Planning(?) for the Unexpected

Yesterday (8/30 - see 9/2 update below) we had a test of our Planning for the Unexpected, an activity every prudent traveler by RV or Boat should do.

We were pulling our fifth-wheel trailer from Sutherlin, OR to a camping spot just north of Lassen Volcanic National Park on our way to the Reno area. We planned to stay in one of the National Forest Campgrounds along Hat Creek, but had not chosen one.

After passing Old Station, CA we drove east on CA Highway 44 until we saw the sign to Butte Lake Campground, 6 miles south, a new place to visit. We left the pavement and drove along on a dusty, washboard road at about 25mph. It was bumpy and dusty as hell.

Maybe it was the bumps. Four miles in Alice mentioned she smelled smoke, and I sniffed the same. I stopped at the side of the road and stepped out. Under my 98 Dodge Ram I saw a black puddle of oil. I immediately turned off the engine and checked out what had happened.

Looking back along the dirt road I could see a long string of oil stain, stretching into the distance. Whatever had happened, the truck had no oil, nor could it hold any oil. All this was unexpected.

I checked our cellphone -- nada, no signal -- but what do you expect out in the middle of a National Forest. If I could make a call, I would call Good Sam Emergency Road Service (part of my planning for the unexpected).

I looked around and checked with my compass. We were in a forest of tall pines, but there was an opening through which I could sight my Internet satellite (having Internet anywhere is another part of my planning). Had there been no opening, I would have been stuck for communications.

Then a friendly couple drove by and stopped and asked how they could help. They were not from the area, but at least they might take me to some place where I could get cellphone coverage. But then a young man by the name of Seth Mitchell drove up and stopped. He said he was a forester working in the area. He could pull my rig up the road to a level spot and he knew where get cellphone coverage. I thanked the other couple and put my faith in Seth.

In some way, another part of my planning is to smile and trust others who offer to help. So far it has worked. It worked this time.

Seth pulled my truck and trailer about 100 yards to where we could get them out of the road and waited while I got the trailer set up. They we drove back toward Hat Creek to the vista point to make my phone call.

The next part of my plan failed. I was among the first to adopt the AT&T One Rate nationwide plan back in 1998 when there was nothing else quite so ubiquitous. Now they are Cingular, but when I tried to make my call, there was no signal. Cingular does not work along the Hat Creek valley. I plan to revisit this choice and probably go to Verizon service. They appear to be doing a better job of covering where we travel.

Maybe I should add a VOIP service so I could make Internet phone calls. That sounds like a good addition to the plan in hindsight.

Seth loaned me his phone and I contacted Good Sam. I had the complete directions for finding our rig in the middle of the forest, down to the latitude and longitude to the nearest second. Charlotte from Good Sam called back in about 10 minutes and conferenced me in with Bob Tucker who is taking the truck into Redding. We made sure he knew exactly how to find us and agreed to communicate by email. I was feeling better.

Seth returned me to the trailer and headed home. I set up the satellite antenna on its tripod and quickly locked in to a good signal. We are now communicating with the outside world and redoing our schedule.

Our rig is fully self-contained and I always carry a fresh tank of water. The propane tanks are full. The rig has solar, so if we are frugal in our usage of resources, we are good for a week or more at this spot. Having all LED lighting inside the rig surely helps. It was all unexpected, but we are actually in a beautiful camping spot. We just don't have any motive power at this time. I do expect to have that problem solved in the next few days.

sam