Category Archives: USA Travel

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December 13, 2018

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Airstream living, Arizona, Boondocking, USA Travel

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Kofa National Wildlife Refuge: Part 1

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December 11, 2018

Palm Canyon Road

The Kofa refuge was established in 1939 to protect desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife. Because this is a protected area, there are some regulations, so it isn’t as open as using BLM land. For example, you can only camp within 100 ft of the road, and camping is only permitted for 14 days within a 12-month period. Also, pets must be leashed or contained at all times. Like BLM land, camping is free.

Kofa is a contracted name from “King of Arizona”, which was the name of a gold mine in the area back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are several entrances to the refuge. We chose Palm Canyon Road, but some of the others are Blevens Road (Crystal Hill), King Road, Castle Dome Mine Road, and MST&T Road.

Although Palm Canyon Road is gravel, it is wide and graded. We had no trouble with things jumping around in the Airstream, nor when we encountered on-coming vehicles.

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We weren’t sure how far we would drive in. The camp host told us that we could go to the end of the road and there would be a turnaround in the parking area for the trailhead. We didn’t know how far the road went, but we found this site and pulled in. It turns out that there is only one more campsite beyond ours, but it is only big enough for a small motorhome or van. Here is our campsite with its spectacular views:

camping with Sheila in her 17′ Escape

Our new Airstream is set up with 4 100W flexible solar panels and 4 AGM batteries. These have been sufficient for us so far. Water is always an issue when boondocking. We conserve as best we can, but water usage will determine how long we can stay here.

Desert Plants

We had rain last week, so the desert is quite green. We heard that the washes did flood. We wish we could have seen that.

barrel cactus
cholla blooms
cholla bloom
saguaro
teddy bear cholla
dead cactus

Last year, we arrived after the ocotillos had lost their leaves. There are many in full-leaf here. Stunning!

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lush
leaves changing color

Let’s observe the Airstream in its natural environment:

And that wraps up our first day in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

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December 11, 2018

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Arizona, USA Travel

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Becoming Yumans

We spent the last two weeks in Yuma. It was like coming home. We spent a lot of time in Yuma last winter. We attended a few events like the AKC dog show and the Dorothy Young Memorial Electric Light Parade, and of course, we hopped the border and went to Los Algodones for a day.

The Light Parade was one of the most interesting parades I’ve been to. Although it began at 6 pm, we arrived before 4 pm to get a good parking spot and a place to set our lawn chairs. We parked next to Little Caesar’s Pizza so we had pizza and wings before the parade began. Once the sun set, the lights came on and we watched floats, vehicles, dancers, and bands come by in sparkling waves. The theme this year was agriculture. It was fitting since you can’t be in Yuma without being face to face with agriculture wherever you go.

Dole had an interesting float. It included a large television monitor showing their workers in the fields:

The greatest crowd-pleasers were the low-riders! People were shouting “flip the switches!” What a fun show!

Even an Astrovan can be a low-rider!

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There were so many parade entries. After 102, I stopped paying attention to the number.

Even garden tools behind the bus

Even the dancers and bands wore lights on their costumes:

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A cow, a pig, and lots of bikes:

Continuing our focus on agriculture, check out this lemon! It was grown in Yuma. A friend’s friend grows these in her backyard. It has the texture of a Meyer lemon, but it’s enormous. Look at how huge it is compared to the normal fruit in the bowl. It dwarfs the grapefruits.

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Goodnight Yuma. Next stop, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

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November 25, 2018

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Arizona, Boondocking, Nevada, USA Travel

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Getting Warmer

November 18-20, 2018
Kings Row RV Park, Las Vegas

We stayed a few days in Las Vegas. We walked our legs off seeing the sights (which included the Strip as well as The Container Store and IKEA), but we also got our laundry done. We stayed at a very basic and vintage RV park called Kings Row. Our site was essentially overflow parking in an asphalt parking lot, but the facilities were better than average. The showers were large and quite nice with actual doors, shower curtains, plenty of hooks, and a shelf for bottles. This seems pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many showers are lacking these basics.

