The adventure begins

[ckelly78z]

To keep the oven from burning your pizza crusts while on the stone, you may need to lay down a tin foil layer under your pizza stone (directly on the rack) to deflect some of the direct heat from entering the stone, and having to move around the stone.

 

[MG1912]

Thank you, ckelly!  I'll try that next time.  Do you have any advice on cleaning the stone? 

 

[highdesertranger]

first off nice review. I love it when people do reviews.

use the stone like a heat diffuser. don't cook on it. get another stone or a pizza pan to cook the actual pizza on. here is what I would do,

get a rectangular stone, or a chunk of plate steel or aluminum, that sits where you have the round stone in the picture, but do not block those holes on the edge. then use that round stone to cook your pizza on the rack. BTW you can cut a stone or metal to the exact size if you need to. you will be blown away on how well this works to even out the heat in your oven. I have use this method on BBQ's to turn them into ovens.

on a side note with my smoker they gave me a aluminum pizza pan as a heat diffuser. nice try, I melted a big old hole in the center. so I made my own out of a piece of 1/4 steel plate.

just to CMA. if you use steel or aluminum I would do a burn off outside in a campfire. just in case there is oils or other contaminates on it. get it good and hot. but you don't need to melt it, LOL

highdesertranger

 

[MG1912]

Last night, I stayed in a pretty remote location in west Texas.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  There was practically no one else on the road, and there was no light pollution at night (and no cell phone signal).  I felt very remote and at peace.  This morning, while I was driving back up to I-10 to continue on toward Quartzsite, I had such a feeling of freedom!  There was nowhere I had to be, and there was no one I had to answer to.  There was just me, my rig, the road, and the beautiful scenery.  I don’t remember when I’ve felt this way before.  I could have cried.  I’ve seen some incredible and beautiful places in my life, but it always happened while I was “on vacation,” i.e., when I had somewhere I had to be afterward and someone I had to answer to eventually.  I took these pictures on the road late this morning.  Just beautiful and free, free, free!

(Apropos pizza stones, I haven’t used mine since the last time, and I haven’t had the time to clean it yet.  I will look into highdesertranger’s suggestion to use a thick piece of steel or another stone underneath.)

 

[MG1912]

Tonight, I finally busted out the book "Managing 12 Volts (2nd Edition)" by Harold Barre.  I’ve had it the entire time I’ve owned the camper, but other things got in the way of reading it.  It is very eye-opening and informative, and I just devoured the book.  I’m finally starting to wrap my head around my rig’s electrical system.  Here’s what I came up with (table below* -- note that this is maximum daily electrical requirement:  running the furnace all day long in freezing weather when I am staying inside all day long… which I haven’t actually done yet, and doing things I don’t do every day -- which is explained in the “notes” section of the below table):

Here are appliances I own, but which I never use:  DC television and antenna, DC radio/stereo, exterior camper lights, electric jacks (I keep the camper on the truck permanently), incandescent range hood light.  On the rare occasion I use the Fantastic Fan, I keep it at the lowest setting for just a few minutes.  I keep the Dometic absorption fridge on 24/7.  I only use the Atwood water heater for showers, which I take twice a week:  I run the water heater for 15 minutes, and it draws a negligible amount of amperage through the circuit board (from what I understand), so I am ignoring it in my calculations.  I don’t have any inverters besides a 150 watt cigarette-lighter type, and I don’t have any high-draw inverter appliances (like a toaster, hair dryer, coffee machine, etc.).  I make tea and coffee with a kettle on the propane range.  I charge my phone from the RAVPower brick, which I charge from my batteries once a week.  I generally charge the Verizon JetPack device from my laptop via USB.  I run the generator only for charging the house batteries, and I never use the microwave or A/C, even when I’m connected to shore power.  Note that I have only experienced a very mild summer in northern New England and a fairly mild winter in the Deep South.  I have not yet lived in my rig during a blazing hot summer or a sub-freezing winter, and my intention (for now) is to avoid both!

The surprises for me in filling out this table were the draw of the laptop while charging (I didn’t realize how much power it used), how much energy the furnace uses in freezing weather, and how much energy the fridge uses (despite the fact that it “runs” on propane).  I have factored in running the furnace all day long (during waking hours) in freezing temperatures with the thermostat set to 62 degrees, but I do realize I can set the thermostat lower and wear more clothes to conserve both energy and propane if needed/desired.

Notes:  I have a 300 amp hour battery bank (2x 150 amp AGM 12v batteries) and 320 watts of solar panels on the roof.  My charge controller is a Zamp ZS-30A.  To date, I have never discharged the house batteries below 50%.  A sunny day will fully charge the batteries with solar.  The few times I have come close to 50% discharge, I have plugged into shore power or run my generator for a few hours (mostly the latter).

So if I’m doing the math correctly, my system is sufficient for my needs, as my maximum daily electrical requirement is below 50% capacity of my battery bank, and I have sufficient means to ensure the batteries never run below 50%, i.e. I have solar panels and a generator with 36 hours of run time potential (the Honda eu2200i can run for 9 hours on one gallon of gas in Eco-Boost mode, and there is one gallon of gas in the generator tank and 3 gallons of gas in the Rotopax gas can).  As a result, I do not need any upgrades at this time, correct?

* It is possible that I may have miscalculated some things.  I took amp draw numbers from the manuals (if I had them), info written on the device/appliance itself (if provided), or from online resources.  If anyone sees something in my table or my analysis above that seems hokey or wrong, please do let me know.

 

[user 22017]

Thanks for the updates. Beautiful photos! You lost me at amps I have so much to learn.

 

[Lizzie]

Howdy, from Texas!

I will be fully retired in two years. I am researching, honing some skills, and camping with my Toyota Scion and my 11 year old granddaughter. Getting her completely sold on my decision to live on wheels. I will set up a van. My want is a Toyota Proace. I'll be very happy with a mini when the time comes to buy.

I come from pioneer stock and following a calling at 17. I am so full of joy with my decision. I spend all of my time moving me forward. I am in the flow of my life and excited about each day.

Thank you all for sharing your experience and wisdom!
Roll on!
Lizzie

 

[MG1912]

Thank you, Carla! I don't really understand amps myself, but I am learning more every day! Finally cracking open that wonderful book helped tremendously.

It was 27 degrees when I woke up this morning in west Texas! And on this sunny, beautiful morning, I am filled with intense gratitude: gratitude for your kind comment, gratitude for the marvelous sun that keeps my rig powered, and -- this morning especially -- gratitude for propane! Praise be to propane! Who invented it? If there is no statue to him or her somewhere in the world, it is a crime. It is clean, safe, and doesn't go bad. It lasts forever. It is easy to work with, easy to store, and easy to use. As I type this, I am looking at a steaming hot cup of tea that I used the propane range to make. I am feeling the warmth of the blower fan of the propane-fired furnace, warming me up. I feel intense gratitude for propane this morning. I will write a poem...

Propane, propane, marvelous
clear and odorless...
why do they add to you
you don't stink of yourself!
when you are pure
alas, to keep us safe
keep us safe...
on freezing mornings such as these

 

[MG1912]

I am so full of joy with my decision. I spend all of my time moving me forward. I am in the flow of my life and excited about each day.

+1000! I feel the same way this morning, as you can probably tell from my previous post.

 

[GypsyJan]

It is so good to hear about happiness from those already on the road! I think this will ease some of the fears of those who have not launched themselves yet. I just got back from a holiday road trip and got to tweak my RAV4 set up and routine. It's okay to cave and get a motel room for a night or two when there is drenching rain for 48 hours covering multiple states! But once the sun finally came back, I was happy to return to my sleeping capsule on wheels and hit the road again. Being flexible can make a big difference....it's all in the attitude.

 

[Patrick]

Thank you, ckelly!  I'll try that next time.  Do you have any advice on cleaning the stone? 

Word is don't use any product on a stone.
Just water and scrap it.
It will get a seasoned look after time.
Scrape with a plastic scraper only.

 

[Oldwolf]

This is correct. After a long period of water only washing your stone will be "seasoned". It will be a nice brown color and provide well cooked pizzas!

 

[MG1912]

Yesterday, I was just about to pull off of I-10 to head into some fairly remote BLM land beyond cell phone reception range, when my truck’s computer informed me it was low on brake fluid.  A few moments later, my brakes started to go.  I immediately pulled over, popped the hood, and saw that the brake fluid bottle was empty.  I looked under the truck, and the brake fluid line was leaking, in a location between the front and rear axles.  Well… that was too big a job for my limited tools on the side of the highway, so I decided to make use of my Good Sam membership.  They got me a tow to a nearby repair shop with good reviews in a one-horse town.  I spent a pleasant night in my camper and waited for the shop to open this morning.  Today, the shop got me back on the road in a jiffy.  It was an inexpensive repair, which I knew it would be.  Take a look!

When I asked the guy what caused this, he looked at my plates, looked back at me, and said, “New Hampshire.”  We both had a good laugh.  Yes, New Hampshire did this… or rather, the salt and snow of New England did this.  A rock or something must have chipped the cover, and then the line eventually rusted, but it stayed together until yesterday.  He told me there are no other leaks in my brake lines and the rest of the underside looked very clean.  I knew the previous owner had taken good care of this truck, including oiling the underside, as it is surprisingly rust-free for a 2007 New Hampshire truck (which actually spent a few years of its life in Maine!).

So back on the road we are.  I have to tell you... getting my rig towed like this was a fascinating experience.  I’m almost 6 tons in weight and almost 12’ high, after all!  Thankfully, the tow guy was experienced, and we’re in RV country, so he didn’t even bat an eye.  He said he has pulled giant semis and Class A’s out of mountain passes, so it was nothing for him to pull my “little” rig off the open highway.

