNgf6Zh9ruZkSBX1VbnirSMrzQ4_5K5vuj0SS0vU04EuJo63SXnGiL5-RKQ7q7bGMKx_HY-KcTffR-kWq16Gvg1I97FaTpLLYWym3_ZwaCIbeI/s1600/new+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi9HLhgB275z-Jtas5ZI83UDRYzjxOZNgf6Zh9ruZkSBX1VbnirSMrzQ4_5K5vuj0SS0vU04EuJo63SXnGiL5-RKQ7q7bGMKx_HY-KcTffR-kWq16Gvg1I97FaTpLLYWym3_ZwaCIbeI/s200/new+end.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good as new</td></tr>
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The next day Joan and I went to a towing specialty shop called <u>Just For Towing</u> in Yuma to get a replacement end for the air line we damaged on the trip from San Diego. These are specialty coupling manufactured in Germany- I'm glad to be able to get them.<br />
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In more than a decade of towing we've never had anything come loose, now we've had two things on the same trip- is it me or ?? Joan and I have a routine we follow when getting ready to leave, which includes double checking each other and complete lighting and brake check. Hmmm.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid16aZhz2d1SWR3WbrTCUb1dN6Nr3GTFk7zjYfJR8Qgw-0TIf3O-nEqhXiGaOh3JE1NKtwpZk2HUARYSoA6GG58rQ_O_S_71OVXYit28cZ0-LneP0-QuWxe2QwHvl6wP9MkUKUHIavOH0/s1600/Temp+gauge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="451" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid16aZhz2d1SWR3WbrTCUb1dN6Nr3GTFk7zjYfJR8Qgw-0TIf3O-nEqhXiGaOh3JE1NKtwpZk2HUARYSoA6GG58rQ_O_S_71OVXYit28cZ0-LneP0-QuWxe2QwHvl6wP9MkUKUHIavOH0/s320/Temp+gauge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dashboard temp gauge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The trip from Yuma to Phoenix is uneventful and we notice that the temperature is warm for November, even down at this latitude.<br />
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We roll into Phoenix and find a Shell station to top off our tanks before we get set up at our good friends RV in New River.<br />
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Home is where we park it... and this is pretty nice<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-80521269770722840782019-11-04T11:37:00.000-08:002019-11-04T11:37:39.609-08:00Exploring the San Diego Maritime Museum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 67774 mi</b><br />
<b>Sunday 11/3/2019</b><br />
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<b>San Diego, CA</b><br />
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I like all things sea going, so it was natural for me to want to go to the San Diego Maritime Museum.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ouWOpSwNF3RkejA5y78Al-mm3OPk9M8AWqst2sfBbOJ-XMjD3R-77NdANkmlb0Y0weAxJztmBWe0oHe9Yj9D5VnMJufRSQI2zL8B1IzXZOBI6TLE6T4oW3epDsYTkLOarL6Py9feTZw/s1600/Wet+Acer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="503" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ouWOpSwNF3RkejA5y78Al-mm3OPk9M8AWqst2sfBbOJ-XMjD3R-77NdANkmlb0Y0weAxJztmBWe0oHe9Yj9D5VnMJufRSQI2zL8B1IzXZOBI6TLE6T4oW3epDsYTkLOarL6Py9feTZw/s640/Wet+Acer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Before we could get started however, I accidentally tipped over a water bottle and spilled on the keyboard of the laptop. I am usually very guarded about liquids around the electronics, but got careless and it happened. A few days ago I had been researching how to remove the battery in this Acer laptop to do a hard reset. Turns out to physically remove the battery you have to take out something like 17 tiny screws and unsnap the back with a spudger. Yep, I had to look that one up- a spudger is a tool that looks like a chop stick with a chisel point, used to pry things apart without damage or electrical shorting. That time I also found out that this laptop has a pin hole on the back that allows one to disconnect the battery momentarily by pushing a paperclip into the hole- so that's what I did. This time it was a lot more urgent- I quickly dried the spill, and of course I was not prepared to be getting the battery out. After propping the laptop in a configuration I thought best for water to flow if any got in, I started removing screws, made my own spudger, and popped the back off. I was relieved to see that no visible water had gotten in to anywhere I could see. I left the laptop open and air dried it for a day before reassembly and I think I've gotten very lucky- I hope so anyway.<br />
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While the laptop recuperated, Joan and I took off for the Maritime Museum. By now it was late morning and we figured on catching a lunch on the go. Joan had researched parking and the best parking would be the County parking garage adjacent to the museum. The only bit of information we did not have, was that the garage is <u>under</u> the grassy Waterfront Park. We were searching for a mid- rise parking structure and not finding one, we finally parked at a surface lot costing $20 for 4 hours. Now for some country rubes like us, that caused us to pause for a while. Finally we resigned ourselves to it and I set my iPhone timer for 4 hours and we strode off. Our plan was to head straight down hill to the water front and then north or south , whichever took us to the museum.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzT2Mtt_FFJqnuCok0D4AjtRwyewwuC7zdsLbF5MUkcGS9lW3JvoSbHaWN6NmfMg8MOiBUYysW50gMf1ShePJWZw4v2d4mcBU21ULDbeGrxtU5rxgRK1p4uYcPS9Xah-pSzrlJKhT9l6Q/s1600/car+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1272" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzT2Mtt_FFJqnuCok0D4AjtRwyewwuC7zdsLbF5MUkcGS9lW3JvoSbHaWN6NmfMg8MOiBUYysW50gMf1ShePJWZw4v2d4mcBU21ULDbeGrxtU5rxgRK1p4uYcPS9Xah-pSzrlJKhT9l6Q/s640/car+park.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Arrow shows where we found parking</td></tr>
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Well... the streets don't go through past the RR tracks on California Street so not consulting our google maps (and look like rubes you know) we marched north to Grape St where we could get to the park and then south what seemed like four city blocks to get to the museum.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXHCFGa9ue4T24wfVFPHCSXPa5z_oxGnvjtqFIh0fuXCShBTkKd7_UAiEm9R0cV8lC5rI6Ea6WOM4gQcBlU0IhMP2nZEKUaScBSn6gVCn6x_coFBwieCFoEsvwNDcJXiy3c6gycjWl0U/s1600/ships.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXHCFGa9ue4T24wfVFPHCSXPa5z_oxGnvjtqFIh0fuXCShBTkKd7_UAiEm9R0cV8lC5rI6Ea6WOM4gQcBlU0IhMP2nZEKUaScBSn6gVCn6x_coFBwieCFoEsvwNDcJXiy3c6gycjWl0U/s640/ships.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall Ships foreground HMS Surprise, background Star of India</td></tr>
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Wow, was this worth the trip! This collection is awesome. The Star of India is the oldest active merchant sailing ship in the world, built in 1863. The HMS Surprise, under my feet, is a replica of an 18th century Royal Navy Frigate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGuQrO44tq7ET1IHEU_MT_MCl7hnQ6fuFkFebz9pRxCaqeWJ_Bv6j5-wCqUpvoyhDReIMhDUGSQHxw9YlyM18RbvMyUR8vTyzhshcivEhOLezdSfImfdUHdddaO1VkSOKPCAgvDyZLEk/s1600/B-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGuQrO44tq7ET1IHEU_MT_MCl7hnQ6fuFkFebz9pRxCaqeWJ_Bv6j5-wCqUpvoyhDReIMhDUGSQHxw9YlyM18RbvMyUR8vTyzhshcivEhOLezdSfImfdUHdddaO1VkSOKPCAgvDyZLEk/s640/B-39.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soviet B-39 Attack Submarine</td></tr>
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Moored directly behind the Surprise is a B-39 Soviet Navy attack submarine of the type and style used in the Cuban missile crisis.<br />
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This one's in bad shape, the outer hull is rusted through in several areas, and a protective coating of some kind has been applied to her<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5s6J22vPbzRFKxWA-xmOEjd2hYooClQVuKJ2jS7ag-pVAE-pFkLW2aUtIib0ZTR99ck2Bb6yXzZ8XW3R1CuyRZOl95maYphkPmnQucoSEJTNq7cFIh0FFygI2PEvYS1RFd5bZaOfYOM/s1600/inside+B-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5s6J22vPbzRFKxWA-xmOEjd2hYooClQVuKJ2jS7ag-pVAE-pFkLW2aUtIib0ZTR99ck2Bb6yXzZ8XW3R1CuyRZOl95maYphkPmnQucoSEJTNq7cFIh0FFygI2PEvYS1RFd5bZaOfYOM/s320/inside+B-59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan checks out the B-39 Foxtrot class Soviet Sub</td></tr>
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The Soviets had a different idea on watertight bulkheads than our submarine builders of the same era. All most all their watertight hatches were round rather than oval. Us old folks had a tough time getting through them (It wasn't graceful at all)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVwAmMy3Nr24xRUEz7VBbop1UHzVcEDd7YkNxCSH1hBkCCLtQnhijHueuFUFD2TlffVaFl_PJcI7bmu2pBGWAIQVYr2kQq0_jL1X8t72twWOOOnF0WJJffz8OnGz2v8e5DrLOpxsij9k/s1600/B-39+hatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVwAmMy3Nr24xRUEz7VBbop1UHzVcEDd7YkNxCSH1hBkCCLtQnhijHueuFUFD2TlffVaFl_PJcI7bmu2pBGWAIQVYr2kQq0_jL1X8t72twWOOOnF0WJJffz8OnGz2v8e5DrLOpxsij9k/s200/B-39+hatch.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soviet B-39 watertight hatch</td></tr>
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The USS Dolphin submarine of the same era as the B-39 was far more finished looking inside. the layout far more roomy and functional.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Id9G7shX-B0hMzOynEGf7_YLwu_WqkyD_k67X8bNytQu9GU7AJrBXB3QTEaUJyJqOjy_Oy1iPldQaTX3TSJuSaGMk_w4B3oNOetgqFoW-XQ-nfVl1kd7fjn8gVIGdLIf2i-7qYhGzO8/s1600/USS+Dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Id9G7shX-B0hMzOynEGf7_YLwu_WqkyD_k67X8bNytQu9GU7AJrBXB3QTEaUJyJqOjy_Oy1iPldQaTX3TSJuSaGMk_w4B3oNOetgqFoW-XQ-nfVl1kd7fjn8gVIGdLIf2i-7qYhGzO8/s640/USS+Dolphin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS Dolphin submarine and PFC 816 Swift Boat at San Diego Maritime Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBRM4H_PPxqK8fyWr62gveWGyBTpip7vPux9LrAanNmkHuym5iiMfVh3wbcGpuZDFZ_bfhyiLJ-ejgnY8aeQl1tUMijzYaU-kldZXpIT3jAeiAss1PvLL8H0BB_Edcw-fDzvstztDTno/s1600/Jeff+in+Dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBRM4H_PPxqK8fyWr62gveWGyBTpip7vPux9LrAanNmkHuym5iiMfVh3wbcGpuZDFZ_bfhyiLJ-ejgnY8aeQl1tUMijzYaU-kldZXpIT3jAeiAss1PvLL8H0BB_Edcw-fDzvstztDTno/s320/Jeff+in+Dolphin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capt'n Jeff at the periscope</td></tr>
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The Dolphin felt much more modern in every way. <br />
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The Dolphin was launched from Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine in 1968, and immediately set a new depth record that we are told, still holds today! She sent the first laser communication to an aircraft, sent and received the first underwater email.<br />
The Dolphin was the last US non-nuclear submarine and had a long career of 38 years<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCjCabon15zFF9JGjfvf6N5ZF2HbAqtEq79tZkWN_8XfuE7ipF7eMdnRqsx_W7GX4VLuO1TYLH2n6SqC1cA7CcXWlL-P5qAPO4fuEOIMPb0Xyd_b11dOTOe_5HP6HEjNKsSf-KG65zIk/s1600/Dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="640" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCjCabon15zFF9JGjfvf6N5ZF2HbAqtEq79tZkWN_8XfuE7ipF7eMdnRqsx_W7GX4VLuO1TYLH2n6SqC1cA7CcXWlL-P5qAPO4fuEOIMPb0Xyd_b11dOTOe_5HP6HEjNKsSf-KG65zIk/s640/Dolphin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Control Room USS Dolphin</td></tr>
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The ferry boat that seems to be the center of everything here at the pier, is actually a floating museum. Your admission gets you access to everything we've talked about here, and a lot more. There are tours you can take of the harbor that launch from here on the Swift Boat a Pilot boat, or a Revenue Cutter, for an additional fee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpxHU4U4u7RvcUY7DgPe3o3WWSTCmVI9Fdn6Fzq8PqxHmzwVjmFb845_pMpCkUIa4kVk2lN3WS-hERuPh9zzr-44iNpGHTV6Q1pmSSYLZYDzB-kuESPsKLdf6uiCjoQ9PaQ45Mh24_Ao/s1600/claim+Jumper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpxHU4U4u7RvcUY7DgPe3o3WWSTCmVI9Fdn6Fzq8PqxHmzwVjmFb845_pMpCkUIa4kVk2lN3WS-hERuPh9zzr-44iNpGHTV6Q1pmSSYLZYDzB-kuESPsKLdf6uiCjoQ9PaQ45Mh24_Ao/s640/claim+Jumper.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Claim Jumper restaurant at the Wyndham Hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJG5IU5ZccyHNCMkcbdP_fU7D0irIjQSWHNbBA467AbOQv-Ug4Kc-MW1fE1giyXFZ5Zwph7_TM9IqgqP7dF_sNIS4kY7pn87jyiRC1sI10LEACAN2Yynb01ThA2bkWdjnvOsK52wlOmE/s1600/J%2526J+at+CJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="477" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJG5IU5ZccyHNCMkcbdP_fU7D0irIjQSWHNbBA467AbOQv-Ug4Kc-MW1fE1giyXFZ5Zwph7_TM9IqgqP7dF_sNIS4kY7pn87jyiRC1sI10LEACAN2Yynb01ThA2bkWdjnvOsK52wlOmE/s200/J%2526J+at+CJ.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy explorers</td></tr>
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We were getting famished, so we opted to head across the street to the Claim Jumper restaurant at the nearby Wyndham Hotel. We had a very pleasant lunch while watching the lively action of the waterfront.<br />
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By now we were closing in on the 4 hour time limit on our parking space, so we decided to head back to the car. <br />
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This is where things started to unravel and we were exposed as the rubes that we are. We headed back up the hill on Ash Street at the opposite end of the park where we had come down from the car. We both had different ideas of where we'd left the car and spent an agonizing 20 minutes traipsing back and forth, before I got the idea of using satellite view of the area on the iPad to look for the distinctive shape of the car park we wanted to find. We arrived back at the car with my phone vibrating "times up" on the 4 hour timer I'd set. Whew! We really aren't big city people.<br />
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<b> Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-21248632197238456682019-11-03T17:38:00.002-08:002019-11-03T17:38:15.624-08:00Salton Sea to the Pacific Blue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Odometer 67,774<br />
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Thursday Oct 31<br />
Salton Sea to the Pacific Ocean<br />
San Diego<br />
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Our plan for today is to head south on CA Route 111 and catch Interstate 8 west to San Diego. Regular blog readers will note that we normally eschew large cities, and the only thing that could possibly make us head into one- is a family event such as the wedding of our niece Savannah.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd2Rd9TqAVrZ-xa5CGTlSggsBW5FxM5z_up_EIZlPmiD3nxRABfFFH07pTj2cjHU0dSjfXf01l__cC-UYwOn174Pmgmtq6O7oWXldCV90w6-1OcyeSjizTuOcDlCGb99n84vnUDB6MGQ/s1600/route+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="1018" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd2Rd9TqAVrZ-xa5CGTlSggsBW5FxM5z_up_EIZlPmiD3nxRABfFFH07pTj2cjHU0dSjfXf01l__cC-UYwOn174Pmgmtq6O7oWXldCV90w6-1OcyeSjizTuOcDlCGb99n84vnUDB6MGQ/s640/route+map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had this misconception that the Rocky Mountains had petered out by the time they reached Mexico, and would be mere bumps. Nothing could be more from the truth. Interstate 8 climbs 4 summits on the way from El Centro to El Cajon. The first summit we encountered took us from below sea level to 3241 ft at Mountain Springs, on to Tecate Pass at 4140 ft , Crestwood Pass at 4,109 ft , lastly to Laguna Pass at 4055 feet. Many of these grades were at or near 6% I guess this is why I like traveling- it straightens out the geography in my head.😏<br />
We arrived at Mission Bay RV Resort at about 4:30 in the afternoon, Friday rush hour was in full ramp-up but luckily we were going the opposite of where everyone else wanted to go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-m6B9e1wnHEG6EaWx0wXec1jVLM-XhOY9YsSyZtJozKOq9fOl7fxPikF5O2kG3InqjA_PJgB2olR4-DjOOm6gj-3MAvGVQu93SbGssVrCYtFALOisrHRSg9fZt-UPtqE5PNN75WPMU8/s1600/MBRVR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="640" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-m6B9e1wnHEG6EaWx0wXec1jVLM-XhOY9YsSyZtJozKOq9fOl7fxPikF5O2kG3InqjA_PJgB2olR4-DjOOm6gj-3MAvGVQu93SbGssVrCYtFALOisrHRSg9fZt-UPtqE5PNN75WPMU8/s320/MBRVR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are tucked in at Mission Bay RV Resort</td></tr>
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We chose Mission Bay because it looked to be about the center of where the wedding activities are taking place. The Resort is pretty much a paved lot with holes for mature shade trees and utilities for full hookup- pretty much perfect for what we want.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz_Tk330SUdWuLVh_PlkKdIqPai_rwZkEh3m3TwJqdQU-ZBp6F2MrpU3VNuH_Pg8DuoMmY-N-wKTWmM5wdxXaK1KttNcz70HakDraP2iu9N519XRFneODO1mfnDu4E83RPlRYrGOIRY8/s1600/MBRV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="578" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz_Tk330SUdWuLVh_PlkKdIqPai_rwZkEh3m3TwJqdQU-ZBp6F2MrpU3VNuH_Pg8DuoMmY-N-wKTWmM5wdxXaK1KttNcz70HakDraP2iu9N519XRFneODO1mfnDu4E83RPlRYrGOIRY8/s320/MBRV.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission Bay RV our neighbors</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTbS52R6WcYNYU7TX9Md7zQGsc4nAY7eDoXerx4JOay-gWwnT-wK7ObFzc88j2WuyLVK51jq_LWm1OIPRbeYeKdS3rzSZMY6VVJjW2o4TJvYqCMKV7ikzunWnJ2vE-tCIYuWl37XFH_4/s1600/park+map+%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTbS52R6WcYNYU7TX9Md7zQGsc4nAY7eDoXerx4JOay-gWwnT-wK7ObFzc88j2WuyLVK51jq_LWm1OIPRbeYeKdS3rzSZMY6VVJjW2o4TJvYqCMKV7ikzunWnJ2vE-tCIYuWl37XFH_4/s320/park+map+%25282%2529.PNG" width="216" /></a><br />
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We are the big blue dot on the map to the left and the hook of land is called DeAnza Point. We have good access to the interstate to go longer distances and Mission Bay Drive along the waterfront for going locally in to Pacific Beach to the north and to Ocean Beach to the south.<br />
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After settling in we set out for a walk to stretch the legs and stop the buzz in our heads. We are fenced in here, but there are walk gates at strategic points in the perimeter where one can walk on the promenade around De Anza point and down into Mission Bay Park. We headed out the gate to walk counter-clockwise around the point. The gate opened onto a paved road which followed the edge of the beach. A really nice paved promenade with tall palm trees and lush vegetation on either side.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApeFXF4m9U-f3-pbDWXkCq9XsFs5tBU9m3d7sOruR4PB3gkX-f4ViyTy9Lpka0pNJBoAyIjETq-r9LFHEIenbuQR8OlAhEhfseXAAFheUb6dCAZvT0OIPgFKE6LvJwaVyHt8rIIHI4Z8/s1600/aband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApeFXF4m9U-f3-pbDWXkCq9XsFs5tBU9m3d7sOruR4PB3gkX-f4ViyTy9Lpka0pNJBoAyIjETq-r9LFHEIenbuQR8OlAhEhfseXAAFheUb6dCAZvT0OIPgFKE6LvJwaVyHt8rIIHI4Z8/s640/aband.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DeAnza Mobile Home Park on Mission Bay San Diego</td></tr>
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We suddenly became aware of the fact that none of the homes we were passing were occupied. This mystified us and we became curious as to why people would abandon homes with such a great setting<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6n2M_NtqXwxofconn_0hymeAMjHnoW9hq5A_mkrISHyVx4zroOqD2g7y3mcNlBVxtTMFCMAX-8CZMzteDsNUDD-jc0YHUkUg3KDzFP1qShQ70L-7o57LAZglT1T1XbXWCzvRKRsa4YA/s1600/moved+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6n2M_NtqXwxofconn_0hymeAMjHnoW9hq5A_mkrISHyVx4zroOqD2g7y3mcNlBVxtTMFCMAX-8CZMzteDsNUDD-jc0YHUkUg3KDzFP1qShQ70L-7o57LAZglT1T1XbXWCzvRKRsa4YA/s640/moved+out.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">moved out or demolished ? site where manufactured home used to be</td></tr>
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We had a pleasant walk though this deserted neighborhood, but couldn't help wondering what had happened. When we got back home, we did and internet search and found a very interesting story:<br />
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In 1939 and 1945 the State gave this point of land to the City of San Diego "for the use of all the citizens of the State". In 1953 the City leased the land to a developer for a 680 unit "trailer park" giving the City 10% of the gross rent. Every thing was great until 1980 when the State Land Commission reviewed the land deal to ensure that San Diego had upheld its end of the bargain. They decided that the City had not. San Diego was ordered to evict the residents and honor the original agreement. Another State law that had been enacted in the meantime required cities who evict tenants of mobile homes to offer relocation assistance, which San Diego reportedly was reluctant to do. One news report I read was of the opinion that the City intentionally hired a park manager with a bad reputation to make living conditions so untenable the residents would move out on their own. Services were cut, rents hiked, laundry facilities removed, and tenants who complained were intimidated. By October 2016 the City had lost at least two lawsuits with the tenants, but finally prevailed in moving out the last of the residents, ending this epic 36 year battle. The news this year (2019) says that the City has awarded a contract to Campland by the Bay to expand the RV park into the areas formerly occupied by mobile homes, adding about 150 more sites. Nothing is happening pending a review by the California Coastal Commission.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_PmPRA7wv6S6ec8YliD50Hz1OaTHvBQxqDJA5GNTYCyT-7-HT_Wa9q-XGRyCPgd6_7yZ7PUj9NDwcIkkgnPKLMWjTSfncU__QqQKkAYy9uowXyQ6gE5yJ3uNXv7mAjsiP5H9rpAOseI/s1600/J%2526J+with+B%2526G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_PmPRA7wv6S6ec8YliD50Hz1OaTHvBQxqDJA5GNTYCyT-7-HT_Wa9q-XGRyCPgd6_7yZ7PUj9NDwcIkkgnPKLMWjTSfncU__QqQKkAYy9uowXyQ6gE5yJ3uNXv7mAjsiP5H9rpAOseI/s320/J%2526J+with+B%2526G.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan, Savannah, Manny, Jeff</td></tr>
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I have been asked by my niece Savannah to officiate at her wedding on a cliff above the ocean here in San Diego. Family and friends will be flying in from Dallas today and we are looking forward to the inevitable family gatherings. We spent the afternoon with them at their Air B&B home in Ocean Beach about 15 minutes from our RV Park. <br />
