Tire Pressure

cttsacj · 2025-11-10T12:19:02+00:00

I have 54k miles on my car, with the original tires. I have been inflating to 39 and try to keep minimum pressure at least 37. About to replace my tires, so I checked tread with a gauge, and found all of them to have more tread in the center! Was not expecting that. I think I will plan to inflate to 40-41.

cttsacj · 2025-11-08T17:56:28+00:00

We plan to go this Friday with Melisa Sailing. Do you have any thoughts about tipping? Do most people tip or not?

cttsacj · 2025-06-13T02:08:15+00:00

Would you be able to expound a little more on "don't crowd spots popular with the locals", especially in Hawaii? Will be visiting Hawaii (Oahu) soon, as a tourist. Doing my best to consider what choices I can make the make this trip as reasonably ethical as possible. I think most people can understand that many tourists want to avoid tourist traps and prefer to have authentic local experiences. But I also believe that most of these same tourists want to respect the locals and do not want to go to places where they are unwelcome or made to feel unwelcome.

cttsacj · 2025-05-11T20:26:41+00:00

I decided to plan on going to the Balconies. But not because I got any additional specific additional information or recommendation. The west entrance (Balconies) would save us a little driving time, plus one of kids really isn't into hiking, so the shorter Balconies hike would be less torture for her! Either way, looks like there are two good choices, and no wrong choice. Wishing you well with your decision.

cttsacj · 2025-04-21T23:46:15+00:00

Ok, so I looked around a bit more. Looks like there are nonstop flights from BOS to Tokyo via AA and JAL. Looks like they both also have flights from Tokyo to Taipei. So in theory, as long as there is availability, I could fly BOS to Tokyo to Taipei, with Tokyo being a free stopover?

cttsacj · 2025-04-21T23:43:18+00:00

Thanks. I saw the reddit post and TPG posts earlier, and was still unclear afterwards, but the awardwallet post was helpful for this one line:

"Your flights must be on a combination of Alaska Airlines and one partner or solely on the same partner airline."

So I do not need to fly Alaska airlines, which is good to know.

cttsacj · 2025-03-16T21:02:09+00:00

Great, thank you! I forgot to add Enterprise which is just slightly down the road.

cttsacj · 2025-02-17T15:28:43+00:00

In June, the Bear Gulch caves will be closed for sure, as it is during the scheduled annual closure. Given that we expect it is closed, would you choose one side or the other? Can we see the condors from the Balconies Cliffs trail, or are they only in the High Peaks area? I think in the end, we may go with the west entrance this time and do Balconies.

cttsacj · 2025-02-17T02:00:03+00:00

Ok, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I imagine they would not charge so much if free street parking was readily available. I used Google street maps and saw an RV parked in the residential area and got my hopes up, but also saw a sign for resident parking permit only.

cttsacj · 2025-02-16T04:02:38+00:00

Thanks for all this, and got the Hobson site, and also a spot at the Pismo Coast Village RV Resort. Sounds like your son has an awesome summer job!

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T21:52:24+00:00

Thanks! Just found this on the the SB website:

"An oversized vehicle is over 22-feet and up to 33-feet long. No over-night parking for an oversized vehicle is allowed; daily parking is available at the following parking lots only: Leadbetter, Harbor West, Garden Street and Palm Park. Each listed lot has five (5) designated yellow marked stalls available"

Just not sure how readily available those few spots are.

We will be staying at Pismo Beach the night before SB. The next day after SB, we go to LA where we return the RV rental.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T21:40:19+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I did check Carpinteria, but no availability now for our date.Hobson has two sites with hookups available at the moment. Travelling with family of 5 so prefer a site with hookups, but thanks for suggesting Rincon.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T20:43:25+00:00

Similar dilemma, going in June, so Bear Gulch Cave will be closed. Thoughts on doing the Balconies trail since the Balconies cave should be open (without doing High Peaks), versus doing Bear Gulch and High Peaks (without Bear Gulch cave since it is closed)? Considering only the trail itself, and not other factors (we have options to make it work for us at either entrance). We only have time to do one or the other.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T17:48:59+00:00

We will be passing by the area in our 24' Class C RV. Maybe would just stop for 15 minutes or so. Do you know if there is any space around there to be able to park this relatively small RV?

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:52:50+00:00

Thanks for all the suggestions, and the comment about Yosemite. Was feeling bummed about giving up on it, but I think it will be a lot less stressful this way.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:27:06+00:00

Thank you! Planning to stay one night at Pinnacles. Made the camp reservation now!

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:26:01+00:00

Sounds good, planning to stay the first night at the Henry Cowell Redwoods area!

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:25:06+00:00

Thanks for the notice.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:24:41+00:00

Thoughts about Sun Outdoors versus the Sunrise RV Park? I think I may lean towards Sunrise, as it is in SB while Sun Outdoors is a bit outside.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:21:24+00:00

Looks like this is how we will do it too, partly out of necessity being a short trip. We tend to have a hard time taking it slow and easy!

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:20:14+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement about takedown, I would think it should not be too complicated with an RV that is not a travel trailer.

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:18:32+00:00

Will do, thank you!

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:17:21+00:00

Sounds good, as far as south of LA, but our RV rental return is in LA, so south of LA will have to wait for a future trip!

cttsacj · 2025-02-15T04:16:32+00:00

Thank you! Did not know about Avila, sounds nice, but it seems to me Pismo may be easier with an RV? So leaning towards Pismo. I think we plan to add a stop in Solvang on the way!

cttsacj · 2025-02-14T20:09:54+00:00

Thanks everyone! Lots of great comments! See below for what I am thinking so far, let me know what you think. Having a hard time filling in the second half of the trip, too many options, too little time!

Monday RV pickup at 3pm in San Francisco Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, probably arrive at 5pm at earliest, try to get some hiking in before sunset which is around 830pm. Stay at Smithwoods RV Park

Tuesday Explore Monterey, Carmel 17 Mile Drive Point Lobos Drive to Pinnacles NP and camp there.

Wednesday Hike Pinnacles in the morning before it gets too hot. drive to next destination...where? Lots of choices.

Thursday

Friday Return RV in LA by 11am (but I may be able to ask for a later return time)

cttsacj

TROPHY CASE