Vermont Birder - Sharing birds and travel.

2016 Trip – Return Trip

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Richard

I remember sitting beside the Pacific Ocean a couple of years ago, watching surfers, seabirds, and our grandkids cavorting, and thinking “We’ve got nearly four thousand miles to drive back but this makes it worth it.” Well, God-willing, we’ll have that same situation in a few months.

We’ll mosey back, staying for some lengthy stays at some favorite birding state parks, and try to visit some friends and family along the way. We’ll hunker down at Falcon State Park on the border during part of Texas spring break since that park is not overrun like so many of them. We like kids but hundreds unleashed at the same time can be challenging. I should mention that the maps are developed on a neat website: Roadtrippers.com. Here’s how the map looks at this point.

And the blow by blow itinerary.

The yellow blocks have a significance – I’ll discuss them in my next blog post.

I hope that you enjoyed this year’s last superman, a Hunter’s Moon, in last night’s sky. It looked like this from our deck, once it cleared the tall pine trees:

Posted in Southwest trip, SW trip 2016, Trip Planning | Tagged Roadtrippers, spring break, Trip planning | Comments Off

2016 Trip – Westbound Portion

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Richard

As I noted a while back, I’ve been doing some trip planning and locking in some reservations in parks that fill up fast. The initial half of our trip is to do some birding in Arizona and visit our son Robb and his family in San Diego. It’s a long haul but here is the plan:

Here’s how it looks in a spreadsheet:

Getting home we have to deal with Texas Spring Break in March and will likely change this schedule along the way. We hope to stop in Ohio to see our son Rich and his family. Still a few things to sort out and it will be ready to go.

Posted in Southwest trip, SW trip 2016, Trip Planning | Comments Off

All Inspected and Ready to Go

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Richard

The state inspection on the Airstream ran out in August but I decided to wait until September in order to gain a couple of months on the sticker — and then got busy and it slid to October. I don’t know if police check trailer stickers but my mechanic friend says that he’s seen inspectors wander around gatherings of trailers at a county fair looking for outdated rigs — so even though I really only need it for a day next January when we head out of the state, I decided to schedule the inspection at a local RV dealer that I like, M’s RV in Berlin, VT. It’s a mom and pop operation but the owners are very knowledgeable and they’ve helped me with several problems: every time I go there I learn something.

The co-owner Marcel gives me heat for owning an Airstream – alluding to the “glamping” aspect of Airstream owners – knowing all along that our rig is modest and priced less than many of the trailers and fifth-wheelers he has for sale on the lot. Plus, I found out that he is quietly restoring an old Airstream Caravel in his work space.

Last week, I took the ten mile drive down through Montpelier, outdated sticker and all, and we got started on the inspection. Lights good, tires etc fine, but when we tested the brake controller, I got a “disconnected” signal. We tried and tried but nada. I explained that I had changed the 7-pin plug a while ago after problems and during our last trip, had a couple of “trailer disconnected” signals after a tight turn or a sharp bump. Everything seemed to work fine all the way home and since then – but we talked about how tough it is to connect each thick wire to the screws in the plug and how prone to coming loose they seem to be. We decided to try a better setup.

It’s not easy connecting 18 year-old wires to screws in a replacement plug.

Joanne, spouse and co-owner, took me into their parts department and showed me the setup that Marcel could install to fix the problem. (I could do it but it seemed smart to let a pro handle it.) It involves using a new plug already molded into a long lead and a junction box to hold all the wires, getting away from the “rat’s nest” of wires in the plug. I left the rig and while they had a lot of winterization of trailers to do (It got down into the 20’s this weekend), they called the other day to say that it was ready to go.

The molded plug comes with a long cord whose wires are connected in a terminal box.

I wish I could say that I did this wiring but after seeing the quality, am glad that I left it to Marcel.

So I don’t mind if he slapped a sticker on the waterproof cover.

Yesterday everything checked out great, Joanne slapped on a new inspection sticker, I paid the bill and was on the way. But first, Marcel gave me a lesson in using the brake controller to change settings as we travelled.

