Where’s Ollie?

[John Dorrer]

5 hours ago, Boudicca908 said:

I finished my first visit to Idaho this week, and it was a great trip, though I wish I had more time. Coming from Jackson, my first stop was Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve where I managed to land a spot in the Lava Flow campground (FF and somewhere in the fine print, they warn people not to pull trailers past a certain number). The park is generally viewed by driving along a loop road, with some parking at various spots. There are opportunities to hike up and around lava formations, as well as climbing down into lava caves. It was very windy!  I recommend the hike up the Inferno Cone (a stiff hill that is longer than it appears) where you can see the Great Rift, the Snake River Plain, the Pioneer Mountains and the Teton Range 100 miles to the east. Entry into the caves requires a free permit from the Visitor Center (with instructions from staff).  The campground was okay; it's in a lava field so the sites are arranged around the landscape. 

   

Loved that park and campground. The laval rocks were a bit rough on our dog.🙃

[topgun2]

If you can't make it to Idaho and still want a mini-version of lava fields, you can always try Snow Canyon State Park. This park is located north of St. George, Utah with the lave field hike at GPS: 37.222005386630634, -113.64194019098785.

There's also lava tubes and petrified sand dunes here.

Bill

[John Dorrer]

1 hour ago, topgun2 said:

If you can't make it to Idaho and still want a mini-version of lava fields, you can always try Snow Canyon State Park. This park is located north of St. George, Utah with the lave field hike at GPS: 37.222005386630634, -113.64194019098785.

There's also lava tubes and petrified sand dunes here.

Bill

Another is Valley of Fires in New Mexico. The campground is between the flows and there is a great raised trail over the fields. We had a pull through site. 

[jd1923]

BaseCamp550 - just S of Ridgway CO, 8 miles N of Ouray, our view from the back of campsite #17 looking southeast. The tallest peak on the right is Mt Sneffels, one magnificent Colorado 14er, simply amazing! 😂

Certainly our best campsite in 5 weeks travel. An older RV park from the 70s. Though I have a leaf-blower, if I had my weed-whacker I'd clean up this site a bit. The view makes up for it and we have a triple-wide spot between a cabin, their front facing away, and the laundry which makes it private, not having RVs left and right. It's just so nice! 

[Mike and Carol]

We like to stay at Ridgway State Park which is in the same area.  Great location to explore Ouray, Telluride and even Silverton (nice drive down 550).  We’ll be back in Colorado in August!  Mike

 

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

We like to stay at Ridgway State Park which is in the same area.

On Campendium you had to read the fine print to know that “Elk Ridge Campground” was actually Ridgway SP. We noticed the park sign as we drove in. Yes Mike, it is a beautiful location!

I chose this place, without knowing better, because it was not on a lake! This place is rustic with only a half dozen decent RV sites. Looked like the SP had many more sites, more the usual setup.

Most of the lake sites we’ve stayed had many mosquitoes where we’ve been chased in early at night! We sat out last night without those nasty creatures.

Perhaps I’ve gotten used to the dry climate of AZ, preferring mountain views over lakefront locations. I know most people feel the other way, like my sister who has to live on the coast. She could not survive out where we live! 🤣

[John Dorrer]

Camped with another Oliver at Angel Fire RV Resort, Angle Fire, NM; Midway COE, Waco, TX; Galveston Island State Park, Galveston, TX; Outer Banks, NC, KOA, all in the last 12 months and the year isn't over😊. Passed several on the highway.

[jd1923]

Camping at Sunshine CG, dinner at Floradora’s Telluride! They’re ready to celebrate America this week. Wish I had come here when still a skier!

Edited July 2 by jd1923
Pics

[John Dorrer]

42 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

Camping at Sunshine CG, dinner at Floradora’s Telluride! They’re ready to celebrate America this week. Wish I had come here when still a skier!

Love Floradora

[jd1923]

Got back from dinner and the Host had changed the entrance sign to “FULL.”

Got here at 12:30 and after we quickly setup camp, a neighbor stopped by and said, “You got the best site, #12. A trailer pulled out just before noon.”

We’re sitting at 9,550 FT and not a bad view for our last two nights before heading back to AZ!

[John Dorrer]

If you are still hanging around Telluride go to Butcher & Baker for breakfast. Great Mexican restaurant, but forget the name, Brown Dog for pizza.

 

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

If you are still hanging around Telluride go to Butcher & Baker for breakfast. Great Mexican restaurant, but forget the name, Brown Dog for pizza.

 

Ha, did Brown Dog for lunch today! Detroit style pizza, nice crust, should have ordered double toppings, but tasty.

Heading to Petrified NP tomorrow and home on The Fourth!

Let us know when you’re getting to AZ John!

[jd1923]

Recognize Wilson Mountain of Coors fame?

I remember when we left Chicago, Spring Break 1972 to Tucson, sat by the pool and drank Coors all day long for a week, back when it was not sold in the states East. Life is Good!

