Upper Lake Pahranagat March 17th 2017

When last heard from, it was early February and I was camped at Gunsight Wash, near Why, AZ. Since then, I have travelled around a bit and am sending this e-mail from Upper Lake Pahranagat, North of Las Vegas.

At that time in February, nighttime temps were at or about the freezing mark (only 31 one morning), I set the thermostat at 48 during the night, just in case the water pipes needed a little thawing (not the case unless much cooler). During the day, after a morning heat-up, I turn the system off, because, by then, sun is coming through the big front windows to warm the coach. Aqua-Hot also heats the water except I rarely use it for that unless having one of my occasional navy showers. Dishes get washed once a day if they're lucky, from water heated in a pot on the stove and supplied from my 5 gal jug that can be refilled from time to time. Overall, I would say the Aqua-Hot system is excellent even though I don't use it to full potential. In addition to heating water it will run in reverse to warm the engine (acting as a block heater) and can run in conjunction with the regular coach heater while in transit during cold weather (rarely, if at all this year).

Early in February, cousin David Asquin and wife Louise came to visit for a night. They were the first couple to test the new “sleeper couch” and proclaimed it acceptable. I had been worried that 48” of width might not be wide enough. Their itinerary brought them from Scottsdale and saw them headed off to San Diego to visit the zoo and Marineland with stops at various golf courses as they travel.

Gunsight was great for about three weeks after which I pulled up stakes, went back to the nearby Casino at Hickiwan to dump tanks again, and did more laundry. Then it was off to Apache Junction to visit Darch and Catherine Oborne. Their driveway is just big enough for me to navigate – one or two cacti had to be consoled after I nicked them with the rear tires but no lasting damage was done. The CC has picked up a few scratches, firstly by threading through the narrow, creosote bush-lined access trails at Gunsight wash, and also because I tried to squeeze into an RV site at Hickiwan Trails where a mesquite tree branch somehow leapt out and caught me.

At Apache Junction, I went to look at an e-bike that Darch had found at his local bike shop. E-bikes would be a good fit for me as they can assist the pedals, or just move the bike along on the throttle setting. This particular bike, I didn’t get but have now ordered a different one to be shipped to me at Apache Junction from Seattle. If anyone wishes to look at it and read some information, then check out Radpowerbikes.com. Mine is the Rad Rover model – looks like a mountain bike but has 4” wide tires and can help push me up hills with minimum effort, depending on where I set the “assist” mode.

From Apache Junction, I followed Darch in his “rig” to a free-camping site at the Picket Post horse encampment. Along with his biking friends Dave and Donna Morter, we were surrounded by people with horses, mules and donkeys. From this spot, a section of the Arizona Trail goes in both directions. I rode it for about a mile and a half while the others rode further. I suspect that my days of riding narrow single-track trails are coming to an end. Balance (and stamina) have disappeared to the extent that I am no longer very confident riding along narrow tracks.  When my e-bike arrives, it will stay on reasonably wide surfaces.

Just down the road was the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior. This is a very informative outdoor desert museum that displays local plant life and has a self-guided hiking trail of about 1½ miles. That same day, I visited the local Walmart in Claypool/Globe for supplies. Across the highway was an interesting sight. Cattle were grazing on the bank of an old mine tailings slope that had grassed over. This slope must have been at least 50° and every time one of the cows tried to move, it staggered and nearly fell down the hill. I’m sure no one told those cows to eat there, so they must have had a meeting at which it was decided to ignore the risk in order to get the good grass.

From Picket Post, we went north for about 2 hours to Roosevelt Lake, where I camped last year. The price is still $8 per night for a very attractive campground overlooking the lake (Windy Hill – Coati Loop) with hot showers and bathrooms (run from solar).  Scattered throughout are isolated water taps, including one near me from which I was able to fill and refill my 20 litre jug to use for dishes once per day. There is no power and generators are allowed though I haven’t really been bothered much by them. Also, there are a couple of sewer dumps up the road that open each for 2 days per week. This place was ideal for me as I had plenty of water on board (probably 2 months worth) and the waste and sewage tanks can probably hold out for the same amount of time. Power, I don’t need because, by this time of year, the days are getting longer and the sun is high enough to give me all the solar I can use, plus, hopefully, enough extra to charge the e-bike battery when that gets added to the fleet. While at Roosevelt, I took a few short rides and hikes, volunteering once to shuttle the other bikers up to the top of a trail at Mills Ridge Trailhead. I have also bounced around the countryside in the Jeep, exploring different tracks on my own.  Trailheads visited include Thule, Campaign Creek and Cottonwood (roads 449, 449-A, and 83). On the last of these jaunts, I followed Mike Quinn, a new acquaintance, on his dirt bike above the actual trailhead to a ridge from which there was a great view of the surrounding countryside. Mike and his wife, Sissie, volunteer with the Tonto Forest Reserve to do trail work throughout the Park, so they are very knowledgeable about the local terrain. This particular trail was quite steep, rough and worn from erosion but the Jeep handled it all with aplomb.

From Roosevelt, I went to visit the North Ranch Escapee RV Park at Congress, just north of Wickenburg. There, I added to my scratch collection on the side of the coach. I had been assigned a “pull-through” site but when I got to the actual spot, there was only a narrow gap between a tree on one side and the electrical pedestal and water box on the other side. I should have gone back to the office to get something different but, foolishly, thought maybe I could slide through unscathed. Not to be! Concentrating on keeping the wheels on the driver’s side away from the water tap, I accrued some new scratches from trees on the skier’s right. These added on to previous markings from creosote bushes at Gunsight Wash and a similarly placed tree at Hickiwan Trails RV Park. I stayed at North Ranch for 3 nights and did a little sightseeing while I was there. Driving the steep and windy road to Prescott for lunch was interesting as I had done it with the trailer many years ago. In the car alone, I was able to concentrate on the scenery and not worry about dropping off the side. While at North Ranch I took a daily ride for exercise through the park on bike. This was not a particularly beautiful campground as sites were all gravel, some roadways were quite muddy and rutted from a recent storm and there was very little vegetation around, except the tree branches that came out of nowhere to grab me. I took a short trip up the road to see my old site at Vulture Mine – definitely too rough for the CC!

While I was camped at North Ranch, E-bike parts were beginning to arrive by USPS and UPS at chez Oborne in Apache Junction, so I planned to return there on Sat., March 7^th, Darch had the bike pretty well assembled when I arrived. Only problem was that the manual shift lever (Shimano) had broken off in transit so I had to ride in 7^th gear. I have since replaced and had installed the broken component and the bike works well. If I pedal, the rear hub motor helps me (“pedal assist”). I can travel for miles without getting too tired. There is also an option to turn on the throttle if I need max power for some reason, usually on a hill. The battery seems to hold out quite well – one ride of 27Kms with lots of up and down still showed 40% remaining. On flat, hard ground, I think a lighter person could easily ride 40-50 miles (up to 80 kms) if they pedalled all the time and only used the motor judiciously. Darch has been guiding me along several trails in the area. Some, the smooth ones, I enjoyed. If trails are rocky, then I have problems. Several wipe-outs and lots of bloodletting have marked my biking career since acquiring the e-bike. Now that I am back on my own, I shall try to be more moderate .

I have now started to move north as temperatures in Apache junction (Phoenix area) had been rising to the low to mid F90s (C30-35). This note comes to you from Upper lake Pahranagat, north of Las Vegas, where temps are a bit cooler and camping is free on the shores of a lake full of waterfowl. The only excitement here has been that the bike had a flat tire when I arrived. Taking off the rear wheel was a bit of an issue as there is an electrical cable that has to be unplugged, and then each side of the axle has a small washer with a tab that fits into the appropriate notch on the frame. If this tab is wrongly aligned, the wheel refuses to fit where it belongs. I had help from neighbouring campers but finally had to call the Rad dealership in Seattle to get instruction on how to reinsert these tabs. This done, the wheel just fell into place. We were unable to find a leak in the tube and now, overnight, the tire has lost air again. The lake is only 15’ away, so I am hoping that maybe a little bicycle swim will show some bubbles.

Next stop in a few days will be Cactus Pete’s Casino in Jackpot, NV, a day’s drive from where I am now.