Monday, December 20, 2010

ClimbAddict Has a New Promotion

My alternate personna, ClimbAddict Designs, is running an end of year promotion. Giving away $50 in product - you can find information on the Moments In Climbing - 2010promotion here!

Trying to garner People who *Like* ClimbAddict on Facebook, so I can spa...ummm, update them with new design info, Item of the week and such. It's been told to me that I am simply - NOT - getting the word out about the damned company, despite my nearly incessant efforts. I guess I have not been working smart....

On a personal note - Yesterday I walked around the Desrt Queen Mine area with a (famous) climber, who happens to be living at the Pit, which is where I am camping, in squalid luxury, several days a week. We stumbled upon the coolest on miner's cabin, near Fraggle Rock. I have pictures, but haven't edited yet. Will be posting once I do that.

An other news - my camp stove is funked up.... I have purchased a cheap interim one from Walmart, which is clearly worth every penny OI have paid for it..... Campmor, where I bought the original one, has been called and says to send it back, and they will refund or replace it. I am NOT trying to get over, but whatever is wrong is within the regulator on the hose system, and should not be occurring(it's leaking gas - not a good sign). I truly do believe an item SHOULD withstand use for the 3/4 year of daily use it has had and so I am sending it back. All I need is the hose replaced, and will say so - It's a shame to have the thing replaced if all they need to do is send a new hose, but I have the feeling a new stove will arrive in the mail.....


If you'd like to help Happie on her roadtrip, there are a few ways to do that! You can choose to support any of her online shops, such as ClimbAddict T0-Shirts and Giftware for Climbers, Talisman Studios Hair Accessories or OutrageousTees.com. Or, you can send her a (very much appreciated) donation in any amount via PayPal, by clicking the button here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Is It WRONG to Take a Joshua Tree Home With You?

Let's suppose a friend of mine asked me this question(Really; a friend. I swear!). What should I have said? What would YOU have told them?

Probably you'd say something like "Are you crazy??? Don't you know how delicate, endangered, BIG those things are?" Or "You mean from the actual park, the National Park??? Are you CRAZY?"

Well - you'd be wrong. The answer is "Sure! You really SHOULD take a Joshua Tree home with you."(if you happen to be in the neighborhood(of Joshua Tree Natinal Park).

"Why?" you might ask, and I'll tell you.

It's because the Joshua Tree in question is not the living article....but a whimsical miniature recreation, sculpted in copper wire and set amongst a base of stone, created by local artist Eric Pfranger.

Eric makes these beautiful Joshua Tree sculptures and places them for sale at venues such as retail store and local landmark Coyote Corner, and the Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce.

Here is an example currently at Coyote Corner:
Joshua Tree,sculpture,copper wire

And here's another one!(You can click this image to make it bigger sized)
Photobucket

You're next question might be along the lines of "How can I get one?!" The answer is simple, really. You'll have to come and pick it up!

So - if you happen to be in Joshua Tree, give Eric a call and see if he's got a tree available for you. He has no website, but you can call him directly, at (760) 974 - 6646.Tell him you heard about his wonderful creations from Happiegrrrl!




If you'd like to help Happie on her roadtrip, there are a few ways to do that! You can choose to support any of her online shops, such as ClimbAddict T0-Shirts and Giftware for Climbers, Talisman Studios Hair Accessories or OutrageousTees.com. Or, you can send her a (very much appreciated) donation in any amount via PayPal, by clicking the button here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Jerome, Arizona - A Photo Essay

As promised, I would post images and info on the portion of my travel where I came through Jerome, Arizona. My friend Tim suggested I really should stop and have lunch there, or at the very least, get out of the van and take a walk around. "Jerome is the coolest little town you've ever seen." he told me. He was right!

I did not stop for lunch, mostly because I arrived there at about 8am, but also because I had just spent $300 getting the van repaired the day before and that was pretty much my food budget for....about 2 1/2 months. Instead I pulled over in front of Nelly Bly's, which is now a drinking establishment, and pulled out the stove to brew my own breakfast cup of coffee.

Cup in hand, I and Teddy strolled up and down this hillside town, enjoying a sense of history, perseverance, and proof that a town does NOT need to kowtow to corporate America in order to be vibrant. There was not a single franchise to be seen. Not even a gas station or bank! Each and every store was a privately owned, mom and pop operation.

