Portable Internet

A few months ago I picked up the AutoNet Mobile portable router to have Internet access while camping and vacations. I was very optimistic particularly since it uses the Verizon network which advertises such comprehensive coverage. Now I also have a work-supplied AT&T iPhone. In virtually all instances of camping, from the northern California coast, the Sierra foothills, and Yosemite, I have NOT had any coverage on the Verizon side but my AT&T network has had at least a couple of bars in all instances. Now this is key to me since I need to keep tabs on things even while on vacation and camping.

The nice part about the AutoNet device was that it is a WWAN receiver as well as a WiFi router that works on 12 volts (perfect for automotive/RV applications). Unfortunately, with where I go, the coverage off the Interstates was virtually non-existent.

I've now transitioned to a 2 part solution... An AT&T Mercury (Sierra Wireless 885) WWAN 3G device along with a Cradlepoint PHS300 'personal hotspot'. The Mercury is a USB WWAN modem that works directly with Macs and PCs and is quite quick and has a slot for a Micro-SD card. It's otherwise pretty unremarkable but it works fine and is quick to connect to the cell network. The Cradlepoint PHS300 is a portable hard drive sized box and can be charged via the included AC charger or the optional travel charger. It works with a bunch of WWAN USB cards and has more options on the router/network configuration than most of the Linksys/D-link/Netgear routers that you'd use at home. It's a slick device, but you'll be hard pressed to find one for much less than $160.

So with the new solution, I can run virtually anyone's WWAN USB, it has a battery or car charger option and is smaller, offers more security options, and the total hardware cost is actually lower than the AutoNet. It gives you more flexibility and security.

This is a great combo for those of you who want mobile Internet.

March San Luis Reservoir/Basalt Campground

March 13th Sadie and I drove down to Los Banos to pick up the Airstream from Toscano RV Center from its first annual warranty checkup. I had a few small issues taken care of and it was great to be reunited with the silver bullet. They gave it the best bath it had had in months and we celebrated by taking it over to the Basalt Campground nesteled in some trees at San Luis Reservoir. It was just a quick overnight trip but we had fun nonetheless. Sadie squealed when she saw the Airstream and cried when I took her out to go handle the paperwork. The whole evening camping she didn't want to come out of it and instead ran back and forth and read and played with her toys, even though there were lots of rabbits and magpies hanging out in the campground. It's a really nice, quiet and clean campground. No utilities but that's fine by me!

February Olema

Feeling the need to get out for a quick camping trip, we packed up and went to one of our favorite local campgrounds, the semi-developed Olema Ranch Park.

It was cold and windy when we got there on Friday and proceeded to dump rain on us all day Saturday. Other than watching Sadie splash through the mud puddles, we don't have much to report on the trip and ended up heading home Saturday afternoon.

Uneventful trip but always fun to get out in the Airstream!

January Monterey - Carmel - Santa Cruz

With a 3 day weekend for MLK's birthday, it only made sense for us to do a camping trip! Since we hadn't been to Monterey/Carmel in years, we thought it would be fun. The weather, while not providing much of the needed precipitation this year, was splendid for a camping trip. It was 75+ every day and no heat was necessary. We camped out at Laguna Seca County Park outside of Monterey just off of Highway 68. Laguna Seca is, of course, where the races take place. While much of the track was closed off for people to wander on and walk around (probably a good idea), we did get to see some of it.

We arrived Friday about 8 PM to a very clean campground, very quiet with lots of very nice RVs there. The campground has power and water (30 amp power) so we plugged into both and put Sadie to bed. As much as I relish dry camping in state and county parks away from people, it was kind of nice to not have to worry so much about conserving power and water this time. The campground was $30 per night and was really a nice place to come back to each day.

Saturday morning we headed over to Carmel and drove through town and scoped things out so we'd know what else we would come check out the next day. We went back to the trailer for lunch and then headed over to Monterey to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium where we spent 3 hours checking out all the aquariums and interactive exhibits. Sadie got to touch a couple of starfish and see a giant octopus moving around in its area, penguins, sharks, sea otters, and countless other critters. We had dinner at the Sea Harvest Fish Market, a very reasonably priced restaurant (not overly charming but also not littered with tourists) and had some great seafood. I liked Carrie's comment, 'this didn't come out of a box!' They also have great prices on raw fish if you want to buy it there and cook it up at home.

Sunday morning we went back to Carmel and strolled the shops and grabbed sandwiches from an Italian deli and sat out on the beach and had a really nice lunch. Afterward Sadie and I played in the sand and we all people-watched in the 75 degree weather. That afternoon we then drove up to Santa Cruz and checked out a couple of other campgrounds for future return trips, New Brighton being the one we really want to try next with one of the 'premium' sites backing up to the cliff overlooking the beach and ocean below. Should make for some spectacular sunsets there! We then drove around Santa Cruz and toured UCSC (home of the banana slugs) and then when Sadie woke up we headed over to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Only half of the rides were open but we took Sadie on a few of the kiddie rides--the jet helicopter (she had to do that solo), the speedway (Carrie did it once with her and I did it with her), and the merry-go-round (which at about the same age my parents had taken me to).

After hitching up Monday morning, we paid the $9.25 and did the 17 mile drive. There we saw some of the most amazing homes we've ever seen, nonetheless with one of the neatest vistas you could imagine as the homes had phenomenal views of the Bay. We grabbed lunch in Pebble Beach and then made the rest of the drive home.

It was a tremendously enjoyable trip and we'll remember it for years to come.

New Year's in Yosemite

Neither Carrie nor I had seen Yosemite in the winter so we headed off for the long weekend to spend some time in the Park. We hadn't been there in a few years either and we both needed a mountain fix.

Upon arriving to the park entrance, at night, we discovered some pretty ice and snow packed roads. There had been chain requirements and 4 wheel drive was pretty much a necessity. I seem to have a habit of arriving to our destination after dark and this was no exception. Instead of only being dark though, we got to park in a tight site with a bunch of snow. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to park on the most level portions of snow in the site, we finally got pretty close and it worked out okay. It was colder than we expected and there was about 2 feet of snow throughout the campgrounds but it was fun for all of us.

We ended up spending a good amount of time in the Ahwahnee Hotel's big room sitting by the fire, running around with Sadie, and relaxing. We also drove up to Wawona one afternoon and I finally got my cheeseburger fix there. We did a few short hikes and checked out Badger Pass ski hill and watched the ice skaters at Curry Village. It was a really good time and was neat to see the beauty of Yosemite in the winter. We took some pictures too!