We aren't in a hurry. The trip to Ely, Nevada would be less than 200 miles, but there were a couple mountain passes along the way. Highway 56 to Panaca, Nevada went over the Panaca Summit where we stayed 6 days. This was on BLM land, yet we were visited by the Sheriff who checked our ID's to verify we had no warrants against us, and if my semi was stolen. He said his office had received 8 calls regarding my semi, that people just have to be in other people's business. We hiked to some of the mountain peaks to have a look around, exploring along the way, taking pictures and cut some of the down dead cedar to replenish our wood supply.
We went on to Panaca, Nevada where I re-filled the water tanks at the local park, then fueled at the junction of Highway 56 and 93. We headed north on Highway 93 to Pioche, Nevada, but in Pioche I couldn't find a good place to hang a while. There would be a Labor Day celebration in Pioche we would have liked to see. We'd continue north on Highway 93.
Connors Pass is another mountain pass south of Ely, Nevada where we parked for several days. We hiked to the nearby peaks, explored and cut dead White Pine for firewood. Then, down the road to a wildlife viewing area, located several miles south of Ely, Nevada on Highway 93. We stayed for several days taking in the 30 mile view of the valley.
At Ely, Nevada, I expected to get internet. Before I leave an area, I check the Sprint Coverage Map to determine where I can get internet service. I should have gotten internet in many areas along the way, yet we hadn't gotten internet since we left Cedar City, Utah. I can see the cell towers. No internet. The next couple days I'd determine the reason why. I plugged my Franklin Tri-Mode USB into Jewel's computer and ran some diagnostics. Internet was available on her PC. After some time, I discovered Roam Guard was blocking our access. I turned Roam Guard off, plugged the Tri-Mode USB into my Cradlepoint MBR95 router and now we have internet to all our devices via WiFi.
Today, when I came out of the truck stop with a can of beer, Jewel was running toward me. A water pipe had exploded. She shut off the water pump and came out of the trailer to the truck stop where she met me. I chased into the trailer and saw the SharkBite nylon water pipe had blown near the wood stove. Water was running from the blown pipe from the bottom of the water heater. I shut off the valve at the bottom of the water heater.
Today, we visited the Renaissance Village in Ely, Nevada. These replicas resemble the houses of 100 years past. I got the idea of heating our water from these early water heating systems.
This is a semi, an 18 wheeler. I built the trailer to be livable a couple years ago, yet there are some imperfections. A nylon pipe a little too close to the stove blew open. I have many of the needed parts and supplies for such a disaster. In in an hour the problem was fixed.
Besides the wood stove, I have a Brunton AF. Jewel has posted a couple pictures, from her blog, one of me lighting the stove and another brewing coffee. I've had this stove a couple years and use it when I need a very hot stove. I'm pictured lighting it with a propane torch because the torch gets the stove to operating temperature much quicker. The wick used in the lighting process has long since burned out. I've cleaned the jet many times and it's probably gotten larger. When I'm lighting this stove with a propane torch it is easy to turn the fuel up too fast, causing it to squirt raw fuel up into the air with flames several feet high. Although this is an all fuel stove, I'd recommend kerosene. Gasoline works well also, but tends to dissolve the pump. I've siphoned diesel from my main tanks in a pinch and mixing with kerosene works well however straight truck diesel clogs the jet. I've never used propane with this stove because propane defeats the purpose of getting the most bang for the buck. We have a propane stove as well, but cooking your food with propane is more expensive. Perhaps one day I'll get the fittings so we can use a 2 gallon propane tank rather than the cylinders. The cylinders frost and burn one burner perhaps a half hour. The cylinders cost $5 for two, and I buy 5 gallons of kerosene about twice a year.
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