Road Trips

[Ag&Au]

That's why there is some much "wide open spaces" in the intermountain west. You have to be quite a ways away to not smell your neighbor's shirt.

Ken

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Oral or suppository?

I though perhaps you had made that up. However, I changed my mind when curiosity caused me to stumble upon this Canadian (.ca) website.

Backdoor Medicine: How Cannabis Suppositories Can Save Lives - Cannabis Digest

Now I an trying to find supporting evidence that cannabis was actually named after Canada. (or is it visa versa).


Ken

[Ag&Au]

Upon further investigation, I found this article on the home page of the above cited publication.



Pesticide Use in Colorado Cannabis Gardens


This may explain a lot about the material in this thread.

Ken

[Ag&Au]

and this perhaps even more:

"Hallucinogenic Mushrooms found in Colorado Cannabis Gardens"

[Gene]

Safari quit while I was into a long 2nd paragraph. I should prepare this separately, but forget to.

People are worried about pesticide in Colorado marijuana grows? What about all the pesticides on stuff we eat, plus the serious effects it has on the workers in the fields. Having known someone seriously compromised by a common pesticide (an organophosphate), it is bad stuff and almost impossible to get any damages for an injury thanks to Congress. A potential client came to me messed after using one bug bomb with the stuff. He almost died and had permanent nerve damage. His case could go nowhere, partly because one person doesn't have the resources to fight it (start with a doctor's analysis to show there is a case at $5,000-10,000 and go from there).

I wonder if when alcohol Prohibition was starting to crumble in the late '20's and early 30's, the same jokes were made. I make them too, but I find the comparison between the 2 types of prohibition and how they evolved and how they end very interesting. Towards the end of alcohol prohibition, some states stopped enforcing the law and the feds couldn't keep up with it. As it was ending, there were a lot of jokes about drunks and drinking and when it ended, it became very fashionable to drink a lot. It was a big part of certain types of the fantasy Hollywood movies about wealthy people. That attitude that drinking is fun—the more the better—lasted for more than a generation. Meanwhile the rural and conservative states stayed dry, or some counties were—a great opportunity for local authorities to get extra income from the black market. When marijuana was banned in the 30's (they lost on alcohol, had to find another devil), a new black market was created. Now in Colorado people are coming out—either they have been using it for pain and other medical problems for a long time, or they just have fun. People who never used it before are carefully experimenting and having fun. Colorado hasn't been destroyed. We have "dry" counties and municipalities and people just drive a little ways just like with alcohol to get what they want. The black market still is active because of high taxes. Somehow the states can't understand about pricing yourself out of the market. Meanwhile more and more towns, cities and counties give in because there is money to be made. It shows up more and more in Hollywood movies, but now the stoners do accomplish things and are the heroes. Dave is here.

But I digress…

Last night it rained hard and this morning the forecasted wind had begun. Gusts to 55 were predicted though I don't know if it was that bad. We continue to suffer from humidity—as high as 90+%. We drove south through Lincoln City and many more towns focused on the ocean. The waves were high for the Pacific (try the Atlantic in the northeast if you want big waves) and the southwest wind was fierce close to the coast. The trailer towed just as if there was no wind, but the truck was buffeted sometimes. Rain on and off and many ocean views. Winding inland through dense forests and then back to the beach, sometimes high above on a roadway carved out of the side of mountains. Slow going much of the time until we got to Cal. (no problems at the bug station) where the roads had more 4 lane sections and we drove around a lot of the towns. Still could only average almost 40 mph counting a gas stop, lunch stop, some food shopping at a bakery/restaurant/organic veggies and fruit store and a few driver changes.

Drier as we went south and the wind let up. Driving became a lot less stressful. A few road cuts above the coast funneled wind through and the high bridge at Newport, Ore., were the worst places. By the time we got to Arcata, there was some blue sky, it was a lot drier and tonight is cool and dry.

Gassed up (only 1 1/2 gal. left at that point) just north of Cal. in Brookings. Gas was 60¢ less in Oregon than in Cal. Either stations or distributers are making out like bandits lately as wholesale gas is half or less than retail—biggest spread I've seen in many years.

In a fairly average RV park near Arcata. We have been reduced to eating microwavable dinner as neither of us wants to do much more. Bland food, but at least we got it in the health food aisle. Covered 330 miles today on slow roads in 8:30. We'll have some shorter days to keep from beating ourselves up, a big push from Ely, Nev., to Green River, Utah, and only 110 miles to home to give us time to park (after all my practice backing in on Vancouver Is. I'm getting pretty good at it, so maybe I can do it faster at home), unload and collapse.

Years ago we went to see Lassen NP, but it was May and they had had record May snows—20'. So the most interesting areas were covered. We'll go through there again and with the drought, snow should not be a problem.

Now that it is 10:30, I expected Sat. Night Live, but just a horror movie. I would expect the NBC station in Arcata to air SNL.

Gene

[Goal15]

Bummer about SNL dude! 😎


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[kingfisher24]

DUDE.....DAVE'S NOT HERE........

[Gene]

So I woke up at 4 am (all old man will know why) and turned on the TV. It seemed like 90% of what was on were commercials, infomercials and promotions for other programs. One local station had the weather radar on.

We will be returning to summer with temps in the 80's and 90's today and for the rest of the week. Low humidity and cool temps would be best and tonight we plan to be just south of Lassen Volcanic NP and should have just that.

Gene

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, well I have been getting up at 3:00 AM, but it is for another old man named Dusty. The doggy door at home is a dream.

[Gene]

Dusty and I have bladders the size of a pea.

We took today lackadaisically. Fortunately the construction on Cal. 299 was not happening as it was Sunday, or we would have spent an hour or more waiting. The road winds through forests sometimes way above the Trinity River. Some has been rebuilt, more is being rebuilt. It was beautiful except for one valley with lots of smoke—we saw a fire staging place and I guess there is fire several miles off the road. Otherwise, the rains have washed the air and the mountain air smells great.

Got to Redding and found Trader Joe's right away and shopped and shopped. Found gas at $2.85 (some stations are over $3 there), better than the $3.55 not too far west in Beaverville (low on has we put in 5 gal., filled it in Redding. Then east to Lassen Volcanic NP. After finding a rest stop to eat and eat and take our time, we drove into and through the Park. Didn't except for a few minutes to take photos. If we had to pay to see this park (again, we were there about a dozen years ago), I wouldn't. The road hangs off the side of mountains and can be challenging. But on Sunday there was hardly anyone there and that made it easy.

We are now at Child's Meadows Resort—sites in the trees (big, tall Ponderosa and Red Cedar all around us) and a motel. Typical place in the mountains—rustic, but the air is clean and cool, the trees are great and the owner is very much a character. We found out we had some things in common and had both lived in the Lehigh Valley not too many years apart.

Tomorrow we drive 189 miles to Fallon, Nev. Lots of ok CG's there and one looks fine (I think it is one of those city or county ones, but not sure) and is $15. Then we start the long drive on US 50 to home. Desert and a series of north/south mountain ranges. When you get tired of sage, you get trees and vice versa. That will be 600 miles in 2 days, then Green River, Utah and 110 miles home (after picking up the best baguettes made in this universe and some wonderful giant muffins at Main St. Bagels.

Gene

[Gene]

Another lackadaisical day. Got up late, went to the CG restaurant for breakfast, and the owner, Bruce was there. Bruce likes to talk and then when he realizes we have to leave sometime soon, apologizes and continues to tell stories. We talked a lot about mountain lions and how Cal. does not permit killing them, thus they are attacking more and more and fighting amongst themselves as there isn't enough territory for all of them. We all got along fine, hugged each other and continued east out of the mountains eventually descending to Susanville and the desert. Back in summer with 88˚ at the CG when we arrived, but low humidity. Travel was faster today and we passed through Reno, Sparks, Fernley and then on US 50 to Fallon.

We are staying at a parking lot next to the Bonanza Inn and Casino—full hookups (even wifi) for $15. Couldn't pass that up—only a few RV's here. Went out to dinner at The Wok and it was pretty good for a Chinese restaurant in a small desert town. The casino is not all that big, though noisy as usual. We don't gamble, but did win $14 at the Nevada Hotel in Ely years ago. We had no idea what we were doing on the quarter slots, lights were flashing and people around knew how to get the money and were hoping we would leave and they could get it. They looked like predators, sort of like a lot of people playing slots. We'll look around as part of our adventure, maybe get a few bucks in chips or whatever you use, come back and get ready for almost 300 miles tomorrow.

Gene

[Gene]

Last night we walked through the casino and walked out. I guess we're traditionalists and just like lemons, cherries, bars and an arm to pull. All these flashing lights, noises, buttons, are just wrong. But we went to The Wok, a Chinese restaurant in Fallon. Much better than we expected and a large nice place. Still had a lot of the usual Chinese restaurant stuff (lanterns, Bhuddas, etc.) but not too much.

Before that I wanted to take a shower and turned on the water heater, but it didn't turn on. Last time this happened, I went out and cleaned the contacts and it worked for the next 5 years (longer than it came from the factory where I guess they don't clean the contacts very well). Trouble was the water heater had been on before, turned off and I figured turning it on would just heat it quickly, so I had taken my clothes off first. So I had to put my clothes back on (one more reason to only go to nudist CG's), went out and cleaned the contacts. Then it worked. But this morning the same thing happened. What was going on? The heater had been on earlier, the city water was pretty warm and the sun is hot—turn it off for a while after it has been on, and then turn it on again later and it appears the thermostat says the water is hot and doesn't turn on. Tried it again 10 minutes later and it worked. I hope that is the problem, but it is strange it never happened before, and now twice—that makes me suspicious the answer is not that simple. Will try it later after it has been off a short time.

Though having almost 300 miles ahead of us, we dallied and left at 10:45—some comfort that we were worse the day before. US 50, the Loneliest Road, is also an easy and fast drive. Little traffic, much is straight across the valleys and most of the passes ("summits" here) are pretty easy and fairly fast. We made good time and arrived in Ely at 4:30. We're staying at the KOA, one of the nicest KOA's. In town is the Hotel Nevada—looks like almost 100 years old, maybe older. We've stayed there twice and visited the restaurant 3 times more. They have a reputation for good pizza and it was pretty good. Seems like the guy who has making pizzas there for 30 years or so is not doing things as well as he used to and the staff is complaining to the customers. That's not a good sign nor is it good for reputation. A couple got their dinner comped (pizza was hardly cooked and they waited over an hour) and ours didn't take as long, but we got a free salad and the pizza was pretty good (too much cheese, not enough other toppings, but the crust was baked just right). Pizza was half price, but we didn't really have to wait that long.

They still have a few one armed slots and only three things spinning, though there are all sorts of confusing combinations. The one we tried said it was a penny machine, but it actually was a 2 penny machine, though you can bet more. Two bucks down the drain, but I noticed the next machine had a 3¢ credit and I got a ticket for it. The next machine had a 15¢ credit and I got that ticket too. I kind of felt like a bum looking for nickels in the gutter, but we got our 18¢, they got our $2, we got a big meal for $8 and I guess it was a fair exchange. You can dry camp behind the Hotel Nevada for free it seems.

Ely is an old mining town. I don't know if there's any mining going on, but commodity prices have been going down for some time and if there's a mine open, it is probably not producing much. The town looks more tired that ever.

Nevada has a series of mountain ranges going north/south. Drive across a desert valley and before the straight, straight road and endless sagebrush drives you completely nuts ("the sound of your wheels [can] drive you crazy"), another range, not too high, but some curves and trees for interest, then another valley. It is a place to become introspective, experience existential ennui, ponder the meaning of dragging 3.5 tons behind you wherever you go, and listen to the Eagles greatest hits (thus the quote above). I can see how a drive across Nevada could unhinge some, but we enjoy it. A blues mix CD cleaned our brains and pizza always grounds you (enough gluten in the crust to adhere to your innards for a week).

It is a 103 miles to a real town—Delta, Utah—and we cross Skull Valley and drive past another playa (Spanish for beach, also means a dried up lake). Lots of playas along the way. So we have more valleys, sagebrush and easy passes before us. After Delta, US 50 zigs and zags, takes a short trip up I-15, goes over another mountain range and joins I-70 at Salinas, Utah. Then desert to Grand Jct., but we always stop at Green River and stay at the KOA and have breakfast next door (10% off for KOA customers) while we sit and overlook the river. Green River is known for melons and we'll look for some good ones. The town is dead other than motels, gas (cheapest in the middle of town) and propane costs half the price at the Pilot across from the KOA. There's a proposal to build a nuclear power plant there, but where will they get enough water? Dry up the melon farms?

Once again I'm too tired to upload photos, but have to do it by Thursday evening because I have lots of data left this month and want to use it. Maybe tomorrow. Gotta check the water heater.

Gene

[reelfastgreg]

ah yes, the MC ride across the desert to Fallon. i was the target of 2 F15's, or whatever the Navy calls them, who came in behind me about 100' off the deck. woke me right up from that hypnotic slumber.

[rmkrum]

I bet the adrenalin base surge fired you up enough to be able to count the rivets on the belly of the plane in one glance. My middle son was under a low pass hat north of China Lake. He swears he could see every detail of the plane's belly in one snapshot look.... Then they spent the next hour retrieving their tents that were scattered by the backwash. Yeah, probably below 50 feet. The Navy zoomies love to do stuff like that.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[rmkrum]

My favorite ride was told to me by a good friend. He got a backseat ride in an F-4J. The pilot stayed under the Mojave FAA radar until his ECM told him it was looking the other wAy, then he went full afterburner vertical and rolled out at 15,000 feet. Of course he basically popped up on radar from nowhere.

Radio went nuts wit Mojave trying to find out who he was and where he came from. So pilot told them he was cruising at 15k all the way from China Lake.

They got their butts chewed when the got back to base. The skipper was having a hellufa time keeping a straight face, because Mojave is an Air Force operated radar. The Navy boys loved to mess with their heads as often as possible.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[ROBERT CROSS]

Ahhh.....El Toro F4 memories.
Took me a month before I could get a good nights sleep, they were some noisy buggers...


Bob

[Gene]

Once when we were driving to Carlsbad across the Staked Plains (Estacos Planos), we were buzzed in the middle of nowhere. That does tend to make you alert. Another time I was at a clothing optional hot springs on the San Luis Valley. The pool was on a hill and some guy from the Front Range flew by at eye level. He slowed down to see what he could see and we could seem him staring at us. These guys fly these jets, but apparently can't get to see naked people.

In Green River, tired, hot and more later.

Gene

[rmkrum]

The Panavia Tornado still has the title for "noisiest combat aircraft". I was a China Lake when they tested them. You could hear them for miles (after they passed you).

I used to watch F-4 launched from 'vultures roost' on the Ranger. Aft of the starboard now cat halfway up the island. 4 stages of afterburner on launch. You can't really hear it, it's so loud, it shakes your bones and guts. And the heat is amazing


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[Gene]

Back in the summer heat all day again. 91˚ here when we arrived. Yesterday when we turned on the A/C, it started dripping slowly where the hose is attached to a box which is under the condenser. I couldn't tell whether the glop around the plastic hose was leaking or it was coming from too much water in the box. I had a long piece of mechanic's wire in my tool box and tried running that up the hose from the outside, but couldn't get past the curve in the hose over the fridge. Water was dripping out of the hose to the ground, but it seemed like less than I expected. It wasn't all that humid out either. I thought of blowing it out with the compressor, but decided we didn't want stuff spraying out of the hose inside unless it was parked at home. By the time I went inside, it had stopped dripping on the floor. Today no drips, also low humidity here. Once home I have an electrical snake that I can try to dislodge any blockages and can add some more sealant around the hose.

The water heater has worked fine and trying to turn it on at various times after we turned it off has not been a problem. It goes on each time and I have not been able to replicate what it did before.

When we arrived here, after getting gas and driving to a melon stand we heard something dragging. It was one bar from the Equalizer hitch—the L bracket had been pushed crooked and the bar fell down. I banged it partly back with a hammer, we got our melons and went to the KOA. I took off the L brackets before we left, used rust remover and repainted them and I guess I didn't tighten them enough. Tomorrow morning I'll get out my wrench set and fix that.

With a car or truck, things usually go wrong at home, but a trailer is only used on the road and that's where it breaks. Fortunately I can fix things and the Forum has been very helpful in teaching me RV quirks.

US 50 continued to be lonely, fast and filled with striking scenery. Once we got to Utah, the road was bumpy and not very well paved. We passed Sevier Lake, dry as usual, and made it through Skull Valley without any zombies. Caught up to a 27' International and eventually passed him. When filling up with gas in Delta, Utah, he passed us. Later we saw him parked in a big field in Scipio, Utah. Today we saw 3 Airstreams on the road, as many as we've seen on the entire trip. We've seen about 6 at CG's.

We joined I-70 at Salina, Utah (not Salinas as I wrote yesterday) and drove through more mountains and into the desert with bare rocks of multicolored sandstone. Barb was attacked by allergies and I drove most of the way while she blew her nose and took a pill which can make her sleepy. She didn't get sleepy and dried up. This is all familiar and though beautiful and striking country, we are mostly motivated by going home.

330 miles seemed like a lot. We continue to wonder whether we can still drive cross country (Newfoundland is the objective) at the rate we have in the past. I crashed once we got situated and am a bit refreshed after a nap.

I wrote Staked Plains was Estacos Planos earlier—wrong, proving that all those years of Spanish I took long ago were a waste of time. Llanos Estacados? Not sure.

Time to shower and eat. We lost an hour today as we returned to mountain time and the sun goes down a lot earlier here than in the north. Feels like midnight at 9 pm.

Gene

[Gene]

[QUOTE=Gene;1669074] What I tried to upload weeks ago:

1. We arrive in the inner harbor of Victoria. They opened the door early and these cars are to be first off. None were pushed into the water. Victoria is lush with trees, bushes and flowers.

2. I don't known what that tree with all the moss is.

3. Barb waits in the truck before we leave the ferry. Like every ferry we've been on, the guys who direct you use hand signals that are incomprehensible and then get disgusted when you can't figure out what all that waving is.

4. Part of the very large Parliament building in Victoria. So you can sound smart when visiting Canada, the head of a provincial government is the "premier" and the head of the national government is the "prime minister". Note to Bob: telling them when they won't let you in that the premier or prime minister is a friend will not help. Just surrender your tomato stems.

Finally, I hope.

Gene