Voyager54

The "new" trailer

2015-01-08T16:46:00.003-08:00

Finally managed to get a few pics of the Gulfstream and thought I would post them....I love this new trailer, the big picture window, the front bedroom, the whole thing!! I even come out and set at the dinette dressed like an eskimo in Carharrts and watch a little tv and have some coffee, dreaming of spring....which is still 10 weeks away......

Winter has definitely arrived, sub zero temps and brutal wind chills!! But I still like to set in the trailer and dream.......spring will be here before we know it!! Last year at this time we had over a foot anda half of snow out here!! Meanwhile, the STEALTH camper is still setting here, unsold, and looking forlorn......poor thing, I should move back in, clean it up and rearrange things and stay in it through the winter. But my mom needs me to be with her at night, so that's where I am. I really didn't expect the camper to sell in the winter........maybe come warmer weather it will get more interest...... Hope everyone is keeping warm wherever you are! Stay safe and BE WELL!

Dreamers, Wannabes, Wafflers and BLOWHARDS!

2014-11-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

Whoever that old soul was who came up with the saying "it takes all kinds" sure was right! I bought a Gulfstream AmeriLite 25' travel trailer a few weeks ago, with the plan being that when I am at last free to travel I will use the Ford E350 Cargo Van that I am slowly converting to a camper to do my travelling/living in, and in the spring return to my home base and spend 6 months of nice weather in the comfort of the travel trailer. Don't get me wrong, the STEALTH cargo camper was VERY comfortable these past 3 years, but alas, I turned 60 this past summer and I wanted something a little bigger, and a little nicer! And I had the money and thought--why the heck not!!! Its just money, I will get more...sometimes, it just seems to find me!!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------..------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So.......I took a few pics of the STEALTH cargo camper and placed an ad on Craigslist to try to sell it. Even included the original 80 watt roof mounted solar panel, wrote a nice ad telling how I had paneled and carpeted and insulated it....how I had camped in it all over the country, in total STEALTH...how someone else who wanted to get away from it all , or turn it into a MAN CAVE, could do it with just $3000!!!

Well, the phone started ringing!! And emails started coming in!! Unfortunately, it is still setting here right next to the new Gulfstream, looking abandoned.....poor thing, no one wants me?? I had a guy drive 80 miles to look it over, offered me $2000. and not a penny more, I just laughed at him and told him to have a nice trip home! Then another guy came and wanted me to finance it for him.....uhhhhhhh no....then a couple showed up with cash in hand, 30 crisp $100 bills!!! The girl loved it, and started backing the truck up to hitch it up!!! But.....the male half of the couple started waffling on the deal, and I knew the girl was going to get mad.........they left after 3 hours of him trying to jew me down on the price, and her calling him every single cuss word I have ever heard in my life!! We got within $300 but I told him at that price I was keeping the solar panel.......needless to say they went home empty handed, and the STEALTH cargo camper still sits here, looking a little forlorn.......

Solar upgrade

2014-10-11T17:24:00.001-07:00

On the STEALTH trailer, I have 280 watts of solar and it has served me well nearly 4 years now. I have them wired into a really good MPPT charge controller, pumping free power into 2 Lifeline AGM 220 amp hours each 6 volt batteries, tied together for 1 big 12 volt battery. But for the van, I am going to experiment with a new 136 watt roll up flexible panel. It is 18 feet long and about 6 inches wide, and will connect it with 4 gauge wire to just 1 Optima yellow top AGM battery running the wire 1st thru another really good MPPT charge controller. This new flex panel CAN be glued to the van roof, but I'm not going to.....I want it to be truly portable, and if I want to park the van in the shade but use the panel to charge the battery, I can just roll it out in the sun.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have decided not to put a wind turbine on the van, even though there is a new VAWT out now that is only 18" high, that I could mount maybe 2 of them to the roof of the van, but have decided against it, at least for now. I really think the 136 watt flex solar panel will supply me enough power. I'm not going to put a fridge in the van, and there will be no water pump in it either. Just don't think I will need that much power! These guys putting 800 or 1000 watts of solar panels on a van roof are just goofy in my opinion.......but if that's your thing and you have the money, go nuts!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The weather here in central Illinois has been really "fall like" the past week.....cooling down overnight to the 50s, and warming to the 70s by late afternoon. The trees are starting to turn as well......winter will unfortunately be here before we know it. Predictions are its going to be as bad as and maybe worse than last year!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Short post today..............

