Got out of town at 11:30 AM and headed to the FWC Rally at Sugarloaf SP. Driving up I-5 saw sign that Hwy 12 was closed due to an accident. Had to make a detour to Walnut Creek and Isleton to get to Rio Vista and back on 12. Most traffic I have seen on Hwy 160.
In and out of the rain all the way to the Sonoma Valley. We stopped at the Sonoma Market to do some shopping. I recommend anyone driving by stop, one of the best deli's around. For lunch on the way up we had looked online and the Cafe Citti in Kenwood looked like somewhere we would like to try. We were impressed with lunch, Smoked Chicken Caesar Salad for Veronica and Calamari Sandwich for me. Both were great.
Short 4 mile drive up the hill to Sugarloaf State Park, our first time there.
Light rain falling as we checked in and found a campsite.
Being from the hot valley we found a place under the trees for shade. This was be a error as we would find later. Four Wheel Camper had a happy hour for the Friday arrivers. We met some nice people there. Not too many from the southern CA rally we attended last fall. Rain was picking up so we headed back to our camper for dinner and to get warmed up. I continue to be impressed with how well everything is working in the new camper. Read books for a couple of hours and got ready for bed. The automatic thermostat drops to 45 degrees at night and back to 68 in the morning. The heater came on 4 times at night as the temperature dropped to 37 degrees that night. We were awake each time it came on, due to the error we had make earlier picking this campsite. The rain collected as it fell though the trees. The sound was some what like tennis balls hitting the roof. Not a good nights sleep on Friday night.
Cold damp morning, but blue sky breaking through. We are early risers so we had coffee and yogurt in the warm camper. FWC was having rolls and fruit at 8:00 AM. We walked down and visited, it was nice to not have rain falling.
I set up my Solar in a Bag at 9:00 AM and had a full charge on both camper batteries by 2:00 PM. The DC fridge is working just like the fridge at home, great. The solar is easily keeping the batteries charged, very happy with this set up.
At 10:00 AM the tour of the campers started. Everyone has made changes to their campers so they are how they want them. I do not think there were two campers the same. FWC brought the new flatbed UTE camper. Lots on interest in it, lots of room inside and a queen size bed without a pull out. I can see me making a rear awning for our Hawk. Would have been nice in the rain.
This is one of the things from the tour I have never seen before. Campfire in a can, ran on propane
This was our campground neighbor's rig. New Tundra with Aluminess bumpers front and read. Hawk looked great with this set up.
After lunch we headed for the Q&A session at the amphitheater. How often do you get an update from the company owner and open questions. Tom covered lots of items and answered everyones questions.
Nice to sit out in the warm sunshine. Veronica decided that we should move the camper out from under the trees for Saturday night. I have such a smart wife it made a big difference when it started raining at 4:00 AM Sunday morning.
Dinner was a potluck with FWC supplying chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs.
These were some of the best Artichokes I have had.
This table was full when dinner started.
Brenda from FWC kept the wine flowing.
Lots of good conversation after dinner. The two Hawk owners from Petaluma, who we met at Pinnacles NP showed up for dinner. It was nice seeing them again, hope to run into them camping sometime. There was a star show at Robert Ferguson Observatory just a short walk away. However the clouds were coming in and Veronica and I decided not to make the walk up the hill.
Morning came early as the rain started about 4:00 AM. The noise was much better as we were not under the trees. We both fell back asleep until the heater came on to warn up the camper. 47 degrees this morning so the heater did not come on all night. Light rain falling so we had breakfast in our warm and dry camper. FWC was having a full breakfast at 8:00 AM but were a little late getting going with the rain. They did put on a great spread with breakfast burritos and fruit, eggs and meats. More than we could eat.
The lady below drove her own camper to the rally. She must have cracked 100 eggs.
We left as we came in the rain. We had a great weekend and less than a two hour drive home. There is a Southern FWC Rally the end of October. Depending on what we have planned we may make the drive south.
Put this trip off a week because of rain and had some of the best weather of the year. Left Stockton Sunday morning and headed for Pinnacles NP. Strange year for weather as the hills looked like late November just turning green. Not a lot of spring wild flowers but the ones out were beautiful.
Hwy 25 driving to Pinnacles. Waves of yellow mustard over the green hills
Passed a lot of campers and RVs leaving the park as we drove down. Arrived to see a Campground Full sign, did not expect this on a Sunday night. Went in to be sure and was told "is that sign still out from yesterday"? Sounds like they fill on the weekend but almost always have space on the weekdays.
