Nomadland!

Not long ago, several of us who are van dwellers
got jobs as extras in the Oscar-winning movie,
Nomadland. 

It was fun experience,
and I was proud to be a part of it.

Those of us who worked in the movie were asked
not to talk about it or post photos until it came out.
So I've been pretty quiet.

But when I saw the movie,
I was SO happy to see my face got a
HUGE full screen shot! 

I have to admit,
I love this photo!

SHOWERS ON THE ROAD

I figured it would be nice to post the places I find showers. I'll add to this list as I find more and more places.

Planet Fitness:  Join for $10-20 per month, and you're able to shower at any Planet Fitness facility from what I understand. I used their showers once. They were clean. 

Along the West Coast and Hwy 101

Flint, Washington:   Showers in town at 2 of the town motels. One costs $3 per shower. The other costs $5 and includes towels, washcloth, soap and shampoo.  Can't remember the name of the motels, but will post it when I do.

Tillamook, Oregon: YMCA has $1 showers Monday-Friday 5:30 am - 10:30 am & 7 pm - 8:30 pm

Beverly Beach Oregon:  This state part and most other state parks in Oregon will allow you to buy a nice hot shower for $2.  If you're disabled, the disabled showers are larger and have a hose nozzle. The Disabled shower at Beverly Beach appears to be wheelchair accessible. Clean? Well, it's a beach so the floors were sandy and it's Oregon so there's always a bit of mold.

Grace Wins Haven, Newport, Oregon:  Showers for free on Tuesdays. Open at 9 am. Get in and sign up early. Address is 437 Northeast 1st Stree.

Rec Center Newport, Oregon:   Showers for $5.50 each

Rockaway Beach:    Arisana Tolomei from my Women's RTR Facebook page says: I was just camping at Barview Jetty Campground. We only had to put 2 quarters in to get the shower started. Never used more than 5 quarters per shower. 🙌 This campground is on the Oregon coast in Rockaway Beach.

Seaside: I found a hot shower outside the MEN's bathrooms at The Cove beach. A girl COULD wear a swimsuit and get a nice shower there.

Near Flagstaff - I-40

Flagstaff, AZ:  Little America Travel Center.  Suanne Carlson reports:  So on my way west on I-40, I knew I was going to be driving by Little America Travel Center, and planned to stop for a "spa" treat. I paid my $12 and $5 deposit, received two huge towels, a large wash cloth, a small bottle of shampoo, some fancy-dancy liquid soap, and a key to room 9. The bathrooms are huge for truck stop facilities -- a big shower, long counter/mirror with sink, a semi-private toilet area, and a big shower. But, what really sets this place apart are the large tubs.

Donna Rimmer shares:  Another place I take showers in Flagstaff....FLAGSTAFF AQUATIC CENTER.
ONLY $6.50 for a day pass.
I swim awhile, sit in HOT TUB, then take a long hot shower.
Covered parking.
Only 9.50 if you are not a senior.
My favorite place to go.

Route 66

Grand Canyon SOUTH Rim - Route 66:  I had a wonderful 8 minute HOT shower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. I found showers at the Camper Services Building at the entrance to Mather Campground. 8 am – 6 pm core hours, last laundry wash 4:45 pm. The showers were $2 for 8 minutes, and the water was lovely and hot! Take quarters!

Kingman Arizona -
Kingman, AZ.Cornerstone Mission on Sycamore Street behind Motel 6.
FREE showers!!!!!
They have towels, soap and shampoo, also.
Nice "ladies" shower, toilet, sink, mirror.

Lake Havasu, Arizona
Lake Havasu Aquatic Center.

$5.00 day pass. Hot tub, pool, and showers available.


Other:

YUMA YWCA :  1917 West 32nd Street. Showers are $3 whenever facility is open. Sunday

9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Monday

5:00 am to 10:00 pm

Tuesday

5:00 am to 10:00 pm

Wednesday

5:00 am to 10:00 pm

Thursday

5:00 am to 10:00 pm

Friday

5:00 am to 8:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Bathing on the Run

Bathing and hair washing is one issue van dwellers have to face and figure out. I've shown you my system for taking a bath in a previous post. But if I'm not boondocked, I often will use Starbucks or some other public bathroom where the main door can be locked (important) to clean up.

