Off The Grid Living

October 10th - Packing to leave!

Well, finally the USPS delivered all my stuff from Alaska...thank goodness I spent the last few days making room and the luggage carrier for the back of the camper! Amazing how a couple totes worth of space can free up some space in the truck and the camper!

The luggage rack came out beautiful and it works great. Mounted it yesterday on the bumper and painted it to match the camper. Today I unloaded the totes and sorted out what can be put out back! Totes are loaded and secured!

Here is my stuff from Alaska! Too much crap!

Here is the rack mounted on the bumper!

Totes Loaded and secured for travel!

My plans call now for leaving on Friday morning - October 12th. Head straight down to Dillon, Montana and meet some friends for a little stream fishing and good food, drink and laughter!

Then after a couple days I will head to West Yellowstone and do some exploring and take a picture or two in Yellowstone. Then arriving in Salt Lake City on the 23rd.

The 26th my imaginary (soon to be real) girlfriend arrives from Ohio and we leave for a two week adventure in Southern Utah...4 day raft trip - 4 or 5 National Parks and some out of the way exploring and camping!

Stay tuned for details and photos!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest

October 8th - Final Details! Storage...

I had several goals with regard to the camper for this coming winter. Last year was get acquainted and figure out what was missing and what improvements I could make to make living full time in a small RV a little better.

Well, most if not all of my goals have been met. I got the trailer brakes fixed, new tires on the trailer, new tires on the truck, and solved some of my storage problems with some compartmentalization and re-distribution and the dumpster. But today we embarked on a huge solution to some storage issues...see below.

Freezer space was also an issue and I purchased a small freezer which should arrive tomorrow which should eliminate that as an issue. We'll see how it fits where I propose to put it...but I have other options if that doesn't work.

There were two projects for today, one was to smoke some of my Alaska salmon and the other was to fabricate a rack for the back bumper on the trailer to hold a couple storage containers...great headway was made on both, actually the salmon is done!

Adding some lemon pepper to the brine'd salmon before putting it in the smoker.

In the smoker!

The finished product and Ohh is it good!

Happiness is being with a good friend who has a complete fabrication shop...cutting steel, welding all a easy job with the right equipment! Jim Flinchbaugh is amazing and a great friend...

Starting fabrication!

More welding!

And the nearly finished project - one more brace to install, then weld it to the back bumper of the trailer, mount the spare tire and load it up!

My plans have not changed a whole lot, still waiting for the USPS to deliver my containers from Alaska, then a day or so to get organized then off to Yellowstone for a few days, then Salt Lake City by the 23rd or so...then a two week adventure to Southern Utah and Northern Arizona!

Stay tuned for more details as they happen!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest

Update from Montana - October 1st - 2012

I am in Kalispell Montana and will be for a couple weeks. I got here last Wednesday and have been busy getting the truck and trailer squared away and ready to travel. I am waiting for several containers of things I shipped down from Alaska, so I will more than likely be here until around the 12th or so.

Yesterday was a highlight! I managed to apply a new decal I got to the truck. I personally hate those little stick families people put on their cars, so when I saw this, I just had to buy a couple for the truck!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would post a photo of the generator I put in the bed of the pick-up truck to power the camper when remote camping or when I need to charge batteries or whatever. As you can see, it fit nicely in front of the 5th wheel hitch and other than not being able to run it when sleeping (exhaust fumes might kill me), it will power the entire 5th wheel including A/C if needed. I would just un-hitch and park the truck away from the camper enough to avoid fumes.

Here is a closeup of the generator. It is electric start with a remote so I don't even have to leave the camper to fire it up!!

More detail on travels over the next couple days. Taking a trip down to the Bison Range for the annual roundup tomorrow. Should be fun and a few pictures!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest

Back to my little home - Winter Travels Begin! Sept 29th, 2012

Well my last season at Yes Bay Lodge in beautiful SE Alaska is complete! I was very sad to leave Yes Bay this year, but also very anxious to start my new adventure for the remaining part of 2012 and beyond. Hard to believe that I will not be returning to Yes Bay!

I flew from Ketchikan to Kalispell Montana on Wednesday the 26th of September. Picked up at the airport by my buddy who has stored my truck and 5th wheel while I was gone for the summer. We had a ton of projects planned for the summer for the truck and the 5th wheel. I list a little summary of projects which my good friend Jim worked on while I was gone and a few we have finished since I have been here.

Here is my 5th wheel all washed and ready for my arrival!

1. Fix brakes on trailer - Jim took care of this while I was gone, a small electrical problem - that will make traveling and stopping much easier.
2. Check brakes on truck and oil change - all done when I got here!
3. New tires on trailer - Done while I was gone!
4. New tires on truck - was real lucky here, Jim found a very nice set of tires on Craigs List for a great price and hardly used. Thanks to friend Dustin at Les Schwab had them mounted and balanced and on the truck! They look great and the truck is much quieter and handles way better!

