The book of Austin
“We have to go back…
I don’t know why, but I need to meet this guy… there’s a story here”.
The harsh New Mexican sun was dancing off what could be considered a desert disco ball. A raw metal Tesla Cybertruck propped up on three wheels and sitting idly outside of a 1960’s aluminum “canned ham” travel trailer.
It appeared as if Buck Rodgers had been stranded in a Twilight Zone episode.
Outside of this Frankenstein creation was a man dressed in a black long sleeved waffle shirt, black overalls, black hat, and with long salt and pepper hair pulled into a small bun. Beside him was a medium sized salt and pepper dog with a long face. He was standing there just waving and smiling. Not a creepy smile, or with an absent faded look…
He was fully aware and making friendly eye contact. I had to meet him.
His name is Austin and his dog, Hermosa. His truck, electric. His camper, electric, His life… electric. He’s an electrical engineer and is studying on his own, in the middle of the desert, to become a master electrical engineer.
Many people claim to have a resume that they simply can’t live up to… Austin is not that guy.
He singlehandedly wired series 1 Tesla Solar Panels (new solar roof shingle concepts) on the top and sides of his camper to charge and power his Tesla Cybertruck (and what better place to test a solar concept than the desert, am-i-right?). There were wires going everywhere, but not haphazardly. Everything had an intention, but it was like sitting at a work bench in the lab of a mad scientist.
Books, instructions, videos, references, tools, fidget devices, wires, plans, diagrams, lights, and most importantly… a microwave to make brainfood.
This is Austin’s world. A man dedicated to curiosity and self education, success and failure, desert sun and warm smiles. One could say that Austin is himself… solar powered.
He gave us a grand tour of the place, told the history of the hard-to-find Spartan camper (not many made, and designed by an aircraft company), spoke of his dreams and ambitions, and history that enabled his current experience.
Austin had been employed by Tesla as an electrical engineer and spent a few years helping to develop concept models of some of the vehicles rolling on our roads today. His bonuses were paid in stock, and when he left, he turned that stock into a Cybertruck.
Now… like most people that breathe air, I was judgmental of the sterile angular behemoth that appeared to be dreamed up in a 1970’s sci-fi movie. Then Austin gave us a tour… Did you know that the stainless steel exterior is the same class adopted by rockets. It’s dent resistant and because there is no paint, there are no scratches to fix?
Additionally it works like A REAL BIG BOY TRUCK… tows up to 11,000 lbs and it can act as a mobile power station— powering most tools, and you could literally run a remote expedition base off of it (provided you don’t get a flat on the way there). It outruns sports cars, can power a house, and steers like a video game controller. Doesn’t mean that I’m buying one next week… but it’s still pretty neat to know and opened my eyes about the product line.
Now for the part that you all really want to know… Who is Hermosa, and how is she so cute…
Hermosa is a new addition to Austin’s life, and was found just two days before we met them. She has a very sweet personality and if she could speak, would probably talk at length of all the wild and crazy stories leading her to that exact moment in time. Until Austin invents a way to speak to animals, we’ll all just have to settle for kisses and tail wags.
To put a cap on this story, it’s safe to say that Austin is a lot of things. Monk, electrician, renaissance man, and a little mad scientist. Like Einstein meets Jack Kerouac meets Bigfoot… Curious and full of whimsy.
I’m glad that we met Austin that day. It can be sad that as sure as the sun continues to shine in the desert, that man is somewhere in the world splicing wires and smiling at strangers. The world is better for it.