I love these improvements because they are making camping more fun. We are heading out for an adventure and after giving it a lot of thought I upgraded our solar panel to a HQST 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Lightweight Solar Panel. If this had been available when I first purchased our solar this would have been our trailer panel. I had to order ends for out cables so they could connect with the quick connects I added. I was nervous these wires are different than what I've worked with but true to form Renology made them easy to install and they worked first try.
The new solar panel is as thin as plexiglass and weighs only 4lbs.
The new solar panel weights about 2lbs. The materials are put on a piece of plexiglass so there is some flex but it's not a roll up mat. I decided I didn't want to permanately mount it so I used industrial Velcro on the panel and the top of the trailer so it stays secure in windy conditions. I made a padded bag to carry everyhing in during travel. I know I just made the table box for our original solar panel and we will continue to use it too but for longer distance trips we can now lighten our weight with the new one.
We really put this to the test and drained our battery. We connected the solar and it took less than five minutes to get a charge to turn full power back on and run the XM radio and other gadgets. It had the battery fully charged and maintained it within two hours.
We purchased new tires and rims because our original tires had worn improperly due to the hack job axle Crybaby/Surfside installed. We needed a spare tire and this now gave us two.
For the trip I cured bacon, buckboard bacon, pastrami, beef jerky, and dehydrated liver treats for Remy.
With new tires, solar, and campsite arrangements made we programmed our first KOA into Yeti (our GPS) and away we went. Our first KOA was an overnighter about halfway to Yellowstone. We pulled into the Brigham City KOA late in the afternoon. It was a very small but clean campground. We had a pull through site with full hookups so we plugged in to charge the battery. We were right next to the restrooms and showers and across from the pool, it was extremely hot and Alex found the pool quickly. The dog park was large and close so Remy utilized it a lot for games of catch. The downside to this campground was it was very dusty, the store was very limited but there was a Walmart just down the road, and when we went to bed we were kept up by people hanging out being loud by the restrooms.
Remy enjoys camping so much he smiles.
As an overnighter we just unloaded the cabin and Alex used the screens we purchased for the car windows and slept in the FJ.
The site was large enough to set up Remy's pen and still had room, it did need more shade.
Alex loved the DVD player we purchased for the trailer and this trip.
The following morning we were on the road to our next destination but we took a little side trip to th Golden Spike Monument.
They put on a reinactment everyday.
Alex found a red racer skin while we were walking the trail.
Remy and I used this time for training, here he was "front" which we use in crowds.
The National Parks are service dog friendly. Remy was using his boots because the ground was hot and he was facinated by the steam engines.
We love mixing history into our vacations and it really makes an impression when you can see and touch history.
Somewhere in Idaho during high cross winds we lost the license plate on our trailer we found this out when we pulled into camp, luckily I take so many photos I had one of our plate and kept it handy for registration. We stayed at Yellowstone West KOA. This is a very nice KOA and we want to go back and spend a couple weeks to really enjoy the park and explore. At this KOA we had a large backin site with water and electric so we kept the battery charged well.
We had so high winds and a quick thunder storm so we tightened up camp until it blew through.
Our site backed up to a large cow pasture with a beautiful view.
For breakfast we enjoyed the home cured bacon and eggs.
This KOA has an indoor pool and spa and pancake breakfast in the mornings which was reasonable, we enjoyed it on our drag out day so we could hit the road early. The store was large and very well stocked and this KOA is a stickler for quiet hours. The downside was the dog park which was small and unsecured with a large gate that Remy could jump through and small dogs could go under.
The campground is six miles from Yellowstone's entrance and there is a great little grocery store in town along with restaurants and shops.
If you've never visited Yellowstone to really enjoy it you should stay a few weeks. Yellowstone was the first National Park and the largest. It's home to sulfur springs, wildlife, and the largest high altitude lake in North America.
Yellowstone has some of the most beautiful rivers and landscapes.
Old Faithful is a must to stop and enjoy.
A fisheye view of the Medison River.
Alex catching minnows in the Madison.
A bison held up traffic and walked right up to our FJ, I snapped this from my window. Do not feed or exit your vehicle.
This bighorn ewe was standing on the wall next to the road.
A large elk heading our way.
Bison and wildlife were everywhere.
We saw the gamut of wildlife, bison, elk, bighorn, eagles, white pelicans, swans, deer, and we even were lucky enough to see four wolves while we were in the park. We can't wait to return and stay longer.
After leaving camp and the park we took another side trip to Little Bighorn. This monument has deep meaning for me, I am of Cherokee and Chickasaw descent and a family friend was there and received his name after the battle. We took a rubbing of his name on the Indian memorial wall. It was something special to share his story with our youngest and to touch his name.
