Dio's WorkshopWelcome to my brain. It’s messy. It’s interesting. And it’s all connected if you stick around long enough. "Believe Nothing: no matter who said it, even if I have said it, except it agree with your own reason and common sense. Siddhartha Guatamo, the Buddha.
Thunderboomers threatened this area all day; no one but your’s truly worked at the J.O.B. since shop time doesn’t need to account for weather (as much).
And being Muhndaze, I was sluggish from the word ‘go’. The more I pushed back against that sluggishness, the more tired I felt. I accomplished ALL of the points I was tasked with, but brother, I’m beat.
Gonna just let the stuff o the world slide off my backside like a rain off a duck. Lots goin’ on, but lookin’
End of March, feels like early March instead. Not KOLD, but cool and damp and dim,,, Lots of cloud cover up there today blocking ol’ Sol from the surface.
Sorta too bad that I decided to do my set up where I did yesterday, over the origninal plan. Too many prying eyes where I did set up and didn’t want to stay long. Had I been able to set up at the point (way far away from put in) I might have made the call to Da “gonna camp out tonight, feed me kats please,,, Cya tomorrow”
Had that happened, I would be able to give ‘first impressions’ on bad weather capabilities of that ‘Kit’. Not that its rainin’ and blowin’, but it is damp as hell. ElBee came in shaking and throwin’ off the damp a while back and called it a day. (he’s now sprawled on my bed, ‘DONE, not goin out, mreow!’) Granted, I don’t like tearing down gear in the damp. Would much rather it be dry when I tear things down. BUT, its camp gear, it’s designed to be damp at least every once in awhile. Would just have to set it up Temp-like to dry out at home.
And I do enjoy paddlin’ in the rain,,,,
But not today. SOON,,, Probably in a couple weeks, after the schools re-open from Spring Break. Clear things out a bit from the campsites before the summer crowds hit. (Also known as BUG SEASON; the flying blood sucking kind and the more noiseum two legged sorts.)
Speaking of bugs,,,,, Even yesterday, there were gnats: not swarming like they do in summer, but enough that I did see them. Won’t be long now and the Skeeters are gonna be out in force. At least we don’t get the Crow sized sorts like the coasties do: the ones that arrive on aircraft carriers and swarm entire campsites with blood and buzz,,, Bug nets are the only hope in those instances, as the bug spray is a mere intoxicant to those monsters, making them bolder and tougher,,,,
Anyhooozzzz It’s time for me to be productive and get my cleaning out of the way. No fun n games until thats done, and looking outside right now, that may be ‘sit and read’ day,,,,
live
learn
love
laugh
LOAD
Update: I thought I had hit publish on this around 7am, ,, oops
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 ”
THAT is what I bought early in this month that didn’t make it here first go’round. Or the second for that matter,,, (that one was just lost in paperwork or sumpin,,,) At least this one arrived, FAST like at that (three days from order to delivery) ANdddddd,,,, the most important part: No light fingered delivery people intervened.
Above was my initial set-up introduction run. Not to try it out, but to make sure all was well and all parts on hand, and to give me an idea of what was what, where and how it all ties together.
What the hell is it?
Its a flat lay hammock. No more ‘Dio makes like Banana’ camping. (actually, as Brudda B could attest, My hammock usually looked like a flying burrito, not a banana. BuT, that meant I was sorta squeezed to death too.
By appearances, this has more interior room than my Lynx bivvy tent, which is an absolute plus. I didn’t take any pics with the rainfly on (will fix that error when I set this up ‘for reals’) but there are ZERO touch points between the fly and the netting: something I can’t say about my Lynx. That contact sometimes makes for a damp interior.
In addition, this CAN be used as a ground tent. The ‘tub’ in the main tent is quite deep, and very heavy waterproofed fabric (150D) so even if things get wet, it won’t get ‘in’ very easily. Seeing how most times I go camping, there are plenty of trees, that’s not an issue, but there may be times kayakamping where trees are a hike away. (say, beach camping,,,) Versatile was the selling point that hooked me.
And yeah, so did the Camo thing. I’m something of a stealth camper, especially when I go solo. Don’t wanna attract any unwanted visitations by less than honorable individuals. Getting older, it takes more to dig the hole to hide the body.
just kiddin’. But serious about wanting to ‘dissappear’ when I am out camping.
So, Feild Test today. Not going for an overnight, not yet, but I am going to set it up in legit conditions, and probably take a nap, just to see. I’m hoping because I much prefer hanging off the ground to snuggling with it.
and for the frugal minded, yup, this is rather pricey at two bills for the whole shebang. (unlike some other brands that sell you the straps and ‘biners seperate, marked up 1000%) I probably shouldn’t have spent the FRN’s, but, , , Hell, ya can’t take it with you and I wanna enjoy living on THIS side of the dirt before I go occupying THAT side of the dirt.
IF it works out, I have two other tents that I can put up for sale (Lynx and a cheepy two man that works,) IF it does not work for me, there is enough demand for this model, that I can Marketplace it and recoup most of the money I spent on it and not feel so bad about a failed experiment. (and that demand is why I believe my first order was lightfingered,,,,A big thank you goes out to the ‘Zon for correcting the problem.)
but I have a good feeling for it after setting up on the porch. I couldn’t lay in it as one side was attached to a workbench, nothing structural to support weight. I didn’t want to take it out in the tree line since the briars are really taking off with it being spring and I didn’t want to risk holes in my brand new toy. And they will punch holes in things: I’ve bled enough from them getting Voo untangled a few times. (I leave them up because they are a great way of keeping sneaky types from coming in the backways away from eyeballs.)
