Things Are Coming Together

Various things that have been causing uncertainty in my life are coming together.

As I wrote before, the additional solar panel has solved my charging problems during these shortest days of the year. I adjusted it to an even steeper angle since the sun is so low in the sky. This also gives me excellent charging from the moment the sun comes up until it sets behind Birgit and Tom’s van, minutes before actual sundown. I haven’t run the generator since I hooked up the additional panel, which was my goal. I did have to change some settings in the charge controller for my rooftop panels. It was seeing the relatively high voltage on the battery coming in from the other charger, deciding the battery was fully charged, and throttling back to float mode, which is more of a trickle charge. What I actually want is the normal charging mode from both chargers at the same time. Fortunately, I was able to tweak some settings in that charge controller to make that happen. Now my total of 800 watts of solar panels can bring in 400 watts of power throughout much of the day, with the panel on the ground almost doubling my actual charging capability because of its angle. At this time of year, with the sun so low in the sky, getting that much power out of that many panels, most of them flat on my roof, is pretty good.

My new motorcycle helmet has arrived. Yes, I just got a new one in August, the white one behind it, immediately before the Rocky Mtn Roll. One of the two screws that hold the chin bar on fell out and has gone missing. Gmax, the company that made the helmet, has not answered any of my attempts to contact them to replace the missing parts under warranty. It’s only $5 to buy them through their website, but they’re listed as out of stock. Stuck with two broken helmets, I ended up getting another new one, this time through RevZilla instead of whatever the small motorcycle shop in Butte, Montana had in stock. I got a discount because it’s an older model, and ended up with the Darth Maul black and red color scheme because that’s what was available in my size. But it works, which is what matters most to me. I set up both on the table in order to transfer my Cardo helmet communicator from the white helmet to the new one since I can’t use the white helmet at all without the parts I need to repair it.

The other reason I got a new helmet when I did is because I’m confirmed to attend the Kawasaki KLX300 press launch in Murrieta, California next week. I don’t want to show up as a professional journalist with two busted helmets. Kawasaki is providing a hotel room (!!!) for two nights. I’m not allowed to bring Lister inside, but temperatures should be cool enough during the day and warm enough at night to leave him in the van. I’ll spend as much time with him as I can on Tuesday in between motorcycle shenanigans.

I’ll be leaving Quartzsite mid-day on Monday to drive to the hotel, then spend Tuesday riding the KLX300, with a dirt ride in the morning and a pavement ride in the afternoon. I’m not about to replace my V-Strom, but I’d like to get to know what a smaller dual-sport motorcycle is like, both to write a review for ADVRider as well as for my own knowledge. My KLR650 was too big and heavy for any serious trail riding, but the KLX300 is not…

After the press launch, I’ll be returning my 250-watt solar panel to Rich Solar’s warehouse. It’s in Ontario, California, which is on my way to visit my friends in Los Angeles. I shouldn’t have to do this myself, but it’ll save me the shipping costs they refuse to cover, and it’s not much of a side trip. Then it’s a straight shot down I-10 to Carolyn’s house in Monterey Park. I’m not sure how long I’ll be in LA, but I will be heading back to Quartzsite afterward to catch up with my friends here. I’ll most likely flee the chaos that will be here in January, which is when my various travels around the area, such as Imperial Dam, will begin.

At least, that’s the plan right now. Any of this could change, though the trip to LA is pretty well set in stone at this point. The rest is flexible, and that’s fine. In the immediate future, I need to clean up and reorganize the inside of my trailer to use as a motorcycle transporter like I originally intended, and not as a storage shed to keep throwing random stuff into like I’m doing right now. That’ll be my project this weekend.