Royal Gorge, Colorado - Back in the Mountains!

Dean  (the husband)
Shalane  (the wife  :O)

OBJECTS ARE FARTHER THAN THEY APPEAR!  That is the sign that should appear as you enter Colorado.  As soon as we saw the mountains in the distance, I felt like we were getting close.  After what seemed to be two more hours of driving, the mountains still appeared to be the same size and the same distance away.  However, I am happy to report that we finally made it!  I'm sure that even a blind person knows when they've hit the mountains!  You can smell it!  And you can feel it!  It was SO much cooler, there was very little humidity, and the smell was intoxicating!  

The next task was to find the Royal Gorge Campground that was listed on freecampgrounds.com .  The directions were, to say the least, a little confusing.  The problem was that they started with telling us to locate “Buckskin Joe’s.”  We knew that if we could find that, the rest would be simple.  However, “Buckskin Joe’s” evidently closed it doors a while ago.  As the sun was setting, we finally found what looked to be an entrance to a previously operational theme park.  Sure enough, upon closer examination, we discovered the very faded words, “Buckskin Joe’s.”   At this point, following the directions was easy, and we made our way to the campground.  To our fellow boondockers and wild campers, this campground is one of the BEST free campgrounds  we've ever seen!  The views are breathtaking, and it's clean and has large sites.  We didn't need our air conditioner since we are back up in the mountains, but we did use our fan the entire night powered by the solar generator. We are loving it!  :O)

Today was spent in an amazing place called The Royal Gorge, just outside of Canon City, Colorado.  We plan to go back tonight, so I will save our report for tomorrow’s post.  It’s wonderful to be back in the mountains!  (We even had to put our jackets on this morning!!!) Happy Trails!

Day 3 Crossing Utah, Heading to Kansas (Looking Into the Past Before Moving Forward)

Dean  (the husband)
Shalane  (the wife  :O)

Although we didn’t take in many miles today toward our Kansas destination, we just couldn’t pass up the chance to check out Mesa Verde National Park.  For those of you unfamiliar with this National Park, it’s the one that showcases the cliff dwelling Native Americans of long ago.   As a history teacher I am fascinated by the story that’s told.  I, being scared of heights, decided that the Native Americans that lived clinging to the side of the cliffs were straight up out of their minds!

Let me back up.  To begin the day, we visited the Workforce Services office where I used to work  in Blanding, Utah.  I worked there about 15 years ago, and I was hoping that some of my old co-workers would still be there.  No such luck.  However, it turned out that the son of my supervisor is now the head man there.  It was fun to share with him a couple of my stories about his father.   I stayed in the truck, and admired all of the beautiful pictures I had taken.  :O) 

Next in our journey was a trip to Monticello, Utah, where we once called home.  We found the apartment building where we lived when we first moved there.  It was even worst than it was back then.   The kids were 2 and 4 when we lived there, so it was strange to see it again after so many years.  I remember when my parents would drive by places and tell us about how old we were when we used to live there and generally revisit memory lane.  It was SO boring, and it made them seem VERY old.  I was kinda feeling old today when Dean and I were now doing the same thing.  We then went to the house that we had bought those many years ago.  It is now an empty lot as it had been torn down for some sort of commercial development.  So much for reliving the good ole’ days.  DJ’s preschool was still there.  He was so cute, still is! 

We then made our way to the National Park.  As we drove through that park and viewed the "little towns" built into the side of the mountains, I kept trying to imagine what it must have been like to live like that so many years ago.  As I sit in my chair writing this blog, I can’t help wonder if I am really roughing it.   I have a solar generator, solar shower, and solar oven  in which to cook.  We are in an awesome boondocking area in a national forest between Mancos and Durango, Colorado.  There are no amenities here.  That’s why it is free, I guess.  However, I do feel like I’m cheating when compared to what the Native Americans had.  (We stayed in the San Juan National Forrest, off Cherry Creek Rd, just west of Durango.)

Tomorrow, we will go across our highest mountain pass yet, as we cross the Continental Divide.  I’m sure my wife will have another 200 pictures to choose from for our blog.  Do I hear a TONE of mocking or perhaps sarcasm?  He’s jealous of my skills, it’s clear.  I could try to teach him how to use the camera as well as I do, but I just don‘t have that kind of patients.  Lol  Just kidding, Babe! Dean‘s right.  I do LOVE taking pictures, and I am slightly protective of my camera.  :O)   We’ll "see" you tomorrow!  Happy Trails!

The six reasons why we chose a Solar Generator over a Gas Generator

 Dean (the husband) Shalane (the wife)

Since our blog is all about going 'green', you are probably wondering why a solar generator would have 5 other reasons other than just that, going green.  There are a number of things that came under consideration, and here they are:

1. UPKEEP COSTS ARE MUCH LESS

Although a gas generator with as much or more power can cost much less upfront ($300 to $1500), looking at the big picture, after adding the cost of gas, oil, spark plugs etc.,  the upkeep cost could really add up quickly if I were to use the generator often.  (I plan to use it almost daily.) The Powersource 1800 solar generator that I chose cost $1697 but has no costs to operate it.  (The batteries may need to be replaced after 5+ years, but that is all that I can think of for extra costs.)  

2. SOLAR GENERATORS CAN BE USED INSIDE

  I can use a solar generator indoors.  With a loud, pollution filled gas generator that would not be an option.

3. SOLAR GENERATORS ARE NOT RESTRICTED

Tied to that, a solar generator can be used in virtually all campgrounds, because it doesn't smell or make any noise. (The only noise I hear is when a tiny fan kicks on sometimes to keep the generator coo.l)  There are resrtictions at many campgrounds about gas generator use.  

4. STARTS PAYING FOR ITSELF IMMEDIATELY

It will cut back on utility bills.  As full time RVers, we often stay in one place months at a time and pay a monthly fee for the site, but we pay a separate fee for electricity.  By plugging in our laptop, lamps, fan, etc., to the generator, it's a great way to save.

5. GREAT FOR USE IN AN EMERGENCY

I will be able to use the solar generator in almost any emergency situation.  For instance, after an ice storm it can sometimes take a few days to get electric power back, but  I won't have to worry about conquering icy roads to get gas.   If the entire grid goes down, I won't have to worry about whether or not I have the fuel I need.

6. FINALLY, IT IS GOOD FOR THE EARTH

 It runs off of a renewable resource and it does not throw off pollutants, so I can feel good about going green and doing our small part in saving our earth's environment.  

Now, I do want to point out a couple of things that you should know.   If you plan on using it ONLY in emergency situations, don't just buy it and stick it in the closet until you need it.  I say this, not because it is difficult to set up, but because it must be charged using an electric current, and then depleted, at least 3 times before you plug in the solar panel.

Lastly, the time that it takes to recharge the solar generator is about 5 hours, so it's good to plan a little ahead of time when you're going to need it.  Obviously, this is just an average.  With more directly sunlight it could be less and with a cloudy day it could be more.  Overall, we have been VERY pleased with this generator.  I did hours upon hours of research before choosing this particular model and have not regretted the decision.  Again, if I've missed anything, or if you have any specific questions, please leave a comment, and I will be happy to respond.

I have to add that when Dean told me what he was buying and how much it cost, I wasn't so sure it was a great idea.  I didn't think a solar generator could produce much power, and I thought the panel would be too cumbersome and too fragile. I also couldn't imagine that it would be small enough or quiet enough to use in the RV.  I was wrong on all accounts.  My husband was right on the money with this one, and I'm so glad we have it.  I guess he's more than just a pretty face.  :O)  He's also good for baiting my hooks and cleaning the fish I catch.  He doesn't catch as many as I do, because he's too busy taking the fish off my pole.  As it turns out, he's smart, handsome and handy.  :O)  Oh, we did post a link for the Powersource 1800 if you want to check it out.  They should totally pay us for this awesome ad we just posted for them.  I don't know what our blog will be about tomorrow, but, until then, Happy Trails! 

Working with our solar oven

Dean (the husband)  Shalane (the wife)

Yesterday, we cooked food with our solar oven.  It was our first attempt at it, and I think it was a success.  It was a couple of eggs which we made into an egg sandwich.  It was good.  It did take about 45 minutes, but it proved to me that it can be done.  The eggs didn't look done, so, by the time I took them out, they were hard enough for an egg sandwich.  That wasn't my original intent, but that's ok.  Point being, over medium, which is what I was shooting for, would probably only take about 35-40 minutes.  I shouldn't have taken a picture of them!  What was I thinking?  :O)  Here are a few things that I learned my first time out.  1) Set the pan or skillet on a small rack to give the hot air the opportunity to circulate underneath.  2) It is very important that you use a black (or dark) pan or skillet.  3)  Have patience because it will take a little time to get it hot.  He's talking to me here.  Patience is not my strong suit.  It doesn't produce instant heat as it is not sitting on a flame. Still, I was excited to see that it does work.  I also heated a pot of water.  It was extremely hot although it did not boil.  Still, if I had a can of stew and needed to get it to the point that I could have a hot meal, this would definitely work.   I do feel like if we were somewhere boondocking and firewood was not available or allowed, this would work great for a hot meal. You just have to start your lunch right when you're finished with breakfast.  I'm gonna try some roast and potatoes soon.  I'll start them early in the morning and let you know how many days it takes. lol  Just kidding.  I think they'll be ready for dinner if I cut the meat and potatoes in small pieces.  I'm actually really looking forward to trying it! I like the solar oven that we chose, as it is very light weight (around a pound), less than a $100, comes in a very small carrying case, set up  takes less than a minute.  Now, I know there are other more expensive solar ovens that are much better in terms of producing more heat, but I didn't want to load down the truck with a bulky, heavier item. Needless to say, if anything happens where we have no access to another heat source, I will be glad that I have this oven. He's right!  I wanted a bigger, better one, but this one serves it's purpose and is super easy to lug around.  This is an area where I know that my wife and I will disagree, but I am sure she will let you know how she feels about it.  :) Mostly I just disagree on the fact that he doesn't put a nose on his smiley faces.  My smiley face has a nose.  :O)  Anyway, we'll let you know how the cooking goes.  Until then, happy trails!