We found the park much more wooded than expected. Stream was flowing from the rain last week.
Found our spot and got the camper set up.
Time to read about the park.
After we set up took a walk around to check out the campground. We stayed in the no elec area, smaller sites and very nice. The elec area was flat, wide open and full of large RVs not where we wanted to be. Came back to camp and opened up Tom Clancy, a newer 2007 Tundra drive up with a Hawk on the back to say hi. Their friend saw our camper and told them where we were. Talked for awhile and they told us to stop by their camp site.
The two other FWC's in the park. This was also the first trip for the couple with the Tundra and Hawk. They purchased both together in Shasta, I remember seeing it on WTW.
Pictures from Pinnacles. Click for full size.
So this was our shake down trip, how is the camper working? Very good. At Pinnacles we spent our first night in the camper. At dinner we did the normal set up and found we had no knobs to hold a trash bag. Love the new style drawer latches but they are flush and we have always had a trash bag hanging from one of the old knobs. Going to mount a couple of knobs when we get back. The main reason we purchased a new camper was the extended cabover. First night we wanted to try sleeping on the stock foam without the bed extension pulled out. Foam was firm but I did not get sore sleeping on it. Veronica felt it was too firm. Room wise we were OK, just a little tight.
Morning arrived and I reached down to turn on the heater and warm up the camper. The new heater not only uses less power it is quieter than the old one. Got up, it is getting too warm! The heater was not turning off ?? First problem on our shake down trip. I tested and make sure the heater worked but did not run it up and down on temp to see if the thermostat worked. Who wired this thing wrong? No one to blame but myself, but I did bring a VOM with me. Quick check and I find I used the wrong lug on the back of the thermostat. Moved one wire and all is good, problem solved. We also noticed we did not hear the DC fridge at all, this was a good thing. It also worked great, just like a fridge at home. Checked the battery monitor before putting the camper down and had 3 lights on the panel.
We did hike up to and through the caves, not a lot of pictures as the camera battery died and I left the spare in the truck.
Still lots of moss on the rocks, will be gone soon.
Tunnel on the way to the caves.
Tight squeeze on the trail.
The temperature had climbed to over 80 when we left Pinnacles and headed for Monterey and the cool coast.
I learned about Monterey Veterans Park on WTW. Hard to believe there is a campground in the middle of Monterey.
We found the campground clean, small and well kept. Restrooms were cleaned each morning and had showers. We got our spot and set up the solar to charge up the batteries. Enjoyed the weather and read our books for a couple of hours. Oh did I mention it was the middle 80's ! Warmer than at Pinnacles. After the batteries were full we drove down to the Pacific Grove and a walk along the beach
Calling my friend in Capitola, telling him I can see all the way across Monterey bay.
This is why you buy a Truck camper, park anywhere.
Just about as good as it gets on the coast.
Like a postcard everywhere you look.
We had an early fish dinner before driving back to the campground. Tonight Veronica wanted to try sleeping on the REI pads and the bed pulled out. What a difference, more room and very comfortable. Looks like this is how we will sleep in the camper. The next morning we had our normal breakfast of yogurt and homemade muffins.
I checked the battery monitor and found two lights with the heater and fridge working?? Had three lights at Pinnacles and had charged on solar!! Will this be a problem? It did go to three when the heater was off. After breakfast took a morning walk around and met a couple in a Grandby they were from Petaluma same as the FWC owners we met at Pinnacles. Their camper was older and a shell build out that they purchased used. They were thinking about selling and buying a newer camper and wanted to look at ours, so we gave the tour. Feels good to hear others say they like the work you have done. I did notice after the couple left the yellow porch light was on! I had turned in on last night. An incandescent light running all night explains the lower battery level.
So our shake down trip is over, how did it go. Really like the side dinette and the room in the camper we have now. I know it is the same footprint as the old Hawk but feels larger. The table mounts on the side and pivots out of the way. I made the seats a little lower so our feet touch, a little narrower to get more room in the middle. That along with the extra height gives a bigger feel inside the camper. The extra cabinets allow us to have everything put up and not laying around. Only problem was the thermostat and was fixed on the trip. Found we need to add knobs to hold a trash bag. We will still be moving things in the drawers to get them just where we want. Over all we had a great trip and look forward to many more.
Made the decision to attend theFour Wheel Camper Rally in southern CA. We broke the trip down I-5 into two days with a stop at Fort Tejon on the grapevine.
