I don’t know if I will be able to keep posting and videoing as I travel to Arizona, but this is the actual day we leave NC for AZ. As we always do we will stop about 10 places as we transit Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

After being in Arizona for 2 weeks we will be slipping into California for a few weeks to check out the Giant Sequoias and the Joshua Trees. Then back east to Zion, Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon. Ending up back through warmer states to North Carolina!

After playing around in Florida for 2 weeks we are trusting and hoping that the trailer is properly set up for long term boondocking. We have been staying at campgrounds with Electric hookups, water hookups, and hot showers the entire trip. Originally I thought we were in primitive sites for at least 1 week, but that turned out not to be true (a nice surprise)! But to my advantage I did find a leak in the water system, and a problem with the sink we fixed. So I believe we have screened out the possible problems (famous last words).

For extra insurance against misery I did purchase a dual fuel generator that I plan to tun only on propane. That way I don’t have to store or deal with gas and stale gas varnish. It is a fairly big genny. I had to raise the bunk bed up so it would fit under the bunk. So it should run the A/C and Micro at the same time without any issues, and recharge the 300AH Lithium batteries in under 3hrs.

I have set up the outside shower so I can use it if I need a shower after 3weeks. I doubt it! Akela only needs one shower per year. Why would I need any more!? I did read the rules on BLM land and they specifically say “Disposing of grey water from a holding tank, is prohibited on desert ground…. “. However, disposing of dishwater or shower water directly to the ground is not prohibited. As such, using my outside shower for cleaning and dish rinsing is allowed. I never have food particles in my dishwater as I wipe the dishes clean with a paper towel (or let Akela clean them) before washing/sanitizing them.

As places I have planned to check out: The RTR, The “BIG TENT”, Slab City is 1hr away, The Salton Sea, Los Algodones, Mx (maybe for dental or Rx), The Pacific Coast, and of course all the cool things in the desert around the area. For fun and relaxation I am bringing my Guitar, my drone, my bike, and a few bits of reading material and board games. So if you have any requests or places I should not miss, send me a note! I will have some time to play of course!

With that, Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and get all the presents you wished for. I hope you begin the New Year Happy and stay that way at least 80% of the time for all of 2025. Our Christmas wish for ourselves is a safe journey and lots of ball playing time!! Everything else is just part of the adventure!

Thanks for coming along, we’ll keep you informed!
Rick & Akela – GoingNoWhereFast