Dormobile Adventures

Baja for Christmas 2017 and New Year 2018

2018-05-23T21:20:00.002-07:00

We crossed the border at Mexicali...

then drove along the border fence from the Mexican side:

Our view the first morning in Mexico:

Driving on the beach in Gonzaga Bay:

Cocos Corner

Santa found us on our remote beach campsite

Can you find our Dormobile in this picture?

Waking up in an oasis in the desert:

In the square of San Javier, BCS:

Another beach camp:

Gearbox swap

2018-05-23T20:55:00.001-07:00

We have been lazy about updating this blog. The original gearbox was getting sloppy and popping out of gear on the overrun, so we installed an ex-MOD rebuild Series 3 gearbox and transfer case in the fall of 2016.

Out with the old...

...and we forgot to take photos of putting in the new. :(

Big Bend National Park for New Years 2014

2018-05-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Some photos from our trip:

No trip to west Texas is complete without visiting the Prada store west of Marfa.

Hot springs on the Rio Grande.

On River Road with the Chisos Mountains as the backdrop.

Looking north from our campsite across the river into Mexico, with the USA in the background.

The Knots from the Overland Expo West 2014

2014-05-22T09:08:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful time at the Overland Expo. Grace introduced the new Junior Overland Explorer program and taught the class, "I Can Knot, You Will Knot."

Here are some of the knots:

Overhand Knot

Slipknot

Figure 8 Knot

Figure 8 in a Bight

This knot is an alternative to the bowline and is used if you need a non-slipping loop.

Two Half-Hitches

We frequently use this for one end of a guy rope on a tent or awning.

Taut-line hitch

We use this at the other end of the guy rope, the loop goes around the tent peg or a tree. The knot can slide up and down the guy line to adjust the tension.

Bunt Line Hitch

A bit harder to tie than the two half hitches, it holds better, especially on slippery rope.

More Knots!

If you are interested, here are some resources for further reading:

A Few Good Knots, by Forbes Pettigrew

This is a free, open source book.

A site with good pictures even though it is in Dutch. Duncan Barbour suggested it.

Southern Utah for Fall Break

2013-11-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have 5 nights of permits in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park during the government shutdown in October. So, we had to come up with another plan. We decided to go explore some of the BLM sites in southern Utah.

As we were not visiting the Maze district, we decided to take our pickup truck and tent, since a 10 hour drive to Utah is very long in the Dormobile.

Our first stop was Monument Valley. We told Grace to act like she was running, since this is the iconic Forest Gump scene. Grace was perplexed, since she has never seen the movie.

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We spent two nights on Cedar Mesa. We hiked into Yellow Ruin.

You can still see the reeds that were tied around the beams in the ruins. We had never seen this before.

Thousand year old finger prints. We just sat there and tried to picture what it was like to build this and live here.

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You buy guidebooks and the directions are vague at best, so it takes some initiative, many maps, and luck to find the ruins. We hiked up, down, and under in Slickhorn Canyon to try to find the "Perfect Kiva." After about 3 miles, the sun was starting to set, so we never found it, but did find some other ruins and pictographs. They were nothing spectacular.

This ramp was so cool. It was almost imperceptible, but lead us right out onto the top of the canyon. Hiking back on the rim was much easier than along the ledges in the canyon. We marked it on our GPS, so the next time we will hike out to this point and start looking again.

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The next day we headed over to Comb Ridge to find Over/Under Ruins. The hike was suppose to be easy and take at most 2 hours. That is probably true if you find the ruins. Didn't find what we were looking for, but found some unexcavated ruins, pottery, and pictographs.

Grace with a few of the pictographs.

The hand print from my Teva's.

We have not been to many unexcavated ruins and we were amazed at how much pottery was there. Thousands and thousands of pieces. For the first time, I could understand why people a hundred years ago thought, "It is just one piece" and took some home. We left it all there for others to see.

In the next alcove over we found more ruins, and these really cool steps that were carved into the side of the cliff.

Lots of Matates in the stone.

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Southern Utah is such an amazing place. So many different landscapes. Around every turn, you find something new. We decided to explore two of the State Parks and they did not disappoint.

Goblin Valley State Park

Grace exploring among the Goblins.

One of the trails in Kodachrome Basin State Park. This park was actually named with Kodak film's permission in the 1950's.

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On Friday morning we found out Bryce Canyon was going to open up at 3pm and Zion National Park was going to open up Saturday at 8am. Even though our plan was to head home on Friday, we switched gears and stayed another night and went to Bryce Canyon.

Bryce is one of a kind. It was very nice and we had most viewpoints to ourselves, since the park had been closed.

Grace becoming a Junior Ranger at Bryce Canyon.

James and I loved Zion National Park and were excited to share it with Grace. In the late 90's we did an overnight through hike in the narrows, and despite my fear of heights, I even made it up Angel's Landing. This trip was a little different. We had to take a shuttle into the canyon and then were herded between fences at the stops. I kind of felt like we were being herded at Disneyland. I spoke to a ranger about this and they told me they have over 3 million visitors a year, so I guess they have to do something.

A window in the famous Zion - Mt. Carmel Highway Tunnel.

Overland Expo 2013

2013-09-17T13:47:00.005-07:00

By Grace Howard

Age - 12

I taught at the Overland Expo again this year. This year I taught by myself (with the help of my parents) and this made it more fun.

My favorite and most successful class was Knot tying: It's not just for kids. Amazingly on Friday we had more adults than kids. We cut 45 ropes and they were all gone by the end of Friday’s class.

On Friday one girl who participated in the class, went home that night and practiced the knots until she knew them and could do them as well as me. She came back on Saturday and showed me how well she could do the knots. Then she helped with the class on Saturday!!

We found out on Saturday that Andy Dacey and Duncan Barbour, from the Camel Trophy had been recommending my class. What a compliment!

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Last year Andy and Duncan taught me several knots while building a stationary bridge. This year I got to help Andy and Duncan build the floating bridge.

Tying up sections of the floating bridge.

The finished floating bridge.

I got to run the winch for putting the final sections of the floating bridge into place.

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I also taught a journaling class. I talked a little about how kids could journal their adventures and then we made Zebra journals.

I want to teach knot tying again next year, but with different knots. I hope to see you there!

Grace is teaching at the Overland Expo

2013-04-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that Grace will be teaching, once again, at the Overland Expo.

Journaling for Kids—Zebra style - Saturday 10am

In this fun hands-on class, Grace will teach techniques for helping kids to

effectively journal. Then, they will make their very own zebra journals to

use on their next adventures. Supplies included.

I Can Knot, I will Knot: Knot-tying for kids - Friday and Saturday 11am

Come learn to tie basic knots in a game setting. Then learn how to tie down tents, awnings or anything so it won’t blow away. We think there are quite a few adults at the Overland Expo who need this class.

Grace has been an instructor for the last Overland Expos with a group of girls. This year she is striking out on her own. Please come join Grace (and her parents) at the Expo. We look forward to meeting you!

