After posting the earlier photo slideshow from the Pacific Northwest, I remembered I had created a similar video from a road trip in the Eastern Sierra in 2019. On that trip I was photographing the fall colors in the area. I was traveling for about nine days on that trip.
It works best if you click on the YouTube link on the video and watch it there, full screen is best. The music is from Boney James, his song is called “RPM.”
Enjoy!
I assembled a photo slideshow of photos I took while on my road trip in the Pacific Northwest in May and June of this year. The video is about 5 minutes long and the musical soundtrack is the Cat Stevens song, “On the Road to Find Out.”
For the best enjoyment, click on the “Watch on YouTube” link below and choose to watch it in full frame mode.
November was a good month to camp near the Sonoma Coastline. The Casini Ranch Family Campground is just a few miles inland along the Russian River. The RV Park is well maintained with a variety of spaces. I chose a space along a wooded area, with the river a couple hundred yards behind me. Other spaces were available nearest the beach area. The weather was great for most of the week; the rain started about the same time we were packing up to leave on Friday.
Our first full day was Tuesday, November 10th. We drove over the nearby Korbel winery for some champagne tasting. Social distancing was in full effect during the tasting session. The champagne was good, however, in the gift shop I purchased a small bottle of Korbel brandy.
Continue reading “Russian River in November”
I bought this Aliner Expedition folding A-Frame trailer in mid-September from a couple I know through photography. I had seen photos from some of their photography adventures and noticed this Aliner as their travel vehicle. When they put it up for sale, I took a look and made the purchase!
This has a “sofa” that can be converted to a queen-size bed, 4-seat dinette, 2-burner stove, 3-way refrigerator, sink, microwave oven, heat pump/cooler, outdoor shower, cassette toilet and water heater.. For full service, it has hook ups for shore power, city water and cable tv.
I’ve made some enhancements to improve storage spaces, create new ones and add some features. (More about those projects later)
When folded down, the trailer pulls easily. The smaller box means less wind-resistance and a lower center of gravity than a standard trailer. It is also very easy to maneuver in small spaces.
The camper sets up quickly. In less than a minute, the two roof panels can be raised, as well as the two side walls. Once locked in the open position, the inside area can be arranged as desired. Traveling in an A-frame requires a minimalist approach. The more stuff I pack, the more stuff I’ll have to shift around to get to the other stuff. Rather than thinking about what I can take, I need to think about what I can do without.
In addition to limited space, I also have consider weight: trailer weight, tongue weight, cargo weight in my tow vehicle – these all add up to fuel efficiency, strain on the Honda Pilot and safety.
With the restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic, camping has seen a surge in popularity. Camping offers social-distancing, fresh air, opportunity for exercise and a respite from in-home lockdown. As a result, it is more difficult than ever to locate and reserve campground spaces. Most state and federal campgrounds are at full capacity, and private campgrounds and RV parks are charging premium prices.
The other option is boondocking: camping on open space land, usually operated by the US Forest Service (USFS) or Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These spaces are also seeing significant impact from increased camping. Many areas are experiencing crowded conditions, excessive trash and human waste strewn across the landscape and campers barging into protected land spaces and private property.
In this blog, I’ll share my experiences with road-tripping, trailer mods, camping and yes, boondocking. It promises to be an adventure!
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Roadtripping with Ron 