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November 30, 2007 - location: Point Mugu NAS, CA
Well, I didn't accomplish much yesterday. I cleaned out the truck and vacuumed it well, but that's about it. Gerry worked on the trailer for a while, but we didn't throw much away. It rained cats and dogs last night, and calmed down by morning. We had Gerry's yummy gumbo last night and everyone seemed to like it. Kayla was the only one who didn't try it, but even she kept asking for more pieces of sausage out of the pot. Today is laundry and wait-for-ups day. We'll spend it at my sister's house and Gerry will take off to work on the jeep when his mufflers arrive by UPS. I plan to go shopping with my mom this afternoon when she gets done teaching.
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November 29, 2007 - location: Point Mugu NAS, CA
Today will be another day cleaning and organizing. This time the truck and trailer are the items of focus. Gerry is already out there plugging away at unloading everything. My job is to help sort out things to get rid of, like some of my rocks. I suppose I better get to work as well.
At least I have Gerry's gumbo to look forward to at the end of the day. He's making it at my mom's house for the family.
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November 28, 2007 - location: Point Mugu NAS, CA
Last night we had shrimp fettuchini instead of the gumbo, since there wasn't time to get okra. We'll save the gumbo for tomorrow night.
This day I spent with my sister and I truly enjoyed my time with her. She will be having a bone spur in her nech removed in a couple of weeks to reduce pressure on the nerves in her neck. The orthopedic surgeon indicated the "procedure" is routine and simple, taking about an hour, with a quick recovery. They keep her overnight at the hospital and then she wears a neck brace for a couple of weeks. We all hope for an easy operation and speedy recovery with great improvement in movement and reducing of pain. After visiting with her doctor, we ran errands and did some christmas shopping. My sister is a very special person and I am happy to have spent the day with her. Mom made chicken, potatoes, squash, and zucchini for dinner at her house. The food and company were great and we headedhome to our camp at about 9pm. Gerry spent the day running errands and working on the jeep. He finally got the parts replaced on the clutch and has it working properly now.
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November 27, 2007 - location: Point Mugu NAS, CA
My camper is much better organized after spending all day cleaning and organizing the closets, storage areas, and clothes. I decided to get rid of a few clothes and try to fit the ski clothes into the storage box on top of the camper to save room inside. Right now all our regular clothes and jackets fit in the storage area under the bed. Tomorrow I'll have to go through our "fancy" clothes in the garmet bags in the trailer to decide what to keep. Gerry and I both have really warm jackets. His is a huge down parka and mine is a very large sheepskin coat. We hate to part with them in case we end up living somewhere like Alaska, but we don't see needing them anytime soon. His would cost about 500 dollars and mine 1000 dollars to replace with equal coats. Gerry has thought of getting a storage unit out here in CA to store some of our "extra" stuff, but we only have about 3-5 cubic feet of "extras" and I'm sure we can widdle that down to a box or two. In which case it will be cheaper to carry it around than rent a storage unit. We will continue sorting through stuff this week and see what we have left to worry about. We definately want to lighten the load.
Gumbo is on the menu for tonight and I think we need to run out for some okra to go in it. Gerry picked up a mix that had a picture of okra on it and a label about just adding meat. It turns out there is no okra in the mix, so if we want it (and we both like it), then we'll have to go to the store before we eat. Today was "Gerry's Day". We give eachother days where anything that person wants goes and there's no complaining or negotiating. I woke up with a sore throat this morning, so didn't go along when Gerry ran his errands and did his jeep work. I should find out soon what he accomplished.
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November 26, 2007 - location: Point Mugu NAS, CA
I am laying on a blanket on the beach, watching the surfers and listening to the sets of waves flow in. A couple of sailboats have gone by and there are a couple of para-sail-surfers up the beach a bit. I was almost asleep in the sun when two large, loose dogs came tearing after my dogs. As soon as I stood up to handle them, they listened to their owners' shouts and ran off.
