2021 RAM 3500 Tradesman | AEV Prospector | FWC Grandby
- Thread starter ramblinChet
- Start date
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Hello Nick - my winch was installed when AEV installed the Prospector package on my truck so the winch is wired to the battery per Warn's instructions and the winch remote control is what came with the winch.
My Ram auxiliary switches control lights, two wheel low, etc.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
After spending a few days in Corpus Christi it was necessary for me to return and explore more of Padre Island National Seashore. This time my plan was to drive south along the remote beach the full sixty miles. Since I was traveling alone without any cellular service and most of my drive would take place under the cover of darkness, it was necessary for me to perform research and create a plan along with alternate plans just in case things went south.My primary plan was simple - top off fuel and supplies going in, travel a few hours ahead of low tide, and drive on the foreshore, the wet part of the beach exposed by low tide, for three to four hours without stopping. My goal was to maximize fuel mileage along with my ability to cover as much ground as possible in the shortest amount of time. If I did become stuck at least the tide would be falling and I had several hours to perform a self-rescue. Regarding self-rescue, I have a number of options. My first option would be deflating my BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2s to 15 psi. Secondly, I have four Maxtrax and a shovel available. Next, I have a Warn 16.5 ti Heavyweight winch, AEV recovery gear, and a Deadman Off-Road V2 earth anchor. Some may consider this overkill but keep in mind I explore remote deserts, forests, and mountains that I am unfamiliar with, full time.
Note: GPX file can be downloaded here
I successfully traveled the full sixty miles and enjoyed watching the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico at Mansfield Channel. I spent three or four nights camping down here and the fishing was good. My Prospector and camper combo takes me to the most amazingly beautiful locations again and again.
This is a picture from my first night while driving through Little Shell Beach approximately ten to fifteen miles south of Malaquite Beach. Minutes later everything became black and I was happy once again to have an assortment of LED lights available. Good lighting was more important than you might imagine. The wet area I was traveling in was narrow and littered with washed up trees and driftwood. My primary concern was avoiding having a tire punctured by a piece of wood along with keeping out of the soft dry sand which would have significantly decrease my fuel mileage.
Downloading a tide chart and taking a screen shot will permit you to peer into the future and plan accordingly. If your plans include driving on a beach you must have this. The park rangers are also able to provide you with a print out of upcoming conditions.
Shell Beach - I would have loved to take my children to a place like this when they were younger. Sure, collect as many shells as you would like!
Folks in Texas must be rich - they use life rafts one time and just leave them behind the dunes off the beach. I found four rafts within ten minutes of walking around my one campsite.
Due to prevailing southeasterly winds from the Gulf of Mexico, much debris piles up here. In one video, Ozark Overland Adventures also discusses the difficulties associated with navigating beach debris and tides at PINS. I once again took advantage of low tides, had no problems, and recommend others to do so also. Becoming stuck out in the middle of nowhere without any cellular service would be a memorable family event though!
Driving back to Yarborough Pass through the grasslands and tidal flats. When you transition from the beach to this area you must climb over the soft dunes that really require four wheel drive. I may have been able to make it in two wheel drive if I aired down but I was running street pressure. I enjoyed camping back here for several nights.
My adventure at Padre Island National Seashore has come to an end but rest assured, I will return. If you have never driven sixty miles alone down a deserted beach in an overland vehicle and camped for what seems like forever, you may wish to consider a trip like this. It felt as if I had driven backwards in time thousands of years and when I arrived, time stood still.
Initially, I planned to drive the full sixty miles from Malaquite Beach down to Mansfield Channel, spend a night or two, and then head back. I also considered stopping at Yarborough Pass and spending a night camping on Laguna Madre. A long drive on the beach, a few more nights under the stars, check it off and move on. I stayed so much longer. What I didn't plan on was being seduced by the peace, solitude, natural beauty, and rhythmic sounds of the waves crashing and winds gently rocking my popup camper. There's a special feeling you get when you walk through the surf for an hour in either direction and see no one else. There are no man made objects anywhere to be seen - it's primitive, intoxicating, and something you must experience.
Low tide was in the middle of the night and driving at this time in these conditions was a surreal experience to say the least - I drove for hours and my view rarely changed. Although I maintained an average speed of fifteen MPH, a heavy coastal fog raced across my windshield the entire way and since I was driving on the foreshore there were no other vehicle tracks. The sights, the sounds, the smell - what a way to finish off my time on PINS. I'm not the biggest fan of hanging out on the beach but I must admit - this was an experience unlike any other. And make sure to bring a saw and an axe since there is an abundance of driftwood available for a primitive beach fire.
