Photo-of-the-Week #258 – A Different Perspective, Duck, North Carolina, March 2008

Another water theme photo. I've always like this photo because it represents a different perspective and a kind of juxtaposition.

This photo was taken from the beach under the Duck Research Pier, US Army Corps of Engineers, Field Research Facility in early March (we call that winter) 2008. A good friend has a timeshare beach house not far from this pier that I have had the good fortune to utilize occasionally with a group of friends. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #256 – Far From The Maddening Crowd. Sonoran Desert, Quartzsite, Arizona March 2015

Ah! Sweet memories. Just a little over a year ago, this was my location. I was staying on U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in one tiny segment of the Sonoran Desert. In the distance, at night, you could see the lights from the small town of Quartzsite. Otherwise, this was a peaceful place in the middle of a lot of desert territory away from the congestion of larger towns and cities.

I wasn't actually alone. There were folks camping throughout this and other BLM territories all over this region of the country. In this area, there were five other folks in residency. There were four women and one other man. We each chose a small parcel of land and left enough space between each party to provide the privacy we each cherished. Yet, we were close enough that we could easily gather around a campfire at night and even share an occasional communal meal. . . READ MORE 

Photos-of-the-Week #247 Blizzard 2016 – North Central West Virginia, January 2016

This week I'm going to let the photos do the speaking. Here's what I'll tell you. I'm still located in north central West Virginia on the West Virginia-Maryland border (the Potomac River) about 23 miles south of Cumberland, Maryland. This is all a very rural region. It's known as the Potomac Highlands although the small town I'm located in is actually in a small valley at about 800 feet above sea level, surrounded by mountains that probably range from 400 to 800 feet higher.

I had planned to be in warmer climates by this time, but “Stuff Happens” and, while the stuff was not of my own making, I agreed to stay around the area to provide assistance for my friend and my sister. I had no intention of experiencing another blizzard in my lifetime. I've weathered many of them in New Jersey, central New York, Annapolis, Maryland and Winchester, Virginia. My snow preference is to watch it on TV, in movies, see it in photos or, on occasion, visit the snow with the intent of immediately leaving it behind. . . READ MORE & SEE MORE PHOTOS

Photos-of-the-Week #246 The Heart (Engine) Surgeons at One-Stop, Hawthorne, California, January 2015

One year ago at this time I was “stranded” in Hawthorne, California with My McVansion. It was a trying time. As you may recall, I was on my way from Clovis (Fresno), California where I spent Christmas and the changing of the year with my former mother-in-law, brother and sister-in-law, my nephews and niece and my son and my former wife, his mother.

It was a bit of a special time for me since it was the first time all of us had actually spent a Christmas together in 25 years. For me, that was a really nice Christmas present. Unfortunately, I didn't know what new “adventure” was awaiting me when I would leave Clovis on January 5, 2015.

I had just had the van hand-washed and an exterior detailing job done. It looked pretty. I had two new tires mounted on the rear of the van. I took off heading over the mountains from the central valley of the Golden State and as I was climbing to the Tejon Pass on I-5 heading to the LA area to visit my son at his place . . . My McVansion suffered a “heart attack.” Yes! The heart of my condo on wheels blew halfway up the mountain to the pass.

Report: Dorm Style 110 VAC Compressor Refrigerators for Van/RV Use

There are always questions about what kind of cooler or refrigerator to use in vans or small RV's. While it's not necessarily a controversial issue, the topic always garners lots of thoughts from the proponents, the skeptics and the critics of each method. This report is not meant to cause controversy nor should it inspire proponents, skeptics or critics to necessarily support, question of refute my findings. I'm simply going to tell it like it is from my perspective and experience.

Inverter Reports: Thor TH400 and Bestek MRI10011

I have been buying and using all kinds of equipment, accessories and devices for my personal use in technology and in equipping my van, aka My McVansion, as an on the road, mobile tiny house. I've generally researched the items before making my purchases and, so far, I've made, what I would say are, excellent choices. It's time for me to share these items with you.

I have purchased two inverters for my van as seen in this photo. The inverters are mounted on a piece of plywood that covers my 8D8A 245 AH, sealed gel cell house battery. They are located in the storage area under my bunk. Both inverters came from Amazon after researching for best value and reliability.

Things Are Looking Up For My McVansion

If you look over the fence, below and left of the street
 number, 12501, you can see My McVansion's roof.

