Camping

[bbro]

Originally Posted by captainhook455

I used to gather tinder and stuff it in a water tight bag for the morning fire. One of those $3 fireplace logs from Walmart works even better. Chip pieces off. They sell it in a pack of finger sized sticks if pressed for room. Down here I gather pine straw for the tinder. By the time I am ready to cook the pine ash has disintegrated.

It wasn't the tinder, sadly. I got that lit a couple times and it burned for a few minutes, but the wood itself just WOULDN'T light! I'll have to check out the fireplace logs. I was thinking of trying to make my own firestarter, too. Cause, why not

This is my last official camping trip. I'm cancelling the one I have to back pack into. It's not far, but the more I think about it, the more I am dreading it. I am not excited, so why do it? I'm thinking of hitting it on my way to the airbnb I am staying at for gorges state park. If I had someone to do it with, that would be different.

For the past weekend, though, I had a lovely time. I read and had a fire. That was IT. It was just what I needed. No hiking, just relaxing. I have some pictures on my phone, I just need to get the uploaded so I can download and attach I actually cooked food! It was great!!

I also had a weird thing happened. I bought a new sleeping bag a while back, but hadn't tried it until this weekend. I used it (probably too soon) and noticed the next morning the outer shell was wet as was my air mattress. Is it like pulling my sweat away and out? Should I be concerned? Should I put something on the air mattress to protect it?

[Happy Monkey]

It's most likely just dew. Depending on how airtight your tent is, some mixture of your breath and the general humidity condensing.

[bbro]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

It's most likely just dew. Depending on how airtight your tent is, some mixture of your breath and the general humidity condensing.

It was only on the bottom of the sleeping bag and on the mattress, only where the two meet. If it was the dew, wouldn't it be everywhere? (I missed this clarification in my original post, sorry)

My tent is 100% NOT airtight. There's mesh coverings in the ceiling and at the floor. There's also two "windows" that I had partially open to let in the air when I slept.

[sexobon]

Condensation.

The sleeping bag has loft, to trap air and better retain heat, except where you're laying on it compressing it. Body heat radiates through the bag more easily there carrying moisture (water vapor molecules) from your skin and trapping it along with ambient moisture, between the warm surface of the bag and cooler air mattress, where it condenses into water molecules.


Either that or it's a bladder control issue.

[xoxoxoBruce]

In case you meet a moose... remember they don't knock you down and run away, they tap dance on you.

[bbro]

Some pics of camping from the phone
Site pics taken on the second day






First fire from the first night

[bbro]

I put the first dinner on the grill. It was a rush since it took so long to get the fire going, it was late. So, sorry for the blurry photos and no finished dish. I was HUNGRY


Done peppers - needed more salt


Raw potatoes. I actually put these back int he fire when I was relaxing. One of the packets ended up being ripped, so I turned potatoes into charcoal


I used leftovers of the sausage and potatoes to go with my eggs in the morning. It took 2 hours to light the fire, but I still didn't get the sausage and potatoes heated up right. I have to work on that.

[bbro]

Since it took so long to light the fire, I kept that bad boy running for about 10 hours. I used some downed wood to help (which I found out later isn't actually allowed). Oops

I used the fire to cook some ham for later use (that I should really use)


I forgot a spatula to turn the burgers, so I put them on foil in case they fell apart or dropped while using the tongs. I actually ended up poking holes in the foil so the fat would drain out. I worked pretty well!


Finished - supplemented with noodles that I didn't take a picture of because they were trader joe's instant ramen


The fire finally dying out


Hope you enjoyed it

[Undertoad]

[captainhook455]

Well bbro that is about the nicest camp site I have seen in a while. I love rocks.

That is a well built fire good as a boy scout, but you are using green park wood that is bought at the country store. You have to have a helluva tinder base to get that going. Go outside the park gates to find dry wood which is easily broken into smaller pieces.

Oh by the way if you make a soap solution with bar soap and apply to the outside of the pots before cooking you will find the soot so much easier to clean.

[bbro]

Originally Posted by captainhook455

Well bbro that is about the nicest camp site I have seen in a while. I love rocks.

That is a well built fire good as a boy scout, but you are using green park wood that is bought at the country store. You have to have a helluva tinder base to get that going. Go outside the park gates to find dry wood which is easily broken into smaller pieces.

Oh by the way if you make a soap solution with bar soap and apply to the outside of the pots before cooking you will find the soot so much easier to clean.

Thanks for the cleaning tip!

My friend taught me how to build the fire, so I'll let her know you approve

I am using the park's wood because it's easier. It was actually kiln dried wood, so not green. Not all of the parks have anywhere close to buy wood.

[Griff]

You're figuring all this out!

[BigV]

Yes you are bbro! For the record, fire is hard. You're doing fine.

You said "last camping trip"? Not as in most recent, but the final trip? Until....? Nicer weather?

[bbro]

Thanks Griff! And BigV

So, by "my last camping trip", I mean the last one SCHEDULED for the year. I would like to go again, but I'm not sure if I could. I would only be able to do single night trips since I have a new job that's contract - no days off. I still will take the day after thanksgiving off, so I am thinking about taking a trip then.

I actually was thinking of going next week since I have days off I am taking before the company takes them all. Instead, I'm going to have to log in once a day. I am thinking of an overnighter at the park I went to for my very first trip. either that or I'm going to get a bunch of stamps on the parks I missed because of weather. I kind of prefer the cooler camping because of fires. And I don't sweat.

[bbro]

I am unexpectedly unemployed this week (New job start date was delayed), so I am going camping. I am going to the same site as last time. I still need pictures from that park and I liked it. Soooo,

I'm so freaking excited! I know what to expect at camp, so it's gonna be AWESOME. I can't wait. There's going to be some epic food.