To Go or Not to Go?

Just when you thought things were getting better. You were glad to have 2021 behind you and get back to "normal". Almost everything is or will be open, mask mandates are all but gone and you are ready to hit the road and start exploring again! 

Then this happens..... 

I read a blog from a fellow RV'er this week that reported diesel over $7.00/gallon in California. We have several RV friends who are changing or totally canceling their summer travel based on fuel prices. 

I have my own opinions on whether this was avoidable or not and we are more than willing to pay for the most recent increase to help out the citizens of Ukraine, but this post is not about why. It is about how it is going to impact us RV'ers as we plan our summer travels. 

Personally, we have an 8,500-mile route planned over the next 6 months throughout the U.S. and Canada. At an average of 10mpg that would be 850 gallons. Last year that would have cost us about $2,300 at $2.70/gallon. This year, with prices in the $4.50-???? range we are anticipating spending $4,000-$5,000 just in fuel. Is it worth it?  And that is just fuel, everything is going up. Think about how much more truckers and farmers fuel expense, our $5,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to them. Fertilizer is at an all-time high, cooking oil for restaurants is at an all-time high, lots of things are at an all-time high. Farmers like Farmer Bob use upwards 350 tons of urea in the spring. Last year it was somewhere around $335/ton, this year it is about $865/ton. That is an additional expense of over $150,000 on that one item! These and other cost increases are why we are seeing groceries going up as well, as it costs more to produce and transport items to our local grocery stores. I cannot think of one thing that has gone down this year. Oh wait, the balance of our savings, that has gone down this year.... So, a lot of people need to ask themselves; Do we need to change our plans and just lay low this summer? The sad but true reality of life at the moment. So we are in deep contemplation on what is the right thing to do this summer. 

But enough depressing talk, we have managed to make our own fun in our own little slice of heaven. For me personally my outlet this week was hunting. Did you know that the average mountain lion eats 1 deer a week? Did you know there are 600+ mountain lions in the Black Hills at any given time? Did you know a female mountain lion's litters are from 1-6 cubs? That is over 31,000 deer, elk, mountain goats or big horn sheep killed by mountain lions each year. So, the state has asked hunters to help maintain a healthy population here in the hills so they do not start preying on arthritic ridden hikers  whose wives makes them go on death marches where they eventually lag behind and become easy prey for even the slowest lion. And who am I to refuse such an ask? Afterall, I could be saving a friends life!

It is not as easy as driving around, seeing one and shooting it. In fact, in all my years of hunting, hiking and other outdoor activities, I have yet to even glimpse one. Some states allow hunters to use dogs, South Dakota does not. The best method here is to wait until it snows and drive around until you cut a fresh track. Which is exactly what Kevin and I did earlier this week. 

We put on hundreds of miles on back roads and forest service roads, it is so peaceful driving through the forest being the first one on these roads since the last snowfall. We saw elk tracks, deer tracks, coyotes tracks and even mouse tracks. 

Deer and mouse tracks

After several hours of searching, we finally cut a track and we were on the hunt! 

Cat track!

Kevin jumped out and started following the track while I drove several miles ahead and climbed to the highest peak in the area in the hopes of seeing the elusive beast. 

View from the top

I did not see a mountain lion, but I did see some pretty country. That in itself made it all worthwhile. Kevin on the other hand, followed the track for several miles. Up, down and all around. He never spotted the cat but it did lead him to an elk kill that it had been feeding on. Kevin sat a couple hundred yards away, hoping that he would return but he did not.  We are expecting more fresh snow later this week so the hunt will go on....

So, what was Barb doing while Kevin and I were out trying to save the local deer population? She was working on another project of course. She worked on grouting the dog wash:

She also worked on her bench and cubby area putting restored fence boards on the back and shelving for her baskets. Of course, she already does not like the bench and is going to redo it. 

For my part, I set my project up on our granite work bench and started on the remaining four dresser drawers by ironing on the veneer edging to hide the rough edge of the birch plywood. I also drilled in the pocket screw holes. Now, I just need to construct them and fit them in the drawer slides!

                            

We did manage to get over to Dan and Bonnie's one day to help them with their project. Their house is getting there. They still have floors, cabinets and trim to get in. Barb and Bonnie spent the day staining and varnishing trim, Dan was busy sanding, while Kevin installed window jams. I installed a toilet and plumbing for a vanity. I got a couple of before pictures of my work but totally spaced out the after pictures but they now have an operational toilet and vanity!

The days are getting longer and spring then summer are just around the corner, so we have a decision to make; To Go or Not to Go? As of right now, the answer is a definite YES! The extra expense is definitely worth it, we may have to cut back in other areas like ... maybe I cannot buy Barb that new elk rifle that she so desperately wanted, or maybe I will have to buy generic beer for my friend Dino when he comes out for his next death march! I don't know, but we will figure it out one way or another!