Admittedly, I do not know much about Jerome, but do hope to go back with Peter once he arrives in January. Until then, I will post some links for you which may provide more information about the town. I'll do that after the images, all photos I took that morning.

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
The Hotel Connor and Neighboring Building

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
A view of the land below the town of Jerome

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Historical Block and Remains of the Mine Offices and Bank Building

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
A Safe Displayed as Art and Artifact

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Smelting Furnace From an Area Mine

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
The Remaining Wall of a Long-Gone Building

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Streetlight - They don't make 'em like they used to!

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
A Loveley Window from one of Jerome's Buildings

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Plaque for the Motor Building

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
The Motor Building

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Plaque for Jennie's Place, an historical Bordello

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Plaque for Husband's Alley, so named after Prostitution was made illegal in the town

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Another pretty buidling currenlty in use and providing Jerome visitors a glimpse of it's quaint modern charm

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Chandelier and Vines on the Porch of a Jerome Establsihment

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
A Big Blue House on the Hillside

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Jerome's Firehouse

Jerome Arizona,Happiegrrrl
Unknown Building in the Valley Below, as Seen Near the Motor Building

LINKS:
Tourism Information - "America's Most Vertical City" and "Largest Ghost Town in America"

Wikipedia Entry for Jerome, AZ

jerome Times - Including a "Stories and legends" and elements from the twon newspaper published in the 18800's

Connor Hotel

Google Images for Jerome



If you'd like to help Happie on her roadtrip, there are a few ways to do that! You can choose to support any of her online shops, such as ClimbAddict T0-Shirts and Giftware for Climbers, Talisman Studios Hair Accessories or OutrageousTees.com. Or, you can send her a (very much appreciated) donation in any amount via PayPal, by clicking the button here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Upon Arrival....

Despite my dark, and never mentioned aloud, concerns, the van made it to Joshua Tree. I rolled into one of the primo sites in Hidden Valley Campground last night about nine pm. Not without drama, of course. But each epic was a “Terrie-type” one; that is to say – no true inconvenience was involved.

The first on-the-road problem arose just after I left from my family visit in Wisconsin, where I enjoyed leisurely days of lounging on my sister's couches while the wretched Wisconsin winter taunted me outdoors. I should also mention the wonderful Thanksgiving celebration we had the Saturday following the holiday – yum, yum, yummy!

At any rate, I had offered to drive my younger brother Al back to his home in Wausau, which is slightly north, and west, of Green Bay, where I had been staying with my older sister Gini. After driving 90 miles, I dropped him off and went upstairs to see his apartment. Upon returning to the van I smelled an odor which I instinctively knew was a sign of trouble, yet allowed myself to quell the fears by believing the rubber-like smell was probably some oil I had spilled while topping off before leaving Green Bay.

It wasn't, as you likely have surmised.

As I drove southbound on an interstate(53 or 51; fifty-something or other), with cruise-control set at 65, each time the engine would surge for an uphill injection of fuel, I would hear a slight, crinkling noise. “Uh Oh,” I knew, yet had no frame of reference to diagnose this additional clue.

What the sound was, I guess, was bits of the accessory belt crumbling and dropping away, as the belt wore away. It finally frayed to the breaking point; the belt broke, engine thrust dropped, and the power steering went out. This occurred as I approached an exit ramp at Mossinee, allowing me JUST enough time to understand I had to take that exit and get a safe place to stop immediately.

I rolled through the stop sign at the exit's end, and drove the couple hundred feet to a Kwik Mart convenience store, “conveniently” located so very closely to my break-down it could hardly be even considered such. Talk about a micro-epic! How much less traumatic could such a thing have been? Had just a few seconds passed before I knew I had a problem, I'd have been past the exit, broke down on a highway and having to walk the distance to the mart, then back to the van to await the tow.

Fifty dollars and a half an hour later, I was deposited at Martin's Auto Repair, where I was told “We can't get you in right now. It will be about an hour.” A whole hour!? I was surprised the man thought that would be considered even a slight inconvenience, considering I had just been towed to his place of business, with a full day's work already in process. Maybe he saw the New York plates on the van and figured I was...a New Yorker(with it's inherent “hurry up and wait” mentality).

I played online, updated my businesses, and within a short while was back in motion. Things went smoothly, except for the daily oil reading conundrum, until I passed Albuquerque, New Mexico. Reading the dipstick in this van has been practically an exercise in futility, and probably the dilemma is compounded by the fact that I really would like to believe what the guy who sold me the van told me - “It doesn't burn or use a drop! When you get to California, add a quart. That's all you'll have to do. It just had an oil change too! Here's the paperwork.”

The stick barely registers oil at some points, and other times is coated. Often when no oil has been added.... When I brought the van home, a friend looked at it(tut-tutting the whole time, and worrying aloud for my future) and said “You're down a quart.”

Having “just had a change(with paperwork!) that seemed – odd. Yet when I took it to the mechanic for a go-over(yes, NOW I understand just why – even on a $2,000 used vehicle – you take it to a mechanic for a pre-purchase look), the asked(after telling me all the problems) if I'd like an oil top-off. “It's quite low,” was the look in his eye. When I got the bill, there was a charge for two quarts on it.

Yet, a few days later, when I took the van to the afore-mentioned friend to do the platform build-out, he took a reading and said “Huh. It looks like there too much in there now!”

And so it has gone, the whole way along..... I've wiped that stick for a second opinion more times than a nanny wipes her baby charge's butt on a day of diarrhea, adding oil when I felt I'd better but never sure if I was doing the right thing.

Perhaps this issue will now be resolved to some extent, since I had the Sender Unit and pressure sensor replace in Sedona, Arizona....

I'd been watching my gauges religiously all the way cross-country and was stricken with an adrenaline surge more than once when, on a quick glance while doing 70 mph on a highway, noticed a red-line indication, only to realize it was the damned gas gauge telling me the tank was full. So, when the oil pressure gauge began doing a dance one afternoon an hour and a half west of Albuquerque, I began to panic. Watching closely, I saw the gauge “worrying” itself between a mid-range level it had previously been fairly static at, and dipping down to near the red zone....

Pulling into the next gas station, I sat and waited an hour for the engine to cool down. When I finally took the oil reading...well, it seemed very, very low. I could have kicked myself for not having been more diligent – except I HAD checked it just that morning and it had indicated being PERHAPS a tad low, but not even worth topping off, really.

I added oil, and as it registered on the stick, blew a sigh of relief I hadn't killed my trusty steed(Trusty? Yes, I guess Swanky IS reliable, being that here I am, in splendid Joshua Tree). Onward, to El Mapais National Monument, 20 or so miles away.

A Supertopo user had suggested El Mapais when I asked for suggestions for a day or two in New Mexico and Arizona. Though I will be coming through these states with Peter once he arrives, I thought it would be nice to take a few days now, instead of rushing through to Joshua Tree on a weekend arrival.

Unfortunately, the maps give Grants, NM as the highway exit for El Mapais, but the reality is that the exit before that is also an entrance to the park, and the one with the more scenic hiking vistas. I'd blown the afternoon waiting to check my engine's oil level and barely had time to get even a short hike in before daylight would begin to wane. As well, the BLM camp ground I was intending to use was back off the previous exit, and closed for the season to boot. After speaking with a park ranger, I decided to continue on toEl Morro National Monument 20 miles down the road, where the campground was still open(and free, because they water was off for the season). I'd take a short walk about, have a leisurely meal, and come back for a hike in El Mapais the next morning.

Well, early starts in the desert are reserved for warriors, one of which I am not. Especially sleeping n such cozy conditions – a down comforter on a queen-sized mattress with two huge pillows – it's just really easy to loll. Which I did!

So, instead of reversing my route, I decided to take a look at El Morro instead, and I am very glad I did. I've a separate posting for El Morro to come(I promise!) and will add the link here once it's published. Suffice it to say, for now, that El Morro is definitely worth visiting, if you enjoy a sense of history mixed with your nature wanderings.

After El Morro, I drove to Flagstaff, Arizona, where a friend, Tim, put me up for two evenings, fed me delicious meals, and took me climbing in between. We went up Queen Victoria, a spire in Sedona, and...I will make a separate posting(I promise!).

After leaving Tim's place, I headed down Highway 89, intent on a scenic cruise through mountainous terrain as I continued my trip. Planning to stop in Sedona and prepare/mail out two orders I'd received for my hair accessories, the day started out normally enough. However, as I went back to the van I noticed a small slice in the sidewall of one of my tires. “Crap.” I asked a man who appeared to be a local about the service station across the way, expecting they might be pricey, being in the main part of town on a tourist's highway. He didn't have an opinion on that, but he did think I'd probably be better served at one of the shops that specialize in tries, of which there were two a few miles further down the road.

