Postings are in REVERSE Chronological Order. Newest Posts at the top.

(Tap just below in the TOC)

See my REAL TIME location!

Table Of Contents

AZ

Nov 04

video 59m How One Man Killed America's Favorite Toy Train: Lionel

Nov 01

Review: 3000W 24V Quiet Vertical Wind Turbine Kit for Home Boat Cabin

Oct 30

Happy Birthday Travis!

When Daniel Travis Pike was born on 30 October 1979, in McDonald, Washington, Pennsylvania, United States, his father, Dennis George Pike, was 26 and his mother, Barbara E. Klear, was 28. He married Rachael Rinehuls on 26 October 2013.

Life as a Full-Time RVer: How I Handle Banking, Mail, and Taxes

Yesterday, someone asked me an interesting question: “As a full-time RVer, how do you handle your banking, your mail, and your taxes?”

Well, after living this lifestyle, I've figured out a system that works very well for me. Here's how I do it.

💳 First, a Word About Credit and Debit Card Security

Before I get into banking, I want to share something important about using credit and debit cards.

My number one rule: Never, ever let anyone swipe my card if I can avoid it!

Here's why.

The magnetic strip on the back of your credit or debit card contains your actual card information. When that strip is swiped, those numbers are transmitted through the payment system. They may also pass through merchant systems, such as those used by Walmart, Applebee's, or other businesses. If those systems are compromised, your information could be exposed.

Chip and contactless transactions are much safer.

When you insert a chip-enabled card, the chip generates a unique security code for that transaction. When you tap your card or phone, contactless technology uses similar protections, and mobile wallets generally use a substitute card number, or token, rather than exposing your actual card number.

My preference is always to TAP, preferably with my phone!

If I absolutely must hand my card to someone, I make sure it never leaves my sight, and I tell them right up front: “Do not swipe my card.”

It's a simple precaution that I believe everyone should take.

🏦 How I Handle My Banking

Over the years, I've used several different banking services.

Chase Bank

When I was married, we had a joint account with Chase. I found Chase extremely convenient. Their online banking worked well, and they had physical branches in practically every town we visited.

I highly recommend Chase, especially if having access to a physical bank is important to you.

After my divorce, I separated myself from that joint account and moved on.

Capital One

Next, I opened an account with Capital One.

Again, excellent online banking and very convenient. The only drawback for me was that Capital One doesn't have nearly as many physical branches as Chase.

PayPal — My Current Favorite!

Eventually, I discovered PayPal.

I'll admit, it took me quite a while to understand all the different features and how everything worked. At first, it was confusing!

But once I figured it out, I loved it.

Today, PayPal is my go-to service for everyday financial transactions.

Practically every purchase I make is done by tapping my phone. No digging around for a wallet, no handing over a card, and no swiping.

For my lifestyle, it's fantastic!

📬 How I Handle My Mail

This is probably the question people are most curious about.

After all, if you're constantly traveling around the country, where does your mail go?

Fortunately, there are mail-forwarding services designed specifically for full-time RVers.

Two major RV mail-service options are based in Florida and South Dakota.

The service I use is My RV Mail in Crestview, Florida.

Website: www.myrvmail.com

I pay approximately $25 per month, and the service includes a smartphone app.

All my mail goes to my assigned address in Crestview, Florida.

I don't have a conventional house or apartment there. It's a mailing address, not a physical residence where I live.

Here's what makes the service so wonderful.

Whenever new mail arrives, I receive a notification. I can open the app or go online and see a list of everything that has arrived.

Then I decide what happens to each piece of mail.

- Shred it: If it's junk mail or something I don't need, I tell them to destroy it.

- Scan it: If I want to read it, I request a scan, and they make the contents available online.

- Forward it: If it's something I actually need in my hands, I tell them where I'm currently staying, and they mail it to me.

That's it!

I can be in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, or practically anywhere else, and my mail is still handled.

I don't have to worry about a mailbox overflowing or asking somebody back home to collect my letters.

I absolutely love this service!

In fact, I think everybody should have something like this, whether they live in an RV or not.

The United States Postal Service ought to offer something similar!

🧾 How I Handle My Taxes

This is actually the easiest part.

Everything is done online.

Because I'm a Florida resident, I don't have to file a Florida individual state income tax return.

Florida has no individual state income tax, so my income tax filing is generally limited to my federal return.

Of course, Florida still has other taxes, including sales and property taxes, and tax obligations can vary depending on a person's income and circumstances.

But for my situation, tax time is pretty straightforward.

No need to be physically present in Florida. I can handle the paperwork and filing electronically from wherever I happen to be parked.

🚐 The Bottom Line

One of the biggest misconceptions about living full-time in an RV is that you need a traditional home address and a physical location to manage your everyday affairs.

You really don't!

With online financial services, mobile payments, digital mail forwarding, and electronic tax filing, I can manage almost everything from my phone.

My bank is in my pocket.

My mailbox is in Florida.

My tax filing is online.

And my home is wherever I happen to park it!

That's the freedom of being a full-time RVer, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Oct 26

Okay, so there are two major travel centers...

 ...at the Quartzsite exit: Love’s and Pilot. They happen to have the best gas prices in town right now, at $4.19 a gallon. And if you use their loyalty programs, you get another 10 cents off per gallon. Every little bit helps!

Naturally, I have both the Love’s and Pilot apps installed on my phone so I can scan my loyalty barcode at the pump.

Now, it's not a huge inconvenience, but you have to scan your loyalty card and then go through a separate process to pay. I noticed both apps had an option to add a credit card, so I thought, "Well, isn't that convenient! Maybe I can just do everything in one transaction!"

Nope! Not so fast! 😂

I entered my credit card information into both apps, only to discover that it didn't seem to accomplish a darn thing.

