Earliest photos taken 3 days before the next set.
13-16 days estimate
These three were hatched earlier than Boone and Rose's nest on approximately April 16. This is a new cliff site and is very far away, behind trees and at a difficult angle. Photos will not be great. And, as a reminder all my photos are taken at such a distance that the Peregrines are mere specks and I rarely know what I've seen until I edit, crop and zoom in on my photos. There are some real surprises!
Dee and BJ have three eyasses D9, D10, D11. D is for the female of the pair. Numbers started with the first hatch of D1 and include all hatched young, even those who did not survive to fledge. As of these photos we estimate they were 26-29 days old. Their cliff area is large with plenty of room to exercise wings and move about. It is well protected from weather and very well hidden.
Estimated age is 26-29 days old. I can find myself estimating very poorly so adjust as they develop.
Estimated age is 23-26 days.
This season is dedicated to Eileen Wicker
Fly free, Eileen! Eileen rehabbed Dee and was so excited when she became the first Peregrine to ever successfully nest on a Kentucky cliff. She didn't often know what happened to her released raptors which made Dee very special. Every year I sent her updates and photos that she appreciated. She will be missed but leaves a legacy that will last forever.
BOONE
I don't have a good photo yet from this year as he tends to perch in places we can never find. He quietly does his job providing food and then disappearing. Boone loves to incubate eggs and often has to be forced off the nest by the female. Even after hatch Boone is sometimes seen laying down when at rest.
Boone was hatched 8 years ago at the Ghent power plant on the Ohio River outside of Louisville. The original female Dixie was not banded and likely a cliff bird who enticed Boone to the strange idea of a cliff. He sure stuck! The first year Dixie was a sub-adult so no eggs. The 2nd year after Dixie was not seen he paired with sub-adult Dee. The 3rd year was Boone's year to become a dad and two young fledged. The 4th year saw BJ push Boone out in the middle of raising young, who all died. Last year Boone and Rose became a pair and at least one eyas hatched but perished. This year there are 3 healthy eyasses that will fledge in June.
LADY DEE
Dee was hatched, 6 years ago, on the Milton-Madison Bridge over the Ohio River during a year when the bridge was undergoing major reconstruction. Everyone was surprised when Dee's parents stuck out the noise and even moving their nest box. Dee is named after Deborah Crawford who monitors the Milton-Madison Bridge Peregrines and transported Dee to Raptor Rehab when she was injured during her initial fledge. When she was ready to be released falconers contacted Eileen at Raptor Rehab and viciously attacked her for releasing Dee without being trained by a falconer to hunt. Eileen believed in her methods and released Dee figuring she would never know if she survived. Imagine her surprise when I posted a photo of the the new female on the cliff and Eileen recognized the band colors and number as that of Dee. Dee was the last of at least six females who visited Boone on the cliffs when Dixie did not return. The first year, she was a sub-adult; there were no eggs. The second year she hatched two who fledged. The third year she and Boone hatched three but an intruder Peregrine came in and drove off Boone. The eyasses did not survive. Dee and the intruder, Blue Jacket/BJ, now have a strong bond and fledged three last year and hopefully will fledge their three this year.
Dee has an intense dislike for Vultures that surpasses the other three adults put together. She almost seems to find it a game to slam into them or grab a vulture's wingtip and hang on for a crack-the-whip ride as the vulture tries to rid itself of Dee. Many a vulture is seen missing flight feathers that we think were the victim of Dee's attacks. She is a vocal bird and has a big personality that makes watching her a truly special blessing. She may have missed out on post-fledge training but with Deb and Eileen's help and probably a lot of luck she not only survived but has excelled.
BLUE JACKET AKA BJ
The third photo shows BJ cleaning stringy, bloody prey-parts from his talons. He's a great provider to his mate and eyeasses!
Blue Jacket aka BJ is the second male Peregrine. He is named after an Indian Chief Blue Jacket or Weyapiersenwah (c. 1743 – 1810) was a war chief of the Shawnee people, known for his militant defense of Shawnee lands in the Ohio Country. Perhaps the pre-eminent American Indian leader in the Northwest Indian War. BJ raged war on Boone and took over his territory and his mate which most likely led to the death of Boone and Dee's 3 eyeasses. It seemed like a fitting name but as time passed we have fallen in love with BJ and the take-over ended up with the creation of two pair of nesting Peregrines. After the attack on Boone and the death of the eyasses he and Dee quickly paired up and have made a solid, competent pair since.
BJ is unbanded so is of unknown age and natal history. Our guess is he was two years old and looking for a mate and territory.
Last year he and and Dee hatched and fledged three at a nearby cliff. Apparently they worked out a sharing of territory with Boone and Rose that I believe to be of unusual proximity.
This year we again find a strongly bonded and competent pair with three eyasses not far from fledging. Dee seems to be passing on her hate of all vultures. He's not quite as aggressive but like to grab them by their talons and play flip-the-vulture game.
ROSE
The last of four Peregrines and newest addition to the two pair of Peregrines is Rose. Rose is unbanded and of unknown age and natal history. She was in adult plumage though last year which means she was at least 2 years old - 3 this year. She is great mom and it was heart-breaking last year to see her react to the death of the one eyas that we saw. She stood over the body for hours keeping watch.
We named this female Rose as she has a definite rosy color to her breast with lots of flecks up into the white. She is a huge female and Boone looks very small next to her. They are a quieter pair with little vocalization. They seems like a good match.
We suspect that she and Boone were new to each other and hurried through the normally extended relationship building. When there was no fledge last year the two of them disappeared and we believer in the following year have built that strong relationship that is so important to the success of a nest.
But this year she has three healthy eyasses and is a devoted mom; feeding gently, staying close by and always alert and on watch. These three will all hopefully fledge in June as they are younger than Dee and BJ's young.
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Dee and BJ began bonding and found a new nest site immediately after last year's eyasses were predated. The new site is a perfect location for every age and stage. With a full year for Dee and BJ to bond they seem extremely compatible. Communication and teamwork between them is excellent and they worked well together to successfully raise their young. BJ is a great provider and Dee continues to show excellent maternal skills. Everything went well from site selection to eggs to hatch to fledge to post fledge training. If only every year could be so easy and successful.
Note: All ages are estimates to the best of our ability as we do not have an exact hatch date so estimates are based on physical development.
The scrape for the eggs is deep and well protected and all that can be seen are the parents during a nest exchange. But, we recognized there was a hatch when food was brought in and parents were sitting high on the nest.
At 6 days after estimated hatch we had our first view and there appeared to be only one eyas.
By Day 18, when an eyas is large enough to leave the scrape, we realized that only one of three had been showing itself at any one time. There are THREE!
First view of all three.
The eyasses have plenty of room to grow and develop, there is space for a safe night-time roost in an area that is tucked far back in the cliff thus making it easier for the parents to protect the eyasses from predators.
Day 20. They are much more mobile as they walk on their hocks. Dee or BJ perch near by but are rarely in the nest area except for feeding. They are about 1/2 the size of the parents. There is one that we see less than the other two and we guess it is the youngest D8.
Age 28 days and they are walking upright most of the time. They are still mostly fluff but wings feathers and facial details are developing quickly.
Age 35 days. Change is very rapid from day to day as down is falling out and feathers are those they will have until their first molt a year from now. A great deal of their awake time is spent preening out the down.
The difference between oldest D6 and the youngest D8 is easily seen in this photo.l
Down is flying as they work to strengthen their wings and endurance.
Age 38 days. In 3 days a tremendous change has happened! D6 fledged the next day at day 39. They are fully grown and about the size of Dee. BJ is a big male but is smaller than each eyas. Little puffs of down remain and with every movement more float into the air. I saw all 3 fledge and those fledges will be in separate blogs.
When ready to fledge the surrounding area is large and provides them a great deal of space to develop their landing, take-offs and flight skills.
Only once did I witness one failure of communication between Dee and BJ. But Dee was in charge and clearly let BJ know that she needed him to bring in more food than had been provided one foggy morning. This was a time when the eyasses were growing quickly as was their appetite so BJ may not have adjusted food amounts to account for that growth. Both parents were perched on the cliff but Dee was staring at BJ, vocalizing and clearly not happy. BJ had his back to her but when the vocalization increased in intensity and became more urgent he turned and watched her intently but did nothing. Suddenly Dee burst into flight, flew to him and physically knocked him off his perch. He got the message and flew off and returned quite quickly with a Killdeer that was given to Dee who, in turn, fed the eyasses. More food quickly followed. Message received and peace returned to the cliff nest.
As they prepare to fledge there was an obvious change on the cliff. Dee and BJ stuck very close to the cliff. If one fell or fledged they were on watch and ready to help. Both were very aggressive toward any large birds. With Vultures plentiful they took the brunt of the action and several began to look very ragged. Both parents perched in unusual places and seemed to be analyzing the surrounding area. D6 was spending much time "wingercising", staring into space and bobbing her head as she brought this outward world into focus. Little attention was given to her sisters. Her view had become outward rather than focused on the nest site. The feel that something big was going to happen was palatable and absolutely not our imaginations. Behaviors radically changed. The two days before fledge I started getting up early as most fledges happen early in the morning with the first lift of air currents. That gives the fledgling and parents time to work out any problems that might develop during the fledge and be sure all are well fed before their first night as fledglings.