Here is what I take along:

I start with a pretty cloth bag. This one is new looking and holds a LOT!  To others, it could just be my purse, and in fact, I keep my change purse in here when I go into Starbucks, along with my laptop and cord, so they don't suspect anything.

I carry a microfiber washcloth in a ziplock bag.  When I get back to my van, I hang it on my main door bungie to dry out. The microfiber dries quickly.

I carry a microfiber towel.  

It is super absorbent and dries very quickly 

when hung up in the van on my bungie.

I've tried terrycloth towels, but they take forever to dry 

unless you're in nice hot weather.

This is the brand of microfiber towel I bought. A little spendy, but worth every cent. I've had trouble with microfiber towels not being absorbent enough.  This one is great!  I love it! I carry it with me on the Camino when backpacking also.
Small, but powerful!

I picked up this men's shaving kit at Goodwill, brand new, for $2.99.

It holds all my necessities, 

such as deodorant, toothbrush and paste,

soap (in a plastic travel soapdish),

face cream, etc.

The yellow thing is a scrubber washcloth 

I bought at an asian store. 

I love that thing!

I also carry a small empty plastic cup for pouring water over my head.

I put a clean pair of panties and bra, if needed,

into the bag.

I wear my clean clothes including socks, into the facility.

I just saunter into Starbucks,

order a coffee,

then ask for the bathroom code.

I go in and enjoy their nice hot water.

I wash my hair first,

in the sink.

Using the cup I get my head wet,

soap up with my DOVE soap

(my hairdresser said it will help my hair grow in thicker)

then rinse using my cup.

Then I just take a bath from the top down,

using my soapy washcloth,

then rinsing.

I take off my shoes and stand on 2 paper towels.

Feet go into the sink last

(I'm flexible).

Then I wash out my cloth real good

and put it back into the plastic bag.

It can hang out to dry when I'm back at the van.

All of this takes less than 7-8 minutes,

and that's no longer than some folks use the bathroom

for a BM, so I don't worry too much about it.

I do tend to get into Starbucks early,

around 5:30 am when they open,

so they're usually not busy at all.

That's it!

Bathing on the Run.

By the way, you CAN check out various places for showers.

YMCA will often have cheap shower hours.

At Tillamook, showers at YMCA are only $1.

Some tourist town hotels will offer showers.

Up in Washington, I found showers for $3 and $5.

Public swimming pools will have showers.

Community Centers sometimes have showers.

And then there's always the gym...

Planet Fitness is inexpensive to join

if they have facilities in your area.

Truck stops will have showers,

but they can be spendy at $12-$15.

The nice thing is there's no time limit.

Your senior center might know of a place,

as may a local church.

Go check out what's available near you.

And remember, it never hurts to ask.

Saddle Mountain, Arizona - February 2018

When I arrived at Saddle Mountain, the sun was shining. I think this is one of the most beautiful places I have camped so far!  I drove up the road of the BLM campground and found a spot near the mountains. Upon looking at Google Maps, the road dead ends at another road that goes in both directions up ahead. If I had 4 wheel drive, I might go further, and today I’ll take a walk to explore.

I got set up just in time, because the clouds quickly rolled in and it began raining. I snugged up in the van and finished reading The Grapes of Wrath and slept with the sound of rain on the roof.

What a life!

Now this is more like it!  I counted only about 8 rigs out here. This must be a well-kept secret. Or maybe it’s just because it’s mid-week. Whatever… I’ll be back here next season for sure!  It’s so quiet out here, and the beauty is just stunning.

This morning, after the rain, there was that wonderful desert-smell of creosote in the air. One of the things I love about van-dwelling is how close I live to the earth. I’m just one step away from the ground, and when I open my side door each morning, I have a beautiful view of a backyard that constantly changes.

