One Bar into Five

This is an update on the cell booster and network access using the iPhone as a hot spot.  Even with the booster antenna inside the trailer we are getting improved cellular signal. We are roaming on various Canadian cell providers using the Verizon International Travel plan. Sitting in the overflow parking area of the Atlas Coal Mine we got one to two bars showing on our phones without the booster. With the booster on we are getting 4-5 bars.

As anticipated our location at Salem Acres Bible Camp is on the very edge of cell reception. Without boost we get a very poor signal to '"No Service' on our iPhones.  Ken's iPhone is now in permanent 'field test' mode and displays signal strength in db instead of using the familiar bars.  Once we arrived we were able to mount the external booster antenna on top of the trailer (more on that below).  We often boost a -125 db signal (very poor) to -90 db, or even better. The band width available from the cell system in the area is still limited but we have achieved almost 7 Mb/sec download performance.  We have been enjoying regular FaceTime and Skype video calls with the LaBontes, Falls and Vern with the boosted signal. Put in your requests for a video tour of the trailer and camp site.  With the iPhone providing WiFi we can stay connected some distance outside the trailer.

We don't feel completely connected but the booster with the iPhone hot spot has turned very slow intermittent access into stable internet access for our devices.  Read on for the update on the 'ground plane' and antenna installation on top of the trailer.

Atlas Coal Mine Museum

Our last Harvest Host destination before arriving at Salem Acres Bible Camp was the Atlas Coal Mine Museum.  It was a great place to stay overnight along the Red Deer River and the tours the following day were really good. College aged interns from around Canada made up most of the staff. Peter, a young man from the nearby town of Drumheller was our mine tour guide. His grandfather worked the mine so he had an especially good insight into the operation of the mine. Read on for pictures.

Entering Alberta, Canada

It was a short drive from Conrad, MT to the Port of Sweetwater at the Canadian border. We paused in Sweetwater to make some calls to our banks to let them know of our travel plans so the fraud alerts wouldn't be triggered as we made purchases across the border.  While in a store in Sweetwater Jan found 'Artie' Fox our new mascot.  He now rides shotgun or minds the trailer in our absence.

'Artie' Fox Our Mascot

Warm River and Mesa Falls

Jan Feeds Large Trout Fish

We got ahead of the story a bit and forgot to describe our night camping after visiting the Legacy Flight Museum. We took a side track to the Warm River campground.  Before entering there is a turn out where huge trout wait to be fed. Jan had some fun filling their tummy's.

We got the last available space in the camp but were just across the road from the river.

Tucked in for the Night at Warm River Campground

Conrad, Montana

Remembering a Forgettable Breakfast in Conrad, MT

We continued heading north into Montana, which had some very beautiful stretches along the way. We considered spending the night in Great Falls at the Pilot travel plaza but decided to press on for a few more hours.

We accomplished a few more firsts as RVers at the Pilot station by breaking out the 'stinky slinky' to dump gray water and also taking on some potable water before heading out.

We stopped at a rest area along the I-15 planning to stay the night but it was so desolate that we decided it wasn't for us.  We drove on and found Pondera RV Park in Conrad, MT.  It was our first RV Park stop.   The managers were very helpful and friendly and having the power hookup was a bonus.  By this time we had pretty much figured out the toilet and water heater systems and actually began enjoying showers with warm water and no longer needed to strategically plan bathroom breaks. Water that had traveled with us through the Mojave was not too bad for a cold shower, but the water taken on in Montana definitely needed thermal enhancement and the water heater does the job well.

In the morning we walked into Conrad and had breakfast at the Home Cafe.  We love local breakfast cafes, especially good ones.  In spite of there being a number of locals in the cafe (always a good sign) this cafe will not be one will we look forward to coming back to. Home Cafe - home of the Mexican omelette that makes Taco Bell seem authentic.  The lesson is that your distance from the southwest should influence menu choice.

Legacy Flight Museum

Legacy Flight Museum - Rexburg, ID

We headed out of Boise to Rexburg, ID to visit the Legacy Flight Museum, another Harvest Host destination.  Unfortunately they were preparing for an airshow later in the week and could not provide us a place to park for the night.  They did point us to a camp at Warm River which turned out to be a very nice alternative. Look for a future post on Warm River and Mesa Falls.

We enjoyed the afternoon at the Legacy Flight Museum which included an amazing collection of military items of all sorts that is a private collection of a man and his son.  It included all sorts of small personal military relics, uniforms, rare guns, etc.  Truly a labor of love and a bonus to the display aircraft.  Enjoy the photos.

Visiting Family in Boise (Part 2)

Uncle Jim and 2002 Mustang GT

Here is the man that gave Ken his first motorcycle ride on his Triumph in the early 60's and first dirt hill climb on his Greeves 250 (Ken remembers holding on to Uncle Jim for dear life - it was awesome!).  He then spent many Sunday afternoons during Ken's teen years taking Ken riding, beginning with his Taco 22 mini bike, then Yamaha 80 and finally a Yamaha 125 MX. Uncle Jim kept these sometimes dodgy machines going deep in the hills near Lambs Canyon and mountain fire trails of the San Berdo mountains. Ken was never stranded because Uncle Jim was prepared and able.  He is one special man. He has always had one, sometimes two, cool cars.  He is pictured here, at age 95, with his cream puff 2002 Mustang GT.  What a guy!  More photos follow so read on.

