Road Trips

[pmclemore]

Thanks, Gene. Makes sense.

But...

Don't go.

Pat

[Steamy1]

Thank you for the many well-written stories and the occasional banter on a variety of subjects. I will watch out for the blue Tundra on our trips to the GJ area.

Hope you will still post on occasion, if the mood should compel you. Give me a shout if you find yourselves in the Steamboat area.

[Gene]

Thanks for all the nice words.

We are waiting for a jack on the new trailer and the Atwood jack on the Nash failed on our first trip. It came with an adapter, not a crank, so I had to use a vise grip to move it. Atwood suggested using a drill to crank it, but it worked for a while and then the drill motor suddenly burned out. Atwood sold their jack business to Lippert Components (a/k/a LCI). They are honoring the warranty, but won't pay for the drill I was advised to use. They also said they were unilaterally changing the warranty from 5 years to 1 year. They are wrong legally on both counts. Watch out for that company.

We're hoping the northwest haze clears, the fires are out and the skies are clear for the eclipse. Just bought a Dish satellite system for the Nash since they have gotten much cheaper, find the satellite themselves and can be mounted on the roof. So we can watch the eclipse on TV if all does not work out. I've heard about CG's canceling reservations and making people reserve again at even higher prices. Our campground, Heise Hot Springs in Idaho, did not change their regular prices and our reservations are still good. If we watch there, it will be a few seconds shorter than right at the middle of the totality area, but lounging in a lawn chair with a gin and tonic, dark glasses and friends meeting us from Cal. seems like a pretty good deal.

I still see the Safari being towed away in my mind's eye. I still feel sad. I try to remind myself of the things I didn't like. It doesn't work. If you see a trailer with two Balloon Fiesta bumper stickers and a smaller one from the Dalton Hwy in Alaska, apparently in Alabama now, you'll know where it came from.

Yeh, I'm finding it difficult to break up.

Gene

[Jim & Susan]

Gonna miss you buddy. Yep ,

breakin up

is tough.

Is that 1960's cheesy or what?

Jim

[Nightowl]

Gene, good for you with your new Nash rambler, but I'm sad to see you go. Your writing is the best and I've looked forward to the pleasure of reading about your latest adventures. I'll have to see if there's a Nash owners' blog to follow you any longer. Thanks so much!!

[Gene]

Thanks for the compliments, or is it complements? Probably the first one. Our trip to the eclipse and Oregon was good for a while, but a health issue with Barb's father caused us to rush back to Colorado 2/3 of the way through (1,200 miles in three days—those long drives are harder than they used to be). He's getting better. With aging parents, that is the future. I went through it years ago with my parents, but when your marry a young trophy wife, health emergencies come again.

Yes, Airstreams tow better, but I improved towing by taking another link up on the new hitch. Still not quite as good as the Airstream, but looking for further tuning up. The BWB means worse gas mileage—from around 10.5 to around 9 so far. Can't drive as fast either because it drops fast after about 62 mph. And people towing Airstreams don't flash their lights anymore. Feels a little strange not to be noticed by everyone.

But the Nash is working well for us otherwise. We covered something like 3,000 miles, saw friends, missed some others because of having to truncate our trip. I waited almost 40 years for this eclipse, only have to wait for 7 for the next US one. And when I'm 104 one comes right over my house.

The dealer is not so easy to deal with. They claim they have lost some employees because they got higher paying jobs with oil and gas development, but they seem to have communications troubles there, excuses, confusion. Everyone is real nice, but results are less than optimum. Our new Dish satellite system works fairly well. It finds the satellite for you and the price keeps coming down. Sometimes it just cuts out for several seconds or more seconds even without trees in the way. The Wally remote is far harder to use than the old fashioned ones at home, one of those "improvements" to give you many, many options that are not an improvement.

I do miss having an outlet for my writing gene (pun time), but we have a busy life and a house to finish. Haven't had time to finish the kitchen for many months between travels, selling an Airstream, buying an alternative, family health issues and being slower at everything. Still hoping to finish before I'm 80. A friend who is interested in moving here is coming to check out Grand Junction this weekend, so a few more days of remodeling down the drain. Glad to help her, of course. There are two Nash/Northwood Mfg. forums—one is owned by Andy R. and one is a small, separate one for Nash only run by an individual. I haven't signed up for either one; just too busy.