Today is the eighth day My McVansion has been undergoing "treatment" for its "heart attack." I admitted it to One Stop Engine Rebuilding a week ago Tuesday. Wednesday of last week, the master engine surgeons began the procedure of disassembling and rebuilding from the basic engine block up, a completely rebuilt "heart" (engine) for My McVansion. Eight days after they began, the heart of My McVansion is firmly seated in its cavity in the front of the patient.

For all practical intents and purposes, the engine is almost all new except for such things as the engine block and the camshaft. . . READ MORE

California, Here I Am!

Yes, I am in sunny, warm (finally) southern California. But, not without challenges getting here. I'll recap the travels in another post devoted just to the mostly uneventful trip other than my eight day stay in Cherokee Village, Arkansas. But, this is the view from where I am composing this article today.

This is from the small yard, but adequate for my son, Pete's, (and currently, my) needs in the city of Hawthorne, California, one of the cities that makes up what most people call Los Angeles, the "City of Angels." His small house is actually a guest house located behind the small main house that faces the street. It's actually very quiet and secluded back here. I can't see anyone and no one can see me. . . READ MORE

Without Bound - Perspectives on Mobile Living - A Video Documentary

So, what is this "living free" lifestyle all about? If you're living free, on your own terms, out of the mainstream, typical, might I even say "average," American lifestyle, then I'm sure you've had people ask you why you choose to live this way. Perhaps they even tell you they envy you, but . . . they could never do it.

I get that regularly. Now, I do my best to not be judgmental. Part of living free is to accept that everyone has the same choices as you and I have. It's not my job to "convert" anyone to my belief system or lifestyle. I don't mind explaining my ideas and thoughts and I'm always happy to assist anyone believing they want to give it a go and take on living free as a way of life.

There are a lot of us around the country (and around the world) who have chosen some form of living free lifestyle. Not all of us are mobile dwellers in RV's, travel trailers, vans, cargo trucks, utility trailers, converted school buses, SUV's, cars and tents. Some prefer to be more stationary and have created all kinds of unique and interesting housing units, many of which, definitely, can not be considered sticks and bricks.

The bottom line is living free is an individual's expression of his or her personal freedom and liberty to live and subsist in whatever manner he or she chooses as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else's personal freedoms and liberties. There are as many stories as there are people living this kind of lifestyle.

A New Video Documentary

Michael Tubbs, a professional filmmaker and graphic designer, became intrigued by the lifestyle of a number of mobile living free proponents.  He, with a colleague, decided to interview and film a number of those people who have been doing this mobile, living free lifestyle for a number of years.

Each individual has his or her own take on why he or she chose to live free in some form of mobile living accommodation. If you've been part of this lifestyle or you're even a wannabe who lurks in the background of many of the RVing, Vandwelling and similar Yahoo Forum sites, then most of the people in the documentary will be familiar to you. You also likely follow many of their blogs.

Perhaps you are only an occasional visitor to my blog. You might have a healthy or, possibly, an almost voyeuristic curiosity about people like me and those in this documentary.  Maybe you're sitting on the fence, wanting to jump over on our side, but need a bit more of a nudge to make the decision and take the action. Then viewing this 50 minute, professionally and nicely produced, documentary will be well worth the time you invest.

You'll hear one of the main stigma's of this kind of lifestyle dispelled. That stigma is the difference between a homeless person and someone who freely chooses this lifestyle. There is a significant difference.

So, click on this link http://youtu.be/Lg37Cbx-kak  and enjoy learning about "Without Bound - Perspectives on Mobile Living."

My kudos go to Michael Tubbs, the producer and his colleague, Aaron Harlan for creating a well done representation of a unique lifestyle. As a 50 year media producer myself, I appreciate the care and professionalism displayed in the camera work, sound, storyboarding, sensitivity and editing for this production. I hope to have an opportunity to meet up with Michael Tubbs one day and express my appreciation in person.

Let me know what you think after you've viewed the documentary.

Additionally, I urge you to share this documentary with as many people as you'd like to. I would especially share it with those detractors who may be holding you back from making an important choice. That choice is to express your personal freedom through a non-conforming, alternative, living free, lifestyle.

Photo-of-the-Week #178 "The Great White Way," Times Square, New York City, New York, December 2002

I haven't made it to Times Square to experience a New Year's Eve celebration, yet. And, while it is on my "Life List" of things I'd like to experience once before I leave this life, it is not one of the higher priorities. Time is, of course, growing shorter and there are a lot less New Year's Eves in my future than those that have already passed.

