We are all packed and ready to move out.  I am sure I forgot to mention a few items in my packing, but we will pick them up as we move along. In past years I would hook up the toad and hit the road about 0800 and get to Big Flat about 1500. I take HWY 50 over Spooner Summit to Carson City , 395 to Susanville and 44 to Old Station. But after my little episode last year, my wife says it is a two day trip. For those of you who were not around the forum last year I will digress a bit.

On the last day of our vacation we left Lakeview OR heading south on HWY 395 for Tahoe. My front end was badly out of line but I could not find anyplace that could align a rig our size, and the front tires were getting badly worn. I decided I would stop in Alturas & get a new tire. Got to Alturas, and while I was gassing up, located a tire shop and made arrangements for a new tire. Paid for the gas, turned the key and nothing happened. Called my ERS and shortly a mechanic showed up and had to put a new starter on. Went to the tire shop, got a new tire and eventually headed south. 9 hours after leaving Lakeview we pulled into our driveway. I got out, took two steps and had a minor stroke. Spent 3 days in the hospital. My wife was/is convinced that the "stress" of the mechanical/tire problem, plus the "long" hours on the road was the cause of the stroke.

So now, when I head to Big Flat I have to promise to stay overnight at Hat Creek and go to Big Flat the 2d day. There are several places to just park and BD overnight in the Hat Creek area, but once again, my wife insists I stay at an RV Park where she is sure other people are around and a phone is available in case I have another stroke. There is a nice RV park, Rancheria RV Park 5 miles north of Old Creek that we usually stay if we are just passing through. Can get a pull through so I do not have to unhook the toad. So, I leave Tahoe about 1000 and 5 hours later am at Hat Creek.

Have you ever noticed that most pull throughs are set up for trailers. When I pull far enough forward to get the toad off the road, I am so far from the hookups, they are almost useless. Can hook up to water and electricity. Forget about a sewer hookup. Have dinner at the restaurant at the RV Park, watch a little TV (I paid for the hookups, might as well use them).  In the morning I un-hook and move out by 0800. and get to Big Flat about noon (a 3 hr trip) with a stop in Redding to gas up.

As I pull into the CG I can see that site 7, my favorite is open so I head for that. I can pull into the large area between site 7 & 8 and unhook the toad and park it. I then back up a bit so I can get to the water spigot. I pull my water thief and 50 ft freshwater hose out and fill up the freshwater tank. It is a minor chore. Most public campgrounds do not have spigots with threads, therefore the water thief. I have had problems in the past so I have a hose clamp I use to attach the thief to the spigot. In order to conserve water, most spigots in public campgrounds are the type you have to either turn & hold open or push and hold. Now that my tank is full, I pull forward and go into site 7 head first. It has a slight uphill so leveling is interesting. I stop short, and get my leveling blocks out. Put two 2 x's in front of each rear tire and pull up on them. I then drop my leveling jacks and go back and put a 2X under each one and raise them their full limit. Put another 2X under the tires and drop the jacks. Put a 2X and the 4X6 blocks under the jacks and proceed to level the rig. With this set up I can lower the rear enough to have the tires on the blocks. Do not like to have them dangling in the air unless absolutely necessary.

That was a tough job, so lets take a break and have a cold 7- Up. Now that we are parked and leveled, I get the toad and park it behind the MH. The first thing out is my extra 5 gal propane tank, which I hook up to the MH through my extend-a-stay fitting (more about that later). Now that I have propane I go inside and turn on the fridge and the hot water heater. Might as well enjoy life, so I plug in my 200 watt inverter, hook up the boombox and put on a Wagner CD. Next thing out is the patio rug which is spread out. If I need it, the portable step is next, and then I let the awning down. Get the tent stakes out and stake down the 4 corners of the rug, and the awning posts. Next I get the 3 chairs off the ladder rack.

Time for another 7-Up and a little relaxation to listen to the music. Might as well get the TV and little folding table out, so I have something to set the drink can on. For now the large folding table, BBQ, and screen gazebo are stored under the rear of the MH along with the water can and the small 1 gal propane tank. After a short break I pull the See-through-solar screens out and set up the small ladder. Put the screens on the dining room window, the drivers, front and passengers window. Keeps the sun out so the interior stays cool, and give a little privacy. Pull out the Smoker and ice chest from inside and store them behind the MH. Now I can get the tire covers out and put them on to protect the tires from the UV rays. I am now all set up and it only took me about 30 minutes.

My next segment will be about managing my electricity.