For the first time in at least 10 years we spent Christmas at home, instead of a camper.
I have been informed that it isn’t Politically Correct to wish strangers a Merry Christmas, and I know complete strangers do read this blog. As a matter of fact, it is now incorrect to have company Christmas parties or Christmas celebrations. Merry Christmas has been replaced with Happy Holidays.
I say, bullshit.
Flip-flops are my everyday footwear unless there is some rule, like a workplace dress code, that forbids them. I have been wearing flip-flops for at least 58 years, maybe longer. My earliest remembrance of flip-flops was wearing them at the public plunge (swimming pool for you young-in’s) at the age of seven. These days a pair of flip-flops last me several years of urban walking and day hikes on our camping trips.
When modern flip-flops wear out, it is the straps or strap connecting point that usually fail, leaving you with a now useless foot bed that could still go on for hundreds of miles had the strap not failed. Last week I noticed my Reef brand flip-flops were about to expire. Strap failure. Damn. Good news is that Nicole, my daughter, had bought me a pair of Chaco flip-flops last Christmas.
I hear so many hikers and backpackers complain about foot problems and they are constantly trying to find all kinds of gimmicky sole inserts, pronation control shoes, and other quackery to make their feet feel better. I don’t have any of these problems and backpack in minimalist shoes. I attribute this to lots of miles and daily walking in flip flops. Flip flops make your feet strong!
A couple weeks ago I posted an article about backpacking nutrition titled Candy for the Curmudgeon. In that post I outlined several curmudgeon attributes, one being
Does not follow trends or fashion, but is a trendsetter
A good friend of mine sent me an email with this subject line: “Trendsetting Curmudgeon, now that’s a great Oxymoron”
There was nothing in the body of the email. I need to point out that this is the same friend who sent me a box of Blackwing 211 pencils for my birthday last month.
Over the years I have noticed that many campers stop using their campers in the fall and go through a seemingly torturous and time consuming process called winterizing. Basically they are taking the camper out of commission, mothballing it – akin to the Navy decommissioning a ship. And during the following spring or early summer the camper owner re-commissions their camper. Wow, all that money spent to purchase a camper and then mothballing it for 6 months a year?
I just finished winterizing our camper.
With the mass shootings over the past few years, there has been an increased demand by the public for greater gun controls. Counter-point to these demands is positions by the NRA, hunting, and other groups. The issue is complex and battle lines are drawn. Unfortunately there appears to be no middle ground and any attempts to sway opinion or convince someone to change their point of view are about nil at best.
Amidst this debate two of my favorite backpacking personalities, two very accomplished and knowledge men, Andrew Skurka and Dave Chenault have become hunters and are now writing about their new hobbies. I have read disparaging remarks towards both of them from the animal rights people. Not that I can sway anyone’s thoughts on this issue either, but I thought I would comment on the whole volatile discourse on the morality of hunting and the larger gun control issue.
I should preface my comments with the following information:
I guess it is that time of year again to list my favorite gear. With one exception, it is the same as 2012, 2013, and 2014. Instead of sending you to a link of previous lists (you can do a search if so inclined), I have edited the 2012 list. The updated item is in red font.
Life sure is great when you don’t have to spend time constantly trying to dial in your gear.
Food is overrated by our society. Just scan any TV listing guide and you will see a preponderance of cooking shows.
With one exception, I have absolutely loved every job I’ve held and every business I have owned.
I disdain holidays. Almost all of them have become a means to market stuff. Many have been bastardized so government employees get a 3-day weekend (think President’s Day). Most holidays are created by folks wanting to sell you something. The only redeeming value of holidays is that I normally go camping or backpacking when they pop up on my calendar.
This morning my first email of the day was from a co-worker announcing that September 18th is National Cheeseburger Day. Never heard of it. But I can get behind this holiday. I am known as a Cheeseburger aficionado. When traveling with co-workers I try to eat at least one meal a day that consists of a Cheeseburger. Sometimes I eat one for both lunch and breakfast. Joyce doesn’t let me eat many Cheeseburgers when I’m home.
So I forwarded the National Cheeseburger Day email to Joyce and she said we could go out to dinner and get a Cheeseburger. God bless Tiny Tim!
Last week I read A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. I normally don’t read popular books of this genre. However contrary to that statement, I have reviewed several popular “hiking” books over the past few months.
This is a good one.