Cooler weather is here..............winter is coming!

2014-10-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

I am having trouble getting posts up on the blog....not sure why, but just about ready to say the heck with it! Cooler weather has arrived here in central Illinois, the leaves are turning and the rains are more frequent the last few weeks......sure signs of whats coming---yup, old man winter is right around the corner! Forecasters say its going to be as bad as if not worse than last year...yuck! Last year was terrible, lots and lots of snow.....weeks upon weeks of bitter cold.....I dread whats coming. But I can't leave...I just can't leave mom here to more or less fend for herself! This is the one time I need to stay and help her, now that she is virtually alone. If I left, she would end up in a nursing home, and I shudder to think what that would do to her!! No...I must stay! My opportunity to hit the road will come soon enough.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have made very little progress on the van the last month.....no excuse other than just have not done any work on it. Lets see if this post will actually publish......

The Experiment

2014-09-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Last year, I bought a used 1 ton Ford E350 Super Duty cargo van, with the intention of turning it into a camper van that I could take off in and travel, but leave the STEALTH camper trailer at home in Illinois. You know, when the frost got on the pumpkins here in central Illinois, just load a few things into the van and lock up the trailer and head out for warmer temperatures. I had got it insulated really good with 1" sheets of insulation, put up some nice paneling, built a bed frame for a nice 8" thick twin size mattress, and built a nice cabinet with a 15" diameter sink, and laid down some nice thick carpet......then things got sidetracked!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 88 year old stepfather passed away, in March, and threw a wrench in my plans to get the van conversion done.......I had to move my 93 year old mother to an apartment and get her settled in. I go in every morning and fix her breakfast, take her wherever she needs to go, keep her bills paid, do her shopping for her and just hang out with her most of the day, then return to the STEALTH camper trailer for the evening. Where I am parked, about 4 miles outside of town, I have a deal, a SWEET deal with a friend who owns the property.......he lets me park the camper here, hook up my 30amp power, and use his water/sewer/wifi, in exchange for a whopping $50.00 a month for electric, plus I mow his nearly 5 acres of grass and keep the place looking nice. Now, that is a SWEET deal!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anyway, the van conversion really needs to get finished!!! Winter will be here again real soon, and the trusty Farmers Almanac says its going to be worse, WORSE than last year!!! And last year was a real BITCH of a winter!! Personally, I was OK.....I stayed snug as a bug in a rug inside the STEALTH camper trailer, with my electric blanket and electric heater and my trusty Coleman LP fired heater......there were days at a time I didn't even leave!! But this year, I have my mom to worry about....and since I'm the only child of the 6 that lives close by, it falls on me to take care of her. She won't be here forever, and the opportunity for me to hit the road will be waiting when moms time is done........but, need to get the van finished!!!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, thats where I'm at. I don't have a lot left to do on the van interior, just a couple minor things. The solar power situation is still needing to be resolved....I'm considering bypassing it altogether and just buying a good Honda 2000 watt genset to top off the AGM deep cycle batteries every day, so I would have sufficient power to get through the night. I have all the solar equipment, as well as a roof rack for the van......BUT, I was thinking about using the roof for extra storage when I am travelling.......decisions decisions decisions..........

Hey!!! I'm back!!! Really!!

2014-09-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings to anyone who may be still checking in on this sorry excuse of a blog!!! Yes, it has been several months since I have posted anything....a lot has been going on, and I tried a few months ago to post but could not even get in to the blog.....anyway, somehow it let me in today, and I will return tomorrow with more details as to what is going on and where I am and what I am doing. Hope I can generate some followers!!

Winter has arrived!!!

2013-12-14T07:53:00.001-08:00

Here we are just 2 weeks into December, with winter officially a week away yet, and I woke up this morning in the STEALTH camper to find this!!