Off I went, and turned in to Tire Pro a few minutes later.

Looking at the slice, I was told it was okay. The man explained to be that the cut hadn't gone through the white cording, and with a spatula-like implement, plied away the black section to show me what he referred to. He did mention that the tire was getting fairly worn though, and pointed out the wear from imbalance. I thought I might simply replace the tire now and his stance indicated that, as a frugal soul, he'd be getting a few more miles out of that tire before he replaced it. However, he was not me, and he was not driving miles between even small-sized towns, in a huge van. In the hot desert. I bought a tire.

After paying, the owner told me that the van looked pretty good otherwise, but when I mentioned my oil pressure issue(it had done the dance the whole way from Tim's to Sedona, despite having seemed fine the other day), he said this was not an issue to ignore. Upon request, he quoted me the cost of diagnosing the pressure, and after doing that, I was told the Sender Unit was the issue.

The rest of the day was spent at Tire Pro, where the patiently worked on my van. There was trouble identifying the correct replacement part and they were twice sent the wrong one. This would seem odd, except that each time I have had to provide the information on this van, it seems to “not be in the system” at some level, even with the VIN. Odd.

Long story short, they DID get the van back on it's wheels, at about 6:00pm. Thinking they'd not be able to complete the job that day, they said “no problem” when I explained I lived in the van, and would it be okay to sleep in it, in their lot, that evening. Super nice people, each one, who works at that shop.

But now , with the van fixed, I was in Sedona – tony Sedona – at dinner and bedtime and wondering where I was going to park for the night. Mentioning the nearest WalMart was X miles away, I was corrected, and told there was one just 15 or so mile down the road. (I've not spent a penny in WM on this trip, and intend not to, but that won't stop me from sleeping in their lots and using their restroom!).

The next morning I DID get an early start, at 7am. I drove through, and stopped in Jerome, a quaint and vibrant town without a SINGLE franchised store(separate post, I promise again!). Then a long push, to Joshua Tree.
EDIT: Here is the post on Jerome, Arizona

And here I am....


If you'd like to help Happie on her roadtrip, there are a few ways to do that! You can choose to support any of her online shops, such as ClimbAddict T0-Shirts and Giftware for Climbers, Talisman Studios Hair Accessories or OutrageousTees.com. Or, you can send her a (very much appreciated) donation in any amount via PayPal, by clicking the button here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Friday, December 03, 2010

I Feel Like a New Woman Since Arriving in New Mexico!

I left Wisconsin after a visit with my family this past Monday, and started my southwest drive by actually heading slightly to the northwest, as I gave my brother Al a ride home to Wausau. I stopped in to see his apartment, and as I went back to the van, smelled an odor which set off the "UhOh" receptors of my brain but denial told me that it must simply be a little bit of oil I'd spilled earlier as I topped off at the gas station.

It wasn't.

Several miles down the highway, as the cruise control kicked in as I went uphill, I'd hear a little crunchy, crinkling sound... as if I'd driven over wet asphalt and bits were dropping from the car.... That wasn't a very comforting sound.

JUST as I neared an exit, power dropped considerable, and the power steering failed. I had exactly enough time to realize I needed to take that exit and get safely stopped out of traffic; preferably near a place to ask for assistance in calling a tow truck.

Limping in to a Kwik Trip gas station/convenience store, I rolled up to a parking spot, parked and cut the engine. Opening the hood, I looked for, and found, the obvious. Well, actually found remnants, that is. The fan belt was fried and had disintegrated, leaving just a string or two of...crinkled dry rubber near the alternator.

That sucked. But it certainly could have been worse. The people in the store suggested a tow truck driver who turned out to be pleasant, helpful and reasonable on cost($47.50). He took me to a repair shop who got the van up and running in short order, despite having a full day's schedule of appointments and several walk-ins they turned away. Thanks, Martins Auto Repair!

The rest of the trip went fairly smoothly, except of course the Kum&Go debacle. Easy sleeping in Walmart lots through the midwest, miles and miles and miles of grasslands in Kansas. And oil wells. Lots of those. And quint, holding themselves up by their bootstraps towns, dotting the highways of Iowa, Kansas. Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, most of which I cut just the corners on. Except Kansas... I went straight through that one. But it was still very nice - a pleasant drive on decent highway.