It is rewarding to have a relaxing, peaceful, solitary day after a hectic few days. I love my family and enjoy my time with them very much, yet I spend so much quiet time, that I find the need to return to solitude on occasion to feel truly at peace. Gerry and Bernie here and Bernie's barking at everyother person that goes by is difficult for me to relax with. Just when I start to return to my thoughtful state where he goes again. I think next time I'll come alone with Honey, who lays peacefully at my side unless someone comes too close. If the water was warmer, I'ld go in for a swim. I would freeze when I got out, anyhow, as it's just barely warm enough to relax in the sun with a sweatshirt. I heard reports of snow in New England last week and I think of how warm the sand feels to my feet compared to trudging through snow with heavy boots on.
Gerry and I are close tot he sale of our house and feel a bit anxious for the closure of that chapter of our lives. Once we are free we will set goals for our new chapter and decide how we ant to spend our new-found freedom.
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November 25, 2007 - location: Lake Casitas, CA (N 34°,24.842'; W 119°,20.278')
It was a little sad to break camp today. Gerry took our rig out to the Naval Base and set-up camp while I helped Mom. She drove her RV towing Tina's tent trailer and I took her car. We dropped off Tina's tent trailer and then went home to clean out the RV. Tina made enchiladas for dinner and we watched Sunday night football. Gerry's team, the New England Patriots, won by 4 points and are still undefeated 11 games into the season. We have a great spot at Point Mugu and I will soon fall to sleep with the waves pounding the sandy shore.
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November 24, 2007 - location: Lake Casitas, CA (N 34°,24.842'; W 119°,20.278')
We rented one of the 4-person, 4-wheel cycles from the rental place here at the lake. Kayla and I went down and brought it back as a surprise. Kayla's mom arrived while we were getting the bike and was surprised to see her daughter honking the horn as we rode into camp. I took the family out for a "Wild Kim Toad Ride". After my mom got out, Kris and I peddled Kayla back up the biggest hill and came down screaming and fast. It was great fun and after an hour we were too tired to continue and brought the bike back. After lunch of BLT sandwiches and left over soup, I took a short rest and then went cycling with Gerry. Kayla and Kris went home with their mother and Gerry and I enjoyed a quiet evening with my mom. Tomorrow we head back to Camarillo.
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November 23, 2007 - location: Lake Casitas, CA (N 34°,24.842'; W 119°,20.278')
My sister, Tina, tooke her daughter, Jessica, back to town today in order to work at the outlet mall. This is Jessica's first day of work and she plans to work the weekend helping one of the clothing stores. Kris, Gerry, Kayla, and I went for a hike this morning to the dam on Lake Casitas. Kayla, my five-year-old niece, had a hard time walking the whole way, yet managed to do so and ran the last few yards to camp where her grandmother awaited. It was a lazy day, overall, and pleasant, sunny, and warm. We got some more wood just before the sun set and we are now sure to have plenty of fire. Tonight it's a 7-bean soup made with the hambone from Tim's thanksgiving day feast at his bar. It smell's real good and I can hardly wait for dinner.
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November 22, 2007 - location: Lake Casitas, CA (N 34°,24.842'; W 119°,20.278')
Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day of blessing and thanks for the special people and fortune in our lives. I wish the best for everyone out there and hope the day is filled with family and friends, love and laughter, good times and good food. Yesterday was an awesome celebration for us. Timmy strung lights above the table, powered by a generator he borrowed from a friend. Mom decorated the tables with table cloths and ornamentals, including the turkey candles she had from my childhood. Gerry made a roaring fire to keep us warm and happy. The food came out great and we enjoyed the ambiance, dining, wining, and family.
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November 21, 2007 - location: Lake Casitas, CA (N 34°,24.842'; W 119°,20.278')
Today is our Turkey Day. Well, not even "turkey day", just the day my family and I celebrate Thanksgiving. I look forward to Timmy's prime rib and I'll take care of the rest of the food. I prepared the plate of pickles and olives ready this morning and mixed up the green-bean casserole. Now it's time to relax and wait for the day to drift by. It is warm and sunny as I sit by the lake and enjoy the scenery in peace.