Next: D6 fledges like an angel!
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This photo is of D2 and is a flashback to 2017
Fast forward to 2019.
3rd year sibling D6, a big female, appeared to have planned it all out. For a couple of days she changed her focus from her siblings and the nest to the river, the cliffs and the horizon. She stood at the cliff's edge and gazed outward and the change was palatable. Her sisters watched and it was clear that they were not ready to fledge.
She would bob her head as she brought this new big world into focus. She worked her wings hard and ran, skipped and hopped the length of the nesting ledge. There is a hint of down on the top of her head but otherwise it has all floated away. Her malaria or "mustache" marking is very thin compared to the others. We hope that will continue to be her identifying mark as she explores the cliff and takes her first flights.
BJ and Dee seemed to sense the change as did her siblings. Dee perched in places she never had before almost like she was also analyzing where the three would be landing, where she should offer food to entice them to the safest locations. The atmosphere was charged and we all felt it. All were waiting......
Both parents brought in bird after bird with some of them surely alive from the crazy scrambling I heard at the back of the nest. There was no doubt that she was ready and just waiting for the right atmospheric and wind conditions. She probably wasn't going to fly when there was no wind and the humidity made air heavy.
The next morning I arrived for a very early kayak launch. I reached the launch location in the dark and prepped my kayak by the light of my car headlights. Launch was into the dark but soon first light reached me as my eyes adjusted. The paddle was beautiful with water like glass, a chorus of birds increasing their song with every stroke of my paddle and the occasional slap of a beaver's tail added percussion to the symphony of dawn.
My arrival at the nest site was perfect as got my camera and binoculars ready and watched D6 in her last minutes of warming up her wings as the light got just bright enough for me to see her.
Then she stood at the edge and waited. A couple of times she raised her wings and squatted down but it wasn't quite the right time. She relaxed and waited. Finally, as I felt the slight breeze come up as the sun rose and I watched her raise her wings, squat down and then she gently rose without hesitation or effort. I know she must have flapped her wings a few times but I don't remember seeing it. I only saw this vision rising up, catching the air and soaring like she had done it a hundred times before. She headed upriver, turned toward the cliff at a break in the trees, passed through and glided out of sight. I kept saying to myself "AMAZING! SHE'S AMAZING! SUCH GRACE!" Then it came together, "Amazing Grace" was her name for the day.
All was quiet on the cliff. D7 and D8 continued wingercising and run-flapping the length of the cliff nest. D6 was checked on by the parents andthere were food deliveries. Late in the day she took a short flight into a tree near the cliff nest where she may have spent the night.
I thought D7 would fledge the next day and she came close several times but it never happened. She wasn't ready.
Next: D7 and D8 fledge 2 days later.
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....What caught my eye was Dee, who had been perched high above them. She was in full stoop and diving straight down. It is rare for them to dive from such a low altitude and it certainly caused me concern. When I finally looked up there was only one Peregrine at the nest. D7 was gone. Had she fallen? Had D8 bumped her with a strong wingbeat and knocked her out? Had she jumped and done more falling than climbing as she got wind under her wings? I will never know. Soon after, peeking through trees, I could see some wing action and hear some vocalizing below the nest that let me know she was probably okay. Not long after Dee took food to her and I could hear that everything was fine with D7.
D8 IS ALONE! Being alone in the nest drove D8 crazy! Running back and forth with wings flapping as she desperately didn't want to be left behind. She was very vocal and her frustration was obvious. But, she didn't fly....it wasn't her time yet.
In frustration she made a run at the edge of the cliff opening and suddenly she was out of the nest and scrabbling on a sheer rock cliff face with nothing for talons to grab. Scrabbling she finally lost the battle with gravity and dropped a few yards onto a very narrow ledge. She flapped and flopped and finally got enough purchase with her talons to fold her wings and rest.
Some reminiscing:
I have often wondered how Dee fell into the Ohio River when she fledged. Well, it may be the same way that D8 got into trouble. D8 went exploring and although she came out of it just fine she certainly gave me a scare and lots of laughs. From the day Dee arrived on the cliff I have seen her explore cliff ledges. She walks along as she looks and pokes at everything. She checks every crevice to see if she will fit or if it is too small. If she did this on the bridge supports, where she was hatched, it could be how she fell. Maybe D8 is a mini-Dee.
Back to the present:
Once D8 got her talons under her she began to explore. Within a few yards she tried to squeeze past a dead bush. It didn't work. She got her wing on one side of a branch, another branch pinned her down across her back and a third wrapped up her talon. She was wrapped up and scared as she pulled and flapped trying to get free. I honestly was not sure she was going to be able to free herself. She finally wore herself out and relaxed and all of a sudden she was free.
I worried about an injury but she moved on with her explorations with no sign of a problem. Well, that was until she got to the dead-end of the ledge and even bigger dead and dry bushes and got caught again. She flapped and worked at it and was again successful in turning around. I was not having fun although a giggle or two may have escaped.
Back she went toward the nest and successfully navigated the first weed attack. As she neared the nest she stared up at it longingly and cried out. Getting back in wasn't going to be easy and, in fact, proved to be impossible. But she tried going up, going over, going right and going left. She ran until she was exhausted and then she would rest. It was obvious that she had one goal in mind and I think it was returning to the nest and very possibly back to the egg! She wasn't impressed with her trek fledge.
I kept thinking she would slip and that would force her to take flight but in spite of some close calls, she never fell. Her body and brain had not switched into flight mode as it had for the others.
At one point Dee decided to become involved and flew in with a prey. Peregrines will sometimes offer prey as a way to get the Peregrines to fly where they want them to go. Dee perched on the edge of the nest and dangled it down but it was too high and she just couldn't make the flight.
Dee flew in a circle and came back and landed right next to her troublesome fledgling. D8 was so excited to see her and the prey food. She reached out for the prey and Dee pulled it away. Again, she tried to grab the food without success. She got mad and really went after it but with no luck. Dee wasn't going to give it up until D8 flew. It was an enticement and when Dee flew away with it; D8 did not or was unable to follow.
D8 finally worked her way further from the nest area and started more explorations. At that point I decided it was time for me to take my leave and let the family explore to the best of their abilities and find safe places to spend the night.
She's looking great considering her day. Little did I know that the next time I was going to see her she would, once again, be in trouble....but that's the next Blog.
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Several hours later I noticed Dee, with Mockingbird prey in her talons, circling past the cliff and out over the river.
She then transferred the prey to her beak and continued the circling. Usually, in flight, all the Peregrines carry prey in their talons once they taken off. This was unusual.
She circled repeatedly and I thought she was trying to entice any fledgling to follow her and attempt an in-air transfer. So, I took lots of photos hoping to catch the action. But, no one came out and round and round Dee went. I could hear at least one fledgling calling out but no one joined her. I thought that was the end of the action and there was no story to be told.
When the action stopped I did a quick review of the photos and what I saw brought tears to my eyes. It was the most dramatic and tender moment that I think I've ever photographed. I had no idea I had taken a photo of D8 stuck on a cliff with Dee trying to help.
Somehow D8 had managed to land on a tiny outcropping on a sheer cliff and didn't have enough room to take flight. She was sideways to the cliff and that prevented her from extending her wings to fly. She couldn't turn and face outward as there just wasn't room for her talons to make the shift or enough space for her body and tail. So, she cried out in distress. Dee and BJ would make regular passes checking on each fledgling and I'm sure her cries brought Dee to her aid. She flew out, caught a Mockingbird and returned in hopes that the prey gift would coax her out of her "between a rock and hard place" and convince her to take the "leap of faith" trusting that if she jumped then she could fly her way out of trouble.
So round and round she went passing close to her on the cliff and then over the river. And, over and over again she was not able to make the jump into flight. And, I had no idea what was in the photos I was taking.
I often have no idea what I photograph until I review the photos. I was shocked when I looked at the photos and saw a photo with D8 stuck on the cliff. Once I did I paddled to different positions trying to match the photo to the cliff to see if D8 was still stuck. I finally made the match (I highlighted the perch in pink) and realized she had finally trusted Dee and her wings to get herself out of trouble.
Since that event I have seen her up in the air initiating mock battles with her sisters and after a "rocky" start I think this fledgling is going to make it.....although I may say a few prayers.
The next blog is about early days out of the next as they explore the cliff and begin early flight lessons.
Link to all blogs
https://tinanauman.zenfolio.com/blog
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Flying doesn't really start when they leave the nest. It is the same for many birds; they leave the nest but are still mostly grounded. They begin this new chapter of their lives by exploring a small area around them. That exploration slowly increases and begins to include short hop-flights and jump-flights. Each short flight is just enough to get them to a new level or new area on the cliff.