Step back in time, slow down, and live life.
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Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
@ramblinChet How are you enjoying your 4 new rafts? 
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Although I own a pair of Klein heavy-duty wire strippers to handle 8-20 AWG wire, I have always wanted to try a pair of the Ancor automatic jaw-load wire strippers which cover 10-26 AWG. I was shopping in West Marine after departing Padre Island National Seashore and decided to treat myself to purchasing a new tool. If you have been thinking about that new tool or upgrade for your rig, order it now - no one will do it for you!
One of the reasons I purchased the new wire strippers is because I was planning to make some repairs on my Renogy 200 watt solar suitcase that I use daily. The wires and MC4 connectors used by Renogy for my system have been experiencing significant use and parts are beginning to break down. Although MC4 connectors are used almost exclusively to daisy chain panels in solar farms I'm not sure if they are the best application for a system which requires high mating cycles. According to Stäubli International AG, an MC4 connector is designed for 100 mating cycles. While performing research I was happy to discover that Anderson Power recently released an IP68 waterproof connector (SBS X-75A) that was designed for 5,000 mating cycles - I may give them a try.
As a temporary connection I used Ancor heat shrink wire connectors that I had on hand. They heat shrinking had not taken place in this picture since I do not have AC power available for my Bosch 15-amp professional heat gun. As soon as I find an electrical connection I will shrink them.
WARNING: If you have a Renogy 200-watt Solar Suitcase make sure to check the condition of your inline fuse and all associated MC4 connectors. During an inspection today I discovered the inline fuse was melted and voltage varied from 5-14 Vdc. My guess is that there was not a good connection between the wires and the inline fuse which resulted in excessive heat that eventually melted the fuse holder. If any electrical experts wish to share more, please do.
I guess what I am happiest about is the fact that this electrical failure did not result in a fire. Although I have fixed the MC4 connectors and the fuse temporarily, I will be contacting Renogy and requesting a replacement wiring harness. This unit has a five year warranty, which is impressive, and was purchased just over one year ago.
Here is a quick shot of the tools and supplies I used for my field repairs. The system is back up and running now although I am monitoring it. Once I perform a permanent repair I will post an update. Fortunately, the solar system is not functioning while I am sleeping.
Occasionally I will stop in to a laundromat to wash clothes and hang out, talk with locals, discover where the good food is, etc. On this day I stopped at Sherrill coin-op laundromat in Karnes City, Texas. It was a bit on the expensive side for me but it was a nice clean place and is "a long-time family-owned, reliable laundromat conveniently located behind Karnes County National Bank in Karnes City. Our washateria is equipped with plenty of washers and dryers that will leave your laundry fresh and clean." Plus, they have heavy-duty professional grade stainless steel machines which are totally cool with me!
Here is a shot of the night sky while camping for nearly a week on a working cattle ranch in Texas Hill Country. My next update will include additional details but for now, just trust me, it was a wonderfully relaxing and amazingly beautiful time spent with a few other really cool people.
And to wrap things up for this post - here is a video covering the recent SpaceX Starship Integrated Flight Test Three (IFT-3) that I recently attended. Put some headphones on, dial up the resolution, and go full screen. Although the video is amazing, being there in person is so much more. I have been fortunate enough to attend IFT-1, IFT-2, and IFT-3.
One of the reasons I purchased the new wire strippers is because I was planning to make some repairs on my Renogy 200 watt solar suitcase that I use daily. The wires and MC4 connectors used by Renogy for my system have been experiencing significant use and parts are beginning to break down. Although MC4 connectors are used almost exclusively to daisy chain panels in solar farms I'm not sure if they are the best application for a system which requires high mating cycles. According to Stäubli International AG, an MC4 connector is designed for 100 mating cycles. While performing research I was happy to discover that Anderson Power recently released an IP68 waterproof connector (SBS X-75A) that was designed for 5,000 mating cycles - I may give them a try.
As a temporary connection I used Ancor heat shrink wire connectors that I had on hand. They heat shrinking had not taken place in this picture since I do not have AC power available for my Bosch 15-amp professional heat gun. As soon as I find an electrical connection I will shrink them.
WARNING: If you have a Renogy 200-watt Solar Suitcase make sure to check the condition of your inline fuse and all associated MC4 connectors. During an inspection today I discovered the inline fuse was melted and voltage varied from 5-14 Vdc. My guess is that there was not a good connection between the wires and the inline fuse which resulted in excessive heat that eventually melted the fuse holder. If any electrical experts wish to share more, please do.
I guess what I am happiest about is the fact that this electrical failure did not result in a fire. Although I have fixed the MC4 connectors and the fuse temporarily, I will be contacting Renogy and requesting a replacement wiring harness. This unit has a five year warranty, which is impressive, and was purchased just over one year ago.
Here is a quick shot of the tools and supplies I used for my field repairs. The system is back up and running now although I am monitoring it. Once I perform a permanent repair I will post an update. Fortunately, the solar system is not functioning while I am sleeping.
Occasionally I will stop in to a laundromat to wash clothes and hang out, talk with locals, discover where the good food is, etc. On this day I stopped at Sherrill coin-op laundromat in Karnes City, Texas. It was a bit on the expensive side for me but it was a nice clean place and is "a long-time family-owned, reliable laundromat conveniently located behind Karnes County National Bank in Karnes City. Our washateria is equipped with plenty of washers and dryers that will leave your laundry fresh and clean." Plus, they have heavy-duty professional grade stainless steel machines which are totally cool with me!
Here is a shot of the night sky while camping for nearly a week on a working cattle ranch in Texas Hill Country. My next update will include additional details but for now, just trust me, it was a wonderfully relaxing and amazingly beautiful time spent with a few other really cool people.
And to wrap things up for this post - here is a video covering the recent SpaceX Starship Integrated Flight Test Three (IFT-3) that I recently attended. Put some headphones on, dial up the resolution, and go full screen. Although the video is amazing, being there in person is so much more. I have been fortunate enough to attend IFT-1, IFT-2, and IFT-3.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
You bring up an interesting point. No, we did not hear a sonic boom during launch of Starship.
At first I though it may have been because the thirty-three Raptor engines producing 17 million pounds of thrust were so loud but then I performed a bit of research and thought about it - the rocket is traveling perpendicular to the surface of the earth during launch so any supersonic boom, or N-wave, would travel parallel to the surface of the earth far above our heads. I reviewed the complete launch video from IFT-3 and noted that the vehicle became supersonic shortly after Max-Q around 11 km (36,000 ft) so with the N-wave traveling horizontally, combined with the sound of the engines, we were unable to hear the sonic boom high over our heads.
What most folks do not realize is that a vehicle traveling supersonic actually produces two sonic booms - one at the nose and the other at the tail. This is an interesting subject but let's summarize it by saying the weight and dimensions of the vehicle, and where the vehicle is relative to you have much to do with how a sonic boom sounds. Most supersonic aircraft are so small and light that the two distinct shock waves blend together as they radiate from the aircraft and effectively form a single wave. On a very heavy and blunt vehicle like the Space Shuttle, you are able to clearly hear the two separate sonic booms.
Listen and enjoy...
Kingsize24
Well-known member
Those Dexter's have been around a while. They definitely have made their money off them. Both Dexter and Speed Queen's are good machines that last 20 to 30yrs or more.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Chet:
Thanks for posting the second one. And explaining it in a way I could understand!
Thanks for posting the second one. And explaining it in a way I could understand!
ITTOG
Well-known member
Interesting, I assumed it rolled on its side like the shuttle does when going through the atmosphere.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
You are correct, between 10 and 20 kilometers in altitude the ship will begin it's transition from vertical to horizontal flight. For reference, the super heavy booster separates around 70 km while Starship begins to travel parallel to the surface of the earth (horizontal) entering low earth orbit around 230 km; I believe LEO extends up to around 1,000 km. It's a gradual tradeoff from energy being used to lift vertically from rest and then accelerate horizontally to 7.8 km per second (~17,500 mph) which is the speed necessary to sustain orbit.
We must also keep in mind that sound generally follows an inverse square law where a doubling of the distance results in only one quarter of the energy remaining. So with this we can understand why sound attenuation does not follow a linear scale but instead, a logarithmic one. To make things even more confusing, the speed which sound travels decreases with altitude since air becomes less dense. But more importantly, its the temperature that really matters and temperature varies quite a bit as we ascend through the troposphere, stratosphere, etc.
In summary, I don't believe sonic booms from rockets taking off are an issue because they are mainly traveling vertically when they become supersonic and punch through. And by the time they are really beginning to travel horizontally they are at such an altitude that virtually all of the sound energy has been dissipated before it reaches the surface of the earth.
Cool topic for sure and maybe if there is a young student out there they can create an accurate sound profile so we are able to visualize all the above. Hint: the upcoming Raptor 3 engines will be more powerful so they will be even louder!
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
I was invited to spend time on a working cattle ranch in Texas Hill Country by Kelly, who also travels full time. We met in Texas last year and then again in Arizona a few months ago. Kelly travels in a Black Series HQ17 that is behind the tree on the right. Lisa, who is also a member of the "Black Series Mafia," joined us at camp; she travels in a HQ15. Both RV campers are really set up well for travel in austere conditions.
The primary reason we are camping at this specific location is because it is perfectly centered along the Path of Totality for the recent Total Solar Eclipse. The weather is not looking favorable but we are having a wonderful time nonetheless.
Following a trail to the back forty at Oxford Ranch Campground south of Llano, Texas. This is an awesome private campground for dispersed camping along the 250-mile Texas Hill Country Overland Route which I completed last year.
Last year when I was in the Fredericksburg area I spent a day touring the National Museum of the Pacific War. I also walked a few blocks away to the Pacific Combat Zone exhibit which also performs four reenactments each year. Although there were no reenactments on the schedule for when I visited last year, while passing through this year I was happy to discover there was on Saturday prior to the eclipse. Outstanding!!!
The battle reenactment itself is very loud and features many American and Japanese shoulder fired weapons being shot, a troop deployment from an authentic LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) Higgins boat, shooting from an operating WWII Stuart tank and live fuel action using an authentic WWII flamethrower. Below is an M2 flamethrower being deployed near the end of the reenactment. You don't see many other soldiers up and moving around this late in the event since most have simulated being shot.
They had several nice displays including Jeeps and various firearms and period actors. As first I though, gosh, these are just kids. But then again, it's always the children who fight and die.
"Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die." ~ Herbert Hoover
Here is a shot of Lisa and Kelly on the day of the eclipse - we had broken clouds but it was just about perfect during the actual eclipse. Lisa brought along a few sheets of sliver-black polymer which we used to protect ourselves and our equipment when looking up at the sun.
And here is the first ever picture of an AEV Prospector and Four Wheel Camper taken inside the Path of Totality during a Total Solar Eclipse. I didn't have any fancy optics with me but I had my phone so during the eclipse I ran over to my truck, laid on the ground between a fresh cow patty and red fire ant hill, and snapped this shot. Overall we had a great time just hanging out for nearly a week and camping way far back on private property where no one else was.
One of the benefits of sleeping on an active cattle ranch is waking up to being surrounded by a herd of cattle. It turns out the cattle discovered the salt spray on my solar panel, presumably from my recent trip to Padre Island National Seashore, and were gathering to lick it clean. I really enjoyed my time at Oxford Ranch Campground and look forward to visiting again.
Baby Head Cemetery is just north of Llano, Texas. According to local history, in the mid-1800s, indians captured a young white girl and posted her head on a pike in an effort to scare off settlers. The area became known as Baby Head and eventually a small town with a court house, post office, etc., was established. The town may be gone but the memories and name remains...
I have began to slowly move north and stopped at another amazing location to watch the sun go down over the lake while listening to the wind and waves. This is how man has lived for nearly all of his existence. Living in a congested area inside tall steel and concrete buildings is unnatural.
Fishermen are dropping boats in the water, dogs are howling, the sun continues to climb and fall, it's been another beautiful day here in Texas. Although I have enjoyed spending winter in the deserts of the southwest, the mountains are calling and I'm not sure how much longer I can resist.
The location I am currently at is so beautiful I am pretty sure I will be here for several days...
The primary reason we are camping at this specific location is because it is perfectly centered along the Path of Totality for the recent Total Solar Eclipse. The weather is not looking favorable but we are having a wonderful time nonetheless.
Following a trail to the back forty at Oxford Ranch Campground south of Llano, Texas. This is an awesome private campground for dispersed camping along the 250-mile Texas Hill Country Overland Route which I completed last year.
Last year when I was in the Fredericksburg area I spent a day touring the National Museum of the Pacific War. I also walked a few blocks away to the Pacific Combat Zone exhibit which also performs four reenactments each year. Although there were no reenactments on the schedule for when I visited last year, while passing through this year I was happy to discover there was on Saturday prior to the eclipse. Outstanding!!!