Most people in the U.S. have, since it was first televised, watched the crystal ball drop on top of the New York Times Building, to the right in the photo, ushering in the New Year. Despite the fact that I grew up and lived within about 10 or 12 miles from the spot in this photo, I was never any closer than the millions of others watching the event on TV. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #176 Chequaga Falls, Montour Fall, New York, July 2014

Here is, yet, another natural discovery I made. No, I don't mean I actually found something that no one else had discovered before. In fact the beautiful display of nature is actually in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the little town (population around 1,800) of Montour Falls, New York. There is, apparently, no Montour Falls, just Chequaga Falls (also misspelled Shequaga). . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #167 - On The Brink, Niagara Falls, New York, July 2014

Here is one of the great "levelers" of the world. I took this photo right at the edge of where the American Falls of the Niagara Falls formation goes over the edge for more than a 150-foot drop to the lower Niagara River. The water flows from Lake Erie with an elevation of about 570' above sea level through the upper Niagara River over the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls - the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls. The water from Lake Erie continues down the lower Niagara River into Lake Ontario with an elevation of about 245 feet above sea level. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #164, The Mohawk River and Erie Canal, The Village of Ilion, New York, June 22, 2014

The photos don't get any more current than this one. I shot this and the second photo (a "selfie") while sitting in a small picnic shelter on the shore or the Mohawk River. This portion of the Mohawk River just happened to also be a part of the Erie Canal. About four or five miles downstream (to the east of this location) is Erie Canal Lock #18. I took photos of part of it earlier today. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #163 - Hurricane Sandy Recovery, Seaside Heights, New Jersey, June 13, 2014

Seaside Heights, New Jersey is one of my childhood memories. Most people who grew up in the Garden State spent some part of their childhood and adolescence at the Jersey Shore. I had the occasion, this past Friday (Friday the 13th) to visit Seaside Heights. The photo depicts part of the destruction that was dealt by one of the worst hurricanes to strike the New Jersey coast in history. . . READ MORE

Preparing For 2014 Trek #2

I'm three days away from embarking on my next significant trek of 2014. The past three months have been spent dealing with warm, cold, cold, warm, cold, cold, cold, warm, etc. temperatures and rain, a little left over snow, a fair amount of overcast and some sunny days while planning and attempting to execute a number of modifications, refinements and the completion of some projects on My McVansion that I didn't get to before I left on the last 2 1/2 month trek.

Truth be told, I've also done some work on client projects, assisted as I could with the transfer of leadership/coordination of the Veteran Speakers Retreat I coordinated for the past twelve years, began a substantial revision of the Living Free blog site and my over all blogging philosophy and plans, done some contemplating of what I want to do when I grow up and a bit of just being LAZY.

The List of 40 . . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #159 Look At Me!, The Villages, Florida, February 2014

I love this photo. I was parked next to this pond with a vandwelling friend. We were in the parking lot of the Walmart at The Villages in central Florida when I snapped it. This crazy bird decided to show off for us. Well, actually, I think it was probably a "he" and he was probably trying to catch the eye of a prospective mate from several likely candidates nearby. . . READ MORE

Back On The Rack - One Month To The Day

March 9, 2014 was the day My McVansion's rear end was raised up on David Hair's jack stands in the parking Home Depot parking lot in small town of Blue Ridge, Georgia.  It was in this stance so that David with his knowledge, skill and necessary tools was able to pull the rear axle and replace the right rear bearing that had failed toward the end of my 2014 Trek #1. He was assisted by yours truly, but believe me, I was mainly the "gofer." Without David's knowledge, skill, tools and sharing attitude, I would have likely been financially stung pretty seriously by a local mechanic and I would have been stuck in Blue Ridge for the better part of a week. So, once again, I tip my hat and reiterate my thanks to David.

March 9, 2014, Home Depot, Blue Ridge, Georgia

So, the repair got me to Tumbling Creek Campground in Cherokee National Forest where I hung out with David for a short time the rest of that day and with Cuzzin Dick, another member of the vandwelling community. From there the axle carried me through a sizable chunk of Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia safely delivering me to base camp in Keyser, West Virginia about the same time I might have finally left Blue Ridge, Georgia without David's assistance. However, since the axle (only installed about 14 months earlier) was severely damaged by the faulty bearing.

Upon my return to base camp I called my regular mechanic in Winchester, Virginia and told Marty of the event. I told him I'd email him photos of the bearing and the axle. I also asked him if he could locate a good used axle to replace the damaged axle currently in the van. After he looked at the photos he determined that we had a warranty issue and that we'd probably get another new axle and bearing to replace the faulty bearing and the damaged axle. So, one month to the day, March 9th we did the temporary repair in Blue Ridge, Georgia and April 9th we tore into the rear end again and installed the new axle and bearing in Winchester, Virginia.

