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.
November 2011: GRCA - Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE)
This is a new page. I have taken the information from Facebook to make the page. Ultimately I will have pictures in here, will have to resize some of them. Not only that, we moved to Grand Canyon and we are getting used to a new place, and I also had to work on more programs, so there was less time spent on the website. But that will be changing!
So anyway, here is what was happening in November:
Has Happened and there are tons of pictures. OF course there are, we always have lots.
November 1st: Leaving Grand Canyon: Only another couple of hours here and then it is bye, bye, Grand Canyon, hello: Flagstaff, Kingman, and then Boulder City, NV. We can not wait for the warmer temps! AND AWAAAAAY WE GO! (at 4:30 pm - we never do get an early start!)
Right now we are at the Grand Canyon Caverns Airport, where there is a tavern (no not drinking tonight) and we have both heaters on to warm up the RV. We ate in Williams at Pine County Restaurant, but we ate too much and are now surfing to digest the food. (10:30 pm)
November 2nd: Happy Birthday to my Nephew Brenden and Happy Birthday to Mary Beth Dunn!
Actually we were not at the airport, but right at the caverns. When we went to the main part, they said that the restaurant was a mile down their road. No thanks said we, so we headed up the road to Peach Springs and had lunch there.
Now we are in Kingman, at Fort Beale RV Park. Normally we do not go to RV parks, but we were having something funky going on with the truck, so we are here, hoping to get an appointment tomorrow to figure out the problem. (6:30 pm)
November 3rd: So Sasha took the Truck to Colorado River Ford Lincoln of Kingman (long name!) And here is what happened:
We were traveling through the area with our F450 Truck and 5th Wheel, and once we got off the interstate to go onto Rt. 93, we experienced a loss of power. We could not get up the hills of Kingman! And we were planning to go to Lake Mead.
SO, after finding a campground, we unhitched and called these folks up the next morning. They were more than happy to squeeze us in. They diagnosed the problem (the exhaust brake had failed and was sealed shut), fixed the problem, and only billed us $95 for an hour's work. I'd say, job well done.
We will get a new exhaust brake in Las Vegas or Henderson. But at least now we can get up those hills!
We will be in Lake Mead tomorrow.
Sasha: Delay in getting to Lake Mead NRA. In Kingman, AZ with a failed exhaust brake. Ford dealer making makeshift repairs. Will ditch the BD brand we have with a better PacBrake later in Vegas.
And the comments:
Michael Hansen: Simple stupid brake. !! Glad that's all it was. Your engine couldn't breathe, couldn't build Turbo pressure = no power ;)
Your engine was constipated! ! Hahahaha
Sasha Jevtich thanks for your call......
Colorado River Ford of Kingman = highly recommended. 1 hour of shop time and got me outta there.
Karon Voyles-Ricker Vegasbound...
Me: Yup, tomorrow we will be there in Boulder City, NV! Just in time for some rain. Oh well, at least the truck is fine.
Leo Bassett what a exhaust brake? glad your safe.
Robert Ostlund You probably don't remerber me Sasha, and I just hope you were not going down a steep grade then. I wish we recorded some of those Wedesday night skis at WT.
Me: We were not going down a steep grade at the time, just trying to go up and it was not happening. @Leo, an exhaust brake is just another brake on certain trucks that helps you slow down the truck, especially when you have a steep or long downhill.
Sasha is just a little mentally tired from having to deal with this. So when he wakes up, he can explain further. But we are safe and will be in Lake Mead tomorrow.
Bo Jevtich drive safe. and if sasha is sleeping, Don't let him drive...;-)
Sasha Jevtich We're taking the day off in a local campground. Had to drop the trailer to take the truck in the shop.....
Sasha Jevtich Exhaust brakes are supplemental brakes, often used in medium-duty diesel trucks like our Ford F450 that tow heavy loads. Unlike gasoline engines, diesel engines, don't slow down simply by taking your foot off the accelerator; they rely on both service (ie, disk) and supplemental brakes.
An exhaust brake is a form of a supplemental brake, made to work in conjunction with, but work much differently than their conventional counterparts. Instead of using caliper pads pressing against rotating discs, exhaust brakes use a vacuum or compressed air along with a heavy duty actuator valve to cut the normal exhaust flow (ie, maximize exhaust backpressure). This function "retards" engine performance and slows down the truck automatically.
An exhaust brake allows our loaded truck/trailer combo (26K lbs !!) to safely descend steep hills at a consistently safe rate of speed without having to rely on the normal service brakes, keeping them cool and extending their use-intervals significantly in the process. Exhaust brakes are also very useful when towing in traffic.
Another type of supplemental brake is the "Jake brake", an engine brake used in heavy-duty semi truck tractors and commercial buses.
Sasha Jevtich http://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/p-4489-pacbrake-prxb-exhaust-brake-kit-99-03-73l-ford-powerstroke-c40009-c40019.aspx
PacBrake PRXB Exhaust Brake Kit 99-03 7.3L Ford Powerstroke C40009 / C40019
www.dieselpowerproducts.com
Diesel Power Products carries the PacBrake PRXB Exhaust Brake Kit for 99-03 7.3L Ford Powerstroke C40009 / C40019
Sasha Jevtich Above is our future brand of EB
November 4th: Got into Lake Mead today! We are in a slightly different site as the first two times. I swear, the lady in charge of the volunteer village does nothing to these trees, and the branches are hitting our roof.
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There is a bit of mining going on...what you are seeing are the tailings and the hill being destroyed. |  |
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Another bridge to no where - but works well for the bighorn sheep! |
November 5th: So we decided the first order in business was to go into Las Vegas to see what had changed. We also went in because we were invited to the Volunteer's End of the Season Breakfast Awards Ceremony. While we volunteered in the winter of 2011, this was our first day back for the new season. But that was OK, we had never been to an award ceremony for volunteers before, and so it was interesting to watch. And we got a nice breakfast and found others from Lake Mead there too, so we sat with them.
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So, I guess there is no need to go to the Grand Canyon, as you can have the Grand Canyon experience right here in Las Vegas! When you click on the Info button and then click on the Map button, I think you might see the difference of the two places. |  |
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Slightly different shot. And of course, lots of beer, wine and sodas for your hiking pleasure! | |
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Even an ATM right there for you! | |
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But of course there is the skyline that is so important here at Las Vegas. |  |
So we went to the Flamingo, and got some drinks and nachos - man, what a rip-off! I am all for coupons, and this place obviously does not do them. And of course, coupons only go so far. But we are going to try to find places that have cheaper prices, or free stuff if we can. We might just get lucky.
November 6th: Ok, so I got this from my Mom, who got it from friends. But it is nice and I thought it would make sense:
I received this as an email from my Mom and others, and thought it a great idea. So, I made a couple of additions to it, and suggest when you pass it along, you add suggestions too. And this can be not only for Christmas but for other holidays as well. So pass it forward:
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition:
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced plastic goods – merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about paper gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city.
Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams.
And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
Can you think up other ideas to buy local keep money in your town? Put them down here and we will keep this list going:
Sometimes the best presents are the ones you use the most:
Grocery stores
Dry Cleaning
Gas Stations
For those that are the outdoorsy types: Buy them the American the Beautiful Pass – pass to the National Parks.
And the Comments:
Steve Meredith Sounds like a great idea, Laura!
Ellen Harris I love this! ♥ This is a little difficult if you have little ones at home but not impossible! If I'm looking for something in particular, I'll google the item and attach "made in USA" and I pretty much always find the item. Legos on the other hand .... I guess I'm not opposed to helping Denmark a little :) since Aidan's dream is to live in Denmark and work for Lego as a designer.
Ellen Harris If I could double LIKE your post I would!!
Jim Born Cheers to your mom. I always did like her. Long live buying local services!
Alice de Anguera I like it! Local stuff good, experiences good...
Also, we met with Michelle, our boss here at Lake Mead, to get ideas about what we would be doing and figure out a sort of schedule for us. Also what days for doing night sky talks and full moon hikes.
November 7th: We did the Railroad Hike, but did not bring the camera. We went there because Michelle had said that they posted some interpretation signs along the trail, so we wanted to see them. We only went for three hours. But considering how we haven't hiked for very long before, we wanted to get into the groove slowly, so that we did not injure ourselves. When you have calamity health insurance, you want to make sure you stay well for as long as possible.
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November 8th: Took time off to not hike, instead, we went to the Fiesta for lunch/dinner to see how the prices are and see if they still had good choices. Sasha loves getting Mongolian Grill - you choose the foods you want in it (picking out the veggies), you tell them what type of sauce and the type of meat (usually chicken). They make it up, and then you can add rice or other stuff afterwards. Like I said, Sasha really loves it. So we go. We managed to get in right before 4 pm, the cut-off for lunch (where you then have to pay dinner prices for the same food). Even though we were still in line, the people behind us were considered the last ones for the lunch price, and then those after him were the dinner price. There is no different foods coming out, I do not know why the price should change, but it does.
Michelle also told us that we needed our driving records again. We had done the same thing last year, but again, they needed it to go back three years, so we had to pay. But it was only $13 for the both of us, not so bad. Sasha had gotten his first, and when they figured that my background check was not going to cover the driving record information, they told me to get mine too. So I did on the eighth, and it was not long after that I got onto the computer, so that we could sign out a vehicle. This would make going around to the different parts of the park so much easier. Most often we would use a hybrid car.
Also on this day, before we went out, we have a picture window that looks out onto a cottonwood tree. This tree gets lots of activity by the birds in the area. And so it was great to see a hummingbird, my first here in Lake Mead this season.
Just saw my first hummingbird here at Lake Mead! It was moving too fast for me to get a good look at it, but I plan to have some red flowers in real soon. (still have not gotten the red flowers...but I plan to!)
Deirdre Watson Awesome! I thought they liked blue flowers, too...or is that butterflies?
Me: Red for hummingbirds, blue would be for butterflies. But seeing a blue color is impressive anyway.
Yvonne Jevtich Batal NIce.. they are really amazing to watch!
November 9th: I worked on my program for the full moon talk on this day. We pretty much stayed home and vegged.
November 10th: Full Moon Hike tonight, but the sky is not too clear. Not only that, not any advertising of it at all. So when we went to see if anyone was there, we found no one. What we saw instead sort of spooked me, there was a lone coyote just walking in the parking lot. There was also work being done on the road (Rt 93) and they had this huge spotlight. It would not have been a good night, so we bagged the hike, and headed over to the water safety building for some downloading time. Then back to the rv.
I said on Facebook:
Full Moon tonight, go out for a walk and enjoy the landscape. See if you notice anything in particular. Check out the shadows, try to walk without a flashlight (But bring one with you just in case!) Post on here what you saw. My first program for Lake Mead is tonight, unfortunately, totally clouded over. So Red Flashlights will be important!
Karyn Seymour I wish I had a laser pointer, it is a little too cloudy here in savannah, georgia to see much besides the moon. :)
Me: Yeah, we are getting a bit of a cloud out situation here, but I am hoping others are seeing the moon and might note some particulars about it.
Karyn Seymour I think there is too much light as well. But my phone howls like a wolf at the full moon, and I know it is a beaver moon in Taurus.
Alan Staiman On the way home I saw a rainbow. But it was almost straight up int cloud.. backlighted by the setting sun.. it was orange!
Me: Very cool stuff! Pleiades will be next to the moon, and an orange glowing star (Aldebaran) will be below the moon. But there is still more to be seen.
We did not have any takers for our Full Moon Hike. Well, except for a Coyote.
Me: And Karyn is right, this is the Beaver Moon: This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon or Hunting Moon.
When the moon is out, the landscape looks to be only in shades of gray. You can not see color. Check it out!
November 11th: We did the Railroad Hike this day, and we made a full day of it. Hiking to the New Bridge and back.
