Posts
Ray
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Merry Christmas everyone from our boondocking camp in southern Arizona! Hope you have a great holiday! Cheers, Ray
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Got this closeup of a Costa's hummingbird today. What amazing little critters.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Beautiful evening boondocking in southern Arizona near Ajo. It has been much warmer and drier than the last few Decembers, and not too much wind. Hope that keeps up.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
This video captures serene and captivating wildlife scenes from the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, located at the southern end of the Salton Sea in California, not far from Palm Springs.
youtu.be/lGl-rwTK5fg - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
We overnighted at Dateland last night. They now have a huge dirt lot in the back, and we asked if we could stay and got permission. It looks like trucks may use it, but it was pretty mellow last night. They also have lots of electric car charging stations. They have an interesting gift store, and we bought some dates, of course :) They also have date shakes. It's a good stopover between Yuma and Gila Bend on Interstate 8.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Made it today! Sunny Arizona!
- RV Parks & Campground ReviewsBelle Campground Views – Stunning Joshua Tree National Park
This campground offers limited sites, so it's perfect for those seeking a tranquil camping experience. During our stay, we managed to find a spot that accommodated our 30 ft fifth-wheel trailer and 20 ft truck. Site number 17 was particularly ideal, providing enough space for our rig and a serene camping environment. However, it's a first-come, first-served campground, and payments are now made at the ranger station instead of on-site. I've captured a series of still shots and some narration to give you a detailed walkthrough of the campground, as well as some stunning footage from our hike to nearby rock outcroppings. Whether you're planning a visit or just curious, this guide should give you a good idea of what to expect at Bell Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. youtu.be/efI6zrtsglM
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Anne and I spent our 1st wedding anniversary and 21st as a couple doing what we love, out in nature. Explored the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge on the south end of the Salton Sea in California. Sunny, warm weather and a great day with my sweetheart. Can't beat that! When I met this Great Blue Heron, I wondered if it was a fellow BCer also doing the Snowbird migrating. :)
- Ray's Product ReviewsFeature Packed Multimeter – Features, Demo, Review
An in-depth look at the Kiaweets Rechargeable Smart Digital Multimeter Model KM601s. I go through all the features and demonstrate the various functions. At the end of the video, I give my review. Overall, it’s not a bad deal for the features and would serve the average DIY RVer well. The big drawback for me is the display is difficult to read in bright lighting and terrible in the sun.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
We made our way yesterday from around 4000 feet up in Joshua Tree National Park down to below sea level in the Salton Sea State Recreation Area. Both are very scenic & peaceful, but the Salton Sea is a bit warmer. ;)
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Here are some photos of our recent campsite in beautiful Joshua Tree National Park. The elevation was around 4000 feet, so nights were chilly, near freezing, but days weren't too bad when in the sun. We stayed in Belle Campground site 17. Our rig just fit. It was $15 a night, with no hookups.
+2 - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Roy's Motel & Cafe in Amboy California youtu.be/dQ0I9D3cVrI
Location details, video footage, and photos from our overnight stopover at Roy's Motel & Cafe in Amboy, California. Located on the historic Route 66 highway. They are now part of the Harvest Hosts membership site, offering free RV overnight parking in a large, flat dirt lot across the street. It was an interesting and nostalgic place to visit and learn the history of the place. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amb
Related Links:
Trona Pinnacles Video - loveyourrv.com/free-rv-ca
Roy's Motel Website - visitamboy.com
Join Harvest Hosts - harvest-hosts.com/NZB2XK (Affiliate Link)
Amboy Crater Video - loveyourrv.com/amboy-crat
2024/25 Snowbird Trip Videos - youtube.com/playlist?list - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Yesterday, we hooked up the trailer after a pleasant visit at the Trona Pinnacles and overnighted in Amboy CA, across from Roys Cafe and Motel, a Route 66 nostalgia attraction. Today, we have landed in Joshua Tree National Park at Belle Campground! Lucky to snag a spot to shoehorn our rig into. :)
+2 - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
I took this video last night of the SpaceX rocket launch on the California coast from Trona Pinnacles. I think it was carrying more Starlink satellites to orbit. It looked pretty cool. youtube.com/watch?v=pFAGK
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
RV desert camping at Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark in Southern California. This stunning location is perfect for a peaceful and unique camping experience. The video was taken in late November and early December. I will show you our camping site at the Trona Pinnacles. loveyourrv.com/free-rv-ca
Also included is a look at the unpaved road in and around the Pinnacles. It is mostly gravel, sand, and rock and, at times, can get badly washboarded and rutted in spots. Camping is primitive boondocking. Pack it in and pack it out. There is one small vault toilet.
For services, the town of Ridgecrest is about half an hour away. Find a Sani Star dump station in the Desert Empire Fairground, propane at True Value Hardware, and other supplies and groceries at a Walmart Supercenter. For more info on the Trona Pinnacles, check out my previous blog post and video from 2015 youtu.be/pmuIR9eA24I
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
To truly appreciate the beauty of the Trona Pinnacles, or the desert, for that matter, you have to see it late in the day or around sunset.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
There was quite the beauty cloud show today at the Trona Pinnacles, and even a few raindrops fell. Thanksgiving weekend is winding down and has quieted dramatically as the off-road ATV crowds have headed home after a fun weekend. I'm looking forward to a peaceful, sunny, warm week ahead.
- Ray's Product ReviewsColor Night Vision Goggles Review - Akaso Seemor 200
I test out an interesting new product from Akaso. If you have watched my videos over the years, you may know I've utilized Akaso action cameras, both the older V50 Elite and the newer Brave 8 model. They have been handy in capturing underwater video footage when boating.
Recently, I accepted Akaos's offer of the Seemor-200 night vision goggles for review. The Seemor utilizes AI technology to produce a full-color image even in low light. It has several levels of zoom and can record in 4K video and take photos. I'm excited to test it out this snowbird season in the USA's southwest desert. It will be interesting to spot nocturnal nightlife!
youtu.be/iiKx4TCAqXUProduct Links:
Akaso Website - tinyurl.com/5rc262sp
Amazon USA - amzn.to/4eUJVFl
Amazon CA - amzn.to/3Oz3GaJ
- Ask For Help or AdviceBow Thruster
Sure it's called a Side Shift. Here is the website - sideshift.com
Here is a video I did when I had to repair an issue with the wireless joystick loveyourrv.com/side-shift and a recent bottom restoration video shows it youtu.be/iiY-9lN6AOQ Anne finds it very useful for docking the boat especially in the wind and current. - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
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- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
This is an update on what we have been up to since we left the Oregon Coast. I reviewed our various stops as we traveled south from the Oregon coast to the southern California desert. What a contrast in conditions from the wet, cloudy coast to the dry, sunny desert. It's good to feel that warm sunshine on our faces!
youtu.be/JM8PiS4IqQY*Related Links*
Harvest Hosts 30% Discount Link - (offer valid Nov 1, 2024 – Jan 1, 2025) harvest-hosts.com/NZB2XK
*2015 Trona Pinnacles Video* - youtu.be/TOdEIfEFOqw
2024/25 Snowbird Trip Videos - youtube.com/playlist?list
LYRV&B Substack - loveyourrv.substack.com - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
We made it back to the desert! I got a nice boondocking site at Trona Pinnacles, about 40 miles west of Death Valley, California. I decided to stop off for a bit when I saw a favorable weather forecast for the first week of December. There would be lots of sun and, more importantly, not too much wind. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that holds.
- Ray's Product ReviewsLi Time 80 AMP LiFePO4 Battery Charger Review
This video reviews the 80 amp Li Time charger for 12V Lithium (LIFePO4) type batteries. I've done several charger reviews in the past, but this one has a much higher amperage output. Now that lithium battery prices have dropped, many RVers are installing larger amp-hour capacities. Something like this may be an ideal upgrade.
I went through its charging specs/features and physical build inside and out and demonstrated it charging my 300-amp-hour battery. The video finished with a test of whether my 2000W gas generator can power it. Stay tuned; I'll return with a long-term review update after a few months of usage.
Other LYRV&B Charger Reviews - loveyourrv.com/?s=charger
Li Time Website - litime.com/discount/LYRV
SFK 300Ah Battery Review - loveyourrv.com/usa-made-l - General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
The other day, we made it down to sunny southern California, stopping at the Harris Inn Ranch along I5. Our visit to the Oregon coast was fun but nice to be out of the wet weather.
It's one of our favorite free overnight parking lots. Anne loves the bakery! The RV park construction is finally taking shape. The person at the front desk says phase one, with 20 sites, may be ready in January.
+2 - Ray's Product ReviewsReolink Argus 4 Pro Review – 180 Degree Security Camera
In part one of this review, I unboxed, set up, and demonstrated Reolink Argus 4 Pro Wireless Security Cameras. I have also reviewed and used the Reolink GO and Argus 3 Pro models with excellent results. I often use the footage in my RV and boating travel videos. I especially love the easy time-lapse feature.
The new Argus 4 Pro model introduces 180-degree coverage capabilities. It’s essentially two 4K security cams in one package. The images can be stitched together to make one super-wide-angle photo or video. So far, in early testing, it’s working well. I will use the product over the next few months and return with a longer-term review.