The battle reenactment itself is very loud and features many American and Japanese shoulder fired weapons being shot, a troop deployment from an authentic LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) Higgins boat, shooting from an operating WWII Stuart tank and live fuel action using an authentic WWII flamethrower. Below is an M2 flamethrower being deployed near the end of the reenactment. You don't see many other soldiers up and moving around this late in the event since most have simulated being shot.
They had several nice displays including Jeeps and various firearms and period actors. As first I though, gosh, these are just kids. But then again, it's always the children who fight and die.
"Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die." ~ Herbert Hoover
Here is a shot of Lisa and Kelly on the day of the eclipse - we had broken clouds but it was just about perfect during the actual eclipse. Lisa brought along a few sheets of sliver-black polymer which we used to protect ourselves and our equipment when looking up at the sun.
And here is the first ever picture of an AEV Prospector and Four Wheel Camper taken inside the Path of Totality during a Total Solar Eclipse. I didn't have any fancy optics with me but I had my phone so during the eclipse I ran over to my truck, laid on the ground between a fresh cow patty and red fire ant hill, and snapped this shot. Overall we had a great time just hanging out for nearly a week and camping way far back on private property where no one else was.
One of the benefits of sleeping on an active cattle ranch is waking up to being surrounded by a herd of cattle. It turns out the cattle discovered the salt spray on my solar panel, presumably from my recent trip to Padre Island National Seashore, and were gathering to lick it clean. I really enjoyed my time at Oxford Ranch Campground and look forward to visiting again.
Baby Head Cemetery is just north of Llano, Texas. According to local history, in the mid-1800s, indians captured a young white girl and posted her head on a pike in an effort to scare off settlers. The area became known as Baby Head and eventually a small town with a court house, post office, etc., was established. The town may be gone but the memories and name remains...
I have began to slowly move north and stopped at another amazing location to watch the sun go down over the lake while listening to the wind and waves. This is how man has lived for nearly all of his existence. Living in a congested area inside tall steel and concrete buildings is unnatural.
Fishermen are dropping boats in the water, dogs are howling, the sun continues to climb and fall, it's been another beautiful day here in Texas. Although I have enjoyed spending winter in the deserts of the southwest, the mountains are calling and I'm not sure how much longer I can resist.
The location I am currently at is so beautiful I am pretty sure I will be here for several days...
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hdas
Active member
Hi Chet,
What kind of jack block are you using? Is it absolutely necessary?. Thanks!
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Last time I visited OK4WD I was able to sample all of the AEV factory bottle jack bases and one for the 2015-2022 Colorado fit best.
Now is it absolutely necessary - I would say no. I guess it really depends upon what terrain your vehicle is situated on while attempting to jack. There was one time where there was a slight hump in the ground and it was actually too tight to fit the jack and base under the axle tube but that was only once - every other time I used it and was happy to have it.
Many times I have used the same base to help level the vehicle when setting up camp or used it as a wheel chock when camping near a drop off. In my case I can easily justify the additional expense since I consider jacking up a vehicle off-road a significant safety issue. The last place you want a vehicle to slip and fall down on you is when you are alone in the outdoors. It's the same price as a full tank of gas in my opinion, will last for a long time, and has multiple uses.
Here is the exact unit I purchased from OK4WD when I was visiting them.
Here is me using the unit recently in Texas.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Traveling full time takes me to places I have never been and introduces me to people I normally would have never met - everyone has a story. One evening, I crossed paths with another man and we struck up a conversation. When you drive an AEV Prospector with a Four Wheel Camper in the bed many are curious to know what I am doing, where I am going, where I have been, etc. I always enjoy telling a story or two but what I really love is to hear the stories others have to share.
When I meet a man I always enjoy hearing about what sort of work they have been associated with over the years. In this particular case the gentleman worked in the control room of a power plant and I had all sorts of questions. After some time he asked if I had a few minutes and since I am a free man who is 100% in control of his own schedule, I replied with a firm yes! He made a quick phone call and said to follow him - we drove out to a location, parked, and he escorted me into a building. A few more secure doors, some long hallways, and here is where we arrived. It felt as if I was on the bridge of intergalactic spaceship - all the information displays which included gauges, controls, etc. This was a very cool place to explore!!!