Yesterday I crossed from Texas into New Mexico and the change of terrain was immediately obvious. Instead of flat cattle-grazing ranges and commercial feedlots, and oil wells, the land became rich red soil, peppered with desert grasses and Juniper. Hills rolled with cut-ways hinting at the mountains coming as I ventured further. Massive hills rose up from the flatter lands as if they did it just to surprise you as you crested a hill and caught sight of them.

I stopped in Santa Rosa to rest, refresh myself with an ice coffee, give Teddy a walk and some Teddy-Time, and then began heading toward Albuquerque, where I stayed for the night(in a Walmart parking lot, of course.... I'd wanted to check for free camping in a *more natural* setting, but missed the last roadside pull off 30 miles east of the city. Thinking there would be one more, I soon came upon the suburban sprawl and knew I had gone too far....

This morning, I am at U-Mound, a bouldering spot right outside Albuquerque in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains.

After my coffee, and Teddy's breakfast - that's where we are headed.

I HAVE arrived!




If you'd like to help Happie on her roadtrip, there are a few ways to do that! You can choose to support any of her online shops, such as ClimbAddict T0-Shirts and Giftware for Climbers, Talisman Studios Hair Accessories or OutrageousTees.com. Or, you can send her a (very much appreciated) donation in any amount via PayPal, by clicking the button here:






If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Kum & Go Plays Bait & Switch

UPDATE: 2 hours after I Tweeted a link to this post, I got a Twitter response from a Kum & Go representative. Seems this person tweets practically 24/7, according to the profile log.... Wonder if the Twittering is the main duty in their job! At any rate - this person, who goes by ^MPT on the Kum&Go Twitter profile said he was emailing HQ(or someone, at any rate) about the issue. He wrote(via Twitter):
You sure will. I'm typing up an email now. We'll take care of you. Thanks for your patience. :) ^MPT

I replied to his Twitter post with:
Thanks for the reply, ^MPT. I'll be duly awaiting response from HQ. Let's HOPE they will desist on the pricing misrepresentation. and within MINUTES he wrote back as follows:
You should have a reply in your inbox. I sent it to the email on your Blogger profile. Let me know if you didn't get it. ^MPT

Unfortunately, the email was not there as mentioned, but it is likely because that contact is outdated. I will update the contact email and advise to him, but I am wondering why they can't simply respond to the letter I emailed them in the first place - which DID have the current contact email!

So I am back on the road, headed south to warmer weather(I hope!). I'll do another updating post soon, but need to vent. I HATE unethical business practices, and if you agree that this is the case upon reading this post, I hope you will help me go on a boycotting tirade against Kum & Go gas stations.

The title on this blog post links directly to Kum & Go's Contact Form(as does this link. Send them a note telling them how you feel about such tactics. And do please link this post up and down the internet highway! Twitter, Facebook, even MySpace if it still exists! If YOU have had a similar tactic employed by a gas station while on the road - please post about it in the comments section.

Here's the letter I wrote, after filling my damned 33 gallon tank, which had like 1/8 left in it at the time.


Hello -

I pulled in to buy gas, seeing the price of $2.71. MOST places have the lower octane gas as the cheapest. NOT this station.

The only prices listed on the sign were one for gasoline, and one for diesel.

When I got to the pump, I did notice two choices for gas, but naturally assumed the lower octane to have been the one advertised on the board.

Nope. While the board DOES say "super unleaded" is $2.71 9/10, I am sure that the station is WELL aware the consumer sees the price only.

When I looked at my receipt and noticed I had been charger $2.81 9/10 instead, I was QUITE pissed off. I bought 23.661 gallons off your gas, at a cost of $66.60, and was - in my opinion - ripped off out of $2.36.

While it might not *seem* a big deal, I am well aware of the factor when applied in quantity.

This behavior tells me that Kum & Go is an unethical business.

I am on a cross-country road trip; one which is being reported on on Facebook, Twitter, 3 international website discussion boards for adventure athletes(who travel extensively) and a blog with a good number of viewers. You can BET I will be posting this letter and details.

Would you like to comment(which will be included in follow up postings).

