Divermarv

Western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming are…

Under construction. Nebraska especially. It wasn’t bad. The traffic volume wasn’t high, and the merging was a piece of cake each time. On a grrr scale, I’d give it one snarl.

However, twice I saw cropdusting planes doing practice runs. That was amazing to side-eye as I drove on. I’m not adventurous enough to try to take a snappy as I negotiated the roadway.

As a person who is wanting to start doing these lengthy travel adventures in The Rig, I got off to a bad start. I think I stopped a half-dozen times yesterday. Always with the excuse of needing gas, or a bathroom break (it was hot and I was guzzling seltzer water, so those breaks were kinda necessary). This caused me to arrive at Terry Bison Ranch a little later than I’d wanted. And I didn’t want to set the tent up in the dark. And, the biggest one, I was exhausted. Thus… one more night in the popup. Not a bad idea.

The Wyoming sun rises early this time of year, and the yawning maw of the popup was facing due east. Needless to say, I was up by 6am. I took my time popping down the popup, and scooting the trailer around. Then methodically brought Stella outta storage. That Wyoming sun was hot. I took frequent breaks.

My campsite has no hookups. But I was prepared. Last summer I bought a folding solar panel array. I tested it last year in the driveway. (If you’re reading my posts you’ll see I do a lot of dry-runs in the driveway.) Seemed to work fine. This was the first live test.

Last night I put my power-cube and refrigerated cooler out on the trailer. Over night the power- cube ran down to 65%. I hooked up the solar array and within an hour (I was setting the tent up, not sure how long it took) the power-cube was fully charged. That hot Wyoming sun is definitely good for solar power. Yay, one thing checked off the boondocking list.

I’m getting better at setting up the tent. And getting better at arranging my gear in it. Also gathering glamping ideas as I do this. Here’s my noob start at it.

I’m sitting in the tent now, but gonna have to get out. It is hot hot hot in here.

Yep it was getting hot in there. So hot that I started searching for portable air conditioners! Maybe it was just a knee-jerk reaction, but a very hot knee. I’m still thinking about it. Less than $300 and I could get one that would just meet the capacity of my power-cube. It’s a Bluetti brand, so I need to come up with a nickname for it. I will, of course, keep you updated on this.

I’m also putting together (list-wise) an out west survival kit. Sunscreen, lotion, eye drops, saline nasal spray. Whew! I’d take a picture, but I look like a drunken ostrich. A fat drunken ostrich.

More to come. I was saving these posts for a one-time dump, but I’ve changed my mind, so doling out a couple of days’ posts.

Peace and love y’all… Wyoming/Colorado edition.
Marv