Nice. Physical security should be a top consideration when urban boondocking. The two legged variety of wildlife can be mischevious when you're away.
Nomadic in CA
- Thread starter Garrett
- Start date
Nice. Physical security should be a top consideration when urban boondocking. The two legged variety of wildlife can be mischevious when you're away.
Garrett
Adventurist
Last night I was so enthused with my parking spot that I just couldn't sleep. I was up until 1:30am watching tv shows and literally laughing out loud in the trailer while watching the full moon overhead and the marine layer roll in. This morning, I was totally socked in with fog so no photos of the awesome view could be taken. There were cows nearby. Up, change quickly outside (chilly!) and head to work. Last night I thought about taking it on permanently, but I don't think I'd be able to do it via the trailer and keep a normal life (traveling would be awesome with the trailer). It's showing that I could really go and stay anywhere as I haven't been bothered yet by arriving late and leaving early from a spot. Sorry for no photos!
Garrett
Adventurist
OH - last night I got REALLY good at backing up the trailer in the dark and turning it around in tight roads with little room. Good thing it can go over 90 degrees to turn around! It might be worth it to add a single reverse light on the trailer for this reason.
Dave - re:security. I also thought about that last night. I knew in every spot before that I was safe near street lights and civilization, but oddly at last night's spot, I felt vulnerable. I cannot lock one of the side doors from inside - so that'll have to change, but then I thought about someone trying to unhook me and steal the Jeep...or just break in the Jeep and try to take off with me still in the back. I wouldn't be prepared to fend off either intruder except with my bare hands....even a mag light flashlight would be better to hit someone with. Something to think about - too bad I'm a trusting guy, but I'd defend my stuff if I had to somehow!
Dave - re:security. I also thought about that last night. I knew in every spot before that I was safe near street lights and civilization, but oddly at last night's spot, I felt vulnerable. I cannot lock one of the side doors from inside - so that'll have to change, but then I thought about someone trying to unhook me and steal the Jeep...or just break in the Jeep and try to take off with me still in the back. I wouldn't be prepared to fend off either intruder except with my bare hands....even a mag light flashlight would be better to hit someone with. Something to think about - too bad I'm a trusting guy, but I'd defend my stuff if I had to somehow!
But it can it be locked from the outside? By that I mean someone that wants to mess with you can lock you inside so you cannot get out?
This is awesome! I've thought about about doing something like this just to see what its like, but with wife and kids I don't think it could happen... although, if it was only for a week...
Garrett
Adventurist
Last night was uneventful. Gym and a hankering for sushi led to heading to Something's Fishy in downtown. I left the trailer at Home Depot for a few hours. If you get up to SB and are craving sushi but have a budget, I got two rolls and saki (don't get this unfiltered one: too sweet) for $20. The saki was $12... 
When I left, it was nearly 10pm and I really didn't feel like exploring. I decided to go back to last night's awesome spot, but instead of climbing the foothills to the view, I stayed down low by the freeway. This was the worst spot I've stayed in since this started. I should have known that it would be busy being the ONLY in/out for a little community of homes. Between people parking, talking and walking until midnight, this morning I awoke to the sounds of the freeway. Just as I was going to get out of the trailer (at least with my pants on), a car with two ladies parks behind me and they chitter chatter outside of it for a bit before walking away. There were lots of cars going by so I just grabbed a drink of water and bailed to get ready at the office.
This picture looks surprisingly calm, but there were cars going by every other minute since it was close to 0800 and people were going to work. At the end of the road there is a L intersection which is where the freeway is...ie loud. I hope people who have homes here have double pane windows!
I thought about it more. You know, if I could find a decent spot to park for a few days at a time, I could then bring the moto along and leave the trailer/jeep behind and just ride to work like normal. I could make this work full-time. These are not good ideas
When I left, it was nearly 10pm and I really didn't feel like exploring. I decided to go back to last night's awesome spot, but instead of climbing the foothills to the view, I stayed down low by the freeway. This was the worst spot I've stayed in since this started. I should have known that it would be busy being the ONLY in/out for a little community of homes. Between people parking, talking and walking until midnight, this morning I awoke to the sounds of the freeway. Just as I was going to get out of the trailer (at least with my pants on), a car with two ladies parks behind me and they chitter chatter outside of it for a bit before walking away. There were lots of cars going by so I just grabbed a drink of water and bailed to get ready at the office.