Pretty soon one more trip to NW Colorado to see Dinosaur NM and Steamboat Springs. Life is good, life has new challenges, much time is spent following politics and I have to exercise more to keep young(ish).

Better go do that now.

Gene

[Gene]

I still see the Airstream being towed down the road below our house as it went away forever. The strange thing was I was not there to see it having been in the driveway of friends where we had it parked for a month and where it was picked up. But Barb watched it go down the road and I see it even though I didn't. I feel sad about it when I think of it, but we have adjusted and enjoyed our Nash, especially more space. I also like the idea of having new appliances since I was feeling 10 year old appliances are getting ready to give up—some did. I had to replace the water pump and have work done on the fridge.

When I see an Airstream on the road, I want to wave or flash my lights. I don't. I have seen more Airstreams than Nashs since we changed in July.

Our trip to Dinosaur NM was good. There is one small area where dinosaur bones are displayed and the rest of the monument is very wild. We saw some of it, but one road looked too wet and slippery (Utah clay is to be avoided) to explore to see the confluence of the Yampa and Green Rivers. It snowed down to about 7,000' and some of road through the Monument was slightly above that, so we saw a little melting snow. Lots of mountain tops were white.

Before we went to Dinosaur, we stayed two nights at a KOA in Steamboat Springs. When we bought the new trailer, we were given a membership in Route 66. It is another road service and discount company. Among other things, it is supposed to give you a 10% discount at KOA's. It took months to get a membership card from them, but we did have an approved application or membership. The KOA wouldn't accept it, so we had to pay about $10 more for two nights. I have sent a message to KOA about it and am waiting for a reply. Since a lot of KOA's are old now and looking sad, we have started to avoid them and that experience confirms it. Ironically, coming back home from the Oregon/eclipse trip and having to make a family emergency run to my in-laws, we stayed at two former KOA's in Delta and Pueblo, Colorado. Both were better kept than some KOA's.

We plan to go back to Dinosaur someday, but on our schedule for next spring is returning to Bears Ears NM. We had a wonderful time last spring, but we want to take more time to explore the ancient ruins and rock art. But the Monument may be shrunken or worse and that is sad since there is so much ancient culture to protect there as well as the incredible scenery. I have thought of boycotting Utah because the state dislikes natural lands and tries to develop anything regardless of historic or scenic values.

When at Dinosaur NM, we were close to Vernal, Utah, and explored some of the public lands developed for oil and gas. There were areas with a well on every acre, pumps, tanks, trash, dirt roads and more dirt roads, speeding trucks. It was ugly. This was BLM land and it did not seem the BLM was being a good steward of the land. Utah lost to Colorado a major outdoors show which brought tens of millions of dollars into the state every year because of the state's attitude. Strange how Utah promotes the five national parks, but opposes national monuments.

Not sure what to do—Bears Ears is pretty close to us and we have many times over the past 30 years explored ancient cultures' ruins and art in Utah, New Mexico and Colorado as well as traveled throughout the nearby Navajo Rez many times. I think in the end we will go and make sure to tell people we support preservation of the land and historic cultures.

Our trailer had been in shop for over a month. Nash dealers are no faster than Airstream ones it seems. It has several warranty repairs and this place is very inefficient. Everything takes precedence over warranty work I guess (dealers often get paid less for it than their public rates). Just like Airstream, Northwoods Mfg. has few dealers and living where we do, there aren't many options—nearest other Northwood dealer is 300 miles away. At least we do have one dealer here. Airstream has nothing between Denver and SLC.

When we bought our Airstream we were eager to make changes and improvements. It was exciting. Now, after ten years of trailer life, we are jaded and just trying to get a few things done, such as installing TV's and drop down countertop extensions. I think the Airstream had more warranty issues, but it does seem poor workmanship and materials are common to the whole industry.

Hope to get the Nash home in several days, 5 1/2 weeks after we brought it in. We thought of getting cover since we don't want to the walls to fade and the top to get wear from winter, wind and losing sand, but it seems they are hard to install without getting on the roof (neither of us is eager for that), tear easily, and good ones are expensive. I guess I should look for places to re-seal on the roof, but maybe I'll wait.

