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Rialta

Let there be light.

I’m a sailor. Having spent a lot of time anchored in out of the way places I am familiar with rationing water and electricity. If you use your 12volt cabin lights a lot, you have to recharge the batteries. On the boat, that meant running the engine long enough to charge the batteries. This was ok because it also chilled the zero degree holding plated in the freezer. In cooler weather I burned oil lamps in the cabin for light to save battery (and make heat).
I figure that traveling in the T.O.A.D. isn’t much different. Oh sure, we do have a generator if we choose to run it. And the refrigerator will operate using 12v, 110v or propane so it doesn’t need to deplete the house batteries. But lighting in the coach still has the same issues. High battery draw and heat. Those automotive type bulbs can really put out some BTUs.
Here is my solution: 12v LED bulbs. Yesterday I swapped out several of the old incandescent bulbs with LEDs. They draw only a 10th of the power and are oh so bright and white. I mean white as in a cooler white similar to the old fluorescent tubes. Not warm like the original bulbs. Bright. Very bright. I put one in the lamp over the easy chair where I expect reading a book in the evening will be easy on the eyes.
Have a merry Christmas, Y’all.

Uncategorized

Video???

To be honest, I have never done any video imagery. It just hasn’t appealed to me. So, I am way behind the curve (again).
I think I want a way to easily record some video along my travels. After looking at this video stuff, I realized that I could film the trip and then I could film the subjects that I am shooting . And of course I can capture selfies of me and the dog doing our Art On The Run thing. And with the proper camera, I can even do so in the rain or under water.
The Cadillac of these so called action cameras is the GoPro line. Way too rich for my novice blood. After all, I may not care for this video stuff and toss it into the corner where it’ll sit until I stumble across it years later and sell it at a huge loss on eBay.
Which brings me to this. I picked up an SJ4000 camera with wi-fi for about a third the price of a GoPro. It comes with waterproof housing, all sorts of attachment gadgets and very little documentation. I figure I can experiment with it and learn if it is something I want to add to my bag of tricks.

This is this first video I recorded. The Sj4000 was suction cupped to my dash board of the Honda Fit while I drove up to the parking lot at Brasstown Bald.
I discovered afterwards that I missed one of those pesky clear vinyl protectors they stick to every screen, etc.. This one was covering the lens window in the waterproof housing which I happened to be using (though it wasn’t necessary). Imagine how much better the video might have been if I’d removed it.
Well, it is food for thought, isn’t it? I’m pretty sure I won’t become a threat to the accomplished videographers of the world!

Heartland Road Tour

Wow, planking works.

It crossed my mind recently that once we are on the road I won’t have my bowflex handy so I’ll have to find some new ways to exercise. Of course I expect to hike often and keep active but that won’t be enough. I’ll probably refresh my Tai Chi routine but that also won’t be enough.
I tried planking this morning! WOW! I have never, ever exercised without moving and worked so many different muscles. I like it. I can plank in the T.O.A.D. regardless of the weather or where we’re parked.
I will incorporate planking in my mobile exercise routine.

Events

What do I need to document my next trip?

I thought a photograph of the dog and me behind the camera every once in awhile might be good. Having only one DSLR (currently a Nikon D7000) I need a way to capture an image of me using it.
Hey, I have an Apple iPhone and it has a pretty nice camera built in. The newest camera app even has a self timer in it. Do I really want to prop up the camera somewhere and start the self timer and then run to my spot to grab a self image? Not if I can find another way.
I’ve purchased several items to help me accomplish this.

Joby makes a slick little spring loaded device to hold your phone that has a standard tripod mount. I can put it on my monopod if I want and shoot a selfie from more than an arm’s length away 🙂

While I was at it, I found a Joby GP3 Gorillia Pod, a flexible tripod that will hold up to 6 pounds. I can use it for both the iPhone and maybe my Nikon. We’ll see. I ordered it from a Chinese outfit who doesn’t have the best feed back regarding shipping times. I’ll let you know how it works out.

I also ordered a SPARK Electronics Bluetooth remote trigger for the iPhone. It will save me from running back and forth, setting the timed release on the iPhone.

If you decide to purchase either of these items, please use the Amazon link I provide here. I’ll earn a tiny fee for referring you which will help with traveling expenses.
Thanks
Paul.

Heartland Road Tour

Closer and closer

Each day we’re inching ever closer to departure: Heartland Road Tour.
Yesterday I ordered spark plugs and plug wires. The current plugs have around 80,000 miles and the wires have never been changed. Replacing them may just bump my fuel economy a bit. Although I’m not complaining about the 17 to 20 mpg I’m getting now.
This morning I washed and waxed the roof. I figure that the T.O.A.D. Should look good for the shakedown run to Florida in a few weeks. I’ll start on the sides tomorrow. Oh, while I was up there, I snugged down the rotating television antenna. It was pretty loose on its pivot. I’ll probably never use it as I have no TV in there but I figured it should still work properly.
I think that’s it for the day. I’m off to a friend’s place to cut and split some firewood.

