Tin Poodle

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Extended boondocking

- November 01, 2020

We just got back from three weeks on the road. Almost all of it was boondocking without electrical hookups. Without an external electricity source the battery in our trailer can probably supply electricity for about 4-5 days before needing to be recharged. We were able to go ten days easily by keeping the trailer plugged into the 7-way connector on the Model X almost all the time. We only needed to plug the trailer into an electrical outlet once during the trip in order to recharge our lead acid trailer battery. We did that during a planned overnight stay when we moving from one location the next. Overall we were really happy with our ability to stay off grid with this combo. Some observations. Over one ten day stretch our trailer battery went from 100% to 52% (120aH from trailer battery) Over another eight day stretch our trailer battery went from 100% to 70% (~72AH from trailer battery) The MX on average was supplying ~2-3amp/hour to the trailer (depending on SOC of the trailer ba

Mudroom update

- February 08, 2020

New mudroom Old mudroom After two seasons with our old entrance mudroom we decided to upgrade. At the end of the Newfoundland trip it was damaged by a passing tropical storm. It was time for a new one anyway. We wanted something bigger and a little easier to set up. The new mudroom (top picture) is larger than the old one and has the benefit of being completely screened in, so we can use it as a screened in room. The biggest benefit is that it is an airframe tent and goes up much easier and quicker. No more fooling with canopy/tent poles. Just pump it up.

Civilization

- August 29, 2019

Rainbow over Codroy Valley Newfoundland Just got off the ferry in Nova Scotia. Smooth roads...traffic lights...traffic...highway graffiti...cars that aren't pickup trucks...dead raccoons. Ahhh...civilization! Can't wait to go back to Newfoundland! Sunset Codroy Valley Newfoundland BTW...All of those things above point to the fact I'm no longer in Newfoundland. But one says it more than the others? Sunset Codroy Valley Newfoundland

Whales and shiny things

- August 25, 2019

Kings Point Now that Nancy's gone it's just me and the dogs. As a result the divide and conquer routine we had is now just conquer. I haven't lost a dog yet so I guess it's working. At the next campground a couple cool things happened. I unexpectedly found a an EV charger that wasn't listed on Plugshare. This meant I could charge the car faster than the campground plug I was planning on using and plug in the trailer at the same time. The second was that the campground was right on a bay. And a couple of whales decided to visit. They were close enough that you could hear them. The final thing though was the most unexpected. As I'm setting up at the campground a gentleman who I've never met comes up to me and welcomes me back. I'm confused since I've never been to this campground, which I explain to him. He then tells me that a trailer just like mine was here a week ago. At this point I assume he is

D̶e̶p̶a̶r̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶W̶o̶r̶d̶s̶.̶.̶.̶A̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶e̶d̶y̶ ̶O̶f̶ ̶E̶r̶r̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶....I Think She's Broken

- August 22, 2019

5AM...not 5PM! Not the words you want to hear from your wife as she's checking her flight time for the next day. Especially not the words you want to hear since you're the one taking her to the airport. Meaning you'll be waking up at 3AM too. Why even bother going to sleep the night before? And that's not the worst part. You are now solo and still have fifteen hundred miles of towing a trailer over ten days and a six hour ferry ride ahead of you. And did I mention the three standard poodles. What was I thinking... More to the story Nancy ended up driving herself to the airport. I ended up sleeping in <yeah>. The airport was only four miles away. So I just ran over to the airport to pick up the car. When I arrived at the exit gate the machine only took credit cards. I only had cash in the car. So I drove back to the terminal to pay by cash. Problem was I had a $50 and the machine only took 5's, 10's, and 20's. I end

The road to hell is lined with....

- August 17, 2019

This next story happened earlier in the trip in Nova Scotia. I'm just getting around to recounting. It takes place in the parking lot of a small shopping center. As per our usual routine we parked the trailer and the Tesla on the edge of the lot. We were both going into the store so we left the dogs in the Tesla with the A/C on for the dogs. (One of the great things about the Tesla is that the AC can be on without the car otherwise being on. No idling engine needed.) Also per our routine we plastered several signs on the windshield and windows alerting people to the fact that the A/C is on, the dogs are ok, and a phone number they can reach us is they have concerns. There is also this on the center screen of the Tesla. 77 degrees in this picture but usually 67 degrees As we're leaving the store Nancy decided she needed something from the store next door. I decided to check on the dogs, then meet her. As I leave the store I noticed a poli

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