Not today, but this weekend we headed out for a final weekend......for the dirt bikes (camper goes all year round.) We've had a bit of snow but nothing that stuck around except for in the high mountains and that hasn't lasted with the sun the mountains have been getting. Camped near Mt. Princeton Hot Springs and on Saturday rode 102 miles of which 80 was dirt road, 4x4, or single track. Hit St. Elmo, Hancock Pass, Tomichi Pass, down to Sergeant's, then up Marshall Pass, then the Monarch Crest Trail and finally through an unnamed pass down Greens Creek to the highway and back to camp. What a GREAT ride and something only feasible to do on dirt bikes. The Aspen were certainly beyond halfway but I was surprised to find so many groves that were still beautiful. Not counting the pavement, we saw about 4 SUV's/Trucks and about the same number of ATV's on the entire trail. This being the same area that caused Whazoo to have so much trouble finding woop woop (peaceful solitude) it goes to show just how much different fall camping is then mid-summer. And you can actually wear FULL riding gear to be safe but not overheat under all that gear. Monday we did another 78 miles all on dirt of 4x4 (all but 5 miles or so).....Tin Cup Pass, Cumberland Pass and finally Hancock Pass.
I fully cleaned & scrubbed the camper after our big fall trip, power washed the carpet at a car wash (good idea BKA) and bleach-treated the fresh tank, all the water lines, and ran the remainder of the 42 gallons bleach water into the waste tanks. Dumped that all out and did an extra rinse of fresh water through everything, and finally dumped that. Not to store the camper, but just to prepare for the fall/winter camping season. :) I have no sympathy for lamenting storing the camper for the winter! Yeah, it makes sense if you won't do any winter camping, but now is the season when the campgrounds are empty, the woods are empty ('cept for hunters) and it isn't HOT!
The TRUCK on the other hand, is in the shop today getting a new water pump (it was leaking/wearing out) and at the same time, getting a second 150a alternator to run the the camper batteries mounted in the truck boxes. Haven't bought the batteries yet or fully layed out the whole system....but first step was the alternator mounting (no wiring yet.) Finally, a dedicated seperate alternator to run the camper batteries! And as JPONDER would say "mo batteries!!!!" Woo hoo!
I know the thread says "today" but I have also made some more progress on finishing up building removable panels in the interior that I cut open to run wiring and insulation about a year ago. I took the panels to my FIL who then framed them nicely and I put them back in. So now I have good looking (almost factory look) access panels to the furnace, the back of the closet, and the propane "box". I made the one on the back of the closet cedar tongue and groove. That looks so good I'm going to do the sides of the closet also.
So old Lancezilla is getting some TLC right now....both halves of the combo.