Grace's Expo Bio:

Twelve-year-old Grace Howard spends her weekdays attending Basis School in Tucson and her weekends and holidays camping, hiking, and traveling. She is a Junior Ranger at 24 National Parks, has been to 18 states and once spent 2 weeks with her parents touring Japan. Her favorite activity at the 2012 Expo was learning how to build a bridge from the Camel Trophy folks using nothing but rope and logs. Grace owns a 1968 Land Rover Dormobile that she lets her parents use.

How to Change Oil in a Car

2013-03-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Grace was assigned to write a "How to" article in her English class. How many sixth grade girls do you know that turn in a "How to Change Oil in a Car" article?

How to Change Oil in a Car

Are you tired of paying a lot just to get your oil changed? By replacing the oil and oil filter yourself, you will lower your car maintenance costs.

First, you will need to get the right filter and oil for your car. Next, put an oil pan that will catch the oil, under the filter. After that, loosen the old filter and let it drain. Make sure none of the oil is going down a flat piece of metal. Remove the filter entirely and let it drain some more. Make sure you put the oil pan under the oil plug. Now pull the plug. This drains the engine of oil. You have removed everything that needs to be removed. You are now half way through.

Next, replace the oil filter. Make sure that it is on tight. Do not take the oil filter out of the box until you are ready to put it on. The filter will get dirty and reduce the lifetime of your filter.

Lastly, you will need to refill the oil. Open the oil container lid and set the lid down. Very carefully, pour the oil into the hole. You will need more than one bottle. Most bottles will sit right in there.

You have now changed the oil on your car. Make sure you go in order. First, you remove the old filter. Second, you replace the filter. Last, refill the oil. If you follow the steps you will inexpensively and easily change your filter.

Who Needs a Gym Membership? Drive a Dormobile!!

2012-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

I have discovered some built in features that were not in the original brochure.

No power steering - upper body workout,
No syncro mesh - lower body workout,
No air conditioning - sauna,
Right-hand drive - hand eye coordination
Broken lock on driver side door - Yoga - to get in and out the passenger door.

Bridge Building with the Camel Trophy Guys

2012-06-10T10:27:00.003-07:00

At the Overland Expo 2012

By Grace Howard

In the past, I have gone on trails, driven Rovers, gone camping and spotted vehicles, but I never thought I would build a bridge with Camel Trophy guys. This year at the Overland Expo I did. On Saturday, after teaching and a good lunch I went over to the Camel Trophy Area. There Andy Dacey and Duncan Barbour taught me how to build a bridge.

Duncan and I lashing two logs together.

The first step is to cut four logs about the same length. Then put two next to each other. Next you tie a timber hitch around one and start wrapping the rope around several times. Then you frap it. While frapping one person beats on the rope with a stick and another person pulls on the rope to get it even tighter. Two of the four logs had already been lashed together. I found out that other AZLRO people had lashed those logs together. The people that helped in the morning were Ryan Hemphill, Bob Kolander and Craig & Davin Ludwig.

After frapping you use a winch to move the logs into place.

Here is some "Man Heaving"

Otherwise you, “Man heave it!” as Duncan put it. Duncan is funny!

As we were working over a trench, one person said, “I would just drive my car around the trench!” and someone else said “That’s not how we do it when there are Camel Trophy guys around.” Some people just don’t know how to have fun!!

They winched the two set of logs across and we fastened them to the ground. I worked with Duncan to show everyone how to fasten the logs in place.

I helped Andy make sure we placed the logs in the right place, by measuring the wheels of the Defender. I used a rope and measured from the center of the front tires.

Then my Mom, Dad and I worked on another set and fastened it in place. It was fun to work together as a family. My Mom and I were the only girls who helped with the bridge.

Then they drove a Camel Trophy Defender across.

Then they drove a remote control Camel Trophy Defender across as well. It was really funny when they let Duncan drive the remote control car. The remote control car was looking like it was going to fall off. So, there were lots of comments like, “Camel Trophy guys never give up,” “Camel Trophy guys never go backward.” To this Duncan said, “Save your vehicle, not your pride!” It was one of my favorite things I heard all weekend. So many times guys are macho on the trail and do crazy things.

It was great fun!! Something I never want to do for real, but I now know how to tie a timber hitch and overhand knot, I know what frapping is, and I got to spend a great afternoon working as a team with awesome people.

Viewing the Sun Safely

2012-05-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Warning! Do not look directly at the Sun with your remaining eye! Seriously, you can lose your eyesight by looking at the sun, especially if you do it through binoculars.

There are several techniques for viewing the sun safely. One of the best is eyepiece projection, which we used to view the partial solar eclipse at the 2012 Overland Expo near Flagstaff, Arizona.

A pair of binoculars were placed on a tripod. A screen was made by taping a white sheet of paper to a box lid, and placed in the shadow of the binoculars about 3 meters back. The binoculars were pointed at the sun (NEVER look through them when you do this!) - this takes some fussing but you can tell where they are pointing by the way the shadow of the binoculars looks on the screen. Once the sun is found, you will have two images. Cover one of the lenses with a cap if you find this annoying. To improve contrast, a cardboard shield with two holes in it can be added around which casts a shadow on the screen. Finally, adjust the focus. You may see some black spots on the image. These are sunspots, and each one you see is much larger than the size of the Earth.

Grace demonstrating eyepiece projection. Note the image of the partial eclipse on the screen.

Spring Break in the Chiricahua Mts.

2012-03-26T12:04:00.068-07:00

This year for Spring Break we decided to go visit the Chiricahua Mts. in southern Arizona. James and I visited Chiricahua National Monument in 1996, but it was time to take Grace. We were very curious about how things would be since the Horseshoe 2 fire last summer.

We headed to the monument and found a campsite at the Bonita Campground. It was nice, but the sites are way too close together for our liking. The bathrooms in a CCC-built building were very nice with new tile and flush toilets.

First we went to the visitor's center to pick up Grace's Junior Ranger booklet. Then we drove the road up into the park and stopped along the way. It truly is a "Wonderland of Rocks"

Massai Pt

Here is Grace looking at the China Boy formation. Grace couldn't see it. She didn't know the traditional hat that the Chinese wore. When we got home, I showed her a picture and she then got it, but thought it was weird.

Faraway Ranch House

Within the Monument there is the Faraway Ranch. It was a guest ranch for many years that operated outside of the monument. In 1973, the Park Service acquired the ranch and it became part of the monument. The ranch is a fun place to visit. The chimney of the main ranch house has the names of Buffalo Soldiers carved into it. They also have a nice little display on the ranch and the CCC in the monument.

After the visit to Faraway Ranch we headed to the visitor’s center so Grace could get her Junior Ranger Badge. She is now has over 30 Junior Ranger badges. At Chiricahua National Monument you get a patch instead of a pin-on badge, which is very nice, since the pins pop off and get lost. One of these days, I will sew the patch on Grace’s Camelbak.

The next day we headed to Fort Bowie National Historic Site. To visit Fort Bowie you have to hike in a mile and a half to the visitor’s center and the ruins of the fort.

Apache Spring

We hiked in and on the way we passed the reason for the fort, Apache Spring. When Grace saw it she said, “That is it?” She had read about the fort before our visit and I think she was expecting a big gushing spring, not a little trickle of water. We sat had a drink from our water bottles and pondered all who had drunk from the spring before us, Geronimo, Cochise, General Howard, countless natives and military personal, pioneers, and now us.

