A descriptive look at traveling and full-timing with our second RV, a fifth wheel toyhauler.
Laura and Sasha started this adventure in April of 2005
for a two week vacation in a truck camper.
March 2010: At Lake Mead NRA & Canyonlands National Park!
As you can see, we have a new look to the website; I am trying to update while learning a new program. While Dreamweaver is easier to use in some ways, it is also harder in others. But I am trying and hope to have this up to speed in the next couple of weeks. Right now it is being uploaded as part of the www.Laura-n-Sasha.com/blog but the old pages are up as well.
I have been working on a new design, plus working as a Park Ranger at Canyonlands, so the website has not been updated in a while. Learning Dreamweaver on the side, plus how to use a Mac laptop makes Laura very late on the current website...I hope to have some of it up soon. Thanks for your patience.
In the beginning part of the month, we were still at Lake Mead NRA, but my last day working was March 3rd, then we went to AutoSafety House, to get our axles on the RV switched. This way, when we go over big bumps, we do not hit the back of the RV. Having a bit of weight in the back would mean bumps, but with the axles switched, this would not happen. So on March 5th, we got that done. It took all day, and as that was a Friday, we decided to head to a casino that would be able to accommodate our size and be on pavement (we knew it was going to rain all weekend.)
Pictures |
Explanation |
 |
So we backed it up, but could not put into the building as the AC would have come off the top. It did not matter, they were able to do it on this beautiful day. |
 |
One Wheel Off |
 |
Jacked Up RV. |
So we stayed at the Suncoast Casino on March 5th through March 8th. It was not a nice weekend, but we did get our taxes done at that time, so while not pleasant outside, we managed to do them without too much fuss. We thought they might be harder because of working in two different states and living in three. But Sasha did an excellent job, and by the end of the day on March 6th, we found out we were going to get refunds for the federal, and two states (Virginia and North Carolina).
The one and only reason we were getting refunds was because of the solar panels we put on the camper. Without that credit, we would have had to pay, but because we did it, we were able to take 30% right off the top! Basically, it was the last part of the taxes, so before that, we actually were going to owe money, then we did the tax credit, and we got a refund! I hope that others follow our lead and do something to conserve power, whether it is solar panels, solar heating for your hot water, or something along those lines. Yes, I know it costs quite a bit, but thirty percent off the top is a great way to go.
I must say though, that the energy-efficient machines, well, almost all of them are now made that way, so it really isn't a big deal to have them, it is not conserving enough.
So having those solar panels came in handy as we used the power during that weekend. We were not hooked up to anything at that time. But it was OK, as it was not too cold and we were mostly using the power for the computers, lights, and water pump. We did use the generator a bit for turning on the ceramic heaters in the evening. But we turn off the generator before we go to bed, and sleep under lots of blankets and are nice and toasty.
When we found out that we got a refund, we went to the casino and had a nice dinner buffet. Their buffet was pretty good, with different kinds of meats, potatoes, salad bar...but the best part was the desserts, excellent desserts.
On March 8th I called to find out if the paperwork had gone through for Canyonlands, and I called my boss first. She said that she had not heard of it yet. So I called up the human resources person said yes and that my boss should have called me. I said that she had not, and well, was it in and did I pass? YES I had, but I needed to confirm it with my boss. So I called my boss back, and said that the HR person said I had. SO, to make a long story short, by March 9th I knew that I had to be at Canyonlands Needles District by Saturday afternoon of March 13th...Only a few days away!
So we decided to go to Lake Mojave at Lake Mead NRA to spend a few days in warmer climate before we headed up to Canyonlands. We first tried the upper campground in Cottonwood Cove, but found it to be very tight fitting. So we just used the dump there and took on more water, and then headed down to the lower campground. While the lower campground had a few sites that we would be able to use, they were on a slope, and so not as good as the parking lot. And the parking lot was free. So we are Parking, not camping here. (the signs say that the parking is good for 7 days, but you are not allowed to camp, so that is what we did.)
We also went into the small town there called Searchlight, NV which had a library. We were able to get several movies and I got a book to read. We also made calls while we were up in Searchlight, as there was no internet where we parked. (we had unhitched and just drove the truck up). I called up my Dad a day early for his birthday (Happy Birthday Dad March 10th!) and to let my parents know that the paperwork had happened and we had to be at Canyonlands on March 13th. We made the calls to everyone, surfed the web and I got a couple of emails out, and then went in and got the books and movies.
While we were up in Searchlight, it started to snow! But Searchlight is at a higher elevation than Cottonwood Cove, so by the time we went back, there was not any snow down there.
The next day March 10th was the day that I practiced scooter riding. Basically I did all the practice tests in the book, got it up to speed ~ 15-20 mph within the parking lot and campground, did the 8 curves and got familiar with the turn signals and horn. I practiced for a couple of hours under Sasha's direction and it went very well.
 |
Lake Mojave and the gorgeous views | |
 |
Me and the Scooter | |
 |
Our Parking Spot | |
 |
 |
The beach and lake views plus: The marina and some of the boats |
 |
Storm brewing, we really can't seem to get a break with the weather, it has been a little bit too cool and very wet for this area. But we took a walk around the campground too, right before the storm hit. | |
 |
This was the first time we had seen up close and personal, an Earthroamer. This was the vehicle that started the search for a RV for ourselves. Sasha had been enamored by the concept of an Earthroamer, but we knew the price ~ $250K, was not in the plans for us. | |
 |
 |
As close as we would ever get to one. Of course now it would be too small for us to full time in, but it is an amazing concept. |
 |
The next day, March 11th, we got up bright and early, not because we were planning on it, but because the NPS decided to repave the campground on that day. So it was good, we left to go on a long ride, 50 miles, pretty close to Mojave National Preserve. We did not get all the way in, as it was COLD, by the time we had gotten to where we were going to turn around, my teeth were chattering and my hands were cold. Sasha gave me his inner gloves, and we turned around, and went back. For the great ride, we went to Cottonwood Cove's cafe and had a very nice lunch. We went back to the RV, packed up and left so that we did not have as far to go. We went to a Walmart in Washington, UT (tried the one in Saint George but there were signs saying no parking overnight, so we went to the next one up the road, and stayed there.) We got a few things at that Walmart. We had gone only 213 miles so we were going to have to get up early tomorrow. |
|
..
..
|
||||||||||||
Got to Canyonlands National Park and we took a hike on Slick Rock Trail. Here are some of the pictures of that hike.
| Picture | Explanation | Options |
|---|---|---|
 |
Us on the Trail |
|
 |
Closer |
|
 |
And Closer still! This was at the first View point, the person taking the picture, I think he did not want to get too close to the edge, that is why he started out so far away. |
|
| The next group of pictures are a panorana taken at the same view point the previous pictures. | ||
   |
||
   |
||
 |
Snow covered mountains and Potholes! |
|
 |
Sasha and the View! |
|
 |
Potholes and Mountains! |
|
 |
Laura and the Needles in the Way Background! |
|
 |
Six Shooter in the Background |
|
 |
Snow Covered Abajo Mountains |
|
 |
Not too much Haze |
|
 |
Us and another view |
|
 |
Sasha and the layers |
|
We have lots more pictures. As Sasha was not volunteering in the beginning, he took a bunch of rides while I was working. So the next page will be Sasha's Rides in March. He took some really good pictures. Check them out!
Check out Next Month: April 2010 for pictures and for Expenses of April