Wed AM I packed up the tent, so to speak, then turned the van southwards to Sedona. Along the way I drove thru melting patches of snow before Jacob Lake. Once down from 7900′ it was all sunshine, clear road and wind. Made Sedona late afternoon. I stopped in west Sedona to drop off my new pair of pants to be hemmed, washed the ice melt off the van, stopped at the Worm to buy a book and learn if overnight parking permission was still in effect. yes, still granted. Leaving there I joined the traffic back up going down Cook’s Hill. Traffic backs up at the Y, I spent prolly as much time getting down the hill to the Oak Creek crossing than I did driving the 6 miles to namesake community. The traffic heading into town was way backed up. Holiday season for a whole lot of visitors. Just lots of people. And more are coming with additional beds being built. Caught Tony leaving the Bean at quitting time. Grocery shopped at the former Webers IGA which was sold to Clark’s Market who renovated the store which seems still like a pig’s ear trying to be a silk purse. It’s like a 2nd world grocery store in a first world community.
I then headed out to Beaverhead flats looking for a sleep spot. The first 2 spots were occupied, I continued on to the second road which was empty and the dirt track was passable. Brief exam on vegetation displayed no recovery from previous year drought. Cow manure had returned to dust.
Still chilly at night. Ran the catalytic heater because it works and I wanted a degree of comfort. Yesterday was my appointment at RV shop to clean the Propex orifice so that it will be my heat source. Shop cleaned the partially occluded orifice which made the furnace happy when turned on. They also fixed the frige circulating fan. I am now warmer and my food is better chilled.
Yesterday was laundry day. Google returned the only laundromat in Camp Verde where the repair shop is. Poor reviews. Driving to Sedona laundromat would be a traffic problem. Place was a dump with many machines out of order. Customers appeared to be less well off than me. I understand that the establishment owner needs to make money, and maybe they don’t make enough to keep the place fixed up. However, to me it is a disservice to be a junky place for less fortunate people.
The newly installed door latch broke in the same places, I can not open the side door from the inside. I removed it then applied super glue to the breaks. Didn’t take hold. I figured out how to at least lock the door from the inside and the key still opens the door. My deduction is that the mechanical latch assy is damaged such that more effort than the plastic latch handle can move. I did research to identify the latch and web search for purchase. Found an on line store in RI that can get OEM parts and I placed an order for same. be here after the first. My door management is I leave thru the driver’s door go around and open the side door from the outside and leave it open just before the latch catches. I lock the driver’s door from the inside as the key won’t lock from the outside, I throw the lock on the slider then shut it. My van is now locked up. I now believe that the latch mechanism was failing before my temper slamming the door.
Last night back out at same spot. Forecast called for possible snow and cold. Snow started falling before bed time then quit before getting into bed. The dirt track has several sketchy spots that might not be negotiable for my van which is a big concern for this spot. 21 degrees at wake up, 50 degrees inside, did not make freeze thaw slippery mud which allowed normal egress.
This AM Floyd neatened my hair and beard. I like him because he is a good beard trimmer. I see him 2X while here: first is right away, and second just before I leave. This year it lasted 8 months.
More snow moving in. Didn’t ride today as I suspect muddy trails and I do not have to ride that badly. I looked at Black Canyon forecast which is for above freezing and sunshine. I will prolly go down there tomorrow for an overnight.
Reestablishing contacts. Picking up on their happenings.
Internet connection sucks out at Beaverhead. I am parked in VOC with 3 bar 4G.