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The next day at 5 PM we all met at Osprey Point and held the wedding ceremony as the sunset painted the sky and horizon a warm peachy color. Manny and Savannah, stood with yours truly, as I led them through their vows in front of 30 or more of their family and close friends. What an honor it was for me to be involved in this special way!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savannah and Manny Chavez cut the cake at their reception in local restaurant</td></tr>
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Here's wishing Savannah and Manny many wonderful wonderful, happy, years together!<br />
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Another surprise was meeting Joan's cousin Curtis and his beautiful wife Emerita. Curtis is a pilot for an executive air charter company operating out of Los Angles, CA.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV2C2QKIBlfYkLLeYfnB4lWdKf4JxErBQebKnUxzt1EAk4NTo-n0kgKhPfJh3JML4sMPsOJd_s5H6zUvZVuN1yADVQkNZGf6PNgDxikIsU8ZS8DxAN-LeZKaM2JXfJCld8fFzvO1126U/s1600/Curtis+and+Emerita+Bidgood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="472" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV2C2QKIBlfYkLLeYfnB4lWdKf4JxErBQebKnUxzt1EAk4NTo-n0kgKhPfJh3JML4sMPsOJd_s5H6zUvZVuN1yADVQkNZGf6PNgDxikIsU8ZS8DxAN-LeZKaM2JXfJCld8fFzvO1126U/s320/Curtis+and+Emerita+Bidgood.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curtis and Emerita</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirYUCgUUG6o5FU9fmJhFq3937VBhhOvbA_DiZRF0IjB2gtMZv8E4ND05KgJ4i1oBHSPmW4J-9cgIZzaSFJ6zZsDCwF-Qr1Du6syjAxq7a0fKS4k7e6aiZf4MVxOXnFApBcLD9HRRv0y0/s1600/Dessault+2000+jet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="296" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirYUCgUUG6o5FU9fmJhFq3937VBhhOvbA_DiZRF0IjB2gtMZv8E4ND05KgJ4i1oBHSPmW4J-9cgIZzaSFJ6zZsDCwF-Qr1Du6syjAxq7a0fKS4k7e6aiZf4MVxOXnFApBcLD9HRRv0y0/s200/Dessault+2000+jet.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dessault 2000 Falcon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falcon Cockpit</td></tr>
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Curtis flies the Dassault 2000 Falcon business jet made in France- sounds like FUN! We hope now that we have re-established contact that it won't be so long til we see the two of them again.<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-39348130178497171242019-11-01T22:42:00.000-07:002019-11-01T22:42:00.028-07:00Having Fun on our Way There<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 67,599 miles<br />
Salton Sea, California<br />
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We are heading to the Salton Sea- again! Here is our route for the next several days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5qilIAmS6wvxEiT9GO5DwB7ILx9gV0Q2NikzOLI5WtJn2HkvObor_Pg-MusL9bLEZZrr5OHZQobWXPv2yCL3qV7wLNTrDVSLmLrszRNvEgqxNsfmiQd2SbGUYMi35OvHE76CUtUDa4U/s1600/Hawthorne+to+FOY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="753" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5qilIAmS6wvxEiT9GO5DwB7ILx9gV0Q2NikzOLI5WtJn2HkvObor_Pg-MusL9bLEZZrr5OHZQobWXPv2yCL3qV7wLNTrDVSLmLrszRNvEgqxNsfmiQd2SbGUYMi35OvHE76CUtUDa4U/s640/Hawthorne+to+FOY.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>
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We had a pleasant journey from Susanville to Hawthorne, Nevada. We made our usual late start from Susanville, getting rolling at around 10:30, actually later than is customary even for us. I really messed up in Reno though. I missed the exit I wanted to take to get fuel on our way into Reno, and thought I'll have Joan keep an eye out for another station that looks promising. We spotted the multi-color soccer ball sign that Kroger uses for their fuel stations and took the exit. We immediately plunged into a massive road construction project that we couldn't have seen from the freeway. No problem we got to the Smith's store and the fuel pumps. The pumps were very busy and we only had two places we could get in for diesel- so I waited at the curb while Joan stood in line shooing away interlopers. When we finally got into place and started fueling we found there was a problem with the pump, the flow was substantially restricted for some reason and it took 15 minutes to get about 13 gallons. At this rate we'd be here another 45 minutes. Grrr! I hung up the nozzle and abandoned that plan. On our way back to the freeway we got caught up in the construction big time. It took us several miles to get back to an on-ramp. Now I was steaming! I only wanted to fuel up in Reno thinking it would be cheaper here than further out in the desert, but we had enough on board to make Hawthorne easily. The route we chose to get to US 95 south was to take Nevada 341 to Alt 95 and head toward Yerington. It's not shorter, just different, it probably cost us a few minutes, but we like to see different things when we can. We sailed down US 95 and made Hawthorne by mid afternoon.<br />
We got set-up in Whiskey Flats RV Resort for a couple of nights.<br />
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We decided to stay a couple nights here because Joan is excited about seeing the ghost town of Bodie, California which is about 30 miles west of here, while I was hoping to see the Hawthorne Ordinance Museum. By the time we got the RV set-up it was 3:30 PM and I found out the museum closes at 4:00 PM. I won't get there today I guess.<br />
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A trip to Bodie over the back roads was only about 30 miles from here and the TV weather forecast brought the news that tomorrow would be sunny and warm. So we packed a lunch and headed out in the Tracker.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1E1LzpkMnEt9w_7hVfGZfpCMYsUtNDDVmH5VxBOFlwys6t6PiRmPPO880QXvMDbhrqSDpw3h1k2aKh7ANhQVQctp0HvJF920UgNIm7tMANsxblgZsktvb5X9ULrGTNko9YN_KA77zJc/s1600/Tunnel+of+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1E1LzpkMnEt9w_7hVfGZfpCMYsUtNDDVmH5VxBOFlwys6t6PiRmPPO880QXvMDbhrqSDpw3h1k2aKh7ANhQVQctp0HvJF920UgNIm7tMANsxblgZsktvb5X9ULrGTNko9YN_KA77zJc/s320/Tunnel+of+trees.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glowing Aspens in the creek bottom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroiQULK7Q_GzHtPJ9-24nU4av9mZ2pRgKKuiQwwCKTGV8OytMLAw9_EWGXgxDb89XDM7dvAVRKjSYyhVslSDi_F-7etR98nesVyz1y53QO5C0g7nrYcyAT6NcJiPoLczLOKQ33H_s5ps/s1600/road+to+Bodie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroiQULK7Q_GzHtPJ9-24nU4av9mZ2pRgKKuiQwwCKTGV8OytMLAw9_EWGXgxDb89XDM7dvAVRKjSYyhVslSDi_F-7etR98nesVyz1y53QO5C0g7nrYcyAT6NcJiPoLczLOKQ33H_s5ps/s320/road+to+Bodie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back way into Bodie from Nevada side</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ate some dust- you should see the inside!</td></tr>
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Some parts of the road had just been graded, so we were very lucky. Even with grading we seldom were able to go more than 25 mph- lots of boulder sized rock, shallow ruts, and some heavy mud. And did I mention DUST? Soft, floury, fine, fluffy, floating, airborne, churning, choking, cloud-forming- dust!<br />
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The scenery was spectacular, with the Aspens resplendent in the sun and the majestic high canyon walls of Bodie Creek. With out pushing it, it took about 2 hours to traverse the 30 some miles from Hawthorne to Bodie.<br />
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The trip was sure worth it! The buildings and grounds are incredible. The story is that one of the major landowners in the area hired caretakers to protect the buildings from being vandalized or looted during the 50s and early 60s, until California State Parks purchased the town in 1962.<br />
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The Parks Department does do patch and repair work on the structures to stabilize the building roof walls and foundations preserved in a state of "arrested decay"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO38T9KrDx-QTraGMwZ73Urqje-FZ71S8geheFXsRwhAmlHXKwR1b6XmHvpVIRQpyjBeGvy_1NBdhrgbSE_dV4lQCwKxwic_jOiYRmzcN99AFas8FE8NaMIcUHewF68s5R2x48cKctTOg/s1600/IMG_9101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO38T9KrDx-QTraGMwZ73Urqje-FZ71S8geheFXsRwhAmlHXKwR1b6XmHvpVIRQpyjBeGvy_1NBdhrgbSE_dV4lQCwKxwic_jOiYRmzcN99AFas8FE8NaMIcUHewF68s5R2x48cKctTOg/s640/IMG_9101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Standard Mill in Bodie, California as it was re-built in 1899 after a disastrous fire</td></tr>
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The Standard Stamp Mill shown above was the most successful or the 30 some mining companies in the area. Renamed the Standard in 1877, they produced over 18 million in gold during 38 years of operations.<br />
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The Standard Mill was one of the first mines to have electricity delivered from a substantial ways away by using alternating current electricity. In 1893 Standard had a hydroelectric plant 13 miles away and used poles and wire, much like we do today. Before this most installations would have generators producing DC current and the generators would have been at the same site as the motor it drove.<br />
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Electricity <span style="font-size: 16px; text-indent: 48px;"> ran 20 stamps, 4 concentrators, 8 pans, 3 settlers, and 1 agitator.</span><span style="font-size: 16px; text-indent: 48px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; text-indent: 48px;">A transformer at the mill provided 100-volt current to light the building’s interior and adjoining offices. It would be 17 more years before the small town of Bodie had electricity to its shops and residences in 1910.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken through the window of a dry goods store</td></tr>
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What a fun afternoon! This is the real deal, and it was fun to envision life in these parts so many years ago. More that 150 million dollars of gold has been extracted from this site over the years. By 1915 most of the gold had played out and the Bodie to Hawthorne railroad was abandoned. In 1942 the government stopped "non essential" gold mining in favor of copper for the war years. Most of the remaining residents moved away. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfeWxvXdEdgDqXM3W1h4nFegYgsiHV1Er5iUvDw571-YW0e39Fe_dF9flwDC4f4NqGm2BeaVxeqn5n-xZ-r36BFYEUBfrt3RPnpJKL7QDB2Zrw_hbT9vS2ElHQvjICFuqRnGrki8kEYw/s1600/long+way+to+bodie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="730" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfeWxvXdEdgDqXM3W1h4nFegYgsiHV1Er5iUvDw571-YW0e39Fe_dF9flwDC4f4NqGm2BeaVxeqn5n-xZ-r36BFYEUBfrt3RPnpJKL7QDB2Zrw_hbT9vS2ElHQvjICFuqRnGrki8kEYw/s640/long+way+to+bodie.jpg" width="598" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Return route from Bodie back to Hawthorne, NV</td></tr>
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Joan and I decided to take the "long way around" on good roads back to Hawthorne, just to see something new. 30 miles off-highway becomes 80 miles by highway!<br />
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The route back to Hawthorne takes us up to the top of Conway summit on US Hwy 395 at an elevation of 8138 feet. For us sea level dwellers, it gets hard to find any oxygen in the air up here. As we drop off the summit down towards Mono Lake, we stop to take in the view and admire this <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">endorheic lake, a lake with no outlet. This beautiful lake was nearly drained by the thirsty citizens of LA. In 1941 the Los Angeles Dept of Water bought up the water rights to the tributaries of the lake and diverted them 350 miles south. Over the next 16 years the lake level dropped 45 feet before concerned citizens got a court order requiring LA to leave a little water in the streams to keep the lake level stable. The name Mono is a shortening of the Yokut Indian name for the lake- "Monachi".</span></span><br />
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Tonight an arctic wind is predicted to plunge the mercury from a balmy 70 down to the 30s.<br />
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Sunday, we continued our journey south from Hawthorne to Tonopah (actually easterly) we had a stiff cross wind, but the bus handled it pretty well. As we made the turn south at Tonopah we'd get a tailwind- yeah! We both remembered a McDonalds with good parking at the far (south) end of Tonopah and decided that it would save time and dishes if we stopped there for a salad. Well, we either remembered incorrectly or it was torn down, because there was no fast food at all where we remembered seeing it. We drove on to a chain-up area (no snow!) and pulled over and heated up soup and made sandwiches for lunch- better for us anyway.<br />
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The wind had died down a lot, but what there was, was on our tail. We have decided to stop in Pahrump for a couple of nights to let the wind settle down and to do some local exploring. I have skinned up one of our safety cables on the tow bar and I'll see if I can find a replacement in town. We find the Preferred RV Resort in Pahrump to be very nice and it accepts our Passport card for 1/2 price for two days!<br />
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Tuesday we are on the road again, this leg of the trip is to one of my favorite spots in the southwest- the Fountain of Youth RV Resort near Niland, CA in the hills above the Salton Sea.<br />
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There is very little of interest in the area here, but the resort itself is very intriguing. I have blogged about this before [ <a href="https://wheeledhorizons.blogspot.com/2017/04/niland-ca.html" target="_blank">Click to see that blog (opens in new page)</a>]<br />
In essence what I like about the RV site is that it is terraced up the side of the hill so each level gets a view, there are several pools and hot spas, the people are friendly, it's super quiet, and the skies are alive with stars at night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzV3OEhywUaem6ETclm4GNq7w0PcvwJCyoRlCgeMaEG8HiRukjDFO1Qq9xOJdahhTeUJN-k1KCsCTfmsYcjK9Y5zqwunl5LfoJpnT1ciu3-c22jII12XiKbDLNtORfkGTFfzisqRJqk4/s1600/Lob+Pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzV3OEhywUaem6ETclm4GNq7w0PcvwJCyoRlCgeMaEG8HiRukjDFO1Qq9xOJdahhTeUJN-k1KCsCTfmsYcjK9Y5zqwunl5LfoJpnT1ciu3-c22jII12XiKbDLNtORfkGTFfzisqRJqk4/s200/Lob+Pot.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Call me a lobster!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK-kw55BNZdP0mPYbBMwT_Av3KXSoeRrz0xuJAtJ99DUarDZfL6ALJBs2wTDix0qhbvRF0B51Tptn7QJvHo_lrNh4Ei6WCy9puYydtyAgLV4n3n0RukbPWBmrDw42cW1_czbaWkEV8WY/s1600/hot+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK-kw55BNZdP0mPYbBMwT_Av3KXSoeRrz0xuJAtJ99DUarDZfL6ALJBs2wTDix0qhbvRF0B51Tptn7QJvHo_lrNh4Ei6WCy9puYydtyAgLV4n3n0RukbPWBmrDw42cW1_czbaWkEV8WY/s320/hot+pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just right- about 104 degrees!</td></tr>
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The warmest of the hot pools is called the Lobster Pot and when I want to warm up it takes some real heat! Those cool 100 degree pools just won't do it- I want 104° ! <br />
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Tuesday afternoon when we arrived the weather was picture perfect- sunny and warm, clear skies. We took a long walk to un-cramp our legs and Joan made up a ravioli dinner, followed by a few episodes of Ice Pilots NWT on Amazon Prime TV. Around 9 PM we heard this loud rustling sound outside and opened the curtains to see the wind howling around us. We got ready for bed with the slide top awnings snapping and snarling in the wind, and the bus rocking under the force of many hard gusts of wind- coming one after the other. We finally decided to pull in the slide outs, which rolls up the slide top awnings and streamlines the motorhome. We slept fitfully as the wind rocked us on our jacks and screamed around the edges of the bus. Friday morning there was only a zephyr of a breeze blowing and the sun was rising to a clear blue sky. Some fellow RVrs had suffered damage to awnings and flags and loose items, but most of us came through with no damage at all. Time to head for the spa!<br />
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Next time we head out to San Diego for our niece's wedding- stay tuned.<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyL5WSWytW5JtSG5FM4DClQRMebBS6DUppv0KSrwYWXHpN2jbf6GbXcLK5fRH3qkxCCNSp7TcHtgV99qprI17YOGbfZ7rTTLOxhxU2yMQNT4dlRyiRMZXboHuA6U_44dYkQzSTiAbP14/s1600/MH+at+FOY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="522" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyL5WSWytW5JtSG5FM4DClQRMebBS6DUppv0KSrwYWXHpN2jbf6GbXcLK5fRH3qkxCCNSp7TcHtgV99qprI17YOGbfZ7rTTLOxhxU2yMQNT4dlRyiRMZXboHuA6U_44dYkQzSTiAbP14/s320/MH+at+FOY.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">All set up with a view of the Chocolate Mountains</td></tr>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com1CA-60, Moreno Valley, CA 92555, USA33.939562841448968 -117.1125684415344520.280770341448967 -137.76686544153443 47.598355341448965 -96.45827144153445tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-90971560405116503202019-11-01T11:16:00.002-07:002019-11-01T11:17:34.847-07:00Desert in Bloom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 646559<br />
Trip 0<br />
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I always talk about the "green desert" down here. Today I thought I should dedicate at least a part of the blog to showing you why I thing so.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87OrzhvZjXzgQN2VBJ4LqVZ02KJ9OYi5hqrPnTRbFN_8rKzhpxFejM5T6XAkDbEgQOOfmyFHkuMiVXQavozJhbMJM12UacYSndo0uYvXEHHiUXK9XskEK6ryKqF4HX0QovYPbSofuLv8/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87OrzhvZjXzgQN2VBJ4LqVZ02KJ9OYi5hqrPnTRbFN_8rKzhpxFejM5T6XAkDbEgQOOfmyFHkuMiVXQavozJhbMJM12UacYSndo0uYvXEHHiUXK9XskEK6ryKqF4HX0QovYPbSofuLv8/s640/IMG_0022.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brittle Bush resplendent with yellow blooms, is tucked between lichen covered boulders</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDWzje-o6OssGjCqp5W2eli0cF5c9TiGlf1oK6Q8PDPc4_JDGzCjM3ajaRO4RNZ6WqxOzY99YSwKy2K6_JsmhyMunx-DDlEpfW3QkgHbvqrozyPSfhJYP5s-_rnm49VhWZQCzrBQtD38/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDWzje-o6OssGjCqp5W2eli0cF5c9TiGlf1oK6Q8PDPc4_JDGzCjM3ajaRO4RNZ6WqxOzY99YSwKy2K6_JsmhyMunx-DDlEpfW3QkgHbvqrozyPSfhJYP5s-_rnm49VhWZQCzrBQtD38/s640/IMG_0058.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocotillo branches sport these brilliant red blossoms </td></tr>
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Ocotillo (oak-a-tea-yo) is a strange plant. Most tend to call it a cactus because of its spines, but it is not a true cactus. The Ocotillo can lie dormant for much of the year waiting for rainfall, and when the moisture is right it rewards you with a brilliant display of red-orange blossoms, and shortly thereafter the stalks grow tiny green leaves that cling to the main stem.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz4hTimANWygNdEqknd4DOWHNzNQ5JafysT5j5InNFdT3T3BKwSPhDNvYP95W6IHYdax0qA9Pbgo8-QAk02XndemnlITW5POE686Cf3RPIhhLM0Xs85GzctS7jOTuNrpoe1_F_s9MUEs/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz4hTimANWygNdEqknd4DOWHNzNQ5JafysT5j5InNFdT3T3BKwSPhDNvYP95W6IHYdax0qA9Pbgo8-QAk02XndemnlITW5POE686Cf3RPIhhLM0Xs85GzctS7jOTuNrpoe1_F_s9MUEs/s640/IMG_0478.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocotillo grows on the slopes above Shadow Ridge RV Park in Ajo, AZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cYo_CRdQpDgmOnlHsiWK55xwY5HcMV1SLfBH7p3lpBFpZZ0lYluIUxxliZwwOd6eQzObio0AR6aodwhH5UfD3NXoxOrN6e_tcLNiWxbidV6cMqX3_P0a_yZBdZFo6Lv5fpDOrVn0Yk4/s1600/Joan+in+poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cYo_CRdQpDgmOnlHsiWK55xwY5HcMV1SLfBH7p3lpBFpZZ0lYluIUxxliZwwOd6eQzObio0AR6aodwhH5UfD3NXoxOrN6e_tcLNiWxbidV6cMqX3_P0a_yZBdZFo6Lv5fpDOrVn0Yk4/s640/Joan+in+poppies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan composes a photo in a field of California Poppies near Hat Mountain</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKnSEy2fH0CPl8ABDNOJjmqRfFJkMZXVdf-TE6Ds53e67m28VgNWHdZGWg2eA7lTRiw0WO6YOkf53GfyjC0mZGZQ0tqcSL6ydhlDZC5bH-hxsro4hn1kUc6dBDkDSyhYax5gW8UhvxqM/s1600/IMG_0073+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKnSEy2fH0CPl8ABDNOJjmqRfFJkMZXVdf-TE6Ds53e67m28VgNWHdZGWg2eA7lTRiw0WO6YOkf53GfyjC0mZGZQ0tqcSL6ydhlDZC5bH-hxsro4hn1kUc6dBDkDSyhYax5gW8UhvxqM/s320/IMG_0073+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>In the spring the poppies start to bloom, and we have found a few areas where there are so many of them, they form a field of yellow.<br />
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Large areas of poppies like this are somewhat rare though. Most are mostly found singly or in small bunches.<br />
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They seem to be very hardy and will emerge from the rockiest areas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Organ Pipe cactus (left) and Teddy Bear Cholla (right)</td></tr>
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The Organ Pipe cactus is native to only a small part of the Sonoran Desert and the elevation and rainfall have to be just right to get it to grow<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cholla "balls" stick readily to any passing object</td></tr>
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The Cholla (choy-ya) cactus, is much more hardy and grows just about everywhere. Cholla puts out new growth that readily detaches from the main plant and hitch-hikes on any passing animal, or blows around on the ground with the wind. The spines are very sharp and very fine annular rings on the spine make it very difficult to detach. I simply used my boot to attempt to move the cholla ball off the path and it stuck well enough to my boot that I had to use my Multiplier to remove it.<br />
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The coloration and the sheer number of thorns give this plant a soft and "furry" look from a distance, but make no mistake they are vicious! I have seen people try to shake a thorny ball loose from a shirt sleeve, only to have it fly off and stick into the thigh or shin. I have also seen them sticking to the legs and sides of burros in the wild.<br />