Isn't that a beautiful scene!! Of course, I can say that because I don't have to get out in it and go anywhere!! I have plenty of food and water in the STEALTH camper to last for days.....I have checked on my parents 5 miles away in town and they don't need anything...and even though I have 4 wheel drive, the roads are a mess so I'm just going to sit it out and wait for the state and county road crews to do their thing!!

It seems like I have seen an over abundance of snow in 2013!! I was here in central Illinois last year at this time and we had several light snows...then in the spring I went workamping in South Dakota and the 1st month I was there we had over 4 FEET of snow over a 4 week period!!! And now, here I am back in central Illinois, and looking at our 2nd winter storm already, and its still officially autumn!!??!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ But, the countdown to Spring has already begun!!! Less than 100 days to go!! Hope everyone is safe and warm wherever you are!!

A new experiment

2013-12-07T18:00:00.002-08:00

Greetings all, from the frozen north! Cold and wintry here in central Illinois this first week of December. Had our 1st (last please!) measurable snowfall this week, maybe 3 inches. Bitter cold at night, but I am as snug as a bug in a rug inside the STEALTH trailer! Because I am actually hooked up to 30amp power, I can run my heater and electric blankie all night long!!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Things are well here. My aging parents are getting along somewhat OK,but I can see them going downhill a little bit more every time I stop by...stepfather only has 1 kidney, congestive heart failure, on oxygen 24/7, and the doctors say he could go anytime. Plus, they told him a month ago he needed dialysis, but he said no....so, we play the waiting game. Eventually, his 1 kidney will just poison him to death...or his bad heart will just give out. Would be nice if they could just lie down to sleep, and not wake up. Would be better than watching him suffer each day, taking all those damn pills.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have been thinking for some time now about trying something different, and have taken the plunge this week and taken the 1st step to making a dream a reality.....by buying this------

Another angle......

Its a Ford E350 Econoline cargo van.......1 ton chassis/V8/AM-FM stereo/ICE cold A-C/AT/PS/PB......In really good shape for its age.....

Was used as a delivery van, and has a walk thru cage behind the front seats to keep cargo from sliding forward into the drivers compartment...am leaving that in place!! The bed hardly looks used at all....

I have seen lots of people take a van like this and convert the back into very comfortable living quarters!! My plans are to do the same thing with this!! Put a ladder rack on the roof and place the solar panels up there. Take out the passenger seat and place the AGM batteries and the inverter in the floorboard,and use the rest of that area for storage area. The back I will naturally insulate heavily, install a vapor barrier, and then some nice paneling. Mount a 37" flatscreen to one wall, and put the pop up antenna on the outside wall. Drill a hole in a back corner and run a HD extension cord out thru it so when near power can just plug in!! Oh, I can see it all so clearly in my head!! Get that all done, then when I retire for good, be ready to hit the road and boondock!!! NO MORE SNOW for this kid!!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ My friend Bob Wells over at www.cheaprvliving.com is doing the same thing and has been for several years now, quite successfully too! My gosh, go on YouTube and type in "VAN LIVING" in the search bar and you'll be amazed how many are doing it!! I can hardly wait to get the renovations done on my van and get out there with them all!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope everyone is well, safe and warm wherever you may be!!

Still Alive!!

