Tuesday: We’ve been
having some discussions lately about upgrading our current technology
situation. Originally, the dealio was
supposed to be that we’d make do with just using the Sprint phone/tether and
supplement that with trips to libraries.
But since California is anti-library-wifi, we’ve been thrown for a loop. So we waiver between looking into getting a
cell phone booster, or getting satellite internet. The latter is muy expensive, and slow, and
has data limits. But… you can get it
anywhere. That kind of coverage is sort
of key for the kind of places we like to camp.
For some reason, today we were gung ho on getting satellite service
toute suite. Missy had read recently
that DISH just launched satellite internet service, so that’s what we set out
to buy.
We stopped at a local satellite installer in Lake
Isabella. The woman there was nice,
but clearly had not heard of someone wanting satellite internet for an RV only
(not a home). So we went to McDonald’s
to use their wifi. Despite our best
efforts, we couldn’t find any working links on DISH’s website with info on the
new service. So I gave them a
call. I got referred around to 3
different numbers before one guy finally told me that the satellite internet
was for stationary use only. Great. Our backup plan was to look into ordering a
dish from Camping World (thinking we’d have to order to pick up later, in
Bakersfield). But, there wasn’t any
good info on their site either. After
some more research on the major cons for sat. internet, we decided not to
pursue it anymore. It’s a crying shame
that you can’t impulse buy satellite internet in this part of the country.
After our pointless morning, we did some grocery shopping
($5.30 for a pound of butter!!!!! Missy
says I’m not allowed to bemoan the cost of food here anymore).
Wed-Thursday- We had
a nice scavenged wood campfire for a couple of hours in the morning. I went for a bike ride with Cassie (got
that video of the jets) and got back home just as the rain showers moved
in. We had rain off and on for about 24
hours. We had another campfire on Thursday
afternoon. We spent some time
discussing getting a cell booster. It
was decided that I would go do nets the next day. There, I would order the antenna and
amplifier at Walmart.com for site-to-store delivery. This way, we could easily try it out and
return it if it didn’t work for us.
Also, I would try to order some White Cheddar Cheeto Puffs, which
heretofore have been unfindable in ALL of California.
Friday- I went to do nets as planned. When I tried to look up what amplifier other
boondockers use, I discovered that it might not work with Sprint. Frickinfrack. I spent a lot of time researching other
options, including the newly released 4g cradle…but it just didn’t seem like it
would work for us. I was thoroughly
discouraged. We need an IT department. Sigh.
Oh, and even worse: Cheetos are not eligible for ship-to-store-delivery at Walmart. Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh. Anyone want to ship me some from MN?
Saturday- Well, guess we’re not making it until Monday. We’d hoped we’d get 3 full weeks before
needing to tend to our tanks. But the
black tank filled up this morning. I
talked Missy into just going to a pay campground for a night. There, we could get a stress-free pull-thru,
have long showers and take on water. What
was not stress-free, as it turned out, was the drive out of the campsite.
I’d been worried about how we would get the RV out of the
driveway without major scraping. And
this time, I was right to worry. No
matter how we backed up and re-straightened, we could not get on the road
without burying the front of the fitty in the sand. Oofda.
We’re no strangers to scraping, but usually it’s in the back, on the
hitch, which can take it. This is the
first time we scraped the front, where the plumbing and propane lines are. Cross your fingers for us that we didn’t do
permanent damage. Later, after further
reflection, I said we probably should have taken a left out of the driveway,
going up the hill to another turnaround.
I think that would have given us the inch or 2 of clearance that we
needed. Lesson learned the hard
way. Just because you can get into a
spot, doesn’t mean you can get out.
This won’t stop us from going back: it’s just too perfect. After dumping tanks and getting water, we’re
heading right back to Clearing Campsite.
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