From Plomosa Road 16.6/1.5 January 2nd 2012

From Plomosa Road 16.6 / 1.5 (N33 53.194 W114 03.172)

I was so slow getting out of the blocks on the first blog that I am now catching up with a second publication only a week or two later:

Golden Falcon at Plomosa camp

Having discovered how to transfer photos from camera to computer without a cord, I can now post photos in e-mails and this blog (essentially the same thing). The laptop has a slot for a memory flash card, so, I just take the card from the camera, plug it in to the computer and voila!  

Bouse Library, always a source of confusion as it relates to use of the Wi-Fi system, came up with a new glitch the other day. I thought that I would use their signal to download Windows Updates, this due to the size of the data package (65Mbs). The connection was easy enough because I had the code. Even while connected to the library router, a message appeared that there was no Internet connectivity. The library was closed that day, so likely, the router was on but the receiver was off.  Another day, I went back and succeeded from the same dusty spot in the road across from the library. As it happens, I have room on the Verizon MiFi to download these things but it works quite slowly from my camp location.

Animal watering tank at 4 Peaks mountain (biking destination)

Since the last installment, following a short period of winter retraining (mainly to acclimatize the bike seat to my bottom end), I have done several substantial rides, including one of about 18 miles to visit Handy Bob (Bob Shearer) to seek free advice and get a new fuse and fuse holder for the solar charging cable. On measuring upstream and downstream from the present blade-type fuse, there appears to be a voltage drop of about .03 volts - not much, but enough to make me think about it. Last year, I experienced a similar problem that turned out to be a weakened fuse holder preventing me from getting maximum performance out of the solar panels. I may be measuring incorrectly so have delayed installation of my new holder and fuse that I got from Bob until I get a second opinion from Walt (the mechanic), who is coming to take a look. The new fuse is a largish “time delay” type that, according to Bob, will never deteriorate. I checked in Parker to get a backup but was unable to get anyone to explain to me what benefit  a “time delay” fuse offers and exactly why a regular blade fuse causes amperage to drop after a period of time – perhaps one of the many electronically inclined readers of this blog could be so kind as to explain (Jordy, I’m counting on you). Bob did have the answers but unfortunately, his explanation turned into a polemic about solar dealers selling shoddy equipment, so most of it went over my head.

Bob is still very focussed on the evils to the solar world perpetuated by local dealers and managed to work himself up into a bit of a froth without much egging-on from me. The blonde lady at Discount Solar in Quartzsite is high on the hit-list – a feeling I share as I have met her on several occasions and found her to be, not only misinformed about many things solar, but also lacking in basic customer service skills – I suspect Bob might have missed reading that chapter, as well. In addition, Blue Mountain Solar Controllers apparently have engineering personnel who know little or nothing about their product and “lie”! The vote for best controller goes to Morningstar – if anyone is interested. Anyway, we had a nice (short) chat because he was rewiring someone’s motorhome and was “on the clock”. He did say that he didn’t want to be found this year as all sorts of people pester him about solar issues.

 After getting home and while poking my head into the battery compartment, I discovered that the batteries were low on water – several cells below the tops of the plates. These, I refilled (almost 1 gallon over 4 batteries) and hope that there is no permanent damage – message to other boondockers – check battery levels! I last looked at mine in October (so, not that long ago), which means any water loss has taken place since then.

Mystery rock on Bah Humbug newspaper

Camped here on Plomosa, during those rare occasions when I’m not extremely busy thinking about the meaning of life or doing the crossword, I have been spending time trying to identify some particular rocks – very heavy, coated with desert varnish and a density, I think, of about 3.1, just in case anyone out there has ideas. I think it might be rhyolite but am not sure (Hematite was a close second). Either way, it makes a great paperweight when the wind is blowing and lately, the wind has been blowing a lot so, with temps only in single digits on one or two days, a 25 mph wind can be cool – even I was wearing long pants and a fleece.

Bandit and Rowdy

Returning from a Bouse milk run the other day, I fell in behind a yellow mini-van on Plomosa Road and out of the window poked the head of a donkey – just like a dog enjoying the breeze. This was a Sicilian donkey, not a fake burro, whose name, I discovered, was “Bandit”. Turns out that he had a pal, also in the van but hidden inside. This was a miniature Brahma bull (actually a small zebu), who went by the handle of “Rowdy”. They used to do half-time shows at rodeos across the US and have now semi-retired to Bouse during winter months, spending summers in Idaho. They, and their owner, do a free show on Thursdays at 2.00 pm. I went to visit them at their corral located in suburban Bouse and got the full lowdown from “their human couple”. The website, if anyone wants to see some pictures, is donkeyandbull.com.

Mule train leaders

Mule Train Christmas expedition

The next day, two teams of mules with carts came by on the trail where I was camped – they also live in Bouse – a lot of activity for such a tiny place! I have always felt that a burro might adapt quite well to my lifestyle – maybe a little slow on the bike rides but better than a weedwhacker for eating grass in the swamp and along pathways at the cabin. A small one like Bandit would fit well on the passenger seat of my truck.

 

I’m sure that you all know that December 21^st was National Humbug Day in the US, if not worldwide. This fitted well with my Christmas ethic, though I refrained from saying it too frequently – a limit of 12 times daily is “allowed”, according to the “rules”. This useless bit of information came from the “Arizona Republic” newspaper in case fellow travellers are wondering what not to read while spending time in the desert.

Walt Brugger - the mechanic (Ted's MH in background 2010)

From Plomosa, I was going to visit friends Darch and Catherine Oborne on Dec 30^th  for a few days.They have bought property in Apache Junction outside Phoenix. However, while I was fiddling around measuring amps and volts between various points of my electrical system, I managed to short something out and fried the solar controller. Therefore, my thought of travelling to see the Obornes is now postponed and I shall remain at Plomosa to install a new solar controller that is coming in the mail from Backwoods Solar in Idaho. Actually, Walt Brugger (camped half a mile away) has volunteered, once again to come to my rescue and install the new device. This time, I am getting a Morningstar Tristar 45 amp Controller for $165 plus $14 for shipping. This model is not the MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) version that is much more expensive and changes surplus voltage from the solar panels into additional amperage, an occurrence that happens mostly in cold weather (voltage increases) and therefore not that relevant to me. Anyway, parts should arrive in the next day or two and Walt will go to work (under my guidance, of course?). 

Ted Webber, a camping friend for several of the last few years and who now lives in Las Cruces, NM, is joining me with his trailer (traded in the Motorhome), so I expect that we shall stay on Plomosa until RV Show time in Quartzsite - around the 20th of January. 



Ted Webber 2010

This year, there has been no sign of a BLM Ranger to advise campers to move along after the normal two-week maximum allowable time to camp in one spot, so I feel relatively comfortable in staying- with a very occasional twinge of conscience! It is my observation that most of the rigs in this area do camp for extended periods of time. There are quite a few that arrived before I did, so If the ranger arrives and simply needs to fill his/her quota, I'll point up the trail to the woman with small dogs who chase me every time I pass by on the bicycle.