2013-10-01T07:12:00.001-07:00

Wow!! I know it has been awhile since I posted anything, but the volume of SPAM I was getting was just becoming a major pain! Between 50 to 60 SPAM messages a day, all from people commenting on an older blog entry, and then including a link to their individual websites....none of them got posted, because all comments have to be approved by me. And then of course, I still have my TROLL Mike to deal with----he is such a silly little twit!! Hey Mike, you still out there?? Hope to see you comment so I can exercise my DELETE key!! lolol......... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Anyway, I left beautiful South Dakota back in late May to return to Illinois. My aging parents needed me here....my 87 y.o. stepfather is in very poor health, and my 92 y.o. mother can't do everything for him anymore. After a 10 day stay in a hospital, the old man is home again, but doing poorly. He only has 1 kidney, and 2 valves leaking at his heart, and retaining fluids...add congestive heart failure, nearly deaf, legally blind, and you got a real mess. I think its just a matter of time now.... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I have the STEALTH trailer parked 3 miles outside of town on private property owned by a friend who lives nearby. I am hooked up to power, and have access to fresh water. Not using the solar right now, after losing my panels to a major hail storm this past spring. But I do have 200 watts of new panels/mounts/tilt bars/controller/monitor all waiting to be hooked up. Was hoping to head out to Arizona this winter and hooking up with Bob Wells from cheaprvliving.com to get the install done, but uncertain right now if/when I will be going anywhere! Don't want to get 1800 miles away and then get a phone call telling me I need to come home..... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Still reading several of fellow traveller blogs and keeping up with where they are at and how they are doing. It amuses me to read about these "modern day NOMADS" camping in their travel trailers/truck campers who claim to be "STEALTH" camping!!! They are not STEALTH camping, they are merely boondocking!! HOW can you be STEALTH camping when you have windows all around your rig?? Pretty obvious when you have a van or a truck camper or a travel trailer parked in a Walmart with windows in it... that in essence---you are boondocking!! I mean, really?? Thats STEALTH?? Get real---you are boondocking, nothing more, nothing less...you have no STEALTH in a rig specifically made for camping! Park your rig in a Walmart or a Lowes or a Kmart lot, and a security guard or a cop is going to KNOW that more than likely you are in there. You are in an RV after all.....DOH!! Thats why you are 100 times more likely to get that dreaded 3am knock on your door, telling you to move on!! On the other hand, I can park my STEALTH trailer in the same lot, and not draw the least amount of attention!! With a ladder rack on top, it looks like just another contractor trailer. Cops don't give it a 2nd look......I can be in there watching tv or a DVD, or sound asleep, and no one has any idea whether anyone is inside or not! How?? IT HAS NO WINDOWS!!!!!! THAT IS STEALTH!!!! Both my STEALTH trailer and my tow rig are kept clean. I don't have an RVIA seal on the side. I don't have a back bumper holding a sewer hose. I don't have a ladder or lawn chairs or a couple of bikes hanging off the back of my rig!! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Well, thats enough of that for now. Hope everyone is doing well wherever you are! Take care.

WHERE, OH WHERE, IS S-P-R-I-N-G??????????????

2013-04-15T17:33:00.003-07:00

I have now been in Custer just over a week, and it has snowed a major storm that dumped 18" on us which is pretty well melted away already. Oh, there are still piles here and there, and some still in areas where the old sun isn't reaching, but for the most part that snow is gone........but here we are in a new week and guess what the weather forecast is?? Yup, that's right boys and girls, another major winter storm is on its way in!! This time, it starts on Tuesday and runs for 2 to 3 days, with snowfall totals between 8 and 12 inches!! HUH??? Its the middle of April!!! I'm pretty sure winter is supposed to be FREAKIN OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, I was off all weekend, and went exploring some in the area, and want to share a few pics! The entrance to Wind Cave National Park down the road from Custer. A truly beautiful place, practically deserted of humans but loaded with wildlife! Thats the Beaver Creek Bridge............ Seems to be wild horses everywhere I go here.....there were a bunch at the Badlands, and here was this one, grazing a long ways off the main road, but I got him with my zoom! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, thats it for today! Just going to hang out in the STEALTH camper and let the snow fall......but I will be back! Take care everyone.

What a snow storm!!

2013-04-10T20:20:00.003-07:00

It started on Monday evening, and went for the better part of 2 days nonstop!! When it was all said and done, we ended up with 18 inches of snow here in Custer!! The roads were a mess, but the crews quickly got it under control! Just this past Sunday, I was setting outside drinking coffee right here!! About mid afternoon, I cruised up to Mt. Rushmore because I wanted to see what it looked like with all the snow.....the roads were in really good shape, and I had the place almost to myself!! Such a beautiful part of the country, these Black Hills!!So happy to be here!!!

The beauty of the Badlands

2013-04-08T16:16:00.001-07:00

Took off at daylight this morning to go and explore the Badlands.....a short drive from Custer and it started out real nice and not to chilly. It seemed I had the countryside all to myself, until I rounded a curve and found this character...... He was grazing along the edge of the road, and seemed oblivious to my prescence for at least 15 minutes. The buffalo by the way have the right of way here, and do not like it when you honk your horn or holler at them! I didn't do either by the way!! He finally looked my way, snorted, and ambled into the grass, stopping only to give me "the look" as I snapped his picture. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few miles farther along, and I saw some people stopped and out taking pictures and pointing....pointing at what I didn't know until I asked.....off in the distance, there were at least a dozen horses, apparently wild and free, grazing......I had to zoom the full 30x to get this, but it was worth it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun was now out nice and bright, but still very few people here.....still early in the season. I continued my drive, enjoying the scenery, looking for that one shot that would sum up my visit..... Pretty cool huh?? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On my way back to Custer this afternoon, I got off US16 and onto SR244, which is the main drive by Mt. Rushmore. Again, virtually no other cars out here but mine, so waited until I had just the right spot for the perfect shot.... And then just another mile along got this one, much closer, but still had the zoom on full power..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ And that pretty well wrapped up my day.....weather is to change drastically tonight into Tuesday, with up to 15" of new snow and dangerous bitter cold winds! May hibernate the next few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greetings from South Dakota!

2013-04-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hello all!! Yeah I've been off the blog awhile, but am back at it again, trolls be damned! Got bored setting around the midwest watching it snow then warm up and then snow some more!! YUCK!! Decided it was time to take the STEALTH trailer on the road again and use it for why I had it built in the first place---to go and explore!! Have accepted a workamping gig in Custer, SD for the season, and have arrived safely this morning.......I was out here 2 years ago, at a bookstore up the road a bit at Mount Rushmore, and loved every minute of it! Now I am farther south about 20 miles and as I was coming in this morning just had to pull off and snap this beauty...thats Crazy Horse Memorial, from about 2 miles away at 20x zoom......they are definitely making progress, but have a long way to go! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will check back in after I get settled in and situated. Take care everyone!!

Where did he go??????????

2013-01-23T21:30:00.001-08:00

I have to wonder, where did my little troll go?? He has not sent me any messages for months now.....maybe he went to prison, very strong possibility, since it was revealed on another blog whose owner told me my little troll was a pedophile!! Must be locked away someplace without internet access.....oh well, we don't need a pedophile blogging anyway. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Still in Chicago this week, but it is definitely cold up here!! Work is going very well and we have months and months scheduled! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catch you all later! Everyone, stay warm!

Back at it!!

2013-01-18T17:45:00.001-08:00

I know its been a while since I posted, but the spammers were getting so crazy, I just shut down for a break!! So many comments were coming in from bloggers overseas that included a link to their website seeking free advertising that I just said the heck with the blog until I got a handle on it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a relaxing visit to Florida back in December, I headed west to Arizona for a few weeks. Camped in the desert on BLM land outside Quartzsite, and Yuma as well. Temps were mild and had a great time! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The company I worked for last year called me 2 weeks ago wanting me to come back on the road with them on a new project in Ace stores, so I said OK and here I am! Presently in the Chicago market for the first 6 weeks, then heading into the Grand Rapids, MI market for a couple months. The work is similar to that of last year, and the money is good.....and it all just goes into the travel fund! We have enough work scheduled right now to get thru April.....then I might head back out west for a few weeks. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope all is well with you wherever you are! Stay safe, and stay warm!!

Shell Mound State Park

2012-12-11T05:50:00.000-08:00

Just outside of Cedar Key, FL is an area known as Indian Shell Mound. Thousands of years ago, Indians inhabited the area, and generation after generation they raised their children, buried their dead, and lived peaceful lives, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.

Their sources of food included abundant wildlife, as well as even more abundant seafood! For decades, they tossed the bones and the shells not far from the waters edge, and the result were mounds reaching heights of 28 feet, stretching far along their camp boundary....the mounds served multiple purposes, including a windbreak as well as a means of protection from other Indians attacking them.

The entire area is now a state park and an archaeological site, and has multiple boat launches, a small campground with full hookup sites, as well as a walking trail to the mounds area itself.

The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge surrounds the area, and development will likely never happen. Rich in history, but other than that just not much to see or do here.....but the views are spectacular!

Meet Katie and Jess

2012-12-09T17:51:00.001-08:00

Every now and then, I meet some very interesting people! Saturday out at the Tiki bar behind the Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Key, FL I met not 1 but 2 very interesting as well as pretty young ladies, who are on a very interesting journey of their own!! Here they are.............