April 9, 2014, Southern Frederick Auto Repair, Winchester, Virginia

 The photo was taken by an old friend, Mike Rutkaus, like me, a former member of a group in Winchester and a fellow amateur radio operator. Mike picked me up while the van was being worked on and we went to a lunch gathering of local area amateur radio operators. When we got back, the van was on the rack, the new axle installed and, Will, the guy actually doing the work was preparing to complete closing up the rear end. So, Mike grabbed this candid shot of My McVansion up on the rack with the differential still open.

While I was there I had the tires rotated, had a new air cleaner installed, scanned the OBD1 codes (and found nothing) and checked the spark plugs. Turns out the plugs were pretty well burned and way out of factory spec on their gap width. So, we replaced those, too. I left with a new feeling of confidence in My McVansion. I'm hoping that new air cleaner and those new spark plugs will result in some increase in gas mileage. I certainly was certainly getting better mileage then the folks who were driving a variety of RV's. But, I'd really be happy to approach double the gas mileage they get considering the lighter, smaller and lower profile My McVansion has.

Now, back to working on the interior refinements.  

Behold, Oz, er . . . Ed, the Great and Powerful

Okay! So, I'm pushing the envelope a little. But, I now have a great and powerful new energy source installed in My McVansion. Nope! This isn't Kansas, but I'll get to Kansas one of these days.

Here is a photo of the new 245 amp/hour, AGM (absorbed glass mat), deep cycle 12-volt battery now installed under the bunk in My McVansion. Believe me, it's a monster. It is about the size of three standard car engine batteries and weighs in at a hefty 158 pounds. No! I didn't load this in myself. As a matter of fact, I didn't load it at all. The folks at The Battery Mart in Winchester, Virginia loaded it in last Friday and yesterday, I took it back and had their technician put in the very heavy wiring from the battery and continuous duty solenoid under the hood to the battery in the bunk. This will allow the "house" battery in the bunk to charge whenever the engine is running. 

This other photo shows the new red wire from the battery positive terminal to the solenoid and the solenoid itself. This isn't rocket science. But, it definitely helps to have someone who knows what they are doing AND has the correct tools to accomplish the mission. 

This battery will be the main power source for everything in the "house" part of My McVansion. It will power most of my electronics including my computer and certain audio equipment. It will also provide 110 volts of AC current through the use of an inverter. The AC will power the small refrigerator and infrequently, the small microwave oven I've yet to acquire. I will be adding a 110-volt AC smart charger so I can charge the house battery when I have access to "shore power" (or external 110 volts AC). I'm not sure, yet, but depending on several variables and based on some on the road experience with this particular vehicle and living accommodation, I may acquire either a small gasoline generator or a solar charging system. Each has pros and cons. I'm actually more inclined to go with solar. The gas generator creates a security issue and a gasoline issue (I'd have to carry a spare can of gas and deal with transporting issues or siphon gas from the van's gas tank.

So Much To Do, So Little Time To Do It All

I know I've said this before, but it seems to be a universal law or something. Monday I'm awaiting a shipment from Amazon of some things I had hoped to have over the weekend to install and/or check out. So, that slows down my departure on Monday on Ed Helvey's Road Trek #1 of 2014. I had My McVansion out on the roads back in September and October and have been putting more work in on it since then. However, some of this unusual bad and very cold winter weather has hampered the process. So, there are a number of things that are not, yet ready, installed, checked out, whatever. This bothers me to some degree, but a fair amount of it I will be able to accomplish while I'm traveling. The things I can do on the road, I'll simply have to wait until I get back off the road to work on.

The word I get from most of the other RVers and vandwellers is that whatever kind of "rig" you have, it's always a work in progress. And so it is. The main thing I'm interested in on this extended travel is to put what is installed to the test and see what is functioning as anticipated from the planning and construction stage and what is not up to par or meeting expectations or just not working at all. Those will be the things I will change if I reasonably can during the trek or plan to work on as soon as I return from the trip.

This trip is basically to seek out some sun and warmth. I'm obviously going south. My first stop is on Tuesday and will be in (or actually just outside) Sparta, New Carolina to celebrate the New Years festivities with my grad school buddy at his mountain home. It is also a celebration of another kind since he and his childhood sweetheart are getting married after not seeing one another for about 43 years.

I'll hang around with them for a few days and then start making my way south visiting some old friends and meeting some new ones along the way. Florida is the ultimate destination. The other thing I'll be doing as I travel is working in the van. This will give me the opportunity to see just how well I've thought out and set up a work environment in the vehicle and then see how much productive work I can accomplish on the road.

