Our first extended dry camp

[kwatson51]

Hi all,
We just got back today (July 4) from our first extended dry camp experience.
Boy, did we learn a lot!!! Fortunately, we were with some good friends that "knew the ropes", so we didn't suffer too much.

We left Friday, June 29th about 10:45am. I had pre-cooled the fridge on AC, so it was about 37F when we left. Switched over to 12V while on the road. Got to camp about 1:30 or so. Filled the water tank on the way into the campground, set up camp, checked the battery. We left with a fully charged battery, and the system charges while on the road, so it was still full when we arrived. Switched the fridge over to propane (that puppy is hard to light in broad daylight 'cause I can't see when the pilot is lit).
Hooked up the solar panel (given to us by our friends when they got a new monster solar panel), set out the reclining lawn chairs and chilled all afternoon.
We were somewhat frugal on the use of water and electricity, but still took showers to get the bug spray off.
Checked the battery next morning after breakfast - down some, but ok. Knew it would charged during the day. Ran the furnace a little each morning to take the chill off.
Skip to Tuesday the 3rd. Early evening  I took a shower to cool off, and everything worked fine. Wednesday morning - no water would come out the faucet. No problem I thought - empty tank (could hear the pump running) just add water from our spare containers. Nada...no water. Hmmm. Checked each faucet - sink, shower, outside shower, no water. Did dishes by heating up water on the stove.
Got home, removed the pump, took it apart - no problem seen. Put it all back together, and now it works just fine. Not sure what I've learned here.
By the way, the solar did just fine - 1 G27 battery for the whole time and never ran out of juice, even when our daughter's family joined us on Monday. I'm sold on solar!

Now, if I could just get the fridge to work on solar! The pilot went out sometime Monday due to sporadic winds and I didn't know it. Ruined the food we had there, but we had plenty in the ice chests, so we didn't starve either.
This morning, the fridge was down to 37 again, but after 2 days of being in the 50's inside the fridge, we didn't trust it. Will have to figure out something to keep the pilot lit.

Pics are now posted.

[Funrover]

Crazy  Story... Where did you go( or did I miss that?)

[kwatson51]

Crazy  Story... Where did you go( or did I miss that?)

Oh! Duh! You didn't miss it...I just forgot that part.:morning:

We went to Turquoise Lake, near Leadville, CO.
Picas are now on our web site:

http://picasaweb.google.com/KAWCamping/TurquoiseLake2007

[curryp]

Beautiful pictures!!! I am so envious. Every since I was in college as a parks and recreation major and saw numerous pictures of Colorado, Wyoming, etc I have wanted to go to out west. Your camping pictures make my desires stronger. I have about 10 years left before retirement, but I am determined to go out west once I retire. As a school teacher I may seize the moment and take a summer to go touring.

[kwatson51]

Beautiful pictures!!! I am so envious. Every since I was in college as a parks and recreation major and saw numerous pictures of Colorado, Wyoming, etc I have wanted to go to out west. Your camping pictures make my desires stronger. I have about 10 years left before retirement, but I am determined to go out west once I retire. As a school teacher I may seize the moment and take a summer to go touring.

Thanks for the kind words.
Though I'm not retired (what is that anyway?), we just picked up and moved here from Austin, TX in 2002, for much the same reasons -- always wanted to be here and seemed like the timing was right. Turned out to be perfect!

I would love to see your part of the country as well -- some beautiful scenery there. I love the autumn pictures of that area. Here, the Aspens are beautiful in the fall, but is rather mono-toned yellow, with a little red and orange sprinkled in.
Maybe one day...

[Russinator]

Keith, thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

It looks like a wonderful place to camp and spend a few days.

Russ

[Funrover]

Nice area.... My sister used to live in Leadville.... Fun place if you like the outdoors.... if you don't I have no clue what you would do there!!  Great pics!

[wavery]

kwatson51

Thanks for the pics. Looks like a beautiful place to camp.

Sorry to hear that you had problems with the fridge pilot. My pilot has never blown out, even while towing in a strong wind. The water heater will often blow out but not the fridge.

[campdaddy]

Oh! Duh! You didn't miss it...I just forgot that part.:morning:

We went to Turquoise Lake, near Leadville, CO.
Picas are now on our web site:

http://picasaweb.google.com/KAWCamping/TurquoiseLake2007

Man, that is a beautiful place!! and nice pictures, too. You do well with a camera.  I would like to "go west" some day; take the family to some of the places I went back when I was in the Air Force. Thanks for sharing!

[kwatson51]

Thanks for the kind words. It is a very pretty place -- perhaps the best we've been to yet. Makes the mosquitoes and biting flies worth enduring.
Come on out, bring the family. Leadville is at about 10,000 feet, so you'll probably have to practice breathing the thin mountain air. Not so bad here in Colorado Springs...we're only at about 6,000 feet. Still takes a little gettin' used to if you're going to exert yourself (hiking etc.)