5. Installed a new generator in the bed of the truck - remote start which will make it nice! Pic on this tomorrow!

6. New television mount - custom fabricated by Flinchbaugh engineering!

7. Today we finished the wiring for the TV and installed an A/B switch and repaired the cable TV hook-up for when I am in a campground...I don't have to run the wire out the window and into the TV - We repaired the trailer hook-up wire and also the antenna hook-up wire to the A/B switch so just a matter of hooking the cable to the trailer outside hookup spot and hit the switch!

8. Installed two waterproof tool boxes in the back of the truck bed behind the hitch to store my tools and trailer hook-up supplies. This will make some more room in the trailer and the cab of the truck.

Travel Plans - My schedule for the next month is pretty well set. I will be here in Kalispell for the next couple weeks, I have to wait until my stuff arrives that I shipped down from Alaska. I am also going to make a few short trips into Glacier National Park and the Bison Range again. Plus continue to make the trailer a little more liveable. New inside stereo and a few other projects.

Then around the middle of October I am going to take a leisurely trip through Yellowstone and the Tetons and end up in Salt Lake City on the 23rd of October. I may have a friend meeting me in Salt Lake for a little vacation and rafting trip scheduled out of Moab Utah, then down through Monument Valley and back over to Antelope Canyon and two additional slot canyons out of Kanab Utah ending up in Zion National Park then back to Salt Lake City. After that my schedule is up in the air, I am in contact with several places to work and spend the rest of my winter, but plans have not been finalized as of yet.

Stay tuned for more details and some great pictures this coming month!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest

Book Final and Ready to Order!

Two days ago I finally received all three copies of my latest book of my Winter Travels. The hardbound versions are better than the soft cover version, since the book is only 20 pages thick the soft cover is a little thin.

I am working now on a larger (Thicker - more pages) version focusing specifically on the Red Rock area of Southern Utah, Arizona and Nevada. I hope to have it available later this summer.

I also have a book about half way completed that Chronicles my 6 years as a Fishing Guide at Yes Bay Lodge in the Misty Fjord National Monument the book is called "Seasons in the Mist" and will be mostly photographs with some interesting fishing experiences and life as a Guide!

Winter Sojourn...

National Parks of ...

By Jim Lucas

Book Preview

I always enjoy my time in Alaska and look forward to the Guests I fish with, however, after my winter trip in the 5th wheel, it may be time to spend a summer someplace beautiful in the Lower 48 or maybe try a different area of Alaska. I have grown comfortable at Yes Bay Lodge and firmly believe it to be just about the BEST remote fishing Lodge in Alaska, however my wandering soul feels the need to experience some other places and Alaska is so big, it would be nice to spend at least one season on a different location.

We'll see so many decisions to make over this summer!

Thanks for following my blog and stay tuned for more adventures!

Capt Jim

Winter Sojourn

Well I spent this past week designing a photo book of some of my best photographs from this winters adventure. There are three versions all with the same content. Full sized - Large Landscape Hard Cover premium paper - $53.95 right now Smaller Size - Standard Landscape Hard Cover premium paper - $48.00 right now Smaller Size - Standard Landscape Soft Cover Standard paper - $19.95 right now. You can grade the paper on this one.

Here is a preview of the book.

Winter Sojourn 2012 Photo Book by Jim Lucas | Make Your Own Book

Enjoy, Capt Jim (Gypsy Professor)

The Gypsy

Over the past twelve months or so as I talked about my plans to leave the “regular Life” and go off on my adventure many of my friends questioned my sanity to say the least!

Last night as the end of my winter journey comes to an end, I reflected on those thoughts and the many, many people who questioned me…but until you have seen the wild, lived the wild and had the opportunity to discover natures wonder and live within it…it is very hard to understand…

The Gypsy

A name fondly given me by my good friend Steve Carter this winter during my travels

A long days drive had me weary and as the sun slowly set and the evening twilight replaced the sunlight, I looked for a spot to stop and spend a quiet evening reflecting on this past 6 months journey. As I drove along through the mountains of Montana with snow capped peaks on one side and high mountain lakes on the other the spot to stop materialized right in front of me…a quick U-turn and I was overlooking a glass calm moonlit lake with mountains in the background…as I pulled in to the overlook I startled a herd of deer who were moving down towards the lake to drink and feed in the rich grassland that surrounded the lake… After I parked I left the door open to my humble little home so I could continue to enjoy nature’s majesty. Dinner was cooked, the heat from the stove warmed my house and I watched as the lake grew even calmer…a quiet cocktail enjoying the view and reflecting on this past years journey I was soon ready for bed, I heard the coyotes yelping in the distance, this had been a fine evening.

As I climbed in bed I heard noises outside which sounded like footsteps…wondering if someone else was invading my territory I quickly rose and looked outside to discover a large heard of Elk moving through the crusted snow right outside my door, they too were heading to the lake for a drink of water and some fresh growth of meadow grass.

This morning rather than be awoken by the sounds of a city, the sirens, the traffic, the clock radio the god forsaken Television…my alarm clock was the sounds of migrating geese and the lonely call of a bald eagle…the Eagle call, a warm reminder that my adventure continues as my Alaska home beckons me once again.

