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[travelaround]

Thanks for help and information. Today took a drive downriver just to see something different.

Used my 500 watt heater in the van this morning for the first time. It took the edge off the cold though never really made the place feel warm except right in front of the heater.

 

[maki2]

Used my 500 watt heater in the van this morning for the first time. It took the edge off the cold though never really made the place feel warm except right in front of it

I had the same issue with that wattage of a heater. I found an inexpeensive, $20,00 ceramic heater at Walmart with a choice of 700, 900 or 1500 watts. The 700 setting was enogh for keeping the cold down when I was up north experiencing temps in the mid 30s last month
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-1500W-Ceramic-Electric-Space-Heater-WSH10C2ABB-Black/783842404

 

[maki2]

The noisy Ryobi generator my nearby neighbor was borrowing tnis past week just gor replaced with one of the new Harborfreight Predator generators. It is very much quieter,  and tolerable. But today 2 big class A motorhomes arrived together and smoved in a litte ways behind me. Hopefully the guy just behind those class As who runs a noisybgenerator for 16 hours a day will drive them nuts. Otherwise I am going shopping for a new campsite in the next couple of days in an area where people have lots of solar panels and not a lot of TV antennas or big RVs with propane furnace.

I hear tell the YARC camp is currently empty, I might have to go and dwell there for a while despite it being way back in on rougher roads.

 

[Random Painted Highway]

Travel around.  Even if I weren’t thousands of miles away I couldn’t help I need to get my fan in. First I got a buy it. So that one in the box if you’re looking to get rid of it you could donate it to some East Coaster.  Just kidding I know you need it. My roof is fiberglass and I am very hesitant to pick just anybody to install that fan. I may do like JC and put it in the back window. I don’t know yet, got to have a couple hundred dollars to buy one first. And there are other things in line.

Not nearly as cold in Florida tonight. It feels quite quite comfortable in the van now. I did get to see a gator today a big one swimming but I was in the van moving down the road and didn’t get to take pictures. I did take pictures of blue herons great egrets snowy egrets and cattle egrets. This Myakka State Park is beautiful.  Must be at least a half a dozen different kinds of palm trees and other vegetation that makes it almost look jungle like. The shadows under the dense forest are going to be good for some neat photography.  Lots of black vultures today and some birds I didn’t ID yet. I’m buying the annual pass to the Florida State Parks so I don’t have to pay daily to get into them. Since I’m Have a place to stay close to the park I want to get to know the place a lot better. The better you know the ins and outs and the habits of the wildlife in a park even the direction of the sun at the right time of the day the better the photography. God bless the nomads wherever they may be.

We visited Myakka State Park several years ago and it was beautiful!  Thanks for bringing such great memories of the park.  We took the tour and floated on their special boats around the river...gators all around us...what a primordial feeling it had.  Makes me want to get out there again!

 

[vgilbert]

Hey Nature Loverhttps://vanlivingforum.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=26828
If you PM I will send you my cell number, will be easier to send you some location info. Ocala National forest is currently closed to dispersed camping I believe. General Gun (hunting season runs into mis-late December and therefore the restrictions) Hence I am in Northern Fl at a hunt camp. My current location normally has the 14 day rule but Im told that since so much is closed for hunting season that the 14 days is not being enforced.

 

[bullfrog]

Maki2 silence is golden, I spent the whole afternoon without hearing anything but waves and migrating birds. Actually had a fish swim around my fishing bobber playing with it, I’m sure we both had a laugh. Rough roads are worth the quiet but go slow and be careful.

 

[maki2]

The hold back for me on camping far back in the rogh roads is I often have to go into town to mail out orders on many of the weekdays this next few weeks. Fortunately this evening generator hell quited down early, right after dinner time. Maybe it was a bad night for TV. I would not know as I don' t have one anymore. Gave it away when I went on the road.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Hey just a heads up...YARC camp is accessible via a somewhat smoother road.....actually more like a trail, but they are really decent and smoother than the main dirt road...but it does pass thru some other camping areas, including close to the magic circle bunch....Cammalu can show you or you can figure it out if you are willing to explore a bit...

 

[maki2]

How can a magician in the magic circle hide tricks up the sleeves when they are nekkid?

 

[nature lover]

Maki -Where did that question come from Where did that question come? did you pull it out of your hat?
The only magic I can do it with a magic marker and even then there’s not much artistry involved.

Held up in the van yesterday and today working on getting the computer hooked up to the hotspot on visible. I think I’ve got it down pat now. So I’ll be able to load pictures I took with my camera instead of just those that I took with my iPad. With this brain injury I am so slow to learn anything and so quick to forget what I learned. Forecast is for rain tonight and then clear or partially clear tomorrow so I’ll be back to Myakka park looking for pictures again. God bless the nomads wherever they travel. Add a special blessing to HOWA and whoever donated the Christmas money. I was considering driving out there to get a $50 card but at 16 miles to the gallon I wonder if that would be cost-efficient Ha ha

 

[Gypsy108]

Well...Monday I’m having a dealership look at my car and see if they can reinforce the rusted frame...if not I’m going to wing it ...I measured my cargo area to see what I can fit in there....thank god my comfy twin size mattress will fit...I’m wondering if I can hold out a few more months before I leave ... but I’m doubtful.... I think I’m supposed to trust the Universe now and forget having all my ducks in a row first.... which means I’m gonna leave on a wing and a prayer....

 

[crofter]

...I measured my cargo area to see what I can fit in there....thank god my comfy twin size mattress will fit...

Here is Bob building a bed in a minivan, I used this method when I installed a bunk in my crew cab. I needed to level the space and loved the underbed storage. I had the wood cut at Home Depot, turned out quite cozy for about a year. Bob also has a vid about installing a cot in a minivan. 
-crofter

Link to youtube video

 

[travelaround]

Gypsy, my ducks have never been in a row. Still, I survive. I think I'm surviving emotionally damaged. Today I came to my property and the neighborhood was swarming with people in all white protective clothing. I inquired... they were doing a survey of each property and the guy that was supposed to transplant my roses by the first is now saying, next Monday. I give up. I don't even care about roses or the money I put into this rose transplant project. I have a bad case of wanderlust and want to leave town. I'm just barely hanging on here. In better news, my space rent is paid to January 9 and I managed to improvise a desk area in the van and I can use a heater in the mornings now, and I got one of those self inflating mattresses like Bob says he uses... all big improvements for me. Can't believe how incompetent I feel that this would all be a big deal. Really would like to drive down into the valley and stay at rest areas or campgrounds near Redding or Chico.

 

[crofter]

Here is Bob building a bed in a minivan...

It is actually a Town & Country. What type rig are you building out?
-crofter

 

[maki2]

Travelaround....Of course you want to escape and get out of there and go camping, too much pain happens whenever you go there. It is a perfectly natural reaction. Your choice to go or to stay, but do understand your feelings of needing to escape are not a sign of emotional damage, they are 100% normal feelings given the circumstances. Fright and flight is a basic survival emotion, it is normal, it is natural, it is not mental illness. You need to recognize it and understand those feelings as being basic instinct when you feel them. Just do some self talk when it comes along and it will come along when you go there until the area is once again your happy, peaceful, lovely home. Some short term emotional consequences to be sure but you will move on thru and past them.

 

[crofter]

Gypsy, my ducks have never been in a row. Still, I survive. I think I'm surviving emotionally damaged....

I am sure this is true, you have just made it through a major forest fire and lived to tell. Don't ask too much of yourself for a while, OK to lean on others.

You are in winter conditions now there, do you have access to a warming shelter? We have one dweller on here who bought an ice house (insulated fish camper) and had a 300 gallon propane tank delivered to her free parking spot in Minnesota (or one of those cold northern places). 

Maybe you should consider burning some serious propane  or other fuel to stay warm? Night temps here in southern AZ are 40 degrees so we are bundling up here also. Looks like temps are 6 to 10 degrees warmer here than where you are.
Stay safe. -crofter

 

[maki2]

I went outside to shut off my generator and saw a movement in the dirst. Thought at first it was a desert toad as it kind of hopped around a little. Turned out to be a mouse. I am pretty careful not to do any eating or drinking outside close to my trailer as I don't want to attract mice. So I had to stop and think what attracted it. Then I noticed the water spots on the rear bumper by the door and realized I had rinsed my hands off with a very small about of clear water from my spray bottle after I had washed them with a special cloth following adding gas to the generator. Little mouse was attracted by the water that went onto the ground. I won't stand by the door and door that again. I will go down by the wash to do it. Let them get that moisture by their own house!

I have olaced the long handled small shovel by my door in case I need to play fling or whack a mouse games.

My next door neighbor feeds his dogs and keep their water bowls right outside the Motorhome. He wonders why he has mouse problems??? He went out and bought flashing LED light ropes to put under his rig. That will do pretty much nothing as long as there is an ongoing supply of fresh dog food on the ground along with fresh water.

 

[Gypsy108]

It is actually a Town & Country. What type rig are you building out?
-crofter

It's a big old SUV........i didn't qualify to buy the Town & Country because my credit is going down the tubes ( i stopped paying my bills ! )   So i think i'd qualify for the "Ain't Right in The Head"  award .    It was actually my way to protest the system that makes it impossible for me to get ahead no matter how hard i tried......so i quit trying...what do i expect now...i'm a reject from the system....might as well become the gypsy nomad i always thought i was anyways....i spent my whole life working in the system (Matrix)....now i'm not good enough because i made a few boo-boos....

@ Travelaround :   Yeah....i always find an excuse as to why i'm not ready to do this....i think i have to be perfectly ready...but it's coming down to me leaving imperfectly...and i feel the urge to leave regardless....I can't imagine all that you have been through...all this weird stuff that happens....unexpectedly....i think you will come out smelling like a rose despite it all.....your so lucky considering all that could have happened !!!!    Having your van is a real blessing...and congrats on your new grandchild  :heart:

 

[crofter]

...i think i have to be perfectly ready...but it's coming down to me leaving imperfectly...and i feel the urge to leave regardless....

For true perfection you have to go on the road, just look at what happened to Bob.

Link to youtube video


For sure I spent a month figuring out how I could fit all my stuff into the van, and then the next 6 months on the road donating out about half of that "precious" stuff I no longer needed or wanted.
-crofter

 

[bullfrog]

Maki2 wait till someone starts putting out bird seed so their cat an watch!