This picture looks surprisingly calm, but there were cars going by every other minute since it was close to 0800 and people were going to work. At the end of the road there is a L intersection which is where the freeway is...ie loud. I hope people who have homes here have double pane windows!
I thought about it more. You know, if I could find a decent spot to park for a few days at a time, I could then bring the moto along and leave the trailer/jeep behind and just ride to work like normal. I could make this work full-time. These are not good ideas
Which explains why I can't go to Baja for labor day weekend!
Cool experiment...I'd need a gym membership to make it work for me.
Garrett
Adventurist
Welcome back to the boondock life...trailer life...hmmm I need a catchy name for this. Alternative life? Either way whatever.
Last night, I knew I was going to be going downtown so in the morning, I dropped the trailer in the parking lot of CVS. I put it next to a large shipping container and wasn't sure if it would be bothered. I decided to make it an experiment and leave it there all day. Off to work I go. I swing by after work and see no signs or tickets telling me to move it. Good, hit the gym and take a crappy spin class. The instructor had the worst idea of playing slow music (acoustic solos and stuff) when we need energetic music. That's neither here nor there. I head to downtown to meet some friends for a brew. I get back to Goleta around 9...I need dinner! A few places are open, but I don't want a huge meal so that knocks out a lot of restaurants. I settle for Taco Bell and get two small tacos. Meh. I'd probably have been better off having some trail mix. I had a sweet tooth and went next door to Vons and got a donut for $0.69. Time to roll:
Did I listen to myself when I said, "Don't try to find new places in the dark." No. I drove up a few random streets fully knowing that I was going against my new general rule, but it was exciting, adventurous and something to do. Needless to say nothing panned out that I was comfortable with or that would put the trailer at a decent sleeping angle. I was going up a small road when a car came up behind me. Since I was slow, I pulled over. The car pulled in behind me so pulled out and continued. The car follows. I find the next safe spot to pull over and do so. The car pulls in behind me. WTF. I look around for something and the only thing I've got are keys and a full heavy Nalgene bottle. I grab both and open the door. The car peels out from behind me and takes off. It's a relatively new model sedan, not suspicious at all, but I have a feeling it was a local resident trying to keep me from staying in the area. *******.
I bail and go back down the hill to a specific denomination church near work. I pull in, set myself up and luckily there weren't any lights. In the morning, I thought I'd be alone, but nope. It's gardener day. They hop out and from afar they point and talk about the trailer. Are they going to call the cops? Am I going to be in trouble? Nope, they walk off to do work. I assume they think the trailer is super mega awesome cray cray or whatever the kids say these days. I still just jump out and drive out. I find a nice side street near work to park and here I am!
Last night, I knew I was going to be going downtown so in the morning, I dropped the trailer in the parking lot of CVS. I put it next to a large shipping container and wasn't sure if it would be bothered. I decided to make it an experiment and leave it there all day. Off to work I go. I swing by after work and see no signs or tickets telling me to move it. Good, hit the gym and take a crappy spin class. The instructor had the worst idea of playing slow music (acoustic solos and stuff) when we need energetic music. That's neither here nor there. I head to downtown to meet some friends for a brew. I get back to Goleta around 9...I need dinner! A few places are open, but I don't want a huge meal so that knocks out a lot of restaurants. I settle for Taco Bell and get two small tacos. Meh. I'd probably have been better off having some trail mix. I had a sweet tooth and went next door to Vons and got a donut for $0.69. Time to roll:
Did I listen to myself when I said, "Don't try to find new places in the dark." No. I drove up a few random streets fully knowing that I was going against my new general rule, but it was exciting, adventurous and something to do. Needless to say nothing panned out that I was comfortable with or that would put the trailer at a decent sleeping angle. I was going up a small road when a car came up behind me. Since I was slow, I pulled over. The car pulled in behind me so pulled out and continued. The car follows. I find the next safe spot to pull over and do so. The car pulls in behind me. WTF. I look around for something and the only thing I've got are keys and a full heavy Nalgene bottle. I grab both and open the door. The car peels out from behind me and takes off. It's a relatively new model sedan, not suspicious at all, but I have a feeling it was a local resident trying to keep me from staying in the area. *******.