Of course, I realize I was lucky.  If my brakes had completely failed on such a mountain pass, beyond cell phone range, then the best case scenario would have been me enduring a long, cold, and unpleasant walk back to cell phone range.  The worst case scenario would have been unthinkable.

I knew the repair was going to be minor, I knew the money was in the bank, and I knew I had nowhere I needed to be and no one to answer to, so this little mini-adventure didn’t phase me (besides the first few minutes when my brakes stopped working!).  I’m still free, free, free. 

And my friends and fellow nomads, today was the beginning of the rest of my life, didn’t you know?  Oh, how much I will live!  Here is the view from my dinette today, and I feel like I'm in a dream world... in a poem by T.S. Eliot...  Apropos, it is my first night on BLM land.  I will be greeting the new year surrounded by nature, in a dream world.  A Happy New Year to you all!

Living an authentic life is a wonderful treatment for any ailment. I hope you're able to follow your dreams!

You wrote this in Gypsy108’s thread, but I am quoting it here because I have to say that I have felt very differently since I hit the road a few weeks ago.  I just feel… better.  More relaxed, more positive, more grateful… overall just more “well.”  Am I in a honeymoon phase with my new nomadic life?  Will this feeling taper off, or does it endure?

 

[maki2]

Judging by the population explosion that happens every year for several months in Quarzsite I would say there is often a long lasting feeling of happiness and contentment for spending the winter months in the desert. Judging by the crowded camp grounds in state and national parks in the warmer months I would say that it is a pretty good prediction for all year around loving the life.

But hey, there are always people around who suddenly no longer find enjoyment in their various ways of living, so no firm prediction of "will I feel this way forever" can be given.

 

[MG1912]

Yes, but there are members here who have been doing this for years.  I'd like to know if they feel the way I feel now, and if it has endured.  I do know that members have done this in different ways, and that seems to affect the experience.

As Buckaroo Banzai once said, "Wherever you go, there you are."  Wise members here have warned newcomers that they cannot run away from themselves, and that the road is not a panacea for all life ills.  There are also countless examples on this forum (and in separate blogs and articles) of people who set out with unreliable rigs, no emergency fund, and/or no income stream, and ended up abandoning the lifestyle due to excessive stress... or just due to running against a financial wall.

But for those who were already in a good state of mind when they started their nomadic lives -- and who aren't in the above category of people with major financial roadblocks -- does the feeling last?

In any case, as I wrote at the outset of this adventure thread:

... I decided to go the nomadic route instead, at least for a year.

Long story short, the "vanlife" thing seems like a good idea to try out -- it's not nearly as entangling as property and structures, it’s a lot of freedom to come and go, plus I get to visit new locations (I always dreamed of seeing Alaska and spending more time in the Southwest), and see friends and relatives along the way (and I'll have my own accommodations so I won't be dependent on hotels or peoples' couches).  So I’m trying it.

My tentative trip to Key West and up to the Arctic Shore in Alaska, before returning to New England, will probably take me a year if I actually complete the whole thing.  After that, maybe I’ll decide to get land and build that cabin.  Maybe I’ll find someplace I like along the way from Key West to the Arctic Shore, and I’ll stay there.  Maybe I’ll have a change of heart about work.  Maybe I’ll keep doing this #vanlife thing forever.  For now, I am enjoying it and really looking forward to pointing my rig west and just seeing what the journey unveils.

So if I decide tomorrow that I don't like this lifestyle anymore, that is okay.

 

[user 22017]

I've seen many, many photos & videos of BLM land in the past year, but that view is one of the best. It looks like a painting.

Glad you weren't going downhill when you lost pressure.

 

[MG1912]

"Yes" on both counts, Carla! And the picture is untouched! It came straight from my phone's camera.

 

[rvwandering]

I have to say that I have felt very differently since I hit the road a few weeks ago.  I just feel… better.  More relaxed, more positive, more grateful… overall just more “well.”  Am I in a honeymoon phase with my new nomadic life?  Will this feeling taper off, or does it endure?

But for those who were already in a good state of mind when they started their nomadic lives -- and who aren't in the above category of people with major financial roadblocks -- does the feeling last?

 Yes, it lasts! More relaxed, more positive, more grateful...overall just more "well" is a good way to put it. Every day I am thankful that I get to live this life, that the view out my window can be back-lit cactus or snow on the mountains, that there's always another road calling to be explored. Your adventure is off to a great start! See you at the RTR!

 

[Gypsy108]

This is one of the most beautiful photographs i have ever seen....it is calling my name ! O.M.G.

 

[MG1912]

I've seen many, many photos & videos of BLM land in the past year, but that view is one of the best. It looks like a painting.

This is one of the most beautiful photographs i have ever seen....it is calling my name ! O.M.G.

I have passed the compliments along to my phone. Now he thinks he's a big shot. I have to remind him he's just a Nokia. Thanks! But on a serious note, I'm very glad the picture resonated with you!