Dee and BJ encourage the explorations by delivering food to new areas. Once one fledglings goes to the food that also entices the others.
BJ and Dee would perch high above them and were extremely sensitive to any large birds. Occasionally one parent would take flight a do some low U-shaped dives above them. Food was delivered and seems to be still be mostly prepped but in quite large pieces. They are not fed but did not have to do much more than tear into it.
After several days they began to do short flights that were focused on taking off and landing and having some control while in flight. There were clumsy landings, upside-down landings as they discovered limbs, slippery rocks and ledges that were too small and narrow. But there is no hurry and they are in a safe place so they can take their time learning.
They stay fairly close to each other and there are many interactions between them. While one comes in for a landing another may turn her head upside-down and watch it from this new angle. I don't recall ever seeing any of these three squabble over anything. From hatch to fledge food has been so plentiful that there was no need for fights over food....but a short game of tug-of-war can be fun.
Above photo: Stopping to watch a butterfly
Often two would watch while the 3rd ate. It was all about watching and learning from each other. In this next set of photos BJ brought in food which was given to D8. BJ watched carefully as D8 took the food to a quiet spot to eat. Prey is never wasted and is recovered if dropped.
This new location has seemed ideal as it has met the needs of the parents, the eggs, the newly hatched and the now the newly fledged. There is plenty of room for each new activity and exploration.
It continues to be fun to watch as each personality reveals itself. Two are noisy and one is quiet. D8 continues to be a very active explorer but coordination seems to get her in trouble. However, that coordination quickly came together and it is now fun, rather than scary, to watch her explore on land and in air. D7 is the quiet one....I guess it's the middle child thing. D6 is the strongest and most coordinated and usually the first to try something new.
A few more...
Next blog: It's all about being upside-down
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Then there is learning to land in a tree. It is not unusual for an early landing to not work out as hoped and suddenly she is hanging upside-down from the limb. I think this is D7.
She either lost her hold on the branch or let go when she realized there was no other choice but, in either case, she was easily able to take flight again.
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These birds will spend time flying on their own and experimenting with the wind. They will do shallow climbs and dives, they will experiment with a steep climb that takes them to the point of stalling out, they will practice all types of turns.
They will conduct many mock battles. In fact, when two are in the air it will be a mock battle or a race. They are like little kids trying to prove who is faster or more fierce. Although they come close actual contact is rare.
One day BJ led them away. At the start of the flight two who followed closely couldn't help themselves and kept pausing to battle each other. The third followed Dee. They were gone for over an hour. As they tired the first returned with Dee and the other two came in when they couldn't fly any further. I knew my time with them was done. They would fly further and further away. They would find new cliffs to explore. They would roost elsewhere. For the next few months the parents will teach them to hunt, to protect and everything else they need to know to survive.
Early in the season BJ presents a prey gift to Dee.
When I think about Peregrines in cities, on power plants, on bridges I realize what a better chance of making it to adulthood these birds have. If they can get past being predated by Great Horned Owls, these young have a safer environment to gain flight expertise. As they practice flying skills with dives and climbs, playing with the wind, and carrying on mock-battles with their siblings there is little danger. Prey birds are plentiful.
I cannot imagine a reason that any of these birds would nest anywhere but on a cliff. Those numbers will quickly multiple each year.
To watch these birds gain skills they provided us with some of the most spectacular moments I could ever hope for.
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Flipping is not exclusive to the Vultures. Give them a Red-tailed Hawk that wanders too close and a flip is guaranteed to happen.
Dee grabs the wingtip, the Vulture flips and Dee rides the flip in a fast crack-the-whip ride. This is Dee's favorite method.
BJ favorite sport is to grab their talons and flip the Vulture.
All like to surf on the Vulture's backs.
A fledgling flies with a Vulture. She didn't quite have the nerve for a close interaction but that time will come.
When not in the mood for a wild ride all will quietly escort them out of the territory. Rose and Boone tend to do this as a team effort.
Lots more photos of Vulture flipping here: More Vulture Flipping Photos
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It was all I could do to keep up with one nest and although we did monitor Boone and Rose we were not able to do so as often as we would have liked. There are also some politics involved in this decision and over the last couple of years copyright laws were likely ignored by a government agency. I decided to not give away all the information from my observations to those who chose to use it without permission. I can say it often enough; I've never had an issue with the birders of Kentucky.
A partial summary:
I believe that Rose was late on the scene for the nesting season and they moved ahead quickly in their relationship to laying eggs. Part of my thinking was the relationship just seemed very new and not as strong as Dee and BJ. However, as the season progressed that relationship seemed to get stronger. As the season wraps up Boone and Rose will have all winter to really get to know each other and solidify their relationship.
Rose is a stunning falcon and an amazing mom.
Rose has strong maternal instincts and she was as gentle and attentive as could be to her young. I couldn't help but keep saying, "Awwwwww" when I watched her.
Boone, as always, is a great provider and loves to sit on the eggs and newly hatched eyasses. Rose learned early that a nest exchange would have to include her chasing him off.
Boone on eggs
The rest of this story will have to wait until next year.
As a final summary of the year 2019 -
Boone, Dee and their new mates continue to change the future of Peregrines nesting on cliffs. With the break-up of the original pair there was the unexpected benefit of doubling the cliff nests this year. Now there are more cliff-hatched Peregrines who should nest on cliffs and numbers of falcons and cliff nests should multiply every year.
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Half the questions I get from people are about facts and figures and the other half about where I go, what I see and do and what it is like to travel with a cat. I willingly answer most questions and if you have a question - please ask.
TRAVEL YEAR
- My full-time travel began on June 1, 2016 and I base my finances using that date.
HOW DO I LIVE IN SUCH A TINY SPACE?
- Everything I own is in my Yukon, Casita and 5’ x 10’ storage unit. When I stop traveling I will purchase kitchen items, new clothes, mattress and more. I travel with only necessary items in my 6’ x 13’ Casita living space and, even in that small space, could carry more. I have found I don’t need much to live comfortably. This summer, when I stopped by Kentucky, I took more things out than I added. I rarely need to purchase items as I have packed thoughtfully and never impulse buy. Before I buy something I usually wait until I have needed it more than once.
GMC YUKON with new tires
- I purchased my GMC Yukon in October 2015 and it has 58,300 miles as of May 31. It was a great purchase as it pulls the Casita easily through mountains, city traffic, torrential rain and wind. I did not want to white knuckle drive. I just replaced the original tires and I love the new ones. They feel more stable on less than ideal roads and believe the $966 was a good purchase.
GAS MILEAGE
- When towing the Yukon averages about 13-14 mpg. It slightly increases to 14-18 mpg without the Casita. However, it pulls my Casita like it’s not there and that was my goal. I have had a few fast, unexpected stops and it tracks and stops well although braking distance is increased. I can tow at posted speed limits and feel safe.
FUEL - $73/week 2 year average
GPS
- I bought the best Garmin GPS and I cannot imagine traveling without it. It tells me when the speed limit drops so I don’t get caught in speed traps although I rarely speed. It tells me when there are shart curves, railroad tracks and schools ahead. It does NOT say “recalculating”! It is voice activated and I can ask about gas, groceries, etc. that are near me, near destination or along route. It gives me the coice of setting up a whole trip although I don’t use it. It shows a picture of interstate exits and what lane I need to be in. I could go on and on but this is a critical part of keeping me sane during my drives.
CASITA FACTS AND FIGURES
CASITA PURCHASE - $17,400 - WEIGHT 3000#
- I purchased my 2016 Casita new in December 2015. It weighs 3000# fully loaded and could carry and additional 500#.
- I look at other campers and have not found one I would rather have.
CASITA MILES from June 1 - May 31 of each year.
- 2016 - 16,000
- 2017 - 8,800
- This is only where the Casita was towed and doesn’t include Yukon miles when not towing. Casita miles are about half Yukon miles.
- That’s a big difference! 2016 I drove to Colorado and back to Kentucky, was up in Michigan and down to Florida. I was not staying anywhere very long. Last year I was more efficient in my drives and stayed in place longer and used the campground as a base for further exploration by car. My health also gave me some down time in Kentucky.
INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION OF ALL TYPES
YUKON AND CASITA INSURANCE INCLUDING ROADSIDE INSURANCE FOR BOTH - $1241/annually
- Vehicle and Camper Insurance of all types and vehicle registration is why I chose my domicile to be in South Dakota. I am required to return for one night every five years for a new Driver’s License.
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING - $200/annually for both
- Fees are based on weight not value. That number is not a typo!
HEALTH INSURANCE with an editorial comment - $254/month for all coverage
- Health Insurance. Medicare and supplemental insurance. .
- Part A is free
- Part B is $134/month
- Part C, Plan G is supplemental through Mutual of Omaha $99/month. I only pay a small deductible each year of $180. That deductible will go up each year but so far by only a few dollars.