So, I have no set timelines for anything on this trip. I'm just going to enjoy the experience, learn from it and return back to the base camp in West Virginia when it seems right. It could be a longer trip or a shorter trip all depending on how everything goes. Stay tuned for more trip details. 

Photo-of-the-Week #137 - The Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, May 2009

 Most of my photos of the ocean have been of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Since I'm an east coast guy, I guess that makes sense. But, I have spent a reasonable amount of time on the west coast of the years and have seen my share of the Pacific from the San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Eureka, California regions.

This photo of the historic Santa Monica Pier was taken from a vantage point on Ocean Avenue, probably in the vicinity of Wilshire Boulevard overlooking the Pacific Coast Highway, the beach and the pier. I took this photo on my "Last Hollywood Tour" in May of 2009. I had left my ranch in the Shenandoah Valley about seven months earlier. I called it my Last Hollywood Tour because I specifically made spending a couple days in Hollywood a part of the trip (visiting my "outlaws" - former in-laws) to see what was still in existence of the recording world I remember from the time I spent in Hollywood during the 70's and 80's.

The Hollywood part of the trip was disheartening because much of what I remembered as gone, demolished, boarded up or repurposed for some other use. But, I managed to navigate my way through the dense traffic down to the beach. It's always a favorite place for me to go. I'm drawn to the oceans. Interestingly, as much as I'm drawn to the oceans, I've never lived at the ocean. Perhaps I'll choose to find a few ocean locations where I'll stay for a while during my nomadic wanderings. Santa Monica Beach won't be one of those places. There are far too many people here for me. 

My McVansion Progress Report

The end of the major build-in construction project for my Mv McVansion is in sight. All the major built in cabinetry is constructed and installed. Next comes the 110 vac and 12 vdc wiring and the 245 amp hour, deep cycle, AGM battery. Most of the rest of the work is the refinements. I'll detail those as I implement them.

The best part is that it's cozy and comfortable.

So, here are the latest photos:

First was the installation of the base for the Visa porta potty and the Black & Decker refrigerator. I had this installed when I went on the last Long Island and New Jersey trip to keep the potty from sliding around the van while driving 

And here it is with the cabinetry installed along with the Black & Decker 2.7 cubic foot refrigerator installed in the cabinet. The top of the refrigerator provides a counter space where a .7 cu. ft. microwave oven will be situated. There is also a shelf to the right of the porta potty enclosure over the wheel well.  

This is a closer shot of the porta potty cabinet. When it's closed it's designed to be an additional work space or, with a cushion on top, a seat.

With the top and front removed, a process that takes about 15 seconds, the porta potty is ready to serve the purpose for which it was designed. It's also easily removable to dump at an sewage dump facility.  

This shows the purpose of the shelf over the wheel well installed between the porta potty enclosure and the workstation desk at the back of the van. The plastic draw units (there are two of them) are screwed together one on top of the other. They are secured to the shelf. The purpose of the draw units is to house office supplies and small equipment and tools, wires, cables and adapters. A portable file box will sit on the shelf in front of the drawer unit. There will be a side piece on the shelf to cover the space below. There's not much space, but I'm sure it will serve for some miscellaneous storage. The space behind the drawer unit up to the bottom of the desk top will house up to three pairs of shoes. 

Here is a picture of the back of the refrigerator cabinet. It is covered by the smaller of the two side doors when the doors are closed. Once again, there is a little space for additional storage under the refrigerator. I have to thank my vandwelling friend, Cuzzin' Dick Tracy (yep, just like the comic strip cop) for the idea of using a two liter, plastic soda crate as a step for entering the van. I was at Walmart while the Pepsi man was restocking the shelves and I asked if he could liberate one of the crates, which he cheerfully did.

This is a photo from the back of the van looking toward the front from the open rear doors. A portion of the workstation desk top is at the lower right. The bunk/couch and storage unit, water storage and food preparation area are on the left. The plastic drawer units, wheel well shelf, porta potty and refrigerator are on the right side. You'll notice that there is plenty of room to walk and navigate through the van, yet everything is very compact and efficient. 

This project has taken a lot more time than I thought it would, but I'm pleased with how it's turning out. Taking the extra time has allowed me to work out the layout and individual parts of the entire space as I've been constructing the vehicle. Since I'll be spending a lot of time in My McVansion, comfort, utility, efficiency and pleasant surrounding are important. I believe I've created a very functional "tiny house" with an adequate amount of homeyness.