Liking The RTR Videos Coming Out

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

There looks to be a lot more room and a lot more options then some of the early videos and not as huge a crowd as it looked like it might be.  Well done.  I would still worry about being parked behind a single lane road in case of emergency but alas the weather looks good and there are a lot of happy smiles.

Wanting to hear when folks come back about any trailer/road experiences on those rutts for my future reference. 

Burning Van.  Cute.

Thanks also to everyone participating in the clean ups, van builds and in general just being a great group of people.

 

[MrNoodly]

I would still worry about being parked behind a single lane road in case of emergency...

First off, as Bob explained in one of his videos, there's one entrance, but in the case of emergency (and only in case of emergency) there are other ways out. And there has always been just the one road to the site.
Secondly, what sort of emergency are you imagining that would require rapid mass exit? I mean, just because it's POSSIBLE for something to happen, that doesn't necessarily mean it's LIKELY to happen. In all the years of RTR there has never been anything that required mass exit. 
As far as individual emergencies go, there are volunteers directing traffic. And now that we're a few days into the gathering, traffic has thinned way out.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

The fact is, mother nature has her own rules. I'm past 65 and have seen many emergencies over the years and have watched the news of many deaths. Things like The Big Thompson flood here in Colorado took out many a camper as have many sudden water downpours throughout the world. I've been in Phoenix motels and have been swimming in the pool and suddenly everyone runs to their rooms where we watch from the window as the rain water reaches over the curb in a half hour.

Desert and mountain water storm water paths, washes in this case, can suddenly become roads not to be driven down. Quickly, suddenly. So yeah, usually one has enough time to get out of the way but 1000 vehicles getting out 2 exits that start filling with water is ok for the first few hundred but. Now, no one is expecting the odds of that happening.

I've been in desert sand storms where one had to pull over because you couldn't see. A lot of people there walking back to their cars on a road that the videos said both RVs and people should not be on at the same time.

So while I don't think there is going to be an emergency I am not stupid enough to say it absolutely cannot happen. I've been in 70 mph Santa Ana winds and had my shed end up next door. Those poor people in California had fire with their wind. So I think the people camped a bit further out are the smarter cause they will get out ahead of the biggest traffic.

I was in a tent once and the desert wind came down so hard it almost suffocated us because the material came down over us. My porta potty lid flew off and I found it half a desert away (not really but it was far and caught in a bush).

Now, the previous videos touted numbers of 5,000 showing up. So far I see far, far less so the traffic is far, far less than expected and being handled quite well.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

...what sort of emergency are you imagining that would require rapid mass exit?

THE CACTUS ARE FALLING!! (CacTI??)

JIHAD!

FIRE FIRE FIRE

FLOOOOOOOOD!!!!

More likely: "We ran out of butter, oh NO!"

 

[Cammalu]

Funny you mention that about the cacti... there is one down at rtr. It’s still fresh and can be replanted. I don’t know how it fell or who might have hit it but it’s not going to look good for rtr.

I have informed everyone who would listen but it’s still down.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

We always travel with a hand-crank weather radio. The good thing about the RTR being as close to civilization as it is signals can be had fairly easily and anything coming is likely to be known before hand.

Sometimes I worry more about how long it would take me to pack up my site before I could even get out of Dodge if I set up with the intention of being someplace for at least 5 days. I laugh at myself often. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to quickly stash a wet canvas for quick takeoff without damaging it or anything it comes into contact with. We have a couple of ideas we hope to try out when the weather warms up.

 

[MrNoodly]

Right now I'm trying to figure out how to quickly stash a wet canvas...

That's one reason my campsite setup is just putting out my step stool.

As for wet canvas and such, you could stow them in garbage bags.

 

[MrNoodly]

Funny you mention that about the cacti...  there is one down at rtr....

I think that might be from the BLM bulldozing the roads across the washes. Maybe they'll replant it after RTR.

 

[MrNoodly]

Notice the red compact car in the background? To get where it is it drove through three of the washes some people were freaking out about (the third one being steeper with more loose gravel). It's not a big deal. Four wheel drive and high clearance aren't necessary.

 

[Seminole Wind]

for those worried about flooding due to rains. yes the desert could flash flood. that is how the washes form in the first place. but the water stays in the washes and even if a small amount filled up and spilled over onto the desert pavement it would be very minimal and not have much power. sure, we might be trapped as while the water was running in the washes there would be many that would be blocked in. but it would be for a few hours maybe most of a day at worst. then sure there would be some sand and gravel that may have washed in to the road and might be hard to get through but it can be cleared soon enough. so even a massive flash flood is really a non-issue. no need to do a mass evacuation. just chill, relax, and wait for mother nature to do her thing. not like we should be in a hurry or anything any ways.....

 

[MrNoodly]

Besides, though there was a little drizzle last night (just enough to settle the dust), it's not as if it's monsoon season.

 

[Cammalu]

Notice the red compact car in the background? To get where it is it drove through three of the washes some people were freaking out about (the third one being steeper with more loose gravel). It's not a big deal. Four wheel drive and high clearance aren't necessary.

You should have gone a bit further down the road. I went from way out on La Posa South and drove along near the hills all the way in to rtr and came out on that road. It was all ok except the last mile into rtr there are a couple of hairy spots. On one I had two wheels off the ground. Besides that it was a fun ride.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

That's one reason my campsite setup is just putting out my step stool.

As for wet canvas and such, you could stow them in garbage bags.

MrNoodly is not an artist in the field of painting.  Wet canvas means wet paint - project in progress.  There has to be space between the cover and the canvas surface.  I'm thinking using plexiglass type material to make a box lid that sits over the shelf the canvas wood frame can be screwed into.  I am teaching myself to paint and the project is longer than one might believe.  I had an uncle who was suppose to teach me to paint but he passed away before he could.  I inherited his paints, brushes and sketchbook.  My parents had a litho of one of his paintings that used to hang in his house.  But the painting that got me was one on a restaurant wall I've seen many times since 2nd grade.  That's how my uncle (really great uncle) has been teaching me to paint.  I've been working on aspects of that huge mountain scene off and on since my early 20's when I was working in the restaurant said painting hung.  That said - I go many many years between picking up a paint brush and mostly have planned to pursue this when I retire.

Since I am retiring as a normad for at least the next 2 years I am going to find a way to do all of what I want and a stool outside my front door will not do.  Yes, I love the outdoors and the mountains and sun rises and sets etc. but I no longer can go for long hikes up the mountain and through the bush.  I am coming soon to play and play and play and play.  I am coming to dance in the forest and I'm bringing the music.  I want to look at the sunset and learn to paint it - good ways to pass time if it's cold outside.  

I've done a lot of the other stuff camping and that's great for a week or a weekend but not for 2 years for me.  It is for you but probably you can still trek to the top of that hill (my walker has great wheels but doesn't do up mountains).  I used to spend a day just seeing what's at the end of the river for as far as I'm able to walk  Always finding time to sit in it to cool off.  I can still do that and I'll walk until the road gets too difficult.  I think I do a lot more than I would because I have my husband with me so I can push myself more as he'll help me get home if he has to.

 

[cyndi]

Saguaros fall all the time. The recent deluge of rain is a likely culprit.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

Funny you mention that about the cacti...  there is one down at rtr. 

It gets pretty dark out there.  I hope someone did try to save it even if just covering the roots to protect it and informing someone.  It would be hard to replant a cacti that size (ouch plus it's tall and bigger than we are).  The roots are not used to being in the sun so that's why I was thinking about covering it with some cloth and dirt and maybe wetting it down could keep it healthy for a while until help comes.

One of my favorite books is "The Secret Life of Plants."  Way too many words for most to want to read about plants but look up the movie on YouTube.  AWEWOME about plant consciousness.  I once lived above a plant and antique shop and we got incredible discounts on huge plants and had them all throughout the house.  The ceilings on our floor were slanted, like the couch fit inside a little alcove formed by the slant, the windows opened ut on a hinge.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

We have a 4x4 truck but we are towing a 7x16 trailer ... I am curious about how that would have worked. I've never had that situation before.

 

[Seminole Wind]

Besides, though there was a little drizzle last night (just enough to settle the dust), it's not as if it's monsoon season.

that was then...

i got over an inch last night and it rained most of today. seams to have stopped now about 2pm. the desert is sucking it up pretty quick but you could have almost canoed the washes earlier

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

Good timing on the RTR, isn't it over now?

 

[Almost There]

No, the RTR isn't over yet!

Aside from today's cancellations, the RTR continues in full force until the evening of the 19th, the 20th being move out day.

Yes, some people got stuck and yes, some people have discovered that the leaks they thought they had sealed didn't work so well or that they had new ones they didn't know about.

A bunch of the adventurous ones were out of their vehicles early this afternoon only to have it start raining again. Most of us are snuggled up nice and warm and dry in our vehicles. I know I am!

 

[maki2]

It gets pretty dark out there.  I hope someone did try to save it even if just covering the roots to protect it and informing someone.  It would be hard to replant a cacti that size (ouch plus it's tall and bigger than we are).  The roots are not used to being in the sun so that's why I was thinking about covering it with some cloth and dirt and maybe wetting it down could keep it healthy for a while until help comes.

One of my favorite books is "The Secret Life of Plants."  Way too many words for most to want to read about plants but look up the movie on YouTube.  AWEWOME about plant consciousness.  I once lived above a plant and antique shop and we got incredible discounts on huge plants and had them all throughout the house.  The ceilings on our floor were slanted, like the couch fit inside a little alcove formed by the slant, the windows opened ut on a hinge.

You can't transplant a fallen cactus in the winter time. The night time temperatures are too cold. You don't cover the roots and wet them down, that will just cause the damaged root area to rot.
read this information from the college of agriculture to understand what has to be done.
https://cals.arizona.edu/extension/ornamentalhort/landscapemgmt/sel_pla_stak/transplantcactus.pdf