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Traveling the backroads of the world, or anywhere for that matter, clean, safe, pure water is critical. When we designed the Tortuga Expedition Camper, we incorporated a 40-gallon water tank that feeds an Everpure water purification system using the FDA approved Superchlorination method. (www.everpure.com) All would be well except the shop that installed the tank under all the cabinets did a sloppy job of attaching the fill spout. It is just one of many items we have had problems with because we relied on craftsmen, (I use the term loosely), who had no idea of the quality mandatory in an expedition camper.

The water leak contaminated the 1” plywood sub floor that sits on the main NidaCore/fiberglass floor. Since the cabinets were built around the tank, they all had to come out to remove the tank. Needless to say, it was a Cesarean Procedure.  While the tank is being repaired in Rancho Cordova, we replaced the damaged sub floor and cleaned up some of the electrical wiring that looked like a problem waiting to happen. We’re just glad we discovered the leak here in California instead of Tajikistan.

The fill connection to our water tank was "taking a leak" every time the water sloshed in that direction.

Removing the damaged floor board under the tank was a messy job.

Fortunately only the wood directly beneath the tank was damaged by water.

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Onboard compressed air is a critical and mandatory component of any expedition vehicle. On The Turtle V, it is used for our Hellwig rear air suspension, (www.hellwigproducts.com), the front ARB Air Locker, (www.arbusa.com) and the twin Fiamm air horns, (www.fiammtech.com), in addition to operating air tools, airing up tires, and even reseating the bead on a tubeless tire if it needs to be broken down for repair. Compressed air is also handy for blowing off dust from anything.

Extreme Outback's new ExtremeAire Velocity compressors use a 3/4 HP motor, 100% continuous cycle, to pump out 1.5 CFM @ 100 PSI.

To solve this need, we mounted twin ExtremeAire compressors in a custom K&W side box, (www.customtoolboxes.com). Using the two Extreme Outback compressors, (www.extremeoutback.com), gives us the security of still having air should one fail. The new ExtremeAire Velocity compressors feature continuous duty with a ¾ HP motor that puts out 1.5 cfm at 100 psi. They will fill our 5-gallon AccuAir aluminum reserve tank in just over a minute, (www.accuairsuspension.com). High-pressure air lines from PowerTank, (www.powertank.com), connect to a pair of Campbell Hausfeld mini pressure regulators (www.chpower.com), that feed the ARB Air Locker and the Fiamm air horns. All electrical connections to the various solenoids were made with reliable Quick Cable butt connectors, (www.quickcable.com), that have built-in heat shrink.

AccuAir's 5-gallon aluminum air tank was a perfect fit between our compressor box and the truck frame.

Campbell Hausfeld mini pressure regulators monitor the air to our Fiamm air horns and ARB locker.

K&W Custom Tool Boxes fabricated a special box for our new compressor system.

Yes, we are packing and getting our home ready to rent but when it snows, what can you do? Sugar Bowl Ski Area is 50 minutes from our driveway to the slopes, and with a foot of fresh powder, we couldn’t resists. Now it’s back to loading boxes.

We took advantage of recent snowstorms to carve some turns at beautiful Squaw Valley Ski Resort. Taking the amazing gondola up to the top of the mountain, there was time to visit the Olympic Museum at High Camp where Monika could pretend she had just won the Women’s Downhill. I guess that should be a Swiss flag behind her. The view from the observation deck overlooking Lake Tahoe is worth the ride up, especially when you can ski all the way down. We could only wonder how this old sentinel managed to survive on a rock. If it could speak, what memories it must have of the changes since the 1960 Winter Olympics were staged here.

Finally, Winter has come to the California Sierras. We were quick to take advantage of the fresh powder at Squaw Valley.

The view from the observation deck reached by the Squaw Valley Gondola offers spectacular view of Lake Tahoe and the High Sierras.

Did Monika just win the Olympic Women's Downhill?

We can only wonder how this sentinel survived for decades on top of the mountain on top of the rock. Surely, the caption must be "Tenacity".