Visiting Family in Boise Area (Part 1)

Visiting in Nampa

After we were situated at the Huston Vineyard we headed over to the Ferris's in nearby Nampa.  We had a great time catching up with the Ferris's and they prepared a great dinner for us. This time of year the evenings are long and pleasant in Nampa (though not as extended as what we are experiencing now further north in AB).

Huston Vineyard in Caldwell Idaho

We arrived in Caldwell, Idaho at our second Harvest Host destination - the Huston Vineyard. Another beautiful setting with welcoming hosts Gregg and Mary Alger. The vineyard is among several in the Snake River Valley and this boutique vineyard has produced top award wining wines.

First Night in the Arctic Fox Travel Trailer

Rowley's Red Barn -Santequin, UT

After a 2 AM departure from Temecula we drove till dawn and arrived in Primm, NV for a short break.  We then pressed on to Santequin Utah.  We stayed the night at a Harvest Host destination there called Rowley's Red Barn. This is a perfect road trip stop. In addition to being surrounded by the Rowley cherry and apple orchards they specialize in ice cream and other fresh fruits and snacks. We caught some much needed sleep and then headed off to Idaho.  More photos of Rowley's after the break.

Media Center Update - World's Cutest A/V System

Raspberry Pi Media Server on Top of Miniature Stereo Amp 

The media center described previously is up and running on 12V and 5V power. We can now be off the cord dry camping on BLM land, or in the corner of a Walmart parking lot, and enjoy a movie.

The media cabinet was wired with 12V co-ax plugs that now power the LED TV and the little audio power amp shown in the photo under the Raspberry Pi media server. Similar to the communication cabinet all the 12V and USB power outlets are wired into a master switch to make sure we don't leave something on by mistake. Turn off one switch and all devices are off.

The stereo power amp drives a pair of small, inexpensive but surprisingly good sounding book shelf speakers that sit on the 'kitchen' counter. They are a significant improvement over the speakers used with the entertainment system that came installed in the trailer.

Yes, that is a dime leaning against the amp to give a sense of the size of the components.

Sure It's New - Show Me the Squeeze Out

Axle Hub with Grease Fitting

We are sure the manufacturer packed the axle bearings with grease, but before launching off on a very long maiden trip we felt better seeing for ourselves that the axles were fully greased.  The trailer axles come equipped with 'Ultrulube' grease fittings that supposedly allow grease to be injected without the need to lift and remove the wheel. But to actually see the grease squeeze out you really have to remove the wheel and dust cap.  It took nearly a full 14 oz grease tube to get squeeze out on all four hubs.  But now we know the axles are well lubricated for the trip ahead.

Trip Planning with Harvest Hosts

From the Harvest Hosts Gallery

Traveling with our Arctic Fox trailer will be an entirely new experience for us.  Up to this point a road trip has meant driving our car or truck as far as possible each day and staying in hotels/motels along the way (as few as possible).  But our upcoming trip with a travel trailer will be different. Overnight stays at a Flying J truck stop or Walmart will be fine when we are pushing through to a destination, but we are wanting to stop and smell the ranunculus a bit in our travels to and from an RVICS project. Experience will tell, but we think we have found the perfect way to experience the journey to and from our RVICS assignments. Read on for the scoop.

The Family Homestead

Homestead Quarter Section Near Kinsella, AB

Taking a break from trip preparations to contemplate travel plans - While in Alberta we hope to visit what was the family homestead near Kinsella, a small village located at a crossroad in Alberta. In 1910 Grandpa Henry Candy and his brothers Richard and Thomas immigrated to Canada from Cornwall, England. Each obtained a quarter section near Kinsella.  Ken's mother Eileen was born on the homestead in 1916. The family eventually migrated to Los Angeles when Eileen was six years old.

Thanks to the kind assistance of Heather Northcott, Reference Archivist of the Provincial Archives of Alberta, we were able to locate the specific quarter section of the Henry Candy homestead and access archive records using the Alberta Genealogical Society's homestead database and Library and Archives Canada's Western Land Grants Database.

Recent Satellite Image of the Henry Candy Homestead Property 

Read on to learn more details.

Whole Trailer Water Filtration and Pressure Regulation

Once the trailer electrical system was protected from electrical vaults it was time to consider how to assure the quality of the trailer water supply. When it comes to filtration there are basically two approaches: 1) filter all water coming into the trailer; or 2) filter water at specific points of use.  We have chosen, of course, to do both. This post describes the external two-stage filter system that will filter all water coming into the trailer from the water hook up.

We have purchased an additional in-line filter system to install under the kitchen sink. This will further filter water used for cooking, and most importantly brewing coffee.  This may be a project taken on while we are in Canada since we are running out of days before we depart.

Another important consideration is controlling the water pressure that the trailer plumbing system is subjected to.  Even residential plumbing can be damaged by too much water pressure.  RV systems are not that rugged so pressure levels need to be limited to around 60 psi or even less.  Read on to see more details about the regulator and two-stage filter.

'T' is for Truck

In an earlier post the three 'Ts'; Truck, Trailer and Tools task lists were described. The tasks are not getting checked off quickly enough, but at least the Truck list is getting very short. Preparing for this trip has given us motivation to catch up on some needed truck maintenance items and to accessorize (like the stereo upgrade). Keep reading for an example of each: