Van theft update - van was released from car jail yesterday ($600) and towed to a mechanic. Thieves sawed off the ignition, but otherwise van was untouched, as far as we can tell. Replacing the lock cylinder will run about $200. No broken windows - how did they get in? Dunno. I am told a slim jim can work on a door. I should be able to pick it up sometime this morning.
What they took - my generator, my folding solar panels, my propane tank, my refrigerator, my bedding, my favorite sewing machine, my yarn, my zero gravity chair, the CLAM, the house battery (cheap chinese LiFePo4), the portable RockPals batteries, my Omnia Oven, most of my clothes, my jewelry, my food, my weed, my stash of wipes, and various other stuff. Most of my clothes includes most of my plain cotton underwear - WHY???? OTOH, they left all my pots and pans, my brand new InstantPot, my machete, and all the books I had with me - I'd guess they're not readers, but they did take my "So Many Books, So Little Time" sweatshirt, so who knows.
I went right out and bought a sleeping bag, and will be ready to go as soon as the van is ready. Heading back up to Santa Cruz for a week or two, my friend's house is a good place to receive mail and packages, no infernal Q post office to cope with. Also, just because.
Not sure exactly when I'll arrive in Q, but definitely some time before the RTR.
It could have been SO much worse - I could be trying to buy a van right about now!
