Motorcycle Ride

I went for a ride a couple days ago, 204 miles in 4 hours. I took the 65MPH 4 lane state route for about an hour, a few country roads for a short while, then ran around Tar Hollow State Forest. I went on both paved and gravel forest roads. I was OK with it on the stock street tires on the Versys, but I think something like a 250cc dual sport may be in my future. I also saw the carrier I am thinking about hanging off the back of a towed vehicle, and getting the 400+ pound Versys up that short ramp and into the cradles would be quite a chore.

I'll enjoy the 650cc bike for a couple more years, but when I hit the road full-time, the RV may be towing a small 4WD pickup with a 250cc bike hanging from it.

I mowed today, next nice day, Emo needs to get me out for a hike.

Settled in

We've been back about 2-1/2 weeks now. I went to the Mac Depot to get a new battery for the PowerBook, and of course took Emo with me. Driving back, I saw a sign outside the shelter that said, "Dog Wash." We got to meet other dogs and we got cleaned up, without having to suffer through the cold hose rinse in the back yard.

There is a lot of work, but some people have none, so I guess I shouldn't complain. The Reds look to be out of the pennant race after the yearly West Coast diasaster, chores are starting to get done, it's good to see my friends. We got to Possum Creek last weekend for a day hike, but it's rainy this weekend. Such is life in Dayton.

Back Home

We are back home safe and sound, the RV is back in the storage lot, and we have chores to take care of. It was a great 2 months. I hope to post more as I get to do more hiking, etc.

Big Storm

A big storm blew through here last night, with straight line winds up to 70 MPH. It was a bit scary, the RV actually was swaying just a little. Emo, of course, was terrified. The power went out, and didn't come back on until about noon today. I saw a lot of people taking refuge in the concrete bathroom/showerhouse. I watched the radar on the Blackberry. This morning, I looked everything over, and saw no damage to the RV or the Subaru. We came close, however!

A tree broke and almost came down on the car, it is still hanging on, as you can see in the first picture. The second picture is a tree that fell across the roadway right below our campsite, temporarily trapping a pop-up camper. A contractor came with a chain saw and got the tree out of the road so the camper could leave. I moved the Subaru, talking with the tree guy we don't think the "widow-maker" tree will come down on the RV. I'll be gone Wednesday morning.

It's pouring rain right now, we did get out for a drive earlier, and didn't see a whole lot of damage. The campground host said no one was hurt, and the tree fellow said this was his only call. My satellite TV went out, I had it back for a little while last night, but now it is out again. The VuQube works great, unless there are overcast skies.

The last picture shows Emo as I was looking things over and taking pictures, he wasn't sure if it was safe to come out yet. He didn't come out until we went for our drive, I stopped at the first dirt road and he peed about a quart. These storms with thunder are really more than a dog should have to put up with. He was able to work through his fears enough last night to eat dinner.

Relaxing, driving, hiking, cleaning

Well, it has been slow, which is good. Emo and I have driven all over LBL, in search of the good boondocking sites, and there are a lot of them. We get to drive the back roads, sometimes covering the Subaru with mud. When I get to a site, I let him out to swim, and take a break. There are about 10 or so places here that are easily RV accessible, where I can set up with the $14/yr. backcountry permit, that have a fire ring, table, nice gravel parking site, some shade, southern sky exposure for sat. TV, wonderful view, and lake access for swimming. If it wasn't 90 degrees in the middle of the day, these sites would be perfect. 

We have walked this entire campground several times, and yesterday we hiked the 5 mile Honker Trail in the heat. It's a great trail, mostly shaded, and halfway around is the ol' swimmin' hole, so Emo got a drink and a cool-off while I ate my apple. I plan to hike the entire Energy Lake loop tomorrow, 5-1/4 miles, and the 2.2 mile loop around Hemitite Lake before we go. Maybe some more hiking, I don't know, there are trails of every length available here.

Chores today, I checked the new last year Interstate deep cycle batteries, the water is well over the plates. I've started using water from the spigot here for Emo and for my coffee, and after doing dishes today, I still have over 1/3 a tank of fresh water, and the black and grey are fine, so I think we will make the entire 3 weeks without needing to run to the dump station! I also just finished cooking a pressure cooker full of navy beans with a big onion cut up in them, and I need to burn some stuff (why do they put so much paperwork with every prescription?).

AA tonight, my favorite step, step two. I plan to have everything packed up and even the car hooked up before next Wednesday morning, we will probably drive straight through. See ya'll late next week, then it's back to work. Maybe I'll get to blog some day hikes or long weekend trips, maybe even a motorcycle trip, who knows? Life is good.

Fun, chores

Yesterday, we went to the impromptu beach and took a swim. Emo thought he needed to come out to see me, so he kept swimming out to me and then swimming back towards shore where he could touch bottom. There is an earthen (really stone and gravel) dam there that goes about a quarter mile to an island, after swimming we walked out there. Saw some dead fish, long and narrow with long snouts and teeth, I'll have to ask someone what they are. Emo was worn out on the walk back. After that, we drove up north to get gas, then back home. 

Today, I slept in a bit, watched Obama's news conference, and we went in search of a laundry. The GPS on the Blackberry sent me on two wild goose chases, first time I'd tried it. It got me to the address it thought was a laundry, but they were not laundries. I shut it off, went to the little town outside LBL, and found a place easily. It is a car wash and a coin laundry, and it has a bay with no roof at all, so I think I will wait until I need water to dump, fill up, wash the bugs off the front of the RV, and do laundry. Emo enjoyed the driving today, and hanging around the car wash/laundrymat wasn't too bad. When I got back, I did dishes and cleaned the floor (dog food, dog hair) and now we have the black tank 1/3 full, grey tank still sitting on E, and the fresh water tank reading 1/3. Each tank has 3 sensors, so I have between 1/3 and 2/3 tank fresh water. I think we will need to make one trip to the dump station, fresh water being the limiting factor.

Two people I met, one lady at the gas station after the southern end of LBL, she was at the pumps in a Lazy Daze Mid-Bath. I approached her and started talking RVs, as I studied a lot about Lazy Daze before I bought the Winnie. She asked for directions, and I happened to have an extra LBL map to give her. Nice lady, she says she half times, 3 months traveling, 3 months at home.

The others were a couple. I had just crossed the US68/KY80 bridge from Camden going across the lake, it is a narrow bridge, My turn to go back to Energy Lake campground is right after the bridge, but there was a pickup/travel trailer rig in the way. I went around and asked the lady ground guiding her husband if they were OK? She said, "I think so, the window broke, we're going to pull in here and look." Turns out a semi had clipped the outside mirror, slamming it back so it broke the driver's side window. The old gentleman and his wife were fine, I gotta give him credit for holding it straight on that narrow bridge after that! They cleaned up and he intended to head on to their destination at KenLake State Resort then try to find a Ford dealer.

When I got back this evening, I saw a motorcycle camper a couple sites down, I may talk to him some about motorcycle camping. 

Things I miss:

Motorcycle

Washer and dryer in basement

Soup at Lihn's restaurant

Familiar AA and lots of it

that's about it. There's something to balance out each of those, too.

Tomorrow, maybe a long hike? I wonder if Emo will want to go along?

Camping @ LBL

This is camping heaven. There are basically 3 types of camping here. 

You can get a backcountry pass for $14, it is good for one year from date of purchase. This allows you to camp in several areas, good for backpacking, car camping in the woods in many, many places, and camping at some of the boat launch sites. There are some nice campsites even for an RV at some of the launches, with a picnic table, fire ring, lake access, but no trash pick-up or water, and maybe a porta-potty. That's fine with me, the one on the southwest part has tons of trails nearby, it is PERFECT for RV boondocking. 14 day limit, then you have to move a mile.

For $9/night, half price if you are 60 and get your Senior pass, and small discounts for longer stays ($113 for 14 days) you can get into a little more developed campground, with a dumpster, a brick bathhouse, and central water tap. There is a full time attendant volunteer at these. They are nice! No RV hook-ups, and I think you can stay 21 days. There are many of these, almost all with lake access, you choose sun or shade, etc.

There are sites with hook-ups. The campground I am in, Energy Lake, is $12/day, half for seniors, plus $6/day if you have electric. So, I'm paying $18/day, electric only, a senior would pay $12. There is a shower house, dump stations are available at the north and center centers, dumpsters, water spigots, and contractors who do a good job of keeping everything clean. There are two campgrounds that offer full hook-ups, $28 or $32 per night. 

I love it, love it, love it. I want to come here in the spring or fall, and dry camp with the RV. I want to kennel the dog and come down here on the motorcycle, there are great roads to explore. I want to stop by here every spring and fall when I fulltime!

I also found a really neat place, tomorrow I'm driving out in swimming trunks and taking my water shoes, and I'm going to swim with Emo. He'll flip! And there are lots of trails I want to do, too, but highs in the 90's are challenging! But, I like it hot.

Typical $9/night campsite

This Blue Heron was hanging out by the campground pictured above, he did not seem a bit concerned about my presence. I was hoping he would fly off so I could get a picture, but I wasn't going to shoo him.

Sunset from my bedroom window.