Setting Up the Winter Base

Drove to the southwest with the RT to set up our winter base. Left during a three day rainstorm as the consequence of a large stationary front which extended from the gulf of Mexico to Canada.

I recall a Thanksgiving a couple of years ago in which serious snow arrived in the midwest. Once everything ices over it becomes difficult or impossible to get the RT out of storage.  Then there was the early December snow and ice storm in 2013.

"He who hesitates is lost" is my motto in late November and early December.

So, at 4:00am on the 18th I got into the RT during a serious downpour, but I had loaded the RT during a break in the weather during the previous evening. I headed south, south-west.  By the time I got to St. Louis it was merely overcast (9:00am). By Oklahoma the clouds were breaking. It was an easy, but tedious drive of about 1782 miles. My Verizon Navigator had predicted 1770 miles, but a road closure in northern Oklahoma resulted in a slight detour. Not bad and a lot better than my TomTom GPS (aka "DumbDumb.").  Total time with engine spent running was 29:15 according to the Chevy 3500.

Spent the first night in a rest stop in Oklahoma. Low of about 40F so I ran the generator and the heat pump, got up at about 3:00am and continued my trek. Spent the next night in a rest stop in New Mexico. At about 4500 ft elevation the temperature reached a low of about 31F. Again, ran the generator and the heat pump. I could have used the propane furnace, but it was mild when I went to sleep.  At dawn I continued on the road.

By 10:30am on the 19th it was clear skies to the horizon.

At about 11:00 am on the 20th I arrived at my destination.  Blue skies and warm weather. Now, this is more like it!

After checking in, I went about getting the RT into the bay.

As expected, it was a tight fit.

There were a few surprises, but no show stoppers.  Worked out the details and settled in for a nice, restful sleep.

Spent several days getting things set up. The RT looks odd in the larger bay. I do get some stares and a few questions from passers-by:

I then left and boarded a plane to return to the northland. It was an uneventful flight and I strolled through O'hare at about 7:00pm on the 23rd.