I feel healthier and happier out here in nature.  And though I’m sure there will be times I’ll want to be back in 4 walls, for now, this is a slice of heaven for me.

What a life!

Looking out my van door 

Cooking dinner and tomorrow's food, before the rain starts!

Those clouds rolled in FAST!

Bundled up in the van, listening to the rain

A beautiful morning!

You can see the fog in the valley

Thank you, Mr. Sun

Leaving Organ Pipe National Monument

I left Organ Pipe National Monument early in the morning. As I drove, I was still feeling the results of yesterday’s van trip. My MCS was kicking me in the head, and the headache and brainfog and grouchiness were really trying to do me in. I should have known better, and I do, but there are times when it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, or a really IMPORTANT opportunity, when I toss caution to the wind and do what I know will have consequences. Driving in a van with 9 other people, doused with fragrances most of THEM can’t sense, wreaks havoc with my system. On the way out to Quitobaquito, I had to sit next to a very nice man and his wife, whose scented laundry detergent kicked started a reaction. Luckily, there was an hour hike in the middle which gave me time to gulp fresh air and clear my head a bit. And on the way home, I scored the front seat by saying I felt a little carsick. It was just easier than trying to explain MCS. But by the time I got back to camp, I knew I was in a bit of trouble. Even though I had moved into a space where running generators was not allowed, from 4 to 6 pm, I had to shut myself up in my van to escape the fumes and noise, both of which grated on my senses like fingernails on a blackboard. I had a restless night, coughing and aching, and by 5 am, I was ready to get out of there and into some wide open space.  The campground at Organ Pipe is lovely, and would wonderful for anyone with a normal disposition, but all those folks crowded into that small space just spelled trouble for me, and I know I can never camp there again.

But that’s ok, because this is a HUGE country, and I plan on exploring it!  This season, I am focusing on the southwestern part of Arizona, mostly because of the weather. I’m really enjoying this magnificent state!

Another reason I left so early was because I needed COFFEE!!!  When I turned on my Coleman Stove for dinner, the fire didn’t only come out of the burner. The entire bed of the stove caught fire!  Holy SMOKES!  I took out the fitting and discovered that a tiny little O-ring appeared to be the problem. It looked a bit chewed up and since that was the ONLY place propane entered the stove, I figured that had to be the problem.

So I took off at O-dark-thirty, and headed into Ajo, where I knew I’d find hot coffee.  The ranger had told me there was a coffee shop in the plaza, so I stopped there first. They opened at 6:30, so I had a bit of a wait, and while I was waiting I peeked in at their menu.  Coffee prices were twice the amount I paid at Roadrunner Java, so I hopped back in the van and headed up the main strip to Roadrunner, which was open and bustling! 

I asked this nice lady behind the counter, “Who makes all these donuts?” 

She said, “I make all these donuts!”

Dang!  She must get up early!  

And the donuts, though not something I eat often, 

were as good as anything I’d get back home in Portland. 

I had my coffee and a couple of donuts and studied the map, making a decision to head for Saddle Mountain.  The hardware store opened at 8 am, and I was there waiting when the gal opened. She was late, and set off her own alarm in her rush, so I had a chance to check out the shop while I waited for things to calm down. It’s a nice hardware store with pretty much anything a person would need.  There, she helped me find just the right O-ring and voila!  I was back in business!  Price?  $1 for 5 rings (I got extra, just in case)

I decided to wait to buy groceries in Buckeye at the Walmart, and got on the road. On my way out of town, I passed this little shrine to St. Jude. I stopped and said a prayer and left an offering. Can’t hurt to have a few more Saints on your side!

A Little Shrine to St. Jude

The Saints are in YOU

A very old hand carved St. Jude

I believe this is St. James!  See the Shell on his cloak?

In Gila Bend I gassed up the van, put in oil and aired the tires. Leaving town, I passed thi Best Western SPACE AGE LODGE!  Flying Saucers? How far am I from Roswell?

I stopped for groceries in Buckeye, then headed for Saddle Mountain.

I arrived just in time to set up camp before the clouds rolled in.  What a GORGEOUS place!