The Chronicles of the Wandering Yeti

[Basement Yeti]

Here I go! I'm off running. This thread will be a duplicate of my blog about my wicked adventure. Here's chapter 1, mom and I headed to Texas to see Mr. Beast. I'm already learning much about what I need and do not need to survive in the van. I love my new lifestyle.

4-27-11. One thing I find with being on the road is you don't always want to stop where you find Wi-Fi to update your blogs and stuff. So I'll make entries on my laptop each night and update my blog etc. every few days.

We left Wednesday and I drove the first leg. It was pretty difficult, I had very little highway or long distance driving experience going into this, but I toughed it out and my mother took the second leg. We didn't really stop to see anything, just jetted North East out of San Diego toward Nevada. We stopped before sunset at Alton Canyon Dunn to camp, nice place. I am going to have to work on finding more free camping as even small camp fees can be pricey.

Stopped in Calico CA at this nifty ghost town-like place.




Good lookin' van. >;]


Mom behind the wheel.


The long road ahead.


My abode, first night was...interesting, going to take some getting used to.
Did a bit of light off roading to get here, Marshmallow is a champ.


The first AM train and an awesome sunrise.
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[Basement Yeti]

2-28-11, today we left Alton Canyon Dunn, I met a cool guy named Brian and his wife and he shared some awesome info on his GMC van he had converted into a toy hauler, then headed further North East to Nevada and over to the Hoover Dam before crossing into Arizona and headed toward the Grand Canyon. The Hoover Dam was beautiful, a ridiculous feat of engineering. After stopping in Meadow View AZ for food at the local market we asked for directions to somewhere to park and were directed to some HARDCORE off roading stuff. I was terrified, mom was terrified, but Marshmallow plowed through some hardcore gravel and rocks and up step rocky inclines.

We later found the RV park and were given a tent spot for the night. Here I sit typing this. It's windy, but the view is epic and the locals are friendly, you're doing WHAT with that van?

A dog named Isabella, I think she pissed on Marshmallow's tire. Her owner was a swell guy


The only water in the Mojave right now, and mom has her hands in it. Somewhere a mountain lion has the runs.


Who's awesome? Not this guy...


Now entering Nevada.


The Hoover Dam and surrounding area, no words needed, it's simply










My awesome mom.

She told me to stand in front of the parking spot 11 sign. *Shrugs*


Now entering Arizona.

Off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow!

 

[Basement Yeti]

4-29-2011

Today we packed up and jetted East toward Grand Canyon National Park. The day was uneventful yet the scenery was stunningly beautiful, we took route 66 and ended up at a place called Grand Canyon Caverns, one of the largest dry caverns in the world. Absolutely astounding.

A veggie burger later and we started back East on route 66, my mom was in hog heaven looking at the cars and old structures from the 50s. We climbed in elevation and the wind got stronger and the temperature dropped. We got to the park, paid our entry fee and went to check in and found a large Christian youth group had purchased a ton of camp sites to give out for free, we later would visit them to give them some snacks as a small gesture of thank you, they were down in Navajo New Mexico building a house for a family. Awesome people, I gave them some almonds to snack on.

Grand Canyon Caverns on Route 66.
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Popcorn rock...mmm, crusty.
<a href="http://s1118.photobucket.com/albums/k615/WanderingYeti/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN2417.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k615/WanderingYeti/th_DSCN2417.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>This place is actually a nuclear fallout shelter reserved for 2,000 people for two weeks in case Skynet trys to take over.
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Dead folks.

They found the bones of an ancient giant sloth down here, it tried to claw it's way out...

To the bottom of the Grand Canyon, this is how this cavern gets fresh air.


Mom likes dinosaurs.
Kyle likes cafe racers.

Mom also likes fire trucks.

 

[Basement Yeti]

4-30-11, still in progress. We woke up early this AM, It was freezing last night. We took the bus to Keibab trail and hiked a mile or so down the trail. Mom's hip got squirrely so we headed back up. The view was absolutely astounding. The universe is simply an insane place. These pictures of the South Rim should speak for themselves.























A couple of ***'.

Obligatory sitting on a ledge contemplating the meaning of life shot.

A couple more ***'.


Now we're off to The Petrified Forest! My life is great. I am such a happy man. Updates to follow.

 

[McZippie]

I was wondering how you were doing, thanks for the updates!

Please include some camping photos of your Rig and Camp set-up.

Have a great adventure!!!

 

[Cruisn]

Great posts, followed your build thread, looks like your in for an amazing adventure!!

 

[Basement Yeti]

Thanks guys. I have a bunch of days of updates and photos to work on once I drop mom off in San Antonio to go back home. Right now I'm trying to get her to see as much as possible!

 

[ihatemybike]

The Yetiman is in Elgin, IL. We repaired a couple vacuum lines to get his HVAC system operating correctly yesterday. Using my ScanGaugeII we pulled the code P0128 from his van's computer. Plan is to install a new thermostat today after I get off work.

 

[T.Low]

Holy crap! I thought he was going to Texas? What'd he do, accidently take a left on a roundabout in Albequerque? With or without Mom?

How bout a pic including Outta the Basement Yeti, A-Man, and the bike you've hated all these years.:sombrero:

 

[ihatemybike]

He doesn't talk highly of his experiences in Texas. He and his mom made it to Connecticut and he's now solo and in route back to San Diego having passed through part of Canada. I didn't get any pics yesterday, but I plan to today.

 

[Toyotero]

He doesn't talk highly of his experiences in Texas. He and his mom made it to Connecticut and he's now solo and in route back to San Diego having passed through part of Canada. I didn't get any pics yesterday, but I plan to today.

Yeti, great photos, you are hitting up some great spots.

I'm a bit confused about your route, but since SanDiego via Canada was mentioned, I'd highly recommend going through Idaho if you're going that way. There is a lot of old volcanic stuff out there (I'm a bit of a volcano junkie)

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Idaho/CratersMoon/Locale/framework.html

BTW , I'm sorry to hear that TX didn't treat y'all well. It's a bummer because, although lacking desperately in public land, there is a lot of cool stuff to see here.

Best of luck to you.

 

[ihatemybike]

Yeti said they cruised across the South than up the East to Connecticut. Heading back West he crossed through Canada, before passing through Michigan and around Lake Michigan on the way to my place.

The thermostat install went well with me instructing and him wrenching. First time he saw under the interior engine cover. He also changed the way his house battery is hooked to the vehicle's electrical system. After the repairs were done we posed the vehicles in the driveway and snapped some pics, which I'll post after work.

He'll be back on the road today. While he wasn't certain, he thinks he'll mostly take a direct route back to San Diego. He's got a few thing he wants to help his family with, then he's getting back on the road. Couple things he was talking about doing in the future are Route 66 and The Dalton Highway.

 

[ihatemybike]

Green, me, Grumpy, Kyle, Marshmallow