One last thought. I realized after we bought a new trailer that people my age don't buy a new trailer, they sell the old one and buy a recliner. They also don't continue remodeling their houses. Obviously I am just a 20 year old trapped in a 77 year old body. I'm not ready to give in to aching muscles, bad joints, messed up back and less energy. I got lazy about exercising, so I am back at the treadmill and weights—everything hurts (just like always), but at least I'm stronger. I guess it is better pain. And good to live in Colorado where pain relief is easy to find.

It is a long goodbye....

Gene

[Hittenstiehl]

Gene no need to say goodbye you could just check in every now and then just because.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Gene no need to say goodbye you could just check in every now and then just because.

I guess I am. I got the Forum newsletter and saw some interesting things and that lead me here and I had to catch up. Maybe I should change the info about my trailer, but I'm getting hungry and it is almost lunch time. Maybe later. Hasta Lumbago.

Gene

[Gene]

A year of adventures comes a close—not the trips across much of the US and Canada so much, but the sale of the Airstream and the purchase of a new trailer of another brand. A good choice we still believe. We did make it to the Pacific Ocean in 2017, but had to come back early from that trip because of family medical issues.

One of the unchallenged myths of Airstream is that they last and other brands fall apart very quickly. I agree some of those brands (perhaps those made by Thor Industries more than others) do start falling apart very fast. However, some brands have better reliability records than others. That was the reason we selected Northwood Mfg's Nash brand. Though their Arctic Fox line is quite a bit more expensive, in many ways they are the same. The biggest exception is the AF has an aluminum frame. it wasn't worth $8-10 Grand to me. On one ratings website, Airstream's mediocre reliability rating was improved by design; other ratings were low. Other brands rated somewhat higher. than Airstream. Thor's numerous brands pretty much were all below average.

We put 62,000 or 63,000 miles on the Airstream and it held up well so far as basic construction went. I doubt we will put that many miles on the Nash—our abilities fade as the years go by and 5 or 10,000 miles does seem a little much. Perhaps in several years our big trips will be 50 miles to a state park or a national forest for a few days.

I do wonder how our Airstream is doing somewhere in Alabama. The plan was for one brother to live in it for a couple of years. Does not seem right for an Airstream to sit in one place.

The year winds down with both of us recovering from a nasty cold with a very persistent cough. My asthma is getting worse, so any virus affecting my lungs is worse than otherwise. But Barb is still coughing. I first got the cold almost a month ago and she got it five days later. When we lived in the middle of nowhere, few colds were brought there. Since there was little to do, we did not come into contact with children very much. Children are like walking viruses. I'd rather die sooner and have things to do and people to see. Tomorrow we go to Ouray for New Years with 4 friends. Ouray is 100 miles away and in a box canyon, so the town is surrounded by high canyon walls. On New Year's Eve at midnight, they shoot off fireworks and we want to see that. Last year we went and everyone wanted to go back to our rooms (in Ridgway as we hadn't booked anything early enough) because it was cold and they didn't want to walk a few blocks. Every one of them was younger than me. What a bunch of wimps! This year I will see the fireworks and the rest of them can hide under the covers complaining. Glad to get away especially since Xmas was a classic family meltdown, the kind you see in movies. Yes, it can happen even in the best of families. And after a year of national craziness, a few days soaking in hot springs, hanging out with friends and eating in good restaurants, is well deserved.

In 2018, we plan to spend a couple of weeks next spring in Bluff, Utah, exploring Bears' Ears NM. I had thought of boycotting Utah because the state seems to hate conservation, but decided we should still support Bears' Ears. We will probably spend some time in Ouray in May for our annual visit, but otherwise we have no idea what we are doing. In 2019 we may go to Vancouver Is. to see more and visit friends in Victoria. Evan (another former Airstreamer) wants to cruise up to Alaska in his boat to celebrate his 60th birthday in 2018, so we figure 2019 would be better for that trip. I'd love to get back to Newfoundland and have written that for years and years. And Alaska always beckons, even after three trips there. And my most ambitious trip—to Tierra del Fuego—may never happen. I was reading about Mt. Everest the other day and realizing that that option was closed me. I didn't really want to get frostbitten fingers and toes and lose my nose too and suffer incredible pain and exhaustion, but that the option is closed bothers me. An old guy with asthma should not be climbing mountains like that, of course. But I want to be able to. Thirty years ago we backpacked to 13,000' to a beautiful lake nestled between two fourteeners. After 12,000', we could only walk a couple of hundred feet before we had to atop and rest for a minute. The packs seemed to weigh hundreds of pounds (I always did pack too much when hiking). I wonder how we'd do now? Expectations are shrinking, grudgingly.

