Birth of My Kimberley Karavan
- Thread starter Tucson T4R
- Start date
Tucson T4R
Expedition Leader
Thanks Tim. I have to go out between Xmas and New Years to scout our annual pig hunt campsite. That will be a couple nights up near Klondyke South of the Arivaipa nature conservancy. Your welcome to come play on that trip if you like. :truck::1888fbbd:
Also after going up into Chimney Rock last weekend I thought that spot could be really nice at night with the views and being surrounded by all the rock formations. Could make for some interesting night photography. Not sure when I will plan that trip but I'll let you know.
Also after going up into Chimney Rock last weekend I thought that spot could be really nice at night with the views and being surrounded by all the rock formations. Could make for some interesting night photography. Not sure when I will plan that trip but I'll let you know.
timh
Explorer
Keep me posted on what days your are going between xmas and New Years. I am off all that week and I may just join you one night out there.
spressomon
Expedition Leader
Yes...Congratulations Brad & Pam! How fun!
Tucson T4R
Expedition Leader
Pam and I took the Karavan out for few nights over the holiday break. The first two nights we camped in Turkey Creek Canyon and then drove over to Chimney Rock on the way home to camp with Tim, Erin and Cayce for one night. We camped next to a rock wall that kept us in the shade all day so my solar panels never saw the sun. The first night it got down to 23F so we ran the space heater all night to stay warm. That pulled my batteries down to about 50% by morning and still another night we wanted to stay there so I needed to run my generator to charge the batteries back up.
I pulled out the generator and got it all set up and then went into my Karavan trunk only to find I left my power cord at home along with my 30 amp 3 prong to 20 Amp adapter. At this point I sat down and sipped on my coffee while kicking myself and thinking about my options. Drive all the way back to Wilcox to buy a new power cord or solve the problem locally in camp. Luckily I did have a standard 110V power cord with me so I decided to cut one end off and hard wire it to the input power prongs on the Karavan.
This ended up working fine and we were able to recharge the batteries with no further problems. I bet next time I'll remember to not leave my power cord at home. :elkgrin:
After two nights in the Turkey Creek area we drove out past the Coatimundies and across Aravaipa creek several times and headed south to Wilcox.
Getting a late start we didn't get to Chimney rock until around 6:30 PM but Erin, Tim and Cayce were all set up and waiting for us. It was nice small campsite up in the rocks behind Chimney Rock. A cool calm night with great views and good friends around fire. What more do you need?
Da boys looking down from Chimney rock over our campsite in the morning.
We enjoyed a relaxing morning and headed back home around lunch time.
I got to test my departure angle (or Furrow plowing skills) on the way down.
Hmmm, where to next? :sombrero:
I pulled out the generator and got it all set up and then went into my Karavan trunk only to find I left my power cord at home along with my 30 amp 3 prong to 20 Amp adapter. At this point I sat down and sipped on my coffee while kicking myself and thinking about my options. Drive all the way back to Wilcox to buy a new power cord or solve the problem locally in camp. Luckily I did have a standard 110V power cord with me so I decided to cut one end off and hard wire it to the input power prongs on the Karavan.
This ended up working fine and we were able to recharge the batteries with no further problems. I bet next time I'll remember to not leave my power cord at home. :elkgrin:
After two nights in the Turkey Creek area we drove out past the Coatimundies and across Aravaipa creek several times and headed south to Wilcox.
Getting a late start we didn't get to Chimney rock until around 6:30 PM but Erin, Tim and Cayce were all set up and waiting for us. It was nice small campsite up in the rocks behind Chimney Rock. A cool calm night with great views and good friends around fire. What more do you need?
Da boys looking down from Chimney rock over our campsite in the morning.
We enjoyed a relaxing morning and headed back home around lunch time.
I got to test my departure angle (or Furrow plowing skills) on the way down.
Hmmm, where to next? :sombrero:
Attachments
Last edited:
loren85022
Explorer
Awesome. Great AZ winter escape. Does BLM enforce the stated no pets policy at Turkey Creek and Aravaipa Creek ? That's an unfortunate deal killer for us.
Tucson T4R
Expedition Leader
The no pets restriction only applies to the Arvaipa wilderness area for hiking through the canyon on foot. Turkey Creek is on open BLM land and there are no such restrictions there. Roxy was able to run free and play. Didn't see anyone this trip but I have have had both rangers and local sheriff deputies visit my camp site in Turkey when Roxy was there and off leash and they never mentioned it.
Getting to Turkey Creek you do drive through the Aravaipa nature conservancy. You need special permits to leave the road and I'm sure they don't want pets running around off leash. However there are a couple ranch houses there and they have dogs running free every time I drive by that come out to "welcome me".
Getting to Turkey Creek you do drive through the Aravaipa nature conservancy. You need special permits to leave the road and I'm sure they don't want pets running around off leash. However there are a couple ranch houses there and they have dogs running free every time I drive by that come out to "welcome me".
Every Miles A Memory
Expedition Leader
Ok, couple of questions?
1. Why not just move the camper into the sun and allow the panels to recharge the batteries during the day? Lesson learned, leave the power adapter in the camper :elkgrin:
2. What the heck are those monkey/badger looking things?
1. Why not just move the camper into the sun and allow the panels to recharge the batteries during the day? Lesson learned, leave the power adapter in the camper :elkgrin:
2. What the heck are those monkey/badger looking things?
Tucson T4R
Expedition Leader
1. Answer - Too Lazy to move. lol
2. They are called Coatimundi. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-nosed_Coati Very cool little guys.
Every Miles A Memory
Expedition Leader
So you learned 2 things on this trip. Be sure to always park in the sun, something it took us awhile to figure out. Like you, we'd park in the shade thinking "We'll only be here for one day" then end up liking the spot and not wanting to move. After a few days of shade, we'd be dead in the water or having to bring out the generator
Those Coatimundi are really cool looking!
Oh, and great pictures to go along with the trip!!
Tucson T4R
Expedition Leader
Thanks Pat.
I was bummed on the Coati photos. They were running all over the place and I should have been able to capture some great shots but my camera focus system was not set properly to a single focal point and the ISO was too low so my shutter speed was too long. I had to just dump 90% of my Coti attempts.
Another info link on the Coatimundi http://www.squidoo.com/coatimunde
Here are a few fuzzed out attempts that at least give you an idea what they look like. Embarrassing to even post these. :elkgrin:
I was bummed on the Coati photos. They were running all over the place and I should have been able to capture some great shots but my camera focus system was not set properly to a single focal point and the ISO was too low so my shutter speed was too long. I had to just dump 90% of my Coti attempts.
Another info link on the Coatimundi http://www.squidoo.com/coatimunde
Here are a few fuzzed out attempts that at least give you an idea what they look like. Embarrassing to even post these. :elkgrin:
Last edited: