Night One, Day Two: Test at home, solutions found.

[Better Today]

First Night Sleeping in the Utility Trailer

In order to test everything regarding the living/sleeping conditions before I hit the road Tuesday, I should test it in my own driveway. Last night I slept in it. The evening was quite cool, so I was prepared for a cold night with sleeping bag, and two quilts. With the low around 40F, it wasn't bad. All in all, I've been colder when camping. I think the closed trailer blocking any wind and the huge dog, Cooper, who intermittently got on the bed, sliding as narrowly as he could into the space between myself and the trailer wall, nose buried next to my neck, then off the bed trying to fit onto what little floor space there is available. I was concerned if there'd be room on a twin bed for both of us and while I was laying straight and he was slid in lengthwise like that, there were no real problems, and I think the added warmth helps. All in all not too bad a night.

This morning I bounced between installing the hardware on the doors to be able to be latched inside and still block anyone from locking me inside with the outside locking system and installing a system for keeping the drawers of the captain's bed closed during travel. Thanks again to the manager at Ace Hardware who worked with me for over an hour yesterday as we tried to imagine, then check, then re-imagine solutions to these problems, till we found solutions that were simple to install and inexpensive. Sometimes they have to send me to somewhere like Home Depot because they simply won't have extensive enough inventory, but they know that I always start with them because of the local ownership, and the great service now for almost 2 decades for me, I'm sure the store's been there longer.

Last evening and this morning, I checked out blog sites, and I think I'll go with WordPress.com. I need to imagine a name that represents the project, so I haven't signed up yet, but I will. I have a few name ideas but nothing just rings for me yet. Soon as I do sign up, I'll post a link.

Sorry that these past two journals are a tad dry and, let's be honest, boring. Most of my more interesting writing is setting in text files waiting for me to set up a blog because they've gotten quite long.

This afternoon was spent trying to resolve what I consider the biggest issue of the trip's success, electricity. The mast set up is completely portable, so I am not, nor have I ever used the car electrical for running the equipment. I carry around a battery booster. However, to date, I've always been back at home overnight if not longer, so the booster had a chance to be recharged before morning. Additionally, the main PC for editing, converting, and uploading the images to YouTube, was plugged into the wall at home.

With this project I have to be able to recharge that booster without a household outlet, and I need to be able to run a full sized PC, which runs all out when it's converting and saving the video files, and a monitor. I think I can do without any other peripherals. I've spent about an hour at our local Interstate Battery store getting an education and general pricing. With that, I'll spend some more time, now that I have some understanding of the jargon being used giving me search terms to use, I'll do some more research on the internet. The obvious choice of a generator, isn't viable at this time, imo, due to space shortages, and noise issues. I'm reasonably sure no one who is nice enough to let me park in their drive, is going to want to hear a generator going till 2 or 3 in the morning while I process the days videos. I think I've got a plan, I'll do some more research and if I can keep it under $200, I have a friend here who will buy the components for me. That's four tanks of gas, so you can imagine how appreciative I am of his generosity. Thanks, MARK!

Well, time to do that research. I'll be back tomorrow. Hopefully the electrical and the blog name will be resolved!

[Fla Dem]

1. Once you get your trailer all set up, post some pics of dog & trailer. Love the narrative

it's like John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley". Except yours will be Travels With Cooper.

[Better Today]

3. Yep, in the plans. I have to leave no later than Tuesday midday, so

it'll be soon that everything is ready. Then I'll run a couple of pics and a video to be set up on YouTube after I decide a bogname which will then be the YouTube channel name. Then I'll pack the puter into the trailer and hit the road. That's the plan anyway.

[Suich]

2. So far, so good!

I'll look for your post tomorrow!

:hi:

[JNelson6563]

4. Been enjoying these posts.

Sounds like you are doing this thing right! Looking forward to all your updates! :hi:

Julie

[SoCalDem]

5. Is your name Jack?

"Hit the Road, Jack" , came immediately to mind when I read this..

or

"Man...Dog...Road" also came to me

[Better Today]

7. Good choices. but I'm a woman.

Since I'll be using my equipment a lot, mast aerial shoots, I was thinking

High in Under America or maybe just "High Under America"

something that also in my thoughts is sort of inside out and upside down sounding similar to the state of USA that I'll be recording.

[Catshrink]

6. Check your PM

I want to send you a book "Merle's Door" about a travel writer's life with his dog. You might enjoy it on your trip.

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

From Publishers Weekly
Humorous, jubilant and touching by turns, this story of the relationship between man and dog is informed by the author's grasp of animal research and his attachment to Merle, a stray dog he adopted. A Labrador mix, Merle first appeared while the author was on a camping trip. Kerasote (Out There: In the Wild in a Wired Age), an award-winning nature writer, decided to take his canine friend home to rural Wyoming. This chronicle of their 13 years together is interspersed with studies by animal behaviorists that strengthened Kerasote's desire to see Merle as a responsible individual rather than a submissive pet. Merle set his own eating schedule (though not without early mishap), refused to hunt birds (although not elks) and, according to the author, possessed a range of emotions and sentiments similar to those of humans. Kerasote tends to anthropomorphize Merle's every look and movement, but this narrative is entertaining and Kerasote's strong love for Merle and enthusiasm for life in the wild will win over many readers. Kerasote's joyous relationship with Merle is balanced by a bittersweet account of a close relationship the author had with Alison, a neighbor and fellow dog owner. Kerasote's last weeks with the dying Merle are beautifully rendered.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Merle showed up at the San Juan River at the same time Kerasote and his river-rafting friends arrived. Merle looked at Kerasote as if to say, "You need a dog, and I'm it." He accompanied the group down the river and then went home to Wyoming with Kerasote. A dog who was eager to please and almost trained himself, Merle learned the ways of bison, ground squirrels, and coyotes. Merle then taught Kerasote the fullness of the hunt, leading Kerasote to his favorite prey. But, after Kerasote installed a dog door, the main thing Merle taught him is that a dog develops to his full potential, becoming the dog he was meant to be, when allowed to make his own decisions. Merle developed a life of his own, patrolling the small settlement where they lived with his dog companions, and yet was always very aware of Kerasote and his schedule. In telling Merle's story, Kerasote also explores the science behind canine behavior and evolution, weaving in research on the human-canine bond and musing on the way dogs see the world. Merle is a true character, yet Merle is also Everydog. An absolute treasure of a book.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LFWmK8U8L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Merles-Door-Lessons-Freethinking-Dog/dp/0156034506/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286664060&sr=8-1

[Reader Rabbit]

8. Could your blog title play on your screen name?

Better Today/Better Tomorrow or something like that? You are taking some giant steps today in the hopes of a better tomorrow, so it seemed like a possibility. Hopefully that doesn't sound too corny.

[Better Today]

9. Good thought. A little corny, but not too corny.

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. This is great. I feel like I'm on the ground floor, watching someone build a whole new life!

Make sure that you keep some ventilation in that trailer! :-)

[Better Today]

12. It has an overhead light/vent/skylight thingy. So I'm good.

[Fumesucker]

11. Three Dog Night..

The Inuit term for a very cold night, they judged coldness by how many dogs it took to keep you warm at night.. :)

Good luck with your endeavor.

:hi:

ETA: I have an old Uninterruptible Power Supply that runs off an internal 12V battery in case of power failure, it will operate a PC and a 21" CRT monitor with no problem, hooked to a larger external battery it would work for quite some time.

What you want is a Marine Trolling battery, deep discharge and the less you run it down between charges the longer it will last, those types of batteries are damaged by discharging them too deeply.

With a dual battery isolator system you can charge you deep cycle battery from your car's charging system and may not need a generator.

http://www.hellroaring.com/rv.php

Generator systems don't have to cost a fortune, Northern Tool is one of the best sources for cheap generators..

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200390027_200390027

[Better Today]

14. The guy at the battery showed and we discussed those types of

batteries. Everything for the recording setup has to be mobile, like I leave the car and walk sometimes 1/4 mile or more from the car, and all total it's a 130-150# of equipment I haul. So the shape and weight of the electricity choice is pertinent. Anyway, the battery guy took apart the battery booster I bought somewhere else a few years ago, and gave it a huge thumbs up, and recommended buying another just like it for rotation; one can be charging while one is being used. Size, shape, and power, though, were factors. These can be charged while driving, and will at least keep the camera equipment running, if not the every evening of editing, etc. With the camera equipment and laptop I get around eight hours out of one fully charged booster. With the PC and monitor we're figuring it'll be more like six.

It isn't a cure but it should get me from friendly DUers house to the next where I hope I can plug in and get a full recharge overnight if one is still lagging.

[Born_A_Truman]

13. Good idea doing a dry run at your house

Years ago I bought a little 21' travel trailer to take to the river. Dad hauled to his place and I spent the night out in it with a notepad and wrote everything down I needed. A trip to the 99 cent store pretty much outfitted it. Had many great weekends out floating on the Colorado with friends.

I'm sure you've thought of it, but a good first aid kit for you and Cooper is a must.

[Better Today]

15. There's always been a small one in the car, but I should beef it up

quite a little and have serious bandages and wraps, and my magic antibiotic oil that out performs NEO by tons, and maybe even something I'm sure will make a fast and accessible tourniquet, just in case. Probably an ace bandage, hell, I've even got some special ankle and wristy one's that might be of use and won't take much room. So that's blood and scratches. Bug bites are tamed by my waterless bath spray quite nicely, so that's covered.... If you see something I'm missing tell me. My little one just has a couple bandaids, qtips, tylenol, not much.

[Better Today]

16. I have a NAPA tool kit in the car, since we're starting to consider inventory.

I have the jack, I should have the spare checked. or all of the tires, really before I go. They're just up the road and the tires come with lifetime checkups. Any other vehicle emergency stuff I should have? Sorry, except for trips camping not too far away, I haven't traveled, I admit to being traveling challenged.