We got to the fort and picked up Grace’s Junior Ranger booklet. We then went around to many of the ruins. I had no idea what a big place it was. The big problem was they put the fort above the spring, so the spring became contaminated, so they had to pump water from a spring in the next valley over. It is kind of funny all that conflict and then it becomes useless to them.

Another Junior Ranger!!

The fort has a long history of the conflict between pioneers, then the military and the Apaches. The Park Service does a very good job of telling the story without judgment on either side. When Grace asked us who was right we replied, “They were both right. Both sides were just fighting to preserve their way of life.” Grace said, “Aren’t most wars fought for way of life?” She is right. I have a smart kid!!!

Fort Bowie is definitely worth a visit.

We had planned on camping in the National Forest, but had heard from many people of the devastation the forest had sustained from the Horseshoe Fire 2 that had raged for over a month in 2011. So, we stayed in the Monument’s campground for the first three nights. On the third day, we headed out to drive over the mountains via Pinery Canyon road and survey the damage. Our goal was Sunny Flat Campground near Portal, AZ.

When we started over the mountains you could see the road was the fire line.

Green on one side, black on the other.

Then we got up higher and all we could see was burned trees, it was a crowning fire and the damage was extensive. I am not sure what the plan is for forest, but I expect it will be a long time before the forest recovers.

Our campsite!!

We ended up in one of our favorite campgrounds. We typically try to avoid campgrounds as a rule. Why have a Dormobile and go where everyone else goes? We have it to go where others are not willing or able to venture. But Sunny Flat is a campground we go back to time and time again. It was designed by a camper, for campers, but the best reason is the scenery.

We spent the next day relaxing, reading and watching Grace build dams in the creek.

Grace setting up my bed!

One of the great parts about Grace getting older is she is expected to help out more:)

After seven days and six nights we reluctantly headed back to civilization and “real” life.

How to Pick Up a Range Rover in Style

2011-08-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

About a year and a half ago James and I decided we wanted another Range Rover Classic. I was the main force behind this decision. When I first met James in 1995, he had a Series III, 88 inch wheel base Land Rover. We went on a trip to Moab and met up with a friend from Colorado. He had a Range Rover. I was hooked and the next year, I came back with a Range Rover of my own. We used that Range Rover at our wedding, brought Grace home from the hospital, and drove it to over 290,000 miles. Our wedding picture with the Rover is still on our photographer’s website - http://www.lindastoryphotos.com/page4.html I love the Dormobile, but it is hard to drive, and I missed the ease of a modern car, and my old Range Rover.

We had looked at multiple different RRC’s. Then this spring one of our Land Rover friends in Northern California put his on the market. We knew this was the one we had been waiting for. I showed Grace a picture of it, she was so excited. She said, “It is just right for us. The Dormobile has a green body with a white roof and this Range Rover has a green body with a white roof.” She was so excited and then at dinner that night said, “I have got it!! We have a Dormobile and now we will have a “Rangemobile!” It is kind of ironic because in 1999 both our Dormobile and our Range Rover were on a Mendo Club trip around the Four Corners area. Back then the Rangemobile was white. It got new body panels after a trip through the Rubicon.

So this summer we were off on another great adventure. One could argue that buying a 19-year-old Range Rover is silly, buying one 1000 miles away is crazy, and setting off on that long road trip to pick it up in a 43-year-old Land Rover in the hot summer months is foolhardy. I just think of it as being optimistic.

After two long hot days of travel across the desert we were there. Here are some of my favorite spots along the way.

Paso Robles -

James and I had traveled through here in 1999 and loved all the wineries. We made a point to hit a couple of our favorite wineries and found some new favorites.

Elephant Seals –

About a mile north of Hearst Castle there is a beach where Elephant Seals hang out. It is very cool to see them in their natural habitat. These seals even have their own webcam - http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25732

Camping at Laguna Seca Raceway –

This was so unique for me!!! There was no need for an alarm clock. We were woken up bright and early by the race cars. So fun to eat breakfast and watch the races!!!

Golden Gate Bridge –

Grace was so excited about getting to go and take the Dormobile over the Golden Gate Bridge. She was so sure we could get a shot of the Dormobile on the bridge. When we told her that would be just about impossible, she understood once we were there. She loved it all the same.

Camping on the beach at Bodega Bay –

Grace played and played in the freezing water. Grace’s lips were blue and she was shivering, and when she finally got out all she could say was, “I am not cold!”

Visit to Korbel Winery –

In the Russian River Valley there are many wineries. We really enjoyed the Korbel winery. We found out that Korbel “Natural” is the Champagne that has been served at every Presidential Inauguration since the early 1900”s. So, drinking it is kind of fun!!! (Cost Plus sells it.) The winery also has a cool history of immigrants who came to this country for a better life and found it.

Camping in the Redwood Forest –

We camped one night among the Giant Redwoods. So Cool!!! Plus, we had purchased some crab right off the dock and had Champagne and fresh crab for dinner. Yum!!

Redwood Forest where “Return of the Jedi” was filmed –

This drive was kind of surreal. We kept thinking a Storm Trooper would come out around a tree, or that two legged robot thing would appear. It was a fun drive. I wish we would have had the Star Wars score on our MP3 players. I would have downloaded it if we would have had cell phone service, instead we just imagined.

Picking up the Rangemobile –

June 21^st – This was our 14^th wedding anniversary. Did you know 14 is the Range Rover anniversary? We arrived at Granville’s house to pick up my Range Rover. We have known Granville and Melanie for many years and they were gracious hosts to James, Grace and I. They have chickens and roosters, one rooster kept trying to attack me. Their dog, Rosie, always came to my rescue. Grace loved Rosie and seeing all the chickens.

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks –

Half of a day is not enough time to explore these parks. We will be back at some point in the future. The drive through the Giants is not to be missed. One of the most interesting things I learned was that they cut down a 24 ft diameter tree to take to the World’s Fair in 1912. They could not transport the whole tree so they just took a cross section of the tree, and the World’s Fair would not let them display it, because they thought it was a hoax.

Homeward Bound –

We drove early in the morning and late in the day, since neither car had air conditioning. Around Needles, we had an issue with the infamous ignition module overheating on the Range Rover, so James squirted water on it and the engine fired right up again. The sunroof also had a rock hit it while on Highway 95 in California and shattered. We duct taped it and drove on home.

The trip up Highway 1 was awesome. I am so happy to have the new addition to our family of cars. Our adventures with it are just beginning. Grace is already talking about how she is going to learn to drive on the Rangemobile. I can’t wait to teach her. I have a feeling it won’t be too long before she is driving off pavement.

Parker 4-Wheeler Rally Veterans Day 2010

2010-11-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

We went to the Parker 4-Wheeler Rally this Veterans Day weekend. We were not sure what to expect. It is a really different rally than any of the Land Rover Rally's we have been to in the past. When we pulled in to La Paz County Park on Thursday evening, we registered and signed up for a trail the next day. We knew nothing about the trails and when I asked questions the staff didn't really understand why someone would want an easy trail. So we signed up for El Supremo Wash. It was rated a 3 and did not have any pictures of cars on their sides or turned over. Plus it said there were "go-arounds" for obstacles.