Thank you,

Terrie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

First 24 Hours On the Road

Well, first 19.5, actually. It's 10:30am and I am lolly-gagging at a rest stop on Hwy 17 near Bath, NY. Got a late start yesterday, leaving New Paltz between 2:30 and 3pm.

The van has been running smoothly and it makes me nervous to feel comfortable about that; so many people took one look at Swanky and shook their heads sadly, that I fear something catastrophic will occur along the way. Please universe, protect me from that!

After driving past the Mohonk Preserve one last time, and waving good-bye to my beloved Clove Road(See you next year, cabin! Hank says it is likely I can have it again.),I headed south on 209, and then west on 17.

A half tank of gas later, I stopped and filled up as was suggested by the security guy at the preserve Visitor Center(I forget his name!!!) who told me to go this route over the one I had chosen, which was 209 through the Delaware Water Gap and then crossing wide through Pennsylvania. He said, "After Corning, there's nothing for a loooong while! Get gas!"

And as I passed Corning, I had to listen, but instead pulled off the highway at the town just further, called Painted Post. The reason being that the Corning exits offered only one gas station choice, and I felt my wallet might be taken advantage of if there was only one choice. Painted Post had 3 choices, and it was just a quarter mile off the highway exit to the one I used.

I thought it would be an easy off/on to the highway, but as I went back, the exit was closed for roadwork. So I had to backtrack for the detour, which....I didn't follow. Instead I pulled off at the very next exit, but then it intersected with another big highway, and worried I would somehow get herded onto that unwanted route, I turned off to the smaller road instead. I figured I'd drive down that a while, turn around, and get a decent warning as to where the entrance back to17/86 was, instead of having to make the choice in the seconds I would have otherwise had. What can I say? I haven't been regularly behind the wheel of a car in a long time.

At any rate - as I drove down that side road, I saw a Walmart.... And it lured me right in! Ever before, when people said "You can camp overnight at Walmart," I would snub the idea. I thought I would want to do better than that. I had figured I would get back on the highway and continue on to the rest area near Bath, where I actually am now. But I had stopped at the previous rest station to feed and walk Teddy and you know....the people I noticed sort of had a really anonymous vibe. Plus, the parking is right there where every single car using the place drives within feet behind your vehicle. So - I figured WalMart couldn't be any worse.

And it wasn't. Probably better even, since I did notice a few condom wrappers on the ground as I made coffee here this morning. I don't think anyone was hooking up in the cars at the WM lot...but anyway....

So, I even went in to use the WM potty, but I will say it now - I pledge to do my best not to give WM any of my money on this trip. But that won't stop me from using their bathroom, and yes, I will sleep in their lots again I think.

Somewhere around midnight, a cleaning truck drove through the lot. I was awakened by the recurring droning sound it made, and finally after several passes I was like "WTF IS that?" and looked out the window, just in time to see the big yellow behemoth swipe right up alongside the passenger side of the van.!

"That's a little close," I thought, but figured it was probably just an open lane the truck would use, and who knows - maybe there was some trash sitting there to be scooped away.

But then the truck turned around and came for another pass - and repeated it three damned times! "Shit," I though. "They are going to have someone from security come rapping on my window and ask why I am here."

But, they didn't, and eventually I fell back asleep.

It was a far cry from the nights of peaceful bliss I've spent at the cabin the last half a year, where maybe 6 cars quietly pass down the road per night, but it wasn't so bad, I guess. The cel reception for my mobile broadband was 4 bars strong, and that was a plus, though I ended up not staying online for very long.

I woke up about5am, which I have been doing for the last month anyway, and lolled in half-sleep, and then opened my eyes again later and it was pretty light. 7am! oops!

I decided to just get on the road and make coffee at the rest station I had intended to go to the night before, and that is just what I have done. I also did a little more organizing in the van, and....well, I am going to stay online for just a little longer, and then walk Teddy again and head off.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Swanky!

Well - the van has been bought and the modification to a road trip rig is in progress! Here are some photos of the "Before/After" work to get the sleep/storage platform in:

First, some pictures of Swanky, or Senor Swanky, as the van is more formally called, in general:
climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip

So, Ken, who worked as a trailhead assistant at the Mohonk Preserve this year, offered to help me out. He said he "had a few tools, and though he wasn't the greatest" carpenter.....hahaha. The guy did SUCH an awesome job! The platform has dado cuts, is sturdy as can be, and is shaped perfectly to contour to the van walls. He even did cutaways to allow me to more easily slide the curtains. It really is beautiful.

