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exhaustipated

Topeka, Kansas

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Posted: 03/25/17 09:03am

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What a wonderful adventure you and Jane had. Fantastic pics you took on your journey to see the desert wildflowers in Arizona and the once in a lifetime bloom of desert wildflowers at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California. I'm surprised to hear that Hula ate your Tomtom but I guess she got a little nervous when you and Jane went into that truck stop to eat. Anyway, this is a nice trip report and thanks for sharing.

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD LT1 Ext Cab Z71 Long Bed Vortec 6.0L V8 SFI gas.
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67avion

Carbondale, Illinois

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Posted: 03/25/17 09:08am

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Hey John, thanks for the note. Remember last year we went through the wildflowers in the Smokies with you and other truck campers. This was a total spur of the moment decision to go West. Glad we did it...

bka0721

Republic of Colorado

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Posted: 03/25/17 10:04am

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Always enjoy your narratives of your adventures and your photos are amazing to see.

Sorry about your GPS situation. This is a great example of how important it is to have backup material to guide you, such as maps. Too often individuals rely too much on their Smartphones and GPS devices. Even when using these devices a quick check with maps will ensure the correct information is being shared on a GPS device. Such as the mother and daughter following their GPS, literally to their deaths in Death Valley National Park.

I was with a group, recently, that had relied on their smart phone, but had not programed the phone before leaving a cell area. Thus relegating their GPS to not working. I had not brought my maps so we were left searching for roads to return to camp.

Having an experienced person, like you D. Gorton, sharing that good prior planning would have mitigated this situation, is a great service to all of us here. Thank you D. Gorton for this great reminder to keep us all safe when venturing in remote areas of this country.

Sorry we missed each other as we were traveling in the same area, at the time you were there, too.

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whazoo

Idahome

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Posted: 03/25/17 11:09am

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Ah, I hear Mott The Hoople singing "Sweet Jane" as I read and admire fabulous pics. Looking good D, but being a dog lover and without knowing how long you've had doggie, get a different dog. Said the surley Whazoo, and be glad your upholstery wasn't torn to shreds. Again, said without knowing the history. Come back thru Idaho next time D, Happy Trails!

dewey02

The Mid-South

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Posted: 03/25/17 11:23am

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Beautiful photos.

As for the dog chewing up the GPS, I've had the urge to do the exact same thing after some of the ridiculous directions that it has tried to route me. If I hadn't paid so much money for the GPS, I might have chewed it up too. Your dog obviously didn't have that considerations!

rockhillmanor

On the Road

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Posted: 03/25/17 11:27am

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OMG!

Look at all the teeth marks around the edge. She really wanted to kill it didn't she. [emoticon]

I'll just add a REAL interesting fact about GPS's.

Parked in a CG, I had my GPS on the dash turned off and in the middle of the night woke up to and heard what seemed like a person was standing right in the middle of my MH talking! [emoticon]

Took me a couple of days to find out that a fellow camper would walk around late at night with a bluetooth stuck in his ear talking on his phone.

When he passed my MH.......

My GPS would pick it up and TURN ON! Maybe your GPS went off and your dog thought it was an intruder and killed him for you. [emoticon]

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

67avion

Carbondale, Illinois

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Posted: 03/25/17 11:58am

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Hey Brian. I said to Jane that I thought I saw your rig. I cant recall where we were, either NM or Southern Arizona. As to the lack of a GPS, it was a real hassle. The maps we had didn't go across the border, for some reason, so we weren't sure exactly where we were traveling. In addition we knew that the area had heavy human trafficking making it a bit of a dicey proposition to not know where we were.

So, you are very correct about being careful with directions.

The border crossings can be a real hassle and we probably shouldn't have crossed at San Luis up to Yuma. I mean that line at the border went on for hours. I couldn't understand why there were teeth implants and proctologists right next to the curb. Now, I realize I could have gotten really tuned up without losing any time.

Whazoo, you named Sweet Jane if I remember correctly, quoting Mott the Hoople.

We may very well make it up into your country in the next year. Sweet Jane is talking about 2 months on the road, which is a real thrill to me. In the meantime we have a lot of construction to complete on some projects here at home. As to swapping out our dog Hula: she doesn't drink or smoke as much as my last one. And Sweet Jane is crazy about her. So, you'd have to swap out me before she'd let go of Hula the Wonder Dog...

Rockhillmanor, I think Hula got ticked off being left in the Mexican truckers parking lot. For all I know she was barking and defending our rig while we chowed down on exotic versions of huevos rancheros with cactus leaves. I had a football coach who would get so excited when we were blocking and tackling that he would pull up tufts of dirt and grass and eat them. Maybe that's what happened to Hula: she was thrilled with the defense of the Avion and snapping at everything in sight ;-).

* This post was edited 03/25/17 12:15pm by 67avion *

Hemi Joel

Minnesota

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Posted: 03/25/17 03:35pm

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Cool pictures, nice trip report. The dragon is scary! Never trust a dog.

2018 Eagle Cap 1163 triple slide, 400W solar, MPPT, on a 93 Dodge D350 Cummins, DTT 89 torque converter, big turbo, 3 extra main leafs, Rancho 9000s rear, Monroe gas magnums front, upper overloads removed, home made stableloads, bags.