Homeward Bound

[kevin_standlee]

I was fortunate to be able to leave Sunnyvale at 10:30 this morning, and even more fortunate that about the time I was leaving the Bay Area, the chain controls over Donner Summit were lifted, giving Caltrans much of the day to clean up the road before I crossed just before dark. But first, I had to deal with a burned-out headlight.

Two nights ago, I realized that the right front headlight was burned out. But I didn't have time to deal with it and no tools, either. So today I stopped in Lathrop at the same O'Reilly Auto Parts where I made an emergency stop a bit over two years ago when my minivan caught fire due to a seized alternator. This wasn't quite as urgent, but I knew that they would loan me tools when I bought a new headlight.



In this case I only needed a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six screws that hold the headlight bracket and external shroud in place. It took perhaps ten minutes, and that only because it's the first time I've changed the light in the RV.



Everything went smoothly and I returned the screwdriver with thanks, then continued north to Sacramento.

After a very short visit with my sister, I made for the hills. I really wanted to get over the top before dark, and just managed that. It was just getting full dark as I crossed back into Nevada. The drive was otherwise uneventful, which is fine by me.

Lisa has been staying in the travel trailer most of time, which is is easier to keep warm with the propane furnace. I've got the wood fire restarted. The electric heaters in the house have kept the edge of the cold off, but with the storm having passed through, it's very clear overhead and the temperature is forecast to go down to -5°C tonight, so I want to pump a bit more heat into the house.

That is my last planned trip to the Bay Area this year, and my last work-related trip there until next spring. I have at least two trips over the mountains planned this winter, but they're all "weather permitting."

Comments

[garyomaha]

Do you anticipate having the travel trailer under its new overhead enclosure will change the internal temperature much from season to season? My completely wild guess is that radiant heat from above will lessen, a good thing in the summer but perhaps not so good in the winter?

[kevin_standlee]

As it happens, the winter sunshine still hits the south end of the trailer because of the lay of the property. It's summer that's the key. Heating the trailer is relatively easy (propane furnace). Cooling it is difficult, particularly on the hottest days when the sun beats down on the air conditioning unit. With the cover overhead, we expect that the trailer will be mostly in shade all day long in the summer, and that should make a huge difference in keeping it cool. I might find myself taking cover there myself at time, as it's the only place we have a refrigerated AC unit rather than swamp coolers.

[kshandra]

Since you'll be home, I'll point you to the upcoming EIS meetings for the Burn:

https://journal.burningman.org/2017/11/black-rock-city/leaving-no-trace/burning-man-and-blm-begin-10-year-environmental-impact-statement-public-meetings-start-in-december/

Thought you might be interested.

[kevin_standlee]

Thanks!