We asked about camping and the guy helping with camping asked if we were the people in the "Range Rover" We laughed and said we had the Land Rover, but it is far from a Range Rover. He didn't know the difference and didn't think there was one.

Camping was kind of open and we could camp anywhere we wanted. We went and found a small tent site near a restroom. We camped by some people who live at the campground and a few others from the rally. They were all very nice and welcoming.

On Friday, we lined up for our trail. On our trail we had one Toyota, 18 Jeeps and an Old Chevy Blazer. We headed out toward the Buckskin Mts. Then up El Supremo Wash. At this point I started driving. I needed to be spotted through the wash at a sharp turn. The trail leader is looking at James and telling him what to do. All of the sudden he realizes I am the driver and that our car is right hand drive. After a couple of loud bangs from his spotting. I tell James to get out and spot. He tells me he is not so good a spotting. (which is true) But in this situation he is the best. He knows our car, clearance and handling better than anyone else there. Everyone one else has at least 33 inch tires and 3 or 4 more inches of ground clearance than we do. So, I explain this to him and he decides he should help with the spotting from here on out.

Here are two videos of me driving. On this trip, it is the first time we have let Grace out of the car. We gave her the video camera and you can see she listens well to her parents.

Video: Grace Listens Well

The second video is me getting up the wash. Guess how many times I stall the vehicle.

Video: Kelly may stall, but gets through

During that obstacle I think I stalled 5 times, but that is how you learn. Grace is the videographer. One thing I must say is the guys on this trip were so great!! I have been on lots of Land Rover trips where men make me feel small and inferior because I am a woman. Not these guys!!! They didn't care if I stalled or took all day. They kept saying we were there to have fun and that is what we were going to do. It was awesome to have them be so great towards me.

After this we came to a really hard obstacle where I asked James to drive. I am not good at stick and without power steering my arms were getting very tired. As we moved up the wash, I did not notice that James was moving again. I was out talking with others. And that is when we got the dent in the side of the car.

May not seem like much, but I had damage to my car. The car has gone 42 years with no damage and here I am not paying attention and we get a dent. Once I realized James was moving I ran up and took over the spotting for our car. They wanted him to back up and go over a rock. I knew this would be very bad. So, the guys did some road building. At one point, one of the guys was spotting James and I was standing next to him, spotting too. The guy said, "He is only looking at you. Do I even need to spot?" I said, "No" He said, "James listens only to you and what you say seems to trump what all of us say." See I am a good spotter, and I have learned over the years that when I don't speak up, because I let some guy make me feel inferior, something breaks on my car. I have decided that I don't care if I hurt people's feelings or egos. It is my car and so I have the final say. At our lunch stop one of the guys said he really liked me because I was more like a man and didn't care what they thought. I was just going to do it my way. Not sure if that was a complement, but that is how I am going to take it.

Video: Jeep getting stuck

As most of you who have been on a trail know, there is always one person, usually a guy, who thinks he is the best driver and doesn't need any help or advice. This video is that guy. For this obstacle we were happy to take the "go-around" Everyone was told if they did not have lockers they should take the "go-around" This guy did not listen. It is always nice to see someone else's truck get stuck. It is worth noting that on a earlier "go-around" he did not take it either and also got stuck.

After this we had lunch right there. At lunch we realized we were the only people who had driven our car to the rally. Everyone else had trailered their car. They were all amazed we could take ours on the freeway and also be on the trail.

After lunch we went up to the Vampire Mine and down through a cool wash.

Video: Cool Wash

Here we met up with the main graded dirt road. It was around 1pm and I was tired. The group was going to take off down some other wash. I was exhausted and wanted to just head back to town. So, at this point we broke from the main group. On our trail the owners of ASFIR 4X4 were also on our trail, the father, Eitan, and his daughter Karen. Karen was doing the driving and she did great. I was so glad to see a young woman out there driving off road. Yeah!! Anyway, they did not want to leave us by ourselves so we drove into Parker and had lunch together. Great people! Here is a link to their website. www.asfir.com They sell skid plates among other things. We are getting a diff plate from them.

That evening they had a car crush at the campground. We had never been to one of these before. Grace was so excited and couldn't wait. We went over to where ASFIR was set up and Grace was able to sit on their car so she could see the action. She was mesmerized.

It was very interesting. A morbid fascination. Like I shouldn't want to watch, but I just can't help myself. Like gawking at a traffic accident.

I was not there for the beginning of the car crush, but I was told that several guys tried to get over and rolled. The first two to get over were women. Girl Power!!

On Saturday, we signed up for the easiest trail they had. It was Finger Mountian on the California side of the river and was rated a 2.5. It was much more our speed. It was "scenic" which I figured out to a lot of people is kind of a bad word around there.

We were on a trip with 4 other Jeeps.

It was a very nice drive and just what we like. A little low range, but no danger of damage.

When we finished a couple of other trucks wanted to go up and drive over the Parker Dam. So, we went to the dam.

That night a camp they had a dinner and raffle. Since the kids get bored very easily they had a "Kid's Quest" It was a jumpy castle and blow up obstacle course. Grace loved it!

For the kids there was also a "quarter dive" They buried $30 in quarters and the kids got to find them. Grace found $2.

There was also an articulation ramp.

Here is an 11 year old in his Dad's golf cart trying the articulation ramp.
Not the smartest thing I have ever seen.

They had two raffles, a raffle with mostly Jeep stuff and a 50/50 raffle. We bought tickets for both, but did not win anything. Too bad about the 50/50, the take home was over $1200.

On Sunday, we woke up early and headed home. Grace had a piano recital and we needed get home for it. We had a fun weekend and met lots of great people. We know we didn't quite fit in, but people were still very friendly and nice. It was a good weekend!

Fall Break - Eight Days in the Dormobile

2010-10-25T21:15:00.002-07:00

This year for Grace's fall break from school we decided to go to Chaco Cultural National Historic Park. James and I have planned at least 4 other trips to Chaco before, but there have always been problems. Twice it snowed, and the other times it was over 90 degrees. This year the weather cooperated and we set off on our longest trip yet in the Dormobile.

The first problem with eight days in the Dormobile and going to a place like Chaco is there is no electricity or ice to be found in Chaco. So, we borrowed a 60 quart Norcold fridge from Jeff Scott, and we are so grateful for the loan. James gave me the measurements of the fridge, but I didn't really realize how big it really was. I had to fit the huge fridge plus everything else we need for 8 days into the little Dormobile. My idea for the trip was to try and have everything we needed with us and not have to rely on finding a grocery store for supplies along the way. We were going to be mostly on and around the Navajo Reservation, and you never know if you will be able to find what you need.

It was crowded, but we made it work.

This summer James had mostly installed an air conditioner, but he had not finished the vents and ductwork. We also took the speakers from our old Range Rover and put in an mp3 jack. Here is what the dashboard looked like. It was a strange mix of old and new technology.


Passenger side of dashboard.