It is also Veterans' Day and I just have a few words on that: I am all for thanking our veterans on this day, but really, I think it is better to thank them everyday. Now more than ever, we need to do more, not just in thanking them for their service, but to hire them for jobs, give them the help that is needed to become civilians again. And they need all the help they can get. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/11/veterans_day.html "They have a higher rater of unemployment, a higher rate of suicide, a higher rate of homelessness, and the skills that they acquired in the military do not seem to translate into jobs back home."
Actually, this entire weekend, including November 11th, is fee free weekend at all of the National Parks. So get out and enjoy.
November 12th: So I am into getting free newspapers around the town and there was this one newspaper that tells of previews to movies. So I signed up, and we saw Happy Feet II for free, then went to a restaurant near the movie theater and spent about what you would now spend for a movie and snacks. We have not been to a theater for just a movie like that, usually going to see an IMAX show rather than just a movie. It is so expensive now, that we would rather enjoy a good show/movie on our screen and (p)leather seats. Plus you can pause it if you need a snack or bathroom break. Of course, most movies are pretty short too, most of the kids were squirming in their seats after the first hour, yet some (like ourselves) enjoyed the movie all the way through.
We then went to Red Rock Conservation Area. We did not take a single picture, which was too bad, because we saw wild burros nearby. And then we checked out the visitor center (way cool) and their outdoors exhibits and then took the scenic drive. It was quite beautiful. We will go back and take pictures, but we will do it on a day that is not a weekend. The weekenders (it was also free there too, so that might be it) were driving much faster than the posted signs, like this was a speed race that they had to finish. But once you get into the loop, you can not back out, you have to go the entire way around. So on these roads that state 25 mph, there were speedsters going about 45 mph. Until they got behind us BWAH HA HA! We were going the speed limit and if they tried to rush us, we went slower.
Of course, no one flashed their brights at us, which is a good thing. Our truck has loading lights on the back, in case we need to hook up in the dark. So when people are tailgating us (for going the speed limit!) and then flash their highbeams, we give them a quick flash with our loading lights. They usually back off immediately! The revenge of the slow pokes.
But the day was fun packed and very enjoyable. We had never been to that part of the Vegas area before, and so we were glad that we went.
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This is when we were traveling around, and checking out the scenery. It was a little cold. |
November 13th: Drive to St. Thomas - No pictures but first time off-road driving with the H0 - the Hybrid Honda Insight. We call it the H0 because it is a Honda, and the last number on the license plate is 0. So we met with Michelle again to go over some of the things we needed to do for the next couple of weeks, and then we took the H0 to St. Thomas. This is inside of the park, at the very northern tip. There used to be a town there, settled by the Mormons. But when the dam was built, the water started rising, and the town was drowned. (all the people got out beforehand, and they were warned to get out.)
But then a strange thing happened. Last year, with the water receeding at an alarming rate, something happy was happening too. The town of St. Thomas was uncovered. The waters receeded enough to show the foundations. So talks were given and hikes as well around the foundations. But we got there too late to take a hike, instead, we went on a gravel road and could just make out the town right before the sun went down. We plan on going back, taking some pictures and checking out the town.
On the way, we saw some excellent scenery. Water views and mountains, Lake Mead really has it all. And when the weather is perfect, like it is in November, the colors of the rocks are spectacular.
November 14th: Willow Beach to Bonelli Bay: We took a long ride out to Willow Beach and Bonelli Bay area of Lake Mead, the Arizona Side.
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We were at a viewpoint at Willow Beach and we went closer for a better view. | |
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Not on a paved road here, we wanted to see where it would lead... | |
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It truly is amazing what this little car can do. | |
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Especially when it gives us such great freedom to see views like this! | |
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Close to the water's edge | |
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Not a bad job as a volunteer! |  |
November 15th: We went out to eat after working in the Library that day. We tried a place that was in the newspaper as having specials, but they did not even know their own specials. NOT GOOD. So we went someplace else and got a great dinner.
This page is getting long, so please go to the second Laura-n-Sasha page of November 2011.
Check out Next Month: December for Pictures and Expenses for December