Yay, I have solar power! After two days of frustration, my new friend Jay was able to figure out why the solar panel he installed for me wasn’t working (bad connectors) — et voilà: power!
And to prove it, I just made a green smoothie with my Osterizer, no problem. Well, it didn’t pull as much juice as a regular AC connection would get so the smoothie wasn’t exactly, um, smooth, but it’s acceptable. I made it while it was still dark using the solar power stored in my ‘house’ battery from yesterday. I’m thinking that when the sun is high (relatively speaking — this is winter, after all) the blender will do just fine.
To thank Jay and his partner, Margie, for all their help (since they wouldn’t take money), I took them out to Friday Night Fish Fry at the Grubstake Social Club, a popular and atmospheric spot for the visiting RV hoards. And there was a hoard there. We waited for over an hour to get a table that we shared with two couples, but the huge platter of fish and fries was worth it. There was much loud banter among all parties, and we had a good time.
The next day, Jay and Margie, who live in a motorhome at a campground in town, joined us for Chili Night at the RTR. Everyone brings a can of chili or beans or some other ingredient, and it all goes into the pot. Then we all help ourselves and sit around the firepit, trading stories and comparing rigs. I forgot to get a photo, sorry.
After I pigged out on chili, I meandered over to the ‘free pile,’ a tarp on the ground where people put stuff they don’t want any more and others ‘shop.’ I found a brand new Pebble Beach Performance shirt that wicks moisture and keeps you warm/cool while hiking or other activity — exactly what I’ve been wanting! Plus, it fit!
Then, I put a few items on the pile that aren’t useful for me and take up too much space. Within minutes, they were taken. Awesome.
When the sun goes down every night, someone lights a fire and a few of us sit in the circle to stare at the flames and continue the conversation until it gets too cold or we get too sleepy (around 8 or 9, we are early-to-bed types around here.)
Last night, I got into a deep discussion with Dave, a young guy who’s working on his PhD in information science — while living and traveling full-time in his van! Earlier, I met Suanne Carlson, who is famous in our crowd for living and traveling, part-time, in her 2004 Prius. Seriously.
See? You never know what story you’re going to hear when you start talking to vandwellers.