And I thought…they ask why I have done this??

More later

Capt Jim

Professor aka The Gypsy!

New Town - Another State and GREAT NEWS!

I left Grand Junction Colorado again on Wednesday morning the 11th of April. Plan was to start my journey north to Kalispell Montana, with a stop in an old western town in Wyoming. So I spent the day driving up through northern Colorado and made a stop for fuel near Rawlins on damn near empty...you get in Wyoming fill your tank there may not be another gas station for over 100 miles...I drove the last 30 miles with the low fuel warning light glaring in my face!! But Made it. Then drove on to Riverton Wyoming and spent an overnight dry camping in the Wal-Mart parking lot, after a nice dinner in Riverton.

Early morning departure to drive up the Wind River Range to my destination of Meeteeste, Wyoming.

The drive up...with this out my left side of the truck almost all the way!

At another stop I say a herd of antelope and by the time I got the rig stopped, of course they moved further away....but a wonderful sight anyway!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I arrived in Meeteeste after about a 2 hour drive, what a wonderful little old west town...with some interesting history. You can read about the town HERE!

Here is one of the old original bank buildings which is now a museum (Free entry at all museums in Meeteeste!

And an early RV - a Sheep Herders line camp wagon.

And now the good news - for those who have been following my Coast Guide License renewal and the problems of providing them the "amplified information" regarding my health status after my stroke 2 years ago....it has been an ordeal!

Yesterday I received this in an email!!

"Your application has cleared the safety and suitability vetting and medical screening/evaluation processes and is currently awaiting a professional qualification evaluation."

So it looks as though I am approved, will wait for the final notice that my new license is on the way before a big celebration, but I feel better about it now!!

Capt Jim
Gypsy Professor

Update - April 9th, 2012

A little update...I am in Grand Junction Colorado camped behind the Moose Lodge, it is a great, inexpensive spot to be in. Electric and water and sewer close by, so easy camping except for the sand spurs...damn RV section is full of them. But the drinks are good and reasonable, the food is good and inexpensive...and some nice people. Wish the club were open more than 3 nights a week...but as with all Fraternal Clubs generating new younger members is a PIA. Not sure why. This club has a beautiful facility and nice people, all old, but nice. At 62 I think I am the youngest person in the club on any given night.

I am STILL waiting for information on the renewal of my Coast Guard License...hopefully the Dr in Salt Lake supplied the last request for information on Friday. I am checking on that today...so if not Friday maybe tomorrow.

No real immediate travel plans at this point in time. I am staying here until time to head towards Montana. And making sure that everything for the USCG has been completed.

No real picture taking the past few days...more trailer work, had a hose break and leak 20 gallons of water from the fresh water tank all over and had to fix that, so not much going on...today is re-supply day and some clean-up.

I hope to take a few pictures either later today or tomorrow. Then is the USCG is satisfied, I will work on the plan to begin heading North.

More later.

Capt. (Maybe) Jim
(Professor)

The trip so far in a slide show

Enjoy the pics - they are in the order taken...

Capt Jim

March 5th & 6th - Leaving Moab area

Before leaving the Moab area on Tuesday the 5th of March, I decided a late afternoon trip into Arches was a worthy effort....

Spent the morning getting the trailer ready to travel and for some remote camping, so filled the water tank, emptied the waste tanks and got everything put away and ready for the ride towards Grand Junction Colorado...

But here are a few shots from Arches National Park.

More to come as I continue my travels...will be in Grand Junction for a few days before heading back up to Salt Lake City to hopefully put an end to the renewal of my USCG License...they are being difficult with some of my past health issues....

More later,

Capt Jim

Moab and Canyonlands

Time to recoup, clean the trailer, shop for some groceries and spend some time in one place. I chose to take my break in Moab, cold here and some snow the first couple days, but it warmed up nicely in the afternoons and I was able to visit Canyonlands National Park - both areas that are accessible from here. Island in the Sky and the Needles district.

Here are some pictures from my travels this week.

Today - Monday the 5th of March is a get ready to leave tomorrow day, square the trailer away, fill the water tank, empty the waste tanks and fill up with gas and pick up a few snacks for the road...looks like I may head over to Colorado - Grand Junction area and do some exploring...

Stay tuned for more travels....

Captain Jim
(Professor)

Driving Day - Zion to Bryce Canyon to Moab

I left the campground near Zion with the intention of going to Bryce Canyon and staying a few days...but the weather and altitude did not cooperate. I wondered why so many of the campgrounds were close - Holy Crap that place is high, over 8800 feet and snow and windy and colder than hell...so I went in to the park, it was sunny and cold when I went through the gate, after a short stop at the visitor center and a rest room break I return outside to find the cloud level had dropped to the parking lot and it was snowing like crazy...only re-enforced my decision to head back down the hills and get to lower altitude and better weather...

Here is the parking lot...

And the view...

So I went inside the trailer and had lunch, took a snooze and waited for some sunshine as hard as the wind was blowing I knew this snow squall would not last forever....it never got real bright and sunny but at least you could see!