February 29, 2024

Despite February being rainy and cold, we persevered with our work list because the end of the month promised to be a fun adventure!

Larry continued his volunteering on the solar and long-range planning committees, which kept him busy in meetings doing research and analyzing data. Right up his alley! 

He discovered a leak in our new cargo trailer that may or may not be due to a poorly caulked exterior seam. He contacted the company, and they sent him more caulk plus screws that were already missing from the vent covers and a spare tire for his inconvenience! He got the area caulked quickly, and no more leaking occurred.  

He changed the fluids in front and rear differentials and transfer cases on the RAM truck and sent the samples to Blackstone Laboratories for analysis. They came back with no concerns, which is always comforting.  Below is normal wear on the magnet of the differential plug, then when clean!

He also changed the air filter and installed a Bluetooth charger on the dash for his iPhone. For security in our travels, he researched and purchased an impact alarm for the truck that also tracked its location and activated an alarm feature that was already present. It gives us some peace of mind as not everywhere we travel will be as remote and wild as Alaska.

The Ute received the bulk of the work, getting projects done as the weather allowed:

  • Order new bathroom surround from Hallmark
  • Relocate Pepwave w/Paddle antennas to Ute
  • Research and purchase T-Mobile data plan
  • Sand, prep, and spray rusty area on the rear bumper and HappiJacks
  • Order drop stitch convertible kayak floor for kayak
  • Review folding stair installation and determine possible modifications and replacement
  • Fabricate new brackets for folding stairs so the top step is not partially covered by landing
  • Replace small duct tape protection on the driver’s front corner outside
  • Tighten loose screws on the roof lift mechanism near the dinette and sink
  • Lube and tighten screws on roof lift mechanism (silicone) and jackscrew (lithium) 
  • Check the set screws on the roof lift mechanism
  • Reglue loose fabric on the lift mechanism cover
  • Reduce the size of the outside exhaust trim plate for Truma Varioheat
  • Replace exterior shower, refrigerator vents, paint CTV cover

I continued to work on interior window shades for the RAM and Coachman, plus a vinyl cover for the shovel on the Ute. Of course, there was more planning and reservations as those opened up for the summer and knitting.  All those skeins and bobbins being worked at once!

As the end of the month approached, we prepared for our trip to Crested Butte with Zoe and Matt. We drove to Tucson to pick up a 4WD SUV for our trip and packed our winter clothes and the cat (of course) for the 12-hour drive. There was a sandstorm as we drove north into Albuquerque, and it was a new experience to see not only how the visibility disappeared but the size and number of tumbleweeds that blew across the highway. Fortunately, it was a short section of the trip, and we moved from dry brown desert to green woods and snow!

We made it to Crested Butte just before the snowstorm started and had a delicious steak dinner made by Matt as we watched the big flakes and blowing wind settle in. It snowed all the next day, so we decided to wander around the shops of Crested Butte instead of skiing.

Zoe and Matt made a delicious Chicken Parmigiana for dinner that night as the snowing stopped. On the third day, Larry took a skiing lesson while Zoe skied and Matt snowboarded for the better part of the day. Nothing better than fresh powder!! Larry enjoyed his lesson, and the instructors said he was the best in his class (which was a shocker, I know).

I had the house to enjoy a full kitchen and walks with Scully.

We dined at The Breadery in town, which was a real treat as Zoe had had to make reservations months ago! During our last full day, we enjoyed snowshoeing on a trail Zoe and Matt had hiked in the summer before having a Beef Wellington I had made for dinner.

Close enough to the 5 year Nomad-adversary to count!

Seriously good eating!

It was exceptional to have time with family; before we knew it, we drove back to Benson. We both said it was a great feeling to be back on the road and that we had missed seeing new places the last few months. Just one more month, and we will be off on our summer adventure!

Remember this game—how many differences can you spot?  The second picture is “on the road” so the Ute is not as clean 😉