LTVA La Posa - Tyson Wash

So it's been a while since last post.

(Ouch, this stuff jumps out at you not the 'Warm Fuzzy' stuff)

Lots of trails wandering around, dusty, but why wouldn't it be eh?

Christmas & New Years were non-events, but had to do something to remember it, so drove the nearest hill top for Christmas Day Dinner.

(Christmas dinner on hill top)

I'm now over at the above location and it's near the hills.  I call it one big Ole Playground as it has trails all over the place.  Some steep ones, but the fun ones are winding around and over the hill tops.  Sitting on top, the views are really kewl. You can see the vast area of RV Parking.

Quartzsite is what I call '... one 'Huge' flea market, sitting on a "Huger",  heheh, RV park of rocks, gravel and shrubs with an Interstate Hwy (I-10) running through it"...

Slowly getting the "Camping Thing" back to normal, with canopy, Xmas lights and the BBQ.  Been a little too windy and cold to enjoy it yet, but weather is warming up next week, mid-Feb.

While it's been a little cool at night, mid 30's to 60's in the day, it was warming up and had a heat spell up to 76f or so.  Winds will kick up and currently, as I'm writing this, winds 30mph gusting to 50-60 as reported by news.  Luckily most of the dust has already been blown away, but there is still a haze.

Been riding when I can, but can't post all the pics I would like as Verizon Data plans are limited and pretty pricey when trying to upload photos and going over the plan limits.  Verizon luv's their plans.
 Pics are of various rides.





Discovered the Escapees RV club and Boomers and others.  ORV clubs, 2 of them have rides that I've been going on.

Finally got my "Gas Mgmt" zeroed in, ACE is bad on gas and now figuring apx 85mi to dry tank, figuring 15-18mpg.  Still haven't "Run it dry" as I figure it'll cut off on a steep hill or in downtown traffic.  Still working with the Samsung S2 tablet which is turning out to be kinda kewl.  I can run my music and my camera along with nav all on one piece.  Got rid of the GoPro and the iPad (actually, kept it for just general use, to and from store etc)

(lots of old mines potholed around)

Trying to ride Tue/Thur/Sat and laundry/dump n fill/ and general stuff on the other days.

I've been taking a big "Hit" on income for last 4 months and may have to let the ACE, 'Lil Nel' go, will know more in a few weeks.  Pretty much resigned to letting it go and will just focus on camping/exploring and figure out some other lest costly way to do things.  Sigh, getting sick n tired of counting on things, only to have them fall out.  Maybe Banjo, self taught or Boogie Woogie Piano/keyboard, 2 things on the "Wish to learn" so we'll see..

I did the application and have an interview with the Amazon Camperforce, seasonal work in last quarter. 10-hr days with mandatory OT or something like that, not looking forward to standing/climbing/lifting 12hrs a day but it's an income of sorts. Just might pay for the FFBs (Fuel-Food-Beer) for that time period.  Not sure at 70yrs, I can still jump the hoops as able to do before.


Game plan is to stay here till end of March, then, if possible, head out to Carlsbad Caverns, hit the ice caves on way back, Grand Canyon, the glass stairway over the canyon, Death Valley, and shoot back up the coast above San Fransico.  Really miss the Trees and Ocean etc.  Will try to get it before the "BKT"s are released... (Bugs, Kids, Traffic) and maybe head up through Canada.  Still working on that one.



Other than that, all is quiet, enjoying the 'no hassle days' just need to get the buggy/camper configuration settled, not sure how that's going to play out yet.

cheers,


(no Gallery Pics due to limited uploading with Verizon - $$$)

Quartzsite, AZ Dec 2015

Leaving Horsfalls Sand Dunes, OR and generally looking at the maps, I try to take routes that I haven't taken before which are usually longer, but at least I get to see what's out there.  I typically use Garmin which lately takes me on it's own trip... and Gawd knows where it will end up.

So left Horsfalls in the quiet of a Monday morning, place was almost like a ghost town and the drive, unintended thank you very much Garmin, went over to La Pine on via OR-38 E and OR-58 E  very nice drive, 2-lane so could be a slow one if behind something slow.

Didn't bother to check the weather that much as it was Sunny & Nice in Horsfalls... so it's gotta be "Nice & Sunny" everywhere else in Oregon... heheh, snow in La Pine.



The game plan was to resupply in La Pine, get the stuff I needed, oh? I dunno, like GPS and Nav Tablets for riding... it does help... someone, but not necessarily me.  Only one besides the host ranger-ettes at the campsites who just shook their head and called me "Goofy" for coming out to camp for 2 nights, in the snow at the Park. Snowed a little the next night before departure but manageable.



I always miscalculate map distances in Oregon.  I just look at it and figure, yeah, no biggie, 1-2hrs and I'm through it..

Made it down to Battle Mtn, NV rest stop, spent night and then a long day to Quartzsite, AZ coming into there and trying to find Dome Rock campsite at night was a bit of a hassle.  Just started down highway to a rest stop to spend the night, saw the exit to Dome Rock, took it and just parked somewhere.  Could have been a main road or in the middle of the wash. Didn't know and at that point didn't care.