- Part D is prescription coverage. Mine is through Humana/Walmart $20.40/month. The official Medicare site has calculators where you can input your prescriptions for comparison. For me this plan is excellent as I can transfer my prescriptions from one store to another as I travel.
THE HEALTH INSURANCE/MEDICARE EDITORIAL
- I am on Medicare and have supplemental Plan G which, in my opinion, is the ONLY one anyone should get. I came close to getting others. The cost of that plan varies from state to state and South Dakota is less than most. I almost purchased a high deductible plan as I have always been so healthy until 3 months after going on Medicare. I read that this is not a place to save money as it is almost guaranteed that you will have some expensive health expenses as you age. Some of these plans cannot be added after the initial year without substantial added cost or even being denied. Plan D has the exact same coverage and rules no matter where you buy it. I would consider the reputation and financial health of companies though.
- I went from healthy to huge bills in a day. This is NOT as time to scrimp as almost everyone over 65 will have a expensive health care bills at some point during the rest of their life. A high-deductible plan will suddenly be a horrible investment. Mayo Clinic does not accept all insurance. With different supplemental insurance I probably would not be going to Mayo. Some plans will not cover you in some areas of the country. In my opinion, there are all kinds of reasons to choose what I did but do your own homeowrk.
RENT aka CAMPGROUND FEES - $16/night average
- Fees vary from free to $45
- I’ve only spent 5 nightS in the last 2 years in another bed. Four nights in the hospital and 1 night with my sister-in-law in Branson, MO.
MAIL - $340/year
- MY Dakota Post mail service includes a street address as post office boxes aren’t allowed by banks, credit card companies and others. PO boxes also don’t offer needed services. Dakota Post scans the front of every envelope and emails it to me. I then tell them to hold it until I want to send for a batch of mail, shred it or open it and scan the contents. When I’m ready for mail I have it sent General Delivery to a post office close to my current location.
STORAGE - $31/month
- I used to have a larger unit that cost me $94/month but when they raised it to $121 I realized that I was storing things that would be better replaced. My current unit is 5’ x 10’ and holds those things in my life that cannot be purchases such as photos and family antiques.
INTERNET, HOTSPOT AND CELL PHONE - $91/month
- You need a Hotspot to connect a computer to the internet.
- $60 for their best unlimited plan, $20 for the Hotspot line and $11 in surcharges and taxes.
- I haven’t watched TV in 2 years and don’t miss it. The Hotspot is so I can use my computer, table and phone on the internet. Of course, I can use my phone without the Hotspot, too.
SOLAR PANELS, COLD, HEAT
- When temperatures soar into the upper 90s and absolutely when they top off at 110 degrees and higher I want air conditioning so will seek out campgrounds with electricity. When nighttime temperatures are consistently in the low 40s and upper 20s I want to use my little electric heater so want a campground with electricity. Occasional hot or cold temperatures are dealt with.
- When in locations with no electricity.....
- Cold - I have a fleece sleeping bag liner and good sleeping bag. I have a Mr. Buddy propane heater that is of limited help. I will not run it while sleeping. I must have adequate air flow to offset the oxygen that is used up when running propane. Make a mistake here and I might not wake up!
- Heat - sit outside in the shade. Take a ride in the air-conditioned car or even just sit in the shade with the car running. Josie suffers from excessive heat more than I do.
And finally to solar.
- I have purchased the following unit: https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-eclipse-monocrystalline-solar-suitcase/
- Renogy is one of the least expensive companies. I am always willing to pay more if I get more for my money. I just couldn't see I was getting more with other companies and am very satisfied with my decision. This unit is excellent quality, has great reviews, and does exactly what I expected it to do. It provides enough power to run my LED lights, my exhaust fan and charge my electronics. I only have one battery though and do need some sun daily or do little charging if I expect clouds or am camped in a shady area. This just gets me by with no extra. I would buy a 2nd battery but have no place to store it. Mine is a portable unit so I can move it around to find the sun. Many attach solar to camper roofs but that limits it's flexibility to obtain sun. This works very well for me as long as I have daily sun. So far that has not been an issue. Clouds may be another thing that will send me to a campground with electricity.
- My brother and I did do some re-wiring to allow longer wires. I purchased 50' of wire at Home Depot and several sets of Anderson plugs. This wire is often a heavy cable but Home Depot had some used for underground irrigation systems that had the same weight as most extension cords. Easy to store! The wire was cut into a variety of lengths that give me flexibility while not using cords longer than necessary.
GROCERIES AND DINING OUT - $95/week
- I rarely dine out either in a nice restaurant or fast food. However, I don’t have the ability to store many things so cannot purchase efficiently. I need to eat what I buy before purchasing more and purchase in small quantities. For example: I purchase the salad kits that have a great variety and include everything needed for a nice salad. But, they are not the least expensive way of eating a salad. My grocery bill is one of the few items that has gone up but not by much.
WHAT I’M NOT SHARING
- I haven’t included Josie expenses, clothing (not much budget there!) and other miscellaneous expenses that have little to do with whether I travel or not.
SUMMARY
Overall I am saving about a minimum of $1000/month compared to when I was not traveling. My goal has not been to save money as I do what I want to do with no real thought to expenses. But, the extra money, that can be invested, is a great bonus. That savings comes from a variety of sources: no rent, no utilities of any kind and South Dakota savings on many expenses. So there you have it…..an open letter about full-time travel and finances. Different people will have different budgets. If you buy a huge Motorhome these numbers will not apply!
Here is a map the covers my first 2 years with 25 states. In 2018 I’ve already added North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. I hope I my Casita, Cat and I can make to all 48 states before I quit full-time travel.
I have already reported much of the changes that happened at the nest site but now sadly must add that the three eyasses did not survive to fledge. See below for all the details of the season.
A NEW NEST SITE
Boone and Dee changed nesting sites but not territory. We can only surmise the reason for the change as we had not visited the site from August 2017 to late April 2018 which was well after the three hatched. Maybe they decided another location was better. Maybe a predator came to the area. With heavy precipitation the cliff has been very wet so it is possible their nest site was too wet and a relocation was necessary. There was heavy precipitation about the time the eggs were laid. We were not there and do not know.
After hatch early visits to the site were sporadic due to high and fast water conditions that made paddling unsafe. I did not arrive in town until mid-May when the eyasses were half way to fledge and feathers filling in quickly.
BOONE IS GONE
On or about April 27, Boone was apparently forced from his territory. On that day an unbanded male Peregrine Falcon arrived on the cliff and at first was ignored. But finally an observer witnessed an interaction as Dee stayed with the young and Boone escorted the intruder out with no observed aggression. However, that was the last day Boone was seen and we do not know his fate.
Last photo of Boone presenting prey gift to Dee.
Last photo of Boone.
These photos of the eyasses were taken before Boone was forced out. There is no reason to believe that Boone was not the parent of these three.
DEE APPEARS TO BE SOLE PROVIDER BUT THE INTRUDER HANGS AROUND
After Boone's disappearance, Dee apparently took over all prey capture, prep and feeding duties and was away from the nest site for extended periods of time but the eyasses were old enough to control their body temperatures. Dee and the eyasses' crops always looked full so Dee was able to keep up with the every increasing size and appetites. For the next 16 days, the unbanded male was seen a couple of times, quietly sitting on the cliff. From April 27 to May 12 we do not know if there was any interaction between Dee and the new male.
THE INTRUDER IS ACCEPTED AS A MATE
On May 12 Dee accepted prey gifts from the new male which she both ate and fed to the eyasses. After that she remained on site and it appears that all prey was brought in by the new male. Their crops remained full and seemed to be in excellent health. The male ignored the eyasses. Yes, we named him Boone II. We decided to honor the original Boone, first father of Kentucky natural cliff fledge, by continuing his name just as is done in a genealogy continuation of a name.
THE DEATH OF THE THREE EYASSES
Sadly the three eyasses did not survive to fledge.
On May 17, approximately 30 days after hatch with 10 to go until fledge, all three eyasses were missing from the nest site when I arrived. Very likely is predation by a Great Horned Owl as that is known as a Peregrine’s greatest danger to its young. There is a Red-tailed Hawk in the area that could have slipped in and grabbed them - one a day - when Dee would go hunting. Although not easily accessed they could have fallen victim to raccoons. Although we never saw any aggressive behavior by the new male during the preceding 2 weeks he was on site, it is possible that he killed them as they were not his. Could they have eaten something poisonous? No bodies were seen. As with everything that happened this year; we can only guess.
These are the last photos of the eyasses taken 3 days before their disappearance.
On that day I arrived at the cliff early in the morning and all was quiet without a sound or sight of any Peregrines. Mid-morning the Boone II was first to fly in with prey and was very agitated with short flights, landing all over the face of the nesting cliff as he vocalized. It appeared he was looking for Dee. At noon Dee flew in, also very vocal and agitated as she flew to the nest site and appeared to be looking for the eyasses. The two of them perched right next to each other as he prepped the morning prey and presented it to her. Then they both settled down several yards from each other and all was quiet. I departed.
Boone II photos but taken another day.
Dee vocalizing and flying to nest site
Dee at nest site surrounded by prey feathers.
Boone II (left) and Dee (right) settling down together.
THE FINAL SURPRISE
I've only been back 3 weeks but ready to head out again so my fellow observer and I went paddling. Far from either nest site I heard the sounds of copulating Peregrines. Yes, in 2016 Boone was a busy guy as he courted the several females between Dixie and Dee and I got to know that sound well. I am guessing this copulation is about relationship-building rather than egg-making. Were they exploring together and stopped for some afternoon delight? Are they considering another nest site far from the others? Could there be eggs this year? And in the theme of the season.....we don't know.
Hopefully Dee and Boone II will develop a strong and united union that will lead to a successful fledge next year. But, we all recognize that success is often left to the whims of weather and predation.
BOONE II BEING CHECKED OUT BY THE LOCALS AT A NEW LOCATION
WHILE DEE EXPLORES A NEW CLIFF
I'M OFF TO FOLLOW THE BIRDS
I will be leaving Kentucky and move into my 3rd year of full-time camping as I "follow the birds" around the country. I will return next spring for a month to check in on Dee and Boone II and hopefully a cliff-full of eyasses........somewhere!
Brief summary of prior years:
2015: Banded Boone and unbanded Dixie were discovered on the cliff. Dixie was a sub-adult and although some sub-adult females do lay eggs this is not common. There were no eggs.
2016: Dixie was not observed but Boone courted several females over a 2 week period and Lady Dee became the new resident female. Dee was a rehabbed sub-adult and, as expected, there were no eggs.
2017: Dee and Boone successfully hatched and fledged two that we believe were 1 male and 1 female. Photo 2017 with Boone delivering prey.
Note: my photos, blog and information contained in the blog are copywrited. Please do not share any photos of information without my permission according to copywrite laws.
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When I jumped in the car the mountains were draped in ominous black clouds with a few snow flakes being blown by strong winds. However, in the direction I was headed I could see sunshine! I was lucky as on my drive I had light winds, no rain and beautiful desert and mountain scenery as I traveled 90 miles on Highway 9 to Pancho Villa State Park for a one night stay. My site is level so I didn't even unhook from the car as the weather followed me in with gusting winds and rain showers. In the morning I will be able to head out quickly.
On my short trip I encountered 17 Border Patrol vehicles, a group of Border Patrol ATVs, and headquarter buildings. There were also towers with multiple types of cameras. They were laying some odd cable and I'm thinking it might have been vibration-sensitive equipment. The only way from the border to Tucson or Phoenix would be to cross Highway 9. I obviously am in an active corridor.
I picked this location due to its history and it has a small but good museum and a knowledgeable and entertaining volunteer to tell the story. This is a piece of history I knew nothing about and it all happened in the months when my parents were born. I had no idea we were attacked by the Mexicans in 1916!
Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico and its small army installation in March, 1916. This was the first attack on United States soil since Fort Sumter in 1861. There was an immediate retaliation known as the Punitive Expedition that was meant to capture or kill Pancho Villa and disrupt his army. This was also the time when the Suez Canal was being completed and many thought the United States should extend its border to the canal. Within 10 days the 300 man outpost swelled to 10,000 as trains ran 24 hours a day to bring in men and supplies. The expedition was led by Brigadier General John Pershing and one of his aides was George Patton. I believe James McCarthy also participated.
The Great War (or World War I) was becoming harder for the United States to stay out of so there may have been the intention to test new technology such as planes, trucks, cars, machine gun mounted cars, armored cars and trucks, motorcycles, machine guns, tanks, and more, all of which were used by the United States first in Mexico and then in Europe. They also fell back upon mules and wagons.
The airplane used was a Curtiss JN-4, nicknamed Jenny, and it has an interesting history. According to the volunteer, IT COULD ONLY TURN LEFT and those left turns were wide-sweeping slow turns! Due to the centrifugal force of the engine and the lack of good support of the wings; if it turned right the wing fell off. Now that's something important to never forget if you are the pilot! The plane was used a for reconnaissancee but also as a low level, very slow bomber.
It was pretty primitive! Bombing was done by first dropping a one gallon glass container of gas to the ground. Then on the next wide-sweeping slow left turn it dropped a flare to light it. In most cases this didn't work too well, because the explosion caught the tail of the plane on fire and it had to be crash-landed. But the bomb did its work so it was considered a success, however there weren't many planes left at the end. There was also the problem that the plane had inadequate or non-existent ability to supply oil to the engine. This plane was a two-seater and the pilot was supposed to sit in the front seat. However, slivers of metal kept shearing off the engine and the pieces would pelt the person in the front seat. So the pilots sat in the 2nd seat and put any passengers, including reporters, in the front seat. So, there's your history lesson!
Tomorrow....on to Big Bend, Texas and warmer temperatures!
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WELCOME is the word from Portal residents to visiting birders. It is an area immersed in birding and the few houses on the short main street have the welcome mat out.
Can you imagine looking out of your windows on any day of the year, at any time between sunrise and sunset, and find people with binoculars, cameras and bird books invading your space?
In any other location there would be cause for a 911 call!
Such amazing people to open up their space and lives to strangers!
It's a Hobbit House!
and
A step back in time.
Blue-throated Hummingbird and Western Screech Owl were only a few of the special finds in Portal.
On my way up the mountain I found Paradise! Hmmmm.... I've been to Hell in Michigan and Paradise in Arizona. I missed the entrance sign to Paradise and was a bit concerned when I apparently got kicked out.
An old house in Paradise
and is this a portal to Paradise?
Too big of a hike for me to check it out and I might be afraid where I'd end up!
Does anyone else find this sign a bit confusing? Apparently pumping water for irrigation is causing a drop in the water table. This can cause a very sudden crack to form that can be small or as large enough to swallow cows, horses and cars. The road here was an unpaved road that was as smooth as can be. Are those antennas that will send out a signal?
This area is also known as the last stronghold of Cochise where he and 200 followers eluded capture for more than 10 years by hiding out in the adjoining Dragoon Mountains, from which they continued their raids, always fading back into their mountain strongholds.
I camped just across the border in Rodeo, NM which is known for its dark skies. Campers cannot have any outside lights on and must close their blinds so as to keep the area as dark as possible. Even a flashlight, unless it has a red light, is banned. No one shut the light off on the almost full moon though so I was up at 4 am, after it set, to enjoy stars that are rarely seen in the United States due to light pollution.
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Unlike most woodpeckers, when you find one you will usually find a flock made up of a small group of mating birds and other younger non-reproducing birds. All of their activity will be centered around a few trees that are vital to their existence. A family unit drills thousands of holes into each tree, which they then fill with acorns and other nuts. These trees are call "granary" trees and according to the Cornell Lab, can contain 50,000 nuts in one tree.
The Acorn Woodpecker harvests an acorn and flies to a granary tree where it searches for a pre-drilled hole that is the perfect size for the acorn so it fits snuggly and won't fall out. As the acorn dries, it might loosen, so the Acorn Woodpecker are constantly tending the tree, moving acorns around to appropriate-sized holes. Basically, they are farmers tending their crops.
Why do they do this unique food-fathering behavior? Acorns are rich in fat and will help the family survive cold winters. By having a granary tree the loss due to pillage by other birds and animals is minimal as they are guarded carefully by the flock. Because they are tended they are eaten before they become moldy. Loss is minimal. If some hatch worms, then the worms are eaten.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that this behavior sometimes leads to acorns stowed in places they can’t reach them. In one instance, researchers found 485 pounds of acorns in an Arizona water tank.
Acorn Woodpeckers also eat a variety of other foods and like many woodpeckers that includes insects often caught while in the air like a Flycatcher.
The social lives of these woodpeckers may be even more fascinating than their "farming" behavior. Researchers at Cornell has been studying them since 1974; this long-term study continues to reveal the intricacies of an acorn woodpecker family unit.
“The mating system of this species is one of the most complex of any vertebrate, with social units consisting of up to seven related males competing for matings with up to three related females, all laying eggs in a single nest, and up to 10 nonbreeding helpers of both sexes (offspring from prior years).” Young birds stay in the family for several years before dispersing which helps reduce inbreeding.
Sometimes this family unit behavior becomes very interesting........and really weird! Multiple females lay eggs in the same nest. When one of the females, who has not laid eggs yet, discovers eggs in the nest she removes them and all family members dine on them. More eggs are laid and the process of removing and eating eggs is repeated. What's going on? The first hatched has the best chance at survival and each female wants her eggs to the first to hatch so she removes eggs laid before hers. Over several seeks they get on the same scheduler and lay their eggs on the same day and all are happy and no more canibalism takes place.
Who knew how interesting and complex one species could be?
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Today I saw 2 young men being detained by the Border Patrol on the side of the road. With temperatures at 24 degrees last night and very windy conditions today it is possible that they asked for help. it is supposed to rain and snow tonight. Their backpacks were put in plastic evidence bags. They were given water. There were no handcuffs. Everyone seemed relaxed and talking comfortably with each other. They were obviously being treated with respect so I'm guessing no drugs or weapons were involved.
