Week 22, February 4 - 10, 2020

Week 22 February 04 – 10, 2020

Started the week in Indio, I stayed at a local Motel 6 for two nights – mostly to stay out of the wind. The ambient air temperature was quite comfortable, but the wind had a real Northern bite to it.  It also gave me a chance to plan my next portion of this trip. I will be leaving the deserts of Arizona and California and heading towards the ocean, then taking a dramatic right turn to the north…into the Siskiyou Mountains and the west of the Cascade Mountain Range. I had planned stops in Ojai to reconnect with a friend. We originally met in Montana at a Ranch while I was on my motorbike trip back in 1995.  E has asked me to return for a longer visit and maybe do some work on her Airstream.  After a very short visit in Ojai I headed up to Sacramento to visit with L and S.

My plan was to leave Ojai early in the morning and arrive in Sacramento before afternoon rush hour traffic. Everything was going to plan until I got close to Lodi. There had been a traffic accident and a load of bricks had been spilled onto the I-5 northbound lane. I was in Stockton, CA when I heard that there might be a lane closure, I mapped out an alternative route on my GPS, unfortunately the damn thing redirected me back onto the I-5 just a few miles too soon. I was stuck in Lodi.

Merging to detour off the I-5

There is a tonne of traffic behind me!

I eventually made it to Sacramento, rush hour traffic and all.  Found my friends' place, parked Mobius, and celebrated on making it safely to their house! 

warm and sunny Sacramento

They immediately put me to work designing and building a bed platform for their Toyota Highlander. L and I did a bit of brainstorming, then a quick trip to the local Home Depot for a piece of good on both sides ¾ inch plywood. I spent a day cutting, shaping and sanding the plywood into a platform.  L and S have also asked me to return in the fall for a couple of jobs. So, it looks like my return trip in the fall is being mapped out for me!

1 full sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, good on both sides

I cut off the excess length and then shaped the plywood to fit in the back of the Highlander

 This is the Toyota Highlander SUV

The sleeping platform

Me, testing out the stability and comfort of the sleeping platform. Needs more cushion.

On Sunday I got up fairly early and made my way back onto the I-5 heading north.  The first couple of hours was difficult as there had been a wind advisory.  I still wanted to get to Springfield and Portland. My safest course of action was to basically driving from rest stop to rest stop. Luckily, on this section if the I-5 there is a rest stop very 20-25 miles. At each rest stop, I would get out stretch, walk around a little bit, and try to release the tension knots developing in my shoulders. My original goal was to get to Springfield – I didn’t make it. I knew I was too tired to drive the last 1 ½ hour so I decided to park at the Seven Feathers Casino and Resort in Canyonville. I actually went into the Casino and had a really good meal, before returning to Mobius and watching some YouTube videos on my phone. Lately, I have been viewing videos on random inventions people have made in their workshops, and a channel about a husky named K’eyush, The Stunt Dog. K’eyush is quite talkative and has a great personality!

 I have met loads of people, and many have asked me to put links of YouTube channels I would recommend for people wanting to learn more about RV Living, vandwelling, diy vehicle builds.

I did have the amazing opportunity to spend Christmas and New Years with 3 YouTubers.

Debra Dickinson

Robert Witham

Tim Untethered

There are other links of interest – especially if you are thinking of doing a vehicle build

Gone Boondocking

Cheap RV Living  Bob Wells, is the founder of the RTR and President of HOWA (Homes on Wheels Alliance) - he shows loads of vehicle builds that people have done. He also does reviews of products designed for boondockers.

If you are interested in other creative ideas:

 Nate Murphy Nate is a young Englishman who does camper conversions and van tours, he's really into rock climbing and other adrenaline producing sports.

There are tonnes of YouTube channels dedicated to vandwelling, camper conversions and boondocking.

This week I have driven 1150 miles/1850 km, from Indio, to Ojai, to Springfield and finally stopping at my cousin’s home in Portland. I am planning to chill here for a couple of weeks, maybe do some sewing, might check out the local Restores by Habitat for Humanity and see if I can buy enough vinyl flooring for Mobius, the Nomadic Handyvan.

And for the first time since early November I have slept in a house. I had a good sleep. I have to watch out for my cousin’s dog Merlyn, as he likes to eat anything he finds, including my bag with a taco in it and small bag of popcorn. Goofy dog. Oh well.

Mount Shasta, California