Location: Pilot Knob RV Resort - Winterhaven, California
Slept well last night and woke up feeling the best I've felt for a long time. For once I feel strong and not run down as I have been.
Calling for a cloudy day but very warm. Over 80 this afternoon. I was up and going shortly after the sun, taking Yuma for his walk while the coffee heated up. Yuma found a friend named Cali ( short for California) She was adopted from an animal refuge in California.
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| Yuma and Cali. |
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| Tall thin man watching over Yuma as runs in the desert. |
I have made the decision to return the refrigerator I just bought. It is too tall and I just don't have anywhere to put it that would be safe as I drive down the road. Can't have a 65 pound missile behind me. I had thought of putting it in the bathroom, but with the small entrance, it was too large to fit. By 11 o'clock I had taken it out of the MH and put it into the Jeep.
It wasn't hard at all to get it ready to go. I didn't even remove it from its original packaging so should have no problem returning it to Lowe's. I was soon off and on my way, leaving Yuma at home because of the heat and lack of room in the Jeep. Pulled in the parking lot right next to a cart and quickly dumped it on it and away I went into the store.
There was no line at the Customer Service desk and quickly filled out the paperwork to reverse the charges on my credit card and I was out of there.
Made a quick stop at Walmart to get a few items and I was on my way home. As I pulled onto Sidewinder road, I made a quick stop to take a few pictures of the small church in Felicity from a different angle.
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| Population: 2 |
Instead of the small refrigerator, I decided to call Discount Solar in Quartzsite and have them put 6 solar panels and an invertor and controller with all the necessary wiring on the White Lion. Didn't go well. Talked to a very nice man named Rick who handled the solar installation for motorhomes.
He said that six 100 watt panels would be the minimum to handle my large refrigerator. He gave me an estimate of between $6000 to $7500! Whoa! That is a lot of money to keep food cold. Told Rick I would think about it and call on Monday if that was the route I wanted to go.
After taking Yuma for another walk, I left him home and went to our HH. Weather is overcast with a slight breeze to keep us cool while we sat in the shade. I brought up the cost quote and all agreed that it was too high. So, now I'm back to square one on solutions to my refrigeration problem.
I'm thinking that I need to just buy a large cooler to keep things cold when I'm off-grid for any length of time and wait till I get home to solve the problem permanently. That will be the least expensive choice. The winter is coming to a close fairly fast and it won't be long before I'm heading home.
After I got home from HH, Yuma and I took a bath. I may as well shower when he gets a bath, because he gets me all wet anyway. Now Yuma and I are clean and happy.
I can't believe I've been here for a week and tomorrow is the day I leave. I still have things to do around the Yuma area so I'm going to find a boondocking spot nearby and continue with the things I need to do while near a big city. It's going to be an adjustment losing unlimited water and power, but we will be free to be ourselves once more.
Watched Gold Rush and the new Dave Turin show about his search for gold in Montana. Now it's time for bed. I need to get up early to pack and leave the comforts of the RV park.
See you later.
Too bad you feel you have to leave your comfy RV park. Maybe you can find a smaller fridge somewhere down the line. Beautiful flowers. Im sure Yuma's happy to be clean.
ReplyDeleteYuma is happy to have his bath over with. He enjoys life after his bath. I think just a icebox will be enough for the next month or so. May go with a propane fridge now that I know solar is too expensive. We'll see.
DeleteIf you go with an RV Fridge that will be a big help.
ReplyDeleteThen you can order your Solar Panels from Renolgy in California. They'll deliver them free to your home. That will give you time to Install them yourself saving you $$$$$.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
I think you're right Rick. If I get a propane fridge and then I wouldn't need so many panels plus doing it at home would save a lot.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a propane fridge would work just fine. You can adjust the settings so it keeps food at a safe temperature, but not necessarily super cold. You may not even need the freezer part, so wouldn't need to keep it running all the time. I too thought about solar panels, but they were too expensive for my household fridge requirements. Glad you are feeling better!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy. Yes, my options have dwindled down to a propane fridge which is fine. My 200 watt solar setup runs everything I need already. I am so glad to have my strength back.
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ReplyDeleteCute pic of Yuma & Cali.! Good Luck with your move today.😎
DeleteThank you Moonfly. Be a short move today but free is better than $28 a night.
Deleteas others have mentioned a 3-way fridge would be ideal 12v/110v/propane. But with installation and plumbing not cheap. A small 12v/propane chest unit might be enough for boondocking.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Jeff. I'm going to wait till I get home to change out the fridge to save money. For now I'm shopping for an ice chest to use for the remainder of this winter.
DeleteI also liked Yuma and Cali(fornia) playing together. :) No state lines visible!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are feeling better. Kim and I are anxious to see your new home.
Sad to see you leave but hopefully not too far. Bill wouldn't mind another walk through if you end up behind us. Can't believe the cost of the panels!
See you soon!
Thanks Patsy. Not straying far from home base yet. Love to have Bill come out. He will probably be able to give me a few tips. I certainly can use them. Solar panels are out till I get the fridge situation settled.
DeleteThanks Patsy. Not straying far from home base yet. Love to have Bill come out. He will probably be able to give me a few tips. I certainly can use them. Solar panels are out till I get the fridge situation settled.
DeleteSweet that Yuma found a friend. I know you have had a lot of decisions to make but it's all coming together. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks Elva. They are coming together. A little time and getting well has helped a lot. Yuma loves to meet other dogs.
DeleteI didn't find Discount Solar to be in any reasonable range when I priced some work there before. I think you can do much better by replacing the current fridge with a 3 way fridge when you get home (like we talked about when you first got the W.L.). I do think adding some more panels on the roof would be a wonderful idea, it would help to clear the clutter and bother of separate batteries for things. I think you might find it easier as well.(again like we talked about before.) I'm glad you returned the other fridge, a very wise decision.
ReplyDeleteYuma makes friends easily cause he's a sweetie. Safe travels as you move on down the road.
Thank you Deb. It appears that your thoughts on the fridge and power solutions were dead on. Going to wait till I get home and replace the fridge and my son in law and I can put solar panels on to make my power solution permanent. Thank you for all your help and see you down the road.
DeleteAlways good to have cost saving workable solutions suggested by friends. As you know, RVing can be a very expensive hobby and lifestyle. I think if we had all the money back we spent on RVing over the years we could re-retire.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a pain in the neck to have this fridge, but it will resolve itself one way or the other. I'm sure I've taken a big jump in the expense department when buying this diesel pusher. :))
Deletecall jimndenver.com I should have given you his card when at bloggerfest. He is at La Posa South and is as good a solar installer as you will find and is a good price as well. Those of us who know him know where to get a good deal on solar panels. Email me at shadowmoss@gmail.com and I'll give you his phone number. Definite worth heading back to Quartzsite go talk to him. Really.
ReplyDeleteForgot to say tell him you are a friend of shadowmoss. His camp is the friends I go visit when I visit la Posa South before and after bloggerfest.
DeleteThanks for the information, Paula. I will call Jim.
DeleteJim's number is 720.435.5666
ReplyDeleteI'll give Jim a call on Monday. I would like solar panels but not at the price Discount Solar quoted.
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