Oliver Update /  by Dave Hileman

Thermostat is on the move! Tracking the “overnight” package since last Tuesday - Factory, to Baton Rouge Tuesday to Friday, Saturday to Nashville, Sunday to Lawrenceville, the local distribution center.

Big Horn Sheep (3 photos) /  by Dave Hileman

We spotted this small herd of Big Horn Sheep near the main road at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.

The Oliver Update: Fedex has had the part in the Baton Rouge facility since Wednesday before noon and it still is there - it was shipped with overnight fees on Tuesday from the company and it is simply “delayed” with no explanation, no action and no promise it will leave there today or tomorrow or Monday. We are delaying again.

Mother and new born were staying back very still away from the main herd. What do you call a baby Big Horn Sheep? Little Toot Sheep?

Leader of the pack (and now he’s gone)

Lonely and Hot - Oliver Update (that may have the same title:) /  by Dave Hileman

This is a very small mining operation on private land, maybe a single family effort? It is on the edge of the Mohave Desert National Monument but still well in the desert itself. We are several miles off the main highway on a dusty and deeply potholed sort-of-paved road. I cannot imagine what day to day life is like in this area. But I was living here I would guess each day would be like a bad April Fools day prank. Surely this is not my home.

Update: as of 4:00 Thursday the thermostat had not arrived but they were tracking it and still thought it would arrive by close of business. Then it would be installed Friday and tested through the day. We do not yet know if we will leave on Sunday but still hope to do so. I may not update the travel plans until the Monday post.

Big Day /  by Dave Hileman

We find out later today if the trailer is done and ready to be picked up Monday the 4th of April.

We are anxious to be back on the two lane roads headed to parks and friends and travel adventures. So, watch Saturday’s post for the latest on the next - shorter, much shorter, trip.

This is a shot from Death Valley headed toward Artists Point.

Contrast (update added 10AM today) /  by Dave Hileman

This is taken in the midst of the Great Sand Dunes of Death Valley National Park. I found the mesquite trees fascinating. Here is one atop a dune with the purple/blue/grey of a mountain looming in the background.

Late Update: just heard that the testing of the Oliver is underway. Thermostat failed and is to be replaced in the AM with a new one. It has been fussy for a while and this is not surprising. The good news is that they have moved from repair to testing. Yay!

No One's Favorite /  by Dave Hileman

This is a House Sparrow with a difference. House Sparrows were introduced into the US in 1850 in NYC and are now widespread and part of the reason for the decline of other sparrow types as they aggressively compete for nesting space and food. This one differs by the richer colors found in the western variations and by the very dark bill and eye stripe found only during breeding.

In this image you can see the dark throat and breast

Spring of 2021 #3 /  by Dave Hileman

We did not see a tree larger than a decent sized shrub for miles then, walking toward the rock formation in the “Lone Ranger” section of the Alabama Hills we saw this enormous tree, towering over the landscape. Turned out there was a small spring here and a few trees thrived in the moist environment. This was taken early in the day with the rising sun illuminating the mountains. You can still see wisps of snow on the top of the highest mountain in the lower 48 states.

Spring of 2021 #2 and Oliver Update /  by Dave Hileman

Evening light show over the Alabama Hills.

Heard from Oliver Company yesterday. The wiring aspect is almost complete and tested. The smaller things we requested are done. What remains are two items and final testing that must be done outside for the solar after these are finished. First the furnace that fried is on back order and might not make it before the middle of April. Instead they recommend putting the furnace that goes into the current Oliver line - it requires a couple of modifications but they have it, it is a bit more efficient and has a smaller footprint but more BTUs. About the same price.

The second issue is the brake assembly. The labor to repair all of that is half of a new whole axle with better bushings, sealed bearings (no more repacking every so many miles) and new shocks.

We agreed to spend the extra on the new axle assembly and go with the new furnace that they have in stock. The estimate for completion is still 3/31 and we are planing to pick up the trailer on 4/4, a Monday and then spend the night at the Oliver camping factory site before moving to one on the Natchez Trace (18 miles away) for a second night of testing .

We have greatly scaled back our travel after and plan to visit Mammoth Cave, Camp Nelson and a battlefield all in KY, head to Knoxville and then home.

Spring of 2021 /  by Dave Hileman

A year ago we were in the west visiting parks in CA, NV and AZ. I have several un-edited photos from that trip that i have begun to process. The next week or two of photos will be from that trip.

The image is from the Alabama Hills just east of the Sierra Nevada range in California. I did not know the Alabama Hills existed even though I have seen them dozens or hundreds of times in movies and TV shows. Extremely interesting place. This is one of the arches found in the area framing yet more of the rock formations for which the Hills are known.

Rain in the Forecast Today /  by Dave Hileman

This was part of an art installation done for Valentine’s Day at the Quinta Mazatian World Birding Center in McAllen, Texas. They were suspended over a section of the path and just a few feet over head. It made a nice impression.

Scouting Report and NEWS /  by Dave Hileman

I hope your first day of spring was a lovely as ours here in Raleigh. Cindy and I did a nice hike of about three miles at Umstead Park. I have been looking for a tree, a specific tree in a specific location for a potential photo in the snow. It does snow here on occasion. I wanted one of these trees that keep the leaves after all the others have fallen, they are pale white to a soft gold color. It would be nice to know the name of the tree. Anyway, they are often obscured by the larger trees around them or clustered with many others making a chaotic view or in an area that gets little sun. So my “imagined” photo is one of these trees, alone in the dark forest with new snow and a shaft of light. Plus one I can access. This one fits the bill, so….

Other news, we received the check from AMICA today and are greatly relieved. No new updates on the progress or lack of for Oliver but we are moving forward on some fronts.

Detail

Spoonbills /  by Dave Hileman

These Roseate Spoonbills were found in Southeast Texas near the Rio Grande. There were a lot of resident waterfowl of al kinds there and lots of wintering birds as well. Neat place.

Working /  by Dave Hileman

These are the boats of some very hard working people, those who harvest oysters in the James River. They were tied up at the marina on the James in Newport News.

The Office

Four graceful ladies

The less usual rounded stern

Radical Cow /  by Dave Hileman

We were parked along a two lane road (touring:) to check some directions and i noticed this cow staring at us. I got my camera out and rolled down the window to take the shot while the animal just slowly chewed and stared. I think the cow was trying to intimidate me for interupting lunch - with mohawk hair, steely glare and, of course, all dressed in black. Well it worked and off we went.

Saint Patrick's Day Be Upon Ye. /  by Dave Hileman

Here are my two carvings with the famous hat. The leprechaun is last year and the gnome is the first of my new series the Holiday Mad Hatters. I just finished April Fools day but you will have to wait for that one.

The penguins are a newer version as well. They are on blocks of ice - isn’t that cute:) The one with the bluish ice is the newer version

Finally the old soldier is one I did for our friend Tom (Lt Col, Ret.) It is larger than most of mine. He is pleased that his fatigue coat and hat still fit. I need to learn how to do different eyes. All I can muster are cartoon eyes. It was a fun carving.

Patient is in Recovery /  by Dave Hileman

Yesterday we received word that the evaluation of the cause, the scope of the problem and solutions were done. Not the final work but the initial work. The Oliver people figured out the cause and have a plan to fix that issue. That is good news. It was an anomoly that they are confident will be safe and there should be no reoccurrence. The work will take the better part of the next two weeks including getting some parts that may not arrive until early next week. That is news we can deal with easily.

The insurance company, AMICA, accepted the estimates and are sending me a check for the repair minus our deductible. Excellent news. I will say that we have had AMICA for 15 years and it is a tad more expensive however, even though this took a bit, they have been excellent to work with on our three claims. When our Honda was totaled by a man who drove through a red light (and was cited by the police for three violations) they got us a full amount check the next day. They were equally prompt with the broken water pipe in our ceiling and had a very good company here working in two days.

The scope of work on the trailer includes a lot of new wire, a new furnace, new safety equipment, testing of all the systems, brake work and install of a buss, a shunt and some new solar connectors.

We also are having a window replaced that lost its seal and water seeped in between the two layers of glass, a window blind that was starting to drift down when raised, some new hoses on the LP tanks (maintenance) and a new shower bracket. That is not under the insurance company.

We will be excited to get the Oliver back and do a week or two testing everything to make sure we are back in good order. We will do this mostly in Tennessee and Kentucky area. We have late April and early May obligations but we might get a week in at the beach in May before we head in late June to Florida for a wedding and Pennsylvania in July.

You may resume humming, “Back on the Road, Again”

Oliver in the wild at Texas state park near Big Thicket National Preserve.