Buying stuff.
One of the use-cases for getting a logo designed for Sinclair Trails was to put it on our coach.
Here’s me adding the logo sticker to our slide-out, above the states map:
The Sinclair Trails logo sticker; looks really good, I think:
Above the map:
We also got another sticker with the SinclairTrails.com website and social name (e.g. Twitter and Facebook):
The stickers:
I got a Vulcan bike lock to secure our bikes. It was highly recommended by other Lectric owners. It is very heavy-duty; they claim it can’t be cut with bolt cutters or hand tools — an important consideration with ebikes apparently being a high-value theft target at some campgrounds:
While in the area, we visited our favorite winery, Marchesi Vineyards in Hood River:
We did a wine tasting (alas, not free, as we are no longer members there, since we can’t easily get wine deliveries):
A resident dog, Jazzy, spent some time hanging out with us:
Jazzy and Jenn:
A charcuterie platter for lunch:
Misters keeping us cool on a hot day:
Vines:
Jazzy (with a boo-boo):
Vines:
Of course, we came away with a case of wines. That’ll keep us going until we can get back again next year!
The cupboards in our coach can get fairly warm when sitting in the sun. A common solution for that is to add extra protection via silvered bubble insulation like Reflectix. I recently added some to the back of most of the cupboards:
One of several criteria when choosing an RV was that we needed to keep working as we travel, so we wanted a desk (or two). So soon after we bought our coach, we removed the couches, and replaced one with a desk:
From the start, I used a lap tray with my laptop, sitting in my living room chair, while Jenn used the desk. Over time, she decided that she didn’t need the second screen, and ultimately didn’t need the desk either.
So we removed the desk, while temporarily leaving its drawers:
We might get some custom furniture to go there in due course, but in the meantime we decided to replace the desk with IKEA KALLAX drawers and cupboards; a very flexible system that we’ve enjoyed in the past.
Here are the drawers being assembled:
To prevent the drawers from sliding open when the coach is in motion, I added roller catches:
The new drawers next to the old ones, while transferring the contents:
Next I assembled IKEA KALLAX cupboards; the bottom-right cubby is a cat bed for Paladin:
I got brackets to connect the two units, for extra stability:
The two brackets on the back are covered in self-adhesive felt, to avoid scratching the wall:
I also added a bracket to mount the units to the wall:
The drawers and cupboards:
Related, I added velcro to Jenn’s laptops and laptop stand, so they stay put while driving:
She uses the laptop stand on the dining table when she has meetings, or uses a lap tray in her living room chair like me.
Hey Sinclair Trails fans! (If any?) We now have merchandise available!
I set up a Cafe Press store, mainly so I could get some stuff with the Sinclair Trails logo for myself, but if anyone else is interested, it is open to our adoring public.
The Sinclair Trails mug:
Sinclair Trails hat:
Sinclair Trails badges:
Another useful addition to our campsites: we purchased a 9×9 CLAM pop-up screen tent, to provide shade and/or protection from bugs.
It’s pretty compact folded up in its bag:
It pops up quickly by pulling tabs in the center of each wall:
Popped up, with wind and sun panels attached, and tie-down ropes attached, sitting on a new outdoor mat:
With our chairs and small table inside:
We also got a combo light and fan that can hang from the ceiling, or sit on the table:
On our site:
We brought Paladin outside in his harness and leash; only the second time he’s been outside, so he was a bit unsure about it:
Eating dinner in the tent:
Back in November last year we purchased a portable propane fire pit, which we carried around in the back of our truck for several months without using it, for various reasons — mostly because we tend to go inside in evenings (remember that we’re not on vacation, but living our life on the road), and when we do sit outside, it’s usually too warm to need a fire.
But having enjoyed the wood fire in Bend, we finally got around to using our fire pit at Stub Stewart:
Here it is, with the cover on, looking a bit dusty:
Connected to the propane cylinder:
Let there be light!
A GIF of it on high:
And a GIF of it on low, with me working on my laptop next to the fire:
Another GIF, while watching YouTube videos on another day:
For several months, we had been thinking about getting bikes to aid in our RV travels. Another option to get around large campgrounds, and to explore surrounding areas.
We wanted ebikes, i.e. with a pedal assist and/or throttle motor, to make it easier to cope with hills and such.
And we didn’t want to have to deal with a bike rack, if possible, both due to being extra hassle, and more of a security risk if we’re parked somewhere with bikes on the back of our truck.
