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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:54 — ) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:40 — ) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Las Vegas-Joshua Tree-Bob Davis Podcast 1147

Las Vegas To Joshua Tree

Firstly Las Vegas-Joshua Tree-Bob Davis Podcast 1147 is about a computer meltdown forcing the nomad back on the road.

Secondly I am not mad about it.

Thinking About More Travel

Most importantly I have been thinking about traveling more lately.

Roll With The Punches

Altogether sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.

Water and PC’s Don’t Mix

Although this may be true when you spill water on your PC unexpectedly it stirs the pot to say the least.

But if we’re speaking the truth…

Done With Quartzsite For Now

With this in mind I was about done with Quartzsite Arizona anyway.

YouTube

Certainly I had just finished a YouTube video about how we can’t predict the future.

Changes In Mecca

And in that video I talked a little about how the experience in the so called nomad Mecca has changed over the past few years.

New Adventure

Therefore I have been looking for a new adventure.

Rather than just sit there and be unhappy I took the opportunity to do something new.

As much as I love my friends in Quartzsite during the winter months.

Bloom Is Off The Rose

While this may be true the bloom is off the rose.

Heading North To Las Vegas

Even though goodbyes are difficult it was great to get back on 95 and head up to Havasu City, Searchlight Nevada and ultimately Las Vegas.

Afterward while I am not a gambler and have not been a fan of Las Vegas lately…

Surprisingly Easy

Navigating to Town Square Mall and the Apple Store was surprisingly easy.

New Mac

Straightaway I was negotiating for new Mac Pro.

All in all this is an opportunity to finally have the IT juice to do some video editing as well as improved quality for the podcast.

Learning Curve

However there will be a bit of a learning curve since I can’t access all the data on the old Mac Pro currently.

And you have to learn all new ins and outs of updated software, so no music in this podcast.

Solving Problems

At any rate the thing about problems is you get to solve them.

Searchlight To I-40

Lastly coming back the way I came through Searchlight I happened upon on of my reference points in my travels.

Truck Stop Time

In other words a cluster of truck stops at I-40 and 95.

Coupled with a new digital lease on life I had a chance to chill out to the sound of semis and reset my plans.

In conclusion some of these plans are discussed in this podcast.

More About This Next Podcast

But I’ll talk more about the journey in my next podcast to celebrate four years as a nomad full time and start out the fifth year of travel.

Sponsored by 36/Lyn The Independent Refueling Station

Las Vegas-Joshua Tree-Bob Davis Podcast 1147

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:40 — ) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS