” Oh, I’m being followed by a Moonshadow,
Moonshadow, Moonshadow
Leapin’ and hoppin’ on a Moonshadow,
Moonshadow, Moonshadow. ”
— Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
Monday morning, I made the short drive north to Quartzsite with my shattered solar suitcase. I went to Solar Bill’s where I purchased it two years ago and found that I could not (reasonably) replace the broken panel as they no longer carried the same set of two that I had. If I had pushed, they probably could have taken the two panels apart (two wires and two hinges connected them) and attached another panel that didn’t match and rewire it. It would have been awkward at best and probably cost a lot in man-hours. The option that seemed best was a new solar suitcase. They now make them with no glass covering the solar cells, so they are much less likely to be destroyed. They also weigh less than half what my original unit weighed, which is a HUGE benefit. I’m getting too old, and my right shoulder is still not 100% healed after my e-bike fall last year, so lifting the heavy panels in and out of the van was definitely an unpleasant chore. I chose a 200w unit that cost $500. I didn’t want to spend that much, but it seemed the best option of what was in front of me. I paid for it, took it out and hooked it up. It didn’t work. I had asked over and over again, to the point of being somewhat obnoxious if the salesman was positive this would work on a 24v system (most solar units are 12v). He assured me it was wired in series (as opposed to parallel) and explained in detail far above my paygrade how and why it would work. So after plugging it in, I went back inside, solar panels in hand and shook my head. He seemed surprised, stopped what he was doing and came out. I plugged in my old unit so he could read the input on my solar controller. I plugged in the new unit, and it didn’t register. He went in and got a voltage meter and indeed, the new unit was not putting out enough voltage to be recognized by my system. He took me in to refund my money. I explained that I didn’t want my money, I wanted a solar suitcase that worked. He agreed to rewire it the way he thought it had been wired in the first place. There was some arguing from the woman who seemed to be in charge at the front desk that I’d have to pay for the labor and that I should leave a deposit if they were going to change the panels, clearly implying that I may not come back after they did the work. The salesman, who was very nice and sociable, stuck up for me. He said there would be no labor charge because the unit clearly stated blah, blah, blah (that it was wired for a 24v system) and they should make it be what it said it was. I assured the woman at the front counter that if they made it work, I would be back in the morning to pick it up. A lot happened between that conversation and the next morning, but the bottom line is that I picked it up in the morning, the salesman took it outside, and we hooked it up. It worked and I bought it at a $100 discount because they took the solar controller off it since my system already had a solar controller and apparently having two was not a good thing. It’s light, far less fragile and I will know how well it works if the sun ever comes out again. We’ve had 3 days of cloudy weather since I picked it up.
Feeling a huge burden lifted, I got water, propane and emptied trash and headed to Ehrenberg. Cosmo and I stopped to visit Bonnie before moving across the dirt road to our favorite spot on a cliff overlooking the asphalt plant. The spot was enormous and it felt so good to have so much room and no neighbors close by.
This gives you an idea of the space here. The fire ring in the foreground is the next closest spot to my spot. Nobody has ever camped here next to me unless I invited them and gave them coordinates. I think Matt may join me after the 10th of January when he returns from Yuma.
Bonnie and I visited several times this week. It’s become a morning ritual for me and Cosmo to have our second cup of coffee sitting outside her van (also an old Roadtrek). She always has treats for Cosmo, and he can’t wait to go visit every morning.
The hard-core skoolie people are already arriving for SkooliePalooza just down the hill from us. After the weekend, I’ll pack up and drive into town to restock supplies and then drive down and check things out. Last year the PRE-skoolie event was way more fun than when all the fauxmads, “digital creators” and “influencers” arrived. I always enjoy hanging out with the hard-core skoolie folks. Some have become friends over the years, and I always reconnect with friends from the past when I’m there.
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I had some very bad news when I arrived in Ehrenberg. I stopped to visit Bonnie and showed her a part of my van where the sides seemed to buckle.
She informed me that was a common problem on Roadtreks that were built on a Dodge Ram body. It had to do with the tow hitch and she sent me a link to a Roadtrek group where they were discussing the issue. Turns out it is because I had an extended carrier on the back that bounced when I went over rough terrain (and I go over a LOT of rough terrain). There is a seam in the middle of the rear window that was spot welded, and when RoadTrek put in windows, they cut out a big portion of the seam. The hitch, when it bounces, pulls at that seam. The solution is to get rid of the carrier or the seam would eventually give out and the back end of my van would fall off. That would not be a good outcome. And I had just gotten rid of the e-bike and replaced it with two large totes so I could carry extra “stuff.” I am spending the weekend sorting through the “stuff” (a lot of canned and dry food, massage lotions, oils and essential oils, outdoor lighting and sides for my new awning.) I’m going to have to get rid of much of it, or get rid of other excesses inside the van to make room for what I want to keep and then sell my rack on the back. It made me very sad at first, but then I remembered how little I had when I first moved into the van 5 years ago and how happy I was with my minimalist lifestyle. I think the new year is a perfect time to downsize, get rid of excess, go back to a more minimalist life. I will sort and anything that I’ve not used in the past year will go.
New Year’s Day, Matt called and said he needed a change of scenery and asked to come join me. I sent him coordinates, and he showed up in the afternoon. It was good to see him again.
Friday night, Matt drove us down the road (about a mile by vehicle; maybe half a mile as the crow flies) to Skoolie. Or I should say PRE Skoolie. It was a tiny, but nice gathering of the early birds. I like early birds a lot better than I like snow birds. One of the DJ’s (another Matt, who we met in Quartzsite) had set up a really cool compound around his bus. He had a nice fire and some good people. It definitely reminded me of the movie Nomadland. All kinds of people from all walks of life, all connected by living a nomadic life. Most by choice, some due to hardship. I’m always touched by the generosity from those who have to those who need. Communism in its simplest form seems really sustainable to me. If you have more than you need, give some of it to someone who doesn’t have what they need.
As the first full moon of the new year set, the sun came thundering up in the east, beautiful as always.
Saturday, we drove down into Skoolie-town again. I found Tie Dye Bob, and he greeted me with a huge hug. He is one of the nicest men I’ve ever met. EVER. I gave him a bed sheet I use as the side of my awning to form a room that I can use to do massages in. He’s going to tie dye it for me. He asked what I wanted, and I said “Surprise me.” I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.
Lessons From The Road: I seem to achieve balance by having extremely busy and productive times for days, weeks or even months on end, followed by days, weeks or months of dormancy. I met Matt shortly after arriving in Quartzsite, and there has been very little downtime since. We replaced my coach battery after Matt rebuilt the box that it rests in. We rewired my main solar panels (the ones that shattered) and hung my awning. Matt drove us so I could get sides for my awning, bungee cords to make them work, and lights to hang to help light underneath when the sides are up. We rode to get water and dump trash daily and took long rides in the desert most evenings. I think we were both approaching burnout. Here in Ehrenberg, there is nothing that must be done. I spent some time cleaning and reorganizing my van and watched a movie. Cosmo and I visit Bonnie and take naps. I don’t think I’ll ever achieve balance on a daily basis, but from month to month, I seem to get long periods of people, fun, and activity followed by long periods of solitude. For now, that seems to work well for me.