Buying stuff.
I bought a BLUETTI AC200PL 2400W 2304Wh solar generator with 350W solar panel as a backup power source for our Alaska trip, and other boondocking situations.
Unboxing:
The power station and solar panel:
I store the power station in the basement of our coach:
I’ve had a Power Watchdog smart surge protector for years, but I recently upgraded it to the new version, after a campsite pedestal issue partially melted the plug on my old one. This new model adds Wi-Fi support, a more compact form factor, protection for the plug, and built-in display dimming.
Unboxing:
The updated Power Watchdog app, which also lets you turn the power on and off without having the flip the breaker:
A nice improvement is the ability to change the dog face brightness; no need for a dimmer shade sticker anymore:
The Power Watchdog connected:
A nice upgrade.
We use Starlink as our primary internet service, though with cellular as a backup. We used to use an Actuated gen 2 dish, but earlier this year bought a new Standard gen 4 dish, with the intention to mount on the roof of our motorhome, so we can have Starlink internet service while driving down the road, plus don’t have the hassle of setting up the dish each time we stop.
To mount the Starlink dish to the roof, I bought a magnetic mount, so we’d be able to somewhat easily remove it if needed:
Our coach roof is fiberglass, so I also got a metal plate for the mount to stick to:
I bought a modem mount that holds the Starlink modem and power supply, but decided I wanted a different arrangement:
Instead I bought a different mount that I thought would work better, with separate pieces for the power supply and modem; they are meant to screw to the wall, but I attached them with heavy-duty velcro strips:
Cellular internet cupboard on the left, Starlink on the right:
While at Oregon Motorcoach Center we got them to install the Starlink mount on the roof for us:
Flying my drone later, showing the Starlink mount installation:
The wire from the dish going across the roof to a new junction box on the back of the front cap:
So nice to have Starlink always available. The only downside of the roof mount is if we park under trees, but most of the time the dish can still see enough sky to work well.
We have a Starlink Mini dish mounted on the roof of our truck, for use when we are driving in areas with little or no cell service, which can be quite nice. It was plugged into a 12V outlet by the back seat. But a minor inconvenience with it was that this outlet loses power when the truck is turned off, so we lose the internet connection, and it takes a minute to re-establish after starting the truck again.
To address that, I got a BLUETTI Elite 30 600W 288Wh portable power station. It is plugged into that 12V outlet, and the Starlink dish is plugged into its 12V outlet.
So now we can control whether or not to start the Starlink connection by turning on the DC output of the battery, and it can continue as long as we like. Plus the power station may be useful for other uses when out and about.
Unboxing:
Front of the power station; it has an input for DC or solar panel, three 12V DC outputs, two USB-C, two USB-A, and two AC outputs:
AC input on the side:
Stats:
Initially charging the battery via AC:
In the back seat of our truck, with 111W input from the truck (while idling) and 26W output to the Starlink Mini dish:
It has an app, which is more convenient to adjust settings:
We went to Downtown Disney in California, and the Paseo restaurant, to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
An interactive map:
Paseo, a fancy Mexican-themed restaurant:
“QUESO FUNDIDO; gruyère fondue, roasted wild mushrooms, salsa macha, chorizo verde, shallots, charred masa bread”:
“CARNE ASADA; goat cheese fondue, oven-roasted tomatoes, roasted shishito, fingerling potatoes g f 12 oz ny steak”:
“SHORT RIBS; braised short ribs, oven-roasted tomato, charred avocado, pinto beans, blend of guajillo & ancho chiles, salsa verde, flour tortillas”:
“PAVLOVA; classic meringue, fresh orange pee purée, guava pâte de fruit, horchata foam” (a tasty variation on the Kiwi classic):
We stopped in the Star Wars Trading Post on the way out:
Back during the Covid pandemic, while living at our homestead, we subscribed to food delivery from Imperfect Foods. While staying in Phoenix we happened to see an Imperfect Foods truck driving past, and decided to take advantage of being in one location for a few months to try the service again.
Misfits Market boxes:
Groceries:
They use ice blocks and insulation for refrigerated and frozen food:
Our second delivery:
It was nice to be able to use that service again.
We normally stay in our motorhome when visiting Disneyland, but on this occasion we left our coach in Phoenix, and drove six hours to stay at the Camelot Inn, across the road from Disneyland.
Here’s an interactive map of the driving route from our site in Phoenix to the hotel:
And an interactive map of our walking route from the hotel to dinner and shopping in Downtown Disney, to Disney California Adventure, and back to the hotel:
Camelot Inn:
Our hotel room:
A short walk from the hotel to the crosswalk by the Disneyland entrance:
The Disneyland walk-in entrance:
We walked past Disneyland to Downtown Disney, with a stop in the Pandora jewelry store:
We had a reservation at the Céntrico restaurant for dinner:
LEGO Store:
Jenn bought some LEGO bonsai:
A quick look through the World of DIsney store:
Then we went into Disney California Adventure for dessert:
We happened to see a Lunar New Year parade:
Churro for dessert:
Happy 25th birthday:
Lunar New Year:
Cars Land:
Heading back to the hotel:
We attended the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show in Quartzsite, Arizona. A two-hour drive from Phoenix.
This show has been an institution in Quartzsite for over 40 years. A big tent full of vendors selling RV accessories, with lots more outside. We weren’t in the market for anything, but wanted to check it out, since we hadn’t been before.
Lots more vendors outside:
Beer Belly’s adult daycare:
Back through the tent:
An interesting experience. Not sure we’ll bother with it again in the future, but if we’re in the area, we might check it out again.
We drove our coach 252 miles, about four hours of driving, from Palm Desert, California to Sun City, Arizona.
Here’s a map showing our route, heading east:
An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:
Entering I-10 East:
We got a little bit of fuel at California prices:
Back onto I-10 East:
Foggy:
Rest area closed:
Another rest area:
Interesting homebrew van:
Paladin in a box:
Arizona state line, and also Mountain time zone:
Welcome to Arizona:
Arizona Centenial:
Airstream trailer:
Interesting mountains:
Westbound freeway closed for hours due to accident:
Another fuel stop to top up, since we’ll be in one place for three months:
Filling diesel:
Filling DEF:
Exit to AZ-303 North:
Overpass:
Exit to Bell Road:
Arriving at Paradise RV Resort:
Registration parking, where we filled in the paperwork and untoaded:
Guided to our site:
We did a little exploring of downtown Queenstown, meeting up with Karan and her mum. We took a ferry from a dock near our campground to downtown, and back.
Here’s an interactive map of our walking route to the local ferry dock:
Part of our walking route in downtown Queenstown:
Walking along the lakefront:
Floating shops:
Aboard the ferry:
Tourist subs:
William Gilbert Rees, founder of Queenstown:
Downtown shops:
The famous Fergburger:
Steps up toward the gondola:
Snack:
Selfie:
Looking over Queenstown:
Mountains and paraglider:
Fergburger again, with a long line (we didn’t try it; no burger is worth waiting that long):
The TSS Earnslaw, a 1912 steamer:
Baja Mexico for lunch, we were curious what NZ’s interpretation of Mexican food would be like:
On the ferry back to our campsite:
Queenstown was smaller and less touristy than I expected. Still very touristy, but practically subtle compared to US touristy places.