Trip West Update and final bolg entries

[S. Heisley]

Happy Anniversary, you two!

[Roly Nelson]

What, do you mean that the US Govt and the State of Calif would cheat about the amount of methanol that I have been buying for my car. I hear all of the bad stuff about the harm that it does to an engine, but really, I put over 140'000 miles on my 4 banger Camry and the engine still purrs like a kitten. Can't notice any loss of power pulling the teardrop, so I guess I will continue to contaminate my Chevy Cruze with the same formulation that is forced upon us non=-premium gas users. There is nothing in my new-car owner's manual warning about any dangers of the dreaded Ethenol conspiracy, or it's eventual distruction of the engine.

By the way, Shadow Catcher the invite is still open when you swing south and grace So Calif with your eventful cross-country journey. The coffee is always on, and another TD in the side driveway will make my place look like a TD parking lot. (Built 3 so far, and may be tinkering on another someday). Enjoy the sights as you continue to enjoy our great Nation. Many have never seen it, and probably never will. Consider yourself lucky and proud to accomplish your dreams.
Roly, the li'l ol' So Cal woody guy ~~

[Vedette]

Thanks for keeping us up to date.
Hope you are enjoying the trip as much as it sounds like you are??
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Shadow Catcher]

I learned an important lesson yesterday. Drink enough water and eat enough to keep the blood sugar up. Setting up in SLC I had a good case of heat stress (almost passed out, stopped sweating..., fortunately I had completed the set up of the AC unit got something cold to drink and ducked into the tear and cooled off. We toured temple square and visited Brigham Young's house and got the mother of all attempts to convert us, very slick, and made us wonder as Christians do we come off that way. Don't think so, obviously the two young ladies were working from a script.
Today was another, bucking a 30+ mph head wind spent most of the day in 3rd gear (4th is overdrive). Mpg, let me put it this way I can get as much a 70+mpg going down hill today it was more like 20.
We made it to Reno and will spend the extra day I planned on for thing to go wrong (they have not for the most part) doing a tour of Tahoe and some time in the casino and Cabella's.
I have to replace hose ends as I can not get a good seal with the garbage fittings on our fresh water hose leading into the water filters. even replaces the rubber gaskets, no luck.
Sharon the plan is to celebrate our 40th tomorrow when we are rested, we are in a sheltered and isolated end of the camp ground

[pete42]

you can get caught up in the time and forget to drink or eat and the ol' blood sugar will go haywire.
been there done that as they say.

glad you are feeling better and sounds like a good trip so far.

pete

[Rlowell]

Thank you for allowing us to follow along on your trip!!
I looks like you are having a great time, and America is such a beautiful country. The teardrop is the perfect way to enjoy such
a great trip.

I drove that trip in 1968, just a friend and I in a VW Bug. Fresh out of High School. We started in Washington DC and ended in Las Vegas .
Been around the world a couple of times since.

Rod

[Forrest747]

I do not know much about that KOA and sorry that it wasnt pleasent. Its a beautiful place downtown and we go there alot it seems. Yes they are on some script but they are sincere and commited to what they believe. There are alot of denominations that come accross as pushy, and like the penguins just smile and wave. Religon is very personally and a touchy subject if they were saying your going to hell for not believing as i do than there is a problem. also takes alot of guts to talk to someone about thier religon. i enjoyed the times that we went to Florida after a hurricane, or Oklahoma after a tornado, to help clean up and it didnt matter the religon of those we helped set things up as a religon and invited all. enjoy the anniversary time and know i am a jealous man, knowing i will never reach that milestone.

ps i like to celebrate all holidays more gifts that way.

[Shadow Catcher]

Yesterday we went around Lake Tahoe, Nancy has truly become a flat lander and closed her eyes during one narrow/precipitous/switchback section of road. We then had romantic dinner at a hill side restaurant looking down on Truckee. The casino was a bust loud,smoky,expensive. Cabella's was fishing gear and not much else and I was looking for a shower tent that is in the one in Michigan.
Today cresting Donner Pass and down in to Ca we were making 24 mpg, what is up must come down

[pete42]

From reading the blog it seems to me that the small confines of your trailer is telling on your wife and it has only been 7 or 8 days.
I hope this is not the case because you have a great trailer.
I have a friend who use to own a TD he and his wife found it to be to small for an extended trip one like you are now on.
He moved "up" to a casita they like to camp off the grid when headed west to their sons and enjoy having a shower toilet ect.
I will never know how it feels to use a TD since I'm unable to craw into one.
I hope once you guys get to a friends or relatives and have a chance to relax from driving things will go better.
take care and enjoy your trip.

pete

[Rlowell]

Sounds like you are having a great time and learning a lot!! Congratulations!!

Rod

[Shadow Catcher]

We are taking a day and going to see the railroad museum in Sacramento today and going out for dinner with friends this evening. CR is parked in their driveway.
Tomorrow we head to Big Basin Redwoods state park, no power or water hookups so will be relying on the solar panels for the first time. The family get together starts Friday evening.
The trip out had constraints on time, the trip back will be more relaxed and less rushed. I have been doing all of the driving as Nancy is not comfortable towing or even really driving when it is challenging, this is a vision related issue.
Pete, Nancy has no problem with sleeping in the trailer and has commented she would not want to trade with one of the bigger trailers.
Other than a few very minor annoyances things have not gone wrong. I expected Murphy to bite us, and I am an optimist.

[pete42]

Great I thought she was having a hard time glad to find out I'm wrong.
Your trip home will be better I'm sure since there isn't a time you have to be anywhere.
I always had a place to be in Florida each year at a certain time so I headed out early and left myself
plenty of time in case something went wrong.
your not missing anything here in Ohio just hot then cold 50 for low tonight but thursday is to be 100.
stay safe and enjoy.

pete

[nrody]

Sounds like you are having a great trip. Of course there are going to be minor issues, there always are. This is your chance to find out what works for you and what does not. Happy Trails and thank you for letting us know about your adventures.

[S. Heisley]

Hi, Tom:

Please tell Nancy that I am enjoying your blog at: http://tomandnancygrover.blogspot.com

I do hope you will continue to post your trip all the way until you get home. Nancy takes good pictures and is an excellent writer. (At least, I'm guessing it's Nancy's handiwork.)

[Shadow Catcher]

The problems with technology!
Big Basin Redwoods has no cell coverage and no Wi Fi so we have been out of touch. Not necessarily a bad thing. BUT no updates.
One lady was asking about how to get out of the park, because the GPS on her cell phone will not work with out cell coverage.
I ran into a wiring problem with the inverter and was going to trace it with the VOM I brought with me, which has a dead battery

The Sirius receiver did work and so did our TomTom GPS.

Should have brought the heater not the AC. we have been COLD.