Part 2 of my 4 part article for PopUp Times came out last month. I am late posting this… been busy!
For more about the article,disclaimers, and how you can get it click here.
Category Archives: Camping
Flower Power
In the 60’s there was something called “Flower Power.” No one knew what it meant or where it came from. It wasn’t a movement, it wasn’t a sect, and it wasn’t anything. It just was. People drew flowers, wore flowers, and pasted flower pictures on walls.
Flowers are wonderful things. We don’t have to celebrate flowers; we should just go outside and enjoy them. Flowers don’t give us power, nor do they heal. We don’t need “Flower Power.”
However, we do need flowers.
In a recent post I talked about flowers, or the general lack of a Spring full of flowers. What I didn’t relate was the rest of the story.
spring forward camping trip
Two of my business associates live near Boston, MA. Boston is going through what might end up being the coldest winter and the highest snow year in history. They are still dealing with sub-zero temperatures and continuing snow.
Many bloggers who live in the Northeast seem to be writing quite often about the anticipation of spring. They can’t wait for spring.
This past weekend, here in our deserts, temperatures were forecasted to be in the 80’s in the low deserts and the 70’s in the high deserts. So we hooked up the trailer and headed for the later. We are enjoying spring weather, although spring doesn’t officially start until March 20th. Mother Nature could care less when we say spring starts. The reason we say spring starts on the 20th, is because for an instant the day will be exactly 12 hours long and the night 12 hours long. We often consider spring to be the months of March, April, and May. Tell my acquaintances in Massachusetts that!
Although we are in the midst of spring, there were few wildflowers on the weekend excursion to the desert. Mother Nature provides bountiful flowers when and if she wants. There needs to be a certain amount of rain over a certain interval, followed by a certain amount of temperature and sunlight. Those ingredients were not in perfect balance this weekend. That was okay, the view out our door was wonderful, expansive and devoid of people. But somehow we ran into a problem with time.
First Camping Trip of 2015
Returning from my backpacking trip to the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, I spent Christmas with Joyce. Mr Weatherman predicted a winter storm heading towards Nevada with possible snow in the forecast. I hate cold.
So we decided to make haste to Joshua Tree for a little (hopefully) warmer weather.
The weather was warm and balmy, but the cold front hit us the day before New Year’s Eve.
Lake Mead Bike Tour
We spent 9 days camping at Lake Mead during our Thanksgiving break. During that time I did a 3-day bike tour, a shakedown cruise. I wanted to get familiar with the bike, the touring gear, and the process of integrating day-to-day living from the saddle.
Joshua Tree National Park Article
A friend of mine asked me to write an article for a magazine about Joshua Tree National Park that would be of interest to owners of tent trailers and small campers. I reluctantly accepted, as I really don’t have time for these kinds of projects — they interfere with my camping and backpacking time. He said I could take a few months to complete it. So I proceeded. In the end, the magazine decided to make it a four part series.
Magic Birthday Desert Camp
Most women I know have an obsessive fixation on birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. That’s okay, in the proper context, they are good things to celebrate. Most men I know place less significance to these occasions. For the most part, I disdain them, but Joyce and I usually celebrate them with each other in our own way for the right reasons.
Last week Joyce asked what I wanted to do for my birthday. Hmm… backpacking was the first thought, though not communicated. Seeing that I have been home very little the past few months, the more appropriate response was to suggest something we could do together, which normally is camping. Camping is good. So that was my suggestion and it is what we did and it was another great weekend with my wonderful bride.
MAGIC!!
Friday morning I found myself in Tampa, Florida a long way from home.
Thanks to modern technology I left Tampa, Florida in the morning and arrived at our campsite in the afternoon. Sometimes technology is a really, really good thing!
Halloween Camp
Halloween is generally a pain in the ass. Little people coming to the door trying to extort treats from me, threatening me with a “trick.” And the little beggars always begging for candy. I can’t take it.
This is excaborated with the constant door bell ringing, ringing, and ringing, which throws Corky into a tizzy, running around in circles and barking his head off — to the point that I have to lock him in the laundry room.
This is compounded by Joyce yelling at me to look at some store-bought costume a little person is wearing. All this Halloween stuff that consumers waste over $7 billion dollars worth of spending.
But this year I had a plan….
Last Boating/Camping Trip of the Year
And what an adventure it was
But before I share the adventure, clarification is needed. This was not our last camping trip of the year; it was the last trip with the boat. Joyce and I are like nomads, most of the time allowing the seasons to dictate where we will camp. Winters find us in the deserts. As winter turns to spring we mix it up; camping in both mountains and deserts. Summers are mostly spent in the mountains; and as summer turns into fall, we return mostly to the desert.
(non-backpacking) Backpacking Gear Review
- Noah’s Tarp, by Kelty
- Tyvek Groundsheet, by DuPont
- Adjustable Tarp Poles, by Big Agnes
- Mayfly Chair, by ALite
Yes, discussing backpacking gear is still boring.
Yes, this stuff is heavy.
Yes, I bought this stuff.
No, I am not going to use it for backpacking.