Propane Price: Not As Bad As I Expected

Above, The Beast at the clampout two weeks ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before heading off to the fall clampout in Arizona with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus two weeks ago, I went to Gallup Propane Service to have The Beast's propane tank filled.

The motorhome needed five gallons. The price was lower than I expected : $2.40/gallon. It was $1.54/gallon in 2019.

It was still less than what I was used to when I lived in Tarzana, California. The price was usually around $3.60/gallon at the Northridge U-Haul.

Generally, our autumn weather tends to be brief and we get our first snowfall in October, which is only days away. The last fill-up of the house propane tank was at the end of August and I haven't used much propane while home or while off camping.

Ronchetti Sign

Above, the Ronchettie for Governor sign in the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last Sunday, it was "iffy" that I would be able to attend this month's dinner group gathering at historian Martin Link's. I was in Arizona over the weekend for the Lost Dutchman Chapter's clampout near Ash Fork in the Kaibab National Forest.

But since I got home around 11:00 in the morning, I was able to relax a bit, unpack and be able to attend the dinner that evening.

It was a good thing that I did as a fellow came by Martin's with some campaign signs. I got two Ronchetti signs and a couple of others. I put one of the Ronchett signs in the front yard and gave one to James, my next-door neighbor, who placed his in the corner of his yard that faces Whispering Cedar Road (excellent spot).

New RV House Battery

Above, last weekend at Kaibab National Forest. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I had to do yesterday after getting my laundry done was to head into Gallup to Navajo Tractor to get a new RV house battery.

During the clampout, the house battery kept draining faster than usual, which had me firing up the generator to charge it up. It got completely down at one point. I had to do this about three times each day.

Navajo Tractor is a dealer for Interstate Batteries. The battey I bought before was a Champion. I did get about four years worth of use out of it. 

So, I got a new Group 24 Deep Cycle Interstate battery for the motorhome.

RV Setup Checklist

Above, after settting up camp in the Kaibab National Forest last week. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After one's drive to their camping destination, the next thing to do is to set up camp.

Experienced campers, tent ot RV, know what needs to be done, but there may be some newbies who could use a little help. An article in RV Lifestyle has posted an RV setup checklist that will help smooth things out.

They begin with:

When you arrive at camp, the last thing you want to do is waste too much time setting up camp. That’s why it’s important to have a solid RV setup checklist that outlines everything you need to do when you arrive at your campsite.

By having a system in place, you can ensure that everything gets done every time and that your trip goes smoothly.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips for setting up your RV when you arrive at camp. Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll talk about breaking down your RV before leaving!

To read more, go here. 

The Clampsite

A little bit ago, I uploaded my photos from my Canon camera of this weekend's Lost Dutchman clampout in the Kaibab National Forest near Ash Fork, Arizona.

Here's the ones from the clampsite: 

Starting Breakfast

Above, getting prepared to cook breakfast.  Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

It is almost 5:30 and the Lost Dutchman Chapter's cook crew is starting to cook breakfast.

It is supposed to be ready by 8:00.

They did an excellent job on ladt night's spaghetti dinner. Great sauce!

Made It!

Now at the clampsite near Ash Fork, Arizona. 

There's about 30 of us early arrivals. The clampout officially starts today. 

Tusayan Campground Expansion Project

Above, the Grand Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Kaibab National Forest is planning to expand the Ten X Campground a few miles south of the town of Tusayan, Arizona near Grand Canyon National Park.

It and several other campgrounds (some commercial) fill the needs of tourists in RVs and tents who cannot get a campsite inside Grand Canyon National Park. If the expansion is approved, it will add more sites and modernize the existing facility.

According to the Arizona Daily Sun:

The Kaibab National Forest will be accepting comment on a proposed project to remodel and expand the current Tex X Campground, which is located south of Tusayan near the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park. 

The expansion would increase capacity from the current 70 campsites to a total of 300. The total expansion and remodel would encompass about 345 acres. The comment period continues through May 30. 

The project is designed to increase overnight camping for visitors to the area and improve overall experience by upgrading aging facilities and adding amenities. 

The remodel and expansion would allow the park to accommodate large RVs. The 230 sites to be added would be a mix of RV, individual tent, and small group sites.

 To read more, go here.

Fire Restrictions At Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest

Above, The Beast at Trailer Village at Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In many areas, particularly in the Southwest, it had been a particularly dry winter.

As this is the case, the Forest Service and the National Park Service are implementing fire restrictions in Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park. These restrictions start June 8.

According to the Grand Canyon News:

FREDONIA, Ariz. — The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service will implement additional fire restrictions, also known as Stage II fire restrictions, across the North Kaibab Ranger District, and the South Rim, North Rim and Inner Canyon of Grand Canyon National Park beginning at 8 a.m. this Friday. Visitors should be mindful that these new fire restrictions will limit certain activities and will remain in effect until rescinded, which typically occurs after significant and widespread moisture arrives and fire danger levels subside. 

As a reminder, the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts are already in Stage II fire restrictions and will also remain in effect until lifted.

To read more, including what Stage II fire restrictions prohibit, go here.