So I started asking employees at both stores what the benefit was. Nobody seemed to know. In fact, they couldn't even understand why I had bothered entering a credit card in the first place!

After several days of trying to figure this out, I finally dug into the FAQs and ended up chatting with one of those wonderful automated bots.

And wouldn't you know it? I finally got my answer!

Apparently, the only reason to store a credit card in the app is so you can order merchandise or other items directly through the app. It doesn't simplify paying for gas at the pump at all!

It took me DAYS to figure out something that nobody working at either store seemed to understand.

All that investigating just to discover a feature I probably won't ever use!

Oh well, I learned something new today. Whether it was worth the effort is another question entirely! 😂

Oct 19

My Latest Adventure in Solar and Wind Power! 🌞💨⚡

Well, tomorrow is the big day! My new 3,000-watt vertical wind turbine generator is scheduled to arrive, and let me tell you, this thing is a BEAST! LOL!

Of course, nothing is ever as simple as just plugging something in and turning it on. Where would the fun be in that?

Problem #1: The Battery Situation 🔋

The new wind turbine operates on 24 volts, which meant I had to completely reconfigure my batteries from 12 volts to 24 volts.

Simple enough, right? WRONG! LOL!

My existing 200-watt solar panel only produces around 22 volts. Here's the problem: My solar charge controller needs the solar panel voltage to be at least 5 volts higher than the battery voltage before it will start charging.

With my old 12-volt battery setup, everything worked beautifully. But at 24 volts? NOTHING! The charger wouldn't even wake up!

The Solution! ☀️

Add a second solar panel and wire the two panels in series, effectively doubling the voltage going to the charge controller.

Problem solved!

And that explains the photos of my brand-new solar panel. As luck would have it, my bike rack makes a pretty darn good mounting platform for it! Who knew? LOL!

Problem #2: Mounting the Beast! 🌪️

Now comes the really interesting part.

I have to figure out how to mount this monster of a wind turbine!

That's where the picture of the two 10-foot sections of 1½-inch pipe comes in. My thinking is to put them together and create a 20-foot tower, secured with guy wires to keep the whole contraption standing upright.

At least, that's the plan!

Of course, I'm already imagining what could happen when the desert winds really start blowing.

Can you say Davy Jo? 😂

Between the solar panels, batteries, wind turbine, and all the creative engineering going on around here, my campsite is starting to look like a cross between a science experiment and a construction project!

But hey, if this all works out, I'll have solar power during the day and wind power helping keep those batteries charged at night.

And if it doesn't work?

Well, at least I'll have another good story to tell! 😂

Here are the photos of my latest adventure:

https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/LRcwHQEeSKGcS9dSd1Schg.n-yXr1WxgFkCSLn2wUXrIh

Stay tuned! The adventure continues! ⚡🌵

Oct 17

VEVOR 500W Wind Turbine Generator – A Total Disappointment!

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 out of 5 stars)

I recently purchased the VEVOR 500W Wind Turbine Generator to supplement my existing solar power system, and so far, 🙂 it has been a complete disappointment.

Here's a little background on my setup.

I currently have 200 watts of solar panels charging two batteries through a solar charge controller. On a typical sunny day, my solar panels produce around 85 watts. With my Starlink Mini drawing only about 35 watts, the solar system easily handles the load while slowly increasing my battery voltage to around 12.5 volts.

Now, here's where the VEVOR wind turbine comes in.

Today, I decided to put it to the test. I completely turned off my solar charging system and ran only the VEVOR 500W wind turbine.

And believe me, there was PLENTY of wind!

We had sustained winds of 20–35 mph, with gusts reaching 45 mph. That turbine was spinning like crazy! You would think with that much wind, a 500-watt generator would have no problem keeping up with a little 35-watt load.

Wrong!

Instead of maintaining or increasing the battery voltage, the voltage continued to drop. The turbine was spinning furiously, but apparently producing very little usable charging power.

Thinking the charge controller might be the problem, I even replaced it with another controller.

Same results. Absolutely no improvement!

My little 200-watt solar system easily handles this load, yet this supposedly 500-watt wind generator couldn't even demonstrate that it was keeping up under extremely windy conditions.

I didn't expect a constant 500 watts, but I certainly expected better performance than this!

Bottom line: Based on my experience so far, this VEVOR 500W Wind Turbine Generator has been a total waste of time and money.

I cannot recommend this product to anyone looking for a dependable way to charge batteries or supplement an off-grid solar system.

Extremely disappointed!

Oct 10

🎪 The Circus Is Coming to Town… 

and Apparently So Are the Naked Haircuts! 😂💈

We're about 10 days into October, and more and more RVs are starting to roll into the area. About half of them are actually businesses setting up shop and getting ready for the winter crowds. It's beginning to look a little like a three-ring circus out here! 🎪

Well, the other day, I was returning from town around 11:30 in the morning. It's about two miles from the highway back to the Magic Circle.

About a quarter mile in, I spotted a van parked alongside the road with a sign that said "FREE HAIR."

Free hair? 🤔

Now, I don't need any extra hair. I've already got enough trouble taking care of what little I have left! But I figured maybe they meant free haircuts.

So I turned around, and that's when I noticed another sign that said "NAKED HAIR." 😳

Now they've REALLY got my attention!

Here's the funny part. Neither sign actually had the word "CUT" on it!

I pulled around to the side of the van, where the door was open. A lady came out and explained that she was giving free haircuts.

I told her I'd be happy to pay her, but she said, "If you want to throw me a couple bucks for a tip, that'd be cool."

Well, that sounded like a pretty good deal to me!

She set up a chair right there beside the van and proceeded to give me a really nice haircut. She actually did a great job!

Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me, so I asked her about those strange signs.

Turns out she's a licensed barber in the neighboring county, but not in this one. So apparently, she can't legally advertise "HAIRCUTS" here.

