One retirement down - one to go - the roadtrip is about to begin

 

Today I draw the curtain on a career in Computer Science that extended over 40 years. 

I started on computers that were car sized behemoths that we actually called "Minis". We programmed them using Hollerith punch cards, paper tape and the switches on the front panel.  I ended my career working on computers that didn't actually exist - virtual machines within other computers where the compute engine is smaller than one of the keys on that PDP-11/45 I spent hours happily toggling in my first job.

And that machine within a machine is located miles away accessed by this remarkable thing called the Internet.  A far cry from the from the TTY-33 over a 110 baud dial-up modem I used in college.  When we got a 300 baud Decwriter I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

And yes, the Internet.  I watched it grow from an interesting thing that a few computer people used to share messages, small files and tons of jokes, to a ubiquitous force that has changed virtually everything we do. 

It even allowed me to court my wife via email - though we worked in offices a couple of doors apart.

I've done fascinating things with computers - working with satellites, signals, commercial applications and even building new computers. 

I’ve met fascinating, capable people.  I’ve even hired incredible capable people that are still out there making a difference

All the companies I worked for were doing amazing things that I was proud to be a part of.  There was one, that I joined as a small operation, and we grew it by orders of magnitude to be the "gorilla in the marketplace".  Sadly, I also got to watch it implode down to be shadow of its former self.

It was that company that taught me that there is a big difference between a manager and a leader.  It taught me that it is not necessarily a compliment when senior management categorizes you as "excellent leader".  It also taught me that you really can't go home again.

My last company and jobs was picked by me for me.  It was a company I admired.  And much to my delight, I got to work with computers and radios.  And they even paid me to do it.  I think I would have done it for free.

 My last company also brought in the newest generation of Computer Scientists.   I stand in awe of their intelligence, knowledge and abilities.  To them I say “Ok, Kids, the torch has been passed.  Run with it”.

Alaska is upon us...

Finally.

After multiple years of planning, we are taking the RV to Alaska. We will both be taking extended leaves from work.

I've spent the last couple of months repairing the RV, installing a WiFiRanger and "culling the cargo" to try and get some of the weight down.

We will go up the I-5 to Seaside Oregon, then to Birch Bay Washington and will most likely enter Canada at Aldergrove, then to Dawson City BC for the start of the Alcan.

From there things a bit nebulous (no sense in over planning these things) but will most likely include Laird Hot Springs and Whitehorse.

We are excited beyond belief.  Watch this space for further developments.

Shakedown Cruise #1

Definitely not the Maiden Voyage....

This weekend we took the rig out for a Shakedown Cruise #1.  The shakedown was to test our packing and travel procedures and was a short 50 mile trip to Joe's Truck Stop (real name honest).

On Saturday we had our first "day off" in a long time - no commitments, no work required on any of the house - so we tore into the basement and did some work on the interior - the interior was mostly repacking and hanging Command hooks.

One piece of interior work worth mentioning was strapping the quartz toaster oven to the counter top.  We determined a while back a) we wanted the toaster oven (convection ovens don't toast) and b) It deserved a full time spot on the counter.

But when you have such a thing, you have to worry about the travel.  We try (less successfully than we need to be) to keep freestanding things off the counters.  Everything needs to have a place and be in it.  The toaster oven, being a freestanding item, presented a bit of a challenge.

We ended up getting Quakehold TV straps for it.  These are adjustable straps that are used to hold TVs and heavy appliances in place in yachts, and yes RVs.  Camping World sells them as well as the local hardware store.

The basement area has long been the "long pole" in our activities.  During the haste to move out, we just crammed stuff into the basement.  We finally got the chance to organize the basement.  I dubbed it Basement 1.0.  We managed to stow my collapsible ladder - a major concern of mine.  But we sorted, organized and stowed all the stuff and even had room left over - we think some stuff is going to move from the upstairs to the basement.

We then got up Sunday morning to decided to take her out for a spin.

We targeted Joe's Truck Stop in central California because Joe's is a large full service truck stop just after the 680 merge onto I-5.  It includes a scale and a truck wash. 

We had long been curious about where we were with the weight on our Motorhome and it was getting a bit gucky sitting in the bay area weather.  We could address both those issues at Joes.

With our coach empty, we are rated for 2780 lbs of passenger, cargo and water or 24000 lbs gross.  At Joes we came in at 1780 lbs of cargo (23000 gross) which gives us about 1000lbs to go.  I was fairly pleased - we had a 1/4 tank of water and about 1/2 a black tank on board.  I also think we are about 95% fitted out.  Next time we are going by a truck scale, I want to get weighed with a full tank of water and see where that puts us.  I think a very real scenario for us is a) full gas tank, b) full propane tank, c) full water and d) empty black and gray. 

We also learned the scale procedure:  Roll your rig up on the scale, front wheels on the front wheel section, press the button and roll off.  Then head into the office, give them some money and they will tell you your weight.  At Joe's it is $8.50.

We also shelled out $45.00 for the truck wash.  Pressure wash and wax.  After about 15 minutes and the rig was bright and shiny.  We know some folks out there won't let truck washes clean their RVs.  We don't think the pressure wash wand will do anything more than what driving  65 in a rainstorm will do.

A clean RV is a happy RV.  After all, it is important for a Citizen of the Road to maintain it's hygiene.