Grace's Fancy Air Conditioning Vent, ;)

Our first day was a Saturday and anyone who has spent much time with James and I knows we are not morning people. So, we set a goal of being on the road by Noon. We were on the road by 11:45 am and felt very proud to be out early. We headed towards Wilcox on I-10. We had made a conscience decision to stay off the freeways as much as possible. This stretch between Tucson and Wilcox was our longest bit on the freeway. When we got to Wilcox we went to Apple Annies produce stand to stock up on fresh vegetables for our trip. Next we headed up 191 to State Route 78. We had planned on camping somewhere near Reserve, NM. The Land Rover had a different plan. On State Route 78 you climb up out of the desert into the pines. Our Land Rover started spewing smoke from under the hood. So, we stopped and camped at Blackjack Campground.

Link to google maps for more details on route.

Here is our route for the trip.

Once we arrived at the campground, James realized it was only the radiator cap. He knew this one was getting old, and had one in the carport at home. But he had forgotten to pack it. So, since it is a pretty common cap, we would just pick one up along the way.

The second day we headed into New Mexico. We went through some pretty remote areas and wished we could live in a place like this. Away from people and cities, but Grace needs a good school. So, that dream will have to wait for 10 or so more years.

Our first stop at a monument was La Ventana Arch in El Mapais National Conservation Area.

Then we went through what was called the Narrows. I couldn't find any real description of this online and was very curious about it. I was very cool! There are 500 foot cliffs on one side of the road and the other side is a lava flow. There is just this narrow strip of land in between. I couldn't get a got picture of it, but it was definitely a unique experience.

The next are we stopped at was the Sand Stone Bluffs.

What a neat place!

It was about 4pm in the afternoon, so we decided to camp on Mt. Taylor at the "Coal Mine" campground. We drove into Grants, NM. Stopped at the auto parts store and got a new radiator cap. Grants is not the nicest town in America and on the way out of town we passed a large prison complex and the desert was strewn with trash. So, I was nervous about camping there, but when we got to the campground it was very nice and a pleasant surprise.

The next day we drove down State Highway 53 to El Morro National Monument. This monument is a collection of prehistoric petroglyphs and inscriptions from early Spanish and English explorers. The monument was the only year round water source in area, so everyone stopped here for a break.

Very few women inscribed on the bluff. One was Miss A. F. Baley. Her full name was America Frances Baley. She stopped here as part of a wagon party from Missouri to California in 1858. This wagon train was one that was attacked by Mojave Indians at the Colorado river crossing. This is one of the reasons Ft. Mohave was established. I had read about this particular attack when we drove the Mojave Road in California a few years before, so it was interesting to read about another part of that event.

Grace got her first of six Junior Ranger pins at El Morro.

Next we visited the El Malpais Visitor's Center. Since we had spent so much time in the park the day before, Grace was easily able to fill out her Junior Ranger booklet.

She got her Junior Ranger badge. It was very nice. The Rangers made a big deal out of it and went outside in front of the National Park Sign. Grace was so excited and beaming. El Malpais is worth the side trip off Interstate 40 if you are passing by. We loved it!

Now we head to Chaco Canyon and are hoping with get there before dark. Next post will be Chaco.

Air Conditioning in the Dormobile - Part 1

2010-08-04T12:31:00.002-07:00

I have been asked lately why I haven't posted anything. Well, as most of you know, I live in Tucson, AZ. So, it hot, really hot, and the Dormobile doesn't have air conditioning. One of the conditions of the purchase of the Dormobile was that my husband, James, would install air conditioning.

We have owned the Dormobile for 5 years now, and still no air conditioning. I must mention that we have had a few set backs over the past few years. Things like two broken axles. Now that the car can run, it
is time to get the air conditioning installed.

My motivation is we were invited to Monument Valley at the end of August by another AZLRO member. I really want to go, but it is a long hot drive to get there. Therefore, I decided I would help with the less technical parts of the installation.

First step is to put in heat and noise insulation. We purchased a heat and noise insulation that you paint onto the firewall and seat box. I thought this would be pretty simple. So, two weeks ago I went out to the Dormobile thinking, I will scrub it down and hose it out and then I can start painting. Easy!!

I forgot my own rule. Nothing is ever easy when you are dealing with a 40+ year old car. I soon discovered that the Dormobile had some old stick on sound and heat insulation all over the firewall and seat box. It had to be removed before I could paint. Here is the transmission tunnel with the adhesive stuff on it.

I got out a screwdriver and putty knife to try and get it off. Some came off really easy, but a lot did not. So, we bought adhesive remover and a floor scraper. It took about 4 hours to remove the black stuff. Then I had to remove all the residual adhesive that was left on everything. One large can of adhesive remover later, I was ready to get the hose out.

Here are a few pictures of what it looked like before and after removing the adhesive.

Before:

After:

Next step is to paint on the heat and sound insulation.

Here is the inside with the heat insulation:

More to come. . . .

Large Binocular Telescope

2010-06-01T17:03:00.001-07:00

Five Land Rovers visit the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). The LBT is the largest telescope in the world and a permit is needed to visit. Over Memorial Day weekend five Land Rover were able to visit. It was a fun and interesting visit for all.

Buckskin Mountains – Spring Break 2010 and The Amazing Flying Roof Rack

2010-05-23T09:23:00.009-07:00

During Grace’s spring break we went to the Buckskin Mountains for some rockhounding. The Buckskins are in the western part of Arizona, near Parker. We had heard the Buckskins were a great place to go rockhounding, since most of the mining in this area was done before mining became mechanized.

The first day we left Tucson and headed out for the 6 hour drive to the Buckskins. In the driveway, when I went to get in the Rover, my side step came lose and I fell to the ground. My ego was very bruised, but my body was only a little bruised. James fixed the step and I got in and said, “Well, there is our problem for the trip.” I probably should have kept my mouth shut.

We were on I-10 west of Phoenix going about 65 mph. All of the sudden, we hear a big bang. James pulls over and says the roof rack blew off. I just had to take a deep breath, because that thing could have done a ton of damage or killed someone. Luckily we were near one of the closed rest areas. We could see the roof rack in the break down lane about 100 yards behind us. I had James pull up behind the temporary barriers they had put up to close the rest area. We told Grace to stay in the car, and James and I went to retrieve our things. Amazingly, everything survived, except for the two bags of charcoal that were all over the two lanes of traffic. One of the chairs had come lose from the rack. Everything was a little beat up, but everything survived.

We carried the rack back to the Rover. Then we had to figure out what to do with all the stuff, and had to find a place inside for it all. At this point a DPS officer stopped to see if we were okay. We told him what had happened and then he said that we needed to be careful when we merged back into traffic, and he left. It was interesting when James posted what had happened on the Dormobile List that several Europeans said that we would have been given a big ticket and they probably would have given us a sobriety test.

With some adjustments we were able to fit everything into the Rover. The question was what to do with the roof rack. Of course, James wanted to keep it and of course I thought we should just leave it with all the other trash on the side of the road. But it is an “original” Dormobile rack. So, just like all the other stuff that I would get rid of, we have it stored for if we ever sell it to someone who wants to restore it to original. I doubt this will ever happen, because I will only sell it to someone who wants to use it for their family. Not win car shows.

James won the argument. So, how do we fit it in the Rover? We decided to take it apart. James got out the wrench and some other tools. This did not work because the bolts were so rusted. What did work was just breaking the bolts with our bare hands. Then we shoved it across the floor of the back seat. When we got back in the car, I didn’t say anything about this being our problem for the trip.