Luckily made it off the road, on a camping area. (everywhere is a camping area except the road) and located a little better spot for the next two weeks..



Dome Rock is just apx 4 mi west of Quartzsite.



Quartzsite, AZ is pretty much a year'round Flea/Swap market with a highway running through it.  Jan & Feb, it gets jammed with several happenings.  Quartzsite is surrounded by BML (Bureau of Land Mgmt) which means you can camp there at nominal costs. 2 weeks in certain spots, free, and in the LTVA (Long Term Vistor's Area) $40 for 2 weeks or $180 for a 6 month period...  It's pretty much flat scrub brush and dusty.  luckily, you can ride your buggy's into town as long as you don't get crazy.

I was able to do some rides around and it was great riding on the trail the wind around the hills and gullies.



Sunsets are great, but a  little chilly to sit outside and wait for them.  Haven't figured out where the fire wood is and didn't feel like breaking out the campfire due to winds.  But the Stars... Whoa.... can't wait to get some photos of those...  nice...



So, 14 days and have to move...

I'm currently over on the La Posa Tyson wash area, just South of the "Q" as Quartzsite is called, on the west side next to the wash...  The wash, is sort of the highway to the "Q" for buggies.  Keeps'em off the highway and makes it fun.



Gallery Pics here
(if Google allows it, they've change and it takes getting used to it)

Good riding....



(I have to laugh everytime I have a pic wearing hat hat, looks goofy scrunched down on the head like that, but it blows of if not "tied down' right...)

Now over at the LTVA area and will be moving to a different location, less dusty tomorrow, Mon 21st.



I'll try to get into the Christmas Mood, with light etc, but been having problems with batteries and solar panels... Solar panel finally just gave up and stopped working.  it's a simple connection that is loose and after 3 day's attempts haven't found the break.  Going in tomorrow to get it resolved... market/haircut (looking a little shabby heheh) and new campsite away from the dust..

My shopping cart..
to carry what I call the "FFB"s of life..
(Fuel, Food, Beer) the 3 basic essentials of life... 
My life that is...)

HorsFalls Nov 15

I went to the UTV Take Over at the Sand Dunes at Horsfalls, OR to "Ride the Dunes"

While I'm not a "Duner", more of a "Trailer", as in doing dunes and doing trails, it is fun to get out there on "fresh Dunes"...

The ACE 900 performed will, but the wheel base is just too short for the "Whoops", Sand Waves, like waves you'd see on the ocean 1-3'+ high and you just go up and down.  The bigger machines, XP1ks can get up to speed and just bounce along the tops, much like wash boarded roads.  The Ace can't so it becomes miserable when you encounter them.  Have to slow down to a crawl and of course, everyone is gone.  Fresh dunes are great when you don't have to deal with Whoops and Ruts.

The Rally was a good one, many people showed up.  Camping site was packed full and pretty much a free for all that goes with it.
(note, campfires don't burn Alum cans, garbage etc and crushing them doesn't help.  Noise levels remained constant even at 3am, had to use ear plugs)



Most encircled like wagon trains with the inner courts for buggies and, A-hem, Repairs as needed. Most Trailers are pretty much like mobile repair shops having all the tools needed to rebuild a new machine.  Sometimes it's hard to identify a buggy unless it's up on jacks, heheh, sorry, couldn't resist, but that's the other half of he fun, tweaking the buggies to the dunes.


(you ever going to go out riding?)

UTV put on a great Rally,


Tents


Events,
 

Thanksgiving dinner (and free beer)


It's hard to get a photo of the dunes heights, but they are long and steep.  I was able to make it up most of them, some after a few tries, due to pilot error and was great before the crowds showed up.  The sand trails



are kewl, but once peeps started arriving and the place got chewed up with the quads on the trails, it was becoming more of a hassle for the ACE, A-hem Driver, Moi, to get excited to go out. It's much like water skiing on glassy smooth and then turning to chop, not as much fun, IMNSHO.



Anyway, it was an experience and wanted to do it, but will probably shy away from the "Big Events" in the dunes.  Will luv to go back in the off season and spend time cruising around, huge area.



Then onto La Pine, to regroup, resupply, reorganize for Quartzsite, AZ
(Relied on Garmin to get me over to La Pine, went the wrong route, sigh, back to carrying maps/atlas again.  need a new Garmin as it's taking me places no one has ever seen, heheh, user error of course, but I shouldn't have to carry maps as a back up or primary source)



More pics here

Fun.
Only restraint is what I call the "FFB"s
"Fuel, Food, Beer"

Fallon, NV Nov 2015

From Sand Hallow, UT to Fallon, NV along the Extraterrestrial Highway 357, and "Whew" I wasn't abducted.