We (mainly Jenn) spent quite some time researching the options, including a spreadsheet comparing the specs for several candidate models.
Fortunately, we found the perfect bikes for us: the Lectric XP 2.0 ebikes. They are affordable folding bikes, certainly not high-end, but with enough features for our needs and experience levels. They are very popular, perhaps especially with RVers, so you may have seen them riding around.
And importantly, they fold up small enough to fit in the bed of our truck under the tonneau cover. So we can travel around with them securely out-of-sight.
Some stats: the bikes are class 2 ebikes, i.e. include pedal assist and throttle, limited to 20 MPH, though can be changed to class 1 (pedal assist only) or class 3 (up to 28 MPH) via preferences. They have a 500W (850W peak) motor, 5 levels of pedal assist, with a base range of 45 miles per charge. They have 20” wheels with 3” wide tires, front suspension, disc brakes, 7 gears, backlit LCD display, and weigh 64 lb. They are 67 x 25 x 47” when unfolded, and 37 x 18 x 28” when folded.
On with the pictures. The Lectric bikes are only sold online, so we had them shipped to our mailbox, and picked them up when in the Portland area. Here’s the carton for my bike, plus a couple of cargo packages, in the bed of our truck:
Unboxing:
The charger and manual:
Bike with packaging:
Folded bike:
Unfolded bike:
The display:
My bike by our coach. The battery is hidden inside the frame, and can be charged inside or out of the bike. Here it’s charging inside:
A closer view of the charging port:
I installed a Lectric-branded folding lock:
The bike folded, showing the battery in its compartment on the right; it is held in place by a bolt that requires a key to unlock, for security:
The battery:
Here’s the key in the bike, plus the bike lock key and an Apple AirTag:
The bike again:
My first ride on the bike:
My first mile of riding on the odometer:
The folded bike on the truck tailgate:
In the truck bed; on its side isn’t ideal, but I added a bunch of packaging materials from the box as padding to protect it:
It fits under the tonneau cover:
I added mirrors to the handlebars:
And a phone holder:
Also a cargo rack on the back:
It is mounted with thumb screws, so it can be easily removed when folding the bike in the back of the truck:
The cargo rack was useful for taking the trash out at a campground without nearby garbage bins:
To personalize the bike a bit, I added an Apple sticker on the rear fender:
And Dejal stickers on the sides:
Plus Sinclair Trails stickers:
I also added a tool bag:
We bought Sena smart helmets, that include Bluetooth audio and mesh communication, so Jenn and I can easily talk to each other while riding together, without interfering with hearing other noises around us. Very handy:
Jenn’s bike was delivered a couple of weeks after mine. While my bike is a step-over, hers is a step-through model. Here’s her bike’s box:
Unboxing her bike:
Partially folded bike (without the seat):
Her battery:
Like on mine, I taped an Apple AirTag to the end of the battery, so it’s hidden inside the frame and can’t be removed, which will let us locate the bike if it is ever stolen (or we just can’t remember where we parked it):
We got the comfort seats for both bikes (though mine has only just arrived, so not shown in the pics). Here’s the comfort one and the one that came with her bike, still wrapped:
Jenn’s bike:
As hoped (based on the measurements), both bikes do fit in the bed of our truck:
With some room for our screen tent, rug, and other stuff:
Another addition, a compact bell on my bike:
Both bikes at a campground:
Riding our bikes is lots of fun! We’re very happy with them.
A few food and beverage highlights.
We took a trip to Portland to take some stuff to our storage unit, and pick up packages from our mailbox. While there, we went to a favorite restaurant, McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse in Hillsboro, Oregon:
Like most McMenamins restaurants, it is housed in a historic structure, with interesting decor:
A tasty burger and tots:
Another day, we went to the Corvallis Meat Pie Shop, an Australian food shop:
The owner was a bit of a character, a very talkative Aussie. Of course, he had some comments about Kiwis vs Aussies once we mentioned I’m from NZ:
Very tasty meat pies and sausage rolls; such a rare treat for me in the US:
Lastly, a couple of days later we went to 2 Towns Ciderhouse, our favorite cider maker:
We got a couple of sampler flights (and some snacks as an ad hoc lunch) to try various flavors:
Of course, we had to stock up while there, with a case of our all-time favorite flavor, Pacific Pineapple, and some others:
We stored them in the cooler in our RV basement:
