Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153

Hella Truck Stop Nation

It’s a Hella Truck Stop Nation. In this case “Hella” is used in the negative sense. Get the full scoop in Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153.

Las Vegas

Firstly I am supposed to be enjoying a perfect Southwestern sunset in front of a warm campfire.

Instead I am in Las Vegas waiting for a heater I’ve ordered to arrive at Camping World.

And dealing with a strange noise and potential mechanical problem with Mobile Podcast Command.

Therefore I am rotating around Las Vegas.

Truck Stops

From time to time visiting various truck stops both in the city and in surrounding areas along the freeway.

Long Time Traveler

More importantly I have been doing this for a long time.

That is to say traveling around the country visiting towns and cities.

Certainly spending most of my time on the back roads and avoiding the major cities.

Shiny Hotels Of Las Vegas

All things considered when most people come to Las Vegas they come to the shining hotels.

In essence to gamble, enjoy an expensive and delicious dinner and see a show.

Miss The Back Streets

Under those circumstances visitors never see the back streets of this city.

Desperation

In particular the in town truck stops.

At the present time I don’t think I have seen this many desperate people.

And not just here in Las Vegas.

But all over the Southwest.

Fool No One

To explain we’re talking about people sleeping in cars and converted vans and utility trucks that fool no one.

Or the free campgrounds in the desert.

Digging A Little Deeper This Time

Therefore I certainly could have recorded a breezy and fun podcasts about how much I love truck stops.

On the other hand I decided to dig a little deeper and push a little harder.

Haves And Have Nots

There’s nothing like a trip to Vegas to emphasize the gap between the haves and the have nots,

The Abyss

As well as the unfortunates who have fallen off the last rung of the economic ladder…into the abyss. And sure there’s jobs for those with certain skills.

And of course there are those who I describe as useless.

Sharecroppers

Thirdly about 90 years ago hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma Sharecroppers headed west.

Grapes of Wrath

For the purposes of illustrating our current situation I spend some time discussing “The Grapes of Wrath”.

There Is No Plan

Finally the difference between today’s desperate and the Okies is a plan.

In conclusion there is no plan.

Word To The Wise

In fact if you’re a nomad or want to be one you have to be able to identify this situation and the places you don’t want to stay.

Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153

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Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152

Freezing My Ass In Big Bear California

Freezing my ass in Big Bear California. Not really. From Los Angeles to Big Bear in Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152. It’s a little cooler at seven thousand feet than it is down in the desert.

Oil Change

Firstly after trying several mechanics in LA I discovered no one wants to take the big old ambulance on for an oil change..

Forget LA

Secondly I called in an audible.

As a matter of fact my Brother and Sister in Law have a place in Big Bear. We came up last week after Thanksgiving.

And we planned to come back up this weekend anyway.

Welcome To Big Bear Country

So I decided to take a chance and find someone to do an oil change up at Big Bear.

Family and Fun

By the same token it is not only fun but really good for me to spend some time with family up here.

Furthermore the mooch-docking continues.

Basically what’s not to like.

Big Bear History

To begin with Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152 takes a very surface look at the history of this area.

From Native Americans to Miners and later Settlers. And Grizzlies.

The American West

In fact I am fascinated these days with the history of the American West.

Real History

Even more one of my conclusions is that the history of the settlement of the American West is in many ways the real history of the United States.

Tests

That is to say that the real test of the legal institutions of the new country back in the day was the push west starting with the Ohio River Valley.

People Led The Way

Significantly I think it’s fair too suggest that the people led the way during the decades before the Continental United States became a reality.

Controversy

Of course controversy is and has always been a factor in this part of the country.

Therefore I am not taking a position on any of these historical realities.

Natural Beauty

In addition California continues to amaze me with its natural beauty.

The Drive Up

Accordingly the drive up to Big Bear from LA starts with the usual traffic jams.

Mountain Views

Giving way to breathtaking mountain views afterward.

New Podcast

All in all there is a lot to talk about in this podcast.

Future Plans

in like manner I take a little time to talk about future plans.

Fly Over

Equally impressive was the experience of getting buzzed by my pilot nephew and the audio I was able to capture.

Short Distance Travel

To sum up being able to travel short distances and have a complete change of point of view is just what the doctor ordered for this nomad.

Details in Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152.

Sponsored by 36LYN Now With Healthy Snacks

Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152

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MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151

MoochDocking Thanksgiving In LA

MoochDocking Thanksgiving in LA has been a lot of fun. When we hang out at someone’s house and use their electric we call it ‘Moochdocking‘. Details in MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151.

Not Home For The Holidays

Firstly most of the time we nomads don’t go home for the holidays.

Certainly distance is usually an issue.

Secondly for many family is also an issue.

100 Miles Away

However I was 100 miles away from my brother in law’s house in LA.

So what the hell.

Driveway With Hook Ups

Accordingly the driveway with an electric hookup is a far cry from the dry lake bed at Joshua Tree…

Or Joshua Tree National Park.

Judgements

Another key point is the fact that we nomads have judgements about life “back in the world”.

Longer Equals Less Judgement

Although the longer I do this the less judgmental I become.

After all some people prefer a house and a car…

and some people prefer the road.

Raising Kids

Finally I have come to appreciate how difficult it is for people to raise three kids and keep it together in the suburbs or anywhere else.

Big Screen TV

All in all it has been great to see my nieces and watch TV on a big screen.

Group Cooking Effort

By all means the group effort Thanksgiving Dinner was also a hit.

Pure Luxury

In addition I must say having electricity 24/7 is pure luxury.

Difficult Nomad Life

All of this is a tremendous contrast to the unquestionably difficult experience nomad life can sometimes be.

Lessons Learned

To begin with when I hit the road I did not realize the lessons I would learn in the next four years.

Harsh Judgements

But sometimes I think we judge too harshly when it comes to life ‘back in the world’.

Not Going Back

While this may be true I certainly am not about to go back to my old life.

Choose The Road

Up against one or the other I would choose the road for sure.

For example I don’t think too much about the day of the week.

And am therefore free to spend as much time as I want in a place like Joshua Tree National Park …

The Gift We Give Ourselves

To enumerate this is the gift we nomads give ourselves when we take the plunge.

Appreciate

As a result as I begin the fifth year of this adventure I have learned to appreciate my friends and family ‘back in the world’.

Not Running A Campground

While that may be true I also don’t lean as much on friends and family across the country to stay in their driveways.

After all they aren’t running campgrounds,

However when I do it is a great glimpse at another life.

MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151 is a free wheeling podcast about the differences between nomad life and so called ‘normal’ life.

MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151

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