Still Gravity

What's the most important thing in a truck camper?  For us, it's the ARB Fridge. No fridge means no food - or at least not fresh food and cold water.  Old photo of the ARB fridge in the truck camper -  License our images here . We only survived two years with the icebox that came with the camper in 2010. The ARB fridge wasn't cheap, but it made such a difference.  We digested many reviews and chose this model that was designed to survive off-road expeditions in the extreme landscapes of Australia. Ours is the 50 quarts model - 28” x 15” x 20” (length-width-height). We don't have space for the bigger ones.  The ARB unit out of the box.           This fridge works with 12/24 volts DC and 120 AC. The compressor is the Danfoss heavy-duty model BD35F-HD. Very quiet operation and with shock absorbers to allow

Our water pressure regulator installed to a faucet - License our images  here .         Even if the truck camper doesn't have water plumbing, we install a water pressure regulator in any campsite with a water source. What do we do this? It saves us from a splash of cold water when filling the tanks or cleaning cooking stuff.  Happens that water pressure varies from region to region in the US. Sometimes, it surpasses the limits posted by RV builders - meaning that it may damage plumbing lines. Modern RVs tolerate up to 100 psi - pounds per square inch - when they have PEX tubing plumbing. But there is another problem. Fittings, filters, and other devices connected to the system may fail if they are not rated to that same water pressure value.   For the older RV is worse. The pressure tolerance falls to 50-60 psi - safest value is 50. The maximum recommended for residential homes is 80 psi.  We

Some photos and historical notes from a remote drive to nowhere in Big Cypress National Preserve - formerly the Big Cypress Swamp. Loop Road and the vanished small town of Pinecrest played an important role in the history of this corner of Florida during the first half of the 20h century.  The cypress swamp by Loop Road in South Florida -  License our images here . Of course, Loop Road is a loop. It begins at the Tamiami Trail and returns to the Tamiami Trail - at another point 24 miles later. Once inside, there is no escape. Neither gas, food, water, and in some parts, phone reception. This area is as remote as you can get in modern Florida without leaving the comfort of your car.  Our truck in Loop Road. The route is mostly straight. The eastern side is paved, the west is all dirt.          The eastern entrance is 40 miles west from downtown Miami, by the

Indian Key seen from the landfill of the Overseas Highway. First image: This is the distance that one needs to paddle to reach the island -  License our images here . From the distance, looks like the island never was inhabited. Just another green spot on the emerald blue of the Atlantic. But behind the bushes, there are remains of a town from the 19th century.  There is only one way to go to Indian Key: paddling. But the paddle to this state park is short. Less than a mile. We landed by the dock, paid the entrance fee in the iron ranger, and took on the trails to see the ruins of a town destroyed by Indians in the summer of 1840. The landing "beach" of Indian Key is a rocky place.  There is not much left of the place. Water cisterns, the ruins of the warehouse, some dirt from old dwellings here and there. The forest is back. Sweet vengeance.  Remains of old water cisterns engulfed by the forest in Indian Key.