Hence the signs offering free hair! 😂

Okay, that explained one mystery.

But I still had another question.

"So what's this NAKED HAIR business all about?" 🤣

She explained that around 2:00 in the afternoon, she closes up the van and heads farther down the road into the Magic Circle, where she gives haircuts to the folks staying there.

For those who don't know, the Magic Circle is a clothing-optional camping area.

Suddenly, that second sign made a whole lot more sense! 😂

She even handed me her business card and said all I have to do is call, and she'll come right to my RV and give me a haircut.

Now THAT'S what I call customer service!

So, I found myself a great barber, got a free haircut (although I did pay her), and learned something new about the local business community.

But I'm thinking next time I might just wait until after 2:00 to call her.

After all, why settle for an ordinary haircut when you can get the FULL EXPERIENCE? 🤣🤣

Only in Quartzsite, Arizona! 🌵😂

Oct 9

Photo #370 now posted to Collection Pikes/Kountz for display on Echo shows...

Photo #369 now posted to Collection Pikes/Kountz for display on Echo shows...

Photo #311 now posted to Collection Eales/Jellisons for display on Echo shows...

Photo #368 now posted to Collection Pikes/Kountz for display on Echo shows...

Photo #24 now posted to Collection Kathys Family for display on Echo shows..

Oct 8

Photo #367 now posted to Collection Pikes/Kountz for display on Echo shows...

Photo #366 now posted to Collection Pikes/Kountz for display on Echo shows... Courtesy Judy Bunting 

Photo #310 now posted to Collection Eales/Jellisons for display on Echo shows...(background removed)

Photo #365 now posted to Collection Pikes/Kountz for display on Echo shows...

Oct 7

As I traveled around the country this summer, I’ve had the opportunity to visit a number of relatives. Along the way, I’ve been asking about old family photographs—especially those pictures that have been tucked away in albums, boxes, and drawers for decades.

I’ve taken on a project that has become very special to me: restoring and preserving these old photographs with the help of ChatGPT. Some are faded, scratched, damaged, or nearly impossible to see clearly anymore. I’ve been cleaning them up, restoring the details, and sometimes even bringing old black-and-white photographs to life in color.

I now have two major family photo collections that I’m continuing to build—one for my dad’s side of the family (Pikes/Kountz)... and another for my mom’s side. (Eales/Jellison). Every photograph I find is another little piece of our family history that might otherwise eventually be lost.

What amazes me most is seeing these old faces become clear again. These aren’t just photographs. They are our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and generations of people who came before us. Every picture has a story behind it.

So if you're family and you have old photographs tucked away somewhere, please take a look. Wedding pictures, family gatherings, childhood photos, old homes, cars, businesses, vacations—or even photographs where you don't recognize everyone—I would love to see them.

Send them my way, and I'll do my best to clean them up and preserve them. I'll also share the restored photographs so everyone in the family can enjoy them.

The older I get, the more I realize just how precious these photographs really are. Once they're gone, a piece of our history disappears with them.

I'd like to save as much of that history as I possibly can—and hopefully leave something behind that future generations of our family will treasure.

If you have anything to contribute... you can save me some work... please follow the 5 steps below in the photo Carousel..

Clean Up Photos in 5 steps

So a couple of days ago, the temperature decided that 100° every day was perfectly reasonable.

I figured, no problem—I’ll just sit outside in the shade. After all, I know I can burn in about 30 seconds if the sun even looks at me wrong.

So I spent the entire day outside, safely tucked away in the shade. And I swear, I couldn’t have spent more than two minutes total in actual sunshine.

The next morning I wake up, look in the mirror, and I’m RED AS A LOBSTER! 🦞

And it does not help when you are in a nudest area!!!

What the hell?! Apparently the sun has figured out how to make turns and come around corners now.

Needless to say, I don’t sit outside in the shade anymore.

I’ve gone back inside where I can roast properly. 😂

At least indoors, I know what’s cooking me. LOL!

Sep 30

#video  2m Trip to Town and back

Sep 28

#video 3m Trip to Quartzsite

Sep  26

I had absolutely NO idea that today’s trip was going to take me through California.

And I am here to officially report: California sucks. 😂

The minute I crossed the state line, the roads got stupid. Hilly, curvy, bumpy—and apparently California needs an entire series of highway signs just to tell me how fast I’m allowed to drive.

First sign:

65 MPH

Okay. Great.

A little later:

Trucks with three axles — 55 MPH

Still good.

Then:

ANY VEHICLE TOWING — 55 MPH

Well, thank you, California. You could have just put up a sign that said:

DENNIS — 55 MPH. WE'RE TALKING TO YOU.

And the roads! They were so rough, bumpy, and jarring that when I finally stopped, I discovered that my entire solar system had tried to escape.

The big batteries had actually MOVED and ripped wires loose everywhere. Somehow, by the grace of God and electrical engineering, nothing shorted out.

Then there was the GPS.

When I started this morning, it said 2½ hours to go.

Eventually I entered California and had about 50 minutes left.

Great!

I pulled into a gas station and put a little gas in the truck.

And I do mean a little.

Gas was $7.99 A GALLON.

I couldn't afford to fill the tank. I could barely afford to let the truck smell the pump.

Then I pulled back onto the road, looked at the GPS...

TWO HOURS TO GO.

WHAT?!

I had 50 minutes left before I stopped!

Apparently California charges $7.99 a gallon AND adds time to your trip.

California sucks. 😂

Eventually I found the place just fine. I opened the truck door, stepped outside and...

102 DEGREES.

Holy crap!

I did NOT see that coming.

The camping fee was $40 for a week or $180 all the way until April 15.

Well, that didn't take much figuring.

APRIL 15 IT IS!

Then I nearly died getting everything set up in 102-degree heat.

But I'm finally settled in. The generators are running, the air conditioner is going FULL BLAST, and I'm sitting inside recovering from my California adventure.