Where are you going in 2018?

Better start packing.

Gene

[pmclemore]

It's cold here - though not as cold as out west where you live. But cold enough here to make me cast my thoughts elsewhere.

We are leaving in early Feb for Florida - the central part, not the south where all the snowbirds. We'll start out at Rainbow Springs (west of Ocala) for the first week, kayaking, then slide over to Cedar Key for the ambiance. From there, up to Blackwater Falls SP, then west to the little campground next to the Silver Slipper Casino. Maybe farther west; haven;t gotten my thoughts ramped up beyond that.

Just a month to go!

Following that trip though, we're going to Alumapalooza and then drifting west to Rocky Mountain NP. Not sure after that.

Pat

[TouringDan]

Gene

I have been thinking about you lately and had not seen any of your recent posts since I guess I was not subscribed to the thread. Anyhow glad to hear that you and Barb are doing well and are getting some traveling in. Sorry that you have sold your Airstream, but hey you are still camping and traveling and that is what really counts.

Our 66 Tradewind has been down since the spring with major work including belly pan, insulation, frame painting, new axles, disc brakes, gray tank repair, etc. Hoping to get lots of long distance camping in this year with the new suspension and brakes.

Our youngest daughter will be graduating in May with an advanced degree and has accepted a job already at Ford. She plans on traveling a lot with us this summer as she doesn’t start her job until September. We’ll see how that goes. I suspect she may need to start her job early.

Dan

[Gene]

Thanks Pat and Dan. I spent a lot of time in Fla. when my parents were alive and never developed an affection for the state, but I hope you enjoy your trip. And Dan, sounds like lots of work before you are on the road again. We are having a warm and dry winter and the northeast is getting slammed. I've seen this pattern before—El Niña—and this is one of the severe ones. Hope you can work on your Tradewind. From what I can see the wintry winds have been straight south and it must be cold in Virginia. Most of our highs have been the in the 40's and 50's, very unlike a usual winter. I've been in Colorado long enough (40 years in March) so I can remember past winters like this—the one before I moved here was like this and I was in Buffalo to experience the opposite, the 200" of snow winter (almost all in 10 weeks).

We just got back from Ouray where we met friends and spent a lot of time eating (some really good dinners), talking, telling dumb stories, soaking, sleeping and watching part of a Games of Thrones marathon on the motel TV. A good time was had by all and I'm sure we kept some people awake or simply disturbed in rooms near us as our room was the party room. Of course, with an average age of 65, we don't party so much, but with 5 out of 6 of us from the northwest, we talk loud. Barb is the only native Coloradoan and the quietest of all of us.

Glad to start a new year and hope my cough ends soon (it is getting better, very slowly), though I hope to find a pulmonologist around here who isn't booked up forever. I want information and the scheduler at the first one I called was very negative. It had to go to a "triage" person and I'd hear in several days (I haven't). So I don't know whether I am too sick to treat, too well to treat, or just right. I never heard of a triage person looking at people who get a referral. If I lived on the Front Range, there'd be scores of docs to pick from, but in smaller cities, it can be hard to find a doctor, much less a good one.

But we got to see the fireworks in Ouray. Situated in a box canyon, almost every direction is up a mountain side, and some pretty steep ones. There are some houses way up with "interesting" driveways, but mostly around the town, the walls are nearly sheer. US 550 goes through town and climbs a series of switchbacks on the south end of town. Up along the road they shoot off the fireworks, so they start up many hundreds of feet up. It was good, though it stopped for a long time around 12:15 am, then restarted several minutes later for a second finale. Maybe the cigarette lighter ran out of gas and they had to find some matches. Not sure we will go back next New Year's, but all can't figure out where we get good restaurants, hot springs, decent lodging, funky town and fireworks all in one place.

Now time to finish my kitchen in the next several months and start the master bath. Each year I get slower, older and don't heal as fast. It is a race to finish before I can't. Then some improvements on the RV and on the road again. I'm looking forward to Bears' Ears and not looking forward to making cabinet doors, but the first has to be first.

