I picked up my new 560 this summer and spent 3 weeks bringing it home. Since then I have been waiting for smaller crowds and cooler weather. The time had arrived.
I planned a journey to photograph some fall colors. I’ve been doing this every year for about 8 years now. I started in the Eastern Sierra which is where I always go. There were some beautiful colors, but also some very smoky skies from the not too far off, fires of the time. I stayed at the fairgrounds in Bishop. Definitely some pros and cons to that stay.
Although I technically had hookups, I chose not to use them as I wanted to see how my rooftop solar would do while having a fridge running DC from the house battery the whole time. Even with cloudy and smoky skies (every day had a red/orange sun and plenty of smoke and clouds) the battery always topped off each day, usually by mid day. The beauty of it was that the solar was always pulling some amount of power as the sky varied between better/worse conditions. Over the course of the day, it was always enough.
I left there and journeyed up to the Sun Valley area of Idaho where there were more amazing colors. I stayed with some friends so the 560 stayed outside while I and the Dometic fridge came inside. It’s an absolutely beautiful area, especially when the colors are popping. But after a few days, snow came early and it was time to leave.
Leaving there, I spent the night in Idaho Falls where temps reached just under freezing. I stayed in the local KOA where I had a chance to try my $29 Vornado ceramic heater. Although it has a 375 watt and 750 watt setting, the 375 was plenty. The 750 was way too hot.
The next night was spent in Battle Mountain, NV where overnight temps were, again, just below freezing and the Vornado performed perfectly with shore power.
Leaving Battle Mtn, I headed to Death Valley for a couple of days on my way home. I had not actually planned the return trip when I started the journey, but decided Death Valley would be a great way to try a new route home and see an amazing place. You can do things like that when you are retired.
Needless to say, dry camping in Death Valley, there was no shortage of solar power available.
I have to say, I was really pleased with how well the solar worked on this trip. And I love having a fridge instead of a cooler of ice and water. It was also another chance for me to get more familiar with everything associated with having a trailer. The first trip home from the factory was definitely a learning experience. This one was more comfortable, even though I’m still far from an expert.
It was an awesome trip. Can’t wait for the next one!
This was the morning leaving Bishop. Usually the red sun and smoke took until later in the day to show up.
Just above North Lake on Bishop Creek Road.
This one is on the south fork of Bishop Creek Road.
En route from Bishop, CA to Sun Valley, ID.
The Bow Bridge in Hailey, ID.
A farm near Gannett, ID.
I think there were more colors on the ground in the Twin Falls KOA, than on the trees.
I planned a journey to photograph some fall colors. I’ve been doing this every year for about 8 years now. I started in the Eastern Sierra which is where I always go. There were some beautiful colors, but also some very smoky skies from the not too far off, fires of the time. I stayed at the fairgrounds in Bishop. Definitely some pros and cons to that stay.
Although I technically had hookups, I chose not to use them as I wanted to see how my rooftop solar would do while having a fridge running DC from the house battery the whole time. Even with cloudy and smoky skies (every day had a red/orange sun and plenty of smoke and clouds) the battery always topped off each day, usually by mid day. The beauty of it was that the solar was always pulling some amount of power as the sky varied between better/worse conditions. Over the course of the day, it was always enough.
I left there and journeyed up to the Sun Valley area of Idaho where there were more amazing colors. I stayed with some friends so the 560 stayed outside while I and the Dometic fridge came inside. It’s an absolutely beautiful area, especially when the colors are popping. But after a few days, snow came early and it was time to leave.
Leaving there, I spent the night in Idaho Falls where temps reached just under freezing. I stayed in the local KOA where I had a chance to try my $29 Vornado ceramic heater. Although it has a 375 watt and 750 watt setting, the 375 was plenty. The 750 was way too hot.
The next night was spent in Battle Mountain, NV where overnight temps were, again, just below freezing and the Vornado performed perfectly with shore power.
Leaving Battle Mtn, I headed to Death Valley for a couple of days on my way home. I had not actually planned the return trip when I started the journey, but decided Death Valley would be a great way to try a new route home and see an amazing place. You can do things like that when you are retired.
Needless to say, dry camping in Death Valley, there was no shortage of solar power available.I have to say, I was really pleased with how well the solar worked on this trip. And I love having a fridge instead of a cooler of ice and water. It was also another chance for me to get more familiar with everything associated with having a trailer. The first trip home from the factory was definitely a learning experience. This one was more comfortable, even though I’m still far from an expert.
It was an awesome trip. Can’t wait for the next one!
This was the morning leaving Bishop. Usually the red sun and smoke took until later in the day to show up.
Just above North Lake on Bishop Creek Road.
This one is on the south fork of Bishop Creek Road.
En route from Bishop, CA to Sun Valley, ID.
The Bow Bridge in Hailey, ID.
A farm near Gannett, ID.
I think there were more colors on the ground in the Twin Falls KOA, than on the trees.
