I know I know it has been a long time since you last heard from the Tortuga.  The time since the last trip up the New Mexico section of the continental divide has been spent making improvements to the Tortuga Truck and chasing the electrical gremlins out of the dash.  A new spare tire rack, external power outlet for the generator, powder coated rims and fenders and solar panels are just a few of improvements to  evaluate over the next adventure.

The biggest frustration was a pesky electrical gremlin I have chased over the last 6 months.  I have learned that solving mechanical problems is so much easier than solving electrical problems.  When something mechanical breaks it is easy to diagnose- find the problem;
order the part (from Europe); then the hard part is doing the work.  It is almost the opposite in electrical.  The hard part is doing the diagnostics, following the circuits, and understanding the circuits by each incremental element.  Once you have done the diagnosis, then the problem is usually simple (bare wire, corrosion, a BAD GROUND, etc.)  That sounds good in theory, but when you don’t know the theory it becomes even harder.  Another learning point is that changing each component on what you think is the circuit and only hoping you run into the problem is an expensive and timely goat rope.  STOP – diagnose before you change what you have only to make things worse. With over 6 months invested in Tortuga education and help from a professional the problem with erratic idiot lights and a inverted fuel gage reading has been solved and the Tortuga is back on the road.  One more mile down the road can also apply to attempting and solving problems that have now come to challenge you.  I know more now than before… just part of the trip.

In fact the Tortuga is headed one mile more mile down the road as I type.  This summer the Tortuga will travel through the National Forest found in New Mexico, and then up to Colorado if we’re lucky.  This trip will start with the endless miles of Texas, from the home beaches of the Tortuga to Balmorhea springs where people have been drawn for centeries for a cool dip in the hot Texas summer and I am betting a little swim will be refreshing for the Tortuga, too, before heading north to higher, and cooler, elevations.

The plan is to spend 3 weeks or more in the mountains on as many back roads before heading back to the Texas Coast for Hurricane season.

Not currently sure what we will see or do, but we will be going just one more mile down the road where few others have travelled.  If you are interested, tag along.  If you see us on the road, send us a message!  contact@tortugaoverland.com