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Most hikers keep a plier tool handy because without one, you have to scrape the thorny ball off with a stick , and those can be hard to find in most cases.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy Duster grows along the arroyo in Alamo Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXfHrKraY01AZyb_2X5X6FswvHD1bI_5iELCEGWLmlenZppiqdI6hUkJK258laxd5n_sNmsxhw_gGDRNIg-7gtBag3S03iDDgOELkWKsfzJkik5bBs33oBgUlG0-_-9e0gEQotQ62hx8/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXfHrKraY01AZyb_2X5X6FswvHD1bI_5iELCEGWLmlenZppiqdI6hUkJK258laxd5n_sNmsxhw_gGDRNIg-7gtBag3S03iDDgOELkWKsfzJkik5bBs33oBgUlG0-_-9e0gEQotQ62hx8/s320/IMG_0379.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert Sand Verbena</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrinlkfq3eyJ3ozdgPIuvVU-11AdgXmL1cVHXktp1RTuGP-_QpvAE0XEiRFwgSG1HHlpWTY5LcOSMkP_-H2Fpvn02e5Sv87Aoy2r4lx3FY3ZpB4SHHjmlDOrIKBvT8Jp_Ri8sQdofyIM/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrinlkfq3eyJ3ozdgPIuvVU-11AdgXmL1cVHXktp1RTuGP-_QpvAE0XEiRFwgSG1HHlpWTY5LcOSMkP_-H2Fpvn02e5Sv87Aoy2r4lx3FY3ZpB4SHHjmlDOrIKBvT8Jp_Ri8sQdofyIM/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bougainvilla engulfs the fence in front of the Guest House B&B</td></tr>
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My favorite of all plants here is not a native to the area, or even to the US. Bougainvillia from South America is cultivated and grows throughout the town in big, bright, showy red blooms.</div>
Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-73415613418184528472019-10-26T18:07:00.001-07:002019-10-28T22:48:07.062-07:00Get Ready, Get Set, and Go ! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 66342<br />
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Port Orford, OR<br />
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Welcome back to Jeff and Joan's blog for another season!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pure Air air dryer with Haldex filters</td></tr>
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It's getting to the end of the summer and the nomad in me is thinking it's time to head south for the winter months.<br />
Deferred maintenance on our rolling home has caught up to me and I must dig my way out!<br />
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The scariest thing on my list was to replace the air dryer. On heavy motor homes that are built on diesel truck chassis, or a custom RV chassis like mine they use compressed air to do the braking. The air in the lines have to be kept clean and moisture free to ensure that the brake components do not corrode and to ensure that ice does not form in the lines and valves in freezing weather. To accomplish this, the manufacturers install an air line dryer such the Pure Air brand that we have.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the desiccant filter canister</td></tr>
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I elected to remove the whole system and do the cleaning and filter change on my workbench. Part of the reason was to be able to see what I was doing, since this is my first time doing this, and secondly I wanted to keep dirt from the chassis from falling in the open top as I removed the filter.<br />
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This maintenance is supposed to be performed every three years and since I live part time at the coast, and since I know that it's not been done since 2012- it has to be done this year.<br />
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There are two main hoses and a third smaller hose that have to be disconnected, then the heater wires have to be unplugged. I make sure that each junction is thoroughly cleaned before taking it apart, and then the ends of the hoses are capped with a rubber glove and taped to ensure no dirt or moisture gets in. Lastly the bracket is removed (a band and a mounting bolt) so I can slowly lower the dryer from the chassis mount and crawl out from under the motor home with it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inner filter removed from desiccant filter</td></tr>
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Before I open anything up, and while all the ports are plugged with tape or fingers cut from a rubber glove, I use a stiff brush and Simple Green to clean the exterior, then a wire brush on an air grinder. For the final exterior finish, I cleaned with NAPA paint prep and sprayed on clear enamel just to ease the maintenance next time around. Could have used black or any other color, but I happened to have some clear that I used on my car wheels left over in the cabinet and thought- why not? This thing sits right behind the right hand rear duals and it was grungy.<br />
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Picture (right) shows the reason you need to do this regularly. Water and dirt will build up when the desiccant gives up.<br />
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Next task was to change out the oil in our front hubs with new synthetic 75w-90. It hasn’t been changed to my knowledge- and I have not been checking the levels as I should. </div>
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To check the level all you need to do is remove the center hub cap to gain access to the hub, and clean carefully around the removable rubber plug </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5gP3-qILTa-_ImrgfAXFuy3KfRqyo6KUfwBRhANTIjfXm-kpuk2w_V9_7NhyIOTVeMdrrP0osgYmCrBCLwzaBdhBJlq8XJPP_b7HB8EY-i00_LvhSN-8mn0X4KDipRp3Nw5jEN3PTnI/s1600/Oil+hub+fill+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="507" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5gP3-qILTa-_ImrgfAXFuy3KfRqyo6KUfwBRhANTIjfXm-kpuk2w_V9_7NhyIOTVeMdrrP0osgYmCrBCLwzaBdhBJlq8XJPP_b7HB8EY-i00_LvhSN-8mn0X4KDipRp3Nw5jEN3PTnI/s320/Oil+hub+fill+line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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the hub has a clear plastic viewing window with a rubber plug in the center. On my Meritor axle the oil level should be between the concentric line in the plastic and the hole the plug was removed from.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An aluminum foil bib saves the wheel and tire from the oil </td></tr>
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I first chocked the rear wheels, then raised the front wheel off the ground just enough to rotate the drain to the 6 o’clock position and with the help of an aluminum foil shield, drained the axle hubs overnight. The next day I added synthetic 75w- 90 weight oil while spinning the tire around to help the oil flow through the bearings. I did this several times during the day, letting the oil level stabilize</div>
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between top offs. </div>
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If your clear plastic is not “clear “, as mine was not- you’ll have to use a rag on your pinky finger to scrub the carbon black off the inside (oil side) of the plastic to where you can see through it to check the oil level.</div>
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Time to start loading up for the long vacation.<br />
After filling the water tank with fresh water I noticed that the water on the hot side of the faucets was not flowing. I double checked that the diverter valves on the wet-bay valve panel were all in the correct position. My first guess was the check valve leading into or out of the hot water heater was stuck in the closed position.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This small parts fell out of the check valve into my hand</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check Valve</td></tr>
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This has happened to me before. <br />
When we got to Medford we went to Jackson RV supply and purchased a replacement.<br />
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On our return to the RV Park I surreptitiously jacked up the leveling jacks in the rear of the bus and slid under to open the access panel on the water heater enclosure. In a previous repair, I had made these parts a lot more accessible so the change-out was real quick. Hot water! Yea!</div>
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While we are at the plumbing task- Joan wants a new kitchen faucet - so off to Home Depot where we bought both a kitchen faucet and a lavatory faucet</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Kholer Brushed Nickel Kitchen Faucet </td></tr>
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We found a very nice single handle faucet in brushed nickel with pull out sprayer. </div>
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I’ve found the the Pex fittings the RV industry uses are hard to adapt to. I just cut out the old plumbing and use Sharkbite press-on fittings to re-plumb. This comes at a cost however. It undoubtedly sped up the job while making it 100% leak proof, but costs about $8-$10 per fitting. (Shinny brass fittings shown it picture above). The pipes on my replacement faucet were substantially longer than the original, making it necessary to use flex supply hoses in my install.<br />
Of course with RV Plumbing one has to disassemble a whole lot of cabinetry to get at the pipes. All went well and now I'm a hero...</div>
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We like the Southern Oregon RV Park At Medford's Jackson County Expo Center. SO RV is centrally located, clean and newish, and reasonably priced!</div>
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Beautiful sunset over Rogue valley </div>
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After shopping groceries and finishing the faucet installs - </div>
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We just had time to fix a quick dinner and crawl into bed</div>
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Thursday morning we had breakfast with Doug and Kathy before setting off for Susanville, CA on a bright and beautiful sunny day</div>
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Medford to Susanville is just about the right distance for us in the early part of our migration south</div>
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Tucked in for the night at Susanville RV<br />
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I re-learned a lesson with this blog. Most of these photos were on my phone, so I decided to use an app to load them into the blog. It worked like a charm- only it does something to the photos and I can't resize them like I would normally be able to do. Live and re-learn :-<(</div>
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<b><i>Your Traveling Friends</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b></div>
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next blog- We visit the old west ghost town of Bodie, CA<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-23350986151934859232019-03-19T22:01:00.004-07:002019-03-19T22:01:57.510-07:00Exploring the Betty Lee Mine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 64659</b><br />
<b>Trip Meter 0</b><br />
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<b>Betty Lee Mine</b><br />
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Today is dawning bright and beautiful, and the temperature is predicted to be in the mid 80's. Friends have been telling us about the historic Betty Lee Mine 12 miles into the Goldwater Gunnery Range.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZhhyUMDiqbfZoxGcigexcx3jRzpJFQgFjzhOa7KJlK7uLeL7xS6j22UWriu6JG9ToleYWP9FFXtNgGu-KPGprBdtHW_YoeVrYp22lfCBVycUZ0spCuQfWKgW1m6NrYn-47DKGco5Srs/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZhhyUMDiqbfZoxGcigexcx3jRzpJFQgFjzhOa7KJlK7uLeL7xS6j22UWriu6JG9ToleYWP9FFXtNgGu-KPGprBdtHW_YoeVrYp22lfCBVycUZ0spCuQfWKgW1m6NrYn-47DKGco5Srs/s320/IMG_0440.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice roads- sandy, but nice</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsevGIzrV7KfcTBpu4wsvHP-cTHdbO89CkbRhC1Y3in6e1nx_OepE2f4IsL7eFEJFs1tIdmPKU_A-jT7GfNi66gLRCDTMzQxbeQ-DxJpId8MILA9Eo1uFgRE42mD5alm1Ar3P3GmImkc/s1600/IMG_0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsevGIzrV7KfcTBpu4wsvHP-cTHdbO89CkbRhC1Y3in6e1nx_OepE2f4IsL7eFEJFs1tIdmPKU_A-jT7GfNi66gLRCDTMzQxbeQ-DxJpId8MILA9Eo1uFgRE42mD5alm1Ar3P3GmImkc/s320/IMG_0310.JPG" title="Sign announces the boundary of Barry M Goldwater Range- West" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs warn controlled access by permit only</td></tr>
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Joan and I pack a picnic lunch and load up on water. We can drive most of the way with our Tracker, but the last 1/2 mile is hiking up a bolder strewn canyon. The heat is tempered by a cooling breeze from the north.<br />
As we exit the pavement and enter the Barry M. Goldwater Range, we call in to range access at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma for permission to enter. We both have valid permits and in a few minutes we are good to go..<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnn6Vt1Wl9JChyBFtf_d0foHvCkqnHy44dZLy-RCXzACm70wy6qOERYPQY_rE-rPBHExxnxTd6_bO4RYBYByOwweXdYFPkw45Dm_xxe4_VHkWER6K5G35euCq8Ni_GPIf8JtIi8G5F7w/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Parking area for the hike to Betty Lee Mine near Tacna, AZ" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnn6Vt1Wl9JChyBFtf_d0foHvCkqnHy44dZLy-RCXzACm70wy6qOERYPQY_rE-rPBHExxnxTd6_bO4RYBYByOwweXdYFPkw45Dm_xxe4_VHkWER6K5G35euCq8Ni_GPIf8JtIi8G5F7w/s640/IMG_0552.JPG" title="Parking area for the hike to the Betty Lee Mine near Tacna, AZ" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan checks out the old stone foundations at the road terminus</td></tr>
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My able navigation, and Joan's expert off highway driving gets us to the trail head in no time. The "parking area" here is surrounded by stack stone walls, some with plank and sod roofs- worker housing and dynamite storage we are told.<br />
We decide to sit in the shade of a Palo Verde tree and have our lunch before heading up the gorge to the mine.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQoXolCYsyQh812vBMWZY4nmEXiWX9ZoR9JItf4prF6STsN-heufV48lFCyLUSEl4TmbHszKSgpD4FiTjc2T2rExL8vXxvV1gVjRs33O7-z2Hh4Ab4oY2GyMyCW1xdW2tjairWHGlfFw/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Trail to Betty Lee Mine on the BMGR- West" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQoXolCYsyQh812vBMWZY4nmEXiWX9ZoR9JItf4prF6STsN-heufV48lFCyLUSEl4TmbHszKSgpD4FiTjc2T2rExL8vXxvV1gVjRs33O7-z2Hh4Ab4oY2GyMyCW1xdW2tjairWHGlfFw/s640/IMG_0561.JPG" title="Trail to Betty Lee Mine on the BMGR- West" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan heads out on the trail to the Betty Lee Mine</td></tr>
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The trail starts out easily enough following the dry arroyo deeper into the canyon...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6B0Is-SJsoWfcdeW1Jl6jpXAOO8l0nkxhVUFRT2nCva337NnD4inKLyD692Vg_cdj67MhFFmIMpJB96lQd0u-BAWPGIr_lYTNrYgFBmutY-WUG9raz2HO6O9Ja3ap7eC2yOmv8AQxmc/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boulder strewn arroyo" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6B0Is-SJsoWfcdeW1Jl6jpXAOO8l0nkxhVUFRT2nCva337NnD4inKLyD692Vg_cdj67MhFFmIMpJB96lQd0u-BAWPGIr_lYTNrYgFBmutY-WUG9raz2HO6O9Ja3ap7eC2yOmv8AQxmc/s400/IMG_0576.JPG" title="Boulder strewn arroyo on the way to Betty Lee Mine" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Higher up the canyon, the arroyo is filled with giant boulders</td></tr>
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As we continued up the trail the canyon walls started to close in and the trail becomes more challenging.<br />
Okay, in truth I got a little off the main trail. I found a better track up on the cliff wall to the right, and it is just a bit easier.<br />
Notice the steel pipe in the stream bed. It looks like the miners ran a plumbing line from the mine to the cabins below. That's a lot of pipe!<br />
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Back in the day, the boulders in this canyon had to have made this a real challenge for getting supplies in and ore out. These miners were a tough lot. According to the Arizona Dept. of Mines , this claim, was owned by Glen Copple and Gust Svensson. They managed to find a pay grade ore seam that runs across the canyon and deep into the ground. The mine is, and always has been, on government owned property, but in 1910 when the discovery was made it was not a gunnery range.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9g4s4rQ7ja8mfPveRuN5_1QPeYpcLRFxWNlqmR8DvKGBm8gec-D5Dda0zN8Xd2pFKoGYcVGaaLnnamf1taZLzRYoZ2npJeVm4FD98EsZmiKfHCTTX1JSfuMA2n6cvEMitEWFBtON8po/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Flat area created with rock walls against the steep canyon" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9g4s4rQ7ja8mfPveRuN5_1QPeYpcLRFxWNlqmR8DvKGBm8gec-D5Dda0zN8Xd2pFKoGYcVGaaLnnamf1taZLzRYoZ2npJeVm4FD98EsZmiKfHCTTX1JSfuMA2n6cvEMitEWFBtON8po/s640/IMG_0564.JPG" title="Staging area on the old road to the Betty Lee Mine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat space is at a premium in this steep canyon. This could be more housing or working space?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OPRWvZCiT2c1aEYiKhXxDNj6ShOeG0PraEPmFPy8BQpZ-_FQUeB0QdYGz8TZNnpS5oS8RvQFWbpHYk1u9BNjf_f5lHWFYAQWHCRQFGM_zIsQqiG0Vy6k9hQ3RxojF32tcuUxOoS4P04/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Decaying lumber covers a large flat area of the hillside" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OPRWvZCiT2c1aEYiKhXxDNj6ShOeG0PraEPmFPy8BQpZ-_FQUeB0QdYGz8TZNnpS5oS8RvQFWbpHYk1u9BNjf_f5lHWFYAQWHCRQFGM_zIsQqiG0Vy6k9hQ3RxojF32tcuUxOoS4P04/s640/IMG_0573.JPG" title="Old lumber covers the ground near the Betty Lee Mine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage space for mine timbering- or buildings that were dismantled or have collapsed? We don't know</td></tr>
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When we re-gained the trail on the canyon wall we walked into a wide area where there was either a wood yard or an older wood frame building. My vote is a former building, but it was very hard to tell. Masonry and rock are the only building materials that can withstand the withering Arizona sun.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3S__rOMPCqHWgxODCNU_XBBOZZsQWzbPHG_JviNFXEiqpnH6ladJK473ldNRQLZJuQMVkDrtMEZ7SeB2CRrcQ-AeXDIn4isGcH4yOFpN_mxhw6tQUvvaxgylKyILUiSfvdW9Oyru0xE/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cast iron flywheel lies in the trail on the way to the Betty Lee Mine" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3S__rOMPCqHWgxODCNU_XBBOZZsQWzbPHG_JviNFXEiqpnH6ladJK473ldNRQLZJuQMVkDrtMEZ7SeB2CRrcQ-AeXDIn4isGcH4yOFpN_mxhw6tQUvvaxgylKyILUiSfvdW9Oyru0xE/s640/IMG_0580.JPG" title="An old Cast Iron flyweel from the Betty Lee Mine" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cast iron wheel lets you know you're getting close to the mine</td></tr>
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We knew we were getting close to the actual mine, when we came across this giant flywheel in the trail.<br />
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I cannot imagine hauling this cast iron wheel up the trail we have just negotiated. A short way ahead is another just like it. The cast iron spokes have been broken out of the wheels, but I've seen many of these on the old impulse engines that powered mines of this era.<br />
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The path we are walking on gets ravaged by floods that regularly scour these canyons. The trail most likely looked much different than it was back when the mine was in operation. I would guess that, boulders have tumbled down from above and rushing water has re-arranged everything.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRIlIwgrUNwfffPOHdYs99B__dTt8oYCSdQ-rtLYWEE45U5ot4qffkZVmdVFWJO6Z1Fde1HAHL_IFr5FvzFA21scOBt_jmeaw0CDrzpx3phwMjxqK03X64rP8-mXaCMnFuv7SHUU__v0/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="funnel shaped pile of rock debris near the mine shaft" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRIlIwgrUNwfffPOHdYs99B__dTt8oYCSdQ-rtLYWEE45U5ot4qffkZVmdVFWJO6Z1Fde1HAHL_IFr5FvzFA21scOBt_jmeaw0CDrzpx3phwMjxqK03X64rP8-mXaCMnFuv7SHUU__v0/s640/IMG_0583.JPG" title="Rock tailing pile outside the main shaft of the Betty Lee Mine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large tailing pile lets you know you've arrived at the mine.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIcHCnb5C5jHsa26NTFJAegpj9BVcQ7FSTHPuvxsqJjCJcHjPp9TQHfGNSt0RF2Iw7QSUtp_toWVsnzpJWiiOlMYGBDC9Qjw8BkfLnqlg7q6bx1-R4VPL1KT-3Jmxm2qaKMrdLnN2_BM/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A narrow cut leads up to the main entrance of the Betty Lee Mine" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIcHCnb5C5jHsa26NTFJAegpj9BVcQ7FSTHPuvxsqJjCJcHjPp9TQHfGNSt0RF2Iw7QSUtp_toWVsnzpJWiiOlMYGBDC9Qjw8BkfLnqlg7q6bx1-R4VPL1KT-3Jmxm2qaKMrdLnN2_BM/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" title="Main entrance to the Betty Lee Mine south of Tacna, AZ" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A narrow cut leads up to the mine entrance</td></tr>
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Around the next corner in the trail we are greeted by an enormous tailing pile, wood timbers and steel rails. I can't wait to explore! Note the stone wall in the picture above and to the right of the tailing pile. I later found out that was created for the powered hoist that lifted the workers and the ore out of the mine below.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY2g_9iRAMyA6oCmNewPeeUuj5SSPfiLN7fWrIPp5bJR_x_VU4diJ6fd0yNn-HZ6mwYwuPq4QDbN7s2Rp0YsjAS09a5aKasPgH_2Pb80F0FD5af8aYfC9sWHEW81EB82Z2kpPH3m-vMg/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Narrow gauge rails lead from mine to tailing pile" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY2g_9iRAMyA6oCmNewPeeUuj5SSPfiLN7fWrIPp5bJR_x_VU4diJ6fd0yNn-HZ6mwYwuPq4QDbN7s2Rp0YsjAS09a5aKasPgH_2Pb80F0FD5af8aYfC9sWHEW81EB82Z2kpPH3m-vMg/s320/IMG_0585.JPG" title="Rails leave the main entrance to the Betty Lee Mine" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow gauge rails lead into the mine</td></tr>
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A set of iron rails still runs from the opening of the mine out to the the tailing pile we had just climbed up. Records show the mine was in operation from 1927 to 1937. During that period they really did work. Diagrams of the mine I found on-line show that this seemingly tiny mine is in fact 700 feet deep with about 6 working levels! The narrow cut you see above (right side) is the width of the quartz seam that the miners were working. Removing the quartz left smooth walls on either side, and where clearance was adequate, the approximately 3-4 foot width became the tunnel width. (observed, and also in the mine reports on-line)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k1C6RbzhBtfdMYofFUt4APhI7zp7JPsR8n43uRO_tFpQEJT8qRLQLj6W6gwLodgv6Znsdfd2L4TCTwiED1mFZfCs40Ya1NzJ3oSbzyscJ7AFzbR_fBrUEbMPNJ-YxTcfv4sPAOFzZyc/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Light blue tinge to the rocks on the mine walls" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k1C6RbzhBtfdMYofFUt4APhI7zp7JPsR8n43uRO_tFpQEJT8qRLQLj6W6gwLodgv6Znsdfd2L4TCTwiED1mFZfCs40Ya1NzJ3oSbzyscJ7AFzbR_fBrUEbMPNJ-YxTcfv4sPAOFzZyc/s640/IMG_0590.JPG" title="Rock showing evidence of mineral copper" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a look at some crysocolla , the mineral deposit that brought miners to the Betty Lee</td></tr>
