A Hippie and Her Ghosts

In Nevada

So, we left off Hanging Out In Colorado and getting ready to just make a run for it because staying there was not helping.

Boreas and I headed West. We drove through Utah, going by Moab on our way to Arizona. A work app I downloaded before I left Cheyenne, called Wonolo, allows me to look up and accept jobs all over the U.S. regardless of my location. It will warn me when I’m x miles away. The closest job that I could make it to on time was at a Love’s truck stop in Joseph City, Arizona. I had planned on stopping somewhere part way to just sleep for the night, but found no places I was comfortable. One town I finally stopped in for gas actually left me pretty rattled by a group of guys that didn’t want to leave me alone. So we ended up going all the way and actually sleeping at the truck stop.

So we parked on the edge of the parking lot in a row of really big trucks. When Boreas and I awoke in the morning we were trapped. Three trucks deep and trucks stuck in front and behind us. Luckily we didn’t need to go anywhere, so I got to working.

After I completed the first job, the person I did it for contacted me and asked me if I could do some more work. She had more at that store and one down the road. So, I did those, and they’re very simple, quick, and well paying. After that she asked me where I was from or how far I wanted to travel. When I told her I was living in a 14foot camper going wherever I want to go, it was destiny. The job itself is merchandising gift cards in mainly gas stations and Gamestops. But a lot of these locations are in these little towns where there’s one store and no one wants to go there. I, however, was totally game. That’s what I want to do. Travel and see things and be weird.

So, we ended up driving back up North. And I wasn’t really thinking very hard about where we were going, except to work. When we drove over a particular hill coming into Page, AZ I realized I was at Lake Powell!!! On the southwestern side..? I guess. I had been to Lake Powell before, but definitely from the Colorado side. And that night we found our first free camping spot! (Designated free camping.) There was another lady in a camper with her two young daughters, who were absolutely adorable. And they just loved Boreas. I talked to another couple later that night who had an awesome set up with lights and a whole patio. They were just astonished Boreas traveled with me.

You can see a tiny bit of Lake Powell from where we were camped. But mostly it felt like being in the middle of nowhere. So quiet and dark.

The next day we actually drove up into Utah and back down into Colorado City, Az. There was some work there. And then we drove back into Utah, through St. George, back into Arizona, and then finally into Nevada.

The next night we stayed at our Second free camping spot, Poverty Flats. It’s seriously just a flat, huge, gravel flat where people just park wherever. The night we were camping there were probably at least 20 other campers, but so spread out. A few days later, when Boreas and I went by in the tow truck, it was already filling up. I guess this is the time of year a lot of people head south to stay warm.

And we even got to set up Boreas’s Catio that night so he could fully test it out on the road. Since my mom was moving, she gave her chickens away to a friend that already had a “chicken palace.” I saw pictures, it was pretty amazing. They’ll be happy chicken nuggies there. So, I took my mom’s little chicken coop and turned it into a catio for Boreas.

Then the lady I was working for had over a dozen jobs in Las Vegas for me. But looking at camping in Vegas it was expensive, cramped, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about leaving my camper at some locations. So I decided to camp at Lake Mead at Echo Bay.

It was nice to have some water and electricity hookups. The camper does run power from the battery when not plugged into shore power, but basically just to run the lights, fridge, and various alarms(fire/propane/co2). I have a water tank in the camper, but I know that’s a lot of weight, so I generally keep it empty unless I know I’m staying somewhere for awhile. And I also carry smaller water jugs in the car.

Our first day there Boreas and I mostly just hung out. I set up his catio and caught up on much needed sleep. I met a couple of my neighbors. They said they were the beginning of a whole crew of people that came every year and stayed a whole 6months. That was the limit… how awesome. Having grown up in Colorado and mostly camping there I was used to 14 days max… if you get caught. I was glad just to stay for a few days somewhere I felt comfortable leaving the camper locked up with Boreas. Taking the camper to all the little small towns is one thing. I wasn’t about to try to drive to over a dozen different stores toting that thing around.

Everything seemed to be going great. I had all this gig work lined up that had deadlines a week and two weeks out. I had heard back from a campground further south, that I had applied for a volunteer/workamp trade. So after a couple of days we got ready to head south… This is where we find that things were too good to be true…

Shortly after leaving the campground the car started acting up. Its was like it couldn’t figure out what gear it was in. On my dashboard the computer will tell me when to shift into the next gear… I don’t always agree with it, but generally its pretty spot on. Now it was telling me to shift into the gear I was already in and it the engine started running really loud. Showing really high rpms and I just kept losing speed and power. I pulled over a couple times to let people pass as I tried to reason what to do. I finally found a large gravel area to pull over and really assess the situation. And then I could smell the burning rubber. I called some friends and the first thing I checked was the belt. It was fine. Then I saw smoke coming from the other side of the engine and I really knew I couldn’t keep pushing it. It was about 12:30pm this time. I was pretty sure it was the clutch…

I put in a roadside request through my insurance and because of how far I was out I found out the expense was going to be $610. Just to be towed to Henderson, Nevada. But I also had to pay for both the car and camper, even if using one tow truck. They wouldn’t help me figure out where to get it towed to. A couple of shops I called said they wouldn’t be able to look at the car for days and they didn’t have anywhere for my camper. Or it would be locked in their yard and I couldn’t stay there. They even sent the tow truck, but when I couldn’t come up with that kind of money I told them sorry. The driver didn’t mind at all. He liked driving out of town and got to enjoy some scenery.

And so Boreas and I hunkered down in the camper for the night. That’s one good thing about be stranded… at least I had the camper. Boreas and I had food and everything we could possibly need and then some. I had all the batteries and battery packs charged, extra water in the car. So we hung out and I panicked and tried to figure out what to do.

We also had a really good view.

I called the National Park number for the visitor center near by. Asked them if I were to get the car towed and left the camper… how long it would be okay there. They didn’t really have a good answer. It would depend on when it was tagged, etc. A little later that night in a google search rabbit hole, I read that it was perfectly legal to camp on sandbars in National Parks, so I decided I was fine for the night and relaxed a little. Still not sure if that’s totally true, but nobody from the park bugged me. A couple cars stopped to check on us. One car was our previous neighbors from Echo Bay.

The next morning I came up with a different plan. Originally I was trying to get towed to Henderson, because that’s the direction I was going. That’s where all the work was, and where I wanted to be. So instead I found a repair shop back the direction I came, in Overton, Nevada. It was a lot closer, and although I still had to pay for part of the tow, I had more than enough to at least get that far. I called to shop ahead of time and they didn’t even hesitate when I mentioned the camper.

So finally about 10:30am the day after I pulled over, the second tow truck arrives. I assure them I can pay the difference, and we get ready to get hooked up and I snap this picture.

The newest problem is… this is about the time the tow truck driver realized his truck had been cleaned out. Supposedly by the guy before him. He has no tools, no hitch receiver for the camper… etc.

I pull out the little tools I have and we attempt to take apart my hitch receiver so we can put it on his truck. That just doesn’t work. He goes back and forth, I’m guessing with his boss. I don’t speak Arabic, but I’m pretty sure there was a lot of cursing. The guy is super nice to me and super sorry. But concedes that he’s either going to have to go back and get stuff or figure something out. He ends up deciding to go to Overton, where I need towed, with my tow hitch, so that he can buy the right one for his truck. And then come back and get us.

Finally at 1pm Boreas and I got loaded into the truck and were on our way to the repair shop.

When we got there the people were really nice. I put Boreas in the camper and decided to go for a walk while they finished what they were doing and got a chance to look at my car. I got back right as they were calling to confirm I was correct. I needed a new clutch. They had one ready to order, but it wouldn’t be here until Monday. AND it was going to be $2200. I told them I’d get back to them.

It took me all of two minutes to go back in the office and ask them to order the part. I had no idea, and still am not entirely sure how I’m going to pay for this, but there was no other option. I can’t give up. This has just barely started and I am loving it. Even with how difficult its been. It’s all been a crazy adventure, and that I love.

The repair shop has been absolutely amazing. They rearranged their parking lot a little and moved my camper into its only little spot. Hooked us up with electricity and have been letting me come in for the bathroom or water. I have water jugs in the car, but have gone in a couple times to talk to them and ask questions.

I was hoping I could get a rental car, and still work while I waited for my car. But the only place in town rents only atv’s… it is the desert after all. It’s a very small town, not much to do. I even went to the library this morning to figure out how I could register to vote here, or find odd jobs or anything like that… no luck on either at the moment. Definitely gonna figure out how to vote while I’m here.

So now Boreas and I just hangout in the camper. I was on such a roll. I’m annoyed and frustrated, but it really couldn’t be going much better considering the circumstances. There is an rv park down the road they could have sent me to, and they didn’t. I have food, water, internet, blah, blah, blah.

So now I’m going to try to focus my time on this blog. On my other social media presence. I know I have evidence from ghost hunting I just need to get into videos and get out there. So hopefully this will still be a productive time for me. I’ll be learning a few things I’m sure.

But before I go. I have started a GoFundMe. for the $2200 to pay for the clutch. If I was going to be here longer, I’d just go apply for a job. But, I don’t think in the long run that would benefit me. I also have been in contact with the lady I was working for and still have a lot of work lined up from her. Some of it needs to be done before the end of this weekend, so some of it she has given to other people. But she seems to like my work and said to let her know when I’m mobile again.

I may however look into traveling a little less with the camper. Find, like I did for a couple days in Echo Bay, a place to leave the camper and go work but for longer. Even driving back and forth is easier on the car than taking the camper everywhere. I may look at lightening the load a little bit. I can’t help but feel taking the camper everywhere does a lot of work and may be the problem, or amplified the problem.

I refuse to give up though! So, until I find a way to win the lottery without spending money… here’s my GoFundMe: http://gofund.me/7aa664f9

I really don’t expect people to be able to just give me money. I really went back and forth in my own head a lot before I decided to go this route. I’ll keep trying to find a way to make money while I’m here, but without my car I really don’t know how to do that by Monday.

If you do donate, know that I truly appreciate it.