While I was a little "Foggy/Hazy" as soon as I got on it, I still can't explain why it took some 12-hrs just to do 98-miles.. hmmm...  ooOOOWWwweeeeuuuuu... heheh,  got into Fallon RV Park at night again, sigh, don't like doing that, but...

Fallon RV Park may not be the prettiest RV site, but it certainly is the most functional in that it has cheap fuel, clean shower/laundry, full hook ups, Propane, mini-mart well stocked, cable TV and new concrete pads, so it's a good spot comparatively speaking.

Next day was laundry, fueling up an getting ready to hit the boonies in dry camping (which I just came from at Sand Hollow, UT (below).Friend Jason and Spouse Robin (a little later)  took me to a "Secret Spot" in Wilson Canyon.  Right on the river there, after a short dirt road.



We got there and I, of course, hit the only Mud Hole there, filling up the Dually's (tires & Rims) with mud.  When heading out at the end, it was like i was driving through a Mud Fight.

Got to the site, off loaded buggies, positioned campers just in time for nightfall.

Next day, still chilly out, started out around 11am riding about.



Trails were all over the place and getting, A-hem, "Lost" would be easy, getting separated was even "Easier" as I was able to prove...  (much like the 'Buddy' system in diving aka, same ocean, same day) but from flat to sand stream bed, which were the best, to blazing a trail up a hill in shrubs and snow.  As Jason said, "for every trail you seen, you've missed 2 more"



We were stopped by a falling tree and no chain saws.(and yes, it's on the Wish List)



After riding for 2 days, a good "Happy Hour" was provided by my "Ms RITA" blender.  With a good fire, weather and all was good.



It was a great trip, thanks to Jason and Robin, it was fun to get out there and Jason, coaching me in the nuances of "Boon Dock Camping" with the Fox. (he has the same model and 10 yrs of experience)



Thanks to both, and then off to HorsFalls, OR for the UTV Thanksgiving Take Over or something like that.  Riding the dunes just north of North Bend (Coos Bay), OR.

More Pics here

fun...

Sand Hollow, UT Nov 2015

Ok, so my initial starting point for the Official Full Time Rv'ng was from La Pine, OR, drove down through 140

into Nevada to Battle Mtn for an overnight at the City Park as they call it.  A little difficult to find at night.  I hate coming in at night, but the rest stops didn't seem quite right.

From Battle Mtn into Sand Hollow State Park for the SxS Adventure Rally.  Fun it was, combination of Sand and desert..  100s of trails, it would take a few weeks to try to do them all.  Mostly trail riding, but some walls to climb.  I inadvertently had both front wheels in the air, at the same time, a little unerving, but worked out ok.

Saw some old dinosaur tracks and Native American petroglyphs?... interesting...

All in All, a good trip, I'm not big on crowds so right now, Sunday only 2 others in the Sand Pit campground which is nice.

I'd come back to ride, but after a rain as the Whooops & Ruts were not fun... gets old after the 3rd one.

Tuesday, on to Fallon, NV to do some Boondock camping and riding.  looking forward to that.

Till then unless I "disappear" from doing the "Extraterrestrial Highway 357 in NV and then I should have a great story to tell...

Gallery pics here:
(one negative aspect of "Dry Camping" (no hookups) is battery power, water, gray water)

Finally, Nested...

Home Sweet Home...
and
Home is where you make it....

 
And this is my home from now on

I will be living in here as  "Full Timer" and traveling around the North American Continent.  Mainly following the Off road Buggy locations, but plan on doing Alaska, Trans-Canadian Hwy from Vancouver to St John's light house. Then swoop down and "Knock off" the lower 48...  Currently, I don't have any desire to stay east of the Mississippi so most travels will be westward as they say.

I will, of course, post happenings, photos, routes etc and will be in contact via internet.  If you are in the same area, stop by for a Margarita and campfire...

 
Happy Trails
Your "Roaming ROG"  is OTRA
(Retired Old Geezer or Goat, depending upon my mood & 'On The Road Again' -Willie Nelson)
fun...


My main website is:  www.poolesweb.com
Facebook is:  Frank Poole
Google + is:  Frank Poole

Lining the Ducks up....

Ok, so it looks like things are starting to come together here...

Truck:    Ordered
Delivery around the 22nd Aug.

Flat Bed:  Ordered
Delivery apx 22 Aug or close thereafter

Camper Arctic Fox :  Next

Ordering after truck is secured

ACE 900:  Ordered

Pick up after Camper secured

Li'l Nell: Sept

And of course we have to name her, ACE, so "Little Nell" it is.

"Nellie" is for the XP1k that will reappear in an year or so.

My Fav gals....  (Li'l Nell will have one less mug (on left side for 3 mugs)

Once this is place, I should be ready to go "Full Time" RV TC (Truck Camping).  need to make 1-2  trips to put stuff in storage and then should be good to go.

Looking forward to it, so many places, so little time.

Sept will be a busy month to be sure, but planning on being in Moab, UT end of Sept/1st of Oct for buggy riding.

That's it for now...