I have been using Olympian catalytic heaters (now owned by Camco) for more than 20 years. Given that I have used these heaters for hundreds and hundreds of nights, I think I am qualified to do a long term review.
El Niño Is Here (and so am I)
Last week really sucked, although it started out as an optimistic 2016 beginning.
On Monday I cleaned our camper and then took it to the storage facility. That evening, watching the local news, I was informed that a storm would dump up to 5 feet of snow on our local mountains on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wow! On Tuesday I assembled my backpacking gear for a multi-day snow trip. My plan was to request a kitchen pass from Joyce for the trip, which normally is immediately approved.
Before I could present my request, Joyce informed me that our roof was leaking from the rain and the laundry room was flooded and a large bubbled had formed on the kitchen ceiling. Drats!
The First and Last Camping Trip
No, we haven’t given up camping. Just got back from a 9 day trip in the Nevada desert. We rang in the New Year on this trip, meaning we were camping on the last day of 2015 and the first day of 2016, which is something we have done for 13 consecutive years.
Merry Christmas
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.
Gear that Works: Flip Flops
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!