It was difficult to watch and I wept. Not knowing what brought these two to this moment in time I realized in many ways these two were lucky. They could have died as have so many.
I have learned so much during my time along the NM and AZ border and as I head for the lower Rio Grande River area my education will continue.
It is difficult for someone to come across the border without paying bribes or being expected to carry drugs and that usually involves a Coyote. Coyotes, the people leading them across the border, often leave the people at the border or abandon them at the first sight of Border Patrol presence. They point towards Phoenix and say it is only a 2-3 day walk and that is how much water and food they are given. In reality it is a 7+ day walk, more likely 10 days if they walk 8 hours a day, so they run out of water and food and are potentially exposed to extreme heat, cold nights, wind, and, at certain times of the year, to monsoon rain and storms. They must walk through desert and over or around mountains.
After many bodies were being found, most having died of exposure, measures were taken, with the placement of Rescue Beacons or Panic Poles. These are high-visibility blinking lights placed on a tower that are powered with solar panels. The tower also has triangular pieces of polished stainless steel that reflect sunlight during the day. Each pole has a red button which sends out a radio signal to the U.S. Border Patrol. Signs on the beacons contain messages in both Spanish and English such as: “If you need help, push red button. U.S. Border Patrol will arrive in one hour.” or "You are in danger of dying. Call for help". The signs also contain a picture symbolizing a person in distress pushing the button. Jugs of water are also at the base of the pole. People who are desperate realize their journey is done and without help - they may die. They push the button.
During my travels I have come across mobile surveillance vehicles that look like little tanks with an extension arm with cameras, hidden trail cams and I often go through border patrol checkpoints that are located far from the border with drug-sniffing dogs. There are planes and helicopters and boats and many Border Patrol vehicles parked in random locations.
I have come across abandoned backpacks and clothing during my hikes and have heard from someone else who once came across discarded children's stuffed dolls. If camping alone, campers are told it is a good idea to set out a few bottles of water at night. as they only want water and if found outside will not knock on a camper door. Discarded water bottles painted black, so as to not reflect light, are also a commonly found item.
I am currently at the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico. I am birding in Arizona and camping in New Mexico .......at a campground with the comforts of electricity for night-time comfort. The closest towns are Portal and Rodeo each with a population of about 60. In the area is one restaurant, one gas station with no personnel. There are no stores. This area is beautiful and not many live here. I am in the area with geographic features called Sky Islands. Sky Islands are localized areas of mountains surrounded by desert plain so there are dramatic changes in environment. During my wanderings I can drive for 30 minutes or more and never see a car.
From where these two had likely crossed the border they must have walked at least 20 hours. Hard to imagine how any could walk to Phoenix.
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Five years ago, I became a full-time traveler in my 17' Casita camper with a 6' x 13' living space. I travel with my cat all over the country. I have no house or apartment and own no property. I am a 69 year old woman who went from apparent perfect health to a hospital with embolisms in my lungs and spleen and in extreme danger of a heart attack or major stroke. That led to me to Mayo Clinic in Arizona for treatment of a rare blood cancer and AFIB. With my lifestyle I must have a health plan that will allow me to have insurance-covered medical care anywhere in the United States.
Because I have no home and the IRS wants people to have an address. I have my "domicile" in South Dakota. Everything I own is in my car, my camper and a 5' x 10' storage unit in KY. I chose SD because they have no state tax and registering and licensing my camper and car is less than most other states.
So this blog is coming from my experience and my knowledge which may be different for other people.
First and foremost.....most likely there will come a time in your future when you will need expensive health care. You may need heart surgery, joint replacement, cancer treatment and on and on.
When I first joined Medicare I chose an Advantage PPO Plan. Everything I read made me believe I would be covered anywhere I traveled. I was a happy camper! But, I was WRONG! I found out that there were areas in the United States that may not cover me at all if they are outside of the PPO area!! What a shock!!! When I left KY I had to change plans.
I contacted Kyle at RVInsurance and he filled me in on the weaknesses of Advantage Plans for my life style. So, I started looking at Medicare + Medigap + Prescription plans. I said to myself, "I'm healthy. I can change plans every year. Why not get a high deductible plan and save money now?". Seemed like a good idea. Then someone else said that this was NOT the time to penny-pinch. It will cost you dearly. Wow...was she right. For me, healthy one day to life-long high medical expenses.
Why high-deductible is not a good choice
1. I couldn't be seen at Mayo without huge out of pocket money. They may not have accepted me at all with my lack of insurance coverage they accepted.
2. The lower premiums would never have made up for what I have spent annually on higher deductibles and overages. I will have very high annual medical expenses so this loss of savings would have been ongoing every year.
3. Some Medigap plans, including my Plan G, may not have been available to me at a premium I could afford if I had not chosen it within the first year of Medicare coverage. I could have been turned down for the best plans and left with secondary level of plans.
If I had continued on my PPO plan: :
1. If I was on ANY Advantage Plan I would not have been accepted as a patient at Mayo Clinic. I want to be able to chose where I go and not have the insurance companies make that decision for me.
2. Insurance companies can and do drop their Advantage Plans. Physicians and hospitals can change whether they accept a current Advantage Plan.
3. During my travels I could have found myself in areas that would have not accepted my insurance.
Medicare and Medigap plans:
The chart found at the link for RVer Insurance is for those who stay on Original Medicare and purchase a Medigap Plan.
Within 6 months of signing up for Medicare you can change plans. After 6 months, if you can change, it may be at a much higher premium due to late sign-up and pre-existing conditions. For many, the plan you'd like to have may be financially out of reach after that first 6 months.
With my many bills Plan G has paid for everything except the small deductible. I have Mutual of Omaha aka Omaha Insurance and have been very satisfied. Check Medicare.gov for reviews and compare premiums. I would suggest though going with a solid, well-known, financially stable insurance company. I believe the carrier can be changed each year but you don't want to change your plan.
I am not an expert in this field. I tried to do my homework and found it all very confusing. I can say, that for my needs, I believe I have the one and only plan that could have worked for my situation. I believe this could be true for many others.
MY PLAN
Plan G Premiums for me in South Dakota was $94/month in 2017. On November 1 it is going up to $99. They can do price increases twice a year.
Prescription Plan - $17/month for Humana/Walmart Prescription Plan. That will go to $20.40 in 2018. As with most prescription plans there are tiers and deductibles that I don't understand. Most of my drugs are generic and I pay $1 - $4. I have one non-generic drug that I had to pay over $400 the first time to reach a new tier and now pay about $77. Prescription costs, if non-generic, can be very high. You can go to Medicare.gov and then to prescription plans and enter your medications and it will tell you your annual cost for every single Medicare Prescription Plan offered. A wonderful tool! I use it every year during the sign-up period and do change plans to save the most money.
Once you are on a Medigap plan, including Plan G, you are on it forever and cannot be charged more for medical conditions.
HOWEVER and this is a biggie......
1. If you have already signed up for Medicare you can change your plan within 6 months to any other plan and only be charged the same as if you had signed up for it originally. You should not pay a higher premium due to existing conditions or the change. I ran into an issue when I moved within the 6 months. The insurance company originally said I couldn't get Plan G because I moved. I held firm that I was changing due to the 6 month choice NOT because of my move. Get the facts so you can stand up for yourself. Find an agent who will fight for you.
2. If you change after that six months there may be additional premium increases for the late change AND/OR for pre-existing conditions. I understand those difference in premiums can be substantial amounts. I believe after that first 6 months your choice of Medigap plans does not include all plans.
Links I have found helpful. I have not checked these links in a couple of years.
When I switched from PPO to Medicare these guys really were a huge help and easy to work with. They helped me with the issue of the 6 month change vs I was moving. Plan G was only available when they argued for the 6 months change rather than the move.
Good article and company even if you are not an RVer.
For those who are not 65 but are travelers. Kyle at RVerInsurance really knows his stuff. This is the site and person who helped me figure it all out.
NOTE THAT PLAN G IS THE ONLY PLAN THAT COVERS EXCESS CHARGES or OVERAGES! EXCESS CHARGES CAN BE HUGE AMOUNTS!!!! Do some research to find out what they can include. Mayo does not agree to the monetary limitations set by Medicare. Those extra charges are covered. Some physicians have a bit of a scam going. They will have an extra surgeon join them during surgery. You may not even know that person was there and was never asked if it was okay. If his bill is not covered by medicare then you pay it! Of course, there are times when an extra surgeon is needed and that bill is above board but still an excess charge.
It's important to take the time and figure this out when you go on Medicare!
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The day after I arrived in Michigan I became ill. At the time I thought it was intestinal flu. Now, I think it was the first signal my body gave me of a more serious issue. Hospital #1 was mostly a general checkup and getting fluids back into me.
View from my bed at hospital #3 over Lake Michigan at Petoskey, MI
When I became ill I found I was excellent at making lousy decisions including not knowing when to go to a hospital. Having always been very healthy I was good at making excuses and was very poor at self-diagnosis. God apparently figured I needed some help and surrounded me with angels to protect me against myself!
Angel Bill. (he's promised me a photo). After I left hospital #1, I went to a primitive campground in the middle of nowhere that had no internet unless I drove to a very specific spot and pointed my phone in a very specific direction. It was a beautiful location for quiet walks and healing from my illness but I couldn’t have called 911!!
I was very surprised to find a primitive campground with a camp host. Bill, joined by his father and son, has been camping here since he was 5 years old. We hit it off finding similarities in our backgrounds and his local knowledge very interesting. He and his dog would walk by my campsite, that was isolated and completely out of sight of any other campers, several times a day. I knew that I could have knocked on his door in the middle of the night and he would have helped me. I told of him of my illness and he realized I wasn’t improving and gave me guidance on which hospital I should go to. I figured I was in serious trouble when I was wiping road dirt off my car and Casita and found myself gasping for breath but I didn't stop until the job was done. I made excuses until I could no longer do so.
Angel Joe (see photo on right). I set my GPS for McLaren Hospital, #2, not realizing I had chosen a satellite location that was an emergency center but not the main hospital. When I figured it out I sat in their parking lot for 30 minutes trying to decide whether to go in or drive the 43 miles to the other location. I finally realized how how illogical that was and went in. After many tests I was told I had blood clots in both lungs, fluid in one, sky-high blood pressure, was in Afib and was at very high risk of a heart attack or stroke. I chewed aspirin and listened to a doctor tell me the resuscitation and tube feeding policies. I wasn’t going anywhere except by ambulance to McLaren Hospital, #3, in Petoskey.
What about my Josie Cat???? I couldn’t leave her! But before I could panic staff had put out the word and Joe walked into my life. He said he would take care of everything. We talked and I learned he was a security guard for McLarin, a retired police office, due to an injury, and was now a wildlife artist who also enjoyed sketching friend’s pets. I handed him my car and camper keys and told him about Josie. Throughout the next days he kept me up to date through texts. I missed Josie but never worried.
Angel Facebook friends. I was receiving many posts and emails from friends saying they were praying for me and wishing me best. Hospital staff commented how sad that I was alone and it made me realize that I wasn’t! My room was full of Friends from relatives I haven’t seen since I was a teenager, to my Dubuque friends, to FB friends from other states that I have met and traveled with, to Kentucky friends both met and unmet. Your comments and prayers meant the world to me and my room was jammed packed full of all of you! Most of you probably have no idea how much a simple post or "like" can mean.
Angel roomies. Two of my three roommates were delightful. It was like having a PJ party with our bottoms hanging out of our gowns. With threats of photos we had lots of fun as well as sharing the more poignant times of our lives. We were angels to each other. I could only try to be an angel to the 3rd and the best I could do was to put deodorant on her underarm when she could not.
Caregiving Angels. Although it is their job this group of happy employees at McLaren Hospital stopped and chatted and went above and beyond what you normally experience at a hospital. No one was ever in a hurry! As patient numbers swell during tourist season the hospital offers double pay for short-term staff so they are never over-whelmed and under-staffed. Kudos to McLaren Hospital for putting staff and patients ahead of the bottom line.
Angels Don and Michelle who made a 24 hour round-trip drive to get me back to Kentucky. I also count as angels Dan and Pat who offered to make the drive. Instead of angels in white we had a white caravan!
In Lexington, the next morning I went to emergency room #4 to get blood work done as on a weekend there isn't really anywhere else to go. But, when you say to the receptionist, "whew, I'm a little short of breath" you find yourself with a trauma team, getting an EKG and being drained of more blood within 10 minutes.
Angels brother, Sant, and daughter, Erin, with lots of phone time as I gave them updates and they offered support and comfort. I'm now at at my brother's house AGAIN until I am released to travel. I am thankful for their company and my location! It will be awhile before I am in the road again. I have a cardiologist, hematologist, gastrointologist and primary care physician. We agree, although it is much guesswork, that untreated Essential Thrombocythemia, causing my body to produce too many platelets, caused embolisms (clots) that went to both lungs and possibly my spleen. That put my heart under tremendous stress and has put me in Afib. And, somewhere along the way I got several peptic ulcers. Until then, I can walk and swim but can't raise my heart rate. I guess I no longer have an excuse not to catch up on my photos!
Two days ago I did find myself in Emergency Room #5! The good news it wasn't for me!! The bad news was my nephew tore a tendon, which took some pelvic bone with it during the first moments of the season opener soccer match. He's on crutches for a month and can't do anything! We make quite the pair!!
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Note: the convenient swimming pool and hammock.......hot tub not shown. Also not shown is the large yard good for gentle walking with Josie.
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July 15 - 17, 2017
The plan was to leave Lexington Tuesday, July 11 and visit my aunt and cousins in the little Southern Indiana town of Leavenworth, Indiana. From there I'd head to Michigan. That was the plan.....
Instead I got to watch my nephew Kevin have a 36 hour 14th birthday party. Most were basketball and soccer players and the mid-summer fun was a great team-builder. I stayed because needed plugs didn't arrive. I stayed because I had to order 3 Inverters to finally receive one and was lucky to get it since the UPS conveyor belt ate the label and further delayed its delivery.
But, I finally pulled up stakes and rolled out of my brother's backyard on Saturday. I arrived in Leavenworth to find the exterior panel to my refrigerator was missing. My brother retraced my path on his motorcycle and found it on the grassy median in Versailles (Ver-sales in Kentucky-speak).
My time with my aunt, as always, is very special. Elaine teaches us all how to live a life of character, dignity and love! Elaine was, and still is, one of the best teachers a student could ever have. She has also bred and shown Morgan horses for most of her adult life. Elaine has Parkinson's disease but it hasn't slowed her down, just altered her mode of movement, and she can still wear me out! She remains in her home with about 30 incredible neighbors who work out schedules so someone is with her 24 hours a day. Now that's a testament of love! There are Morgan horses, 3 goats, a Standard Poodle and rabbits to keep her company. But her passion is recording the history of her tiny town and developing phamplets that cover all the things there are to do in Leavenworth to help bring visitors and keep the town alive. On Sunday we attended her church and after we went to a state forest, which provides an electric wheelchair, for a stroll on their beautiful accessible nature trail.
Then we traveled to Alton, a small Ohio River town, that used to be a thriving riverboat town with several mansions including one once owned by a riverboat captain and all the expected community buildings; some restored and others being reclaimed by nature. The only way into the town was by these 2 bridges that creak and groan with every roll of the tire.
Then there was the rope swing!
Cousin Polly took the first turn. I'm no dummy.....I wanted to be sure the rope held!
Then it was my turn to FLY!
Oh, I forgot about the Copperhead at my cousin's cabin. I'm not sure I've ever seen one so close. He was by the pond where we played but he wasn't going to bother us; so we didn't bother him. We talked about it and decided we didn't want to ruin our wonderful day with the death of a creature who was just doing what snakes do on a lovely sunny day.
My memory bonus was when I found a gold GMC Motorhome from the 1970s that was identical to the one owned by my brother-in-law. Chuck and I had a wonderful time on a trip to the western states and it is where we were when Elvis Presley died.
Sunday night I headed back to Lexington to collect the refrigerator panel and then I did what I hate by driving the interstate north through Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan but the long trip was worth my resting spot just east of Grayling in northern Michigan. I'm in a primitive campground all by myself. The solar charging system is working, Josie and I are getting used to being tethered together by a leash and I'm about to cook a steak. $13 for the night gets me a bubbling stream, singing birds and fly-fishermen trying to catch trout.
528 miles today which put my car over 40,000 miles.
Hopefully the next blog will be all about baby Loons!
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Added note: it turns out it will be about Angels rather than baby Loons.....
]]>"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail. " John Muir
This quote, posted by FB friend Kelly Sumner, and my thoughts as I summarized my first year had me examining my travels. I don’t want my wanderings to be controlled by reservations due to campgrounds being full every weekend. There must be a different way to go about this lifestyle.
I read single women’s blogs who are not only full-time Casita travelers but also full-time boondockers*. They are living their lives with no schedule, no reservations and rarely in campgrounds with electricity, water and other amenities. They are living off the grid by staying on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or National Forest land. This is what I did in grasslands of Colorado and that experience was mesmerizing.
I made new plans! Yesterday my brother and nephew helped me hook up solar panels and an inverter so I don’t have to depend on electricity. I have ordered speciality Benchmark Atlases for many of the western states. I’ve reviewed and improved my safety measures that still do not include a firearm. I’m learning about the art of Stealth Garbage Disposal.
Boondocking is easiest out west. It’s much more difficult to get off the grid in the midwest and eastern states. I won’t always be able to get away from the hassle of making reservations but if I can reduce them I believe my soul will sing it’s gratitude. Developed campgrounds are necessary when it's very cold or very hot, I want to visit a location that has no dispersed camping available or when I just want a good long hot shower.
I head out on Tuesday to Michigan to find baby Loons and I don’t have single reservation made! I don't have an itinerary or any plans in place. The Soul is the same but I’m trying out a new Etude!
* Boon-dockers are people who camp outside of developed campgrounds. They camp in remote locations also called dispersed camping.
Josie with my Casita and new Renogy Solar Panels. Solar panels are 21" x 21" and only 19 1/2 pounds.
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This winter I was paddling when I came across a beautiful old wooden boat named “Soul Etude”. The name captured my heart and soul, and the next day I sought out the owner. I wanted to know how the name was chosen. The story was a bit underwhelming! He said he also loved the name which came with the boat when he purchased it.
MY SOUL ETUDE
SOUL - such a complex word!
noun
1.the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
2.the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come:
arguing the immortality of the soul.
3.the disembodied spirit of a deceased person:
4.the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.
5.a human being; person.
6.high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.
7.the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.
8.the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.
9.the embodiment of some quality:
He was the very soul of tact.
10.(initial capital letter) Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.
11.deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.
ETUDE - so simple
noun, [ey-tood]
1.a musical composition, usually instrumental, intended mainly for the practice of some point of technique.
One word is very complex and the other so simple but when I saw them together they seemed to fit so perfectly to my life.
Our country is my church. I have no current church building affiliation, but have always identified my closest relationship with God when I’m in the midst of our natural world. With all my senses I’m aware of the hand of God at work with nature and people.
My first year had a few distractions such as three axles, hating to do laundry in public places, and wishing I could truly wander and stop where I want to without having to make reservations. But those are minor compared to the experiences and joys I’ve lived.
My year was filled with beautiful views, new birds and animals, a closer relationship with my Josie Cat; from mountains to ocean to prairies I witnessed the incredible beauty of our country. I often stayed off interstates and experienced small towns and country roads, and enjoyed the journey wherever I went.
I’m basically a shy person and I do not like large public gatherings. I either hide in a corner, leave as soon as I can or find friends and never leave their side. I mostly avoid those situations as my friends also prefer small gatherings usually involving birds, paddles and campfires. I don’t make close friends easily but treasure those that I have. And now, I’m learning the art of 20-minute friendships that actually work well with my personality. I'll come across people who catch my attention or I theirs in campgrounds, while kayaking, birding, biking, walking my cat, or taking photos. We stop and chat for five to thirty minutes. Sometimes we end up at each other’s campsites, paddling or birding together. Rarely do we exchange our names and when we do it is usually with a laugh as we depart. Names are not important as we will never see each other again or keep in touch. But for those few moments in life we connect. It’s an interesting social life and allows me to meet fascinating people!
For some, Facebook is decreasing in popularity. But I love that I’ve been able to keep in touch with friends and relatives that I no longer see. In some cases it’s with relatives that I had lost touch with through most of my life and never knew as adults.
A few facts:
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The Yukon, purchased August 2015, has 39,300 miles
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The Casita, purchased in December 2015, has 16,500 miles
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My average nightly fee is $20
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I’ve camped or traveled through 22 states with the Casita
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My annual expenses are 23% less, which wasn’t a goal as I’m doing what I want to do and going where I want to go; however, I pay no state tax, no rent, no utilities and my cell/internet is less expensive
I’ve spent 3 months in my brother’s backyard. I love the connection with the family, and that helps ground me. What has kept me here is the experience to observe, study and photograph the Peregrine Falcon family, that I discovered in 2015 - from eggs to hatch to fledge of 2 eyasses who are now learning to fly and hunt. They are the first confirmed Peregrine Falcons to successfully nest on a natural cliff in Kentucky history. Very few people have had the experience that I’ve had, and I treasure it. It has enriched my soul.
For 386 nights I’ve laid my head on my pillow in my Casita. I’m ready to see new places, make new 20-minute friends, find more birds, paddle new water, and revisit some locations. I want to travel to see friends and relatives. I want to see how the sky, with its stars, clouds, sunrises and sunsets, looks different everywhere I go. So, soon I will hit the road and lay my head on my pillow with new views out my window
Soul Etude revisited…
Soul - I can identify with each of the definitions. Which one specifically, including #3 when I feel my parents’ presence, is ever-changing. I like that awareness of the shifting and evolution of my soul.
Etude - The music of my soul. The study of my soul. Both are at play in my life.
I’m eager to see how my Soul Etude composition will evolve over the next year!
Tina
The Happy Wanderer
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May I ask you a question? How are you doing, Tina? The start of a conversation that leads to
Why did you…..
Do you….
How do you like….
What are your biggest problems
How do you get the kayak on top of your Yukon?
The questions go on and on from my friends, from fellow campers and paddlers, from people at gas stations and in parking lots when they see my rig or find out I'm a full-time wanderer. Some take notes and wish I would put in writing as they can’t remember everything I tell them. I learn from others as they learn from me.
So here is the start of a blog about full-time travel. I'll post as I get new sections complete that should cover every aspect of my travel, my choices and my adventures. If you choose, you can be my editors. Through your comments you can tell me what’s missing and what questions I haven’t answered or errors in my information.
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As I visited the Pawnee National Grasslands, I realized I was in the exact location of most of the book; Weld County, Colorado in the NE corner of the state. The city of Greeley, the Platte River, Pawnee Buttes and the Chalk Cliffs are all the central locations of the story. Most of this area is now a National Grassland, which means people can drive and camp anywhere. You can drive named roads that are barely crushed grass to show the way, and where there are fences you can drive through gates - as long as you close them. Roads lead to working windmills, and cows have free range and can be found blocking your progress. Pronghorn Antelope are plentiful.
But oh, the magnificence of the sky, prairie and where they meet at the far horizon. With grass no more than 6” high and not a tree to be seen from horizon to horizon in any direction, the view is immense and I feel very dwarfed and insignificant. The wind blows ceaselessly until it suddenly dies to nothing, the flies bite hard and the sun beats down on low cactus and tumbleweeds that pile up against any fence.
In Centennial, the Indians live near Rattlesnake Buttes. I was there. Michener talks about the Chalk Cliffs. I could see them far in the distance. The biggest thing missing was the buffalo. How tens of millions of buffalo could have been slaughtered by the settlers and explorers is beyond my imagination, but their absence changed history for the Indians, and not even my time machine could make them reappear. Certainly, I could picture how the Indians were systematically pushed out as settlers moved in to the places where water was present.
I tried to imagine what life must have been like for the settlers who were given land west of the Mississippi River. In all, more than 270 million acres of public land, or nearly 10% of the total area of the U.S., was given away free to 1.6 million homesteaders. Back East, the eldest son got the parent’s farm. The younger children knew farming but had no land. How enticing that must have been to them and to immigrants newly arrived in America. But, the living conditions were brutal. As much as I loved being there, I could not imagine living there year after year.
A few years of good rain were followed by many with none. “The rain follows the plow” was an effective advertising gimmick but not reality. Instead, year after year the dust was pulled from the ground by the never-ending wind. Sun-parched soil, grasshoppers, fire, and blizzards that suffocated cattle were all part of their life. It drove many mad, especially the women who couldn’t keep the dust off anything, including their infants. Then hope would return with the rain, but it never stayed.
As conditions reached the point that settlers knew they could not continue, they abandoned it all. The ghosts of houses still standing give testament to the hopes, dreams and never-ending work that were blown away by the wind.
One night I camped on the prairie.
I saw no lights except the sun, the moon and the stars. The sunset and sunrise were among the best I’ve witnessed as they turned the world around me to gold.
The sounds of coyotes at night andthe sight of a Pronghorn Antelope looking down at me from a small rise in the morning were surreal. So, I sat at the edge of a Prairie Dog town that had been decimated by Prairie Dog plague,
and watched the families of Burrowing Owls and the few remaining Prairie Dogs. I hid behind tumbleweed that had piled up against a fence and was soon ignored by the Prairie Dogs
and Burrowing Owls. Unfortunately the biting flies and red ants still found me. I watched as adult and young owls interacted with each other. I watched adult owls fly up and grab insects to bring back to feed their hungry, noisy owlets.
Later I wondered about the plague, as there was such a difference from New Mexico’s towns of 100 or more and Colorado’s towns of less than a dozen. Google informed me that this is the exact strain of Bubonic Plague that is believed to be the cause of the Black Death that swept through Asia, Europe and Africa in the 14th century and killed an estimated 50 million people. I learned that, even now, people, who have been bitten by infected fleas could contract Bubonic Plague.
As I arrived at a new National Grasslands, I stopped by ranger stations and told them I was looking for Prairie Dog towns so I could observe them and Burrowing Owls. They all talked about the plague but not one mentioned the possibility of being infected by a shared flea. Maybe they haven’t come across many people who want to sit in the middle of the town and just watch.
But, sit among burrows and all the little bugs, I did. Were any of them fleas? Happily, I am now long past the 3-7 days that would result in symptoms of illness so I won’t be adding that to my adventure stories!
Tina Nauman
August 2016