[Baxsie]

Doheny State Beach

We got a Thursday night beach spot for $65 + $7.99 fee = $73. YOLO

Nothing is available for the remainder of the 4-day weekend.

Obligatory #vanlife photo:

 

[CarKeys]

He probably doesn't even relate that event long ago to the fact that you only give him expired fruit cake for Christmas.

I got my revenge by marrying his daughter 😁

 

[MsNomer]

My boondocking spot for the night at a boat launching area in North Texas. Totally quiet and it's all mine.

 

[MsNomer]

The morning view from the bed as I open my eyes. IOW, what you guys without windows miss.

And a few minutes later.

 

[MsNomer]

Oh, My!! How did Ms Goody Two-shoes Nomer end up on Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras! I assure you she was safe in her van by 5pm with all faculties intact..

People watching was pretty darned amazing.

I'm doing reconnaissance this week in preparation for meeting Lola in Memphis March 2 and introducing her to this part of the world. I've found bridges out, restaurants closed, roads that take twice as long as they should, so I think the twitches I'm making to the itinerary will be helpful.

This spot in NO is a real gem. $20 until next day noon in just a plain parking lot, but it is on Basin Street a short walk from the action.

 

[azhiker2000]

This spot in NO is a real gem. $20 until next day noon in just a plain parking lot, but it is on Basin Street a short walk from the action.

Any chance you could share the contact info for this parking spot?

 

[MsNomer]

Found it on iOverlander. Right beside the Basin Street Visitor's Center in the curve of Basin Street. Just down the street from an I10 exit, so super easy to access.

N 29°57.671', W 90°4.251'

EDIT: Lesson learned. Park in a sea of ordinary cars, not along the periphery where larger vehicles tend to congregate. I didn’t know a generator could be that loud. Its owner was huge and looked like the noise had damaged his brain cells, so this morning I just moved myself to the now-almost empty middle of the lot.

 

[rjcalif]

Saturday's sunset at Coyote Lake Campground which is literally in my backyard, Gilroy, CA

and Sunday's sunset from New Brighton State Beach in Capitola, CA

 

[MsNomer]

That first one is stunning!

 

[Swamplizard]

That is what this is all about!

 

[Lolaeliz]

My boondocking spot for the night at a boat launching area in North Texas. Totally quiet and it's all mine. View attachment 94033


View attachment 94032

Beautiful!!! I love waterfront spots. The sounds of water, its reflections... Water calms me so much.

 

[Lolaeliz]

Oh, My!! How did Ms Goody Two-shoes Nomer end up on Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras! I assure you she was safe in her van by 5pm with all faculties intact.. View attachment 94083

People watching was pretty darned amazing.
View attachment 94085

I'm doing reconnaissance this week in preparation for meeting Lola in Memphis March 2 and introducing her to this part of the world. I've found bridges out, restaurants closed, roads that take twice as long as they should, so I think the twitches I'm making to the itinerary will be helpful.

This spot in NO is a real gem. $20 until next day noon in just a plain parking lot, but it is on Basin Street a short walk from the action.

View attachment 94084

What a great find! (the NO parking spot). I'm glad mardi gras will be over when we're there.

 

[MsNomer]

I'm glad mardi gras will be over when we're there.

I woke up Tuesday morning thinking, "Wow, I’m actually in NO on Mardi Gras." For half a second, I contemplated venturing out, then I came to my senses, but not soon enough. By the time I decided to leave about 9am, streets were blocked—some by the police, some because people just parked and left their cars right in the traffic lane. A police woman directed me quite a ways west to an on-ramp to I10 that I could access. Good Lord, was I ever glad to get out of there! It will be much more betta in a couple weeks.

I am now taking a breather at a trailhead north of Biloxi. Nothing particularly scenic, but flat, clean, dark, quiet, pit toilet for emptying the bucket. I took a hike this morning, but the 75°, 74% humidity is a bit much. There is a breeze, though, so for puttering, it is fine and I need a putter day.

 

[Lolaeliz]

I woke up Tuesday morning thinking, "Wow, I’m actually in NO on Mardi Gras." For half a second, I contemplated venturing out, then I came to my senses, but not soon enough. By the time I decided to leave about 9am, streets were blocked—some by the police, some because people just parked and left their cars right in the traffic lane. A police woman directed me quite a ways west to an on-ramp to I10 that I could access. Good Lord, was I ever glad to get out of there! It will be much more betta in a couple weeks.

I am now taking a breather at a trailhead north of Biloxi. Nothing particularly scenic, but flat, clean, dark, quiet, pit toilet for emptying the bucket. I took a hike this morning, but the 75°, 74% humidity is a bit much. There is a breeze, though, so for puttering, it is fine and I need a putter day.

75•! it's hailing here. It will feel so good to be outside and moving around after a winter of being inside. The van is all stocked up and ready. I think one of the most beautiful landscapes is the moss in the trees and swampy places in Georgia (except it was stinky). Do they have that where we will be, or is it a coastal thing?

 

[MsNomer]

Like this, maybe? Oh, yeah.

 

[Baxsie]

Sin Nombre Canyon:

(corgi for scale)

We left the highway (Great Southern Overland Stage Route) at the "Mud Caves On S2 Turnoff", drove down the Vallecito Creek Road, then turned up the Sin Nombre Canyon, approaching the highway again. Big (PM 3500), fat (8800lb), beautiful VanMargrit did pretty well sporting her new K02 shoes, right up until the last 50 feet, where the Sin Nombre Canyon road meets up with the highway:

Those fresh tracks are from "Tall Paul's" 4wd pickup. It took him a couple of tries. Luckily, Paul was still nearby and graciously offered to be an anchor while we deployed the SuperWinch Winch2Go. VanMargrit then pulled herself up that last bit. It took two pulls but other than that, it was uneventful self-recovery.

 

[Baxsie]

Camping at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument:

(hoods open to discourage pack rats)

The campground is huge, clean, and surprisingly quiet.

Woke up to the calls of a pair of woodpeckers in the large saguaro next to our camp spot (one of the two at the right of the above photo):

Later we visited Quitobaquito springs, right next to our monument of international goodwill:

 

[Baxsie]

Camping at Agua Caliente:

The weather the next evening was spectacular:

Winds strong enough to rock VanMargrit alarmingly. This was a couple of days ago - - a bit of a foreshadowing of the interesting weather to come nationwide.

 

[Jing]

@Baxsie what's up with the 4 spare tires?

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[Baxsie]

@Baxsie what's up with the 4 spare tires?

Left Spokane with sub freezing weather so we had the snow tires on - - as usual for winter.

Decided to head east into the desert after San Diego instead of north into whatever cold nightmare is happening in the west.

We wanted the BFG K02's for desert stunts like that, but did not want to dispose of the near new Nokian CR W3 snow tires. So we got a cheap rack and tightener from Harbor Freight and went for the full hillbilly look.