Thats Katie on the left, Jess on the right....these girls are fascinating to talk to! I could NOT believe what they are doing!! Rather than even try to explain it here, I will just refer you to their website---katieandjessieonaboat.com and you can read all about it for yourselves! They are on a once in a lifetime journey, that they will remember all their lives! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know that if these young ladies were my daughters, I would be worried sick about them, but I would also be so proud of them for what they are doing! Hell, I'm proud of them now! Go to their site, and tell me how many 23 year old girls you know that are doing ANYTHING even remotely close to what they are doing!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Katie.....Jessie.....I am very glad that our paths crossed! You are amazing young women, on a great journey! I will be following your voyage! I will pray for you to have smooth sailing, and may the wind be always at your backs. I am very proud of both of you!

To much R and R??

2012-12-09T17:32:00.001-08:00

Well, shoot!! Been here in Cedar Key, FL for right at a week and I never thought I would say this, but I'm getting BORED!! Not being a fisherman, or not even being fond of the water, this really isn't the place for a guy like me to be!! Don't get me wrong, this place is gorgeous, and I love it here, but for me a week of doing absolutely nothing is getting old---FAST!! I realize now that I SHOULD have brought the trailer with me!! Kicking myself for not doing so!! And I still have 5 days to go---already paid for.....ho hum..... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I still have about 5 weeks to go before we get called back to work, and I will be soooo ready!! In the meantime, hanging out back home won't be that bad. The time will go by quick!! Plus, will be there for the holidays this year. Last year at this time, I was in Quartzsite, AZ hanging out and boondocking in the desert, and loving every minute of it! Guess I could go home and hook up the trailer and head west for a month or so....about the 1st time it gets down in the teens, I may just do that! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hanging out in Cedar Key.........

2012-12-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

Coming up on a week in Cedar Key, well on Monday that is....but having a very relaxing visit! Life here just seems so laid back all the time. But also, the locals all seem to be in a rush, especially the commercial fishermen! They seem to be going full tilt all the time. I see them coming onto the island early of a morning, and they don't seem to go back until 7 or 8 at night......some have real nice boats, some have boats that look as though they are held together with chicken wire!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When I first visited Cedar Key back in 2009, I went and checked out a local eatery named Kona Joes Island Cafe. And each time I return to visit, I stop in and see the owners---Joe and Edie.....and I eat here often when in town. This morning, after breakfast, while sitting out on the porch I snapped a few pics of the exterior of Kona Joes.....hope you like!!

If you're thinking its a cool place, well, you're right!! It is!! The outside and inside is decorated with island art and exudes a laid back way of life. And, the foods pretty darned good too! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Later today, headed out to Shell Mound State Park.....more on it along with pics tomorrow! Hope everyone is safe and warm wherever you are!

Random shots around Cedar Key..........

2012-12-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

Just a few random shots around beautiful Cedar Key, FL...Hope you enjoy!

Day 1 in Paradise...........

2012-12-04T17:09:00.002-08:00

So I made it in to the Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Key, FL and got checked in and situated, and journeyed out to the Tiki Bar and settled in to a comfy chair and proceeded to indulge myself and slake my thirst with some COLD Coors Lite, while catching up with Pat Bonish from www.everymilesamemory.com and had a great visit, and made some new friends who are here from Maine..... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The evening progressed, and the beer was flowing, but I did manage to capture the sunset! Enjoy...............

Even after the sun drops over the Gulf of Mexico, the magic continues......

But it didn't stop there!! Just a couple minutes later, we were presented this view of the western sky............

And then it got dark very fast, and the chilly air moved in. Pats wife Cindy showed up a few minutes later with a crock pot of fresh made chili, and we all helped ourselves while Pat fired up the woodstove in a corner. These guys KNOW how to take care of their guests! The chili was delicious! The little woodstove with a crackling fire chased away the chill in the air, good conversation and cold beer...made me wonder---can it get any better? The answer is yes---tomorrow! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wherever you are, hope you are safe and warm!!

Cedar Key pics............