I should get more done since I don't spend much time on the Forum anymore. I would think so, but perhaps I have slowed down so much I end up with less time to remodel. Once again, I must stop this and get to work.

Gene

[ROBERT CROSS]

Hi...Gene or maybe hygiene is more to the point, hope your feel'n better.

Spent the day in & around A-town today, couldn't help but think of you as we drove down Cottage Street on our way past Mulligan's.

I know how 'ya feel this get'n old crap is get'n OLD.

-4 last night, this cold snap has been a pain. Polonis Disk has kept the Stream at 55 as long as you keep it shut-up.

We still ck in here once in awhile, but not posting often. The AS world is full of experts, no need for my obtuse observations.

Stay well, say high to Barb.

Bob & Sandra

[Gene]

Bob,

I believe over my life I have spent 3 nights in Cleveland, memorable only because I was in Cleveland. This happened maybe 50 years ago. The first time was in a motel in the suburbs where I have a vague memory of carpeting on the walls. Perhaps it was really the funny farm. The second time was in a downtown hotel. My then-wife and I went down to the bar and met the roadies from a band, a band famous then, but I have forgotten who they were. The roadies were interesting and drank a lot, perhaps we did too. I hope your trip to Cleveland was more memorable.

And, Mulligan's. I think of Mulligan's Brick Bar from time to time, but usually can't remember the name (is there pattern here? I can't remember). When I was familiar with Mulligan's (40 years or so ago), just a few blocks from my home when I lived in Buffalo, there was a small person who used to hold forth there with the strange things he did. I think I later heard he was some sort of con man. In some sleazy bars, such strangeness becomes normal. Besides you, I had a friend (also named Bob) who lived on Cottage St., but he moved to Denver in the mid0-'70's where he built trails and started his own business doing so. He was familiar with bars such as Mulligan's and the group along Elmwood Ave.

We may get snow this weekend. 2017 was one of the driest years here since statistics have been kept. Something like .05" of rain since the beginning of October. When you have a well, this gets personal. Fortunately we get more precipitation up here than down at the GJ airport. We may have had 5 to 6" of snow since October, but we need lots more.

I actually got back to the kitchen remodel. I spent 90 minutes yesterday setting up a jig I bought to drill doors for cabinet cup hinges. Getting it placed exactly like the present hinges will save me having to drill new holes for the hinges on the cabinet frame. Because I don't want new holes too close to the old ones, I either have to get it exact or move them a couple of inches and have them in unusual places. There are a variety of jigs made for this purpose (prices ranging from $10 to hundreds) and I bought the medium priced one. Seems rugged and has the basics, but takes a while to set up, especially since I never did it before. Not good for production use, but just right for an amateur. If you are really good, a cheap one is probably good enough and I'm sure some carpenters and cabinet makers just drill it free hand and do fine. I had order a new drill bit for this and the vendor sent me two by mistake. I did buy the best bit since a good clean hole is best for the job. Even with adjustments, I have had to modify the jig to make it fit right and may have to shorten the bit shank a little. Not sure if I have enough small washers to do another modification that will be needed. Somedays (or years) nothing is exactly what it seems.

Gene

[Fly at Night]

I hope you will continue to regale us with your writing, Gene.

[xrvr]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

It's cold here - though not as cold as out west where you live. But cold enough here to make me cast my thoughts elsewhere.

We are leaving in early Feb for Florida - the central part, not the south where all the snowbirds. We'll start out at Rainbow Springs (west of Ocala) for the first week, kayaking, then slide over to Cedar Key for the ambiance. From there, up to Blackwater Falls SP, then west to the little campground next to the Silver Slipper Casino. Maybe farther west; haven;t gotten my thoughts ramped up beyond that.

Just a month to go!

Following that trip though, we're going to Alumapalooza and then drifting west to Rocky Mountain NP. Not sure after that.

Pat

Sunset isle rv park, cedar key. Old style park!

[Gene]

Fly, I guess there will be some regalling when I am trying to avoid my daily list of things impossible to achieve in a week.

Gene

[Goal15]

Gene

[Goal15]

So excited to see you here I hit send.

We will be in Salida in June as our oldest son is getting married there. Probably won't be Airstreaming as I have "unretired" for awhile so time is a bit limited
Enjoying East Texas and should have Airstream-port built before we head for Salida.

Dana