California and installing batteries and inverter

We got up and started getting around once the sun came out and started warming things up nicely.  First on the list was to attend the 10 AM GTG with the group.  Today was best tips for the full-timing and boon docking lifestyle .. learned some great things.  Next on the list tado is purchase a couple more batteries and the wire to meet our electrical needs without running the generator all the time.

After going into Q and checking out Solar Bills and Discount solar about our battery needs it was decided that with the inverter we purchased staying with 12 volt deep cell setup would be the best.  So that meant heading to CA to get the same battery we have already since it’s fairly new it wouldn’t be a problem using it.

We came upon the inspection station

We had no problems crossing inspection, we were waved on through.

I had forgotten my camera and used my phone so the quality is not that great but I have a picture of my first CA sign!

we got our batteries and decided to check out some of the local stores.  We got oranges for .39 cents a lb!  We bought almost 5 lbs and they cost $1.84! 

we drove around and did some looking and then decided we better get home on a beautiful afternoon so hubby could go to work

I was able to get a picture of the Arizona sign! 

I

back home we had to do some cleaning out to make room for our new batteries.  The sun has warmed things up nicely and hubby is sporting a t-shirt, I’m in a light weight long sleeve shirt. 

hubby doing some cleaning and measuring

once hubby figured out how he was going to install the batteries and inverter we did the measuring and wrote everything down and it was back to town to purchase the wire and things we were going to need. 

Finally the batteries and inverter are installed and working great!

We still had some daylight time and while hubby was working I put some potatoes on the grill for baked tators and then we had hamburgers.  It was an easy dinner meal.  I love the griddle that I purchased to use on our grill.  I hated to grill as everything always caught on fire with the new grill I do not have that problem.  Hubby is going to cut the handles off for me so that our lid will close all the way.  Right now it doesn’t close shut but still cooks great. 

After dinner was done we headed over with the rest of the group and enjoyed a camp fire until we got to cold.  We retired to the warmth of our home and watching some TV while our batteries are being charged up with the generator.  It’s going to be a real test to our boon docking setup tonight with temps being predicted to go down to a low of 24!  So glad that we got more batteries installed so we can run the furnace all night long.  Stay tuned to see how we survive the coldest night we’ve ever been in our home now.  Our motorhome was no problem as all our plumbing was inside .. the 5th wheel it’s in that basement so running the furnace is a must.

Touring Quartzsite

We woke up to a nippy morning.  Turned on the generator and fired up the electric heater and the furnace to take the chill off.  Once we got warmed up we headed over to the 10 AM GTG with the RTR group. 

the desert has a beauty of it’s own .. we are falling in love with it!  We are enjoying our alone time.  We decided we go into town and check out a few things. 

We are parked on the 14 day limit BLM land, although we are told during the month of Jan it is not enforced as by next week there will almost a million rigs parked here. 

you find open land and pull and park where you want

some come with other groups and some come alone

We got home from the gathering and took the dogs on a walk and then loaded up to head to town to check out a few things

first on our list was to check out Discount Solar and Solar Bills for some research on batteries, cables and 300 Amp fuse.  We need to increase our battery bank and we purchased an inverter in La.  Since we put in an household refrigerator we have to install this setup for summer months for those hot temp days.

after discussing what we wanted with both places we decided to come home and do a bit more research online before we jump in.  We do know we will  not be going with solar at this time.  We will continue to use our generator to charge the batteries.

next on the tada list was to head to the most popular book store in Q

This is Paul .. he is the owner of the book store .. he was giving a concert when we arrived

WOW .. he can rock the piano and sings pretty good .. since it was a bit on the chilly side today he had on a coat .. your wondering what the big deal is about that?

