30-JAN-2011
and the `sketer gets pulled up
03-FEB-2011
After almost a week in Quartzsite, during which time we find some shop that is happy to let us take their collected Mech fluids, we take off to cross our next section of dirt track. Another 150 miles before pavement. We find a pipeline service road, skirt the gate, and head off to the mountains. 5 miles down the track we find signage saying that it's a "Wildlife Refuge" . . . no Mech Monsters allowed.
We U turned, glad we were only 5 miles in, and I made a mental note that "NWR" on my map app means no travel for us.
The only way around was to use the "I", that ribbon of pavement known for it's freight haulers and those only interested in the destination . . . not the type of pavement that we really want to travel on. Something about being the the slowest rig, well caravan really, on the pavement makes you feel like you are driving backwards at 30 mph.
40 miles later . . .
On dirt again we head south. About 25 miles of dirt and we find this sweet little canyon as the sun is getting close to the horizon.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Batts have died in my image capture device, therefore no views.
Spent all day working on getting enough fuel into our tanks. No problem finding sources, . . . it's the air powered pump . . . it eats so much air that the compressor can't keep up. I do have an air tank mounted under-body on the trailer, it's just too small. We've bought a 24 volt waste pump to replace this one and try to UP our pump rate
Sunday, February 06, 2011
The "She Beast" is acting like all her filters are clogged. She'll run great for a short bit and then start surging really bad. The surging gets worse and the RPM's keep dropping (at max surge) till she just won't run at all . . . we wait for 5,10 mins and she starts . . . and off she goes . . .
. . . then it starts over again. I've changed the primary filter twice . . . getting to be an expert at that.
If you need to know how I can give you directions step by step ;)
07-FEB-2011
Door View of the Santa Cruz
Spent last night in a Food City lot. Right now we are (I am) with our rigs on the side of the Santa Cruz river bed . . . down town Tucson. Found a lot behind some convenience store, empty and freshly graveled.
It's great how guiding one of these beasts around can change how you view things. When we pulled in the store lot, just thinking I could locate us there while Tuff went to the temporary bazaars (set up on the other side of the river) to connect with some vendors. As we pulled off to one side of the lot we see this empty, graveled, lot in front of us. Blocked off by vertical posts across the road. I go back to speak with Tuff and she says " why don't we just go in there? We can just drive over the curb". This is from someone that was riding 10" off the ground for the last few years, . . . now a 6"+ curb is just a bump.
07-FEB-2011
Guest Parking
Later in the day we roll in to Babylon's compound. I thread the "She Beast" into the back lot off the alley. The "little Draggin' " takes a stand outside the back gate.
We will probably be here for a few nights.
First thing in the morning I'll start the search for new filters.
09-FEB-2011
Tucson Covention Center
Two days later the filters are on order, and I've once again accepted the offer to help "Arkane Arts" transport one of his sculptures. This is the second time that he's had one of his works on display at the TCC during the Gem & Mineral show
09-FEB-2011
. . . and in this corner . . .
Mister Arkane Arts himself.
11-FEB-2011
Transplant
While parked at the Babylon family compound I use the time to start a turbo transplant. The turbo in the "She Beast" is known as a "whistler", which is really popular due to the sound it makes, . . . it's not as popular when you drive for hours at a time, it kind of makes one crazy!
We do have a non-whistler that I've been packing with us, and now I have some time.
15-FEB-2011
Basking
Last night we took the "She Beast" out for a little test run. I've transplanted a turbo and want to see how that takes. It was also a good time to take it over to a friend's place for dinner and a "show-off".
Leaving there late we guided her back to Spence's "Dry Dock", where the "Draggin' " had been staying since a meet with some Traffic Control Enforcers (we did get away w/ just a warning for "alley parking").
~
The next morning there was some basking and your basic slow start after a late night.