The Buckskins are beautiful and full of old mines. We had picked out a few places to hit before we left home. We got to one mine just before dark. We decided to camp there for the night. The mine had an old mine cart and equipment laying around. It was pretty neat to see the old stuff. It sure was a lot of work, for not much of a mine.

About an hour or so into the night we figured out that our air mattress had a leak. It made for a very uncomfortable night I think that is problem number three for the trip.

The next day we hiked up the hill to explore the other prospects in the area. We have discovered that the age of the average rockhound is around 65. Most have ATV’s and don’t go cross-country. Consequently, we go cross-country and usually find some cool stuff in hard to get to places.

On the back side of a hill, we found a ton of chrysocolla. It was the most we have ever found. Grace and I spent at least an hour deciding which pieces were worth carrying back over the hill. We also knew our space was now limited in the Rover, since we had lost the roof rack, so we had to be selective.

By the time we were done exploring the area it was late and we decided to stay another night here with our flat air mattress.

The next day we woke up and headed towards the Planet Mine, which is quite popular with rockhounds. Several people asked us if we had been there or knew where it was. The Planet Mine is very cool, lots of neat rocks and all very easy to get to. I don’t really know what is valuable, so we just collected the rocks that we thought were pretty.

The next area we went to was a canyon, which you have to hike into. What a canyon! It was awesome. Mines and tailings were everywhere. We were told that you can find lots of drusy in this canyon. Drusy is a mineral with clear quartz crystal over the top. We didn’t really know what that was, but found lots of cool stuff. About halfway down the canyon we ran into some rockhounds, who actually knew what they were looking for. Most rockhounds don’t like to share their secrets with anyone. But having a cute nine year old really helps. The two gentlemen showed us some drusy and actually gave some to Grace. They were very helpful. We then went about collecting several other pieces of drusy ourselves. I found a chrysocolla drusy piece that I am quite proud of.

After getting back to the car we were all pretty tired and hot. The weather was supposed to be in the 70’s and turned out the highs were near 90. So, it was much hotter than anticipated. At this point, we needed a place to camp for the night. I suggested we head to our favorite State Park, River Island. It is on the Colorado River and has hot showers and flush toilets. This would also allow us to go by Walmart in Parker and pick up a new air mattress for the night.

I decided to drive out. I did really well with the double-clutching. We stopped a few times to look at different things, including the Bill Williams River that was very high. We had hit the pavement and all of the sudden James yells, “Stop, stop!” I pull over and realize I have been driving with the parking brake on. It was ready to catch on fire. Poor James, he really has to deal with a lot from me. The worst is I don’t really feel all that bad about it. James drove after that. That could be problem number four.

We got to Parker and went to buy the air mattress. Yay!!! Here we get to the next problem. Walmart no longer carries full size air mattresses, therefore one more night without sleep.

We make it to River Island and took showers. Once again we get lots of questions about our rig and lots of pictures are taken in the campground. We both love talking about our Rover. Grace is getting pretty good at answering all the basic questions.

The next day we headed home and passed through a town called Bouse. They have the best town sign. It reads, “Bouse welcomes you to the town of volunteers. Population 875 friendly people and 5 grouches!” My Dad had better not move there or they will have to change their sign to 6 grouches.

Even with our problems on the trip we had a great time, and will go back someday for more discoveries.

Overland Expo 2010, April 16-18, 2010

2010-04-21T13:22:00.013-07:00

Getting off of I-19 on Friday afternoon, there was a stereo “Wow” from both Grace and I when we saw the Overland Expo. It was amazing there were tons of vehicles and people. We knew at this point that we were going to have a good weekend.

We found the Arizona Land Rover Owners (AZLRO) camping area. Several people were already there. We set up our Rover then headed over to the Expo.

There was a Snow Peak demonstration at 4 pm that I really wanted to see. Grace was whining about it taking too long. I was really interested in seeing their Japanese Dutch Ovens. I have been cooking with my Lodge Cast Iron for years and was wanting to see these in action. Much to my surprise, the Snow Peak guys were using an American cast iron pan on the Snow Peak stove. So, I assume if they were not using them, then they are not very good. But they did have the Snow Peak cooking table set up. The table set up is very nice! I would love to have one of them with all the accessories. It sure would make cooking a lot easier. Once the food was done, Grace was no longer complaining. I forced her to try my lamb chop. She immediately went and got one of her own. They also had grilled pineapple and bacon and goat cheese wrapped dates. We all enjoyed the demonstration. The funny thing was they did not have any products to sell on the spot. You had to order them and they would send them to you. They do not understand impulse purchases. I really wanted the small BBQ box.

Soon our friends with children arrived so we headed back to the camping area. I use the term camping area very loosely. It was just a dirt lot, and it was very, very dusty. Everything we own has a fine layer of dust on it. One cool thing was Chuck, our resident archeologist, quickly took the kids for a walk and found a metate. A metate is a stone that was used by Indians to grind corn into flour.

That night we were treated to Carne Asada cooked by Laura. Laura is an amazing cook. She was a cooking mama the whole weekend. Thanks Laura!! That night I decided to make a cobbler in my dutch oven. Usually this is one of the first things people experiment with in their dutch ovens. They are supposed to be simple and yummy. The reason I have never made on before is James does not like fruit. So, I didn’t want to make a big cobbler for just Grace and I. With all the people camping with us this time I decided to make a Peach/Cherry Cobbler. It was good, and everyone got a little. Jon Christianson donated a bottle of good Champagne to the cobbler which was a great way to finish the meal. The Expo had a happy hour at the bar. Those of us with children were unable to attend, and I discovered the reason the AZLRO does not camp next to a bar with a happy hour.

The next day we woke up to a sunny, hot day. The Expo had an “Experience” package that included driving type classes. The “Experience” cost around $500 for a couple. It was supposed to include day care for the kids, but the day care provider was a no show. We contemplated purchasing the “Experience”, but I was told that I could teach most of the classes, so we just got a day pass. I would have been SO upset if I had spent $500 and there was no childcare. One of our friends in the AZLRO had won the “Experience” in a raffle at the Arizona Land Rover Rally in March, and they have three kids. The rest of us volunteered to watch the kids so they could go to their classes.

Six adults took eight kids ranging from age 2 to 9 to the Expo. This was not the best decision we have ever made. It was around 90 degrees and the kids were melting. Soon we found “The Oasis” and it had a water hose. The kids doused themselves and were much refreshed.

James, Chuck and I spent the rest of the afternoon looking around the Expo. Everyone else headed back to the campsite. It is amazing how many different kinds of trailers, roof top tents, and awnings are available. It all started to run together. Fifteen years ago when James and I were first looking for an off-roading trailer, there were none. So, we ended up with a pop-up tent trailer. Now there are at least 10 companies that make them. We also saw the new Unimog. It was huge, and only cost $750,000. One vendor was selling South African “Potjie Pot”dutch ovens. They were a very interesting design, and they wanted a $100 for the small one. I am real interested to see how they cook, but not forthat price. Everything was pretty pricey, and when a group of Land Rover Owners sit around and complain how expensive things are, then you know it is pricey.

I have to talk about the campground. A novice would drive by and think it was full of pretty simple and cheap campers. But they would be mistaken. That dirt lot had more money sitting on it than most campgrounds filled with Class A Motorhomes. There were Unimogs, EarthRoamers, G-Wagons, Sportsmobiles, Hummers, Range Rovers and other expensive vehicles. In addition, there were at least a couple of dozen roof top tents and decked out trailers. I think most people spent as much time in the campground as they did in the Expo. If I had a dollar for every picture that was taken of our Dormobile, I would have at least $200. Lots of people came by and asked to check out our Dormobile and of course we were glad to show them. We met one couple from Canada who own a Dormobile and spent two months in Morocco in theirs. I said if they can handle two months together in that car then their marriage is sure to go the distance. By the way, they are thinking of selling their Dormobile. One thing we all found interesting was that there were more Land Rovers than any other car. I was expecting to see more Toyotas and Jeeps. After a discussion I learned that Jeeps are too small for Overlanding, but I did expect more Toyotas.

On Saturday night, we had another great dinner. Then Linda used her dutch oven for the first time. She made a dump apple cobbler, which was more like an apple crisp. It was very yummy. Great job, Linda!!!

Sunday morning we were woken up by a symphony of dog barks. This only reinforced our resolve not to get a dog. Many people were up and out of the camp early, and only the “Rover Divas” and their three families remained. We got some good Rover Diva shots and then we all parted ways until the next trip. Great weekend spent with great people!

Camping at the Gila River with the Rover Divas

2010-04-12T16:34:00.008-07:00

This past weekend was the first official campout with the Rover Divas. On the trip there were three vehicles. All of us are parents with only daughters, and we call the daughters the Rover Divas The Dads had made a plan to go camping along the Gila River.

On the trip there were three vehicles. All of us are parents with only daughters. Andreas and Linda Rhomberg, their two daughters Izabella and Sydney, and their dog Jager were in their Discovery 2 and pop-up camper. Chuck Powell had his daughter, Samantha, and three of their dogs, Fossey, Rascal and Kiwi in their Discovery 1 with a roof-top tent. Samantha gave up a trip to Disneyland to come on this camping trip. She is a true Rover Diva. Then of course James, Grace and I were in our Dormobile, no dogs for us. In total four girls, four dogs and five adults. We outnumbered them individually, but not in total.

We all met on Saturday morning and headed out toward Winkelman, AZ. From Winkleman we went north just past the Christmas mine. Then we took a dirt road around and down to the Gila River. The road was a nice road with a few obstacles to make it interesting, but nothing that would keep us from coming back. It was beautiful. Great views and lots of cool geology, the uplifts are amazing.
Once we got down to the river, we stopped and walked around to find the best spot. The river was running very hard and judging from the trees with water half way up their trunks, we figured the water level was pretty high. Right by the river was a great spot. The only problem was the dogs did not want to listen (can you believe it?). So, Chuck’s dogs Rascal and Fossey jumped in, and then Kiwi, who hates the water, joined the party. So, Chuck jumped in and saved them all. Another second and all the dogs would have been swept down stream. So, we decided to it was a better idea to camp a little farther away from the river.

We headed back up the road and looked around for a spot. We found a spot not too far way. It was about 1pm and Grace had gotten dehydrated and overheated. She was pretty out of it. With some Gatorade, lunch, ice and TLC, she was up and running around with the girls. The funny thing was anytime one of the girls would want some attention after that they suddenly were overheated and needed some ice. Or they needed to go down to the river and get wet to cool off.

We set up camp and then relaxed. The girls built a Rover Diva Club House. It was very cute. We didn’t have to worry too much about them, they played and played. Around 4pm or so, we did go down to the river and let the girls get in up to their knees. They had a great time. Chuck also discovered a new use for a tow strap. They make a great dog leash. With the dogs properly tethered to the trees the girls had lots of fun.

That evening we had a nice campfire and then headed to bed. Grace was totally worn out. She was out almost the minute her head hit the pillow. The next day we hung around the campsite, went on a walk, and generally relaxed. It was a pretty hot day and I was not looking forward to getting back in the Rover to head out. So, I was very excited that no one else was in a rush to leave. We finally headed out in the late afternoon.

On the way out we discovered an area with lots of cool fossils and spent a little time looking at them. We turned over one rock and found a centipede. Then another with a scorpion, and as a result we decided it was time to go. When we hit the pavement we aired up, and decided to meet in Mammoth, AZ for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. During dinner the girls were putting lots of salt on the chips, Andreas said we don’t put salt on the chips. One of the girls said, “Rover Divas put salt on their chips.” Boy, are we in trouble!!!

2010-04-03T10:23:00.007-07:00

2010 Arizona Land Rover Rally

The 3^rd Annual Arizona Land Rover Rally was a great success. Seventy vehicles met in Tucson, Arizona March 6^th and 7^th at the Hilton Tucson East for two days of trail driving. Land Rovers came from as far away as British Columbia, Canada to enjoy the sunny skies and warm February weather in southern Arizona. We brought along our 8 year old niece to ride in the Dormobile.

Tucson has a mountain ranges in each of the four cardinal directions, and there were trails to run in three of them. To the north, one of the most famous difficult trails in the western USA is Charouleau Gap, which attracts hardcore four wheelers from all over the continent. To the east, trails like Chivo Falls and Chimney Rock are more on the moderate side. To the south, the trails are a little easier.

Temporal Gulch is one of the trails to the south, in the Santa Rita Mountains. This trail was led on Saturday by Chuck Powell. Since Chuck has two young girls of his own and does family friendly trails, we chose to go with him. We ended up having nine kids under the age of ten and six dogs. Seven of the children were girls, so we dubbed them “The Rover Divas”, and are working on a

T-shirt for the girls. The trail was easy, but had more than 20 water crossings. Water crossing are rare and well appreciated in southern Arizona.

We were joined on the trail by four Discovery's, a Freelander, an LR3, an LR2 and Chevy Blazer masquerading as a Range Rover. The owner of the Blazer had posted a picture of his Range Rover on the back window with the note, “In the Shop.” We were glad to have him on our trail. He reminded all of us we do have the Best 4X4XFar.

Lunch was served after one of the longer crossings, next to a beautiful slot side canyon. The kids all disappeared up the canyon, and we had to climb it to go find them. Our niece fell in the water and got soaked, but the Arizona sun soon dried her out.

After a lot of Rover talk, we hit the trail and headed farther up the canyon. We stopped at an old copper mine. The mine tunnel went back about 200 feet, but we only went back about 30 feet before turning around. It was a little creepy and old mines can be very dangerous. None of the kids went all the way back, but a few adults made it to the back and said you could see a seam of copper in the ceiling.

After the mine we hit the trail again. Up near the top, we encountered two real cowboys on horseback. They had just herded 350 head of cattle from upper to lower pasture, which we were driving through. They told us someone had not been able to open the gate, so they just cut it. It is a shame people are not respectful of the cattle rights on Forest Service Land. They asked us to please make sure we closed the gate when we went through. Of course, we did.

