Not knowing if the “closure” was natural or man-made, I
rolled on with caution, senses on high alert.
A few miles in I see where the road had been damaged and repaired
at a wash crossing. So far it was looking like this had been caused
by storms and flash flooding, that eased some of the tension. Passing
that I soon came to a crossroad in what was once a small, even tiny,
community. Now most of the buildings were slowly turning into mounds
of desert weathered wood, corrugated roofing, and the never ending,
wind blown, array of plastic based trash. To think that at one time
they thought it was a good idea to make anything they could out of
something that didn't easily breakdown into dirt.
Turning west I continue on for a bit before running into another
“Road Closed” blockade. I skirt this one as well and roll on.
Some distance on I find the cause, a bridge that's been flood damaged
and no longer connects to the broken pavement of the road.
I work my way down into the dry wash and bypass the ruined
bridge. Some time later I discover another one and do the same.
A few more stops to top off the heat exchanger with water and I
arrive at the Oasis compound. By now I know I won't be pushing on to
the Big Playa with the lil Draggin' in this condition.
Leaving the Rock Farm I overheat twice in short order (I was
hoping the first was just because it had been leaking a bit from the
lower hose). Seems like the work on the heat exchanger didn't help
any.
Finally I cross the last set of mountains and start down to the
River, this time of year I'm sure the radiation level is high, but
there's no other way around w/o going far out of my way.
Sure enough, I'm reading high yellow on the gauges, temps at 117,
and I'm overheating on the downhill. Damn, I'm going to have to stop
and let it cool, . . . while I try not to burn.
Crossing the River I have two choices, and one has no chance of
topping up water. I take the other and start climbing a mountain
pass, this will get me out of the burn zone and into cooler temps . .
. it just may take stopping a few times on the way up.
Part way up the sun drops behind the peaks, good time to stop,
let it cool, and wire in the new driving lights I've been hauling
around. Earlier this season I had changed out a failing switch, now
was the time to test it w/ these new lights.
With the lighting I was able to roll at night, that and the lower
temps were giving me longer runs between overheats. That worked until
late in the night when I pulled off of the route and into a spot
where turning around or night backing was going to be a major
challenge, not an ambush so . . . a place to sleep for the night.
In the morning I find a quick turn-around and start moving south
off the main route.
I drive around the “Road Closed” blockage and keep my eyes
open, comms on.
Last year this way was open.
My encampment was not far from this abandoned dwelling site.
With the remains of rock quarries in the distance.
While here I found someone that had the, almost lost, skill of working on metal heat exchange units.