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November 20, 2007 - location: Sis' house, Camarillo, CA
Last night was a real hoot. My brother, Timmy, cooked a great pasta dinner and we enjoyed cocktails and laughs with Tina and her kids, too. We loaded up in Tina's car when it was Kayla's bedtime and went back to her house for the night. Gerry and I slept in our camper in the driveway with the dogs. Today we head out to Lake Casitas to camp, but first it's laundry and errands to clear our schedule for the next few days. I can hardly wait to sample Tim's prime rib on Thanksgiving. We elected to forego a turkey this year and have some red meat instead. It's a lot easier when camping.
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November 19, 2007 - location: Mead Dry Lake, CA (N 34°,24.921'; W 116°,31.047')
Today we travelled to my home town of Camarillo. The region has changed so much since I moved away 17 years ago. The suburban sprawl and increased traffic never cease to amaze me. After showering at my sister's house, I felt rejuvenated and fresh. I plan to shop for Thanksgiving tonight and spend some time with my family.
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November 18, 2007 - location: Mead Dry Lake, CA (N 34°,24.921'; W 116°,31.047')
Here I sit by a solitary fire in the once bustling camp, burning the wood left behind by the weekend warriors. I am making burritos for dinner outside on our fire grate as I watch the stars come out and another round of campers funnel into a clearing nearby. This must be the start of the Thanksgiving week crowd and I leave in the morning to join festivities of my family in Ventura.
The jeep broke today on the trail and after getting turned around, we crawled back down the trail, past Santa, and retired the jeep to the trailer in camp. Santa followed us to make sure we got back safely. The muffler got real beat up this trip and Gerry's going to get some new ones. Gerry will have it fixed up in no time and he plans to buy a new chrome-moly axle rather than use the stock axle spare we carry. That will have to get fixed prior to using the jeep as a 4x4, which will be another week or two.
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November 17, 2007 - location: Mead Dry Lake, CA (N 34°,24.921'; W 116°,31.047')
I had a blast today driving up "Tack Hammer" and "Lower Big Johnson". Gerry's jeep is so much fun to drive. I drove one of the trail leaders' Cherokee up a tough spot and it was wierd not being able to see the rocks as well as I can in Gerry's CJ2a.
Tonight was BBQ and raffle night for this event. I helped prepare for the hundred or so people to eat. The tri-tip was the hit of the night and I hope to get the recipe to post for all to try. I am so glad we came to this event to meet new friends, jeep new trails, and enjoy more time in the desert. Most people leave tomorrow, and we're hoping for another jeep run in the morning.
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November 16, 2007 - location: Mead Dry Lake, CA (N 34°,24.921'; W 116°,31.047')
Gerry did some awsome rock crawling today. First, we went up a trail called "Claw Hammer". Honey came along and didn't like being in the bouncing, contorting, and scraping jeep, so I took her for a hike up the canyon while Gerry and Bernie wound their way over, around, and through massive piles of boulders. The second trail consisted of "Lower and Upper Big Johnson". The jeeps really struggled on Upper Big Johnson and one of the guys broke his jeep enough to have to retire his jeep to his trailer for the weekend. Gerry says tomorrow I get to drive. This is only my second time driving and I hope I do well.
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November 15, 2007 - location: Mead Dry Lake, CA (N 34°,24.921'; W 116°,31.047')
We made it to Johnson Valley today and set-up camp next to the group camped out for the XJ (Cherokee Jeep) rally this weekend. We didn't go through Barstow as planned because we figured we didn't need maps when with a group who know the trails. Today was great. Gerry went off jeeping with Bernie and explored the area, following a new friend, bob, around in his jeep. I went as a passenger on a tough trail, Outer Limits, with a few jeeps set-up for the rougher rock crawling. These guys are amazing in what they can crawl and I can't wait to get my own jeep.