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November 21-25, 2018
BlueWater Resort & Casino, Parker, AZ

Next, we headed to Arizona to do some dry camping. Most casinos offer overnight RV parking for free or a small fee. BlueWater did not charge a fee even though there is also an RV park here. We planned our stay to include American Thanksgiving on Thursday. One of the restaurants at this resort had a Thanksgiving buffet. It included far more than turkey and the fixings. We left stuffed!

Oh look! We’re having pizza!
BlueWater Resort & Casino from our parking spot

On Friday and Saturday, the 72nd Annual SCSC Thanksgiving Regatta was held on the Colorado River in front of the resort. There were many different types of boat races: K Boat, Grand National, Unblown Flat, Sportsmen Extreme, GPS 100, Crackerbox, Comp Jet, Formula Light, etc. This regatta was different than the Formula 1 races that used to be held in Saskatoon. This was a smaller venue and there were no Formula 1 races, but there was a Formula 1 boat that did the course for all to see. The Formula Lights looked similar, but smaller. There were a few accidents (crashes and flip overs). One driver had to be taken to hospital. The Crackerboxes were really fun, but those boats really took a beating. They started with 6 on Friday, but only 2 made it to the finals! There are 2 people sitting side by side in crackerbox boats and the engine sits in front of them. The Sportsman A Hydro races were exciting. The drivers try to duck as low as they can in order to be more aerodynamic. They just raise their heads in bends.

The resort from the marina
Formula Light race
Notice the head tucked down (Sportsman A Hydro)
Formula Light

The following pictures were taken by our friend Sheila M. because I forgot my camera:

 

Goodnight!

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Poppy, Kenzie, and Bunnah (picture by Sheila M.)

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November 19, 2018

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Dogs, USA Travel, Utah

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Zion National Park

November 17, 2018

We met up with Sheila and her girls (Kenzie and Bunnah) in Cedar City, Utah. We camped at The Home Depot for a couple of nights and then headed into Zion.

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Kenzie making herself at home in the Airstream

Even though I had read that there were some first come – first served campsites in the park, there were not any. They all were reserved 6 months in advance. We had to find a commercial campground outside the park. We chose the one right at the park entrance. We paid $72 CAD ($55 USD) for ONE night. Never in our lives have we paid so much for a campsite. I guess you pay for location, but that’s all we got.  We were expected to share a picnic table with our neighbour and there was nowhere to park the truck. However, we were close to the action, and by action I mean ZION!

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As soon as we unhitched, we headed into the park. We had an America the Beautiful pass from last year and it covered the admission for the 3 of us. We decided to drive Utah Highway 9 from the south to the east entrance. Oh the glorious views! This route includes the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel, which was built in the 1920s, when vehicles were much smaller. This tunnel is 1.1 miles long and fairly narrow. Vehicles 11’4″ tall or taller or 7’10” wide or wider require traffic control and drivers must pay an additional $15 fee per vehicle. There are many switchbacks leading to the tunnel. It’s a wild ride! For this reason, we did not continue with the trailer to go on to Bryce Canyon.  We will go to Bryce on a different road another time.

Here are some sights along Utah Highway 9 inside Zion.  I have not adjusted any colors.  This is wonderful, colorful Zion! (Click to enlarge)

Blind Arch
Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel
Blind Arch
Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel
Kenzie and Bunnah
Kenzie, Bunnah, and Poppy

Checkerboard Mesa:

Once we got to the east entrance, we stopped for a picnic lunch. There are no picnic areas in Zion, so we just used the parking area at the entrance.  Afterwards, we headed back. The views were different in this direction.

The hole in the rock is a window for light in the tunnel

We returned to camp to drop off the girls, and then we took the shuttle through Zion Canyon. This scenic drive is no longer open to vehicles. Park guests must use the shuttle. It has 9 stops.  We took the shuttle from the Visitor Center all the way to the last stop at the Temple of Sinawava. We got out for a walk along the North Fork of the Virgin River to the Narrows.  Most of the walk was quite lush, sometimes swampy, and incredibly spectacular.  There are hanging gardens throughout, but even in this damp environment, there are cacti. Zion is in the desert after all.