So...

I'm here for the winter!

Anybody who wants to come visit, come on down.

Oh, and did I mention where I'm camped?

The Magic Circle.

Yep.

This winter could get interesting. 😂

Sep 23

#video 4m Black Rock Rd AZ

Sep 22

#video 1m Trip_from_Black_Rock_Road_AZ_to_Pahrump_NV

Sep 15

#video 2m Trip to Virgin River Recreational area About 8 mi South of my_camping spot Beautiful drive into Arizona

Sep 13

My 2 Cents 

I’m by no means a religious person. But I have to admit, there is one thing I really like about religion: friendship and fellowship. Some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met have been in churches, and oddly enough, the Baptist churches seem to win that contest. 😂

There’s something pretty special about getting together once a week, sitting around with other people, talking, laughing, and actually caring about one another. I may not buy into all the religious stuff, but I certainly can’t argue with friendship and fellowship.

Then there’s the other side of the equation. I’ve also enjoyed visiting clothing-optional places over the years. And honestly, I’ve discovered that there’s something remarkably friendly about a bunch of naked people hanging around together 24/7. 😂

Think about it: at church, everyone takes off their hat before God. At a nudist resort, they take off everything else!

So if there really is a God, I sometimes wonder which situation is closer to what He had in mind. A group of people getting together once a week to fellowship and care about each other—or a group of people who have stripped away all the superficial stuff and are simply comfortable being themselves around one another All day everyday?

Maybe God isn't nearly as concerned about what we're wearing—or whether we're sitting in a church—as He is about how we treat the people around us.

And if that's the case, the nudists might actually have more in common with what he wanted. 😄

#video 32m 10 Day Skinny Dip Challengel

UT

Sep 02

Trip to Spanish River Fork Park to get water

MT

Aug 25

Aug 24

Willard Peak Campground Review

After spending the last six nights boondocking—and finally running out of water yesterday—I decided that, since today’s route would take me to Helper, Utah, I would treat myself to one night at an RV park.

While having lunch at the local Maverik, I searched for an RV park and found Willard Peak Campground. It was only about 20 miles down the road and conveniently located along my route. Their website was incredibly easy to use, and within minutes I had a reservation. I figured I’d be there in about 30 minutes.

After six nights of boondocking, I couldn’t wait to hook up to water and finally wash the dirty dishes that had been sitting in my sink since yesterday.

Then I arrived.

I was assigned a 71-foot pull-through site where the driver’s side of the site is approximately four inches higher than the passenger side. And when I say the entire 71 feet is unlevel, I mean not one portion of the site is remotely level.

But the real masterpiece is the water hookup.

In more than 40 years of RVing, I have never seen a water connection like this. There is no shutoff valve whatsoever. None. You apparently just connect your hose and hope for the best.

Unfortunately, the campground office is closed on Sundays and Mondays. And, of course, today is Monday.

So here I sit, after paying for a site specifically so I could have water, still without water and unable to do anything about it.

At 73 years old and after more than four decades of RVing, I can honestly say this is one of the worst-paid-for camping experiences I have ever had.

I came here expecting one night of comfort after six nights of boondocking. Instead, I got an unlevel parking lot, a bizarre water hookup, and no one available to help.

Needless to say, I will not be coming back.

To be fair.  Apparently they sent me an automated text upon arrival. I only saw it around 9:30 p.m.. I guess it included instructions on how to turn on the water. If you can read the photo. I could not. Anyways, I texted back and they came out and turned the water on finally. About 10:00 p.m.

Next day.  Because these people don't open up till 10:00 a.m. and I was trying to leave at 7 a.m. The only way I could leave was the clamp off my hose disconnect it. they owe me for a 50 foot zero gravity hose and a 12-in bar clamp

Aug 23

Aug 20

Aug 18

Aug 17

Aug 16 - 9:30 am

Aug 16 - 8:00 am

Aug 15

For the last few days, I’ve been busy as crazy! 😂

Wednesday morning, I got up at 4:00 a.m. and headed to Walmart to pick up some things I needed. When I got home, I started working on several projects I needed to get completed.

Over the last couple of days, I’ve been working on:

1. Mounting my water transfer pump to the truck

Previously, the pump was just loose in the truck, which made it difficult to work with whenever I needed to use it. I finally got it mounted securely, so it should be much easier to use now.

2. Wiring up a way to keep the pump battery charged

The battery in the back of the truck runs the water transfer pump, and I needed a way to keep it charged. I now have it wired into the auxiliary line for the RV.

This was a rather difficult job. First, I had to dismantle my current RV plug so I could identify the wiring colors. Once I figured out which wires were ground, positive, and the brake line, I went back to the brake box and wired into them.

The ground and positive wires run the pump. I also want to use the brake line to turn on a light when I hit the brakes. That way, I’ll have a way to confirm that the trailer brakes are actually coming on when I hit the brake pedal. I haven’t wired up that light yet, but that’s next.

3. Replacing the shower head

The old shower head wouldn’t completely shut off. Even when I turned it off, it would continue to dribble—and then sometimes it would actually start flowing again.

The new one shuts off completely, which is going to help me conserve water. When I’m showering, I can turn the water off while I lather up and then turn it back on to rinse. When you’re traveling and concerned about conserving your water supply, every little bit helps!

4. Securing the lithium batteries

Today is Saturday, and I still have a couple of projects to finish before I pull out on Sunday.

Now that I have a drill, thanks to my sister, I need to put a grinding wheel on it and cut a piece of angle iron to the proper length. I’m going to mount the angle iron in a couple of places on the floor of the RV to hold my two lithium batteries in place and keep them from sliding around when I hit bad roads.

