2024 Estelline Trip

[markiver54]

Jim, your planning and prep are very admirable. I know you and Maureen are looking forward to your trip to Estelline as I am for you as well.
Looking at the current pics out there though, you might want to take your time getting there!

[JEBar]

Looking at the current pics out there though, you might want to take your time getting there!

you can well believe we keep an eye on both the current and long range weather forecast for out there ....

[Sir Henry]

Safe travels.

[JEBar]

another day, another decision made and acted on .... last year we purchased a Domende 12 volt Refrigerator 54qt Portable Freezer Electric Cooler (first picture below) ---- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BJ ... UTF8&psc=1 for use during trips in our camper .... it worked exceptionally well until it quit working .... a warranty replacement was delivered to us in Estelline and, so far, it has performed flawlessly .... for decades we have brought back thousands of dollars worth of South Dakota steaks for our family and some friends along the way .... our big Yetti cooler (second picture) has been our largest way of transporting those steaks from SD back to NC .... the problem is the Yetti's bulk and weight .... with a full load of steaks and ice, its weight has already required us to reweld the carrier shown three times .... we've tried to haul it on the back of our truck by that restricts the camper from pivoting and can hit the front of the camper .... had to have some fiberglass work after we got back from our last trip .... we've decided to retire the Yetti and have ordered another Domende Electric Cooler/Freezer ....it should be here shortly after May 1st

[JEBar]

bought new ratchet straps and secured our deck floor plates along with step ladder for travel ... things are coming together slowly

[JEBar]

return trip route/date information posted in opening post in this thread

[JEBar]

today we are in the second day of a 5 day outing in our camper .... for us this camping is a test of our camper an truck for the coming trip to South Dakota .... whenever possible we use the satellite dish mounted on top of our camper .... I really didn't anticipate having to unpack our portable dish antenna but as it has turned out a large tree next to our campsite is blocking the satellite signal from reaching our roof mounted dish .... that is also the case for the site we will be camped on in Estelline, SD for our 3 months out there .... it took me a while to get it going but its up and running .... so, that's another item checked off .... all in all, its been a good day .... we did have a brief heavy shower late this afternoon .... other than that the weather has been really nice

[markiver54]

Glad things are going well Jim!. Looks like all systems are a go for Estelline.

[JEBar]

Looks like all systems are a go for Estelline.

had a hiccup this morning that indicated all systems may not be go .. .. in short, our portable Pathway X2 wasn't working .... here is a short 2min YouTube video about the X2 --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWVPhkQzLlY --- showing how it works .... as noted the only time we customarily need to use it is during our summer stay in South Dakota .... in trying to figure out the cause of the problem I've literally had my hands on everything between the X2 and our camper's TV .... I quickly found a some coax connections that were a bit loose but not so loose so as to prevent the X2 from searching/locking onto satellites .... the problem ended up being an anchor rope that is used to make sure the X2 and it tripod stand aren't blown over during a high wind ..... corrected that and all's good .... hopefully all of this will help the setup in South Dakota to be easier and quicker