As we took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center, night was falling. The Airstream looked beautiful against the backdrop of Zion and a rising moon.

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Goodnight Zion. You are spectacular!

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November 14, 2018

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Airstreams, Nevada, USA Travel

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Not the Pony Express

November 14, 2018

Nevada to Utah

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This section of highway intersects with the old Pony Express Trail. At the rest stop, there are information signs, and you can take the gravel road which follows the original route. We stuck to the paved highway.

This stretch of highway is also part of the Lincoln Highway. We are now on the lookout for these highway markers after Eric “Nomadic Fanatic” posted YouTube videos of the route this past summer.

Nevada scenery on the way to Utah:

Mount Fuji?
These hoodoos look like fairy chimneys in Turkey

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Where are we now? Name that State!

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Glorious red mountains in Utah.  We stopped in Cedar City for the night (Wal-Mart). I’m getting screaming fast wifi from the neighbouring Home Depot. That’s how I am able to upload this post and the previous one. We are waiting for our friend Sheila and her pups to arrive tomorrow. We will head into Zion and possibly Bryce Canyon.

I need to state again how much I love travelling in the USA. The rest stops are plentiful and clean; the people are friendly and helpful; and where on earth do you find such varied geography? OK, Turkey has amazing geography too, but it’s not so easy to use an RV there.

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November 14, 2018

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Boondocking, Chinook Motorhome, Oregon, USA Travel

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And That’s How It’s Done

November 13, 2018

We followed our friend’s advice, and set out on Deadman Pass near 10 am.  OK, it was closer to 9:30, but the temperature was above freezing and there was no snow.  Always check highway cams and weather reports before attempting a treacherous pass.  All looked well, so we set out.

We didn’t get too far when visibility became greatly reduced:

Heavy fog
I wonder what the sign says

 

The fog was intense, but the twists in the road also added to the white-knuckle experience.  Look at what the map shows:

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The fog started to lift and we could see there had been a truck in front of us the entire time:

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As the fog completely lifted, we could see it hanging over a valley and a sundog:

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After that, it was smooth sailing:

Over the pass
Co-pilot Poppy

So, that is how you get through a treacherous pass. Follow experienced drivers’ advice, check weather reports and highway cams, don’t rush it. Phew!

Oregon scenery on the way to Nevada:

Hey, is this what we think it is?

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Oh yeah! A 1970s Dodge Chinook:

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For the night, we crossed into Nevada and stayed in Jackpot (free parking at Cactus Pete’s casino).

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November 12, 2018

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USA Travel, Washington

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The World’s Greatest Waterfall

November 12, 2018

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The Long Long Trailer

Fortunately, the snow in Keremeos only stuck around for a few hours and it didn’t hurt any of the flowers.  We checked weather forecasts for the coming week, and our best time to leave was today.  Snow is coming to Oregon on Wednesday, and we need to get through Deadman Pass before the snow arrives.

Deadman Pass is located between Pendleton and La Grande, Oregon, and that stretch of highway is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in the US.  The best time to attempt the pass is around 10 am, after the frost has melted.  We stopped for the night in Pendleton and already there were warning announcements that visibility was down to 500 feet in the pass this evening.  We noticed a lot more frost the further south we went today.

On our way, we stopped at Dry Falls State Park, which a friend in our RV park recommended. It was stunning.

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For scale, look at the kayak to the far left

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Find the 2 kayaks

Click on each image to enlarge:

 

It was strange today because we weren’t travelling with little Daisy. It’s our first time in 15 years not to be on an adventure with her. Poppy decided to take the opportunity  to fill my lap. Yes, her dream came true and she became a lap dog. She was a lot calmer today. However, we know that she gets worse as the miles click by. Maybe cuddles and a warm lap will get her through this travelling ordeal.

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June 14, 2018

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Airstream living, Ohio, USA Travel

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Alumapalooza: More Pictures

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One of the sponsors of the event was Haydocy, and they brought several units for display: a 16-foot NEST (full-time front bed), a 19-foot Flying Cloud, a 27-foot Tommy Bahama, and a 33-foot Classic.  What I found particularly interesting was the WC door on the 19 footer because we had a similar corner bath in our 23D.  I loved the layout, but it would have been nicer to have a larger area when drying off.  Airstream listened and improved the door to open up the WC when in use.  Check this out:

WC door folded outward during use
WC door folded inward when not in use
WC door open

Unfortunately, older units cannot be retrofitted because there was quite a bit of re-engineering done.

In addition to Haydocy’s display, Airstream also brought a few new models, such as the Atlas (class B+/C motorhome) and a “shorty” Sprinter van.  The Atlas is about the same size as our Chinook, but it has a slide, and the interior is far more beautiful.  It’s an Airstream after all!  The shorty is only 19 feet, so it can fit into any parking spot.  I was really impressed with it.  I’m not sure what it’s name will be when it is marketed.

One couple brought a one-off Airstream, which they called the C-Stream.  They purchased this concept motorhome from Airstream, but they had to sign waivers because of the design defects.  The unit is too heavy, so they cannot add any items to the overcab storage area.  What a find!  I really like the curves of the fiberglass.

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Here is a baby Argosy motorhome and a 35-foot motorhome in for service:

We also watched the daily progress on this motorhome:

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Right next to the service center is the Airstream store and waiting room.  Better than a candy store!

The Atomic Pod at the factory:

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Here we are in line at the border, returning to Canada.  In our rearview camera, we saw Andy Thomson behind us:

This time, the border guard was less interested in where we lived and what we had purchased.  Her questions were about the Airstream: What is an Airstream? Why did you buy it? What makes it special? Why would you go to a meet? We were a little off-guard.  You never know what they’ll ask!  Andy said his questions were similar.

Would we go to Alumapalooza again? Heck yeah! In fact, we already registered for next year. It was a wonderful experience and I’m glad we made the effort. I love being retired because we can be flexible and take advantage of opportunities — or make opportunities. We don’t have to make rigid plans and rush to complete them to return back to work. Serenity now!

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June 4, 2018

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Airstream decorating, Airstream living, Ohio

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ALUMAPALOOZA HIGHLIGHTS: PART 2

May 29 – June 3, 2018

Alumapalooza should be at the top of every Airstreamer’s list. I can’t describe everything we did and saw, so I will just include a few highlights.

  1. Entertainment

The Alumapalooza team booked top entertainers (Josh Rogan, The Other Favorites, and Edgar Cruz & Michael Kelsey). No, Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours weren’t booked this year, but the entertainers were amazing.

  1. Access to the factory grounds

As long as we were wearing our badges, we had unencumbered access to the factory grounds. The factory is in a “free trade zone”, which meant that it is inaccessible to the public and trespassing is a federal offence. We had to keep our badges on so that we weren’t stopped by Federal agents, especially after hours. We wandered around at night looking at interesting units, like the hearse and the European model that was getting ready for shipping. We were not restricted at all.

Commercial trailers:

Business trailers (no windows on road side)
Business trailers (no tint on curb side windows)
Business trailers (white painted interior walls)

Hearse:

Airstream Hearse
Side door (one on either side) for coffin
Back hatch
Steps from back hatch, through window
Seating inside hearse

European model:

Interior of the Bowlus Road Chief:

  1. Seminars

We learned to rivet with Jim Parrot. He brought in a section with ribs and aluminum skin and showed us how to use olympic rivets, which is what people likely use for repairs. Airstreams are assembled with buck rivets.

Buck Rivets
Hands-on workshop
Olympic Rivets

Colin Hyde taught us about Airstream renovations, rodent habitats, and preventing leaks. He said ALL, absolutely ALL Airstreams leak, but your best defence is being proactive by sealing often. His brother and sister-in-law (from Ontario) brought their completely renovated trailer and gave us a tour. Phenomenal! Colin completely renovates trailer by removing the frame and putting it on a rotisserie. He also removes the interior skins – that’s where he finds ecosystems behind those walls! He uses buck rivets for repairs, which requires removing the interior skins. He’s a great speaker.