Greendockin' - Boondocking With a Twist



Dean (the husband) 

Sunset in Pioche, NV

 Shalane (the wife)
Alot of people might be wondering what the word, 'Greendocking' or the way we put it "Greendockin'" means. Well, it's tied to the word "Boondocking" which is when a camper is camping without any utility hookups such as electricity, water, or sewer. We use the term Greendocking instead of boondocking to imply that while doing so, we do everything we can to help the environment by using renewable resources. For example, we provide electricity through a portable solar generator and cook using our solar oven whenever we can. We also have a solar shower for hot water. A lot of people will use a generator while out in the "boonies," but this takes gas and makes alot of noise. All that noise takes away from the quiet, peaceful reason for being out in nature for you and for anyone near you. The portable solar generator takes about 6 hours to recharge using the solar panel. I can then run a lot of different things on it as it comes with 5 places to plug in. The solar panel takes just a couple of minutes to set up and plug into the back of the generator. Don't get me wrong, the Powersource 1800 generator that I have will not run a full sized refrigerator, but I can run a tv, laptop, lamp, etc. with it just fine.

We are certainly not the first ones to do it.  People have been Greendockin' for quite awhile, we just coined the phrase.  We are excited to be able to live these adventures and are MOST excited to be doing it in an earth friendly way.  Dean and I look forward to  meeting some of you that are just getting started with Greendockin' and some of you that have been doing it for years!  We're so glad to have you along, and we thank you for your support.  Happy Trails!

The portable solar oven that we use is very light weight and is perfect to travel with. It is a lot like a slow cooker or crock pot. We're still experimenting with ours and will report on later after we've used it a little more. However, you don't have to look around much on the internet to see that many people have had great success with solar cooking, and it's a great way to use our natural, renewable resources.  We have yet to try our solar shower. We did purchase a portable shower house to use as a restroom.  When there are neighbors around, we have some privacy for our showers, potty breaks and changing clothes.  Again, we'll give more reviews on these products after we have had a chance to make use of them more.  Also, I will be happy to answer any specific questions you may have if you drop a comment at the bottom of the blog. Furthermore, we would love for you to leave comments of advise, ideas, and things that have worked for you.  We hope to be able to give more tips in our blogs, like how to stay warm on the coldest of nights and the best recipes for solar oven. 

Being Prepared (First Time Greendockin' Part IV)

Dean (the husband)  Shalane (the wife :O)

At this point, I  would like to be able to say that we had a nice, enjoyable drive home, BUT about 10 miles down the road the left front tire blew. Changing a diesel truck tire in the middle of the afternoon in the hot California desert is not my idea of a good time, but it did get done. I put on the spare only to realize that the was very, very low.   I did my part too.  :O) I held a sun umbrella over Dean's head and made sure he drank plenty of water. 

Fortunately, I brought along our portable tire compressor, and, after another 30 minutes filling the tire,  we were back on the road and headed home.  We used the solar generator to power the compressor.  We had juiced it up that morning while we were packing. By the way, men look kinda sexy when they're doin' manly stuff like changing a tire, so there are benefits for you guys in doing all that manual labor.  ;O)

I have had a few people ask me if I will give some specific info on the "green" products that we have been using like what brand they are and how easy they are to setup and use. I will share my reviews on these products in future blogs. We're really pretty new to solar power and many of the gadgets that we are working with.  We feel that it's important to make use of these things several times before recommending them to anyone else.  So far we have had some really good experiences, so you will probably see us giving more details soon on the products that have worked well for us and where you can go to get them.  Until then, Happy Trails!