Friday, December 14
After the jaunt down to the ARCO station to dump tanks, and to take on gas, water, and propane, the crew and I return to the same location of our camp near Clark Dry Lake, not far from Borrego Springs, California.
The relentless wind gives me the ambition to get set up in a hurry.
I put leveling blocks under one of the BLT’s wheels and drive the BLT up onto them. I place the chocks and kick them securely to the tires. I remove the stabilizer jack. I unhook the chains and the breakaway cable from the PTV. I unplug the trailer brake cord and the solar power cord.
I remove the lock from the hitch and crank the coupler up. I move the PTV forward a few inches. I place the pink cone under the coupler and crank it down to level. I put the lock back and turn the key. I plug the solar power cord back into the PTV. I walk around to the back of the BLT and bring down the jacks.
I get the stepladder, climb up it, and tilt the solar panel.
Next I go inside the BLT and remove the Wilson antenna.
The ten-foot pole just fits inside with the antenna resting on the bed. Once I get the antenna out, I insert it into the bumper mount.
I go inside and feed the wire through the window, attaching it to the air card’s adapter cord.
Okay. All set. Here goes. I’m ready to adjust the antenna for optimum internet connection!
I turn on the air card.
Nothing. That’s right. Nothing. RSSI is 0%. I stare at the air card while the realization of my mistake trickles across my brain. How. Can. I. Be. So. Stupid?
For those of you not familiar with the Wilson antenna, I shall explain.
It’s a wonderful device that can make a one-bar signal go to two-bars or a two-bar signal go to three-bars. What it cannot do is increase the strength of a signal that doesn’t exist! Now you know why I explained the setting-up process in such detail.
Because it was all for nought!
I’m so disgusted with myself for not checking for a signal BEFORE setting up. Now I need to undo the above steps and find a new location. Darn! I was all fired up to write a blog post about Jose.
Saturday, December 15
The crew and I walk up to the low ridge nearby. Susie and Gary are out and about. I met them a few days ago. I tell them I’m in search of an internet signal and they inform me that Alex and Ellen next to them are leaving today and they get a strong signal.
One view from our new campsite
So now we have a new campsite!
I go online and post the story of Jose at the propane tank. We’re still camped in the dispersed camping area which is free with no 14-day limit.
Our neighbors
Sometimes I have to learn my lessons the hard way. Never again will I set up camp without looking at my internet air card first!
“Whew! I’ve got three bars!”
rvsue
Canine Corner: “I Can’t Take It Any More!” by Spike
“Aaaarggggh!”
“Rain, wind, cold, rain, wind, cold . . . I’M SICK OF IT! This is the DESERT! It’s supposed to be HOT AND DRY!
I’m tired of being cooped up in this poor excuse for a home looking at RVSue’s face glued to the computer and listening to the Bridge go on and on about whatever it is she goes on about. Seventeen feet. Are you kidding me? Who lives in seventeen feet, including the hitch? I wanted a forty-foot Class A with three slides. Does anybody ever listen to ME? Noooooo.
All I can do is sleep. I mean, how many naps can a dog take? I’ll admit I can take quite a few, but a guy has his limit. We go outside and I freeze my butt off. All I want is to walk around in some warm sunshine. Maybe take a little sun bath. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? LET ME OUTTA HERE! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANY MORE!”
rvsue and her canine crew 