Over the summer, one or two of you have questioned the dearth of e-mails during the summer. Many of you have not. Some have had the temerity to advise that shorter e-mails that could be read in one sitting without a mid-session nap might be nice. To all, I apologise that this note comes fresh on the heels of my previous one, written from the cabin just before I left. It is mainly written to let you know that I am now south of the snow zone and may even live to write another day.
Despite fresh snow at the cabin on the 26th, temperatures did moderate somewhat and “Trip-Control” announced a “go” status for the next day, so off I went heading south via Hwy # 97. This year, because of reportedly uncertain road conditions, I went through Wenatchee and ended day 1 at a Rest Stop not far from the town of Quincy, WA. Temps dropped to F 10° (C -12°) that night and the parking lot was almost unwalkable due to ice. Sunday, I opted for the route through Ellensburg and Yakima, thinking that fruit growing country ought to be warm with clear roads – not so, as more black ice appeared - I even did a little skid at one point climbing the long pass before dropping into Ellensburg Valley. This happened while I was driving with what I thought was due care but, evidently less than due attention because I was only in two-wheel drive / second gear as I climbed a long grade. No harm done but the truck remained in 4 X 4 operation pretty well for the next two days. That night, I made it over the dreaded Blue Mountain Summit to camp at Twin Falls, ID (better part of 14 hours), in a large parking lot in front of the 24 hour WinCo store.
The Blue Mountains had had a fair amount of snow and conditions were icy. Traffic kept moving along at a crawl, though, until elevations dropped and roads cleared. The freeway leading from Boise to Twin Falls was OK for a while but suddenly developed patches where wind-blown snow had gathered to create more sections of extremely slick black ice. I passed by several accidents including one, I discovered in the paper next day that had been a fatal. When towing a heavy trailer, the key is to leave lots of space between oneself and the vehicle in front, plus remembering to stay off the brakes. It always amazes me that winter States such as Washington, Oregon and Idaho have few sanders on their highways, and, if there are any, they are going the opposite direction! Anyway, I made it to Twin Falls on day 2. Day 3 saw me stop at Cactus Pete’s Casino in Jackpot for breakfast, then on to Alamo, NV, near Lake Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, one of my favourite camp areas.
The little community of Alamo offers very little for passing strangers but they were wise enough to install a coin operated truck wash. This is located at the side of the road with no signage to indicate that it exists. Therefore, every filthy RV simply trucks right on by to wash with a bucket or other means. The trailer and truck were filthy from Northern road sanding, so they appreciated the shower. I also appreciated a hot shower, having exchanged anti-freeze for fresh water at the Alamo tap. At the truck-wash, I entered forwards to a point at which I thought the air conditioner might be at risk from overhead pipe connections, did a power wash of the front half the rig, then backed out, turned around and backed in again to complete the job on the stern. At some stage, the owner appeared to assist with my manoeuvres. Other than suggesting that he hire me to market his Truck Wash by writing up a sign, we had little to discuss.
A day of stopover at Upper Lake Pahranagat (N37 17.993 W115 07.342) lent opportunity to get the bike out for a circumnavigation the lake and to straighten things out in the trailer. Temperatures here ranged from about 45° by day to 27° overnight, quite cool by local standards but warmer than anywhere else to this point
I had a call from Christine (Richards) to announce that they were camped at Lake Havasu State Park and that I should come and find them. This I did after a 6 hour drive from Pahranagat, stopping en-route in Laughlin for a Mexican lunch at the Riverside Casino Restaurant.
Lake Havasu State Park is very pleasant, on the shores of the lake and quite near the center of town. There is no electricity, so the solar panels are up and charging well in the southern sun. Temps reach the low 70s by day, dropping into the mid-40s at night, so It’s time to unpack the shorts.
I shall stay for 5 days. At $18 per night, this is quite out of character for me but I was tempted by the lure of watching Havasu’s annual light show and Christmas boat parade on Saturday night. At London Bridge, this passes through the channel connecting two sections of the lake. Come Monday, I hope to leave civilization and seek out a spot of “free” desert (likely without boat parades), probably on Plomosa Road, near Bouse, about 1½ hours south via Parker. 
Thanks to all who responded to the last e-mail – hope this isn’t exerting undue pressure.
JW
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