living in the Desert

[akrvbob]

When you don't have a tap to turn on and filter, you have to find another source.

I don't have a tap so the first thing i do when I camp is see if I can find a tap somewhere for free I can use. Often I can't. Then I have to pay for it.

I look at it like if you have a tap you can call your own, you are paying a mortgage, apartment rent or RV space rent. You are paying a whole lot more than I am for a place to live so I can afford to pay 25 cents for every gallon of water I use. And RVs get it for much less.

That's the main reason I camp at Ehrenberg AZ for the winter, free water, easy trash disposal, decent shopping and, best of all, no Rangers.
Bob

 

[akrvbob]

The danger is greatly exaggerated.

I spend a lot of time walking in the desert, probably more than most, and I've only had a few run-ins with rattlesnakes.

I figured it out, I averaged 750 miles a year for 5 years (totaling 3,750 miles) walking off-road in the desert and only once was I in actual danger of being struck.

The key is to leave when it gets too hot. Reptiles are out very little in the cold. On warmer days they will come out, sun themselves, then go back in. I don't think I've ever seen one November to February. Although this year has been exceptionally warm so they may still be out and active now.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

well snakes don't like the heat as much as they don't like the cold. snakes are most active between 80-90 degrees, if it gets to hot they will die just like if it's get to cold. here is a little research on the Mojave rattlesnake. http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Fall00Projects/rsnake.htm . as far as scorpions go shake out your boots before you put them on. for all critters, never put your hands and feet where you can't see, always use a tool first, walking sticks work really well. highdesertranger

 

[1977dodge]

well the desert has been on my mind a lot lately so was this strange that both these songs followed on the radio this afternoon when i was camped out by the river not sure but i have learned through out my life that inspiration comes in many different forms

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgo2Wc6Vj00
not thinking this is somethin mystical but I am at that time of life when perhaps hearing is more important than just what i hear

 

[1977dodge]

So this week i closed on a parcel of land in Northern Arizona between St Johns and Snowflake .
Its 10 Acres and off the main 61 about 2.25 milesI know the forum is primarily off grid in vehicles but for the first year at least i will be living in my 1977 Dodge Tradesman while i set yp my solar and possibly build or buy a prefabricated cabin similar to Jeff at Arizona hot homestead .com .I know in practice i am only renting the land but it hopefully will enable me to travel and have a base to return too .
probably wont be living there for a bit but securing my resources and planning comes first will be flying there in Mar/April to take some video and pix .

 

[sushidog]

Just remember that though the government (local, state or national) may be benign now, it might not always be so. No, I'm not trying to get political, nor am I paranoid, but I would like to relay my personal experience just in case others may be able to benefit from it. If the government wants to, there are several ways they can take your property from you. The way they took mine was with excessive property taxes. I live in an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. So many people moved out of the area after the storm that the government's tax base suffered. They wanted to raise everyone's property taxes to make up for the lost revenue of all those who left and businesses that closed, but couldn't get the voters to approve a millage increase (cause most residents are not rich by a long shot, recovering from the devastation of the storm.) So what they did to get the revenue they wanted was to reassess everyone's property from what was historically a fraction of it's actual value (something they had never done before) to well over its market value - many times its actual value in some cases. They raised my property taxes 1,000% in one year! No that's not a misprint. Could you afford it if they stuck a zero on the end of your tax bill? I couldn't.

Of course eminent domain laws are often used to seize land the government wants, with reimbursement that does not reflect the land's true monetary value, let alone the sentimental value of land held by your family for generations. This can come from any government agency too. The forest service effectively took some land my wife's family had in California with no reimbursement whatsoever. How did they do it? It butted up against forest service land. About 10 years ago a storm came through causing a stream to flood and destroy a bridge (their bridge) that had stood for years, allowing access to their cabin and property. Since one side was on forest service land, they refused them permission to rebuild the bridge citing environmental reasons. Truthfully, they just wanted them off the land and and seized this opportunity to deny them access to it. They fought it for years, paying to have an environmental impact statement done, etc., but they are still not allowed to rebuild the bridge or access their property to this day. I don't want to discourage anyone, just a word to the wise - make other plans of what you intend to do when they decide to take it, or deny you access to it, because there's a good chance they will, especially if it is wilderness land or adjoins state or federally owned land and they want to expand their land holdings, or simply need the revenue.

Chip

 

[cdiggy]

Just remember that though the government (local, state or national) may be benign now, it might not always be so. No, I'm not trying to get political, nor am I paranoid, but I would like to relay my personal experience just in case others may be able to benefit from it. If the government wants to, there are several ways they can take your property from you. The way they took mine was with excessive property taxes. I live in an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. So many people moved out of the area after the storm that the government's tax base suffered. They wanted to raise everyone's property taxes to make up for the lost revenue of all those who left and businesses that closed, but couldn't get the voters to approve a millage increase (cause most residents are not rich by a long shot, recovering from the devastation of the storm.) So what they did to get the revenue they wanted was to reassess everyone's property from what was historically a fraction of it's actual value (something they had never done before) to well over its market value - many times its actual value in some cases. They raised my property taxes 1,000% in one year! No that's not a misprint. Could you afford it if they stuck a zero on the end of your tax bill? I couldn't.

Of course eminent domain laws are often used to seize land the government wants, with reimbursement that does not reflect the land's true monetary value, let alone the sentimental value of land held by your family for generations. This can come from any government agency too. The forest service effectively took some land my wife's family had in California with no reimbursement whatsoever. How did they do it? It butted up against forest service land. About 10 years ago a storm came through causing a stream to flood and destroy a bridge (their bridge) that had stood for years, allowing access to their cabin and property. Since one side was on forest service land, they refused them permission to rebuild the bridge citing environmental reasons. Truthfully, they just wanted them off the land and and seized this opportunity to deny them access to it. They fought it for years, paying to have an environmental impact statement done, etc., but they are still not allowed to rebuild the bridge or access their property to this day. I don't want to discourage anyone, just a word to the wise - make other plans of what you intend to do when they decide to take it, or deny you access to it, because there's a good chance they will, especially if it is wilderness land or adjoins state or federally owned land and they want to expand their land holdings, or simply need the revenue.

Chip

Man, that is messed up. ... The government finding creative ways to screw over the unsuspecting.

 

[LucyImHome]

Congratulations on your purchase.
I miss the desert.
There are ways around the "problems". Lots of wisdom here concerning that.
With all the time I was in the SW, I saw maybe 2 rattle snakes. Tarantulas in Bisbee, but they're not aggressive. Even had one end up in my house. I put a paper down for it to crawl onto and carried it outside. Scorpions are fairly predictable where they like to be. Mostly under rocks. I did get stung by a baby Bark Scorpion, supposed to be the worst. My finger got swollen, some up in my hand, sore for a week. There are black widows, but they aren't just in the desert. Coyotes are a concern if you have dogs, especially smaller ones, but common sense is a good deterrent. Actually, "common" sense is good across the board.

 

[RogueRV2]

After working in the desert for 2 years, I found it to be too extreme and barren for my liking. There are parts that are indeed beautiful and enchanting, and should I avoid the most barren parts, I may find it tolerable at least part of the time. I will likely gravitate toward the mountains and cooler temperatures as others may also. I like water and trees.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

i wonder how people would handle it then...i mean people leave remote homes as well right? hmmm...maybe solar power remote cameras? Kinda after the fact tho.

 

[highdesertranger]

what they did to my trailer in the desert was to remove all the aluminum siding. frigging aholes. then the pink insulation got blown all over. what a mess. but we cleaned everything up 99.9%, the blm was impressed, that we did this on or own and they didn't have to notify us. highdesertranger

 

[1977dodge]

I know every ones scenario is different 
but would appeciate approx water useage that anyone living or boon docking 
in the desert has either per week or daily if you keep a record ,
not counting laundry but including showers maybe 3 times a week 
i came up with 20 gallons a week as a rough estimate 
would be interested in your replies.
Thanks 
Roy

 

[Sameer]

I have been here in the Arizona desert since the first week in November. Ehrenberg, in the hills overlooking Blythe and the Colorado River in the distance. I use 10 gallons a week of water. The Country Store/Laundromat has $5 showers and is about a 15 minute drive from where we are all camping so I clean up at the Country Store. There are two water dispensing stations at the Store. $1 for 5 gallons. I am camping with about 20 others who moved here after the RTR.

 

[LeeRevell]

Good deal on water. Here in the grocery stores it's $1.50 a gallon.

 

[highdesertranger]

good price on the showers too. the price of showers is why I am putting one in my trailer. as far as water use I can make 30 gallons last almost 2 weeks. depends on the temps. this includes cooking, washing, drinking, and doggie water. highdesertranger

 

[sushidog]

I know every ones scenario is different 
but would appeciate approx water useage that anyone living or boon docking 
in the desert has either per week or daily if you keep a record ,
not counting laundry but including showers maybe 3 times a week 
i came up with 20 gallons a week as a rough estimate 
would be interested in your replies.
Thanks 
Roy

This subject came up on another forum. One forum member reports that their 75 gallon water tank lasts this couple 7 days, including a shower per week each while boondocking - taking sponge baths to refresh daily. Another frugal full-timer replied that they can stretch 60 gallons of water for up to 2 weeks, including daily showers! They say they don't recycle their own urine, but I don't believe it.

My DW and I use about 10 gallons every 2 days, mainly when we shower, which uses about 3 gallons each. We have a Oxygenics shower head and take "Navy" showers every 2-3 days - wetting down, turning the water off to soap up, and turning it back on to rinse off. If boondocking solo, one could cut these rates in half.

Chip

 

[Seraphim]

After working in the desert for 2 years, I found it to be too extreme and barren for my liking. There are parts that are indeed beautiful and enchanting, and should I avoid the most barren parts, I may find it tolerable at least part of the time. I will likely gravitate toward the mountains and cooler temperatures as others may also. I like water and trees.

Ditto. We also found the dust and dryness tough on DWs skin allergies, even though we were only out in the Utah area for about a week.

 

[rvwandering]

The two of us use 40 gallons of water in 5 days so about 4 gallons per person per day. This includes all of our drinking, cooking, dish washing, toilet use, daily showers and general cleaning. We take navy showers everyday and conserve but don't do excessive conservation like catching shower water to flush the toilet.

 

[gojo]

I thought about selling my property in south Texas and hitting the road. After reading all of this thread, maybe I better save it for old age. Maybe I can make a park here for all us oldies that has no homes or families. I'll have to remind you, it gets cold here. Today it's raining and is in the 40s .

Some one needs to start a new thread, with a title of: "End of the road".  On what our plans are when the road ends. I think about that a lot. I don't want to here someone say they have a 357 insurance policy. I think I would put myself to sleep with helium if things got bad. Lets lets look on the bright side first.

 

[LeeRevell]

Today it's raining and is in the 40s.

Sounds like a North Florida winter!