I wanted to throw up some photos from our Alvord Desert trip over Memorial weekend. Bob and Merran invited us and any folks that wanted to join down for their usual landsailing/camping trip out on the playa. Emily had been to this area prior but no landsailing or camping out on the open playa. This would be my first visit to this area of Oregon for a campout.

We departed Milwaukie at a leisurely pace, leaving Thursday AM rather than Wednesday PM late. Some minor murphy moments with the grey water tank and some finishing touches on the various systems meant a good bright-and-early departure would be better advised. I tidied up the temporary 24V system (directly charged from the solar panels) and connected the converter to 12V (which we would later end up using to power the bus for our entire trip home!). A quick load check of all roof items meant we were good to depart. The trip down was mostly uneventful. We stopped an fueled the coach near Burns, OR after having a nice stop by some local county law enforcement, concerned that we were trafficking large quantities of drugs. Their search turned up nil (of course) and after learning of my Search and Rescue affiliation, realized they were barking up the wrong tree. My 65MPH in a 55MPH zone was not even mentioned once they made it clear it was their probable cause for stopping us. We parted ways on good terms, with a warning that the wind on the upcoming roads would present a challenge.

We hit the playa an hour and change before dark, right about as the sun disappeared behind the steens mountains. Kelly arrived in his newly acquired school bus just before us and we made a caravan down to the playa with Bob and Merran leading the way.

The solar panels gave us enough power that combined with a proper sized inverter from Eric, and some cables from Kelly, we ran the ice machine, radio, and lights without worry.

Some photos (credit to Kelly for a couple of his!):

Ghost playa ridin’!

Setting up camp on the Alvord 2013!

Setting up Camp just before Dark!

Camp all set up!

Kelly’s Picture of The Ghost

Kelly’s photo of the landsailers

Jessica on the roof!

Angel taking a dust nap

Windsock Custom Mount on The Ghost

The trip home was uneventful, but not without an interesting twist. Our dual-field regulator for the 100A generator original to The Ghost decided that 16.5V was better than the factory 14.2V charge rate. This, being extremely hard on batteries, led to me to disable the regulator for the entire drive home. We departed in the late morning/early afternoon, stopped by fields for a milkshake and a hamburger, and continued on. We stopped in Bend along the way to enjoy a campground for the evening and to break up the trip. We decompressed, watched some programs on the laptop, played with Marley, and got to talk with some folks in the campground. A nice solar powered showerhouse gave us some much needed cleaning, although the light electrocution from the shower console was not appreciated. We departed in the morning (with a nice solar charge on the 12V starting batteries) and headed home.

Bend Campground

Bend Campground

Bend Campground

Bend Campground

Ghost barely fits in the no-hookups tent site!

Marley peeks around the corner

Here’s the current trip schedule for The Ghost Bus for the PDX/Black Rock City, NV route! It’s pretty hot and heavy but less of a push than last years. It should make it much easier on myself (as driver) and passengers enduring the warmth & lovely noise of The Ghost.

Thursday Aug 23rd, 2012:

• 0800hrs – All riders meet up at Das Bremhaus, situate any cars to be left behind, and arrange last minute carry-ons
• 0900hrs – Depart PDX from Das Bremhaus
• 1030hrs – Stop at Santiam River Rest Area – South Bound
• 1050hrs – Depart Rest Area
• Random Breaks/stops as needed + Lunch
• 1700hrs – Arrive Kalamath Falls Fred Meyers – Fuel Up
• 1745hrs – Depart Kalamath Falls Fred Meyers
• 1915hrs – Arrive Eagles Nest RV Park – Take on Water & Sleep

Friday Aug 24th, 2012:

• 1000hrs – Depart Eagles Nest RV Park
• 1100hrs – Arrive Alturas, CA – Gather Food/Supplies at General Store
• 1130hrs – Depart Alturas, CA
• 1140hrs – Climb over flippin huge Cedar Pass
• 1159hrs – Remove seat from buttocks and begin enjoyable decent into Cedarville
• 1220hrs – Pass through Cedarville – Add some fuel if needed due to extra weight
• Bake across desert – Lunch as able
• 1545hrs – Arrive Gerlach, NV – Bypass town unless anyone needs any last things
• 1630hrs – Arrive BRC Gate Road
• 1635hrs – Holy crap we made it.

Departure from Black Rock City will be fairly similar with departure likely slated for Wednesday early morning. I usually attempt to make a good run at getting up and over the Cedar Pass before the heat of the day really gets into full swing. That also makes for a very nice lunch stop at Alturas ice cream/burger place. Anyone who is interested in a return trip to PDX needs to clear it with Emily and myself BEFORE slated departure. If we’re transporting just your materials and not you, we need to know that as well (and get packed the night before).

Obviously plans can change due to vehicular issues, heat, exhaustion, emergencies, animals, mother nature, locusts, fire, and/or detours. The Ghost is NOT a fast way to arrive at BRC but if you are up for the adventure, welcome aboard. Ear protection recommended.

The Ghost made the first trip since transmission work and made it to the new home DAS BREMHAUS! Lots of freeway onramp power and with the ‘audiable’ new exhaust, people stay out of the blind spot.