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As you can no doubt imagine, mining is hard work. Assays vary but the ore here was roughly 2% copper, with 0.3oz gold per ton and 1.4 oz of silver per ton. Records show that in all, about 500 tons of material was shipped. Pretty amazing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cqlh1Whw9w1DXhUMUdxVDUfEYDEz3wMi4iBaHVYpuSTVskktHQtF6dATBsj4HGaUyfQBV2bI48LmqgsBOM-FPbJqYUgi7aV03wHWeaP7CgdQorX7VfS1eSuLJmB7uXh5kvaV_74xuOM/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Old impulse engine and winch setup for main shaft hoist cable" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cqlh1Whw9w1DXhUMUdxVDUfEYDEz3wMi4iBaHVYpuSTVskktHQtF6dATBsj4HGaUyfQBV2bI48LmqgsBOM-FPbJqYUgi7aV03wHWeaP7CgdQorX7VfS1eSuLJmB7uXh5kvaV_74xuOM/s640/IMG_0599.JPG" title="Old gasoline powered winch for main host at the Betty Lee Mine" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gasoline powered hoist winch still stands by the vertical shaft</td></tr>
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The desert is a fabulous place for storing machinery. The levers and drum on this winch still operate! The impulse engine has been partially disassembled, but otherwise The winch with a new cable, and flywheels would still be useful.<br />
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Across the arroyo from the main shaft was another tunnel (adit). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIu-Q8xNTgZTIh__r5Ox6u6wdNc8BO-r8QHk_C808AFiiMztkOTeIzCIZeB3it_l4rUJsKG_GfJ6s9oJhVHKGaxRQ4465YJS61YogmamUt0jZEKXsUCBtjIR3Td6pU1R8jOWHevm2dq8/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tunnel opening in solid rock" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIu-Q8xNTgZTIh__r5Ox6u6wdNc8BO-r8QHk_C808AFiiMztkOTeIzCIZeB3it_l4rUJsKG_GfJ6s9oJhVHKGaxRQ4465YJS61YogmamUt0jZEKXsUCBtjIR3Td6pU1R8jOWHevm2dq8/s640/IMG_0608.JPG" title="South adit of the Betty Lee Mine in the BMGR- West" width="480" /></a></div>
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This adit is about 8 feet tall, and the full width of the quartz seam or about 4 feet wide. I learned later that this adit is almost 200 feet long, but its main feature for me, is just inside the opening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvof77WQ16XvkzBYVigEuzIPJtthC-rsEu6yRXjzLT9Lib2FCUl8u7hLRIb-Um-s-pFF4NYlHD89WNu_RGA0e19kpgq5_q8oyLHbPbc0UvBI6CTAebfIRnLns5SfAn_rDaxE8ta9AQozU/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vertical shaft occupies half the tunnel floor just inside the entrance" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvof77WQ16XvkzBYVigEuzIPJtthC-rsEu6yRXjzLT9Lib2FCUl8u7hLRIb-Um-s-pFF4NYlHD89WNu_RGA0e19kpgq5_q8oyLHbPbc0UvBI6CTAebfIRnLns5SfAn_rDaxE8ta9AQozU/s640/IMG_0606.JPG" title="Looking inside the south adit of the Betty Lee Mine" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">120 foot shaft occupies half of the tunnel floor just inside the opening</td></tr>
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<br /> Just inside the entrance, is a vertical shaft taking up half of the floor. I dropped a small rock down the shaft and counted to five before I heard it hit something. Later I found out shaft that goes down 120 feet! I have almost no mining experience, but I figured this must be an air shaft for the levels below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJOoVn5Gtv-2rXOWYiLxhVLBWgQbwUANcmD29tBw_MwDt0nJQTWmHP0r1i0Oi4OqtUt1Iy_FEZZnXgdZalGtXezcRzdBzLRFp2U3jdpoEXLq8K1sLbGAj4OrIP-3vzF62wpnDERGqeB4/s1600/Mine+diagram-+1-5+level.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mine diagram of the shafts and drifts of the Betty Lee Mine" border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJOoVn5Gtv-2rXOWYiLxhVLBWgQbwUANcmD29tBw_MwDt0nJQTWmHP0r1i0Oi4OqtUt1Iy_FEZZnXgdZalGtXezcRzdBzLRFp2U3jdpoEXLq8K1sLbGAj4OrIP-3vzF62wpnDERGqeB4/s640/Mine+diagram-+1-5+level.jpg" title="Mine diagram of the shafts and drifts of the Betty Lee Mine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of a mine diagram showing the upper 5 levels of the Betty Lee Mine</td></tr>
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Here is a portion of a diagram I found at Arizona Department of Mines, showing the underground portions of the Betty Lee.<br />
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In 1942 when the Department of Defense "withdrew" these lands to put together the Goldwater Gunnery Range. At that time there was no recorded activity at this mine, so the government hired an assessor to determine if the mine was economically viable. The outcome was "yes" which meant that the Department of Defense (DoD) had to pay a fee to the owners for baring them access to the mine from 1942 to 1978, when a new assay found that the mine would no longer meet that test. The claim was revoked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgfuvAPuRHqDfv3u3RLOPPz7uPNXCREk3GULHyP-IfpMoj8STTPg7BZwYDmB8YQMoUEuOJJJzyWXRzVo_IsDfLJ0GXnzpFrXqMYI3NjeBzOsPCs5d5inkmNARVaHqFIyNYbzzyDEKJ38/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo of the sheer rock walls looming high above the canyon" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgfuvAPuRHqDfv3u3RLOPPz7uPNXCREk3GULHyP-IfpMoj8STTPg7BZwYDmB8YQMoUEuOJJJzyWXRzVo_IsDfLJ0GXnzpFrXqMYI3NjeBzOsPCs5d5inkmNARVaHqFIyNYbzzyDEKJ38/s640/IMG_0558.JPG" title="Sheer rock walls of the canyon around the Betty Lee Mine" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These impossibly steep canyon walls surround the Betty Lee mine in the desert south of Tacna, AZ</td></tr>
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Joan and I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon of adventure! Time to head back home and relax on the patio in the shade.<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends,</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-4144228162749186432019-03-18T09:55:00.001-07:002019-03-24T19:27:55.900-07:00Totally Tacna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 64659 </b><br />
<b>Trip Meter 116 mi</b><br />
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<b>Tacna, Arizona</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsouRecTEcauGdWfjXlpep0VvziY6fLrFiYZFRy-gePtJ7W3jQx_wAPv60Rm0mKFc5wrNKXoQDcwF-q3-xSIQ3DnCaQlBV47q7tapbh_ngW1O3H0TjPPPYhxDfYW3U2bAR5ns7O8WQdNw/s1600/Tacmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="614" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsouRecTEcauGdWfjXlpep0VvziY6fLrFiYZFRy-gePtJ7W3jQx_wAPv60Rm0mKFc5wrNKXoQDcwF-q3-xSIQ3DnCaQlBV47q7tapbh_ngW1O3H0TjPPPYhxDfYW3U2bAR5ns7O8WQdNw/s320/Tacmap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route from Ajo to Tacna, AZ about 112 miles</td></tr>
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Rolling stones that we are, we have been looking forward to seeing another part of the desert in this corner of Arizona. We planned this season to move from Ajo to Tacna, AZ on the first of March. We have reservations at Copper Mountain RV park in the big city of Tacna.<br />
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The move puts us in position to see another part of the gunnery range. The range is divided into East and West. The East side near Ajo is run by Luke Air Force Base, while the West side near Yuma is run by Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.<br />
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My friend and fellow aircraft archaeologist Mark and I have some leads on several air crashes in this area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzcZEQ3-5n7anmVm580K1aRDdhvy49UgT2_RZgfn6PYK2qG9_e8B0kl5kBqTyowX1Yz7pa4pTNykc39bXYX49_JZMG_vRwKxPoPtIeuwhfqdNo1Q4ZzPJH7umxjLNSbqvQ-6U_KWxLGc/s1600/CM+RV+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1280" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzcZEQ3-5n7anmVm580K1aRDdhvy49UgT2_RZgfn6PYK2qG9_e8B0kl5kBqTyowX1Yz7pa4pTNykc39bXYX49_JZMG_vRwKxPoPtIeuwhfqdNo1Q4ZzPJH7umxjLNSbqvQ-6U_KWxLGc/s640/CM+RV+Park.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our spacious site at Copper Mountain RV Park in the town of Tacna, AZ</td></tr>
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Copper Mountain RV Park is about 40 miles east of Yuma along Interstate 8. It has very large spaces, paved interior roads and concrete patios. It's also very affordable at about $250/ mo. It is also very conveniently located for access to the Barry M Goldwater Gunnery range- less than a mile down the road.<br />
The town of Tacna is home to about 602 full time residents and a thousand winter snowbirds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cZuq6_ZWmpbXz1xOVuhTC5rPhXY6tvsECnECMrW6Lk-ZfaAuhCeA-9g5D0mrRhg9-6H6SHwtI8AXeJaSSTQbk6UesoIRW_UQnrN2P8FXW6bAnnq4MRqK4kCrEYT1reVOiSIatamG4_o/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cZuq6_ZWmpbXz1xOVuhTC5rPhXY6tvsECnECMrW6Lk-ZfaAuhCeA-9g5D0mrRhg9-6H6SHwtI8AXeJaSSTQbk6UesoIRW_UQnrN2P8FXW6bAnnq4MRqK4kCrEYT1reVOiSIatamG4_o/s640/IMG_0322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIrsJ00XVVvbBOaNarGWwHKD94CKXoIb8Jj4irb_-yrZCI2sMm8ADTsjG2Pp3QyusqpW2vRLgbGpgTuPSLRTc6IyEeBvRy9rzm21KX06OHspBAYGR-yxwW1W0xFvMxQPC29A9DuSPIJs/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIrsJ00XVVvbBOaNarGWwHKD94CKXoIb8Jj4irb_-yrZCI2sMm8ADTsjG2Pp3QyusqpW2vRLgbGpgTuPSLRTc6IyEeBvRy9rzm21KX06OHspBAYGR-yxwW1W0xFvMxQPC29A9DuSPIJs/s640/IMG_0323.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highway AZ 80 passes though the small town of Tacna</td></tr>
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Tacna's commercial center consists of two restaurants, a tiny grocery store, a Chevron station and a US Post Office. The Motel is closed.<br />
The town of Wellton about 12 miles west of here is quite a bit bigger at a little over 3,000 full time residents and it has a more robust commercial complement.<br />
The big shopping mecca however is Yuma, AZ which is 40 miles west, and home to more than 93,000 full time residents and an additional 85,000 winter residents.<br />
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Our first trip out into the desert, Mark and I were searching for the wreckage of an F-14 Tomcat, and although we had the wrong coordinates, we got some help from another adventurer and found this-<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNp_jMr3xzo_oSg3ILYOoTJS7AG4ntEe-eu1N3xD7tSXkHx8WjUP5b3u9IZpyYkPKFZTFM3eSqqsXjpQwHOvj6lDCT7Md0KKRps5lGmS3nraeSppwF7ddrpnCENxNo_c9geuhv9p9eso/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNp_jMr3xzo_oSg3ILYOoTJS7AG4ntEe-eu1N3xD7tSXkHx8WjUP5b3u9IZpyYkPKFZTFM3eSqqsXjpQwHOvj6lDCT7Md0KKRps5lGmS3nraeSppwF7ddrpnCENxNo_c9geuhv9p9eso/s640/IMG_0364.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F-14 Tomcat fighter jet crash on the Goldwater gunnery range south of Tacna, AZ</td></tr>
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We were flabbergasted! The whole plane is still here on the desert floor! It crashed and burned, after the pilot and RIO ejected safely. We took lots of photos and peered through the wreckage. This is the fighter jet made famous in the movie Top Gun<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8t6_F9VskU8h0s0Zv3NqtH5VksGycXbozXeNert28pX5xbCkY_6Tk3pdqVlV9IL34ZlpgdeTWvS_iG4JnJ-Hx_CE_JGf1wgO1AnuKxL5vsPiBV-jVv-VC_PssH3qQeuq3IIxybqre-k/s1600/F-4-2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="475" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8t6_F9VskU8h0s0Zv3NqtH5VksGycXbozXeNert28pX5xbCkY_6Tk3pdqVlV9IL34ZlpgdeTWvS_iG4JnJ-Hx_CE_JGf1wgO1AnuKxL5vsPiBV-jVv-VC_PssH3qQeuq3IIxybqre-k/s640/F-4-2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wrecked F-4 Phantom crashed on the range just north of the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge</td></tr>
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A couple days later we were given the coordinates to find this F-4, which literally had a road right up to it. Again the whole plane was there, minus the canopy and ejection seat. We haven't found out the story behind this one yet but the amazing thing here is that the whole crash site is just what you see in the photo. Normally there would be pieces small and large across an acre or more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7HKieKiDgPAbverl-pjfPpLRtJ28BNF_KCpWtpRW5Jrwqfmy4RIsqHv8dQi8rMui_x5oQXIGcY8Ria0AvPIko-AY-NalfcuIQAxGoe-u1jexanpZDqJgYZlsUNgylrOU0uizR5cr1IM/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7HKieKiDgPAbverl-pjfPpLRtJ28BNF_KCpWtpRW5Jrwqfmy4RIsqHv8dQi8rMui_x5oQXIGcY8Ria0AvPIko-AY-NalfcuIQAxGoe-u1jexanpZDqJgYZlsUNgylrOU0uizR5cr1IM/s640/IMG_0417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of a two acre debris field and the final resting place of a 70's AV-8 Harrier jet</td></tr>
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The site of this Harrier jet was more typical, spread out over a two acre site. The Harrier site is a mile hike in from the nearest road, and it must have exploded on impact. We started seeing small parts a quarter mile from the main scene.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVBt3FuqlbTl69cJRkqWU-dk1IPOJjyyaYNmoAWq5N3zlOJEd8Chje0j7YX7BJv0jW_qp_GfdBj0J1lOv54in3iOHVEDyxeRnNdcIR37KMdwYkQLMmowHnUQiF01dDUwLBibl5PExsHk/s1600/IMG_0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVBt3FuqlbTl69cJRkqWU-dk1IPOJjyyaYNmoAWq5N3zlOJEd8Chje0j7YX7BJv0jW_qp_GfdBj0J1lOv54in3iOHVEDyxeRnNdcIR37KMdwYkQLMmowHnUQiF01dDUwLBibl5PExsHk/s640/IMG_0334.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark climbs on what I believe is a mid 1945- 1950 Pershing tank</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD3ePzeZcAZpJurjFPpkWvlPFLiVSGFnmYRCQtnqO6KZk7ArNp547efXWeMfSPqW_nB8OlThIbiJRmUr06ug722HW-odPICzsMDWdhVNaomYiYn54Ur9Tn9ie2pRehCor8PA1an2ndA4/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD3ePzeZcAZpJurjFPpkWvlPFLiVSGFnmYRCQtnqO6KZk7ArNp547efXWeMfSPqW_nB8OlThIbiJRmUr06ug722HW-odPICzsMDWdhVNaomYiYn54Ur9Tn9ie2pRehCor8PA1an2ndA4/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drivers position inside the hull of a Pershing battle tank</td></tr>
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Also placed out here on the desert are quite a few battle tanks and other pieces of armor. This is every <strike>boys</strike> mans dream, to be able to crawl all over a real battle tank.<br />
The hatches are open, so I clamber, not so gracefully, down through the tank commanders hatch. I am now looking at the working end of the giant cannon. Below the breach, I can see down into the drivers cramped cockpit. A crew of five worked in here? It seems impossible.<br />
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Now can I get out of here and back on the ground without hurting myself?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a-cfoSK6YtoZbxfo6ixsoH3m-T1TFL4If25_L6oJOPZlBFaSxSZgrvYXyxHK-oV0Oz-atY-H4bgs7uCH8b3b_RKD6tEP_m_VMSs2AI5TZlxR7fN5tXDRKeGp2ZGcZg-2rYSMiY81Ux4/s1600/IMG_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a-cfoSK6YtoZbxfo6ixsoH3m-T1TFL4If25_L6oJOPZlBFaSxSZgrvYXyxHK-oV0Oz-atY-H4bgs7uCH8b3b_RKD6tEP_m_VMSs2AI5TZlxR7fN5tXDRKeGp2ZGcZg-2rYSMiY81Ux4/s640/IMG_0337.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw quite a few of these 60's era MK 42 Dusters with twin 40 mm cannons in the desert near Tacna</td></tr>
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I can't find out anything about this mobile gun carriage fitted with a pair of anti- aircraft guns. You can crawl up and sit in the open top turret, some units have working elevating cranks and the guns still move through their vertical arc. Ah! desert air. Things are preserved so nicely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MMRWo3aUopPDI0cFX5QuUQbXsmZDyH3Kk_UTvjoLsoraQF2R8rKL0RppynbXkKX3FV10_yyP3rokpP2w3V_Wh53mz0DObZVkg-o1JKKsvCxqgw32Wbp2RUTn99phj8nWg2SIECOnzCo/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MMRWo3aUopPDI0cFX5QuUQbXsmZDyH3Kk_UTvjoLsoraQF2R8rKL0RppynbXkKX3FV10_yyP3rokpP2w3V_Wh53mz0DObZVkg-o1JKKsvCxqgw32Wbp2RUTn99phj8nWg2SIECOnzCo/s320/IMG_0354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missile parts from a training weapon</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjPh703UVw0Wkxx3sHV-rGK0BX8r4fD7LYpryUoVtAhwWX4x4bQy0_FnviiVTBgEaizSNx4qAJ2MBIRJIoO7SdH6JcDHCLh7nFghoBAfEFGxzIbMF7TrmjBogV65yZTdnBr7PY8Q89Qk/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjPh703UVw0Wkxx3sHV-rGK0BX8r4fD7LYpryUoVtAhwWX4x4bQy0_FnviiVTBgEaizSNx4qAJ2MBIRJIoO7SdH6JcDHCLh7nFghoBAfEFGxzIbMF7TrmjBogV65yZTdnBr7PY8Q89Qk/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fins from a spent missile</td></tr>
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Out here one never wants to assume that any piece of ordinance found has been fully spent. Give it a wide berth and live to hike another day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcez9biiKmwIQlfE5JXOiSon08J68mKLjiDG6LEboGznbgQSv7sfVzcMp_zU-9moqRMvVdY7eUzPSX27KOkOe7EEt-73fFiK3GelTV_bXFo2D5J10L21w89SfgVhVYOc4kEl-lsU5PPQ/s1600/Rattler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="771" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcez9biiKmwIQlfE5JXOiSon08J68mKLjiDG6LEboGznbgQSv7sfVzcMp_zU-9moqRMvVdY7eUzPSX27KOkOe7EEt-73fFiK3GelTV_bXFo2D5J10L21w89SfgVhVYOc4kEl-lsU5PPQ/s640/Rattler.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Diamondback rattlesnake</td></tr>
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There are a few other un-friendlies out here also. Best to watch your step. Luckily this one was right out in the open, allowing me to snap a photo and boogie on outta there. In 6 years of hiking on the Goldwater range this is my first.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHkMXi6yf9wOOKZlaG-xJ2MX3qA_m5izI9yyUmt0PPC0nDCYQBStRoCmTxjE73ca6yEW0SFsqnbrkqmXHl0HP456TqKeAouTRhm0vgrxgoTLuQ0iBuFzmmgYX0fdZIxNqLjTIls4wASA/s1600/scorpion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHkMXi6yf9wOOKZlaG-xJ2MX3qA_m5izI9yyUmt0PPC0nDCYQBStRoCmTxjE73ca6yEW0SFsqnbrkqmXHl0HP456TqKeAouTRhm0vgrxgoTLuQ0iBuFzmmgYX0fdZIxNqLjTIls4wASA/s1600/scorpion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hadrurus Arizonensis</td></tr>
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Another first was this little guy shown to in the photo on the right. I lifted a piece of fiberglass to find this critter looking up at me. I was rather startled, but managed to gain my composure and snap this photo before it scampered away. I was surprise by the fact that it was almost translucent in color and that it was so big! The scorpion was about 2-1/2 inches long.<br />
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I have always known that both of these natives were out here, I'd just become a little complacent, because I hadn't seen either one.<br />
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Stay tuned as Joan and I take a drive/ hike out to the Betty Lee Mine, in the Copper Mountains on the Goldwater Range.<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends,</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-40701625799119975082019-02-04T22:25:00.000-08:002019-02-04T22:25:19.738-08:00Ghost Towns and Painted Rocks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 64542</b><br />
<b>Trip Meter 0</b><br />
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One makes many friends in an RV park- you just can't help it. We met Gary and Pat from Redmond, Oregon, and today they invited us to take a picnic lunch and go sight seeing with them. They have a crew cab Chevy truck that is as comfortable as a limousine so we said yes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mpuZFGmAroDDLj7Ha2uozj3ZnSOZcj1DADRYEghAJfisEwg528eXFGgrIf_3QGtGohQxSUfqVA4-v0q7RdPr9X0wHuchb8aKMLBtgil4El0mgx4FUuH_Fb4dWep5l4SjhUzYAQa-wks/s1600/Route+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1032" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mpuZFGmAroDDLj7Ha2uozj3ZnSOZcj1DADRYEghAJfisEwg528eXFGgrIf_3QGtGohQxSUfqVA4-v0q7RdPr9X0wHuchb8aKMLBtgil4El0mgx4FUuH_Fb4dWep5l4SjhUzYAQa-wks/s640/Route+map.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's Route to Agua Caliente and Painted Rock</td></tr>
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The round trip was about 150 miles so we were packed up and ready to go at 9:30. None of us had been to Agua Caliente before so we plugged it into the GPS, and it's a good thing we did, because there is so little left of the resort that unless you knew what to look for you might miss it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4wQT2wcE2nX88v09XPc5cCqHM9Ne01QOW-YI-uthyphenhyphenMkEzsfiFeWSoM2HIcFVlUWmGB0BFBV6Xj-tDEeAWnuTE_3Siq95fe2tLD_LYdLdK1igA3Fxw_-8apq05Nm9ZPENxMX7CyEq8iI/s1600/Cal+resort7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4wQT2wcE2nX88v09XPc5cCqHM9Ne01QOW-YI-uthyphenhyphenMkEzsfiFeWSoM2HIcFVlUWmGB0BFBV6Xj-tDEeAWnuTE_3Siq95fe2tLD_LYdLdK1igA3Fxw_-8apq05Nm9ZPENxMX7CyEq8iI/s640/Cal+resort7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agua Caliente Resort circa 1897</td></tr>
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Agua Caliente went through a sort of identity crisis in the mid to late 1800s. In 1858 it was known as the <b>Flap Jack Ranch</b> and was established as a stage stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail. (more on that later). By1862, four years later, it was listed as <b>Grinnel's Ranch</b>, while the Union Army called it <b>Stanwix Ranch</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjLGa5QKKtGiCkN1ETi_pm5y8VUgaSNuq0pHKV3mqwSdViCvji51iYyJLzByaVbPC0oN_Nf_r3g-dVQwV1k8uVsqlPjQMQ9xkR3D8Dx5wH5LBIwo4ujmDdnJoGb-k0zO7so9nbu4xRTo/s1600/Cal+resort5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjLGa5QKKtGiCkN1ETi_pm5y8VUgaSNuq0pHKV3mqwSdViCvji51iYyJLzByaVbPC0oN_Nf_r3g-dVQwV1k8uVsqlPjQMQ9xkR3D8Dx5wH5LBIwo4ujmDdnJoGb-k0zO7so9nbu4xRTo/s400/Cal+resort5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan climbs the stairs to the front porch of Agua Caliente Resort</td></tr>
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In 1897 King S. Woolsey built the 22 room resort that is shown here, and it became a popular spot for folks to visit and soak in the resorts very large pool filled from a local hot springs. US Highway 80 came through in the early 1900s and tourism boomed.<br />
