Canyon de Chelly in Arizona’s Navajo Tribal Lands is a spectacular National Monument. The best way to see it is from the back of a WWII 6X6 truck driving up the river beneath the towering red cliffs. Many ruins were built by the ancestral Puebloans (previously called Anasazi) hundreds of years ago. Protected by overhanging sandstone walls the White House is one of the best examples.
On a short visit to Puerto Peñasco, (Rocky Point), just south of Ajo, Arizona, we feasted on fresh fish, scallops, oysters, and of course, jumbo shrimp. The four-day trip reminded us again how safe it is to travel South of the Border. Monika holds one of a dozen reasons we’ll be back again!
During a short stop in the Tucson, AZ area, we took the opportunity to visit the famous Pima Air & Space Museum. Over 80 acres and 300 planes touch 100 years of aviation history. From the super sonic SR71 Black Bird to the F14 Tomcat, (Top Gun movie), and the odd looking Supper Guppy, it takes a full day to tour the seven indoor hangers and listen to the docents, ex-pilots themselves, add their personal stories to the amazing engineering of the aircraft on display. Hard to believe this monster can even fly!
We have become so soft, when the air conditioning system starts to blow warm air, we say “what’s that about?!!”, forgetting the days of our Land Rover when we had neither AC nor power steering nor power brakes nor cruise control. When our AC started to act up, the soon-to-be great automotive technicians at Sahuarita High School (AZ), with the help of their experienced instructor Mr. Eric Riddle and their amazing workshop quickly identified the problem, and we left feeling very cool.
Fords have been notorious for having cracked sector shafts in the steering gear box. If a cracked sector shaft breaks, and they have, you loose all steering. Nice huh? All steel components including the sector shafts are magnafluxed at Lee Power Steering before assembly. In route to the Overland Expo, we stopped at Lee’s in Sun Valley, California. Tom Lee is unquestionably the most qualified expert in the country on all automotive steering systems. Ours was completely rebuilt and engineered for the weight and type of driving we expect to do on our Trans-Eurasian Odyssey and The Silk Road.
Lee Manufacturing, Sun Valley, CA: 818-768-0371
The primary purpose of building a garage and shop with a 14-foot ceiling was to allow our Turtle V expedition truck to fit. A second advantage has been to add mechanical lifts that bring our light storage boxes, ice chests and even our Old Town canoe up out of the way, making room for our furniture and other worldly possessions when we rent our home and drive away for the upcoming Trans-Eurasian Odyssey. These handy lifts raise and lower with a hand crank or a power drill with an adapter.
Major problem!!! Our grey water tank had developed a serious leak, and the custom aluminum tank was built into the walls and cabinets of the camper. The great guys at Sierra Trailer in Nevada City found a way to cut a section of the Nida Core body out to access the ugly hole and patch it. We are not sure what could have caused the corrosion inside the tank, but we hope the problem is fixed. No leaks to date.
In our absence attending the Overland Expo 2011, progress on our new shop and garage slowed down. Late winter and early spring snowstorms didn’t help. Nevertheless, things are moving along. Lights, water and much of the plumbing are finished. It was nice to be able to pack The Turtle V in a relatively warm and dry garage for the first time. Yes, The Turtles now have a nest of their own!
Overland Expo 2011 was bigger and better that ever. The Turtle V was on display, with some of our long-time sponsors represented. We were kept busy teaching seminars on Financing Your Overland Adventure and Staying Happy and Healthy On the Road, along with several “Ask The Experts” Round Tables. As always, it was great to meet new friends and reacquaint with old Turtle Expedition followers.
The Turtle IV is not retired, but while it waits for its next adventure, it is currently on display in the new showroom of Ken Imler Diesel Performance in Sacramento, Calif. (1441 Richards Blvd.) The Turtle IV has been completely restored to “Expedition Ready” condition after its epic 3-year journey across Siberia and around the world. It is reluctantly for sale to the right party. This is the most capable and reliable truck The Turtle Expedition has ever owned.