But what a lot of work! Two days of it!

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
One seat out, and more to go....

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Here's Ken, having removed one captain's chair, and locating the bolts that hold the base to the van bed.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Teddy is wondering if he can keep this one. He found it most comfortable!

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
I would hold a vise grip pliers on the nut , while Ken cranked, and cranked, on the bolt heads. Those things were welded.

The captain's seats were bad enough, but the rear bench had 8 more bolts, and another 4 for the seat belts. Having already taken several hours, we elected to slice the belts, leaving the bolts/hanger in situ. The bench was held down by metal keepers, and so we loosened the bolts just enough to slide the keepers away from the seat base. Then we lifted the bench out. Sure, i bit of floor space is junked up with the left-in-place hardware, but all in all, well worth the effort spared.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
And what swanky seats they were! I tried to sell them on Craigslist, but with little time to wait, had no bites, and instead gave them to a climber who offered to take them though he couldn't pay anything.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
The van, emptied of the seats, and ready for the work to begin!

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Ken manually cut each dado with his radial saw.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
I would say I helped, but.....this was the only saw work I did; one dado. Fun!

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Sidewalls are done, ready to have legs joined

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Here's one sidewall, set into place

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Teddy was the foreman

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Both sidewalls in place, with cross bars in as well. Looking good!

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Adding the center support

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Ready for the plywood top

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Lots of screws later, the top is secured. But NOT before many small adjustments were made to contour the shape EXACTLY to the van dimensions. This thing is a perfect fit.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
The platform is done! It will hold a full-sized mattress, with room along one side for small bins. Underneath, has 19 inches clearance - room for large bins. Still, because the van has a high-top, there is enough headroom to sit on the bed comfortably.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
The foreman takes a final walk-through....

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
Ken did such an awesome job - He even cut away sections to make it so the curtains are not compressed by the platform edges.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
This cushion was part of the "before" set-up, where the bench folded flat into a bed-type of thing. The problem was that the clearance for storage below was was nowhere near enough to keep climbing and camping gear for a 5 month road trip. As well, the bed was about 3/4 sized. But the cushion I kept, and will place it atop the side storage bins. I can rest it upright as shown, place pillows in front, and it becomes a couch back!

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
This fabric panel was also part of "before." It was sewn to the top/back of the rear bench, as if it were a cape. It hid the seat brackets and also camouflaged anything that might be stored beneath the bench. I simply ran a length of thin, stiff, accessory cord through a turned seam already in place, and tied loops at each end in an overhand knot.

The high-top has some little front windows, and they have snap-in-place covers to cut unwanted sunlight out. I unsnap the top, outermost corners, slip the loops on the "cape" atop the male part, and resnap the cover. That holds the lightweight fabric panel in place, and allows me to have a privacy screen from anyone who might be walking in front of the van.

Swanky!!!

Kudos to Ken K! What a truly generous man. He spent tow full days doing this work, and said he would take no payment. When I offered him 4 $25 gift certificates for the Gilded Otter, he accepted only one, and insisted on buying the other three from me.

My friend Pauline also gave me some wood, which was used for the legs of the platform. I've also saved some more for use in a side storage unit.

climbaddict,happiegrrrl,happiegrrrrl's road trip,can conversion for road trip
The guy who took the seats had no money, but he did come bearing a bit of booty, and gave me this gear in exchange. The cam is an Empire Rock, a bit bigger than blue BD Camalot, 3 nuts, a big hex, all on an old Chouinard biner. Nice!


So - that's that.... The van does have some issues, and is spending today and tomorrow at the mechanics. I was not happy to learn of these issues, but as they say - Caveat Emptor. I can blame no one but myself.

I plan to leave my little cabin in the woods, and head towards the desert southwest on Monday. I'm hoping to hit Joshua Tree, red Rocks, the Buttermilks, Cochise Stronghold, and Hueco Tanks, and some other places too. Hopefully, I will be back here at the Gunks, in my little cabin, caretaking at the Coxing Kill, in mid April of 2011.

Wish me well, and keep an eye on this blog, where I will post updates and links to updates I post elsewhere.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you enjoy my blog and would like to subscribe through RSS, you can click the FeedBurner Badge here. Thanks for your support!  Subscribe in a reader

Stumble Upon Toolbar