2012-12-03T18:00:00.002-08:00

This is some of the back bay area of the Gulf of Mexico around Cedar Key...this is at low tide..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then I caught these guys hanging out just before the sunset tonight, which was unspectacular......think my lens is either filthy or something was wrong since this pic looks grainy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will be cleaning camera tonight in hopes of getting better quality pics posted tomorrow!!

I remember now!!

2012-12-03T12:31:00.003-08:00

I left Illinois Saturday morning at daylight headed for Cedar Key, FL.....drove to Ringgold,GA before pulling off for the night for some sleep. Suburban did REALLY well on gas, right at 17.6 mpg!! Thats great for this behemoth! Kept it on cruise most of the way at 65 mph.....aggravated a lot of drivers who were doing 80 plus, but what do I care!! I'm on vacation!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Left Ringgold Sunday morning and drove to Lake City,FL before stopping again. Room reservation wasn't until Monday, so I took my time and hung out in Lake City until about noon, then rolled on down I-75 to Gainesville and got on SR24 west to Cedar Key...got into town a little early, couldn't check in till 3pm, but Amber, the Assistant Manager for the Low Key Hideaway went ahead and let me in just after 2pm...what a sweetie!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Its been about 18 months since I was last here, and Pat and Cindy have made a lot of changes to the place, all for the better I think! Wasn't here 30 minutes before I was kicked back out on the dock in a comfy chair, just hanging out watching the tide roll in!! Cell phone turned off, so no distractions...just blissful peace in the gorgeous warm sunshine.....Pat and Cindy won't care if I do absolutely NOTHING the whole time I'm here, and THAT is the plan!!! Do absolutely as little (or as much) as I want!! Isn't that what vacations are for? I mean, THAT is why I came here!! I was beginning to forget WHY I was driving almost 1000 miles, but after an hour here I remembered!! Stay tuned for pics, they will be coming in the next few days!!! 9

Winding down.............

2012-11-11T18:50:00.001-08:00

Work is winding down.....another week here in northern Indiana, and then homeward bound, back to the STEALTH camper and my own bed!! A couple weeks at home getting things wrapped up and then----hook up the STEALTH camper to the Suburban and head south!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Destination----Cedar Key, Florida!! For the uneducated Cedar Key is about an hours drive or so southwest of Gainesville on SR 24.....it sits about 2 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico......connected by causeways.....heres an aerial shot---

I'm taking the STEALTH camper along to have some work done on my solar power/wind turbine setup by a professional electrician who specializes in this type of setup...being from the midwest, I just can't seem to find a solar/wind installer who understands WHAT I want him to do!! Heres a pic of the typical setup and the wiring diagram---

But the so called "master electricians" who have looked at my setup just don't seem to get it!!! So....since my bud Pat at the Low Key Hideaway is having a wind turbine/solar setup installed at his tiki bar, I'm going to have the guy do my trailer install! Have already talked with him and told him what I want and he assures me its a 1 day job, and he can do it and guarantee my complete satisfaction! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will be staying at the Low Key Hideaway for a week or 2, then I'm going to go do some serious boondocking and try out my new solar/wind setup! Heres a little taste of the scenery around the LKH...Enjoy!

And.......this is what Cedar Key is famous for!!

There will be lots of pics coming to my blog in December, so stick around!!

Weekend escape..................

2012-10-27T04:48:00.001-07:00

I managed to escape to home this past Thursday, due to a cancellation. This will be the last weekend home until the week of Thanksgiving, so I decided to make the most of it! Rolled into town and hooked up the STEALTH camper, and pulled it about 4 miles southwest of town to a the local state park, Found me a nice, secluded campsite and set up camp.....Here are the views outside my spot.....ENJOY!!

I think the leaves are just past their peak of color, but still pretty darn nice! Took the above 3 Friday afternoon, but here is the view this morning just after sunrise...

The strange thing is, I'm all alone here....not another camper in sight!! Not even a tent camper to enjoy the beauty or share a cup of coffee with!! Oh well...I'm enjoying it anyway. Will stay until Sunday morning, then pull the trailer back to its semi permanent spot and hit the work trail again...just over 3 more weeks and then Florida bound for a couple months, maybe longer.....