Well you see Paul used to go completely naked and then the city of Q required that he must at least wear a jock strap.  So his wife crotched him one and that is all he normally wears.  Now you know why his book store is so popular.  I did find one of my favorite romance authors books that I have not read … I got them 3/$1.00.  We stopped by a couple of the grocery stores and checked out what they had and their prices .. wasn’t bad for a small town .. next was the Dollar General to get me some lip balm .. my lips are already dried out, cracked and sore from this dry air and sun.  We checked out the Family Dollar as well and got some paper plates.  We are limited on our water and electric supply so we are ruffing it ..

We came back home and wow the wind has began to blow and is rocking us .. were gonna be rocked to sleep tonight.  Since it was so windy and too cold out to dinner on the bbq grill we cooked inside.  I threw some pork chops in the oven and that helped heat up our home nicely and some mac and cheese on the stove top and dinner was served.  After dinner we went back where the RTR group is and enjoyed some visiting  .. there was no fire tonight due to the strong winds .. we stayed until I got too cold and we headed home.  When we got home the wind had blown down our satellite dish.  Hubby went to pick it up and tried to set it back up but the wind had destroyed it, it was all bent up.  So I got on the phone and called dish and a new one will be arriving around 8 AM.  We fired up the generator, took the chill off and did a bit of internet and then it was off to bed.

Were at Q!

Quartzsite, AZ

We have finally arrived at Quartzsite, AZ to do some serious boon docking .. as those who know me .. know that I love free!  We are camping for free on BLM Land.

Isn’t the blue sky just breath taking.  We slept in this morning as we are exhausted from traveling.  My MS has kicked in and reminded me that I must rest!  So today was a relaxing day.  We sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine. 

as you can see we do not have any close neighbors .. not yet anyways

later in the afternoon we decided to take the dogs on a walk, they were full of energy and excited to see and sniff new places.

need some sage?  I picked a leaf off and yep it smells just like sage

lots of wide open land here for anyone to come and park on for free

I love the catcus .. they each have their own unique look

this is a big tree here in the desert .. back home we call them a bush

we walked the dogs far enough to wear them out .. here is our home waiting for us to return .. it was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and the temps are just right with a light long sleeve shirt. 

We fired up the bbq grill and sliced some potatoes and put on some pork steak and a can of corn and dinner was served.  It was delicious and the iron grill I bought in La worked great to grill with.  After dinner we drove back to where the RTR group is parked (we decided to stay where we are just off the road) and we enjoyed a fire and visiting before coming home and firing up the generator and taking the chill off.  Then it was lights out as I was exhausted.

Welcome to AZ

We were up early and back on the road before 7 AM.   Here is the rest area we stayed in .. beautiful huh?

Since it was dark last night and I couldn’t get the welcome to AZ sign, I got this one instead

the desert has a beauty of it’s own

going under the road to drive .. ekkkk

don’t you just love the art work here?

WE stopped at Casa Grande and stocked up on groceries before arriving at Quartzsite .. ouch that was expensive although we haven’t bought them in several weeks.

We found our exit .. Yeppie were almost there

Around 2.30 PM we arrived at our destination although we couldn’t find the RTR GTG so we decided to just park, setup and find them later.  Here is where we are parked, if in the area stop and see us

We found the RTR group, we didn’t go down the road far enough but we decided to just stay where we are for now and we plan to meet them at 10 am . 

Here is how close our neighbors are .. nice huh?

here is where home is parked for a bit

our electric out here on the BLM land is our generator

behind us there is no one .. Yet

our back yard

this is the view out our front door .. nice huh .. see the mountains in the distance

see our home with a nice camp fire to enjoy

hubby built a nice fire and one it got down to coals we dug out the stick and roasted polish sausage and marshmallows for dinner ..mmm it was good

we watched the sun go down and enjoyed a beautiful sunset while basking in the warmth of a nice fire on a nice warm winter nights.  After enjoying our fire we decided to kick on the generator for a bit and then we called it a night

we traveled 393 miles today and our total was 1590 miles and we spent $716 dollars in fuel and an additive for the truck.