Snow-Bird Prep = = = Ramblings

MuttonChops

Well next week I depart for another Snow-Bird Adventure.
This time my departure is a couple of weeks later, as last year the longgg winter caused some travel condition stress. And while "this winter" for the western states has normal temperatures and below normal precipitation forecast I decided on a later start 'just to be safe'.  This adventure (as planned) will have 30% of the time boondocking.

Hopefully, next week won't bring a surprise storm front on the I-5 corridor as I head south.  The adventure is planned for 5-weeks.  Not my longest but far nicer than the C-19 Years of two week more local travel.

Anyway, today I started stocking the can/dry goods.


Think I have the Soup Meals under control.
Also have a few emergency basic chicken soup & crackers backups.

But am concerned about the liquor supply . . . may need another Total Wine & More visit    .

Grumpy_G

Looks like when I get ready for a trip ! Except I stock up on local craft beer. Your route looks like a lot of boring Interstate though. 

Cherokee

Have a Great trip!  But I agree with Grumpy - I wouldn't miss the coast and I'd turn off I -5 and  when you hit Sacramento turn east on I-50 to 395 and turn South - A much better route!

MuttonChops

Grumpy_G said:
. . . route looks like a lot of boring Interstate though. 

Cherokee said:
. . . agree with Grumpy - I wouldn't miss the coast and I'd turn off I -5 and  when you hit 
. . . Sacramento turn east on I-50 to 395 and turn South

I-5 Routing was 'by design' to get clear of the cold and possible snow-zone as quickly as possible within my typical maximum miles/day traveling.

I've done the 101 coast a couple of times during summer months.
Have also done some of 395 in CA . . . but it can be messy depending on weather in February
So getting to the Mojave Area as most direct with least weather risks makes I-5 the choice this year.

Cherokee

395 - But such a BEAUTIFUL mess  !

MuttonChops

MuttonChops said:

Grumpy_G said:
. . . route looks like a lot of boring Interstate though. 

Cherokee said:
. . . agree with Grumpy - I wouldn't miss the coast and I'd turn off I -5 and  when you hit 
. . . Sacramento turn east on I-50 to 395 and turn South

I-5 Routing was 'by design' to get clear of the cold and possible snow-zone as quickly as possible

@Grumpy_G &  @Cherokee

Well the nearly 1,000 mile interstate drive from northeastern WA to Sacramento was far from boring even while lacking great views in the constant 2-3 mile visibility.  Ideally, I should have departed home one day sooner however if I had delayed to one day later the weather conditions would have been far worse.

Yesterday reached 62+F days and even got a partly cloudy 10-mile bicycle ride completed. Today I'm sitting on the southern edge of a big rain/snow storm that covers Northern CA, OR, and WA.

Driving the interstate with cars going same direction was better than any 2-lane/way coastal highway in these winter weather conditions.

Sharon_is_SAM

That looks ugly!

Cherokee

Looks like bad weather without scenery - how about posting some images of camping in the desert under the California sun?

MuttonChops

Cherokee said:
Looks like bad weather without scenery - how about posting some images of camping in the desert under the California sun?

Have not gotten there . . . yet.
Did have  1.5 days of sun in Sacramento and while Bakersfield has been 'warm' it has also been mostly overcast (today had a few hours of real sun) however overcast does not impact bike rides or brewpub visits.

There's another wet/cold storm headed to the western coast so I've adjusted the first Mojave boondocking stop to a lower elevation and a bit more east.  On this snow-bird trip I seem to be a bit out-of-sync with the weather but still having fun and not in the SNOW

Sacramento stop (3-nights) earlier this week.

Cherokee

Glad you enjoyed the American River! Our Border Collie loves to swim there! I agree - the bike path is a wonderful way to see the river

dsfdogs

The warm sun looks wonderful! That bike path is nice! I've done some running and cycling races along it and paddled the river, back when I lived in the Bay area. Folsom is a nice town too.

MuttonChops

Well I'm Back Home after 35 nights on-the-road.

It was a good trip but did not go to 'plan'.  Actually, this was my first major trip without prearranged reservations at all stops and it's just as well as the weather and my courage caused several 'detail level' changes while the overall route was about as planned.

Only major change was to return North via I-5 instead of Utah/Idaho due to a late snow storm in Utah. To adjust for that change my northbound stops were all at 'new locations' for me.  But after the first stop or two I got focused on getting home with ever increasing driving miles each day . . . vs the standard 270'ish miles per day (and my back noted the extra miles)

As always the 320S did great . . . while after 3+ weeks I was wishing for a bigger trailer

Due to weather the boondocking nights dropped to 2 vs. the planned 7.
Those missing 5 boondocking nights shifted to RV park or 'family driveway' nights.

At 5-weeks this was my second longest single trip outing.
It was also the most expensive at $88/day . . .

TourDeForth

That’s great! Congratulations. I’m curious how long is your post trip repair list and what’s on it? What changes will you make to your Tab based on this trip?

I just did an 8 day trip my list:
1. replace brake controller (mine failed during the trip.)
2: new caps for Yakima bars (two fell off)
3. New axle hub caps, (one fell off)
4. permanently mount antenna for rear view camera (added on trip)
5. switch out cast iron cook ware to aluminum pans (cast iron creates too much smoke for cold day cooking!)
6. Adding Sumosprings to tow vehicle to fix sag and bouncing.
7. Installed front receiver hitch to aid parking trailer in tight spot (my side yard.)
8. Replace or upgrade trailer battery (my 1.5 year old AGM battery charges but won’t hold a charge very long, fails battery tests.)

MuttonChops

TourDeForth said:
. . . curious how long is your post trip repair list and what’s on it?

1. clean inside of trailer
2. clean Fridge

After several years of 320S camping I've got this rig set-up as I like it so no mods or adjustments are needed.  Only one aftermarket item, battery monitor, failed** and I've not decided if or when I might replace it.

** it's a wired style unit and I didn't do a good a job routing the wires as I thought. 
The 4-conductor flat cable got mashed between the chassis and TAB body
- - shorting out and killing the monitor.