I’ll post an update post later, with pics, and later, when I have more time, I will do a weekend or overnight and give a proper review.
Went in, readied gear to go, two trucks left the shop toward site.
Oops,,, some’un dropped the ball, one truck (my truck) had to turn back to pick up the forgotten item (nailgun)
Get it, p get back on road.
TEMP GAGE goes all wonky and I hit the curb. This particular truck recently had a BRAND NEW FACTORY CRATE engine installed (within last year,,,) Not gonna blow it up.
Just a question,,,, WHY, for the love of God, does a company put QUICK CONNECT fittings on a high pressure high heat connection?
Simple fix, reattach the quick connect, fingers crossed that it was just a slip of the last mechanic’s work. (they go on, feel secure, but if you do not hear/feel that CLIK!, they ain’t secure. I had to wiggle it quite a bit to get the click.)
Anyyhooozzzz,,, While I am figuring out what the heck is goin’ on under the hood, Burnout is on my fone callin’ Son of Bossman to tell him whats up and request a delivery of new coolant. (we lost every last drop with the upper hose blowin’ off.)
Bossman and Son of arrive, we refill the beasty and start it up to make sure alls good, and Son of Bossman says, “take it back to the shop, we’ll try again on Muhnday,,,,”
sigh,,,,, I get it. Too many little snafu’s and you get the impression Universe is telln’ you to put a cork in it, call it a day, ease up a bit.
Good news though, My package arrived today, FINALLY after three weeks of fun and games and long distance calls, complaints and more than a little slandering of litefingered delivery peeps. And now, FEILD TEST,,,, Maybe not today, but then again, why not today,,,, Dunno, My gumption is sorta shot after the ups and downs of how this day started and maybe, MAYBE, I should take the same hint that Son of took,,,,,
More laters: I got ALLLLLLLLL weekend to get my shit sorted out,,,,,
I started writing a post in the zero dark this AM and wasn’t quite finished with it by the time I was forced to stop (had to make the FRN’s yaknow,,,)
And upon on return to home, re-read what I had written,,,
That saddle didn’t sit on that steer too well: All I am gonna say about that,,,,
Shit happens, sometimes what seems like the best of the best is curdled cream when the light of the day shines on it. That was that post and it now resides in the round file of electrons.
Feelin’ a bit out of sorts today as well. Probably need an hour or two cruisin’ the MSM’s to see whats being said, to at least get an idea as to where and what I need to be looking at/for. Not that they are the most reputable sources, but they DO give me enough to work with, most of the time. Right now, I feel quite ‘under the rock of solitude’ and while I quite like it here, it doesn’t keep me in the loop of ‘that real world’ (that ain’t.)
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As for lost packages and fun with UPS drivers that risk losing jobs. We had a gap in our delivery service with them this week. That was made up for (not stuff for me, but son of bossman) with a vengeance. Dunno all the details, but seems the old driver is not driving anymore. Hmmm,,,, Maybe my extrapolation about ‘liking my item more than me’ had some validity to it? (me thinks, YES.) AND, the replacement package was listed as shipped this afternoon (out of LittleRock) so I should see it by the expected date of muhnday. Fingers crossed: its been delayed 3 weeks now. Good thing it wasn’t something Essential, like meds or sumsuch.
Long drive day (again, different location) and strain on the brain thinking for the others. (seriously, you have been on the job for THREE YEARS and still need coached on BASICS???? GMAB!!!)
sigh
it’s all good: as the Hoolis said “job security”,,,, And the client got a good laugh as I mimed throttling one of the dolts, while walking up to Hoolis, saying,” Your monkeys!!! they are your monkeys.” (The client is a good guy, retired and bored silly. Even helped us unload the trucks, while all of us insisted he didn’t need to help. yeah, there is some risk of liability stuff, but this is rural KY,,, things are a bit more relaxed,,,, In another state, I would have put my foot down.)
Tomorrow is Turdsday, Burnout will be back on board, so things should run a bit smoother with the competent workers outnumbering the dolts. Let the dolts mix concrete, they seem ok with that (not consistent mixes, but its mud to hold poles,,,,) Should be smoother running day with the exception of “Dio must figure some details out” about some super shady transitions on the fenceline. Son of and I were walking through and he pretty much left the details in my lap on those areas. Sign of trust in me to make it right? I’m gonna go with that as it is a compliment to me. We all like a pat on the back everyonce in a while, even if it means ‘more Responsibility’.
It was the early part of the Tweens when the political divisions of the United States reached irreconcilable differences. Ted, a burnt out computer programmer, and Jim, a double amputee combat vet, reverse engineer the pentagons drone program and create a rebel air force. While traveling the country helping others defend what is left of the country, they run afoul a most evil woman intent on creating a serfdom within the country.
A beginner’s guide to going off grid. how to evaluate if you even want to make the attempt. written by the curmudgeonly author of this blog and his dog
Dio's Workshop 