If you catch fish, fillet or use headless depending on size of fish. Do not remove the scales. Lay on tin foil over the grill. Salt and pepper whatever. Leaving the scales on keeps the fish from sticking to the foil. The fish will cook fast so watch them.

Thanks for the food suggestions. I'll try them another time. I was mostly excited about what I had planned ;)

It rained. Again. But, I managed to get all the food cooked before it did. There were 10+ mph winds and wind. I definitely need a new tent. The walls were soaked and my sleeping bag, air mattress, clothes, anything touching the walls was wet. There was even a puddle of water when I cleaned everything up the next day. Not good. Drops of water on my face through the mesh.

So, on the hunt for a tent now. If anyone has any suggestions. Or even things to look for in a tent. Only if REI sells it. So I can take it back if I hate it. I'll have pictures later.

A good design of a tent will have a rainfly that covers the entire tent, but is some distance away from the tent, so when the water soaks into the rainfly and beads up on the underside, it doesn't touch the inner tent to get it wet.

Condensation is usually a bigger problem. It's almost always warmer and more humid inside a tent than outside the tent. It's most pronounced in cooler weather, but can happen on a hot summer night too. Moisture from your breath collects on the inside of the tent and condenses there where it meets the slightly cooler temperature from the outside.

The ideal way to avoid condensation is to have lots of ventilation. Again, the best tents for fighting moisture have a nice big rainfly that stands off the tent by several inches. The fly will get wet from rain or condensation, but the inner tent stays dry. Helps if the inner tent has a lot of screening for ventilation.

I have a Slumberjack Trail 3 that is really good at keeping me dry in rain and condensation situations. But it's a heavy 8 pounds. Not too expensive at around $110.

REI probably doesn't sell it. Not expensive enough for them.

This is going to severely limit you.

Prior to the 1980s, REI was a wonderful place. They used the experienced staff's knowledge and the co-op's buying power to select the best brand name products on the market, in each price range, and make them affordable to more people. There was something for everyone.

They changed, going for increased profits by handling only the big sellers, the higher profit margin brand names (even if they weren't as good as others) and having lesser quality stuff (with similar features) made at lower cost to them under their own brand name.

Now, it's primarily a place for novices. It's also fine for little items and for when you need something on short notice. Most of the people who can give you good advice on what's best; however, even just what's best within a price range, have moved on from REI and you're wasting their time. If you want suggestions on only REI merchandise, that's what the REI staff is for.

BTW, I've been an REI member for 30 years and despite that as a member I still get dividends, I haven't shopped there in over 10 years.

Several sites recommend the Coleman Sundome. Amazon has the 2 person for $38.22 and 4 person for $52.97. Not much risk there.

Not sure if you don't know what an REI dividend is or you don't know how to tell time or you're just making shit up, but since REI dividends are only issued to active members, your statement can't be true.

My membership is lifetime. Notice that I didn't say I was an active member. If I walk in and make a purchase, I become an active member again for that year and I get dividends. Perhaps I should have said that I CAN (what I was implying) still get dividends. I hope that clarifies it for you. It's not that complicated.

The point; however, was that even though I still get dividends (because I'm still a member) if I were to make purchases there, it's not enough to entice me to shop there anymore.

@glatt - thanks for the tips. I am looking at ones that have full size rainflys. If I thought I could, I'd make one for my tent. This one does have a lot of venting - almost too much when it's cold (for me) out. Luckily, the sleeping bag seemed to work well in keeping me warm this time.

@sexobon - Yep, I understand it's limiting. You give me another option that allows 100% refund in one year regardless of the condition of the item that isn't Costco or something similar and I will check it out.

@Bruce - unfortunately, that's the one I have. The rainfly isn't large enough. I don't know who those people are that are saying that they are staying dry in a storm, but I don't think they have the same definition of storm. Or they're lying.

A post so nice she said it twice.:D

Whoops! I blame my shitty computer. I swear I only clicked post once!! Fixed :D

Why not add a bigger fly to the tent you have?

In what way? I've looked and I don't see a DIY article out there that can help. They don't seem to sell rainflys alone.

I've made the food pics into collages for easier viewing. The first night, I got there late, so I just had some soup. It wasn't exciting, so I didn't take a picture. It was even missing chicken because I was smart and brought the canned chicken that needed a can opener. :right:


The next day, it was supposed to rain. I wanted to make sure that I got to use my hot dog fork, so that's what I had for breakfast :biggrin:

I also successfully cooked a potato! Remember last time it got all burned?? I'm learning.
Attachment 65492


Before lunch, I decided to experiment with some small loaf pans I got at the grocery store. Potatoes and eggs. I thought it would be a neat thing to make breakfast in a loaf pan. Unfortunately, I over cooked it slightly. It still needs some tweaking. The potatoes on the other hand, were great! Such a lovely crust on the bottom
Attachment 65491


For my actual lunch meal, I had some of the potatoes, steak, and frozen cauliflower. That, too, needs some tweaking. The coals under it were too hot or I left it too long. Still, I enjoyed it. The steak was slightly underdone for me, but still good. Luckily, it was still in my tasty range. Do you see the crust on the taters? It's a little over because I "reheated" them on some coals before lunch
Attachment 65493


This next one was an experiment I was eager to try - mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and chicken (of course). I used instant mashed potatoes with powdered milk. I think it worked out ok. It might have been better with something other than non-fat milk. It looks a little grey. I also used butter buds, but I don't think I added enough, I couldn't taste anything buttery at all. I added the dry ingredients to my insulated jar, poured in boiling water, closed it, and let it sit. Next, I heated up the chicken I cooked earlier (a little well done). The gravy mix said to mix it with cold water, so I used the dry potato jar to do that. I boiled some more water and added that to finish it. The potatoes were still hot in the jar, add some chicken, and gravy on top. This would have been better without the burned chicken, but I think it was an over all successful experiment
Attachment 65494

Sounds pretty good.

A rainfly is nothing but a damn tarp to keep the rain off the tent, preferably not touching the tent.

Summer camping is always interesting. Last summer we made a camping with all of my friends. The tour was 7 days long. We made a tent for camping in the forest. We all enjoyed a lot there.

Stash a compass in case you get lost or captured. ;)

Yeah, I got Kevlar thread, and a drawer full o' rare earth magnet rods right here.

And ya could keep it in ya jail wallet.

Use Spectra instead of Kevlar which loses some of its strength when it gets wet.

I prefer the old needle-and-a-silk-hanky.

I have needles and silk hankies.

Low on spectra and kevlar atm.:)

YOU have silk hankies? http://cellar.org/2015/shades.gif

There may, or may not, be one, or more in my possession.

I mean:

What? I ain't good enough to have a silk handkerchief?:eyebrow:

You ain't effeminate enough for silk hankies. You don't blow your nose or wipe your brow, or check your oil with those things.

Didn't say I used 'em. I said I had some.;)

I have about three dozen reglar ol cotton booger vaults.

As a kid, I used to think only old men always had a handkerchief in their back pocket. Apparently I was an old man @ 35.

I'm camping.

Perfect day.

Deception Pass State Park.

There are pix.

But its raining... here.

Yes, sprinkles every day till next Sunday, May 5th. Not all day... but every fucking day.
Replace my old Spice stick with WD-40. http://cellar.org/2015/banghead.gif

Speaking of camping...


Where the hell is Bbro?:eyebrow:

*That* is a good question.

Maybe the resurrection of this thread will draw her out.

A couple pics, then I have to get back to work.

Our campsite, #28

Attachment 67653



Our dinner, Ribeye steak, sauteed onions, snow peas, shrimp. We eat good in camp.

Attachment 67654

I'm still around, just don't check in too much. I went on one camping trip this year and left early because of an ineffectual camp host that let people yell at the top of their lungs all night and cut down trees. I also couldn't get the damn wood to light again. I know, I know, I need to get a fireplace log, but I haven't yet. I HAVE gotten a new tent, though. This one for $80. It's nice, but I'm confused on how the full rainfly works. When I keep both of the sides extended and staked in rain, getting out of the tent is a little awkward....to say the least. BUT, it's so roomy!!

I'm currently unemployed, so I don't know if I can afford to go camping right now, but I might see if I can scrounge up some extra money to go during the week. It's cheaper then, too.

"I'm currently unemployed, so I don't know if I can afford to go camping right now, but I might see if I can scrounge up some extra money to go during the week. It's cheaper then, too."

Isn't camping sort of what broke homeless folks do all the time?
__________________

She doesn't camp in the woods, not the real woods.:stickpoke

She stays to the campgrounds, where it costs money.

Ain't too many homeless folks paying for a piece o' ground for the night, and buying firewood.:headshake

EXACTLY! Potty required. I actually need to check out hipcamp.com to see if there's anything cheaper. I don't remember the sites being so expensive last time, but I was working then, so it was kind of like "meh"

Check out Corps of Engineers campsites. They often have a dry camp area with composting toilets and central water supply for filling water jugs to take to camp. Same with some of the national forests. They are usually free.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I couldn't find any free sites for either of them.

Most national forests have free backcountry camping. You just find a clear spot in the woods and set up camp. Gotta check the rules for each forest though, because there can be restrictions in certain areas. Above a certain elevation, near a reservoir, etc.

I'M GOING CAMPING THIS WEEKEND!!

Since it's so hot here, I'm going to try to find food to eat that I can heat on my little stove or no heat at all. Shouldn't be too hard.

I'M SO EXCITED.

Awesome.

I've planned a half day canoe trip followed by camping along the river in two weeks for the Troop. Looking forward to it.

This place:


Attachment 68432
Attachment 68433

That is a pretty campground right peaceful looking.


Sent from my moto e5 supra using Tapatalk

If they're not mowing the grass.



Have fun bbro! http://cellar.org/2015/seeya.gif

Griff - that looks like a nice site!

Bruce - I hope to lay in my hammock and read all the things :D

It does! I hope Glatt has a good time! :)

Whoops! :rolleyes:

Hey glatt! That looks like a nice site, too :blush:

I'll just blame it on my camping excitement. I saw the g and went with it

Heading back out to the woods again in a couple weeks. Last time, it was pretty relaxing except for the asshats that showed up for the last night blasting their bluetooth music. I told them to shut it down because camp hosts do fuck all. It would have been better if I was staying Sat-Mon, but since I was new to my job, I went Fri-Sun. They totally ruined my last day. My only happiness is that they didn't put rainflys on their tents and it rained. Yea, I'm an ass.

I successfully got through that weekend without cooking a single morsel - good thing since the hosts never greeted me to sell me wood. This time, I'll have to check the weather. It's still in the mid-eighties during the day here, but I'll be 2ish hours west in the mountains, so it might be nice and chilly. Good thing I JUST finished taking all the camping stuff out of my car this weekend (facepalm)

You Bitch, you did a rain dance didn't you. :facepalm:

Not a dance per say....:jig:

Did it involve a pole and the giraffe suit?

It was too hot for the giraffe suit......maybe I should bring it next time :eyebrow:

About 25 years ago Stink Bugs came to a walmart in PA in a Chinese shipping container.
Now they're in almost all the lower 48 states. Mainly a house plant/garden nuisance but now
they are getting into farm crops.

Now we have a new one, the Spotted Lanternfly, came to PA and they are trying to contain it
but it's spreading. This bastard kills smooth bark trees by bleeding them to death.
The point is these guys and a few others are killing trees, lots of trees.
This is why the prohibition of the movement of firewood in so many places.

Bump, for the navigationally challenged.

Thanks, Mr. Wayne

Take note, this is for Killer Bees, not Murder Bees...

If you are a real newbie in camping, I think, there is the reason to take some mates with you and distribute responsibilities with each others.
Together with my friends we bring 2-3 tents with us, one of us buy all the food from the list (which we create together), one of us take small grill, which is for home usage(like these), but it is perfect for camping if you have a small generator with you.
Also one of us prepare all the tools like flash lights, shovel, ax and so on.
Sometimes we bring inflatable boat with us, if we are planning to stop near the river.

You take a generator and an electric indoor grill camping? :bonk:

Yeah, no, I ain't buying urrbody's food.

Gonna have it delivered?