At the top of the gulch, we stopped to overlook the canyon. What a view, complete with a waterfall. At this stop one of the dogs, aptly named Rascal, decided to get under our Dormobile. Much to his owner's chagrin, he got gear oil on his white hair.

Overall it was the best random group of people we had ever been on a trial with and made for a great day. After the trail we headed back to the hotel. On our way back we had to go through a Border Patrol checkpoint. Usually, you are greeted with stern and suspicious looks from the agents. This time they were excited to see Kelly in what would normally be the driver's seat. They kept saying, “This is my favorite one of them all.” Evidently, we were not the first group of Rovers to go through the checkpoint.

That night at the hotel we met up with all the other Rover owners for the rally dinner an

d raffle. Our group from the trail sat at adjoining tables, and we were by far the rowdiest during the raffle. Lots of tickets were purchased, because the top prizes were four different winches, Powertanks, and tons of gift certificates for various rover suppliers.

The next morning, we lined up first in line for the trail led by Bill Burke up to Gunsight Pass. Bill was in the 1991 Camel Trophy to Tanzania and Burundi. I am very uncomfortable with driving the Dormobile. I have never driven a standard transmission as a daily driver, so the idea of double clutching is very intimidating. With our Range Rover I always drove. After a conversation with Bill the night before, I decided the best way to get comfortable driving the Dormobile off-road was to have Bill Burke spotting me, so I drove. Bill was awesome, he helped me feel totally comfortable and soon had me doing things James would have been afraid to do in the Dormobile. It was also so impressive to see how he handled the

over-testosteroned members of the group. I think we learned as much about trail leadership as we did about driving.

The trail is in an area that will probably be closed in the next few years. A local mining company is trying to open a new mining operation in this area. They own many of the roads we drove on, and those roads are littered with interesting minerals. James said at one point, while I was driving up one particularly steep section, fighting for control, I had the wherewithal to say, “Hey, look! The rocks in the road are copper ore!” I am a total rockhound. It was difficult for me to concentrate on the driving in such a rich ore area.

On the trail with us was Bill in his D90, four Discovery's, a Range Rover Classic, an LR3, and a Defender 110. As we headed up the trail, our first obstacle was a huge mud puddle, immediately followed by a large hill climb. I climbed it pretty easily with the Dormobile. The interesting thing we noticed after the hill climb, was our Dormobile was least muddy of all the vehicles after the mud puddle. Bill proceeded to tell everyone how that was a good thing, since there could have been a large rock hidden by the water, so you should go through at a slow speed.

Next we headed up Lopez Pass and took a break to enjoy the view. Then over to Gunsight Pass where we were going to have lunch, but it was very windy. So, we headed down into a gully at the base of mine tailings. On the way, the LR3 busted a tire. Those stock tires are no match for the Arizona rocks.

After lunch we headed down the mountain where we encountered a pretty rough obstacle. It was so interesting to watch our vehicle bounce all over the place and lumber through. Then to watch the Discovery's lose a little traction and come through, then the LR3, no problem at all. It was a clear illustration of how far Land Rover has come, and these are amazing vehicles.

After this we visited an old ghost town, Helvetia, which was not much more than some old adobe ruins. Then we all headed toward home.

The rally was a fun time. It was able to accommodate every Rover owner's needs, from the hard-core off-roader to our family-friendly experience. A great time was had by all.

2010-04-01T11:31:00.005-07:00

Camping at Peppersauce

Last weekend we went camping with my family at Peppersauce Campground. Here we are with one Dormobile, one A-liner, one Pop-up and a tent. One nice thing about the Dormobile is the upper bunks make a great play area for the kids. It is like having a rolling treehouse. Lots of fun!

2010-03-24T13:57:00.010-07:00

Getting the Dormobile Usable for Me

When we got the Dormobile home we discovered it had its very own ecosystem. All the window seals had moss growing in them. The fiberglass on the roof had mold growing in the fiberglass. The tent material was covered in mold. One of the bunks was the original material and we were afraid to put anything on it, for fear it would break. The other bunk was a replacement, but had lots of stains. The stove did not work. The curtains were original, so if you got next to them you would sneeze and if we washed them I think they would have fallen apart. And everything was dirty!

So, here is what we did to get it livable for me.

We started with the window seals. They were all replaced, except for the driver's door. At some point in the 40 year history someone decided they would “fix” the door and pored concrete inside the door. (We have yet to fix that.)
We took out the stove and wardrobe. We took them apart and had them powder-coated with the original hammerite finish.
I bought a sewing machine and made new curtains. This was a real challenge for me. Give me a power tool and I feel just fine, but a sewing machine is a whole different story. The curtains are red, my favorite color.
We had new bunks made at a local upholstery shop. These are also red!
I painted the fiberglass ceiling with Kilz paint. I know lots of the purest would disagree with this, but if I am going to sleep in this vehicle and have my child sleep in it. I don't want any mold.
I cleaned the canopy with a bleach and water mixture. Got it clean. It has holes in it, but unless we get stuck in a monsoon storm we have been just fine. (One of these days, we will replace it. This is one thing I would like to keep original and a new candy striped one is over $500 with shipping from the UK. So, it will have to wait.)
I cleaned and put new trim on all of the ceiling panels.
We put new floor mats in the whole car.
James fixed the hole in the floor board in the front seat.
I am sure James checked the fluids and all that stuff under the hood.
And we cleaned everything!

After this we took the vehicle out to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. We realized we forgot to look at the tires. We got two flat tires, and were rescued by another Series Land Rover owner from Tucson. So, the last major upgrade we did at the beginning was the tires. We now have five BFGoodrich All-Terrains. We have had them for five years and they are great.

Purchasing the Dormobile

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Many people ask us how we found our Dormobile. So, here is the story.

When I met my husband in 1995, he owned a Series 3, 88 inch Land Rover. On one of our first dates he took me out in the Land Rover over a rocky mesa in Flagstaff, AZ. I was totally miserable. He could sense this and asked me if I wanted to drive. I was not very good at a standard transmission, but jumped at the chance drive. I have been hooked ever since. In 1996 I purchased a 1989 Range Rover and since then we have also owned a 1993 Range Rover.

We drove our 1989 Range Rover to over 300,000 miles. It was a great car. We traveled all over Colorado, Utah and Arizona. One trip in 1998 we went through the Navajo Nation with 9 nine other rovers. On this trip there were 3 Dormobiles, including the one we would eventually buy. I remember thinking the women were crazy to be traveling is such a small vehicle. Little did I know I would be one of those crazy women.

A few years later, we traveled the Mojave Road in California with about 15 rovers. On this trip our future Dormobile was also present. Most of the vehicles left the Dormobile behind. Since we had owned a Series Land Rover, and knew they were not a fast or smooth ride, we stayed behind with it and got to know the owner.

So, a few years later when the owner was ready to sell. We were interested. We had expanded our family to include our daughter, and the 93 Range Rover had blown a head gasket. The Dormobile was in Davis, CA and so we flew from Tucson to get it. We drove the car back. It was the longest drives of my life. Hot, noisy, and very uncomfortable. Since then we have been working on making the vehicle work for us.

The Beginning

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We own a 1968 Series IIA Land Rover Dormobile. This blog is to share our experiences with this vehicle and all of our outdoor adventures.