Heartland Road Tour

Help me plan the Heartland Road Tour 2015

I need your help!
Late March or early April I’m heading west. And then north, east and south.
This is a photography trip and the dog and I are traveling in the RV. I am looking for input for places to visit, people to meet and places to stay.

I’d like to visit Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Utah on the first leg of the journey. then maybe up to the North West for a while.  After that, I think it would be fun to hop scotch across the Canadian border while heading east to check out New England.

We are looking for national and state parks where we can camp while exploring. However, the dog and I are perfectly comfortable with driveway camping along the way.  So, if you or someone you know has space for a small T.O.A.D. (22′ Winnebago Rialta) in the driveway, we’re happy to make new friends, meet people and pick up a bit of local intel along the way.  Maybe you can direct us to a great place to shoot some photographs.

[si-contact-form form=’3′]

Heartland Road Tour

Lets get down to planning the trip

Finally! I’ve spent a fair amount of time going through the T.O.A.D. getting it ready to ride.  I’m feeling pretty good about it’s mechanicals and am looking forward to getting on the road for the Heartland Road Tour.  I want to embark on the trip late March or early April.  YAY!!!

This gives me the whole winter to research locations, accommodations and people around North America to add to the itinerary.  Uh, that’s the itinerary that is currenty a clean slate.

Speaking of accommodations, Dog and I are perfectly comfortable with driveway camping along the way.  So, if you or someone you know has space for a small T.O.A.D. (22′ Winnebago Rialta) in the driveway, we’re happy to make new friends, meet people and pick up a bit of local intel along the way.  Maybe you can direct us to a great place to shoot some photographs.

I’d like to visit Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Utah on the first leg of the journey. then maybe up to the North West for a while.  After that, I think it would be fun to hop scotch across the Canadian border while heading east to check out New England.

Gosh! Can I squeeze all that into a single Road Tour?  Well, I have the winter to figure that out, huh?

[si-contact-form form=’3′]

 




Heartland Road Tour

T.O.A.D. progress

The Achilles heel of the Winnebago Rialta is its transmission. I’ve been especially nervous with this because it has 150,000 miles on it and none of the service receipts (I have a lot of them) indicated that the transmission fluid was changed. Yikes!
The reason it is the Achilles heel is this: VW (the chassis builder) bolted a tiny metal box about 9″x6″ directly to the transmission that allowed the fluid to flow in one bolt, through 4 small tubes and then out the other bolt. They connected the box to the engine coolant lines to control the temperature. All this accomplished was to insure that the transmission fluid was hotter than the engine. Much hotter at times.
I removed the “box” and installed a cooler kit purchased from Makco Transmission Parts. Now the fluid flows from the transmission to a separate air cooled unit mounted in front of the radiator.
Holy cow! The transmission fluid is now substantially cooler than the engine coolant and it fluctuates independently of the engine temperature. For example, when driving to my house after everything had warmed up I used to see a transmission fluid temperature of 250 degrees as I created the last hill before my driveway. Now I am seeing 168 degree transmission fluid at that spot while the engine temperature is around 200 degrees.
With this cooler installed, I am no longer nervous about stressing the transmission and am looking forward to getting in the road.
Ciao
Paul

Events

Blue Ridge Arts In The Park

So, Arts In The Park has come and gone. The weather was a mixed bag of tricks, rain one minute and sunshine the next. In spite of the rain, we had a good crowd and I met some great folks including new neighbors.
The ground became soggy enough to turn into mud and the art center spread hay which only helped marginally.
However, it was warm enough for shorts and as always the air was fresh and the mountains were beautiful. I’m sure the people who came from out of town enjoyed their weekend.
Thanks for stopping and visiting.

Heartland Road Tour

Update on the motor home.

While my mind has been wandering across the country exploring places to visit on the Heartland Road Tour, I’ve been right here at home getting the Rialta (T.O.A.D. check out the name in another post here on the site) ready to roll.

I’ve changed the transmission fluid which is no small feat thanks to V.W. not including a dipstick or any reasonable way to add or check fluid.

I located a master calendar in Great Britian and now have it here to install.

I bought a transmission cooler and will install and the master cylinder it in January when I visit Florida. Oh, and spark plugs too.

There was a rust problem on the post between the passenger door and windshield. I guess that part faced the Gulf of Mexico at its former home. This has now been repaired and painted. I didn’t want it to deteriorate.

As you see, I’ve been busy making sure the TOAD will be road worthy when we depart for parts unknown.