As with many ghost towns in the West, a highway re-alignment bypassed the resort, and finally in 1960, Interstate 8 took travelers 30 miles south of town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbitgtwPKN2XePtwqzJdbALwjqf-QZEHPC8c4mQHzrr3U0Qu85PpKOQovJU8hX8Sc9s8fuczw7Kb1RT0UufYdDmPnXI33J2dOwzpddVEgVqKUNn5eKZFuL40P254Jva-K5E8rgJxR1yU/s1600/Aerial+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="802" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbitgtwPKN2XePtwqzJdbALwjqf-QZEHPC8c4mQHzrr3U0Qu85PpKOQovJU8hX8Sc9s8fuczw7Kb1RT0UufYdDmPnXI33J2dOwzpddVEgVqKUNn5eKZFuL40P254Jva-K5E8rgJxR1yU/s640/Aerial+view.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google satellite view of the resort showing the swimming pool</td></tr>
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The road today bisects the old resort and runs up next to the front porch. Back in the day there was a large unpaved parking lot in front of the resort. The largest of the hot water pools (shown to the right side above) was on the far side of the parking lot. Today the pool is behind a wire fence prominently posted with no trespassing signs- so the photo above gives you a sense of scale but not much more. The pool is huge at nearly 200 feet long and 70 feet wide (<span style="font-size: x-small;">61m x 21m</span>)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3hmqQwbgXYH5ioJU0Y74VuTlifzpnEpYc-DrYiaXOzM7vt1ispQuldGTInPbGN83TytuWjYd4g61xpIB0OKE0urszPa53IoNvkmVomyLGRw7St-P76Dq5dzQvbf0b76-gmiCpPJJX0I/s1600/Old+Agua+Caliente+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="715" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3hmqQwbgXYH5ioJU0Y74VuTlifzpnEpYc-DrYiaXOzM7vt1ispQuldGTInPbGN83TytuWjYd4g61xpIB0OKE0urszPa53IoNvkmVomyLGRw7St-P76Dq5dzQvbf0b76-gmiCpPJJX0I/s640/Old+Agua+Caliente+Pic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agua Caliente Resort early to mid 1900s</td></tr>
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Historic images of the resort, like the picture above, show a parking area directly in front of the front entrance. The highway was about 350 feet away when this picture was taken. When the resort closed and was sold, farming acreage was the important factor and the road was moved to expand the fields. Today there is no more hot water for the pool. A new well sunk to water crops on the adjacent farm, drained all the water away. Ah Progress!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC_ktlzVJky_Bw2Y_nZGv5Bl7mvXwgXr2721NpvoO1TW_UYRGWapWgdaY5iwQDTj1ACahwXEqEtIK48hUjwXpmeh-ARkWL1y5FQ0rnbVy91-agV9ZIVDCv7OjiCCWM0fBwSZ-Qz1SeBA/s1600/IMG_0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC_ktlzVJky_Bw2Y_nZGv5Bl7mvXwgXr2721NpvoO1TW_UYRGWapWgdaY5iwQDTj1ACahwXEqEtIK48hUjwXpmeh-ARkWL1y5FQ0rnbVy91-agV9ZIVDCv7OjiCCWM0fBwSZ-Qz1SeBA/s640/IMG_0103.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone walls are the only reminders of this early stage stop at Agua Caliente, AZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XQKoUG4U830AHKGu6qzznx4v7wadrce6rcpDw8WzLoytr9T0-YqvsU3iKTqdNdVyrX6DUIAv1wXR241Wq_9bABJL6bEJoxoWcYKbLQXXxH8dGZ8Z6WMjaKkm_BdtJYjFKo0dml5CHFU/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XQKoUG4U830AHKGu6qzznx4v7wadrce6rcpDw8WzLoytr9T0-YqvsU3iKTqdNdVyrX6DUIAv1wXR241Wq_9bABJL6bEJoxoWcYKbLQXXxH8dGZ8Z6WMjaKkm_BdtJYjFKo0dml5CHFU/s200/glass.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken glass like desert art</td></tr>
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We prowled around the hillside above the road and walked through the foundations of what is left of the town. There was a general store, and several houses here back in the day. We wondered if this was the remains of the store. The masonry shows excellent craftsmanship. Unfortunately he mortar appears to be a clay mix, and with the roof gone, the walls are slowly loosing their mortar. Wood being scarce in this area, I am guessing that the buildings were stripped long ago and the wood re-purposed. Looking around, it's no wonder that stone was the builders choice of material- it's abundant and durable.<br />
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<b>One historical note</b>:<br />
Stanwix Station 6 mile SW of Agua Caliente was the site of the westernmost skirmish of the Civil War. Capt. William P. Calloway leading the California Column toward Tucson had a brief battle with 2nd Lt. John W. Swilling of the CSA. Swilling had been sent out from Tucson to destroy as much of the Overland Mail Route as he could, burning the buildings and the hay. One Union private was wounded in the brief exchange and the Confederate forces withdrew to Tucson.<br />
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DATELAND, AZ<br />
After having our picnic lunch on the front porch of the Resort building , we decided to cruise on into the tiny town of Dateland and have date flavored milkshakes. Having already sampled a date flavored shake earlier, I chose a scoop of espresso madness ice cream, which was excellent. Out in front of the truck stop/ ice cream parlor was this plaque:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RjxdH6DamL4o-HtgvXmMnNsldYF3Nqslqle-Ol33ktLBN9XDGncJywzE20XsJXo8PTQvJcHc7nK2Tu1klxodvUVHmIt9d-Yfgcd3ah4lS82Jc4vNaz45bJMbTs0Wr2JCnPTnKV0tL1w/s1600/B50B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1600" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RjxdH6DamL4o-HtgvXmMnNsldYF3Nqslqle-Ol33ktLBN9XDGncJywzE20XsJXo8PTQvJcHc7nK2Tu1klxodvUVHmIt9d-Yfgcd3ah4lS82Jc4vNaz45bJMbTs0Wr2JCnPTnKV0tL1w/s640/B50B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial to the 12 crew members who perished in a startling explosion on a training mission near Dateland, AZ</td></tr>
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It reminded me that Arizona trained more pilots and aircrews for WWII than any other state. One thing Arizona had for the war effort was open space. The Barry Goldwater Gunnery Range had over 1.7 million acres of training space during the war years. This area trained fighter, reconnaissance, helicopter, and bomber pilots and crews, as well as ground troops and wheeled and tracked armor.<br />
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On our way back east on the interstate, we took the Citrus Valley Rd exit and headed north and west to Painted Rock Petroglyph Site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rkhYBUXLq7-DYpApnswA7knWlKNuwPQ57zoEI1o7EbQ5inZ-fHTLVQrNzzf6yD5RUyGrqw43s3ZxzIlZEqRQjZKBiTjVNNNRVi0tw6-5xejLBhNwr2mm2ugm587oocWX__nQHlWpY2k/s1600/Solana+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="958" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rkhYBUXLq7-DYpApnswA7knWlKNuwPQ57zoEI1o7EbQ5inZ-fHTLVQrNzzf6yD5RUyGrqw43s3ZxzIlZEqRQjZKBiTjVNNNRVi0tw6-5xejLBhNwr2mm2ugm587oocWX__nQHlWpY2k/s640/Solana+closeup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On our way we passed the Solana Generating Station. Completed in 2013 this is a massive solar site that uses polished parabolic mirrors to focus the suns energy on long pipes containing a liquid salt medium that gives up its heat to a steam turbine that generates over 280 megawatts of electricity. Enough electricity for 70,000 homes. When it was built it was the largest of its kind in the world and the first one in the US.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PX43AnnC69Kr6soWTIJl0IdOKPtiNUrhfLtnW5Q90ecn52BvF4GVYOhDO5LGgka1uSNy1iAQssR83cPaLngXn8lHQGbfWKd7cM_3dus7NNHnec_i7BBrKQocemKHmPqLGJDg8diu7GM/s1600/P.rocks7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PX43AnnC69Kr6soWTIJl0IdOKPtiNUrhfLtnW5Q90ecn52BvF4GVYOhDO5LGgka1uSNy1iAQssR83cPaLngXn8lHQGbfWKd7cM_3dus7NNHnec_i7BBrKQocemKHmPqLGJDg8diu7GM/s640/P.rocks7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site </td></tr>
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Painted Rock Petroglyph Site used to be an Arizona State Park, but has since been turned over to the BLM for management. The petroglyphs were all on this smallish pile of rocks, out on otherwise flat desert, all by itself. I was stunned by the sheer number of rocks that had markings on them. You can get a sense of the size of this small boulder pile, probably 100 feet (30m) across , 400 feet (122m) long, and 25 feet (7.6m) high . In this collection there were three eras represented. The are an estimated 800 individual markings in just this one pile of boulders. The oldest markings are thought to date back to 350-550 AD, the "ancient ones". Later markings fall into the period 900-1400 AD and are the ancestors of the native tribes many of which still inhabit this area. Still later are the markings of the "Modern" era including Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza 1775, and much later the Mormon Battalion in 1840, and even General Patton's troops during WWII in 1940s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2SNvRhbC2aWWtLJTYp9amwbtizyGX96lnv3ilJ8VHQ2ruqGa3OhqSt-80QL4Tq-_Ka6rpaserl4ZvbxIcfWoEbsVppf9pZbDa2-G0yZnNL-eJu0zlscNI2Lk8gHwVkXuV_YkG4AFi-A/s1600/P.rocks6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1600" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2SNvRhbC2aWWtLJTYp9amwbtizyGX96lnv3ilJ8VHQ2ruqGa3OhqSt-80QL4Tq-_Ka6rpaserl4ZvbxIcfWoEbsVppf9pZbDa2-G0yZnNL-eJu0zlscNI2Lk8gHwVkXuV_YkG4AFi-A/s640/P.rocks6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I learned that petroglyphs are made by tapping a small rock against the granite and basalt boulders which chips off a veneer or crust that has formed on the rock. This veneer is referred to as "desert varnish" because the conditions for its formation only occur in arid climates. Pictographs on the other hand, are painted on to a surface using pigments, and that is not what we have here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPZTacgfpA9dnXjuXImpXMyVWSHgUlTP1Ff0yWMD_74vH2jSxeT7D3zxtT44nxYkTLiWGS20OqL7uzg9iO-J41gpNWaFvTwcjTbrS13QiekHVLMLWp5eC8rDyG-AQkrscHWhPhWrY9pI/s1600/Butterfield+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPZTacgfpA9dnXjuXImpXMyVWSHgUlTP1Ff0yWMD_74vH2jSxeT7D3zxtT44nxYkTLiWGS20OqL7uzg9iO-J41gpNWaFvTwcjTbrS13QiekHVLMLWp5eC8rDyG-AQkrscHWhPhWrY9pI/s400/Butterfield+trail.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of the Butterfield Trail</td></tr>
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While visiting the petroglyph site I found something that I was not expecting. An interpretive sign pointed out that running alongside the petroglyph site were ruts from the original Butterfield Overland Mail route. Bear in mind that we drove 14 miles north of Interstate 8 to get here and I-8 is pretty much a straight line to Yuma from Gila Bend. Why would the stage road go so far north before turning back southwest towards Yuma?<br />
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John Butterfield established this road as a mail route back in 1876. He received one million dollars from the US government to establish twice weekly mail delivery from St. Louis, MO to San Francisco, CA. But he did so much more. By establishing a route, 139 rest stations, with food, feed and water, he opened up the west to emigrants!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI81mY0x0gqxtQrCXBaUnY-u8CD2JeuxrKDCXn5zIBOjY5T14Mq5fLYTOP_PyZkYZRlVLarmjrjO_p9tE8UuSQFUTm_RWF7UTL7Zd1W5yRtiQGKro25A-g4qhsh2_0eCtTjSEiB8d7bd8/s1600/Butterfield+route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI81mY0x0gqxtQrCXBaUnY-u8CD2JeuxrKDCXn5zIBOjY5T14Mq5fLYTOP_PyZkYZRlVLarmjrjO_p9tE8UuSQFUTm_RWF7UTL7Zd1W5yRtiQGKro25A-g4qhsh2_0eCtTjSEiB8d7bd8/s640/Butterfield+route.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Overland Mail Route</td></tr>
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Butterfield used this route from 1858 until the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. The stage ran day and night with only 20 minutes for any stop covering 2700 miles in only 25 days- cutting in half the time that it had taken previously. After the start of the Civil War the stage line moved north to avoid Confederate raiders. By 1869 the transcontinental railroad had been completed, foreshadowing the end of an era for coast to coast stage lines.<br />
No one on a Butterfield stage coach was ever killed or robbed by Indians or outlaws.<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-60929464803745418392019-02-03T14:48:00.000-08:002019-02-03T14:48:26.882-08:00Prospecting in the Desert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 64542</b><br />
<b>Trip meter 0</b><br />
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We heard a story...<br />
Some friends in the RV park told me that they saw some aluminum and parts near the road out on one of their trips last year. My ears perked up and I got one of them to point to an area on the map where they thought they had seen it. My friend Mark and I hunt WWII air crash sites and this was a solid lead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewdAEGDfB0cc6UE67kIkM-RBbfYABtffDKnri4ackP4fojZU40HVoE5ukRm4TWkMaqp2GQRSdGbOePEv3a4ffStYD87SzaAozKHzTU3EkBXX4j76c5ypo9MfsYxFJpOGWmGwrHciyEdk/s1600/BMGR+map+F84G.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewdAEGDfB0cc6UE67kIkM-RBbfYABtffDKnri4ackP4fojZU40HVoE5ukRm4TWkMaqp2GQRSdGbOePEv3a4ffStYD87SzaAozKHzTU3EkBXX4j76c5ypo9MfsYxFJpOGWmGwrHciyEdk/s640/BMGR+map+F84G.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Route for today</td></tr>
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The yellow trace shows the route we took in from the highway to the yellow circle at the top right. The green trace show the alternate route we took back, going down to Ryans Wash (arroyo). The red hatched area is closed most of the time because it is a buffer zone between the active tactical range and the less active Area B. Area B is called a "maneuvering zone", used to line up on targets in other areas. As such, the public is usually allowed to hunt, camp, and hike in this area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEm0dFSG253W-Ovku9p2B5Sni1xXPRnYyirUknqZvgH1SyegjNoPxDOyL4lnv_Et4BXZ3d5hxUASRmUjjK96ZH4HqOVW2tN3mhZqYfCIkhayIIO79YNetddB5MtQNKrf1SEXcEWKtWcU/s1600/IMG_6063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEm0dFSG253W-Ovku9p2B5Sni1xXPRnYyirUknqZvgH1SyegjNoPxDOyL4lnv_Et4BXZ3d5hxUASRmUjjK96ZH4HqOVW2tN3mhZqYfCIkhayIIO79YNetddB5MtQNKrf1SEXcEWKtWcU/s640/IMG_6063.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite often it was easier for the road builders to use the arroyo as the travel route</td></tr>
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The road was rough. It took us 4 hours to get there and 3 hours to get back! All totaled it was about 55 miles, and we had about 1 hour of exploration at the site- but boy was it worth it! Doing the math we moved at an average rate of 8 mph.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjkn65kk-3cR201Br8XVB8EWJzWGQaoU8N9UNtyMdScI0HQsN-sb94B4xlV0eY6olNGVC65Ff65jtMn3iWE6Re5IxGlSr-Oe2kiq19JS6EmHlHZnHnzUOJuXXHeI1dKLHiiyEc2mYi6s/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjkn65kk-3cR201Br8XVB8EWJzWGQaoU8N9UNtyMdScI0HQsN-sb94B4xlV0eY6olNGVC65Ff65jtMn3iWE6Re5IxGlSr-Oe2kiq19JS6EmHlHZnHnzUOJuXXHeI1dKLHiiyEc2mYi6s/s640/IMG_0085.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevator from a F84G fighter jet</td></tr>
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Once we arrived at the location we were given, we found the site fairly easily. The debris field was better than we could ever have expected. Within 30 minutes we had found an elevator assembly, and lots of aluminum skin, some tubing, electrical wire, fragments of titanium turbine blade, etc. The site had been cleaned up after the crash, the fuselage and engine were gone, but there was plenty to let us know we were at a crash site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfqzL5WTiCrD7-LaHE02BJ-Zebpk5p2cAK_NtM8uOv6hb5034RtoXlTCzZ-1CYC8hNfYD1ts9U9NFIl2MSHkaGo6ahk0VnYkAKv-qOMhFPfXBazp_RZLXyJPton7dD8yDPBgRWgtiBL8/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfqzL5WTiCrD7-LaHE02BJ-Zebpk5p2cAK_NtM8uOv6hb5034RtoXlTCzZ-1CYC8hNfYD1ts9U9NFIl2MSHkaGo6ahk0VnYkAKv-qOMhFPfXBazp_RZLXyJPton7dD8yDPBgRWgtiBL8/s640/IMG_0082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff looks at an inspection door from F-84G</td></tr>
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Mark and I were searching for a serial number or a data plate that would allow us to identify the aircraft. We finally found a part which identified this aircraft as an F84. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLb9apeSArHVi2yrT2t6MtcilJlGoPbp6G-Z80NsuVOKoFCxwozVsFCBO6aqFYO5-_5K4-hKre4zrJl9wSI_IO5iAdLe-Zzu7-9HAaSRzrQnNS00sVrYdCfb9ilMtMP6kw-n5d5F27cRQ/s1600/F-84E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLb9apeSArHVi2yrT2t6MtcilJlGoPbp6G-Z80NsuVOKoFCxwozVsFCBO6aqFYO5-_5K4-hKre4zrJl9wSI_IO5iAdLe-Zzu7-9HAaSRzrQnNS00sVrYdCfb9ilMtMP6kw-n5d5F27cRQ/s1600/F-84E.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F-84 photo courtesy of Wikipedia</td></tr>
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Using this information Mark found the crash report that told us more about the incident. The jet crashed in 1954 while training in the East Tactical Range. Thankfully the pilot ejected and suffered only slight injuries.<br />
The F84 first flew in 1946, and this G model was introduced in 1951. The Thunderjet as it was called, was the primary strike aircraft of the Korean war. Interestingly this aircraft was manufactured as a swept wing also. Our find is a straight wing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9d4LrbC4RXub5sLM80nVwb8IXOjseMO6qoVhFfdIki9DY-QecPjpi7nNjoTCRzmj7z1RwPdMDcepKW1NY_JLoqaTts6arPta4Q_ozUEA3yDBP4ye6oprN6V4uXXxdbI0gRRMaIx4AMQ/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9d4LrbC4RXub5sLM80nVwb8IXOjseMO6qoVhFfdIki9DY-QecPjpi7nNjoTCRzmj7z1RwPdMDcepKW1NY_JLoqaTts6arPta4Q_ozUEA3yDBP4ye6oprN6V4uXXxdbI0gRRMaIx4AMQ/s640/IMG_0063.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff stands at the edge of the Tactical Range Interestingly the sign is in camouflage colors... Hmm</td></tr>
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This was pretty exciting because it is as close as you can get to the active part of the range. (behind me in this photo). The Hazard area we were in is the buffer between the bullets and bombs and us civilian explorers. We can only go here by permission, and only on days the Air Force won't be flying.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwzcHL0Z-BdFIM9WuYp1JVpcxsEUq_lFtcrrHh-OQDK0aeIMjxwQ6qep6VRziZx17iAI5zvzZKuXvQKtQbiWTYWOVFhSLMwaaVIqsnuAmHZHRot_10HtnGr7h9PJsg26ctTp7CatmHLE/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwzcHL0Z-BdFIM9WuYp1JVpcxsEUq_lFtcrrHh-OQDK0aeIMjxwQ6qep6VRziZx17iAI5zvzZKuXvQKtQbiWTYWOVFhSLMwaaVIqsnuAmHZHRot_10HtnGr7h9PJsg26ctTp7CatmHLE/s640/IMG_0071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stock watering system and a cattle loading chute, remnants from decades ago</td></tr>
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Less than a quarter mile from the tactical zone we saw the first of several corrals that dot the Hazard Area out here a torturous 3 hour drive from the highway. Don't be fooled by the road in the picture above- this is a superhighway compared to the deep washes and boulders that made up most of the trip. I couldn't imagine getting a cattle truck up here- maybe the roads were improved back 60 years ago. At first we could not figure out where the water would come from to fill this substantial concrete and stone tank. Mark and I marveled at the fact that the next 5- 6 miles of "road" had remnants of a 1" poly pipe line buried alongside it. Holy Cow! The early ranchers pumped water to stock tanks about 2 miles apart, for the next 6 miles! The cattle were supposed to have been removed from this area when it was appropriated by the Department of Defense in 1941. Much of this acreage was already under the Bureau of Land Management- so very few private landowners were affected by the appropriation. Still, It's amazing to see these structures that have to be more than 75 years old, looking as if it were yesterday.<br />
A good day for this explorer!<br />
<br />
<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-20949692317019408922019-01-03T15:45:00.001-08:002019-01-08T09:51:33.809-08:00Ajo Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 64542<br />
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Trip 158 miles</div>
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Always happy to be going to Ajo again. We've been coming down from Oregon to Ajo for at least 18 years. At first it was only for a week or so because we were still working full time. Something about this place just holds on to us more than anywhere else we've been.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's route</td></tr>
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Our route today is up I-10 and west on I-8 to Gila Bend, then straight south on AZ 85 to Ajo. The weather is iffy and the rain and wind follow us almost from the minute we left Tucson til we get to within 20 miles of Ajo. Approaching Ajo the sky's are blue and the sun is out- Yea ! It's a sign.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Well... No it's not. As soon as we check in and get to our site- the weather we had been running from catches up with us. For the rest of the afternoon and all of the night it rains. We did manage to get a 30 minute period of no rain to get set up in our space, but then it was non-stop until morning.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ1kUX2O0-o6qyoWLWw4xxn6D2aXYHLxTz6KK7pcSTbkTPpiXznuNYXjvAhRLr01Xd4zGMv54M8tVnwY4c2EgrHdJsRubj975DAcK2k7BvUKhvOosuEJF3LCIH4CoFFrCMfUc6_Zh1JE/s1600/ajo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ1kUX2O0-o6qyoWLWw4xxn6D2aXYHLxTz6KK7pcSTbkTPpiXznuNYXjvAhRLr01Xd4zGMv54M8tVnwY4c2EgrHdJsRubj975DAcK2k7BvUKhvOosuEJF3LCIH4CoFFrCMfUc6_Zh1JE/s640/ajo+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Home is where we park it</td></tr>
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Next day was sunny but cool, high in the 40's with a cooling breeze. The chill didn't keep us from getting out and walking to downtown and back, about 1 mile each way. Stopped off at my favorite grocery outlet store in the plaza and got two boxes of granola bars (free) Saltines, Cheezeits, popcorn, and a bag of Starbucks house blend decaf all for $4.50. Love it!</div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Wasted no time getting out into the surrounding desert to hike a little. My friend Mark found a Kawasaki four wheeler abandoned on the public area of the bombing range. (no it wasn't a target)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned 4 wheel ATV on the Goldwater gunnery range </td></tr>