At one point, the batteries actually slid around enough that they disconnected from each other—which is seriously bad if they should ever short out. I definitely don’t need two lithium batteries blowing up on me! 😳

These are the two lithium batteries that power my solar system, so keeping them secure is pretty important.

5. Replacing the missing marker-light lenses

Finally, I need to replace the missing marker-light lenses on the RV. I bought the replacement lenses months ago, but I’ve been reluctant to climb way up the ladder and try to get them installed.

I’m hoping to get that done today somehow. Maybe I can convince a neighbor to give me a hand. It’s just getting a little too high for me to comfortably reach these days! 😂

So, as you can see, I haven’t exactly been sitting around doing nothing. Between traveling and trying to keep this rolling home of mine in shape, there’s always something to work on!

Hopefully, I can get the last few things finished today, hook everything up, and be ready to pull out tomorrow. 🚐

#video 2m Coming home with more water for the RV

Aug 13

#video 2m Kathy Lee tolfa and Son Angelo and granddaughter Anastasia visit Lewis and Clark caverns.

Aug 8

#video 3m Copper City Bike Trail Aug 2026

Today I took my first real trail ride on my new bike. Boy, did I learn a few lessons the hard way! 😂

After riding what seemed like forever, I started thinking, “Maybe I should have confirmed this was actually a LOOP before I started.” I was beginning to wonder if the trail was going to loop back to where I started—or if I had just signed myself up for a one-way expedition into the wilderness.

To make matters worse, I forgot to reset the trip odometer, so I have absolutely no idea how far I rode. It had to have been at least 100 miles. Okay… maybe not 100, but by the time I was done, it sure felt like it! 😂

Then, believe it or not, I actually got lost.

I came to a road where the trail crossed and finally got tired of following the trail, wondering if I was ever going to find my way home. So I decided to take the road.

Only problem was… which way?

One direction looked like it went straight to an old farm, so I wasn't exactly feeling confident about my navigation skills at that point.

Fortunately, an old guy in a pickup truck came along. I asked him which way to get back to the corral, and he said, “Just follow me.”

Well, alrighty then! So I followed him.

Right into the biggest damn dog I have ever seen! 🐕😂

That thing came after me like I owed him money! I was doing about 20 miles an hour on a gravel road, looking over my shoulder while this monster was chasing me down.

And THAT brings me to another lesson learned:

Next time, bring bear spray.

Seriously. I'm going to mount that stuff right on the bike and figure out some kind of button-triggered delivery system. 😂

That dog chased me all the way down the road, nipping at my heels. I don't think I've ever been that scared on a bicycle in my life! Fortunately, he never actually caught me. Either he finally got tired… or he decided I wasn't worth the effort. 😳

And then, when I finally made it back, I learned yet another valuable lesson:

Take aspirin before you go riding!

By the time I got back, I was so soreI swear I ached in every bone in my body. 😂

So there you have it—my first real trail ride on the new bike:

Got lost.
Forgot to track the mileage.
Nearly got eaten by a dog.
Learned I need bear spray.\

All in all…

I'd call it a successful first ride! 🚴‍♂️😂

Aug 7

#video 1m Drive through Hyalite Canyon National Park

Aug 6

#Denny

Well, since you asked..

Traveling by myself has been wonderful, but I do wish I could find someone who has the same passion for exploring and seeing these places that I do. Even 10 or 12 years ago, whe n my ex and I traveled together, she just didn't share that excitement. I was always a lot more into the adventure than she was.

I'm not looking for a relationship—just someone who enjoys traveling and experiencing new places. At my age, I have to admit... I really enjoy having my bed all to myself! 😂

Have you ever watched Dry Bar Comedy on YouTube? It's a collection of really funny comedians. You should check it out sometime. The actual Dry Bar is in Provo, Utah, so... I guess you know where one of my next stops will be! 😄

And as I'm writing this, I'm sitting here watching the sunset. Moments like this remind me exactly why I love doing what I'm doing.

Aug 4

#Denny

#video 7m Copper City Dispersed Camping Aug 4, 2026 - 28ft 5th Wheel

Monday morning's adventure was called "The Quest for Water." 🚰

All I wanted to do was fill two 5-gallon jugs so I could haul them back to the RV. Simple, right?

First, I called my Nephew Lee who works at aplace called Fork & Spoon preparing meals all day for the needy . He said, "I'm on my way to work. Just come here and fill them."

Easy enough.

I searched Fork & Spoon on Google Maps, hopped in the truck, and happily followed the directions... through construction zones, heavy traffic, and just enough red lights to question every life decision I've ever made.

I finally arrived... only to discover Google had taken me to the old location. Apparently they moved but forgot to tell Google. Minor detail.

So I fought my way back through the same traffic and headed to the address Lee had texted me. I get there, and all I see are several tall office buildings with giant HRD signs.

No Fork & Spoon.

No sign.

No clue.

No water.

At that point I'd spent over an hour playing Bozeman's version of "Where's Waldo?" and decided I'd had enough. I went back to the RV.

You'd think if your business is hidden inside another building, someone might say, "Look for the HRD building."

Oh well...

I did find water. The nearest establishment to me is the rest area only 5 mi away. I checked the dog park and there is a water spicket there. So I hooked up to that and got my 10 gallons of water

#HeavyEquipment

#video 73m This Family Couldn’t Afford A $65,000 Recovery… So I Did It Free

#video 77m No One Would Rescue This Dozer… And 100 Families Were Depending On It

#Railfans

#video 23m Why Union Pacific and BNSF Choose Completely Different Locomotive!  Which  Design Philosophy Wins

#History #Pennsylvania #Johnstown #Flood

#video 87m America's DEADLIEST Flood i Johnstown Flood  Flood, Fire & Destruction

#HeavyEquipment

#video 49m  Is UK Trucking better than USA  Heavy Hauling with Calamity Kim

#Railfans

#video 25m 10 Locomotives From the 50s That Still Work Harder Than Modern Ones.mp4

Jul 31

#video 5m Cody BLm Dispersed Camping (My Site)

#Railfans

#railfan 22m The GG1's Brutal Truth — How Pennsylvania Railroad's Electric Giant Rewrote Rail History

#railfan 17m The Train Wreck of the MIDNIGHT FLYER at Winslow Junction, NJ (July 2nd, 1922)

#HeavyEquipment

#video 45m It Happened AGAIN… John Deere 9510 Combine Snapped Its Front Axle!

Jul 30

#video 4m Cody Trolly Tour

Review:

Today I took the trolley tour… and made the classic rookie mistake of sitting on the left side.

Before we even rolled, they herded us all into a tight little human clump so we could “hand things to each other.” Very wholesome. Very practical. Also extremely effective at turning the entire right-hand view into a solid wall of strangers’ heads, shoulders, and the occasional backpack.

So whenever I tried to look across the aisle to see the sights on the *other* side of the tour, all I got was people. No scenery. No photo ops. Just… humanity, aggressively blocking my Instagram dreams.

Clearly I now have to take the whole thing again from the right side.

Or maybe that’s the real tour experience they want you to have: bonding with strangers by staring at the backs of their heads for an hour.

I ended up with about 50 photos that I used to put together into a 2–3 minute video to share with my friends.

The trip was very interesting and informative. My only suggestion would be about the seating. Since everyone was grouped together I missed everything on the right side.

There couldn't have been more than five or ten of us, so maybe in the future you could stagger where people sit so everyone gets a chance to see both sides.

Just my opinion, but I think it would make an already great tour even better.

Thanks again for an enjoyable experience!

For my French Friends....

**Avis :**

Aujourd’hui, j’ai fait le tour en trolley… et j’ai commis l’erreur classique de débutant en m’asseyant du côté gauche.

Avant même de démarrer, on nous a tous regroupés en un petit tas humain bien serré pour que l’on puisse « se passer des choses ». Très chaleureux. Très pratique. Aussi extrêmement efficace pour transformer toute la vue du côté droit en un mur solide de têtes d’inconnus, d’épaules et d’un sac à dos occasionnel.

Donc, chaque fois que j’essayais de regarder de l’autre côté de l’allée pour voir les sites de l’*autre* côté du parcours, je ne voyais que des gens. Pas de paysage. Pas d’occasions de photos. Juste… l’humanité, qui bloquait agressivement mes rêves Instagram.

Clairement, je dois maintenant refaire tout le tour depuis le côté droit.

Ou peut-être que c’est la vraie expérience de visite qu’ils veulent vous faire vivre : créer des liens avec des inconnus en regardant l’arrière de leur tête pendant une heure.

J’ai fini avec environ 50 photos que j’ai utilisées pour monter une vidéo de 2-3 minutes à partager avec mes amis.

Le parcours était très intéressant et instructif. Ma seule suggestion concernerait les places assises. Comme tout le monde était regroupé, j’ai raté tout ce qui se passait du côté droit.

Il n’y avait pas plus de cinq ou dix d’entre nous, alors peut-être qu’à l’avenir vous pourriez alterner les places pour que tout le monde ait la chance de voir les deux côtés.

Ce n’est que mon avis, mais je pense que cela rendrait un tour déjà excellent encore meilleur.

Merci encore pour cette expérience agréable !

For my Rail Fans I am re-posting this hour & a half video which I think is the best I have seen!

#railfan:VIDEO The Wreck of the Red Arrow | 1947 Railroad Disaster Reconstructed

The PRR headed up the Red Arrow with a double header of it's famous K4s, which seqways nicley into this 2nd video of the restoration of one of the TWO remainig K4s. The K4's were designed and built at the Altoona Shops and is also where the current restoraion of K4 1361 is ongoing!

#railfan 25m Exciting updates to a long-term restoration - Pennsy K4 1361 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum!

Jul 29

#video 5m Casper Wy to Cody Wy Jul 28 2026

July 27

Casper WY River's Edge RV Park, Casper Wyoming

I could no longer take it a 9000 ft. Too hard to breathe... so I packed up and headed North ...working my way to Bozeman... via Casper then Cody.

#video 3m From 9000 ft. Laramie Wyoming to 5000 ft. Casper Wyoming, July 27th 2026

Jul 28 - 30 

Cody BLM Dispersed Camping

Google Maps To New Digs here

JUL 25

#video 12m Pilot Hill Rd WY Disperrsed Camping From the Air!

JUL 19 

If you’re wondering what I’m doing out here in the West...

... and where I’ll be next year, here’s the honest answer: I’m living out an adventure inspired by the wonderful **WonderHussy** YouTube series! She’s the one who sparked this whole journey for me.

I headed out last November with plans to spend the '26 winter in Quartzsite, Arizona. Along the way, I decided to follow Route 66 and made it as far as Amarillo, Texas. (I missed Sarah by a crowded room) Then I took a detour north, hoping to meet up with my sister while she was visiting her son in Bozeman, Montana. Halfway there, though, I made a U-turn and headed back down to the Cheyenne area so I could catch the return of Big Boy (the famous steam locomotive) at the end of July. After that, I’ll continue on to Bozeman, then swing down to Pahrump to visit my cousin Judy. From there, it’s on to Quartzsite for the winter—along with what feels like 2 million other RVs!

Once winter is over, I’ll just keep wandering the beautiful backroads and wild open spaces of the West, just like WonderHussy does. Her latest video was fantastic and exactly the kind of exploring I want to do.

So if you’re planning to be out West next summer, drop a comment and let me know where you’ll be — I’d love to meet up!

---

**Loving life out here!** Today was a great day. I drove just 15 minutes down the mountain into Laramie for a Walmart run. My campsite sits at 9,000 ft, while the Walmart is at 7,000 ft — the drop is no joke! On the way back, I found a whole bunch of cows casually roaming right through my campsite all day long. I ended up staying inside most of the day because of them.

On the bright side, I got a lot accomplished: picked up supplies and had a new battery installed in the RV. The fridge is finally staying on properly now that the battery stays charged. Tomorrow’s project is figuring out a good way to haul water up to the site.

Every single day is an adventure, and it’s absolutely gorgeous out here. Life is good! 🌄

WY

Jul 16

#railfan 36m The Rise and Fall of Altoona, Pennsylvania

Jul 15

#video 5m Rivers Edge RV Park outside Casper WY July 2026

 #video 2m River's Edge RV Park, Casper Wyoming July 2026

CO

Jul 14

#railfan: 36m Big Boy - How It Works - Animagraphics

Check Out at 20:45 to see steam system to front pistions

Jul 13

#Railfan 48m Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 at Horseshoe Curve (Full Video)

Jun 28 - Jul 10

Mountain Air Ranch - Arrived

#video 5m Driving the Scenic Rocky Mountans (way?)

#video 1m Neeked Denny riding Bike. - Don't Look Ethel!

MAR REVIEW

OK

May 6 – 18, 2026

American Horse Lake

🚨 RV Life: The Great Raccoon Heist of 2026 🚨

So I roll into camp yesterday, plop my Starlink dish on the picnic table like a fancy white dinner plate, and boom — internet in the middle of nowhere. Living the dream.

Around 2 a.m., I hear rustling outside. I peek out the window and see a blue light flashing and dancing all over the place like some alien disco party on my table. My brain immediately goes full crime drama:

> “Somebody’s stealing my Starlink. In the dark.  The audacity!”

Heart pounding, I flip on the outside light. The mysterious blue orb stops moving instantly. I’m squinting through the blinds like a paranoid grandma, seriously considering buying a gun for the first time in my life.

Morning comes. I step outside and discover the terrifying thief left tiny muddy paw prints all over everything.

It was a raccoon. 

A very tech-savvy raccoon who apparently wanted better Wi-Fi.

---

Undeterred, in the morning I heroically mounted the Starlink on a tall pole, strapped it up high like Fort Knox... feeling victorious.

Then at 11:30 p.m., this evening I wake up to metal rattling. Something big is messing with my awning. I turn on the light, open the door, and make direct eye contact with the largest raccoon in North America. This absolute unit had to be 100 pounds of pure muscle and bad decisions. He was hanging off my garbage bag like it owed him money.

If that thing had charged me, I would’ve lost the fight. I’m 99% sure he looked at me like, “You gonna do something about it, human?”

Still thinking about that gun.

Moral of the story: Raccoons don’t want your trash. They want your *setup*. And they’re willing to unionize to get it. 

Send help. Or bear spray. Or a bigger raccoon to fight him.

Taking my trash to Amarillo

Well, after 28 glorious days of boondocking in Mississippi, I swaggered in here thinking I was a full-blown RV survival ninja. "I got this," I said, chest puffed out like a man who’d already won the wilderness Olympics.

Narrator: He did not, in fact, have this.

The last place spoiled me rotten — easy water, trash dumps like a five-star resort for people who poop in tanks. This new spot? Mother Nature’s budget motel. No water spigot. No dump. Just vibes and disappointment.

I rolled up with my trusty truck full of water — enough to fill the whole RV if I had a working transfer pump. Key word: if. I’d borrowed one before like a responsible adult. This time I went pro and bought a brand new one. Cracked open the box with all the excitement of Christmas morning...

… and pulled out a sad, clearly defective little pump that looked like it lost a fight with itself in the factory.

So now I’m out here living like a pioneer who lost a fight with capitalism. $25 later I’m hauling six pathetic gallons of store water like it’s liquid gold. I’m rationing it harder than a doomsday prepper. 

Need to brush your teeth? One tablespoon, champ.  

Washing hands? We’re doing the NASA sprinkle method.  

Look at that sad little bit of water in the bathroom sink — I’ve got the plug in like it’s Fort Knox. Every drop that doesn’t go down the drain gets *recruited* for future service. Gray water is my new personality trait.

Meanwhile, my trash bags are multiplying in the RV like they’re throwing a wild party. Two bags currently staring at me with judgment. They’ve got more baggage than I do.

If I can’t find a free spigot somewhere to fill my jugs, this nomadic king might be forced to pack up and roll out like a broke cowboy. 

Send help. Or a working pump. Or just validation that I’m not the only one out here pretending this is fun. 🚐💦🗑️

May 4 – 5, 2026

Hawthorn Bluff Campground & Fishing Area

I’ve also purchased their entry-level paid plan for $4.99 a month. It makes everything much simpler and includes additional apps, such as Proton VPN for all my devices.

My old email address still receives everything and I will monitor it for a while. Just letting you know you're going to see new email address from me. Got fed up with Google. Grock says this is the best.

Proton Mail (often stylized as ProtonMail) is the world's largest end-to-end encrypted email service, designed with a strong focus on privacy and security. It was launched in 2014 by a team of scientists from CERN and MIT, led by co-founder Andy Yen, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

### Key Features

- End-to-end encryption (E2EE) and zero-access encryption: Emails between Proton Mail users are automatically encrypted so that only the sender and recipient can read them. Proton itself cannot access the content of your emails or attachments—not even for scanning purposes in many cases. Emails to non-Proton users can use password protection or PGP compatibility for added security.

- Swiss-based privacy: Switzerland has some of the world's strongest privacy laws, which protect user data from easy government or third-party access. Servers are located in privacy-friendly jurisdictions (Switzerland, Germany, or Norway).

- No ads or surveillance: Unlike Gmail, Proton Mail doesn't scan your emails for advertising, track you extensively, or sell your data. It's funded by paid subscriptions rather than "surveillance capitalism."

- Additional tools: Built-in tracker blocking, self-destructing (expiring) messages, encrypted contacts, spam/virus protection, and integration with other Proton services like Proton VPN, Proton Drive (encrypted storage), Proton Calendar, and Proton Pass (password manager).

- Open-source elements: Much of its code and cryptography has been independently audited.

- **Apps and access**: Available on web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and even via Tor (.onion address) for extra anonymity.

### Free vs. Paid Plans

Proton Mail offers a generous free plan (with limited storage and features) supported by paid subscriptions (like Proton Unlimited or Mail Plus). Paid plans unlock more storage, custom domains, advanced features (e.g., more aliases, priority support), and full access to the Proton ecosystem. It's used by over 100 million people and businesses.

### How It Differs from Gmail and Others

- Privacy-first: Gmail (and many mainstream providers) uses your data for ads and profiling. Proton cannot read your emails due to its encryption model, and it logs minimal personally identifiable information by default.

- Security trade-offs: Full end-to-end encryption works best between Proton users. Emails to/from external providers (like Gmail) may be scanned for spam/viruses on the unencrypted side, and convenience features (e.g., advanced AI search or integrations) might feel more limited compared to Google Workspace.

- Usability: It has a clean, modern interface and works well for most users, though some note it prioritizes privacy over every Gmail-like convenience.

You can sign up for free at https://proton.me/mail. Many users switch from Gmail and report it as a solid, privacy-respecting alternative, though results depend on your specific needs (e.g., heavy Gmail power users might miss some features).

If you're considering switching, Proton provides easy import tools from other providers. 

dennisgpike@protonmail.com

PA

April 5 – 13, 2026

Grant Street Aliquippa PA

Well folks, on the 15th I finally escaped Pennsylvania after attending Mom’s funeral. 

Rest in peace, Mom… and thank God the rest of us finally get to rest too. 

My only remaining prayer is that my siblings have the courtesy to outlive me. If I never see that gloomy, pothole-riddled, screwed-up state again, it’ll still be too soon.

FL

February 21 – 24, 2026

Bear Lake Campground

#Florida Resident – AGAIN!

Finally official!

On Monday the 23rd, I made it happen: my truck and 5th wheel now sport shiny new Florida plates, and I walked out with my Florida driver's license in hand.

It was a three-and-a-half-hour ordeal at the DMV—but only the first hour and a half was actual waiting. Worth it!

Freedom at last! No more being tied to the Crestview area. I can head anywhere now.

In the next few weeks, I'm planning to travel farther south—maybe even down to visit my cousin Jane around March 15th when my sister heads that way. Can't wait to leave this chill behind for good.

I'm still at Bear Lake Campground until Wednesday. The power hookup has been a blessing, keeping the electric heaters running through these freezing nights.

On Wednesday, it's back to free camping! I'll head east (and a bit south) to Buck Horn Camp near Tallahassee. Once there, I'll reassess how long to stay before continuing farther south.

Looking forward to warmer days, open roads, and more adventures ahead! 🌴🚐

February 25 – March 24, 2026

Big Foot Horse area

### Birthday Thanks & Current Spot Update

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes! It was a fantastic day here in a beautiful park.  

I'm currently parked in a national forest spot (unlike the previous one, which was in a state park). Interestingly, both locations are near Air Force bases. I've been itching to fly my drone, but drones aren't allowed in national or state parks anyway—and around here, with the Air Force presence, I wouldn't trust it. By the time it got airborne, someone might shoot it down! Maybe I'll find a safer spot down the road.

### Mississippi Breakfast Wins

The last two mornings, I've hit up local convenience stores for milk or gas and ended up grabbing breakfast treats.  

The first was alligator sausage—a full footlong—and wow, it was incredible. It had nothing to do with the meat itself; the seasoning and stuffing made it awesome.

Yesterday was a thick, handheld omelette about an inch thick—man, it was just as good. Mississippi really knows how to do breakfast right!

### Smart Moves: Cell Service & Starlink

Surprisingly, this spot has solid cell service—good enough for regular internet use. So I've put my Starlink on standby for a month (just $5 instead of $165). No sense paying for what I don't need right now!

That extra budget breathing room let me snag a great deal on a generator: a 4,400W unit for only $269 (33% off). It's already on its way—actually being shipped to a nearby neighbor's address.

### Park Life & Helpful Neighbors

There are only about four rigs here right now, spread out so far that there's a good football field between each of us—nice and private.

I've chatted with a couple of folks, including one guy in a fifth wheel who's been here a couple of months. He has a mailbox at a nearby UPS store and kindly offered to let me ship the generator there. He'll let me know when it arrives—super helpful!

At the far end is a small RV with an older lady who's been here over three months (well past the usual two-week limit). My friend says no one bothers her, and they've even done welfare checks a couple times. She mostly stays inside.

### Next Stop & Long-Term Plans

The Campendium app has been a game-changer—it highlights all these free boondocking spots off the beaten path. That's exactly what I'm after. These places feel like those dreamy RV ads: rig parked by a serene lake or in the woods. You rarely get that at paid campgrounds, but it happens when you go this route.

Of course, boondocking takes some setup—once the generator arrives to keep the batteries topped off, I'll be fully set.

If you scroll to the top of the page, you'll see my live map tracking toward the final destination: Tecopa, California. (It's a small spot in the Mojave Desert, southeast Inyo County, near Death Valley—famous for hot springs and desert scenery.)

If you've watched Wonderhussy's YouTube videos, you know she's all about the desert gems in the Mojave and Death Valley. I've gotten really interested in that area too. It's only about 30 minutes from my cousin Judy in Pahrump, Nevada. Still a couple months out at least.

That's the update—where I'm at, what I'm up to, and where I'm headed. Thanks again for following along!

Stay safe out there, everyone.