We were the only campers at the fort. They have a group site that is open to first come campers if not reserved. Just off I-5 but around up a small valley so the freeway noise was not a problem. Fort Tejon is a civil war fort that most people including us just drive by. Lots of history, and we got an end of the day tour by the ranger closing up for the day. This was one of the coldest nights of the trip with a low of 29 degrees.
Our lonely camper.
The deer are so tame they did not move as we drove in.
Peter Lebec is buried at the fort; the nearby Town of Lebec is named for him
Long shadows at the end of the day.
By sunset we had the park to ourself. The rangers had cabins up the road and out of sight.
Packed and almost ready to head south.
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Saturday Oct 19, 2013
Down I-5 and the LA traffic, makes you love Northern CA. We had no idea of what to expect at the Four Wheel Camper Rally, it was a great event. We arrived just as a tour of everyone's campers was getting started. All the campers were different with no two the same. Everyone got a hat and T-shirt from 4WC's and we had a pot luck dinner, great food. Looking forward to the rally next April in Northern CA.
I put together a collection of pictures and put them on Youtube. Click below to watch.
Our camper at the Rally
This Hawk may have been the newest camper at the rally. Wow it was nice and had everything I would want in a camper. After our trip I will be looking for a Hawk with an extended overhang. If I can find the right camper mine will be for sale. Would be nice to keep the bed made up.
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Sunday Oct 20, 2013
We said our goodbyes and hit the road. Up and over Hwy 74 the Ortega highway to Lake Elsinore. Have never been in this area so all was new to us. Our next stop was the Glen Oak area for their Apple Hill area. We saw this on California Gold.
Lunch was at one of the apple farms. Grilled cheese, apple and bacon sandwich. Wow so simple and so good.
Lots of color in the trees
Oh yes it was a Sunday. Lots of traffic and people everywhere.
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Next we were off to Palm Springs and the Tram to the top of the mountain. This has been on my list of things I have wanted to do for a long time. Mid 90's when we arrived at the bottom of the Tram. 60's when we go to the top.
Our Tram arrives, I did not know the floor rotates as you go. Everyone had a great view.
Life is good.
Snow on the top
We pass the other Tram as we go down.
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Off to Joshua Tree and our camp for the night. Two years ago we stopped at Joshua Tree for the first time, it is a great park and different than any other.
Our camp and our only campfire for the trip. Walked around the camp, lots of climbers everywhere. Most young and in tents, several just mats on the sand. We are too old for that.
Checking out the rocks.
There was rain in the last two weeks so flowers were popping up.
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Monday Oct 21, 2013
This was going to be a driving day with a motel in Mesquite NV tonight. We like to stop every 3 days or so for a good clean up and wifi to catch up.
We went through Twenty Nine Palms and through Wonder Valley. I just wonder why anyone would live out there. But everywhere you looked there was a small home and an old truck. Guess I am just not a desert person. Got gas in Las Vegas and did not stop at the casinos, that saves $$.
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Tuesday Oct 22, 2013
Up early and off to Zion National Park. I was there as a child, this was the first trip for Veronica. Pictures do not do justice to the beauty of this park. There is a tram that runs up the valley no cars. Even this time of the year there was lots of people must be a crowd in the summer.
Sites were not level, used all my blocks to get level. Needed the step latter to get to the steps.
The deer were tame and everywhere
The next four pictures from our walk to the narrows.
Red asphalt and the shutle
Dinner at the Lodge.
Most of the major National Parks have a Lodge with a top notch restaurant. We have dined at Lodges of Crater Lake, Yellowstone and Yosemite. This trip we added Zion and Bryce Canyon to our list.
Had Frank "Casa Escarlata Robles Too" from the Wander the West site come up and say hello. He reconized my truck and camper from my posts on Wander the West. You meet great people in a pop up camper.
The night was windy and cool. The cottonwood trees played a symphony all night. It was still windy the next morning when we walked to the visitors center. They said the wind comes up every night and then slows in the day. Zion by far was the high light of our trip. We will be back and spend more time in the park.
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Wednesday Oct 23, 2013
We say goodbye to Zion and are off to Bryce Canyon. The road winds up the canyon and to a over one mile tunnel.
The light hitting the walls was fantastic to watch
Our tunnel comes into view up the wall.
Looking back at the road.
The start of the tunnel
We arrived to another world on top of the canyon. No wind and warm.