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The ATV appeared to have been here several years, and most of the exterior graphics had been covered with green paint, leading us to believe that it was stolen and driven here by a border crosser. <br />
Mark called it into the local Sheriffs office.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dense growth threatens to obscure this desert track</td></tr>
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This particular road on the BMGR (gunnery range) shows what a little rain can do for a normally dry desert. The vegetation is lush, and the waterholes actually have a bit of water in them. Today Mark and I saw 3 deer, one was a very large buck. Speaking of water holes...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arizona Game an Fish Department Game Watering Station</td></tr>
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We looked at this game watering setup today. It was quite elaborate, with a large corrugated metal rain collector, piping to a holding tank, and piping to a water trough. It looked as though they started by collecting water from a small dam across the seasonal stream channel to the left. When we looked at the dam in the drainage the dam was completely silted in. Apparently when the rains came the creek carried too much sand, which filled in the dam.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game watering trough</td></tr>
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This newer idea seems to work well. The rail fence is probably to keep cattle and burros out, while allowing deer, antelope, and small critters in.</div>
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With the rain we have been getting it's no wonder that the trough is full. There is a game camera on a post in front of the tank which allows the biologists to keep track of the visitors to the trough.</div>
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This water hole is located on BLM land, but is very close to the gunnery range (visible in the background). We actually got here on a road that is on the gunnery range, but the road is so rough (boulders) we had to walk in the last 1/2 mile to get here.</div>
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Mark and I put a new carburetor on his Suzuki Samurai and the process went pretty smoothly. The original carburetor had an elaborate choke that included heated water jacket from the radiator, and expanding wax plugs. When the original choke quit working the car ran rich all the time. This new Webber carb has an electric choke and we are hopeful that it will be more adjustable. So far the new carb is working well.</div>
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b></div>
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<i><b>Jeff and Joan</b></i></div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-40949678395650382512018-12-31T21:43:00.000-08:002019-01-08T12:23:25.024-08:00Another Visit to Biosphere2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Odometer 64383</b><br />
<b>Trip miles today 0</b><br />
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Joan and I visited the Biosphere2 in Oracle, AZ on a trip through Tucson in 2012 and it was impressive! Our good friend Kermit had not seen it yet and I was more than happy to accompany him on a tour. The ladies had there own agenda, so Kermit and I set out early one morning for a tour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCeNm9Sv1EFBhgU8sGz-6oAIwML7xpPD9H84oEtXG5fugzG_MyOVpWyi6b8VBVzQMrOnkILr70jO8yFzir7YSE90XqsBv2YPL71kV6IeEcqCdhlUtevCv_Onfs2C-qgQVri2KUG7F0EY/s1600/Bio+Dome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCeNm9Sv1EFBhgU8sGz-6oAIwML7xpPD9H84oEtXG5fugzG_MyOVpWyi6b8VBVzQMrOnkILr70jO8yFzir7YSE90XqsBv2YPL71kV6IeEcqCdhlUtevCv_Onfs2C-qgQVri2KUG7F0EY/s640/Bio+Dome.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainforest dome in Biosphere2</td></tr>
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We both signed up for the "Under the Dome" tour which is a general overview of the whole structure. There are specialty tours for the Ocean, and a History tour available also. In case you are wondering why is is named Bioshpere2, the Earth itself is considered to be Biosphere1- the original.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2o96C2kIVuP3aBnR_DXnYDvPfbZNnKzKbh6HE5Y_bZywkL3PATBKMwkTUT9PWp5Mh59MH5Dr_EjvuZ0dbLIu9eCkZWYt8RAHJ6wFVsDzi99T-gPWTFPROJymVw-Vt2dX47V0PXWb-4U/s1600/Tropical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2o96C2kIVuP3aBnR_DXnYDvPfbZNnKzKbh6HE5Y_bZywkL3PATBKMwkTUT9PWp5Mh59MH5Dr_EjvuZ0dbLIu9eCkZWYt8RAHJ6wFVsDzi99T-gPWTFPROJymVw-Vt2dX47V0PXWb-4U/s640/Tropical.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical Rainforest Biosphere2</td></tr>
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I was interested in how the tours may have changed since my last visit. The tour sequence is the same; Rainforest, Ocean, Fog Desert, Basement mechanical equipment, and Lung. The thing that was different this time was we had a fantastic tour guide named Taylor, and the fact that we all had wireless hearing devices and could hear every word even though we were in a fairly large group, and sometimes strung out along walkways and corridors.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ocean</td></tr>
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The Biosphere was originally devised to determine if a crew of humans could be sealed off from the rest of the world, and make everything they needed for survival, air, water and food.<br />
The first inhabitants were sealed in for two years from 1991 to 1993. While the experiment did not meet all its goals, it was not a failure at all. Towards the end of the 2 years additional oxygen had to be introduced to the system. It was discovered that the concrete used extensively in the construction, was absorbing much more oxygen that originally calculated.<br />
Today Bioshpere2 is owned and operated by the University of Arizona and the system is still turning out useful research.<br />
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The ocean is being used to study the restoration of coral reefs in an era of ocean acidification. Much of the excess CO2 in our atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean. The carbon reacts with salt water to form an acid. Acid is destroying our coral. This small ocean ecosystem is home to coral types that show resistance to acidification, and a breeding program has been started.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSZVM-bEysLxSlLlq-k2-lQbkHgeBwH0FC7-Owt7NjdA_KUscitsIcsRDmo0N23p9XGfNXHT-1Qr9HPIfM7gTN75rnVGJE9ZEIqs5C6HPVBNoI4vlBC2LI4Xif81ikbEpjzT5e8U_X_E/s1600/Fish+fertilizer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSZVM-bEysLxSlLlq-k2-lQbkHgeBwH0FC7-Owt7NjdA_KUscitsIcsRDmo0N23p9XGfNXHT-1Qr9HPIfM7gTN75rnVGJE9ZEIqs5C6HPVBNoI4vlBC2LI4Xif81ikbEpjzT5e8U_X_E/s320/Fish+fertilizer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growing food with fish poo</td></tr>
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One interesting bit of research involves a somewhat closed system that uses a fish tank with live fish, and circulating the water from the aquarium into neighboring plant beds. The nutrients (poo) from the aquarium become plant food and the clear water is pumped back tot he aquarium.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog Desert</td></tr>
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The desert biome under the glass never worked quite right, because the glass overhead dripped too much condensation. The desert was re-designated a "fog desert" because of this. I noticed all the familiar Sonoran cacti and shrubs seemed very happy here.<br />
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From the desert, the tour group descended into the basement below the vivarium where some of the magic happens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ventilation and water handling equipment</td></tr>
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There is a basement under the ground floor of the dome that houses the air handling and water management systems that help the enclosed systems work. Down here water is collected and redistributed, and air of different temperatures are mixed as needed and re-distributed. Bioshpere2 always produced more clean water that was needed- much of the excess was stored here in large tanks.<br />
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Although the Biosphere was a completely sealed system, it was not energy neutral. The original plan was for the Biosphere to have solar panels to cover all its energy needs, but cost over-runs rendered that idea unworkable. Electricity from the grid runs all this equipment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5u-06_iHWnJgrqOiQMi_POfVmfDYF88zwwxrSMm2uG8u_zPrHRsGzrHOAhhRCteOskP_WRIyALZJ_XdkUNkVtgGMl-bnFlWsoPKvuHvtXhqRdfYPRcYawR7ESbCbT48Cqy578R7Xqp4/s1600/Olla+watering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5u-06_iHWnJgrqOiQMi_POfVmfDYF88zwwxrSMm2uG8u_zPrHRsGzrHOAhhRCteOskP_WRIyALZJ_XdkUNkVtgGMl-bnFlWsoPKvuHvtXhqRdfYPRcYawR7ESbCbT48Cqy578R7Xqp4/s320/Olla+watering.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olla watering system</td></tr>
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One very neat idea that I will be taking with me from my visit here is the concept of Olla watering for plants. (pronounced oh-yah)<br />
Our guides showed us these plants growing in plastic 55 gallon drums. The plants get all their water from the olla that is partially submerged in the soil. An olla is an unglazed terracotta pot with a small opening at the top. Water added to the pot has almost no evaporation, but is readily available to the roots of your intended plants. The plants get all the water they need an very little is wasted.<br />
The olla shown here is simply two flower pots glued together and the hole in the bottom pot is sealed shut- the top hole has a temporary cover (a rock).<br />
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More than you ever wanted to know. 😏<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-36304045038476668992018-12-29T20:34:00.000-08:002018-12-30T07:33:25.835-08:00More to see in Tucson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Making the most out of our stay in Tucson we have plans to see the “Dove of the Desert “ today</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAVb7GahRAz553DZl-Hz7nlT5jbAoYPW1f9l90ak4Nqsd5hv388tIj0nskodz9d1P-Szn7Wn4CYN0yFOWLAoAdcc1tj6ep10iJ2uqwIgR_COBy409WwzaKwbjiergrROUt-Rb8FU4Cuo/s1600/Dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="637" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAVb7GahRAz553DZl-Hz7nlT5jbAoYPW1f9l90ak4Nqsd5hv388tIj0nskodz9d1P-Szn7Wn4CYN0yFOWLAoAdcc1tj6ep10iJ2uqwIgR_COBy409WwzaKwbjiergrROUt-Rb8FU4Cuo/s640/Dove.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mission San Xavier del Bac is an historic Catholic Church dating back to 1797, when southern Arizona was still part of New Spain. It is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgORDOcNZ-_-LkXieD0_jBZp9wfrriVxXiak0gYTmVnYznIM7fqM38ICtkqfjFYFmdryz38q9q8rS2BJHnfSL-HYW0gAK5LM36jzQKLBsU-pLJT1L9__ZQFFS2GRgqfpCmfwP1blyb82g/s1600/sanctuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="640" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgORDOcNZ-_-LkXieD0_jBZp9wfrriVxXiak0gYTmVnYznIM7fqM38ICtkqfjFYFmdryz38q9q8rS2BJHnfSL-HYW0gAK5LM36jzQKLBsU-pLJT1L9__ZQFFS2GRgqfpCmfwP1blyb82g/s640/sanctuary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Amazingly, the church still has its original statuary, murals, and paintings!</div>
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From the mission it was only a short drive to the Tucson Mountain Park and it’s neighbor the Saguaro National Park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DC-yP92lhyphenhypheni0wAdzhP4KrAyXmBWBIJiJk0k3GDZKkrS78TvOUb6xQIBmxXSgA8mf6Q1krhBPunIeNdyjdtR1EUK7E4RZm33kdjZ26Ii8F9RrMsqeCupdmKdNjs7YWSTUZJQSKIMAuag/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1280" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DC-yP92lhyphenhypheni0wAdzhP4KrAyXmBWBIJiJk0k3GDZKkrS78TvOUb6xQIBmxXSgA8mf6Q1krhBPunIeNdyjdtR1EUK7E4RZm33kdjZ26Ii8F9RrMsqeCupdmKdNjs7YWSTUZJQSKIMAuag/s640/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park just west of Tucson</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Unbelievably, this 20,000 acre park is just on the western edge of downtown Tucson. It is one of the largest natural resource areas owned and managed by a municipal government. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Gates Pass Road</td></tr>
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We had a beautiful day to explore the park. We drove through the middle of the park on Gates Pass Road which takes you up and over the Tucson Mountains. There a lots of turnouts and parking areas along the route, which allowed us to get out and explore our surroundings. The broken cloud cover played shadows and light over the ridges and peaks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visitors Center, Saguaro National Park West</td></tr>
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We chose to go to the visitors center in the neighboring Saguaro National Park knowing that it would most likely be closed due to the government shut down and it was. The trails and viewing areas around the exterior of the visitors center were still accessible and it was well worth the trip. The Sonoran Desert never fails to impress. This has been a wet Fall, and the desert is unusually green and lush. After our stop, we continued on the gravel roads north along the west side of the park, turning back east towards Tucson on Pictured Rocks Road, and back into the city.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Congress main entrance</td></tr>
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For Christmas day we had plans to go to dinner with our friends Marla and Kermit. We chose to go to the Hotel Congress in downtown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dUtiPE45aF36rKABioUhiCkPB6bbznhOaI85lCSjtCsOZ5nBXb_1N7XgX4iBd_Nl0ECXbmIU2QUn7n_gcYklZwWm5C7D0b4vi_gpHwoqZKBYg9boU3W1HBFeAlJKZg_VRoUyh2BZ8IQ/s1600/switchboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dUtiPE45aF36rKABioUhiCkPB6bbznhOaI85lCSjtCsOZ5nBXb_1N7XgX4iBd_Nl0ECXbmIU2QUn7n_gcYklZwWm5C7D0b4vi_gpHwoqZKBYg9boU3W1HBFeAlJKZg_VRoUyh2BZ8IQ/s320/switchboard.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telephone switchboard from the early 1900s</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoji6NAzkK6_ko1W9CGdueG9mzv2w-YJYqJgyS_vY2dvEJ-hQXINvY_Ct8o1oqKYZ_Ur-HaDG36eymNnJjTQm62TgiSRQ_c-Qy72s-94w1PPQqXs3qb5DoFl301codBloPHtsQVIa03qc/s1600/phonebooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoji6NAzkK6_ko1W9CGdueG9mzv2w-YJYqJgyS_vY2dvEJ-hQXINvY_Ct8o1oqKYZ_Ur-HaDG36eymNnJjTQm62TgiSRQ_c-Qy72s-94w1PPQqXs3qb5DoFl301codBloPHtsQVIa03qc/s320/phonebooth.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phone booth, now a relic of years gone by</td></tr>
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Through the years the old hotel survived fires and remodeling, and ownership changes, It is an eclectic mix of all the years. Just some of the artifacts that I was delighted to see were the old hotel switchboards and of course, the phone booths in the lobby, now retrofit with modern day pay phones.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegutA5m1JaRN0l_aBmBql1pQGdykrL8iFqDjG-L1P7eQq0P8izM1HQSx3xUMDvn5Qrg_doNK2s7GGvcpdIoSANcYVrFNoW69qij3Bf9HGNIqCGs35wjd1iAyxeBaMlH3erDYN4k7yRNY/s1600/IMG_6980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegutA5m1JaRN0l_aBmBql1pQGdykrL8iFqDjG-L1P7eQq0P8izM1HQSx3xUMDvn5Qrg_doNK2s7GGvcpdIoSANcYVrFNoW69qij3Bf9HGNIqCGs35wjd1iAyxeBaMlH3erDYN4k7yRNY/s320/IMG_6980.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan and me at the Cup Cafe in the Hotel Congress</td></tr>
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The Hotel's Cup Cafe served up a wonderful Christmas dinner for the four of us, and we went home with a big piece of double chocolate cake!<br />
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After Christmas Kermit and I want to check out Biosphere 2 in the town of Oracle, just north of here. This will be my second visit and Kermit's first. Stay tuned!<br />
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Merry Christmas!</div>
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b></div>
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-46709385864120741642018-12-29T09:40:00.001-08:002018-12-29T15:24:27.359-08:00Fixing our Splendide 2100xc<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today's blog is a technical one, so If you aren't interested in the inner workings of a Splendide 2100xc washer/ dryer combo, please fast forward to my next blog.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Splendide 2100XC in our motorhome</span><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YRupTi0tCPo/XCgAi4-xwiI/AAAAAAAAIBc/7IpSlQAr0-Q02aXk-Fjgw6FkupHqpY8LwCHMYCw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="id_97a1_3396_1e6_1cfb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YRupTi0tCPo/XCgAi4-xwiI/AAAAAAAAIBc/7IpSlQAr0-Q02aXk-Fjgw6FkupHqpY8LwCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin-top: 4px; width: 194px;" title="" tooltip="" width="320" /></a>For quite some time we have been noticing a degradation in the performance of the dryer portion of our combination washer/dryer. Joan found a website that had a possible solution for this. The poster explained that in these combination units where the washer is also the dryer, there is no traditional lint trap that you can pull out and clean. Instead what is supposed to happen is lint is washed away and goes down the drain with the wash water.</div>
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We have taken to washing our clothes and hanging them to dry either outside or inside, depending on the weather. Some RV parks will not allow outside clothes drying, so that means on a good day, opening all the windows and hanging clothes inside. The dryer used to work fairly well- it was never real efficient, but we'd like to have the option for machine drying again. </div>
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The first fix we read about recommended that we clean out the pump housing and make sure it was not plugged by coins, gravel, or lint.</div>
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To do this you have to remove the bottom front panel which exposes a cap that unscrews, exposing the impeller area of the pump.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rvLF1_i1804/XCey3HrnnnI/AAAAAAAAIAo/JSmMdBh1fXs0Y3933jGopnf2rrLUu8F-wCHMYCw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="id_764e_e84f_2929_d160" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rvLF1_i1804/XCey3HrnnnI/AAAAAAAAIAo/JSmMdBh1fXs0Y3933jGopnf2rrLUu8F-wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></a><br />
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Once you unscrew the cap be ready with towels or a bowl to catch the moderate amount of water that will flow out. The pump chamber can be easily cleaned with a finger or paper towel- ours had no foreign objects and only a small amount of lint.<br />
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The fix we read about was to:</div>
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1. Start the unit without clothes and with the dry time set to off and cycle #11 selected on the multifunction knob. When the water stops entering the drum, push and hold the Start button until all the lights on the panel come on, then release the button</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2twkAjNrq6U/XCey2JOnm_I/AAAAAAAAIAg/1_UWh4YLbicaAlaPyfnOiwXtm9tSDbe2wCHMYCw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="id_2497_58f9_81ad_7ac2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2twkAjNrq6U/XCey2JOnm_I/AAAAAAAAIAg/1_UWh4YLbicaAlaPyfnOiwXtm9tSDbe2wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></a>2. Move the cycle knob to cycle #2, push the extra rinse button once (do not hold down), allow the washer to complete that whole wash cycle. (About 90 minutes)</div>
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3. Do this three times before trying the dryer. If the dryer works, do this process once a month (one cycle only- not three as above)</div>
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We did this without any noticeable improvement. Note: I'm not saying it didn't work, only that it didn't solve the entire problem for us. I held my hand in front of the dryer vent on the outside of the RV and there was almost no air flow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the hose coupling flange</td></tr>
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Next step was to get pull the dryer out to where I could get to the exhaust hose and connections.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall cut-out with snap in cover plate</td></tr>
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Lucky for me It wasn't too hard because I cut an inspection hole in the wall when we installed it. All I had to do was remove the snap-in cover and uncouple the vent hose from the wall connection<br />
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Once out, I ran the dryer for a minute to see what kind of air flow I was getting- (none)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a stiff wire to dig out lint</td></tr>
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The dryer air outlet is a tight S shape. The duct exits the drum at one level and goes into an immediate 90 degree bend, then straight up, then another 90 degree bend and straight out. I took off the outside coupling ring with two screws, but still could not get my hand into the S-bend duct.<br />
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I made a wire tool to dig out lint and was only moderately successful. The lint near the top came out quickly, but the lint in the bottom bend was wet and clumped tightly together, and didn't want to move<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a flexible grabber tool to grab lint out of elbow</td></tr>
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A flexible grabber tool, the kind that has the retracting wire fingers was the right tool for getting the lint stuck in the bottom elbow. Big clumps at first, then smaller clumps as I was able to break it up. The lint was wet, picking up moisture from our last dryer run, and wanted to stick to the plastic S bend<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Using a bottle brush to sweep out any remaining lint</td></tr>