The most-attended event was Andy Thompson’s (Can-Am RV) presentation about proper hitching. We learned so much. He is amazing! We had read all of his articles in Airstream Life magazine, but hearing him speak and explain procedures was invaluable.

  1. Socializing with other Airstreamers

Milo and Diane parked next to us, and we spent most of our time with them. They were so much fun and are animal lovers. They also introduced us to some members of their Vermont unit of the WBCCI. Milo and Diane have 2 senior German Shepherd Dogs, and Poppy kept her distance! However, one evening, we were sitting at their trailer and Daisy was restless. She started wandering about, and then we saw what she wanted: their big dog bed. So, the old girls got up and let Daisy take their bed! Daisy is rickety, but she still has presence!

The Jamie & Joan Hyde’s (of Ontario) renovated Hydeaway by Colin Hyde (of New York):

 

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June 4, 2018

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Alumapalooza Highlights: Part 1

May 29 – June 3, 2018

We didn’t have cell coverage while we were at Jackson Center, Ohio.  Also, Airstream’s wifi wasn’t working.  I’m sure it was overloaded with the number of participants at Alumapalooza. Therefore, I’m writing this post from Can-Am in London, Ontario.

Alumapalooza should be at the top of every Airstreamer’s list. I can’t describe everything we did and saw, so I will just include a few highlights.

  1. Access to the big chiefs

Airstream chiefs

We had several information sessions, seminars, and a feedback session attended by senior management, engineers, and staff. During the feedback session, attendees offered suggestions for technical or design issues. Management really listened and asked further questions to understand fully. I even spoke (even though I was nervous). One of my suggestions was to improve comfort by focusing less on providing sleeping options. This seemed like a revelation to Justin Humphries, so he asked the audience if others would prefer more comfortable seating options and fewer convertible bed options, and the audience was unanimous in agreement. Several people spoke to me afterwards and thanked me for that suggestion.

  1. First-hand news

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Molly Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer, described the new expansion plans for the factory and introduced Samantha Martin, the new full-time archivist. Over the last 5 years, Airstream has experienced tremendous growth. For example, 6 years ago, there were 250 employees, and now there are nearly 1000. A few years ago, they expanded the existing factory by 200,000 sq ft, but no new structure has been built in 50 years. Therefore, Airstream purchased 50 acres west of town, and they will be building a new 765,000 sq ft factory for travel trailers, and the existing factory will be used for motorhomes. They will break ground at the end of June 2018.

As part of the new factory, there will be an Airstream Heritage Center, where unique trailers, photographs, advertisements, and film will be stored. This is why a full-time archivist has been hired. So far, Samantha has digitized the photographs and 8mm film. Currently, 15 trailers are in the collection, but they are trying to increase the collection. They would like to get a NASA quarantine unit, but one isn’t available yet. They may take trailers on a short-term loan.

Airstream is also looking for property for an increased Terraport. The Terraport is the camping area where people stay while their trailers are in for repair. These are fully-serviced sites, but there aren’t many of them.

Bob Wheeler announced a partnership with Full Sail Brewery, and there was free Airstream beer for all!

  1. Factory tour
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The only allowable photo

Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures inside the factory, but Paul had taken a few pictures through a door window one night. Even if you can’t attend Alumapalooza, you need to take a tour, or two! There was so much to take in that we attended 2 tours. I always knew our trailer was “hand built”, but it is a term that is thrown around by many companies. Airstreams truly are hand built. There was only one automated machine. It is used for punching out where the windows, hot-water tank, etc. will go. Everything else is hand crafted, including the window frames, the cabinetry, the internal ribs – everything! We fell in love with our Airstream all over again! Every Airstream is unique because of this. No, Airstreams aren’t perfect, but you really get a new appreciation when you see them being built by hand – hundreds of hands!

Here are some photos taken through a window at night:

 

Here are some photos from Airstream’s website.  I added arrows and annotations so that you can see how close we were parked to the factory: