My van camper

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING BUCKAROO! THANKS FOR CHECHKING THREAD

THAN FOR INFORMATIVE COMMENTS FROM  BALLENJX, MASTERPLUMBER AND CLOSEANUF.

TIP: WORRIED ABOUT GETTING LOST AND NEEDING HELP.  CHECK BOB AND ROXIES  YOU TUBE VIDEOS OF DEVICES THAT
     WILL SEND OUT DISTRESS SIGNALS FOR HELP.

AREA OF WEEK:  THE BIG NO. ONE.  YELLOWSTONE,  WHATS TO BE SAID, IT A CROWN JEWEL OF A PARK.  THIS ONE NEEDS
      TO BE ON EVERYONES BUCKET LIST.  LARGE BULL BISON, STOPPED TRAFFIC, THEN WALKED DOWN LINE OF CARS LOOK
      ING AT PASSENGERS.  HIS EYE SEEMED TO ME THE SIZE OF A TENNIS BALL.  HE WAS HUGE!!!!

WELL WERE STILL MOVING NORTH ON MY 18 MONTH ADVENTURE.  STAY TUNED.

BE SAFE AND EXPLORE OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S AND THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD.

TIP:  DID YOU REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURES AT MONTHLY VEHICLE CHECK.  ALL TERRAIN
       TIRES NEED TO BE AT RECOMMENDED PRESSURE LISTED ON SIDEWALLS FOR BEST WEAR. 

UP DATE ON "THE BEAST" JUST FINISHED REPLACEMENT OF ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IGNITION SYSTEM TO INCLUDE
THE COIL, ROTOR CAP AND BUG. SO I BELIEVE THAT SHE WILL RUN MANY TROUBLE FREE MILES.  ALSO FOUND DURING THIS
CHECK UNDER THE HOOD A SMALL BY-PASS HOSE THAT WAS LOOKING LIKE IT COULD BE A ISSUE, SO REPLACED THAT BUGGER

AREA OF WEEK:  MISSOURI RIVER HEAD WATERS STATE PARK.  LEWIS AND CLARK FOUND THIS IN 1805. THE JEFFERSON AND 
MADISION RIVERS JOIN MISSOURI IN PARK.  MISSOURI IS CLAIMED TO BE USA LONGEST RIVER AT OVER 2300 MILES TO ST.
LOUIS, MO.

MISSOURI RIVER IN THIS PART OF MONTANA IS A WORLD CLASS TROUT FISHING STREAM

STILL MOVING NORTH ON MY 18 MOS, TRIP OF THE WEST.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

 

[Ballenxj]

Love watching your travels throughout these United States. Your mention of the Missouri River opens up another form of travel adventure possibility for those with enough skill to do so. Can you imagine boating the entire length of that river? Even Kayaking lengths of it would be a Blast!
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/142034-786-miles-down-the-Missouri-river-in-a-small-boat

 

[Campor99]

Love watching your travels throughout these United States. Your mention of the Missouri River opens up another form of travel adventure possibility for those with enough skill to do so. Can you imagine boating the entire length of that river? Even Kayaking lengths of it would be a Blast!
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/142034-786-miles-down-the-Missouri-river-in-a-small-boat

THANKS BALLENXJ,  I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT SAME TRIP, IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF PLANNING AS 
I THINK YOU HAVE 20 + DAMS ON THE MISSOURI  TO CONTEND WITH ON SUCH A TRIP.  A JON BOAT (PIX) WOULD BE MY CHOICE OF BOAT, EASY TO RIG FOR CAMPING ALONG THE WAY AND HAULING 1 OR MORE PERSONS.   WOULD BE ONE FINE ADVENTURE. 

 

[Ballenxj]

THANKS BALLENXJ,  I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT SAME TRIP, IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF PLANNING AS 
I THINK YOU HAVE 20 + DAMS ON THE MISSOURI  TO CONTEND WITH ON SUCH A TRIP.  A JON BOAT (PIX) WOULD BE MY CHOICE OF BOAT, EASY TO RIG FOR CAMPING ALONG THE WAY AND HAULING 1 OR MORE PERSONS.   WOULD BE ONE FINE ADVENTURE. 

A John Boats would be great, until you had to portage the Dam. That's where a kayak would shine.

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD!

TIP: WOODEN KITCHEN MATCHES, THE TYPE THAT STRIKE ON ANY SURFACE, FOUND IN CAMPING SECTION
     AT MOST OUTDOOR STORES, AND SOME FOOD MARKETS.   GREAT FOR YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.

AREA OF WEEK: HELENA MONTANA.  LOTS OF NEAT THINGS IN AREA, PIX OF REFRIGERATOR CANYON, GREAT
HIKE TO OVERLOOK OF MISSOURI RIVER.  WOLF CREEK PASS AREA GOOD PLACE TO ENJOY GREAT OUTDOORS
AN FISH THE MISSOURI RIVER.  THEY CATCH TROUT ON WORMS, GO FIGURE!  HUNG OUT UNDER THE WOLF 
CREEK BRIDGE TO ENJOY SHADE AND FISH.

MY 18 MONTH TRIP COVERING THE WEST WAS IN A 1998 JIMMY.  STILL HAVE IT BUT NOW JUST USED TO GO TO
AND FROM RANCH/FARM STILL A GOOD RUNNER, BUT WITH 330000 MILES ITS DAYS OF LONG TRIPS IS OVER.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THE THREAD.

TIP: SALT, IS A VERY VALUABLE AID TO GOOD HEALTH,  WITH HOT WEATHER, WE NEED IT.  ALSO ITS A GOOD
    HELP WITH HEALTHY TEETH.  YOU CAN BRUSH WITH IT, INSTEAD OF TOOTH PASTE AND HAVE SHINING TEETH, AND 
    HEALTHY GUMS. GARGLE TO HELP A SORE THROAT,  AND HELP WITH A CUT FOR CLEANING AND HELP STOP THE BLOOD FLOW.

AREA OF WEEK.  MISSOULA MONTANA, SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS TOURING AREA, VERY NICE.  SMOKE JUMPERS  MUSEUM  IS
VERY INTERESTING AND WELL WORTH VISIT. (PIX IS FIRE BOMBER AT MUSEUM)  HEADING WEST IN TO IDAHO, ON HWY 12, ENJOY LOLO PASS AND MAKE SURE YOU STOP AND VISIT THE VISITOR CENTER SPONSORED BY US FOREST SERVICE. 

GREEN BEAST:  GOT WINDOWS TINTED, IT SURE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TRUCKS INTERIOR TEMPS IN HOT SUMMER SUN.  WORTH
                         THE MONEY.

BE SAFE OUT THERE, AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.  

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL, GO FAR!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING BUCKAROO'S,  THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD!  HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT 4TH OF JULY.

TIP: WE ALL NEED A KNIFE, AND A DULL KNIFE IS DANGEROUS,  A CHEF'S STEEL IS GREAT FOR KEEPING A 
         SHARP EDGE.  ADDITIONALLY A SHARPING STONE IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY FOR KEEPING KNIFE AND
          AXE BLADES IN GOOD SHAPE. 

AREA OF THE WEEK:  JERRY JOHNSON WARM/HOT SPRINGS IDAHO, WEST ON HWY 12 FROM LOLO PASS HEADING
     TOWARD KOOSKIA IDAHO,  IT WAS A NICE STOP FOR A DIP IN POOLS.   PLEASANT WALK, ABOUT 1 MILE TO SPRINGS.
      THIS SPRING SAW THE SEVERAL POOLS DAMAGED BY HIGH SPRING FLOODING.  I'M SURE IT WILL BOUNCE BACK.
      PIC'S  OF BRIDGE OVER LOCHSA RIVER LEADING TO SPRINGS AND SPRINGS PRIOR TO DAMAGE.  THIS AREA WAS
      PRIME FOREST FOR THE NEZ PEARCE NATION. 

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Wonder if those hot springs cure back pain!!

 

[Campor99]

14169[/ATTACH] AbuelaLoca pid='308634' dateline='1499247669']Wonder if those hot springs cure back pain!!

Don't know if the will cure a back pain, but the water sure does feel good!!! I doubt that it would make things worse!  Hope your
adventure is a good one!

 

[highdesertranger]

love your updates, keep them coming. highdesertranger

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL, GO FAR, GO NOW!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD.

TIP:  DON'T WAIT TO BUILD OUT A CAMPING VEHICLE,  GET OUT THERE AND EXPLORE.  YOU MIGHT
FIND THAT YOU DON'T NEED ALL THOSE CABINETS, FLOORING, INSULATION, VENT FANS  ETC. ETC. MOST
PEOPLE TRAVEL RATHER SIMPLE.  WATCHED A VAN INTERVIEW, GUY SPENT 2 YEARS BUILDING. ARGH!

MY 18 MONTH TRIP IN JIMMY,  WAS CLOTHES, A SMALL COLEMAN STOVE, BEER COOLER, WATER, AND FOOD.  NOPE
NO COMPUTER. USED LIBRARY.

AREA OF WEEK:  SAWTOOTH WILDERNESS AND ATLANTA IDAHO.  THAR'S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS!  EAST OF BOISE
ID, ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF BOISE RIVER.  A LONG WAY OUT ON A DIRT ROAD, ABOUT 70 MILES. ATLANTA HAS MAYBE
30 RESIDENTS.  PLUS A COUPLE OF WATERING HOLES AND TONS OF PLACES TO CAMP OUT.  CLOSED GOLD MINES AND
WAS TOLD A COUPLE OF FULL TIME SMALL GOLD OPS.  GOLD PROPECTORS ASSN OF AMERICA, GPAA, HAS A COUPLE OF
CLAIMS IN AREA.  ENJOY THE PIC'S AND IF INTERESTED CHECK YOU TUBE, COUPLE OF VID'S  

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!!!!   SEE YA NEXT WEEK, HEADING NORTH.

 

[Ballenxj]

GO SMALL, GO FAR, GO NOW!

<-------->

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!!!!   SEE YA NEXT WEEK, HEADING NORTH.

Hey, what's the story on all those mountain bike riders in the photo?

 

[Campor99]

14357[/ATTACH] Ballenxj pid='310614' dateline='1499866310']
Hey, what's the story on all those mountain bike riders in the photo?

ATLANTA AND THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS I GUESS IS A MECA FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS  THIS GROUP DID GET TOGETHERS FOR RIDES.

 

[Ballenxj]

 THIS GROUP DID GET TOGETHERS FOR RIDES.

That would be a lot of fun traveling some of the back roads while staying in shape.

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

TIP:  BE CAREFUL WITH THE HIGH TEMPS OF SUMMER,  WE HEAR OF DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE ALL THE TIME.
         GET YOUR ACTIVITIES DONE BEFORE THE HOT PART OF DAY, 10A-3P, AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER.  HANG OUT IN
         SHADE.  A RECYCLED SPRAY BOTTLE CAN HELP YOU BEAT THE HEAT.  A HEAT STROKE IS SERIOUS STUFF, SO BE
         SAFE. 

VEHICLE:  A FULL SIZE CHEVY/GMC ALL WHEEL DRIVE FOR BETTER TRACTION.  ITS NOT HARD CORE 4X4, BUT WILL GET THRU MOST LOW                     TRACTION ISSUES.  I HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH PERFORMANCE OF BABY BROTHER ASTRO

AREA OF WEEK:  I SPENT 2 WEEKS WANDERING AROUND ONE OF IDAHO'S GOLD PRODUCING AREAS,  ATLANTA BEING ONE AND                                       PLACERVILLE THE OTHER.  PLACERVILLE WAS FOUNDED IN 1862 AND LASTED FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS BEFORE MINERS MOVED
                  ON.  TODAY 50 OR SO PEOPLE CALL IT HOME AND IS LOCATED IN A BEAUTIFUL AREA NORTH OF BOISE.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.  STILL HEADING NORTH

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD!

TIP:  IN A PINCH, A MOIST TEA BAG AND A LITTLE SUGAR WILL WORK AS A COMPRESS FOR A BAD CUT AND
         CLEAN AND HELP STOP BLOOD LOSS.  SUGAR WAS USED BY SOME ANCIENT ARMYS FOR TREATING BAD 
         WOUNDS.

AREA OF WEEK:  WE ARE NOW IN THE NEZ PERCE INDIAN TRIBAL AREA.  OROFINA (FINE GOLD) AND PIERCE
           (FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY) IDAHO, IN 1860 AND 1862.   THE NEZ PERCE WERE NOTED FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL
           APPALLOUSA HORSES, AND TODAY HAVE A HERD THAT IS TREASURED.  CHIEF JOSEPH TOLD US GOVT, HE 
           DIDNT WANT GOVT HELP, THEY WOULD BUY ANYTHING THEY NEEDED AS THEY HAD LARGE HORSE AND CATTLE
           HERDS.  BUT OF COURSE THE GOVT WOULDNT ALLOW THAT, AND HISTORY HAS THE REST OF STORY.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!  HEADING TO GOD'S COUNTRY!

 

[Campor99]

GOV SMALL GO FAR GO NOW

HI ALL YOU  VAN LOVING  BUCKAROO GUYS AND GALS.  THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD!

TIP:  HAVE YOU GOT THE HABIT?  TIME TO CHECK OUT YOUR RIG, ALL THOSE FLUIDS ETC.  ITS THE 1ST OF MONTH.

AREA OF WEEK:  HEADING TO GOD'S  COUNTRY IN THE CLEARWATER FOREST OF IDAHO.  AS A YOUNG MAN I WORKED
     FOR USFS IN THIS AREA, AND FELL IN LOVE WITH ITS BEAUTY.   FROM PIERCE ID HWY 11,  YOU GO NORTH TO HEADQUARTERS ID
     TURN ON FS ROAD 247 AND GO 25 MILES TO THE NORTH FORK OF CLEARWATER RIVER AND AQUARIUS CAMPGROUND.  THIS IS
     A FEE PARK,  HAS WATER AND TOILETS.  MANY FREE SPOTS TO CAMP CAN BE FOUND.
PIX 1. HEADQUARTERS ID. PIX 2 NORTH FORK  OF CLEARWATER, CROSS BRIDGE AND CAMP ON RIGHT . PIX 3  AQUARIUS CAMP SITE.       
PIX 4.  SAT PHOTO OF USFS WORK CAMP EAST OF CAMPGROUND (CHANGED ALOT BUT IS WHERE I WORKED, BUILDING TRAILS
AND FIRE FIGHTING. WAS A WONDERFUL SUMMER.  

END OF PART ONE, PART 2 COMING NEXT POST.

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.   

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S, THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD!

TIP:  WHEN VISITING OUR NATIONAL FORESTS PLEASE DON'T ESTABLISH A NEW CAMPGROUND, THERE ARE MANY
          CAMPSITES AVAILABLE PREVIOUSLY USED.   TAKE OUT WHAT YOU BROUGHT.  NOTHING IS MORE DISCUSTING
          THAN A TRASH STREWN CAMPSITE.   KEEP OUR FOREST BEAUTIFUL.

AREA OR WEEK: PART 2, CLEARWATER NATIONAL FOREST IDAHO.  IF INTERESTED TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND VIEW
     YOU TUBE 3 MIN. VIDEO BY JOE NIC, TITLED " BLACK MOUNTAIN", CLEARWATER.  YOU'LL SEE THE BEAUTY OF AREA,
     PLUS SOME WILDLIFE.  SNOW STAYS ON MTS. TIL MID JUNE AND BEGINS IN AUGUST.
     I SAW MANY BEAR IN THIS AREA, THEY SEEM TO LIKE MEADOWS.  THE MOUNTAIN GOATS ARE SPECIAL.  
     FISHING IS PRETTY GOOD AND A TROUT OVER THE CAMPFIRE IS MIGHTY FINE!

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

HEADING NORTH TOWARD CANADIAN BORDER.    

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR GO NOW!

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING GUY'S AND GAL'S,  THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

EXTRA:  GPS COORDINATES FOR  CLEARWATER AQUARIUS CAMPGROUND N46 50 29  W 155 37 08.
       
TIP: IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOGLE EARTH ON YOUR COMPUTER YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT ADDING IT, ITS FREE, AND
        ALLOWS YOU FIND CAMPING AREAS AND PLOT ROUTES TO SOME GREAT SPOTS.

 ATTACHED PHOTOS ARE SOME OF THE ANIMALS I SAW WHILE IN THE BLACK MOUNTAIN  CLEARWATER NF.

 THE CAMPER PIX IS ANYONES GUESS AS WHAT IT MIGHT BE?

 BE SAFE AND ENJOY  OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!