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I finished up with a cylindrical brush that I bent to match the bend in the ducting. I would sweep the sides and bottom of the elbow and attempt to get the residual lint stuck in the bristles of the brush.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sample of the lint removed from dryer S bend</td></tr>
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All together I ended up with quite a handful of lint. Lint had almost completely blocked the first elbow coming out of the drum. Some lint stuck to other parts of the S bend and flex hose but the real problem was the very first bend.<br />
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Once I reassembled the dryer and slid it back into it's cabinet, we had a chance to run it in "dryer" mode and we had significant air flow to the outside!<br />
Doing a load of laundry was further proof that the problem was solved for now.<br />
Hope this helps someone else get their dryer back on line.<br />
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b><br />
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<i><b>Jeff and Joan </b></i><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-44058577850734640752018-12-29T08:04:00.001-08:002018-12-29T09:12:57.094-08:00Tantalizing Tucson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main entrance to the DBG</td></tr>
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Joan and I moved the bus further into Tucson, and checked into the South Forty RV Ranch. Our stay at Catalina State Park was delightful, but due to the high demand for sites, we could only wrangle 4 nights at this incredible park. The up-side of this move is that it puts us closer to the action of downtown Tucson, and we are planning on museum visits, and downtown excursions.</div>
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Ironically, our first exploration was to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in <i>Phoenix</i>! I know, we just left there, but our friends Marla and Kermit were willing to do the drive and they have a very comfortable touring car.</div>
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Desert Botanical Gardens is for those who think the desert is nothing but dirt and tumbleweeds. They have showcased thousands of species of cactus, trees, shrubs and flowers on a 55 acre site.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">There are 5 main loop trails with several sub-trails all with a theme. All in all, I would estimate about 2 miles, of really beautiful scenery!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very necessary trail map comes with your admission. It is keyed with signs and colors to the trail system</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Desert Botanical Gardens" id="id_23eb_8934_5c59_3e8a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xU9WRg7lGJQ/XCbYX9PaHtI/AAAAAAAAH_Q/RC6OPGTLVZ88q_x1EintMqiiC3w1L3JXgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 903px;" title="" tooltip="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildflower Pavilion on the Desert Wildflower loop</td></tr>
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There is nothing here that wouldn't grow just fine in the surrounding desert, but the placement and arrangement, make these gardens spectacular.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steel plant storage box used by developers</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I took the photo shown on the right, because there is a cool story behind this set-up. In 1980 there was a movement by several municipalities to ban the practice of dozing the plants off the desert before building. Phil Hebets saw an opportunity and designed these steel skips for builders to use to excavate and store the native plants for re-planting when the landscaping is ready. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Since desert plants grow so slowly, this is also a very intelligent way to save mature trees, cacti and shrubs for your new homesite.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for transplanting saguaro cacti" src="https://www.nps.gov/sagu/learn/nature/images/saguaro_transplant_400x300.jpg?maxwidth=1200&maxheight=1200&autorotate=false" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of NPS</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">While it is illegal to remove plants from public land in the desert, there are many plant nurseries in and around Tucson, and Phoenix that grow and sell just about any desert plant you may want. Many ranchers supplement their income by selling plants- including very tall saguaros. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Surprisingly very little of the root is necessary for a successful transplant, however, the plant must be stabilized until new roots have grown. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden path with luminary ready for a night time show</td></tr>
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There is a night show here called the Electric Desert, but we weren't going to stay til dark to see it. Someone else will have to blog on the lights and music. I liked this place because they had signs that let you know what genus and specie each plant was. The genus name for prickly pear is "Opuntia" -(Oh-punch-ya) if that doesn't say keep away what does?<br />
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Now for something a little closer to home, we decided to visit the Arizona State Museum on the University of Arizona campus. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan enjoys the ancient pottery on display at the Arizona State Museum in Tucson</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The room pictured above is filled with what I thought were some incredibly beautiful pots both contemporary and ancient, but as I worked my way to the back of the room, I saw the entrance to another room that was a climate controlled "vault" for the oldest and most valuable finds. The vault was off limits to any but authorized researchers- and even though I showed them my Bi-Mart card I couldn't get them to let me in.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This pot caught my eye. It is what archaeologists think is a seed jar dated to the years 50- 500 CE (around one thousand five hundred years old) and is from here in the Tucson Basin!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Another big surprise for me was the revelation that a wooly mammoth from the Pleistocene era was found near Naco, Arizona south of here. A local rancher noticed the tips of the tusks sticking out of a wash, and called archaeologists from the University of Arizona</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Another surprise awaited the team as they excavated the carcass, they found not one, but two spear points nestled in the ribs! Our ancestors from 13,000 years ago, had hunted and killed this mammoth!</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">No blog post would be finished without a beautiful sunset.</span><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b></div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-79484394081955788032018-12-19T21:59:00.001-08:002018-12-29T09:01:05.258-08:00Exploring Tucson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We met our friends Marla and Kermit, fellow Oregonians, who are vacationing here in southern Arizona for a late brunch before we all headed out to see the botanical park and cultural museum at Tohono Chul.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shady walk ways at Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens and Galleries in Tucson, AZ</td></tr>
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Tohono Chul is the former estate of Dick and Jean Wilson, now deeded over to a non-profit foundation and open to the public for a small fee. The name translates into "desert corner" from the Tohono O'odham language. The park is 49 acres and includes buildings and gardens all intertwined with a network of walking paths.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the greenhouses supporting Tohono Chul- plants here can be purchased in the gift shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor exhibit at the Tucson Museum of Art in downtown Tucson</td></tr>
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Next we visited the Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) in the Presidio District of <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> old downtown </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Tucson. The building completed in 1975, is constructed as a series of very wide ramps that wind down from the top floor. An elevator ride takes you to the top floor, and one only has to amble down these spiraling ramps to get back to the main floor.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A George Phippen Bronze</td></tr>
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One artist represented, was George Phippen a close friend of Joan's father. George and Chet met in the Army during WWII and were friends for life. George loved western themes, and his talents were not limited to sculpture. Many of the letters he sent to the Austin family included drawings and paintings on the envelopes and margins of the pages. Those letters were donated to the Phippen Museum in Prescott, AZ after Chet's death.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan begins walking the Romero Ruins Trail in Catalina State Park</td></tr>
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We are spending a lot of time sight seeing all over Tucson, but when we get back home, we find some time to hike the trails near our RV park- we are, after all, staying in a state park!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late afternoon sun lights up this massive saguaro cactus</td></tr>
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One short trail that starts across the wash from us is called the Romero Ruins Interpretive Trail. This trail heads up a steep ridge to an area of historical and archaeological significance. This is the site of Francisco Romero's ranch built in the 1850s. It is also the site of an older village dating back to A.D. 500. The natives of that time built "pit houses". So called because they started by digging out a shallow pit, before erecting a pole and brush roof which was then covered with mud to make it water resistant.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Romero Ruins is an archaeological site of some significance, but has been compromised by "pot hunters"</td></tr>
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Nothing remains of a typical pit home today, however the ball courts and signature trash mounds are evidence that a village once existed here. The construction we saw was that of later occupants that used the native rock and a mud/ clay mortar to build more permanent structures.</div>
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The reconstruction shown above, is what archaeologists believe later dwellings may have looked like, with the addition of wood for a roof. </div>
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Further into the site signs pointed to a dished out area that is believed to have been an ancient ball court (more than 2,000 yrs old) where teams played for sport and recreation. The rubber balls used in these games may have been made from the guayule plant native to the Mexican desert south of here. One such ball was found by a rancher excavating near the Gila River. The ball was preserved in a olla, an early terracotta like pot.</div>
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Tomorrow we leave Catalina State Park, and head into the city to take our new residence at South Forty RV on Orange Grove Road. </div>
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Your Travelling Friends,</div>
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<i><b>Jeff and Joan</b></i></div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-14965411027442504782018-12-16T21:13:00.001-08:002018-12-28T06:57:56.165-08:00Phoenix to TucsonOdometer 64370<div>Trip 165 miles</div><div><br></div><div>New River, AZ to Catalina State Park (near Tucson)</div><div><br></div><div>This Saturday night turned out to be pretty special. Friends were getting together for a Christmas event. Six Model T driving couples were invited to take an after dark tour of several exclusive neighborhoods to view the Christmas lighting in each. These normally gated communities had decided to open the gates to light peepers for one evening only. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Aeo62Q_GkxGUFnDxUxFo8XEfI2I_7mT5ZYhmt83qYx8qL6m7Egj-n5d-IoW1B4BUf3GAhkdl8yIoFwxurWycNUmOwW4MSt8QKOTor7CozFuMp7L3HmPifFI0S2UQDYMAvHzPHm84nQM/s640/blogger-image--378461759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Aeo62Q_GkxGUFnDxUxFo8XEfI2I_7mT5ZYhmt83qYx8qL6m7Egj-n5d-IoW1B4BUf3GAhkdl8yIoFwxurWycNUmOwW4MSt8QKOTor7CozFuMp7L3HmPifFI0S2UQDYMAvHzPHm84nQM/s640/blogger-image--378461759.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>We conspired to tour these communities in our dressed for the occasion Model Ts. All of us festooned our cars with strings of colored lights and under cover of darkness we took off in a caravan.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU9lfs2G1S5fAdnIrsfPIdvW8Uq-zCfI2tj8g5Qr_mo-_oiZkNv7USZlTxvVKrpfLqCLkDc_dVsM2LcH2mCcbi7e7RVQJjWF3JNIFojY8S1kQM7Nt2vDteXjim2GAvXGJJRkv_YfU4q0/s640/blogger-image-614278223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU9lfs2G1S5fAdnIrsfPIdvW8Uq-zCfI2tj8g5Qr_mo-_oiZkNv7USZlTxvVKrpfLqCLkDc_dVsM2LcH2mCcbi7e7RVQJjWF3JNIFojY8S1kQM7Nt2vDteXjim2GAvXGJJRkv_YfU4q0/s640/blogger-image-614278223.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joan and I had a blast. The night was clear and cool, so we were dressed in puffy coats, wool caps and gloves. After the tour we met at friends house for hot toddys and finger food- what a night. Thank you Dick and Helen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday morning we carpooled over to Dick and Helen's house to retreive the Ts, and drove them back home in the daylight. That set our departure of until about 11 AM but it was sure worth it !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFEQn7dXdJ8VEsIb1w_88jVaPVc2sRJFMTCtSVOQPxOA8phZwVcd3kL45Wt2XwQw4E_IKCUmHEZ5_eCwe1jTR07El79GhOjMq6UmeeX7i1yJZRGJSDCjTYqNB-qN-hKYF_0EWFfAVe5o/s640/blogger-image--912984854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFEQn7dXdJ8VEsIb1w_88jVaPVc2sRJFMTCtSVOQPxOA8phZwVcd3kL45Wt2XwQw4E_IKCUmHEZ5_eCwe1jTR07El79GhOjMq6UmeeX7i1yJZRGJSDCjTYqNB-qN-hKYF_0EWFfAVe5o/s640/blogger-image--912984854.jpg"></a> Our route for today is rather circuitous because we want to search out a station where we can refill our empty propane tank- and Sunday isn't the best day to do this. We chewed through all of our 30 gallons on propane on the trip down and during our 3 week stay in New River at our friends house. The first station we stopped at in Anthem wanted $4 a gallon, three said they didn't have anyone that could pump it for us, and finally the Flying J Station in Eloy filled us up at $3.29 a gallon a savings of $21.30 on the tankful. Frustrating at the very least. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I wanted to take AZ 79 down from Florence - however we HAD to get propane and there were no prospects in that direction, so I-10 it was.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxT2z7qIgJvXszmxnnmCyHnz-mOXKwbomi2-VgAGqYBo2CrMTcjISEuniXIK3EDMYw6BCoqZXVwGHfjuemWxP7UwUdGtXoilSlKVBrKE6DIovdbzgj7SJprbZD7CON9aeF1-wHWIk_ec/s640/blogger-image--34487556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxT2z7qIgJvXszmxnnmCyHnz-mOXKwbomi2-VgAGqYBo2CrMTcjISEuniXIK3EDMYw6BCoqZXVwGHfjuemWxP7UwUdGtXoilSlKVBrKE6DIovdbzgj7SJprbZD7CON9aeF1-wHWIk_ec/s640/blogger-image--34487556.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div> Our destination for today is Catalina State Park, just north of Tucson, with Amazing views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Google estimate of 3 hours, stretched into a 5 hour drive for us with our hunt for propane and a half hour lunch stop in a rest area on I-10. Finally by 4PM we were in our space and looking at the view shown below...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr92lt7xdIzWsqgIBWTz8i6RDmqYXNpijJHkhRgzlrE5pQszvYMyTyfNysGnnm3ByN-1WHP8fRtGln4RqG2LGqs3XyeJrpBc9NF54JtCZkH2-7fQWIp7xLXfGVAnCxwHWrc1ezts8vGU/s640/blogger-image--1619541589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr92lt7xdIzWsqgIBWTz8i6RDmqYXNpijJHkhRgzlrE5pQszvYMyTyfNysGnnm3ByN-1WHP8fRtGln4RqG2LGqs3XyeJrpBc9NF54JtCZkH2-7fQWIp7xLXfGVAnCxwHWrc1ezts8vGU/s640/blogger-image--1619541589.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Push Ridge, a spectacular granite cliff rises high above the RV park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4P2QAwmqgOqukv6jyt637ZysQWJNq_5CkRqpFCnTpz5B_AoW_aN5axf4yFPVtwefkq3esg8WLof7c85CEAebh9f7hOZw2qT7sSdGMB2Q5GTb2cOw6R5IyXKOq_mtZ_BFzSBLVu3CJVE/s640/blogger-image--1123829841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4P2QAwmqgOqukv6jyt637ZysQWJNq_5CkRqpFCnTpz5B_AoW_aN5axf4yFPVtwefkq3esg8WLof7c85CEAebh9f7hOZw2qT7sSdGMB2Q5GTb2cOw6R5IyXKOq_mtZ_BFzSBLVu3CJVE/s640/blogger-image--1123829841.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Armed with the new SkyCatcher app on my iPad, I felt very confident I could get sat TV hooked up quickly and efficiently.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq5EEnC0CCaPdsr4z4d6D2QGoweDCbEIMVZYaK1Mmbsx1FCnJ4T2IOyjmylkHdz4Kt43MhYx2_ONowiCMSe5j1kRW8aTR25H5HE0dvR3b_J760y_uXQ1znmfhYRgfqacJi30cChzSUgU/s640/blogger-image--2036480886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq5EEnC0CCaPdsr4z4d6D2QGoweDCbEIMVZYaK1Mmbsx1FCnJ4T2IOyjmylkHdz4Kt43MhYx2_ONowiCMSe5j1kRW8aTR25H5HE0dvR3b_J760y_uXQ1znmfhYRgfqacJi30cChzSUgU/s640/blogger-image--2036480886.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Joan dutifully monitored the Dish pointing screen on the TV- but I could never get it aimed correctly, although we tried valiantly for a couple hours- We need Mark and his satellite finder. Not sure where I was going wrong. I guess when we get to Ajo, we can get Mark to give us some instruction. I ended up taking the dish and tripod down and stowing it so we could move tomorrow to our next RV park, the South Forty RV Ranch. When we were reserving space, we could only get 4 nights here in Catalina, that's all that was available.</div></div></div><br></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wkrr57T5l6FaxOMCQ-8mHiE8dhV3T_GalWM4k_OlRIQgH0CmvFogQNhp2NH8boA9uiRelRTWY_W8PZvBy5aA-R1eKlt0rv61Fa-VM85H2EKOjj_zLf8N6N3R7eSc9tcSFO_Jricdf9M/s640/blogger-image-95363191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wkrr57T5l6FaxOMCQ-8mHiE8dhV3T_GalWM4k_OlRIQgH0CmvFogQNhp2NH8boA9uiRelRTWY_W8PZvBy5aA-R1eKlt0rv61Fa-VM85H2EKOjj_zLf8N6N3R7eSc9tcSFO_Jricdf9M/s640/blogger-image-95363191.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After doing our best to set up the Dish antenna, we took a long walk through this campground and one adjacent to us. We hike a short distance up the ridge behind the park and were rewarded with this beautiful vista.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">More on exploring Tucson- stay tuned!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Your Traveling Friends</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jeff and Joan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-43637525008834594842018-12-10T21:02:00.000-08:002018-12-10T21:03:25.217-08:00Thanksgiving on the Road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Mojave, CA to New River, Arizona</b></div>
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Today's route was a straight shot from Mojave, east to the Colorado River and Bullhead City, AZ. No major elevation changes until we descend into the Colorado River valley near Needles. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Route Map for Today</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This hop is only about 4 hours, so we take our time packing up and getting on the road. We found a scenic spot on the route to pull over and make lunch, and by 3PM we were pulling into the Riverside Adventure Trails RV Park, in Fort Mohave, which is neither riverside nor adventurous, but none the less a clean, comfortable and reasonably priced full hookup park.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Space at Riverside Adventure Trails RV Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving Feast</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Rsatrvpark as they call themselves is a Passport America participant, which means we get a space for two days at half the listed price. We intend to stay two nights because tomorrow is Thanksgiving day and we have plans for a nice dinner for two at home. I take the opportunity to fill our diesel tank at Smith's, a Kroger affiliate that accepts our Fred Meyer fuel points, while Joan buys groceries.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: right;">Thanksgiving day we had lots to be thankful for, and we celebrated with vegan turkey, broccoli, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry relish, which Joan made with fresh berries from this year's harvest on the southern Oregon coast.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Route map for the trip from Bullhead City to New River </td></tr>
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After our relaxing day in the Bullhead City area, we were ready for the last leg of this year's migration south. Today we head east to Kingman, and then diagonal south and east to the Phoenix suburb of New River. The route is 210 miles and should take us most of the day (ha-ha!). We like the slower kick-back route 93 through NW Arizona and enjoy the slower pace and the small towns along the route.</div>
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Before we can get to US 93 and start heading south we have to go north past Laughlin about 4 miles where we can pickup Arizona highway 68 heading east to Kingman. Laughlin is one of Arizona's lowest elevation cities at 558 feet, while Kingman sits at a lofty 3,336 feet above msl, and boy do we feel it this morning 12 miles of 6% grade from a standing start. Our Horizon motorhome with its 330 hp Caterpillar is up to the task though. Mike Cody's words from my Camp Freightliner class ring in my ears " this chassis will climb all day if you keep the rpm between 1700 and 1900". I do, and he is correct, no overheating and no problems.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home in New River</td></tr>