It was extremely hot, I recommend visiting during the cooler months and bring a lot of water.
Our next stop on our big adventure was Devil's Tower, the first National Monument.
The Devil's Tower KOA is quite famous, it was the location for Close Encounters. It is a very nice KOA with a large store and restaurant and it sits at the very entrance of the park. We again had a back in site with water and electric. The dog park here was very nice, large and it had a bench to relax on. The bathrooms had just been redone but they needed better ventilation. Alex was enjoying each pool and this one was large and close by with a view of the tower. The park showed Close Encounters on their outside screen which was a nice touch.
The view from the campground.
The dog park was large enough for a good game of fetch.
This is what a core of a volcano looks like when the mountain around it erodes.
Bring a lot of water if you choose to do the three mile walk around the Tower. Dogs are not allowed on the walk.
The prairie dogs were friendly and seemed to pose for pictures.
Back on the road and off to the Black Hills and the Palmer Gulch KOA. We had a pull through with water and electric. This KOA is a resort, one you could spend weeks at and not leave. They have so much for the kids that is included pools, water slide, jumping pillow, movies, games, fishing, and playground. They have bikes to rent, gold panning and horseback riding for a fee.
We were in the smaller area with a lot of shade.
The big RV's were across the creek, they don't have shade but they are close the the restrooms and showers.
Alex enjoyed the trail ride. We watched the horses being driven up and down the trail each morning and evening.
We enjoyed this camp except for the mile walk to the restroom and showers, especially late at night when we had to cross the creaky bridge of termites holding hands. The dog park was the best yet, it included covered seating and an agility course. I got Remy to make one run through then it was a been there done that. The served an all you can eat pancake breakfast daily at a reasonable price.
The camp was less than 9 miles from Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument. We went to Mount Rushmore first. It was extremely hot and crowded and I think more people were taking photos of Remy than the monument. A whole boy scout troupe was there and after asking they all lined up to pet Remy. Remy also met the local native dancers and we saw them again later at Crazy Horse.
Bring water! There isn't shade and it's very hot in the summer.
Remy is a great partner and alerts me when I need a breathing treatment and he acts as my arms and hands. He worked hard during this trip.
Alex took this batman shot at Crazy Horse.
After we left the Black Hills we went down through the badlands in route to our overnight in Kansas City before heading to our final destination and my family home in the Ozarks on the Black River, Missouri.
We made it just outside Sioux City Iowa and our transmission failed. We were lucky to get off the interstate but we came to a stop in the middle of the off ramp. A call to AAA to request assistance and a deputy to direct traffic around us, then a callback to explain we are in Iowa after a Sheriff's office in California called me because they couldn't find us and we sat to wait. The deputy was outstanding and helped us push the trailer first then FJ off the road. When our tow arrived they were able to tow the FJ with the trailer attach so we didn't have to leave anything behind.
We were towed to the Toyota dealer and to a local hotel where the tow driver took us and the trailer. This was not the side trip we had planned but we made the best of it.
It seemed a bit funny to have our trailer parked at the hotel.
With the record heat it was nice for everyone to be in an air conditioned room. Alex has happy they had an indoor pool.
Alex roughing it with ramen noodles made in the hotel coffee pot.
Remy decided he is more of a 4 star resort dog than a camping dog.
Our last campground was a private camp, Beaver Springs Campground near Clearwater Lake. Our whole family was camping here and we had made arrangements for everyone to camp together. When we arrived though they put us at the front of the campground near the restrooms and showers but away from the family. It's a quiet campground and the hosts are friendly but they are a bit too much into your business for the family's liking. We had seven sites and three cabins and being away from the rest really sucked that's why we were there to spend time with them but we all made the most of it.
We did have a red-eye trip back up to pick up the Toyota then the rest of our time was quality time with family.
I love the green hills and trees of home!
One thing that was a must was introducing my family to Imo's pizza, St. Louis style pizza and the best pizza in the world!
We were caught in a summer storm that opened the heavens and flooded our campsite. It lasted about 20 minutes and in this storm we learned that our galley hinge no matter what was going to leak and man did it pour in from everywhere. When we purchased our trailer it leaked the first night we had it home and that started us on our journey transforming the Money Pit into the Blue Guppy. I had purchased a hinge from Little Bear Teardrops made for teardrops and garunteed not to leak. There had been a laundry list of other projects that kept pushing this one back but upon returning home it was now bumped to the top.
All too soon our time was coming to an end and we had to make our way back so that my husband could return to work. We had one final cookout with family then the next morning we packed and were on the road for one final side trip and the 24 hour drive home, and yes we made the drive from Missouri to California in one day but I don't recommend it.
The Blue Whale!! This Route 66 stop is who our trailer is named for.
Until next time stay safe and enjoy the camp.