Wouldn’t you know, I went by three police cars waiting beside the road in the first three miles back to Montpelier. While no one seemed interested, it was nice to know that the Airstream was legal. More importantly, it was nice to know that the trailer brake system is working as it should as we face an 8,000 mile trip with some challenging climbs and descents. (Mendon Mountain, you’ll be the first.)

Posted in Airstream, Electrical System, equipment_issues, maintenance | Tagged brakes, electrical, M's RV, maintenance | Comments Off

New Battery System

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Richard

As I noted last week, I have been looking at options to strengthen our electrical system for those times where we are not hooked up. I decided to install two AGM batteries and a new controller under our couch which would double our capacity and also give us room for further expansion.

So I went down to my friends at Vintage Trailer Supply and talked to them about converters. Steve, the owner, thought that my existing converter would probably work ok but I opted to buy a new INTEL-POWER 9200 which “monitors the battery voltage then automatically adjusts the converter output voltage to provide the proper charging voltage for fast recharge and long-term maintenance.”

I felt that the expensive AGM batteries needed a state-of-the-art converter.

I had pretty much narrowed my battery choices down to 105 AH units from Fullriver or Lifeline which sell for over $300 per unit. I went with Lifeline because they are American-made and I got a good price from Powerstride Battery who got them here in four days with free shipping.

The installation of the converter was relatively smooth with just two leads to change – but of course it wasn’t that easy – the grounding wire was almost too short because it attaches on the far end of the unit. I got it going and soon was testing it on my existing battery, which it brought up to full charge over a day or so.

The major project while I awaited the new batteries was to move all the wires into the trailer. First, from inside the trailer, I labeled all the wires since some stay as is (the solar lines) and others (the wire for the tongue jack) have to be extended to come inside.

I reluctantly the terminal clamps off (the new units don’t use posts) and used my torch and solder to attach two new leads. Since I did it outside right near the tongue, I disconnected and moved the two propane tanks far away. I pulled all the lines inside, brought my old battery inside, and hooked it up to test the new setup. I got it done on a sunny day just before a front brought an all-day rainstorm.

Testing out the new wiring with my old battery. The container will be under the couch – it’s there for spacing. We are sacrificing the middle storage unit for the batteries.

The Lifeline batteries came UPS yesterday afternoon and soon I was moving them into place. They have a 6mm terminal and a positive 8mm one. I knew that but it turned into a hassle as all my positive fittings had holes that were too small. I reamed and drilled out a couple, with some colorful language but I wired them up in parallel and while several leads are too long, the system seems to be in good shape. The converter started polishing off their charge right away.

The two Lifelines in parallel with a wiring setup that could use some cleanup – although no one will see it under the couch.

I need to build a containment system around the batteries to keep them from moving. I have the materials and then it’s just moving the couch back, fastening it down, and cleaning it up. I think that this is going to be a good project to give us more flexibility in camping sites – and it is nice to have it done.

Posted in Airstream, battery, boondocking, electrical, Electrical System, equipment_issues, renovation, Safari | Comments Off

Stuff on Trees

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Richard

I try to get out for a long walk with Penny every other day at least, in addition to her regular loops that we do in our woods. Yesterday afternoon, we hiked two and a half miles up on our adjoining forest land. It was a great early fall day but bird activity was very light so after spotting this fungal growth, I decided to focus on what I could find on trees.

One nice thing about fungi is that they stay still for photographs. The cauliflower-like growth is apparently called Sparassis (also known as cauliflower mushroom)

The route we took climbs up into some pretty rough country which is pretty damp and filled with soft maples and other trees very susceptible to growths and deformities.

Penny loves to explore openings like this, hoping that a critter is home.

This tree is doomed from all the fungal growth.

At the high point of our hike I began to look for a growth that has fascinated me for years. The first time I saw it I thought it was a small bear — and when the grandkids were young, took them up by it with some made-up story about it.

In this long election season, this now reminds me of an old elephant, with many options for analogies which I’ll keep to myself.

This looks like a Pileated Woodpecker was at work.

Fungus killed this tree which was down across the trail.

This deformity is called a burl (I think.) It was much larger than it appears in the photo.

One of the things I notice about naturalists on bird walks that they are interested in about everything. It’s a good lesson for me to keep in mind, especially in transition seasons when the birds are sparse. The fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and watching our old Vizsla romping through the woods made it a great outing. We are blessed.

The sign marking the end of our jaunt — made many years ago by the first owner of the property.

Posted in Fungi, Local Birding, nature, Vermont Birding, Vizsla | Comments Off

Electrical System Issues

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Richard

We seldom spend much time “boondocking” with the Airstream and one reason is that we just have one battery. Over the years, we have taken some steps to improve our sustainability: we carry an 80w solar panel and have a small Honda generator, which we use mainly in the Northeast where trees and cloud cover often make solar problematic. Since the propane furnace is such an energy hog, I installed a catalytic heater which Penny certainly enjoys, since it is at her end of the trailer. I have also switched out most of our lights to LEDs and fixed a battery-draining function in our new refrigerator.

One of the reasons I have not moved ahead is that our battery area, on the tongue of the unit, only has room for a Type 27 battery. We’ve used Costco deep cell batteries which are reasonable but we only have room for one without major work to the frame and added tongue weight. So I have been looking at putting one or more batteries inside the Airstream so it requires pricey AGM units and a new controller — to replace the single-stage one that is now nearly old enough to vote.

So, the project began with exploration: removing the couch to get a better look at the electrical system.

It helps to have long arms when crawling under the couch to remove screws.

These came out hard – it’s time for stainless steel replacements.

Once the couch was pulled out, the jumble of wires, insulation, and mouse droppings made cleanup task number one. Task two was to open it up more and try to figure out which wires were the ones I might need to move.

Lots of wires there – wonder where they all go?

A closer look allowed me to identify the major wires to the battery.

One of the issues to deal with if I’m planning to install new sealed (expensive) batteries is to upgrade the converter to a multi-stage unit which will charge but later on, float to keep from cooking the batteries.

This converter which takes 110 v and changes it to 12 v has had a good run. Should be easy to replace.

The next steps: first go down to Vintage Trailer Supply and talk to them about a new converter — and probably buy a 60 amp unit. I also need to get some replacement battery connectors because I’ll remove the existing ones in order to snake the two battery lines into the Airstream. I’ll also pull in the lines for the solar controller and the tongue jack.

I plan to replace the converter and temporarily install my battery inside and test out the charging system through the new converter and then the solar setup.

Then I will finish my research on AGM batteries and take a deep breath and order a couple. They are costly but should be good for some time and also provide the staying power we need while camping away from hookups. Stay tuned.

Posted in Airstream, battery, boondocking, Electrical System, solar | Comments Off

A Jaunt to Chickering Bog

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Richard

After a hospital lab visit and some errands yesterday morning, I decided to visit a local area where I have never birded: Chickering Bog Natural Area located on the border of Calais and East Montpelier. It’s not too hard to find: see the directions at the end of this article.

The scenery along Lightning Ridge Road is lovely.

You have to look carefully for the entrance trail – I have missed it in the past.

The trail is on private land at the start and also follows a snowmobile track. It’s easy walking with some debris from falling trees.

A friend reading this post wrote me to let me know that pets are not permitted on Conservancy sites — she had read the guidelines (which I had not) so Penny was a scofflaw. I must say that I don’t buy the policy at all – a least they could require leashes. In any case,so that you don’t make the same mistake, here are the guidelines:

Penny loved the woods and cavorted, as best as an eleven-year-old Vizsla can, as we moved up the trail. Bird activity was light with an inquisitive Downy Woodpecker following us chirping away. We flushed two Ruffed Grouse which always gets the bird dog excited.

The trail’s wet spots are well-covered with planking. Here Penny is crossing a tiny brook.

After fifteen or twenty minutes, we entered the Natural Area which is managed by The Nature Conservancy.

The foliage is starting to turn and there were some pretty spots along the route.

This tree alongside the trail has a problem. I always wonder what caused the blemish to form.

After a little over a half hour (it’s about a mile), we arrived at the bog and went out on the boardwalk looking for wildlife.

The bog was beautiful with fall colors starting, no bugs, no noise, no people – just a guy and a dog.

The only wildlife that I saw at the bog was this big turtle on the far edge of the open water.

From The Nature Conservancy page:

Chickering Bog began to form when glaciers receded from Vermont over 10,000 years ago and left behind a bedrock basin that filled with water. The pond that was formed slowly filled in with vegetation. As these plants died, they accumulated and only partially decomposed, forming a layer of peat that has continued to thicken over the years, reaching an impressive 30 feet deep in the northern part of Chickering Bog. It is the peat that gives the area its semi-solid, “quaking” quality. A small patch of open water is all that remains of the original pond.

Chickering Bog is actually misnamed; this so-called bog is really a fen. The difference between the two wetland types has to do with the water source and the acidity of the site. Bogs tend to be acidic and poor in dissolved minerals; fens are more alkaline and rich in dissolved minerals. Water enters bogs solely through rainwater, while fens like Chickering Bog are also fed by calcium-rich groundwater and springs.

To get there from Montpelier, take Route 2 east 6.5 miles to East Montpelier. Then take Route 14 north about 3.2 miles to North Montpelier where you will see North Montpelier Pond on your right. Continue on Route 14 for 1.1 miles until you see Lightening Ridge Road on the left, which is marked by a sign for the Calais Elementary School. Turn left and go 1.6 miles to George Road on the right. Park on Lightening Ridge Road on the right a little past George Road. The Conservancy trail begins to the left of the private driveway. You have to look hard, but there is a green post with the initials “TNC.” A snowmobile trail starts here and goes up the hill to the entrance of the natural area and the trail to Chickering Bog. Look carefully for the sign that marks the Conservancy’s Chickering Bog trail after crossing a wetland on the snowmobile trail.

Posted in Local Birding, nature, Turtles, Vermont Birding, Washington County | Comments Off

West River Railroad

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Richard

When I see remnants of the West River Railroad like I did while camping this week, I think of my dad. About 80 years ago, he was a poor kid from Lynn, MA who signed up for the Civilian Conservation Corps and travelled by train to Brattleboro. There he boarded a small self-propelled train that chugged up the West River Railway to South Londonderry.

This bridge abutment marks the crossing point for the old West River Railroad

Dad was stationed at the CCC camp in Weston and excelled in athletics, particularly local road races. His group built the highway, by pick and shovel and wheelbarrow, now Route 100, up over the mountain to Ludlow. The best thing he did was to meet my mom, a South Londonderry girl, at a local dance and as they say, the rest is history.

The railroad was thirty-six miles long (There is a famous old book on it called “Thirty-six Miles of Trouble) and ran from Brattleboro to South Londonderry.

A rail trail along the old track bed now allows recreational users to enjoy the wonderful scenery.

While camping at Winhall Brook Campground, Penny and I did some exploring of the West River trail. From the north section of the park the trail goes a little less than three miles to South Londonderry. From the south section, you head south for a mile or so and run into the obstacles created by the construction of the Ball Mountain flood control dam.

The trail heading south from the campground. Firm and level, great for biking or walking.

We ran into bad weather and cut our camping stay short so I never checked out the hike up to an overlook to see the dam. However, there is a lot of information online on the trail which, with some breaks, continues down to Brattleboro.

Even the campground playgrounds have a railroad theme

My grandfather was a railroad engineer living in South Londonderry who was killed in a train accident in Connecticut when Mom was young. He rode the West River Railroad to work for years.

The West River Railway is part of our family DNA. It is great to see the local efforts made to restore the rail bed for horses, cyclists, hikers, skiers and snowmobilers. All aboard!

Posted in local camping, Vermont Camping | Tagged Vermont, West River Railroad, Winhall Brook Campgtound | Comments Off

Winhall Brook Campground

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Richard

On our first night at Winhall Brook Campground, a crisp fall temperature taxed our puny electric heater so we cranked up the radiant heater in the early morning to take off the chill. Penny loves it; she curls up right in front of the heater, toasting herself.

After a morning walk ( Broadwing Hawk and Winter Wren best birds), I sat in the sun outside the welcome center checking emails and blogs.

This is the water/electric loop. We are at S19 which is nice. The units are closer together than many of the no-hookup sites.

There was a lot of turnover in the loop today with three big rigs showing up. Foliage season is starting to attract many visitors. The colors are improving each day.

We took a mid-day drive a few miles up to the local cemetery where my Dad and Mom, and both my Pearson grandparents are buried. It is a beautiful site with a view of Glebe Mountain and a number of maples starting to show brilliant orange and red. Mary and I weeded and cleaned up around the gravestone – it was a good visit. Many of my aunts and uncles are buried there as well.

After fueling the truck in Londonderry, we bought a Vermont Apple pie and some local ice cream for supper.

This place has been in business for 20 years and while a tourist attraction, makes a mean apple pie.

Last night, we had a delightful young couple from North Carolina over for dinner. It was simple: salad, spaghetti with meat sauce, bread, apple pie and ice cream. We never socialize but this was fun: they are tent-camping for three weeks around the Northeast and in the midst of car problems so this was a nice break for them.

I checked out the north loop this morning (Red-eyed Vireo, Gray Catbirds) which was empty. There are some excellent lean-to sites along the brook and the West River. I wasn’t impressed by any of the RV sites although some looked fine. There are no hookups on the North loop but a clean restroom, nice playground, and an attractive pavilion.

The West River looking south. Winhall Brook enters from the right. Water levels are low.

We have showers in the forecast today and serious weather system hitting later on. At first, we planned to just hunker down and read – and be glad that we are not tent-camping in the wet. Been there, done that.

Taking a closer look at the forecast once we found 4G coverage, we decided to hook up and headed home early rather than slog home tomorrow in heavy rain. We’ll definitely be back.

Posted in shakedown trip, Vermont Birding, Vermont Camping | Tagged Corps of Engineers, interagency pass, Vermont, Winhall Brook Campground | Comments Off

An Early Fall Road Trip

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Richard

After several weeks of repairing a rotted area of the front entry to our house, with the wonderful help and guidance of my brother Barry, I decided that a change of scenery might be nice. I had been wanting to check out a campground in southern Vermont so when Mary said that she was all for a getaway, and I checked availability, we were reserved for three nights at Winhall Brook Campground in South Londonderry.

This is our first experience with Corps of Engineers sites so it was great, if unusual for federal areas, to find that they had a section with water and electric hookups, which given the nighttime temperatures in the forties, were important to us.

Water-electric sites

The Airstream had been sitting down under the pines for a month so I moved it up to the house, removed some road dust outside and cobwebs inside, and then began the process of restocking it for the trip.

Sitting under the pines

The trip down Sunday was easy – a beautiful Vermont day with light traffic. We picked up Route 100, Vermont’s ski highway which runs through the heart of the state, and saw dozens of motorcyclists and many a cyclist out for a Sunday ride. The meandering road and scenery is fun, even while hauling a trailer.

No one was at the campground’s welcome center so we headed out to our site, having pre-registered. I was concerned about the narrow bridge we’d have to cross (limited to vehicle 42′ or shorter – our truck and trailer is 45′) but it we had no problems. It was tight and I tucked in my mirrors.

Bridge to campground

We met the host, found our level spot in amongst the trees, and set up with ease. The power is strong, the water tastes, great, and the neighbors our quiet.

There is no cell coverage but the office has a good wifi signal. After a good night, we have warmed up the trailer and Penny and I are heading out for a chilly bird walk.

Winhall brook

Put this campground on your “to-do” list. Did I mention that with the interagency pass that it’s only $13 per night? Best deal we’ve seen in years – for one of the best campgrounds we’ve visited. What’s not to like?

Posted in shakedown trip, Vermont Birding | Tagged Corps of Engineers, interagency pass, Vermont, Winhall Brook Campground | Comments Off

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