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By early afternoon we are set up at our hosts home in New River, just in time for sunset and cocktails on the patio. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ralph and Ann</td></tr>
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Our hosts have several Model T Fords and I'm here to, among other things, enjoy their hospitality and friendship, and to learn how to service and maintain Model Ts.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new-to-us tow vehicle gets a once-over</td></tr>
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Our hosts have a nicely equipped shop, and between Model T projects, I get our Tracker up on the hoist to give the undersides a quick cleaning and inspection. The car is a 2002 model and is new to us, so I am particularly interested in it's condition. It passes inspection with an A+ !</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touring through the Hills of Cave Creek</td></tr>
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Joan and I get invited to go on many T tours, as our hosts believe that the cars like the attention, and we like the attention that they bring us! We have been assigned a 1915 touring car to drive (and maintain :->)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour 2018</td></tr>
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One of our favorite tours is called Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour where Artists in Cave Creek and Carefree open up their studios (and often their homes) to the public. We have a great time visiting these wonderful galleries as a part of our Model T tour.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunsets on our home on wheels</td></tr>
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b></div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-48416394538749096082018-11-20T22:52:00.000-08:002018-12-10T21:05:45.787-08:00Exploring Mojave<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 63746 miles<br />
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<b>Tuesday </b><br />
<b>11/20/18</b><br />
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<b>Mojave, CA</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ6V0Rc-m9M1rB8oeiuFRJvOeeXb40FKVGTypk6jEc0gdoBJkjQhh9LDoDX0YXuy8bbSTDPwAVFgSvilIivOXCrZUkLAuTHInQAfxE0ukXTW_h96jvNc1tM113XfqaMkLsAmtGrt5APc/s1600/Sierra+Trails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Sierra Trails RV Park in Mojave, CA" border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="639" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ6V0Rc-m9M1rB8oeiuFRJvOeeXb40FKVGTypk6jEc0gdoBJkjQhh9LDoDX0YXuy8bbSTDPwAVFgSvilIivOXCrZUkLAuTHInQAfxE0ukXTW_h96jvNc1tM113XfqaMkLsAmtGrt5APc/s640/Sierra+Trails.jpg" title="Our rig in the Sierra Trails RV Park" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sierra Trails RV Park</td></tr>
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Rest, like we really need it huh? Well we didn't say we needed it- we just want it. We are staying an extra day in the Sierra Trails RV park in Mojave to do some exploring. We want to check out California City, and the Red Rock Canyon State Park.<br />
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California City is a city that was incorporated back in 1965 by real estate developer Nat Mendelsohn. Nat purchased 80,000 acres of land with the idea of master-planning a showcase city, which he hoped would grow to eclipse the other great cities of California.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBrN7ZUVPGHCugATZiDsOsk3Dgqxr4KdSsUVBle2ft6AT9S-MROB_F1ViQAL9HYy-ehYmKX0XAVz5BWlK6sUNd0KOL9-fbOdvsTm_fcUP0NdNj2sX4Fn6E7A9OJiMQmx7h26JrQ4X6aE/s1600/Cal+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Satellite image of part of California City" border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1275" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBrN7ZUVPGHCugATZiDsOsk3Dgqxr4KdSsUVBle2ft6AT9S-MROB_F1ViQAL9HYy-ehYmKX0XAVz5BWlK6sUNd0KOL9-fbOdvsTm_fcUP0NdNj2sX4Fn6E7A9OJiMQmx7h26JrQ4X6aE/s640/Cal+City.jpg" title="Satellite image of part of California City" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sierra Trails RV where we are, is represented by the blue dot on the lower left of the photo above. You can see the banner that says "California City" and the development around it. but what you can't see is that the city has been platted to go from Hwy 14 near us all the way to highway 395 some 30 <u>MILES</u> to the east of hwy 14 !! All in all it incorporates 186.5 square miles of desert</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmURwleh6yFZwfWkfkaQTuNnK8008oHBn9-UGKRIJ5ygBZrO4sff6QVMcqUwrN1r-gqXzz8qoFvJ8Ol_voq5pBZEXmgQXdzQgGeE7gM166M7tqb9HMUEY3XcpNvt6HXRZs_n9ymTp3OoA/s1600/C+City+roads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aerial photo showing proposed roads and streets in California City" border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1280" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmURwleh6yFZwfWkfkaQTuNnK8008oHBn9-UGKRIJ5ygBZrO4sff6QVMcqUwrN1r-gqXzz8qoFvJ8Ol_voq5pBZEXmgQXdzQgGeE7gM166M7tqb9HMUEY3XcpNvt6HXRZs_n9ymTp3OoA/s640/C+City+roads.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future roads and streets in California City</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXDTFG2Lsjm-340piWtEaHU2O0ftSsUCphuEHyfAXttFbITuah3_hdHg1bPqpvI3Kjmu8rkQH4w0fbLWn9u2t8y6Z7uDYVQLMobzYUFWbZBo6Y-l-I-jMZEKq87SYVdmFExHqONsW7Io/s1600/Nat+Mendelsohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Founder of California City, Nathan Mendelsohn" border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXDTFG2Lsjm-340piWtEaHU2O0ftSsUCphuEHyfAXttFbITuah3_hdHg1bPqpvI3Kjmu8rkQH4w0fbLWn9u2t8y6Z7uDYVQLMobzYUFWbZBo6Y-l-I-jMZEKq87SYVdmFExHqONsW7Io/s1600/Nat+Mendelsohn.jpg" title="Nathan Mendelsohn" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nat Mendelsohn</td></tr>
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All the roads above are graded out in perfect order of where they were to be, stretching out miles and miles from where the kernel of the city was started! An incredible undertaking. Today California City is ranked the 331st largest city, with a population of 14,000, however by <u>size</u> it is the 3rd largest city in California, and the 11 largest in the United States.<br />
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Nathan Mendelsohn was born in Czechoslovakia in 1915 and came to the US with his parents in 1920. He became very well educated and taught at Columbia University, where he became fascinated with rural sociology, especially structures of towns and villages. He left the university to go west and become a land developer. He worked for, and with, several large developers as Los Angeles spilled northward. Eventually he was able to purchase 80,000 acres from the M&R Ranch near Boron. The ranch already had 11 water wells that seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of water. He hired a team of the best planners and city experts he could find and together they developed California City, marketing the first properties in 1958.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAnYM4RvGHGor4NZAMz1n3t7X0YMwwJiXdxwEx0MzFoK-CJG7zpfIav332amafhsmddrF_poWcFnPBgzQ9byuIDTEoG5ZbsPtrPTJlc6RpnfarDk9iTqPxXWsBXEC1HXAs6dpxeaI5MY/s1600/Cal+City+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="California City Sign" border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAnYM4RvGHGor4NZAMz1n3t7X0YMwwJiXdxwEx0MzFoK-CJG7zpfIav332amafhsmddrF_poWcFnPBgzQ9byuIDTEoG5ZbsPtrPTJlc6RpnfarDk9iTqPxXWsBXEC1HXAs6dpxeaI5MY/s200/Cal+City+sign.jpg" title="Welcome Sign at California City" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome Sign at California City</td></tr>
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A flood of speculators lined up to buy lots at more than $3,000 per lot. Some days sales totaled more than a $500,000 by noon. Unfortunately the industry that Mendelsohn had expected, never materialized. By 1990 only 6,500 purchasers had built in Cal City. Today the population is listed at 13, 972, but since the industry, bastions of higher education, shopping meccas, and indeed the skyscrapers, never came to be, the population has grown only slightly year to year. In 1969 Mendelsohn sold the development to Great Western United Corp., a Denver based sugar and mining company, and he moved on to other developments. He died in 1984 at a resort community he had founded in Texas. Will California City someday become larger than LA- who can say...They're certainly ready.<br />
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From California City, Joan and I headed north up to Red Rock State Park, as we'd heard reports on the beautiful rock formations.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTx6ylxtd4NKE4qz_Z6aIrdb-a4Nnh-KIVwq-1pZZ2xx2BxodE_PYZfwgQ0PdM_jBaO-MyV7N4UaoFKMrRyyqEzKDkgmLt0DeAhADvD2XqNMmfVe56ZqkV0ZUzplOt7_ImlNVLLjt_Xs/s1600/Red+Rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Red Rock Canyon State Park- Mojave, CA" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTx6ylxtd4NKE4qz_Z6aIrdb-a4Nnh-KIVwq-1pZZ2xx2BxodE_PYZfwgQ0PdM_jBaO-MyV7N4UaoFKMrRyyqEzKDkgmLt0DeAhADvD2XqNMmfVe56ZqkV0ZUzplOt7_ImlNVLLjt_Xs/s640/Red+Rocks.jpg" title="Parked at one of several trail heads in Red Rock Canyon" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked at one of several trail heads in Red Rock Canyon</td></tr>
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The reports were not an exaggeration, the formations are magnificent. One can't help but be reminded of Grecian columns. We walked the trail around this majestic cliff watching the colors change in the long rays of the afternoon sun.<br />
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One other thing of note about this area is that they have lots of solar and wind power up here. Look carefully in the first aerial photo and you can see at least two extremely large solar arrays. We are told there are at least 9 of these arrays and they provide more than 354 Mega Watts of power to the grid.<br />
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Tomorrow it's back to the trail again- on to Arizona!<br />
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<b>Your traveling friends</b><br />
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<b><i>Jeff and Joan</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0oG9FCJUOH984dtWMIQKcx2BDq4-3ELd3ucK-ojWb88NLWjMYiz-7UCTuziTC3u9KXUu8lhgF6XKIRo5vTorFakrtt3FlRgIw2sTGLNOPsKJiTrsTaiNrrikmxJO_RJFxE3VZCuv4mo/s1600/Honda+testtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1600" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0oG9FCJUOH984dtWMIQKcx2BDq4-3ELd3ucK-ojWb88NLWjMYiz-7UCTuziTC3u9KXUu8lhgF6XKIRo5vTorFakrtt3FlRgIw2sTGLNOPsKJiTrsTaiNrrikmxJO_RJFxE3VZCuv4mo/s200/Honda+testtrack.jpg" width="200" /></a>PS- See that oval track in the first aerial photo above? It belongs to Honda R&D -it's their test track! Lots of really cool stuff going on up here.<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603909508167070774.post-3503385222039833612018-11-19T23:24:00.000-08:002018-11-20T15:48:48.063-08:00Clear Lake to Patterson to Mojave<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Odometer 63283 start<br />
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Odometer 63479 end</div>
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Miles this trip. 196 miles</div>
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<b>Sunday November 18, 2018</b></div>
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I was stymied yesterday attempting to take California route 175 from Hopland over to Clear Lake. First there were signs warning vehicles longer that 39 feet were not "recommended" on this route. Our motorhome is only 36 feet, but we were towing a car behind that made us abut 16 feet longer, and nobody was explaining whether the articulation between bus and car made any difference. We decided that it did, (in our favor) and resolved to go that route anyway. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1VeD1p5wats23lOf4pZuFY4fcgsNmYhVxcer_Yv91Atz0Z7-7KVi57KKGtbReS_fNHgoLcq6NdZIi425GLAK5G2RWFFd5ilsnP_0XZ12bpqxV05JDScA6UiWB20tQqOvxybw1-JWufk/s640/blogger-image-1735311082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1VeD1p5wats23lOf4pZuFY4fcgsNmYhVxcer_Yv91Atz0Z7-7KVi57KKGtbReS_fNHgoLcq6NdZIi425GLAK5G2RWFFd5ilsnP_0XZ12bpqxV05JDScA6UiWB20tQqOvxybw1-JWufk/s640/blogger-image-1735311082.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our failed route on 175 stymied by road closure- back track to route 20</td></tr>
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But then, after driving several miles east to Sho-Ka-Wah Casino we encountered a flashing reader board that said "Road Closed 11-13 WY". What?? Does anyone know what that means? This is a narrow twisty two lane road and we were going to have a terrible time finding anywhere to turn back if the road were actually closed ahead. So I turned around at the casino and headed back to 101 and north back to Cal 20. </div>
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I turns out that going back to Hopland and up through Ukiah and over to the town of Nice on Clear Lake is only a few minutes longer than taking hwy 175 anyway!</div>
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So- today I decided that I'd get my back roads a different way.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgPrv4ZppXwflogB5Gfm6OcbAGfilbFxm64Lca9FQ_hSILV2Cur8uvzzT_sJpkDuGHQab3XgyMGE3CpFNQZY7od8h6nAwGGs64XQzNzw65jvs7L40DxxjJvJianLNqA_bXyRlmbLVgzo/s640/blogger-image--391065075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgPrv4ZppXwflogB5Gfm6OcbAGfilbFxm64Lca9FQ_hSILV2Cur8uvzzT_sJpkDuGHQab3XgyMGE3CpFNQZY7od8h6nAwGGs64XQzNzw65jvs7L40DxxjJvJianLNqA_bXyRlmbLVgzo/s640/blogger-image--391065075.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's route to I-5 and on to Patterson, CA</td></tr>
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Instead of going over to I-5 on California Route 20, I talked Joan into going south on Cal 16 through Cache Creek Canyon where we would see the small towns of Rumsey, Guinda, Brooks and Esparto. The combination of this beautiful drive and the chance to miss driving down I-5 was a clear winner!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlNko4XZameD6pzoKdYu_Zsv2Z6wA3mg347GrvPNSrvjaYPRwRcDAIbdNtJba7k0ZZyzRksl8pCxuz-c8PiHqVItgZydV2OZFLrZBrEfR7_4u8QQuOV7IIQdePtXAsTfBKibmU3cIdic/s640/blogger-image--1721558912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlNko4XZameD6pzoKdYu_Zsv2Z6wA3mg347GrvPNSrvjaYPRwRcDAIbdNtJba7k0ZZyzRksl8pCxuz-c8PiHqVItgZydV2OZFLrZBrEfR7_4u8QQuOV7IIQdePtXAsTfBKibmU3cIdic/s640/blogger-image--1721558912.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch stop at Yolo County regional part at Cache Creek</td></tr>
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For some reason, the smoke in the atmosphere does not show up in the photo above, but we were struggling with a thick blanket of smoke from the Camp fire, and the Woolsey- Paradise fires.<br />
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Many of the roads we travel are not smooth blacktop, and today is no exception. I am continually amazed at the pounding that this motorhome takes as we roll down the road. Someone once explained it as having a home on wheels that goes through an non-stop earthquake as it goes down the road. Kudos to the engineers and the testers at Freightliner and Winnebago. That's part of the price for taking the roads less traveled, slower, twistyer, rougher, BUT more scenic and slower pace. I like it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RlRDShn_76-EB795E5nRC07AIfhIVkg3Y7M-wbza0iPIz3PcosSlkv4-BSwBII5OEJgQXLWrV5pv8u1tQ5oNShadcWu97IMt8ZcJX3GjJnw5Ye8KzkOR39UGwKt3XYWS5aokmQRdMoc/s1600/IMG_9590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RlRDShn_76-EB795E5nRC07AIfhIVkg3Y7M-wbza0iPIz3PcosSlkv4-BSwBII5OEJgQXLWrV5pv8u1tQ5oNShadcWu97IMt8ZcJX3GjJnw5Ye8KzkOR39UGwKt3XYWS5aokmQRdMoc/s320/IMG_9590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucked in at Patterson, CA- It's smokier that it looks-really!</td></tr>
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At about 3:30 in the afternoon we arrived at our destination for today- Kit Fox RV Park in Patterson, CA. We got set up and had time for a short walk around the RV park and the adjacent strip mall before darkness descended. My sister Phebe encouraged us to use her wifi to download several Prime movies while we were visiting and tonight we enjoyed watching the movie RIDE with Helen Hunt and an episode of Amazon's Grand Tour before turning in.<br />
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<b>Monday</b><br />
<b> 11/19/2018</b><br />
<b>Starting mileage 63479</b><br />
<b>Ending mileage 63746</b><br />
<b>Mileage this trip 267</b><br />
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<b>Patterson to Mojave, California</b><br />
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Today is going to be a slog down the freeway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa1cECJMmlN6v-npuc_bCmeUJLwaDIB2JYPMlx44qZnKx11KBw4aVv-hLmu-Tdr5kYlTUWbG0LUOfVURkf1Ba431IXmRQdmR0BKYw8wSm6249ROs9wyJDS4hvrKTGasaCTNkSNLpgt-8/s1600/Patterson-+Mojave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1181" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa1cECJMmlN6v-npuc_bCmeUJLwaDIB2JYPMlx44qZnKx11KBw4aVv-hLmu-Tdr5kYlTUWbG0LUOfVURkf1Ba431IXmRQdmR0BKYw8wSm6249ROs9wyJDS4hvrKTGasaCTNkSNLpgt-8/s320/Patterson-+Mojave.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's route down 1-5</td></tr>
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Our goal is to:<br />
A. Avoid big cities<br />
B. Get to clean air<br />
C. Get to Mojave for the night<br />
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We are very tired of the smoky air, and elect to get to some clear air before we stop for the night. I don't like freeway driving, and I have a secret weapon for this eventuality-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x1sLW3DVAvxPoUHIIJV0D267yBI-bWAX36qyBVIjYCqcU9hzlOPeKfe8XIFbByvJSQ2rUkT3EygKa2pveOGV3Pz0sAwS6JCqJ_5xiq5fwpGqwYWAY2TxwIRcdUrrdQztSbLMscGlhgc/s1600/IMG_9593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x1sLW3DVAvxPoUHIIJV0D267yBI-bWAX36qyBVIjYCqcU9hzlOPeKfe8XIFbByvJSQ2rUkT3EygKa2pveOGV3Pz0sAwS6JCqJ_5xiq5fwpGqwYWAY2TxwIRcdUrrdQztSbLMscGlhgc/s320/IMG_9593.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I let Joan do the driving and I sat and read the news! She is a very good driver, so I can totally relax, and I've even been known to doze off while she is in the captain's chair. I'm not always successful at getting her to drive, because she does not enjoy driving the bus. I feel that it's good to keep her skills sharp just in case.<br />
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I read out loud and we discussed the news- It made the time pass a lot more quickly</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGOzZZwSRqgwMM6940uvY0_SsBESlbWKcLtm7zt3rF3EACT3VNI8bztUm9RxJK0smiFvR1kUhbE_D3U0-SxZZgHo4l17bYLuWhcpMMinmFWSXYzmdH41YvCF5xoWdXN3ONg0vQ5Je8QE/s1600/IMG_9594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="160" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGOzZZwSRqgwMM6940uvY0_SsBESlbWKcLtm7zt3rF3EACT3VNI8bztUm9RxJK0smiFvR1kUhbE_D3U0-SxZZgHo4l17bYLuWhcpMMinmFWSXYzmdH41YvCF5xoWdXN3ONg0vQ5Je8QE/s400/IMG_9594.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked near a truck stop for a quick lunch</td></tr>
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By noon we were on I-5 at Lost Hills, which is north and west of Bakersfield, so we pulled off the freeway for some lunch. At first we weren't sure whether we'd buy lunch or make our own- but a quick survey on foot, had us convinced to make sandwiches and heat up some soup at home.<br />
There were plenty of fast food places here- but we were not tempted by what we saw- so back to the bus<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa-msqgRup59uo3fsF5yEs3Uo_y8Ass3hIA5kqRFrQQvMD5n1WCyeEXlEjXmigI53VRvGqcRYIZXS-ZstjdcK6tKjuR6leY_vF6KI15fmymzk99_mUwCFUFKymrDccZ-iXZLdaq9ZSgM/s1600/Stopped+traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa-msqgRup59uo3fsF5yEs3Uo_y8Ass3hIA5kqRFrQQvMD5n1WCyeEXlEjXmigI53VRvGqcRYIZXS-ZstjdcK6tKjuR6leY_vF6KI15fmymzk99_mUwCFUFKymrDccZ-iXZLdaq9ZSgM/s400/Stopped+traffic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic nearly stopped on I-5</td></tr>
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After our lunch and back on the road, we hadn't gotten very far down the freeway when the traffic began to slow to a crawl. Both our south-bound lanes were moving at the same 2-3 miles per hour leading me to believe that the wreck was in the northbound lane and we were in the lookie-loo lanes.</div>
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This went on for miles...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6-Ohha0B53NV2Pwn1e__O4yiJebMoxWyFebut9aoKpvERDBBUhD_sms-vcuv02MZ9iMadwlWe-woKJFH4PTFohoPtVUc51J2zNTZHalD4Gy_64Ldl-k5AjWZvwMbOmribiaziF9TuFA/s1600/wrecked+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1600" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6-Ohha0B53NV2Pwn1e__O4yiJebMoxWyFebut9aoKpvERDBBUhD_sms-vcuv02MZ9iMadwlWe-woKJFH4PTFohoPtVUc51J2zNTZHalD4Gy_64Ldl-k5AjWZvwMbOmribiaziF9TuFA/s320/wrecked+truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over turned semi truck </td></tr>
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Sure enough, we finally came to the source of the slowdown- and it was an over turned semi- truck on the other side of the freeway, completely blocking both lanes! </div>
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Undeterred, drivers on that side were taking to the shoulder of the road to get around the truck!</div>
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Hope the driver was okay.</div>
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We drove past the turnoff to Bakersfield and continued on to CA Route 223, which gave us a route around Bakersfield and a strait shot over to CA Route 58 which would take us up the 4,000 foot high Tehachapi summit.</div>
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Miracle of miracles, we finally drove out from under the smokey blanket that had lain over us for the past several days.</div>
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Stay tuned for our adventures in and around Mojave!</div>
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<b>Your Traveling Friends</b></div>
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<b>Jeff and Joan</b><br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04897804583810037268noreply@blogger.com0