Winter has finally come to the California Sierras, and the slopes at Squaw Valley overlooking the north shore of Lake Tahoe were measuring their snow from recent storms in feet not inches. Instead of starting at the base of Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics, we drove to the Resort at Squaw Creek (squawcreek.com). In addition to a lift that reaches all of the Squaw Valley slopes, there is a free shuttle to Alpine Resort just over the hill. The Resort at Squaw Creek has X-country tracks, snow shoe tracks, dog sledding, fly fishing (yes, in the winter), a full spa, heated pool and jacuzzis, elegant restaurants and more. The fresh snow made for one of the best skiing days of the year. The views from the top of Squaw are spectacular. We finished up a perfect day with a late luncheon at Squaw Creek’s Sandy’s Pub.

Winter has finally come to the California High Sierras. Snow is measured in feet not inches.

The Resort at Squaw Creek offers ice skating, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, a full service spa, heated pools & Jacuzzis and a lift that lets you ski-in ski-out to the Squaw Valley slopes.

Fresh powder, fresh air, no crowds, blue sky and a view of Lake Tahoe in the background. Does it get any better?

When The Turtle V first started to have front wheel bearings self-destruct, we just carried a spare unit with us all the time and changed them every 20,000 miles. Then Dynatrac Products (www.dynatrac.com), came to the rescue. The factory “unit bearings” were a problem for many Ford Super Duty owners. Dynatrac’s Free-Spin™ Heavy Duty Hub Conversion Kit is designed to replace the factory unit bearings with fixed spindles and serviceable bearings. Factory unitized bearing systems, also known as “unit bearings”, were designed to make vehicle assembly easier but are prone to failure due to a very narrow bearing design and plastic bearing cages. When a unit bearing fails, the vehicle is often immediately disabled and cannot be driven anywhere until the unit bearing has been completely replaced. You have about 100 yards to stop and pull to the side. By then, pretty much everything up to the tin backing plate: spindle, rotor, brake pads, caliper—everything is trashed.

Please check out the article “The Bearing Thing” on our Home Page under the brand new Tech Stuff Button.

It was sunny yesterday, reminding us that there are two types of people who predict weather in the mountains: Damn Tourists and Damn Fools. It started about 5:00 AM, and by the time we were up, we needed 4X4 and chains to safely negotiate the snow-clogged roads. Installing our Pewag Cross-Link chains, (www.pewagchain.com), on the aggressive Michelin XZLs in a blowing blizzard was good practice. The big lugs on the XZLs were no match for hard-packed snow and ice. Chains were mandatory.

Snow was a minor inconvenience for The Turtle V.

Installing Pewag chains in a blowing blizzard. Good practice!

The view from Harveys 19 Kitchen – Bar in South Lake Tahoe is the place to dine. Even an ordinary occasion becomes magical over a glass of Argentine Cabernet while the Chef prepares rack of lamb or one of his many specialties from the hardwood grill. Winter sunsets can be spectacular from the top of Harveys Casino on the shore of one of the most beautiful settings in the world.

Sunset dining on the 19th floor of Harveys Resort and Casino.

Winter sunsets can be spectacular from the top of Harveys Casino.

The scenery is memorable from almost anywhere on the shore of Lake Tahoe, the “Jewel of the Sierra”. For a special treat, we jumped into a R44 Raven II helicopter (operated by Reno-Tahoe Helicopters) for a birds-eye view of the South Shore including Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake, backed by the Winter Wonderland of Desolation Wilderness. TIP: Before you take off ask them to remove the doors!

It’s definitely a unique way to see Lake Tahoe. Among large lakes, this amazing national treasure is the second highest in the world (6.225 feet). With a maximum depth of 1,645 feet, its 39 trillion gallons of water would cover all of California to a depth of 14 inches.

Among large lakes, Lake Tahoe has the second highest elevation in the World (6,225 ft). The highest is Lake Titicaca in South America (12,500 ft)

Cascade Lake backed by the Winter Wonderland of Desolation Wilderness.

A short fishing trip on Lake Tahoe for the famed Mackinaw trout was successful. Even if we had not caught more fish that we could eat, the scenery from Tahoe Sport Fishing’s Hopper IV was awe inspiring, (www.tahoesportfishing.com). There are three parts of fishing. Actually fishing. Can be boring. Catching fish. Can be fun. Eating fresh fish. That’s the best part! We are catch-and-eat fisher people.

Captain Kris did a great job getting our bait into the schools of Machinaw at about 160 ft.

Catch-and-Eat---Ready for the grill