Update Nepenthe Is On The Road

After almost two years of research and comparison shopping we finally picked up our shiny new 560 Ultra (#460) last Thursday, 9/8/11. Got to Necedah at 10:00 and finally drove out at 4:30. Cary's checkout was perfect. Found a couple of small things which were corrected immediately. Castle Rock that night and then to Wyalusing (near Prairie du Chien) State Park. This was a suggestion of Craig's and proved an excellent one. Stayed two nights because on Saturday was the Annual Carriage Classic which was held on the grounds of the beautiful Victorian mansion Villa Louis. Fully restored carriages and buggys (buggies?) with everyone in perfect period dress. Must have been over a hundred "rigs" with perfectly matched horses all in competition with the others in the various classes. Great spectacle, great fun. Proceeded west through Minnesota and on to South Dakota. Stayed in The Bad Lands NP and took a very scenic dirt road the next morning for 25 miles. We were completely embroiled in a thick cloud of dust. We have spent years exploring the desert and back country in our various four wheel drive trucks and have always considered dirt or gravel roads part of our life. No more! Our beautiful shiney Nepenthe looked like something found in an old barn after years of neglect. Stopped in Rapid City for lunch at the Firehouse Brewery for some liquid courage and then found a self-serve car wash. Only used the "rinse" cycle because you guys made me paranoid to use any of the soaps at these places. Got it cleaner but that gleaming sparkle was gone. :-( On to Mt Rushmore where we went to the evening show while camped in Hill City. When we camped that afternoon we found an 1/8" layer of dust in the galley. Discussed with Cary and made some small adjustments to the rear hatch seal. It was not fully seating on the flat surface to the rear of the storage bins. Oh yes, woke that night to a steady rain and a rapidly falling tempature. In the morning it was only a light rain but also only 36 degrees. Loading up is easier if yyou haven't lost all communication with your fingers. On through Custer State Park to see all the animals (bison, deer, antelope, turkeys, prairie dogs, wild burros) and an actual cattle drive (moving to lower elevation) with a dozen or so Marlboro Men in charge. We are now in Montana at the Custer Battlefield having just spent our 8th consecutive night in our new "home". With the hatch seal adjusted the trailer is perfect. My only issue is what is so often commented upon in this forum, curious, interested people. We cannot stop anywhere without someone coming up to ask about our Camp-Inn. When cleaning out the dust from the galley there must of been at least a dozen different people wanting us to stop and show them around. Every store, every gas station, even the man we stopped by to ask directions. Mary Anne laughs about it, I'm a little less enthusiastic. Having a wonderful time and the many contributors to this forum have made our "learning curve" so much shorter. Thank you all and a heartfelt thank you to the entire crew at Camp-Inn. This trailer approaches a work of art.
Jim & Mary Anne
(forgot to change our "signature")

 

Jim and Mary Anne,

Kudos on your new baby. Looks like you're taking the same route we plan when our nestling hatches in a few weeks. The carriage show sounds as if it was great fun. What a stroke of luck for you. We were considering taking that dirt road in SD, too. Nothing like a little adventure, though it may be more mud than dirt by the time we get there. We'll see.

36 degrees in the AM at Rushmore already? Hhhmmmmm...... I was afraid of that. Well, we have lots of warm clothing and snow chains. Just hope we don't have to break out the pontoons.

Enjoy the rest of your maiden voyage. Safe road home and please do continue to tell all about it.

Jim and Sue

Expectant parents of Spamalot.

 

Great story. Wyalusing is really a nice spot and you hit it a great time. We like those dirt roads too and we continue to use them dispite the dirt - it is too much fun.

 

Jim & Mary Anne good luck with your new Camp Inn you are going to love it.Thanks for sharing a great story.Steve

 

congrats, Jim and MaryAnne. We were in Little Bighorn Battlefied Nat'l Monument today (!) on our way TO Necedah to pick up our trailer on Tuesday. We were impressed that the park had a special parking lane for vehicles towing trailers. Have fun.

 

Nepenthe Is On The Road - The Trip continues

Hi everyone,
Last night, 9/22, was our 15th consecutive night on the slow road home to Carlsbad, Ca. and we have learned a lot. We are currently in Brookings, Oregon at the Harris Beach State Park. Staying two nights because it is so nice here. Spent a day at the Little Big Horn Battlefield (very somber and sobering experience)and met a full blooded Lakota Sioux holy man (Shaman) who was also there for the first time. He is a direct decendent of those who fought to protect their homes and families there. On through Montana staying a night in Missoula and then on through Idaho (the narrow part) to the Grand Coulee Dam. That was a massive project, especially considering the time when it was built. Stayed a night there and then on to Washington Hwy. 20. This leg was predicated entirely on one of Evan's posts about this road and I have to echo his sentiments entirely, it was one of the most beautiful drives I can remember taking. The Swiss Alps transplanted to the USA. Breathtaking! There is a place on the West side of the mountains called The Cascadian Farms. A beautiful spot dedicated to organic farming that sells home made ice cream. What a wonderful place to stop and pig out on a double scoop (Huckleberry and Marion berry for me) in a waffle cone. We still talk about it. On down through Washington and Oregon to here in Brookings.

What we have learned:

We have learned to raise the stabilizing jacks before we close up the galley with the table put away. We have also learned to level the trailer fore and aft before extending the jacks. Lower the front later and the jacks lift off the ground. Duh!
I got a free "App" for my iPad called Clinometer. It is a carpenters level that works perfectly.

It takes us under 30 minutes to get completely setup from the moment we start to unhitch. That includes both tables, chairs out and the side tent up and secured. I need to find who first came up with the PVC pipe frame for the floor of the tent but that works perfectly. I will find that thread and thank him or her personnaly.

We have learned that the Coleman ice chest is not very well insulated. It is great to have it and of course it "fits" but it eats ice three times faster than our Igloo. After a days drive the top is very cold and "sweating".

I told Cary I was probably going to get the larger propane bottle not wanting to run out after only a few days or so. After 13 breakfasts and 10 dinners (we cannot resist eating out occasionally)I thought I had better have it filled. It only took 1.5 gallons. I obviously need to rethink the larger tank.

Camp grounds near large cities are already filled with hugh
month-to-month "permenants". Very crowded, very noisy, usually close to a busy highway. County, State and National parks are far better but often with few ammenaties.

We count by the numbers everything we need to have done to roll away from a campsite. Hitch secured and locked, electrical cable inserted, chains crossed and attached, breakaway brake cable attached to truck, front wheel and jacks up, chocks removed, doors and rear hatch locked, propane off, etc.

More later as I think about it but know this, over two weeks on the road with our little "gypsy wagon" and we are NOT looking forward to getting home. There is so much to see and do in this country, so many artists and craftsmen along the way with only a little sign board to inform you of their presence. A small lake at the end of a 3 mile road that only the local fishermen visit. Cheeses and bakeries and breweries to sample. So little time.
Safe travels,
Jim and Mary Anne

 

Re: Nepenthe Is On The Road - The Trip continues

Thanks for the story. Delightful! I use the same level works well.We certainly are blessed to live in such a beautiful country and have a Camp-Inn to enjoy it.

 

Jim & Mary thanks for sharing another great story cant wait to hear the next chapter. Steve