Mission accomplished

Just a spot for the day.   Went out to a different place to set up,  but Mama-nature started acting as if she were fit to throw a tantrum; so I paddled back closer to the put in.   Across the bay from it in reality.    I feel sorta cheesy over here,  like I’m posing or something (you are!  You set up a little potemkin village for a photoshoot!) (Oh, thanxz for clearin’ that up,,,,)

All good.  Its also a learning thing.   Like this “find out”: the lower straps need tightened to the max or you banana out fast.   Being nylon. When they get wet,  they will stretch,  so I expect to banana a bit in wet weather.

I know the fly looks loosey-goosey (and is):  that can and will be rectified by finding trees further apart than the ones I chose here; At least another 2′ apart.  The top straps are at their minimum length for set up, so wider is better. The rainfly attaches to the straps outside of where the carabiners hook in: right now, it is on top of the ‘biners.  I’m gonna have to adapt to this one as these trees are the perfect distance for my old hammock.

A cool point: there is a second level below the main.  It can be left off as it just buckles on,  but it makes a killer gear storage to keep yout stuff off the ground and under cover without cluttering the living space.(in the side view pic,  it appears as if the ‘deck’ is sagging into a banana shape; thats the lower gear hammock,  not the main)

One bad note on the construction of the tent.   The toggles to tie back the fly entrance are located at the far ends of the opening.   They can’t tie it back.  I did see a couple of other reviewers say the same thing,  so this is a design flaw,  not a quality control issue. They should be located about 1/4-1/3 from the edge of the opening.    For that reason I set the opening up as a tarp, and it did have the loops to do so.(the kit also had the guylines and 2 stakes to accomplish this.  Sticks or trekking poles work well: paddles do not 😥)

After nap review: I’m a side sleeper.  Laid myself in, pillow under me head(yeah, totally spoiling myself) and out cold for an hour.  Even shifted sides and do not recall waking to do so.  Double Thumbs up!!!

Not gonna lie: this is likely NOT a good unit for hikers.  The whole thing packed up is double the size of my Lynx tent,  and weighs in near 8#.  As a kayakamping unit or car camping one: perfect.  It fit easily into my back hatch and slid full forward without a fight.   I really need to do a weekender with it to get a better review in,  but so far, ME LIKEY!!!  Givin’ it 4 1/2 stars (those toggles broke the star in half) and “would recommend” with ‘YMMV’ attached (not a Hiker Tent,,,)   Also note; This is not a four season tent.  There is a lot of gap between the fly and the ‘deck’ that allows copious amounts of ventilation.  As could be seen in my first post, most of the hammock side of things is bug net, not wind breaking material.  Perfect for moderate to tropical conditions, total fail in winter freeze the nads off conditions.

So now, I am eyeballin’ the calender, looking at some time in April when I can do the whole weekend thing (rain or shine, want to see how this thing handles bad stuff too.) OR, at least pull an overnight.  

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As for paddlin’,,,,   Damn,,, Outta shape!  but I did get some speed and some distance, even if I didn’t ‘camp out’ where I had intended.  My shoulders aren’t achy like they have been (paddling is Physical therapy for them) and my lower back is feeling much looser than it had been.    I need this; not just for the mind and soul, but to keep this old carcass in tune and properly trimmed.   And there is no small part of me that ‘didn’t want to go’ but not because I didn’t want to paddle, but because i really didn’t want to monkey with moving a kayak off the truck.    That is really the down side to this ‘hobby’: The toys are HEAVY and rather unwieldy when not in their element.    Now that I restarted though, convincing the hind brain “stop being a wuss and lets go play” will be easier.   And I really need to NOT let myself lapse like I had this past season.   Bad Dio, No Chinese buffet for you!!!

tomorrow is domestics day, and one of those chores is to clean my wetsuits.  The one I wore today had some funk to it that I don’t recall from last year.   Just sitting with old sweat in the fabric coating will do that.  Blech,,,,   Another of those ‘shoulda rinsed the dang thing out before hangin’ it ”

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