We arrive at Bryce Canyon with clouds forming in the sky. We had climbed up in altitude; it was going to get cold at night. The shuttle here had already shut down for the year.
While you are in the canyon at Zion looking up at Bryce you are on the ridge looking down into the canyon. The Campgrounds are in the trees and away from the canyon rim. We are spoiled in CA as the trees are not the size we are used to in the Sierra Nevada.
The colors of the rocks are more vivid than will show in the pictures.
Hikers going down well worn trails. We are headed for the hole in the wall on the right.
The rocks make everything orange.
Great cell service. The sign says it all, loose and steep.
Great arch just off the trail
9,000 feet up and cold, yes that is snow.
Bryce point, one the the great views in the USA.
The Lodge at Bryce did not disappoint. We had lunch and dinner there. Everything was getting ready to shut down for the winter. The forecast was for a chance of snow the following night. We have had a great trip and decided that we would be heading west the following day. Bryce Canyon was nice, but Zion was so much more.
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Thursday Oct 24, 2013
The next morning we are up and on our way to check out Hwy 12. All the tour guides say it is not to be missed.
You drop over 2,000 feet from the rim to valley floor of Bryce Canyon. You are now looking up to the cliffs.
We turn off to drive back to Kodachrome State Park. This area was some of the last to be mapped in the USA. Stopped to take a picture of the old gas station.
Great views and color but not what we were told we would see. Started to wonder if we should turn around and head back.
Everything changes when we climb up and turn the corner to the Escalante Staircase and the Million dollar road. Wow what a view and it goes on for ever.
The view was so wide a took a video to show it all, click below to watch
I need to come back on my motorcycle to ride this section of Hwy 12. Nothing like the Hwy 12 west of Lodi CA. Long sweeping turns and views everywhere.
Both the visitor centers we stopped at told us about a little coffee shop off the side of the road. If we had not been looking for it we would have driven by. Great drinks and homemade deserts.
I have never see such yellow cottonwood trees and they were all full.
Drove back to a small campground to check it out. We will stay the next time we come through.
Several arches as we drove back out of the valley and headed for I-15
Weather started to look threading as we drove down I-15 towards Mesquite NV and a motel room. We stayed in Mesquite coming out and had dinner at the Virgin River Casino. A couple we waited in line with told us the $27.00 rooms were good so we decided to try it. Called ahead and found only smoking rooms were left. No go for us, so I decided to drive into Las Vegas and do a long drive on Friday home.
Have to love driving out of CA. 80mph speed limit north of St George Utah. And it was down hill.
We found a great Marriott Suites motel as we came into Las Vegas. Short of the Ritz Carlton it may be the best hotel we have stayed in. Helped that it was only a year old. NHRA was in town and we were glad to find a place, rate was going up on Friday per standard at any big event.
Got up early and had breakfast and thought we would be out of town early. Found out Las Vegas has a rush hour and we were in the middle of it. Took over 1/2 hour to drive across Las Vegas. Stopped for gas at the border to save the CA prices. Saw a new Six Pack camper at the gas station, made by the Four Wheel Camper company.
Crossing the border into CA the speed limit dropped to 65 mph same I-15 that we could do 80 on in Utah WTF. Only different the road is straighter in CA. Our plan was to take 58 to 395 and drive up the eastern Sierra Nevada. I have not driven that far south on 395 and was looking forward to the trip. When we got to Kramer Junction we found that 395 was closed because of a police action. Some nut shooting at people and cars, traffic in Las Vegas may have been a good thing. Drove up to Hwy 14 and headed north through Red Rock Canyon State Park. Picked up 395 and headed for Yosemite and Hwy 120.
Kyrazy on Wander the West told me if we are driving up 395 a stop at the Copper Top Bar-B-Q in Big Pine is a must. He was right, only open 4 months ran by a father and son. Good stuff.
The cottonwood trees were bright orange and yellow as we drove up 395. Good to be back in CA.
I ride over Tioga Pass several times each year. We stopped at Olmsted Point it has a great view of half dome. Even this time of the year there was a lot of traffic. Everything was closed over the top and signs saying no overnight parking.
Olmsted Point looking east, it was cold up there.
The sunset on us as we connected to Hwy 108.
We had had a great week and covered just over 2,000 miles. Enjoyed meeting all the other Four Wheel Campers at the rally, and made a decision to start looking for a Hawk with the extended bed. Saw a lot of great country, our National Parks are a treasure. Love my senior pass, free admission and half price camping. Hope you enjoyed our trip as much as we did.