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November 14, 2007 - location: Edwards Air Force Base, CA (N °,'; W °,')
I slept great last night, despite being in "civilization". This campground is pretty quiet and I didn't hear the coyotes howling last night. The jeep is all fixed and ready to go to "the hammers". We're heading out today and probably going through Barstow to stop at the BLM office for maps. We'll stay camped out until Monday when we head to Camarillo and prepare for Thanksgiving at Lake Casitas. Last year we camped at Lake Casitas with my mom and had such a good time that we're doing it again. We're going to skip the turkey this year, though, and do prime rib instead. That's all for now, as I still have a lot to do before we hit the road today.
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November 13, 2007 - location: Edwards Air Force Base, CA (N °,'; W °,')
We drove to Edwards AFB yesterday and set-up camp at the FAMCAMP here on base. It's nice and quiet (no trains and not too many planes). The coyotes were howling last night, so we were careful with the dogs. Gerry got the alternator installed that he bought at NAPA yesterday. Now he's over at the auto shop on base working on replacing a shock and welding the broken shackle mount. Then it's just the clutch to fix and the parts should arrive at the NAPA in a nearby town today. Hopefully we'll be on the road tomorrow headed to do some more 4x4-ing.
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November 12, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (N 36°,07.675'; W 117°,20.966')
Bye, bye, Panamint Valley. See you next year, if not before. I've always wanted an early model Bronco (1977 or earlier) because they look cool. Now I want one because it can be made into an awesome rock crawler. I got bit by the crawling bug and can't wait to build a rig of my own to dance with the rocks. By my birthday I hope to have it ready to crawl.
Mom caravaned out to Ridgecrest and down to a picnic spot along the road by Red Rocks State Park. I'll see Mom and Jesse again in a week when we get to Camarillo. In the meantime, there are jeep repairs, laundry, and cleaning to do. If all goes well, we'll be jeeping the "hammers" at Johnson Valley by the end of the week. It's a jeep thing.
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November 11, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (N 36°,07.675'; W 117°,20.966')
Today I drove the jeep back to the Defense Mine, but took the tough way this time. Our friends came along and Max impressed us all with his skill and power of his K5 Blazer. Jesse came along and rode in the Blazer. We had great fun exploring the mine with our headlamps and flashlights. Then Max took a short ride up a tough spot with his truck. After breaking a shackle, he limped down and we headed out. The Jeep's clutch wasn't working and neither was the alternator, so pretty soon the battery was too dead to even push-start. Max pushed the jeep up a hill where he was able to pass Gerry and hook a tow strap on. Max hauled us all the way back to camp and was real happy to show up in camp with our Jeep in tow behind his Blazer. Gerry made a joke about how he was really pushing the Blazer. Must have been a stiff rope. It was too windy to sit by a fire, so we congregated in Mom's RV and chatted for a while, then played cards.
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November 10, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (N 36°,07.675'; W 117°,20.966')
Isham Canyon was a blast! I took lots of photos while Gerry and the other drivers crept up the rocks. It was great to watch different vehicles tackle the tough spots. Gerry did great and his jeep ran like a champ. He caught some air under his left front tire, not just once, but twice. One vehicle broke an axle at the tough, dry-waterfall and we all waited the hour and a half for the repair. Gerry made the tough V-notch look easy and then backed up to give the guy behind him a winch point for the waterfall. We made two new friends, Kenny and Max. Max surprised everyone by acing the course with his blazer. One final hill and up to the top we went. No flat tires, only minor body damage, and a whole bunch of smiles as we snaked our way back to camp and the awaiting BBQ dinner.
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November 9, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (N 36°,07.675'; W 117°,20.966')
Our first official 4x4 trail ride took us up the canyon to the Big Four Mine. After a brief wound, the leader took us out towards the mine. The trip was fairly short distance-wise, but took several hours with all the waiting for vehicles to re-group after a dusty section and slow-picking through tough spots. The mine shafts were visible high in the mountainside from the trail below. Twenty-eight jeeps and one International Scout wound their way over the rocks to the turnaround spot at the base of a large, dry, waterfall. Everyone made it down and only one guy needed a short tow due to a broken front U-joint.
Once back at camp, we signed up for the toughest run of the gathering and will tackle Isham Canyon tomorrow.
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November 8, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (N 36°,07.675'; W 117°,20.966')
I lost my virginity today. Well, my rock-crawling virginity. It's a jeep thing. Not just any 4x4 will do. Custom vehicles are required. It's called "rock-crawling" because the driver puts the 4x4 in 4WD-low and moves at a snail's pace up and over rock waterfalls and large boulders. Vehicles are customized with lower gears, larger tires, locking mechanisms on the axles to keep one of the two wheels from slipping. To me, it's dancing with rocks and since I love rocks, dancing seems natural. When we go up difficult sections, the jeep articulates as one tire grabs a rock, then another tire, then another, and the jeep moves forward as it crawls over the rocks. Tire pressure is real low, often 10 psi, and the tires wrap themselves around the rocks. Going real slow keeps the vehicle from bouncing or kicking rocks out. A well-planned route through the rocks can feel like the gait of a horse as it walks up a hill.
Today's destination was the Defense Mine reached by a 4x4 road out of the Panamint Valley. We went up with our new friend, Richard, and had a blast crawling up the road, touring the mine, picking up rocks, and sharing adventures. Once back at camp, I played a waiting game while Gerry and Richard went into town for parts. Today's waiting game was an anxious one, awaiting the arrival of my mother and niece. The day passed quickly as motorhomes and jeeps poured into the camp area. Eventually one of the rigs carried Mom and Jesse to this desert retreat. Camp set-up was quick and we were soon chatting around a fire. We teamed up to make a dinner of California rolls and tempura shrimp, halibut, and veggies. Yum, yum! That was the last of our Alaskan Halibut from our trip this summer.
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November 7, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (gps coordinates not yet available)
I drove into Ridgcrest today to run some errands and get cell phone service. I had the most shocking car wash experience of my life. In fact, the only shocking one. I prefer to use self-wash places rather than have others wash my truck, so I spotted one as I was coming into town and found it empty. I cleaned out the inside of the truck and the 12V cooler we keep in the back seat. Then when I was preparing to vacuum it, I noticed the machine had an option for upholstry washing. There was a wand attached to the vacuum and you could choose vacuum or wash with a switch. Well, my seats are a little water-stained from the water that leaked through our bathing suits and towels yesterday after going in the hot springs. Washing the seats sounded like a good idea, so I put my quarters in and picked up the wand for washing. Nothing was happening and the picture showed foam coming out. When I turned the wand over to see if there were any signs of life, BAAAMMM....zzzzzz. I was shocked pretty hard. My reflexes threw the wand down as fast as I could and my thumb was throbbing from where I got shocked. I turned the switch back to vacuum, hoping to de-activate the "live" wand. Not wanting to waste my quarters, I started vacuuming the truck out, despite my numb thumb. Just as I was getting ready to put more quarters in, a lady pulled up and parked over by the dumpster. I asked her if she knew who ran the place. She said "I do". I told her I had just gotten shocked by the wash wand. She said "how could that happen, it's broken, didn't you see the sign?". Well, there turned out to be a very faded sign with 1/2 inch printed letters neatly placed in a groove along the front face of the machine. The sign said "wash not working". It said nothing about being "shocking". The woman said "thanks for telling me". She clearly had no concern for my "shocking" experience and turned to walk away. I suggested she remove the wand from the machine to prevent anyone else from getting shocked. She said that wouldn't be possible, but she would have her husband look at it later. In the meantime she intended to put a new "broken" sign on it. I suggested she wrap the wand with tape to cover the metal end where the electrical current came through. I plopped in my quarters and made a remark about loosing time on the first dollar due to my "shock". She went to her car and got duct tape and by the time I was done with my 4-minute vacuum job, she had it all wrapped up to prevent someone else from getting shocked. My thumb was still numb and I didn't personally feel any better, but was glad that no one else would get shocked. She gave me a dollar in quarters for my troubles. I smiled and accepted her quarters, yet finding it hard to believe that she didn't at least offer to turn the car wash machine on for 10 minutes or something. A dollar, give me a break. Maybe she was afraid I was going to sue her.
After I finish my errands, I'll head back to camp and sit back to watch all the RVs and jeeps arrive.
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November 6, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (gps coordinates not yet available)
Today we took a great drive down some of the back roads of Death Valley. Another guy, Richard, arrived early and took the trip with us. We went up to the hot springs of Palm Spring and Lower Warm Spring. They were really impressive, but a far drive to go for a shower and soak. I'll update the site with photos of the place next week. We had a good fire and I cooked spaghetti and kale for dinner under the stars.
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November 5, 2007 - location: Panamint Valley, CA (gps coordinates not yet available)
We made it to Panamint! Gerry has been looking forward to this event for quite some time and we celebrated our arrival last night with a dinner of crab legs and Gerry's favorite chardonay, "Ferrari-Cerano". I surprised him with the wine when dinner was almost ready. What a perfect ending to a great day! Okay, there was one part of the day that wasn't so great. We offered to help out with preparing for the event and our task of today was digging out the BBQ pit. We got it done and Ray, the guy in charge of the event, helped out a bit. I can almost taste the BBQ already. They bury the meat in a pit and cover with a steel plate and hardwood to cook for a day or two. The BBQ is Saturday night and I bet it'll be good.
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November 4, 2007 - location: Fairgrounds RV Park, Ridgecrest, CA (N 35°,36.719'; W 117°,38.828')
We are sitting outside the local historical museum waiting for it to open. Last night we stayed in a concrete city of packed RVs. Not our style, but it was nice to charge up all the batteries and get ready for being remote in the Panamint Valley desert. There was a gem and mineral show at the fairgrounds this weekend, so it was convenient to walk over and peruse the displays. We brought the dogs and no one minded. Everyone loved the dogs and wanted to pet them. Bernie is a little anti-social, but Honey is much better than when we got her a year ago. She goes right up to people and doesn't cow when they try to pet her. Sometimes she runs the other way, but I think it's because she's interested in sniffing elsewhere. The dogs got a bath this morning and smell and look good. Bernie is doing much better with the baths. This time he sat in the sink and didn't try to escape. Washing Honey first seems to help because he sits there watching as I watch her. Well, off to the museum to learn about local history.
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November 3, 2007 - location: Spangler Hills, CA (N 35°,33.533'; W 117°,33.542')
Today we broke camp and headed into town. It took less than half an hour to town, even with the slow going for a half mile of dirt road. We went to the gym first and then shopped before heading to set-up a campsite at the fairground campground. This campground has full hook-up and laundry, so we're getting everything charged up and clean before hitting the desert again. Now I'm doing laundry while Gerry patches the gas tank on the jeep. It started leaking again recently and rather than remove it for a complete repair, he is patching it to get us through the next two weeks. Tomorow we'll be in Panamint Valley, only an hour and a half from where we are camped now.
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November 2, 2007 - location: Spangler Hills, CA (N 35°,33.533'; W 117°,33.542')
The jeep did great today on the back trails south of the Spangler Hills OHV area. Some of the trails were really steep and the jeep crawled up with no problems. I tried to walk up one and almost needed a rope thrown to me. Unfortunately I left my camera at camp, so no photos of todays escapades in the mountains. There will be plenty of jeep pictures next week. We spent the afternoon sitting around camp in the sun. I started James Mitchner's book, "Chesapeake". I am really enjoying it so far. The dogs love exploring around all the large granite boulders here. Bernie will grab a stick and jump up on one of the rocks to tear it apart. I guess he feels safe up there. It's leftover chili for dinner tonight.
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November 1, 2007 - location: Spangler Hills, CA (N 35°,33.533'; W 117°,33.542')
We found a great place to camp in the Spangler Hills OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) area near Ridgecrest, CA. There were lots of places people have used and we picked a site behind some rocks, but still with good sun for our solar panel. It was quiet last night and we enjoyed our campfire. Gerry picked up some King Crab legs and we boiled them up for dinner last night. Yum, yum!
Today we are going to do some exploring in the jeep and try to get to the Trona Pinnacles National Landmark. We plan to stay here three days, so we are going to take them leisurely.
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