Adventure Location: Lake Amistad, Texas
The OFM noticed that the batts were down to 50% of the
usable capacity this morning. The mornings have been very gray until after
noon. With the low sun angle and only a half day at best, the batts were not
getting a full input each day. It took four days of digression to get to this
point but it was time to take action.
The OFM grabbed the tilt bars for tilting the solar panels. As usual he had an OOOPS in progress. Two of the attachment bolts had been used on
the front gravel guard mounts and not replaced.
So the OFM climbed onto the very wet roof to raise one panel. The dew
set this morning had left everything wet like a light rain had hit.
During the acrobatics for getting low on the roof without
sitting in the water to screw the brackets in place and attach the tilted
panel, the OFM somehow managed to rack his right hip severely. The panel went up easily and helped a lot on
the electrical production in the afternoon.
However the OFM needed a mega dose of ibuprofen and some
horizontal time to regain some mobility.
He is doing adequately this evening but his time doing flips and jumps
is woefully limited for now.
Later this afternoon two motorhomes came rolling into the
campground. It is Jim and Gayle and their friend Debbie. Debbie has a wonderful
pup named Elliot. That pup is a friendly
ear scratching sponge. Jim and Gayle have a blog that is fun to read. http://littleadventures-jg.blogspot.com/
They are world class bicyclists and
SightSeer got to meet some very upper class bicycles.
That wonderful human Billy Bob got busy and caught two
fish today. The OFM managed to not catch any thing again. BB even got a picture of the second one. Sadie Mae, his pup, never lies and confirmed
the first catch which the OFM did not see.
So even though there is picture evidence on only one fat bass, we will
give him credit for two fish today. BB was suffering also from some physical
distress. We make a heck of a gimped up
pair at times.
With a little luck the two gimps will be heading to Rough
Canyon on the Devils River to attempt to lower the lake level a few feet by
catching too many fish again. The visit will at the least be another great time
of trying to have tooooo much fun. TheOFM.
You guys are acting like you are 17, remember your body has a few more miles on it than that.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the fishing, just don't hook each other.
I also met Jim and Gayle and Debbie and Elliott when I was at McPhee Campground in CO, they were great. Really nice people! My dog, Katie, loved Elliott. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon!
Barney.
ReplyDeleteYou are overly conservative with how you far you discharge your batteries.
"Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged down as much as 80% time after time... although these can be cycled down to 20% charge, the best lifespan vs cost method is to keep the average cycle at about 50% discharge."
ED, I agree with your quoted statement. The 50% discharge is my goal for maximum discharge at any normal time for me. The volt reading for 50% is about 12.05 volts according to my information.
DeleteWell I am caught up again and I enjoy reading your blog. I am glad that you got the truck back and in good working order. I am sure a tow vehicle is much more precious when it is part of your house (actually) as yours is. I know I would feel a bit lost till I got it back if it were me.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great how all of you RV'ers get to meet each other as you travel. It must be fun. I am real social so I think I would be wanting to meet everyone I could.
Sorry about your fall. Please be careful because something serious would put a big damper on having too much fun, both for you and for us who enjoy your post. You are in my prayers.
I did not fall but was squatting/kneeling to keep my pants from gettiing wet. It is a long reach around my generous stomach.
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