SHUTDOWN

I STARTED ASKING MY DESERT RAT BUDDIES JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, TO SHUT DOWN THE CAMPER AND LEAVE IT ON THE DESERT ALL SUMMER.

ON “THE MOUNTAIN” IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE, HAUL HOME ANYTHING THAT WILL FREEZE AND BREAK, TURN OFF THE WATER, TURN OFF THE POWER, TURN OFF THE GAS, CALL THE PLUMBER TO WINTERIZE THE WATER LINES AND LEAVE HIM A CHECK ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.

I FIGURED THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT, NOTHING WILL FREEZE, LOCK THE DOOR AND HEAD OUT. TO CLOSE UP THE CAMPER IN THE HARSH HEAT OF SUMMER PRODUCES AN INTERNAL HEAT THAT DRYS OUT EVERYTHING AND CAN EVEN MELT THE GLUE THAT THEY PUT THESE TRAILERS TOGETHER WITH.

FIRST THING IS COVER ALL THE WINDOWS INSIDE WITH THAT ALUMINUM FOIL BUBBLE WRAP TO REFLECT THE HEAT OUT.

SINCE THE HEAT IS GOING TO EVAPORATE ALL THE WATER OUT OF THE TRAPS ON THE DRAINS, YOU NEED TO SEAL ALL THE DRAINS SHUT, AND DON’T FORGET THE SHOWER.

TO SEAL THE TOILET AND PROTECT THE RUBBER SEALS YOU ACTUALLY POUR IN VEGTABLE OIL INSTEAD OF ANTI-FREEZE.

TO PREVENT THE GLUE FROM DRYING OUT AND MELTING NEXT YOU LEAVE BUCKETS AND GARBAGE CANS FILLED WITH WATER ALL OVER THE INSIDE.

REMOVE ALL OF THE FOOD, OR THE PACK RATS AND MICE WILL TAKE OVER THE INSIDE.

IN OUR CASE WE NEED TO COVER THE KITCHEN COUNTER ON THE PORCH TO PROTECT IT FROM THE MONSOON RAINS OF JULY AND AUGUST.

BESIDES SHUTTING DOWN THE TRAILER IT WAS THE DAY TO MAKE A “RUN” TO TOWN. HAIRCUTS, BANKING, AND THE LIBRARY WILL FINISH UP WHAT’S LEFT OF OUR BUSINESS IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY.

IT STILL FEELS LIKE A SUMMER VACATION, SO WE MADE TIME FOR 10 – 20 COLD BEERS AND A VISIT WITH “GRANDMA JACK”.