This man took over an hour to walk me through and explain the significance of the major sections in the control room - keep in mind that the picture below shows maybe 25-30% of the room. We spent much time in the emergency shut-down section and he walked me through various scenarios and how a team of operators must respond. This was a very complex system and I have much respect for the people performing the operations.
Note: this tour took place a very long time ago and is not associated with any of my recent travels.
Possum Kingdom Lake may have a funny name but I am really enjoying camping, relaxing, and exploring this beautiful part of Texas. I planned on staying for a few days but ended up staying a full week. This is how man has lived for nearly all of his existence - outdoors, exposed to the environment, in touch with the natural world. Living in a congested area inside of tall steel and concrete buildings, or even in linear neighborhoods inside of "sticks and bricks," is unnatural.
The Brazos River Authority has several lakeside parks with covered pavilions, picnic tables, cooking grills, fire rings, boat ramps, and public restrooms; some with showers. There are also many hiking and biking trails ranging from one to five miles in length with most offering a spectacular view of the lake.
All the people I have met in this clean and orderly area have been very nice. If you are looking for a great place to spend a long weekend or more with the family, the PK area would be tops on my list!
Quick tip: when using your navigation program, search for "BRA area" to quickly locate parks, campgrounds, boat ramps, etc.
At the eastern end of the reservoir is a 2,700-foot-long and 190-foot-high dam structure called the Morris Sheppard Dam which holds back 540,000 acre-feet of water. Keep in mind that 1 acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons so we have 175,959,540,000 gallons of water ready to flow should the nearly century old dam burst. With that in mind I figured camping at the base of the dam would seem logical. I sent the picture below to my loving mother so she would know where I was spending the night
If you have never slept near a dam I would suggest you give it a shot - the sights and sounds are unlike any other. And there is a massive amount of potential energy stored behind that cement wall. What this picture does not show are the hundred or so vultures circling and riding the updraft above the face of the dam. There was a good strong wind so again, there was much energy in the air and the vultures were taking full advantage of it. I sat on a large warm rock at the edge of the river with the wind at my back just watching, and smiling, and enjoying the aerial acrobatics and occasional play between the birds.
It was a free show, entirely unrehearsed, and so mesmerizing. Birds are truly masters of the air...
Eventually it was time to depart Possum Kingdom so I pointed my AEV Prospector in a northeasterly direction and traveled around eighty miles to Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands. One of my goals over the past six or so months was to slow down and shorten my travels to a reasonable degree. With my primary expenses being gasoline and food I make an effort to control both. Gasoline is easy if I decide to stay in one place by I love to travel and explore so my compromise involves remaining in an area for several days and then only driving a few hours to the next location.
Food is best controlled by preparing all of my meals and only eating when hungry. It does seem we are programmed to perform exactly the opposite of that by eating a minimum of three times per day while most meals are outside the home and prepared by others. That's super expensive! Anyway, there is not much public land in Texas but just north of Dallas and Fort Worth there are national grasslands. These are not huge areas but 20,000 acres each with dirt roads, dispersed camping, etc. I'm there!
For several nights I slept under the stars within the Cross Timbers Unit. This specific county has the dubious distinction of having more people killed and horses stolen by Indians than any other place in Texas. Caddo Indians were here first, they were pushed out by more aggressive Apache and Comanche tribes. Those tribes were then pushed out by white settlers. Now these United States and Europe are being attacked by globalists who wish to replace and erase all of western civilization.
Despite this, I sleep peacefully each and every night resting assured that this will not happen. Men, approximately 3% of the male population, will not permit this to happen. My message to other men is to focus on correcting issues at the local level. The high-ranking government officials in the news serve only to distract us. We the people have all the power and they are terrified knowing that. Keep your powder dry...
Watching the sun fall asleep just a few hours outside of Dallas and Fort Worth aside a lake in the grasslands. There are three formal campgrounds along with much disbursed camping. These grasslands also contain seventy-five miles of multi-use trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Hunting and fishing are also available along with wildlife viewing and photography.
My last sunset in Texas, for now. I woke up in the morning to the sound of cows mooing and birds chirping. Soon I will be crossing into Indian Country and exploring nations within a nation. There is so much to learn about where I am going...
When I meet a man I always enjoy hearing about what sort of work they have been associated with over the years. In this particular case the gentleman worked in the control room of a power plant and I had all sorts of questions. After some time he asked if I had a few minutes and since I am a free man who is 100% in control of his own schedule, I replied with a firm yes! He made a quick phone call and said to follow him - we drove out to a location, parked, and he escorted me into a building. A few more secure doors, some long hallways, and here is where we arrived. It felt as if I was on the bridge of intergalactic spaceship - all the information displays which included gauges, controls, etc. This was a very cool place to explore!!!
This man took over an hour to walk me through and explain the significance of the major sections in the control room - keep in mind that the picture below shows maybe 25-30% of the room. We spent much time in the emergency shut-down section and he walked me through various scenarios and how a team of operators must respond. This was a very complex system and I have much respect for the people performing the operations.
Note: this tour took place a very long time ago and is not associated with any of my recent travels.
Possum Kingdom Lake may have a funny name but I am really enjoying camping, relaxing, and exploring this beautiful part of Texas. I planned on staying for a few days but ended up staying a full week. This is how man has lived for nearly all of his existence - outdoors, exposed to the environment, in touch with the natural world. Living in a congested area inside of tall steel and concrete buildings, or even in linear neighborhoods inside of "sticks and bricks," is unnatural.
The Brazos River Authority has several lakeside parks with covered pavilions, picnic tables, cooking grills, fire rings, boat ramps, and public restrooms; some with showers. There are also many hiking and biking trails ranging from one to five miles in length with most offering a spectacular view of the lake.
All the people I have met in this clean and orderly area have been very nice. If you are looking for a great place to spend a long weekend or more with the family, the PK area would be tops on my list!
Quick tip: when using your navigation program, search for "BRA area" to quickly locate parks, campgrounds, boat ramps, etc.
At the eastern end of the reservoir is a 2,700-foot-long and 190-foot-high dam structure called the Morris Sheppard Dam which holds back 540,000 acre-feet of water. Keep in mind that 1 acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons so we have 175,959,540,000 gallons of water ready to flow should the nearly century old dam burst. With that in mind I figured camping at the base of the dam would seem logical. I sent the picture below to my loving mother so she would know where I was spending the night
If you have never slept near a dam I would suggest you give it a shot - the sights and sounds are unlike any other. And there is a massive amount of potential energy stored behind that cement wall. What this picture does not show are the hundred or so vultures circling and riding the updraft above the face of the dam. There was a good strong wind so again, there was much energy in the air and the vultures were taking full advantage of it. I sat on a large warm rock at the edge of the river with the wind at my back just watching, and smiling, and enjoying the aerial acrobatics and occasional play between the birds.
It was a free show, entirely unrehearsed, and so mesmerizing. Birds are truly masters of the air...
Eventually it was time to depart Possum Kingdom so I pointed my AEV Prospector in a northeasterly direction and traveled around eighty miles to Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands. One of my goals over the past six or so months was to slow down and shorten my travels to a reasonable degree. With my primary expenses being gasoline and food I make an effort to control both. Gasoline is easy if I decide to stay in one place by I love to travel and explore so my compromise involves remaining in an area for several days and then only driving a few hours to the next location.
Food is best controlled by preparing all of my meals and only eating when hungry. It does seem we are programmed to perform exactly the opposite of that by eating a minimum of three times per day while most meals are outside the home and prepared by others. That's super expensive! Anyway, there is not much public land in Texas but just north of Dallas and Fort Worth there are national grasslands. These are not huge areas but 20,000 acres each with dirt roads, dispersed camping, etc. I'm there!
For several nights I slept under the stars within the Cross Timbers Unit. This specific county has the dubious distinction of having more people killed and horses stolen by Indians than any other place in Texas. Caddo Indians were here first, they were pushed out by more aggressive Apache and Comanche tribes. Those tribes were then pushed out by white settlers. Now these United States and Europe are being attacked by globalists who wish to replace and erase all of western civilization.
Despite this, I sleep peacefully each and every night resting assured that this will not happen. Men, approximately 3% of the male population, will not permit this to happen. My message to other men is to focus on correcting issues at the local level. The high-ranking government officials in the news serve only to distract us. We the people have all the power and they are terrified knowing that. Keep your powder dry...
Watching the sun fall asleep just a few hours outside of Dallas and Fort Worth aside a lake in the grasslands. There are three formal campgrounds along with much disbursed camping. These grasslands also contain seventy-five miles of multi-use trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Hunting and fishing are also available along with wildlife viewing and photography.
My last sunset in Texas, for now. I woke up in the morning to the sound of cows mooing and birds chirping. Soon I will be crossing into Indian Country and exploring nations within a nation. There is so much to learn about where I am going...
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