Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground

040125 Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground is my RV park with hookups maiden voyage. I wanted to experience the whole connecting electrical and water and most importantly dumping the gray tank.

I arrived just after check in time and had no problem finding my spot. Backed in and leveled, connected the 30amp and city water. The 30 amp charges the batteries as you use it. The inverter detects the connection and the juice is routed to the AC service. Easy peasy.

What I didn't realize is the city water doesn't fill the tank. THe flow is diverted to the sink. The only way to get water in the tank is through the “gravity fill”. I noticed right away that everyone else had an inline filter, which I didn’t have. I was able to figure out these connections no problem. Soon after getting connected it started raining. I made some coffee and hunkered down and let it rain.

At about 1600 the sun came out, so I went for a walk on the nearby trail and found two geocaches, the second one has a view. By the time I got back it was time to make dinner and get settled for the night.

Next day I got up early and took a shower then cooked breakfast. Watched some Youtube videos and was ready to leave by 10am. On the way out, I stopped at the dump station. Pulled in behind a fifth wheel and was able to get coached as they dumped. I was able to drain the gray tank without incident. The only thing I didn’t have was a pair of gloves. Only took a few minutes, pulled out and went into the gift shop and bought some stickers, then headed for FR 525 in the Coconino National Forest, near Sedona.

Tuzigoot National Monument

040125 Virtual GC6845 placed in 2002 Although it was really windy, the walk up the structure was very pleasant and educational. Along this ½-mile (0.5 km) loop trail, you will find the remains of a 110-room pueblo, its oldest rooms built over 900 years ago. There is a entry fee, but I got in free with my America the Beautiful pass. It was nice break from the ride and I got a smiley. I browsed the gift shop and I bought a sticker. read more about Tuzigoot

Keel Boat Basic 101 - Lake Pleasant AZ

03/29 and 30/2005 Lake Pleasant There were only 3 people in the class, myself and a couple also from Sun City Wendy and Mark. Starting at 8am, we went to the classroom for an hour, then we went onboard a 22' Catalina. Captain Clint took us out teaching us all the way on the written and unwritten rules of entering and leaving a no wake zone. We rounded the final buoys and entered the lake proper. Mark and I raised the mainsail and unfurled the jib, then the next thing I knew Captain put me at the tiller and I was sailing!

We covered tacks and Jibe and all the points of sail, but mostly beam reach, close reach and close hauled. Captain Clint does not like down wind sailing. We took turns at the tiller and practiced tacking and working as a team. Probably had only 10 knots of wind, mostly from the south. But if you got the right balance of sail trim and heel, we could get moving about 6 or 7 knots. We learned that if the boat is heel a lot, which is uncomfortable, it is inefficient and will slow and stall. If there is no heel at all you are pretty much sitting still. As we practiced the points of sail, we learned to feel the boat and the sails getting in the right trim and moving smartly through the water. I was pretty nervous because I completely forgot my waterproof sound processor cover. I soon forgot all about it once we got going. We came in about 2pm and Captain Clint said be back here tomorrow at 8am, the wind will determine if we go out or take the written test.
The next day the wind was predicted to come up later in the morning, so we manned the classroom for the 100 question multi choice test. I missed 4 and only because I was not paying attention to stand off or give way. Anyway it was a passing score! Woohoo! By the time we got in the boat all the pressure was off. We each took turns leaving the dock and redocking, while Captain CLint told sea stories. I was last and it took me two attempts because I was listening to sea stories. After my successful docking, I took her all the way out, hoisted the main and unfurled to jib, but the wind was light from the south, so we crept out into the middle of the lake motor sailing. By about 1115, the wind came up enough to practice Man Overboard maneuvers.
The wind increased and Mark and I did circles around the island hazard completing all the points of sail, then Wendy took us in. Because we were going to a different spot on the dock, Captain Clint took her in by sail "show off" and we tied her up. Back in the classroom, we received our logbooks with Captain's Clint's signature. We will receive the official stamp in the mail.

I can't say the class was hard, it was pretty easy, but I learned a lot, mostly to just let the conditions move the boat, just guide it where and how you need.

Vanning New River Boondocking

032725 - 032825 33° 48' 36.9612" N 112° 13' 36.7572" W
Shakedown cruise for the new van. Forgot to bring my hearing aid chargers. The cochlear should be fine, but the small one will run out. Need to pack new eating utensils. The ones I bought are terrible. Woke up to the sight of balloons in the sunrise. AG1 and made coffee using the electric kettle. Everything seems to be working fine. Decided to go geocaching before breakfast. Jump on the 🚲 and road over some rough trails, got chased by dogs and found 3 caches. Skies looking a little dark, so I made my way back to the van to make breakfast

Made more coffee using the electric kettle. Chopped up all the stuff and plugged in the cooktop, but it shut off right away. So I kept trying by resetting the inverter. But after 3 tries the inverter would not come on. So I packed it up and came home to cook breakfast. When I got home I discovered no electricity worked in the van. AC or DC, but the “Go Power” battery monitor still shows 200ah and 100% - This is very confusing. I called CW service, they gave me the number for tech support. Dean walked me through the system and we were both confused why the battery monitor showed 200ah 100% but Dean had me put on a voltage meter to the battery terminal and that is when I found the breakers tripped at the battery posts. I reset them and the inverter came back on as well as the 12v system. Dean walked me through connecting the van to the house 115 outlet to charge the battery. That seems to work fine, but later I discovered that it tripped the breaker on that circuit. Lesson learned. The cooktop and electric kettle will run the battery too low for the inverter. Solution is propane stove. Later, at home, I connected the shore power to the house, 1st circuit tripped TV/Internet system, tried another outside laundry room but it also tripped. Both 15A breakers. I found a 20A circuit in at my bench in the shop. Using an extension cord, this one did not trip right away but the ext. Cord heated up and it did trip. Need to get a 20 Amp extension cord.

Daisy's day out

This is what caching is all about. Nice Tin in a tree!

Geocaching 101 - Finding the cache

So I thought I would post a quick demonstration of finding a cache! This was fun. We on the Red Roost trail. Mt. Laguna

Waterfall Trail -Ogden Utah

 Well I can't make a visit without a caching trip with the Hatches. Today Cammo (Cameron), Chris and I hike up to the "Above the Falls" cache GC1G8CH and was rewarded with a beautiful view of downtown Ogden,

The transit up the ravine south of the falls was kind of dicey, but we made it just fine.  Coming down was another adventure!

The view next to the falls was wonderful and it is a long drop down!

We found three other caches on the way up and down.