November 7, 2012

Self-portrait
EarthRoamer
Dacono, Colorado

Spent the day at EarthRoamer in Dacono, Colorado so that the amazing crew could attend to some final details--installing Drobos for our hard drives, attaching hooks, etc.
They patiently answered all our questions and took us through the systems ONE MORE TIME. We're finally starting to get it. Wow...such a steep learning curve!

Thought you might like to see the extraordinary team who made our EarthRoamer possible. They are true craftsmen who take incredible pride in what they do.
Our gratitude to each and every one of them for their attention to detail--there wasn't anything they couldn't do!!! A very special thanks to Bill Swails whose
vision made it possible for these two old photographers to roam the world!

After another stop at EarthRoamer in the morning, we're off to Carbondale, Colorado for a visit with some old friends. Snow is coming...

November 6, 2012

 Free WiFi
Alliance, Nebraska

 Early morning
Cedar Pass Campground
Badlands National Park
South Dakota

 

 Sheep stop
Badlands National Park
South Dakota

On the road to Colorado
Allen Road (County Road 14)
South Dakota

Carhenge
Alliance, Nebraska

We're back in Dacono, Colorado. EarthRoamer tweaking is tomorrow, so we'll have a day off the road. Time to catch up on work!!!

November 5, 2012

 

 Somewhere along Highway 73 in South Dakota
"Patience hell, I'm going to kill something!"

We spent the night at the Shade Hill Reservoir in Grand River National Grassland,
Lemmon, South Dakota.

 ?
Found in the Grand River National Grassland
?????????

 Sunflowers
Found along Highway 73 in South Dakota

 Wall Drug
Wall, South Dakota

 The Badlands
South Dakota

 The Badlands
South Dakota

Sunset
The Badlands
South Dakota

We're headed back to Dacono, Colorado tomorrow for some tweaks to the EarthRoamer.
'Til then.....

November 4, 2012

 

 Early morning view from our bed looking up through the roof hatch.

    First camping spot--Theodore Roosevelt National Park
    Medora, North Dakota

    Hangin' with the big boys..we're creating quite a stir!!!
    Bismarck, North Dakota

    Steve and Dan Gabel
    Dan is a Ford diesel expert who met with us to teach us Diesel 101.
    Bismarck, North Dakota

Dan and Steve checking out the beast!
Bismarck, North Dakota

Geese in Flight–by sculptor Gary Greff
Listed in the Guinness World Book of Records, it's the world's largest scrap metal sculpture. 

It's located on the Enchanted Highway in Regent, North Dakota.

November 3, 2012

              The Arrival!!!
              Billings, Montana

November 2, 2012

Waiting in Billings, Montana for the EarthRoamer. The trailer hauling the Roamer had a flat tire so it will arrive first thing in the morning.
Thought you might like to see the beast from the front.
Stats you might find interesting:
     Built on a Ford F550 truck chassis     41 inch Continental MPT 81 tires
     Hutchinson double beadlock rims
     Weighs 17,000 pounds
     11.5 feet tall
     27.5 feet long
     Communications: 3G/4G/4GLTE cellular voice and data, UHF/VHF/Ham radio,  CB radio, Satellite phone
     Entertainment canter:  HD Satellite TV, Bose surround sound stereo
     Air ride suspension (raises and lowers chassis 7 inches)
     90 gallons of diesel fuel
     85 gallons of fresh water
     All solar (panels on roof)
     4 AGM batteries (160 pounds apiece)
     16,500 pound capacity winch in the front
     9,500 pound capacity winch in the back
We're going to be "full-timers"--this will be our only home for the next few years!!! We plan to cover the US and Canada and then...who knows? This vehicle has been driven around the world.
If we're roamin' through your neighborhood, we'll stop by and say "Hi."

November 1, 2012

EarthRoamer production headquarters in Dacono, Colorado.

 It's moving in day--we have whittled our lives down to 11 tubs!!!
The EarthRoamer will be shipped to Billings, Montana (for tax purposes) tomorrow where we will take possession. Let the adventure begin!!!