I bail and go back down the hill to a specific denomination church near work. I pull in, set myself up and luckily there weren't any lights. In the morning, I thought I'd be alone, but nope. It's gardener day. They hop out and from afar they point and talk about the trailer. Are they going to call the cops? Am I going to be in trouble? Nope, they walk off to do work. I assume they think the trailer is super mega awesome cray cray or whatever the kids say these days. I still just jump out and drive out. I find a nice side street near work to park and here I am!
Love this thread. Growing up in the SB/Goleta area many, many years ago I have general impressions of the landscape...
What ever happened to that large empty field between More Mesa and Hope Ranch - out at the coast end of Patterson? There were a few hundred acres of little canyons and scrub. Imagine if still undeveloped, all vehicular access points are probably locked down. Too many years have passed for me to have many suggestions for you
I wish you luck with your travels. I'm sure I'm not alone in living vicariously through you.
What ever happened to that large empty field between More Mesa and Hope Ranch - out at the coast end of Patterson? There were a few hundred acres of little canyons and scrub. Imagine if still undeveloped, all vehicular access points are probably locked down. Too many years have passed for me to have many suggestions for you
I wish you luck with your travels. I'm sure I'm not alone in living vicariously through you.
Garrett
Adventurist
Well, the chapter is closed. I'm back home as of Sunday. On Friday, I partied at a friend's house and they had an extra bedroom. I crashed there. I was up early and hit the gym followed by a bbq at a friend's place. Standard Saturday shenanigans ensue and I meet up with Tim (who is up in SB for a wedding) because we have a group moto ride tomorrow. He and I crash in front of a friend's place. Him in his RTT and me in the trailer. What is this? A shanty town??
On Sunday, we're up early, breakfast at iHop followed by an awesome dirt bike ride up Divide Peak OHV. This is followed by a brew and tri tip sandwich at the famous Cold Springs Tavern. What a way to end a nomadic journey. Once we came back to town, I stopped at Ralph's, got a 12 pack and watched TV for HOURS. Ralph's taught me something cool about my trailer! I fit in parking structures!
The final setup next door to my house. It's been real, trailer life!
On Sunday, we're up early, breakfast at iHop followed by an awesome dirt bike ride up Divide Peak OHV. This is followed by a brew and tri tip sandwich at the famous Cold Springs Tavern. What a way to end a nomadic journey. Once we came back to town, I stopped at Ralph's, got a 12 pack and watched TV for HOURS. Ralph's taught me something cool about my trailer! I fit in parking structures!
The final setup next door to my house. It's been real, trailer life!
Garrett
Adventurist
So I'm back at it. Today is day 2. I rented out my apartment and decided why not?? It was easy enough before! I've stayed in the same spot the last two nights and am likely to do it again tonight since it's right next to the gym. It got down to the high 30's in Goleta two nights ago....dang! I was comfy warm under the covers, but it would be nice to sit up in a warm trailer. Besides an onboard shower for camping trips, a propex heater is on the list for colder weather to keep the trailer around 65 - I know a small propex would have no issue doing that! Last night was much warmer and I was at a friend's house watching shows until late.
Work probably likes it when I do this because I tend to stay late just to kill time! I got it down good this time, I didn't pack a bag, I actually used the trailer's compartments for clothes and sundries. Feels like a mini home!
Work probably likes it when I do this because I tend to stay late just to kill time! I got it down good this time, I didn't pack a bag, I actually used the trailer's compartments for clothes and sundries. Feels like a mini home!
This thread is HILARIOUS... reminiscent of George Orwell's DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND LONDON, a classic novel. Orwell had nothing on you, Garrett, LOL, and THAT is a compliment of the highest order, believe me. LOL.
One Legged Josh
Adventurist
Thanks for taking us along on your urban journey. Very ccol thread.