All the marketing BS aside, we’ve been to Golden Colorado where there is a murky pond behind the beer plant! 🤣

Sunshine Mountain and Wilson is TDF! Wish we could stay another week! We will again soon, only 8 hours from home, who woulda thunk!

Edited July 3 by jd1923

[johnwen]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Recognize Wilson Mountain of Coors fame?

I remember when we left Chicago, Spring Break 1972 to Tucson, sat by the pool and drank Coors all day long for a week, back when it was not sold in the states East. Life is Good!

All the marketing BS aside, we’ve been to Golden Colorado where there is a murky pond behind the beer plant! 🤣

Sunshine Mountain and Wilson is TDF! Wish we could stay another week! We will again soon, only 8 hours from home, who woulda thunk!

John, is this pic in Sunshine Campground?  Haven't been there but will be looking for cool weather in a week or two :)

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, johnwen said:

John, is this pic in Sunshine Campground?  Haven't been there but will be looking for cool weather in a week or two 🙂

Yes, pic of Chris & Charley and #113 and the mountain view. Arrive on a weekday after the 4th and Tom, formerly of Prescott is a great host. $28 or $14 on a National Pass.

[johnwen]

9 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

Yes, pic of Chris & Charley and #113 and the mountain view. Arrive on a weekday after the 4th and Tom, formerly of Prescott is a great host. $28 or $14 on a National Pass.

JD, thanks much...hope to visit there soon...safe travels!!!

[John Dorrer]

16 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Ha, did Brown Dog for lunch today! Detroit style pizza, nice crust, should have ordered double toppings, but tasty.

Heading to Petrified NP tomorrow and home on The Fourth!

Let us know when you’re getting to AZ John!

Will do. I will send you a PM in advance.

[Zodd]

We got to spend a nice week along the Salmon river. On the way home at a gas station I had a guy checking out our Oliver. He comes over and asks to see it. He says “it looks like one of the silver ones”, my first signal he has not looked at trailers much. He asked what they are priced at and I said “they start at 75” to which he said “7,500, that is not to bad” LOL…. I said no not 75 hundred 75 thousand.  Clearly not understanding that 7,500 would not get you almost any trailer confirmed that while he can appreciate the Oliver he has no concept of the TT market.  😁

 

[rideandfly]

Camped at Davidson River NF Campground NC, We had a campsite with electricity. The campsite was shady with enough of an opening for the Starlink Mini to work fine.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway was not too far away.

 

There are a couple waterfalls on RT 276, not too far from the campground, Looking Glass Falls (old photo)

[Mike and Carol]

12 hours ago, rideandfly said:

The campsite was shady with enough of an opening for the Starlink Mini to work fine.

We’re anxious to use our Starlink Mini for the first time during our Aug/Sept trip coming up.  It works great in the driveway!  Mike

[rideandfly]

Mike,

We had a very small hole in the tree canopy, really surprised me that we could receive signal, but we did! 🙂

Really like the Mini!!!!!  

[Patriot]

7 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

We’re anxious to use our Starlink Mini for the first time during our Aug/Sept trip coming up.  It works great in the driveway!  Mike

Welcome to the SL fan club Mike! Glad to hear you scooped up a Mini and look forward to what you think of it during your upcoming travels! It’s been a game changer for us! Congrats on the new tech! We always try and make sure we are obstruction free when we set up. Have fun with it!

[jd1923]

49 minutes ago, rideandfly said:

We had a very small hole in the tree canopy, really surprised me that we could receive signal, but we did! 🙂

Yes Bill, this will work, but our experience shows the connection may pulse on and off.

Starlink runs a series of satellites in an orbit. As one is in a small opening between the trees and moving off to the east, the next satellite coming from the west must take over.

At one campsite with a small opening the Starlink would read “On-line” then “Off-line”  for a few seconds, and it repeated this pattern continuously.

Because of buffering we could still stream TV. I had some photo uploads fail and determined that happened when I clicked to upload just when the Starlink was “Off-line” for a few seconds!

[Snackchaser]

25 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

Because of buffering we could still stream TV. I had some photo uploads fail and determined that happened when I clicked to upload just when the Starlink was “Off-line” for a few seconds!

This has been our experience from several years of using Starlink in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.  We often had to move the Starlink Mini the whole 50' length of the cord to find a clear sky hole, but then the WiFi signal was so weak we couldn't stream.  

Now with the new Mini Router, a bargain at $40, the WiFi signal is much better and there is a big improvement in speed and streaming.  The USB-C power supply has been working great for the router too!

[rideandfly]

1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

Because of buffering we could still stream TV. I had some photo uploads fail and determined that happened when I clicked to upload just when the Starlink was “Off-line” for a few seconds!

 

42 minutes ago, Snackchaser said:

Now with the new Mini Router, a bargain at $40, the WiFi signal is much better and there is a big improvement in speed and streaming.  The USB-C power supply has been working great for the router too!

Mike please forgive me for going off topic.

We will buy the router, too.

Question, setting the TV resolution at 720P, will that reduce TV outage time when the Mini is offline for a few seconds then back on again? Probably like most folks here, some places we go there is no cell service or antenna TV reception.