Freewheelin, Ramblin, Tent Talk

I have been hiking on my own of late because I can't seem to drag anyone off to join me.  I started a Facebook group and 38 people joined it and NONE of them seem free to hike.  It's am amazing phenomenon that hits group after group.  People think they will be more 'this' and join a group and they are just as themselves as ever.  But they like hiking memes, so they are hikers.  (insert teary eyed laughing head here)

It's not like I have loads of room to talk, I have done it too.  And I join other groups hikes sometimes, but not the 'walk the greenway' weekly stuff, I'm looking for exciting destinations in this state I have walked every decent trail in twice already.  And I don't want to walk with 15 other people.  And it can't be too hot or rainy.  See? I can be a little bitch, too.

So I have started heading out on my own, but I find myself stopping short of anything interesting.  It's been, well, interesting, to watch myself branching out.  For the past 21+ years, I have had a hiking companion, even if I did have to grow them myself.   Matt will go, of course, but with having regular 2 day weekends now and the band he is in has released a new cd, so at least 2 weekends a month he is off playing (free) gigs to promote that.  Before the release, he was in the studio.  Gary is already talking up the NEXT cd.  Add in the waves of rain/heat/rain that are making up our weather and it's not been a really active spring and summer for our tiny hiking duo.

I find myself retracing the places I went with the kids, specifically to feel safer in case anything happened.  Parks, small trails at the Refuge and Bankhead.  No doubt I will hit Cane Creek Canyon as soon as a cool day presents itself.  Greenways.  hahaha!  Richard Martin.

I wish Kuma were more portable, but he won't leave Jessie and she is past her hiking days.  Nia would go...not to be intimidating, but to bowl for toddlers and the elderly and to LEAP onto people who are terrified of dogs-her three main talents.  But Murph is a puker.  If, IF, I ever get another dog, it will be a 50 pound non-shedder who loves car rides and hiking and me and that's it.  No companion dog for my companion dog.  He can have his own hammock and I'll name him...Hiking Dog.  He'll be a Belgian shepherd trained just for me.  Those are only $12k for basic skills.  I see where, for $60k, I can get one trained to kill on command.  Hey, dress like a raccoon and Kuma will kill for free.

I did eventually manage to take the kids on some pretty spectacular trips, so I am hopeful I will eventually take myself on a few as well.

Took the dogs in for rabies shots.

Jess is in the floor.

I don't take many pics when I am walking, I guess because I don't go anywhere new.
But I did hit the natural arch nearby, I have always liked the mossy trail there.

Poison oak along the trails EVERYWHERE.  It's robust this year.

I bought what I considered to be my final piece of equipment (an insulated pad for Chandler) over the weekend and lo and behold, Massdrop put the backpack I want up for sale this week, and it's available in purple.  I need someone to give me $5k from something like money that was stolen from drug lords or given to them by an uncle they never liked and therefore don't want to use his money for anything.  Corrupt cop money.  Yeah, like the stash from Santa Clarita Diet.  Anyway, basically money that needs to have some good karma.  That can be my public service.  hahahaha.  I will spend your dirty money on my crack-like gear habit.  And you can feel good about it.  This is such a win-win situation, I imagine I will have many takers.  I can take a personal check or PayPal.

Jake once said (about 10:30 this morning)
"When I feel bad about spending money on yet another video game, I just think of Mom and her god dammed tents."
Yes, this IS the person I was in labor with for THIRTY SIX hours.

I have resold all but 4 of the tents I bought.  2 are going up for sale my next round and 2 I am keeping because they are excellent tents.  I'll do a review at some point, maybe save someone some hassle.

I also have sleeping pads I need to sell, a hammock camping system, 2 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of shoes and 2 hiking skirts.  I have a dozen odds and ends type things as well-pillows, liners, cookware, a stove, water filters...I buy things as I find them on sale, then usually upgrade once I discover what I am really looking for in a product.  Or I am gifted things I cannot use.  Or I buy something, certain I will use it all the time and realize there's another less-complicated way.  Like with the water filters.  It's all a learning process and luckily resale value in barely or unused gear is comparable to sale pricing. 

Here is what I have learned:
This is assuming you have read reviews and are sure of the exact product you want, not just shopping for random 'backpacking gear'.
Check used gear pages first, every time.
Post that you are looking for X item.  Sometimes people will message you about selling theirs, sometimes they will send you a link to a good discount for buying it new.  Use the network.

Always check for warehouse sales, refurbished items and bulk buy discounts (ex: Massdrop, steep and cheap, even groupon) once you have a brand name in mind.  Some sites will send a 20% (or more) off coupon for joining their mailing list.  Most places you buy from new will honor a sale price within 14-30 days.  I have gotten back nearly $300 using this, so keep shopping even after you buy.

If you have the time, put the item in your cart, fill out the contact and shipping info, then leave before paying.  About half the time, the site will contact you within 72 hours with a discount code for completing the purchase.  Sometimes they send a 25% off for 3 days sale flyer for that brand name, or they will send a catalog to your mailing address with discount codes.  If you have to buy new-and there are plenty of reasons to do that-don't pay retail.

There, hopefully that will save somewhere somewhere some hassle.

Nashville and Natchez Trace

Went to REI last week with Amanda to check out tents for her and to pick up a few things I decided I needed for the AT trip coming up.  I got some gear, but more importantly, I found dark chocolate cheesecake from Backpackers Pantry.  I have not tried it yet, but I am already bummed I only bought one.  What was I thinking?  At least it's a 2 serving pack.

While at the store, Gina popped out of the kayaks looking stoned.  I had not invited her because she had just gotten in from driving to freaking Canada something like 5 hours earlier.  But there she was, haunting the REI 2 hours away. Crazy!

She left to (literally) crawl into some shade and nap and Amanda and I headed to Farm Burger for lunch, which was the right call because their veggie burger is made with black eyed peas.

After, we went for a hike at Werner then I got the bright idea to take the Natchez Trace back to Florence, except it's closed at Columbia, so we had to re-detour back to 65.

larkspur

This is Sir GoodKnight.  He has stood in Ben's window since the day we moved in.  :)
He was part of a 'knight light' but the boys broke him off nearly instantly. The light got put in the hall bathroom and Sir GK moved to the windowsill.  We moved him to the higher pane in hopes that he will keep that crazy bird from flying into the window!

I'll do my best!

Turkey Creek in Winter

We have not been to Turkey Creek in several years.  Last week a B'ham photographer looking to expand her portfolio put out a call for models with freckles.  Chan isn't interested in modeling and has been turning down recent requests, even from her beloved Aunt Erin.

But, freckles are part of what makes her unique and she has always been really proud of them (thank goodness!)  So, after some thought she decided it could be fun.  I was all for it because I didn't have to do any makeup!

The photographer suggested Turkey Creek, so we met up on Wednesday morning and I handed Chan over and went for a walk!  When they were done, Chan and I both walked a while.  There are new trails and they are nice!  The one we did was surprisingly steep.  Back at the creek, we set up our new hammock chairs for a bit to chill by the water.  We got a little TOO chill and hightailed it for the van after a while.

We arrived to find the gate locked and I said, "Are we supposed to walk the rest of the way?"
GPS says, "ding ding!"

LOVE THESE

Bought some second hand Merrell shoes because I like my boots so much.  I will have to do a separate post about them because they are a mind game all of their own.
But, they are waterproof.

With no child to photograph, Baby Batman must fill in.

The photo shoot from afar.

We hiked Narrows Ridge, that is steep in places!  It's a really good trail.

I wonder if I will ever find a view Baby Batman likes?

This lady shows up, dogs LINED UP across the dash.  I hope to goodness she lives a mile or less away.
She got out and SIX dogs followed her.  I went over to help gather leashes as they ran willynilly.
They were all little dogs except the one directly in front of her, that's a big, fat puppy.  He was a bowling ball on fat, happy legs, knocking and butt-whacking and careening around having a blast.  I commented on his buttery soft fur and she said, "His name is Prince of Peace.  After Jesus."
I found that to be hilarious.

Not yet.

So my hammock chairs were made to order by Jeff Myers at MyersTech HammockLab.  He's in Oregon.  He's made a couple other things for me like a rain kilt and he's the guy with my disfunctional tent, trying to make it work.
His rates are excellent!

The chairs, with locking buckle and straps, weigh 10.6 ounces.  The chair sans buckles and straps weighs 5 ounces.  I really like the buckles and I like the straps, so for now, I will keep it intact as delivered.  I am going to hammock camp soon and will test the chair as a gear loft for keeping my pack and boots off the ground and out of the weather.
We have hung in on the ceiling hook in our room as a swing and that's fun, too.  It easily holds Matt or me and is really comfortable.  It can hang from a branch or be strapped out like a tiny hammock.  It can go over or under a sleeping hammock as a gear loft and can be used for other things, like spreading it out to load or unload a backpack so nothing gets lost or dirty.

Trail Journals, Gear

I have been planning a thru-hike of a shortish trail this spring and to get an idea of what to expect, I have been reading trail journals.  They go something like this:

"Yay!  Finally cleared by my doc to get SSI for my fibromyalgia! Now I can start backpacking more!"

"Hiked all day next to a creek.  Camped next to a waterfall.  The trail crossed a bridge and skirted a lake for 6 miles.  I have never been this sweaty or dirty in my life, I smell so bad!  Can't wait to get home and get a shower!"

"I have never been hiking before!  I bought (insert top shelf REI list here) and am planning to thru-hike the AT next year!  This will be great practice and a chance to try out my gear!...
Day Three: I hate hiking, it has done nothing but rain, I broke my stove and my hiking pole, my right leg is totally numb and I am exhausted after walking 26 miles a day.  Thank God I can return it all and get a shower and forget this idea."

"I have been camping for 49 years, this is the 37th time I have hiked this trail.  I hate it.  I hate horses, dogs, other people and blisters.  I want to be totally alone in the woods, it's all mine.  Don't even bother coming here.  The trail is barely marked and besides, I'll piss on your tent when I pass it because you are lazy if you sleep at any point between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m.  My gear is a piece of Tyvek I stole from a construction site, a hiking stick I carved in the 3rd grade, a pot I found in the trash and a knife I can use to skin a goat."

"It rained the WHOLE WEEK and I am SO BLESSED to be out in the world that GOD CREATED for us to enjoy!  Peace!"

Where are the "I read a lot and based on a several overnight and weekend trips, think I am ready to try a 4-5 night trip.  I have some decent gear and enjoy being outdoors.  I am nervous about storms, but think I can handle the rest of what may come along." type posts?  Cause that's me.  Where are my people?  

Gear:
I have a couple new pieces of gear I am excited to try as well as the return of another.  Our Enlightened Equipment quilts came in.  I got a 10 degree wide, Matt got a 20 degree wide.  Mine is purple and green, his is black and charcoal.  Wide was the way to go for sure, if I ever order another, I will get extra wide.  They are made in Minnesota!

I got my first pair of Dirty Girl Gaiters, compulsive.  That's the pattern, not the purchase.  I planned to buy them last year, but just managed to get around to it a week ago.  They are also made in the USA by goddesses no less!  I have long gaiters, these are VERY short, but will do the one thing I really need them to-keep teeny pebbles out of my boots!  (and look stylish)

My Marmot tent is coming home.  I sent it off to a man who does repairs and custom gear builds to see if he could fix the very serious rain fly issue.  He says he can!  So...I can barely wait to see how that turns out!  He's also making 2 hammock chairs for me, using my requests and specs.

Waiting is super hard.  Then, right after and there's nothing left to wait for is almost worse.  I can understand women who post about their Amazon Prime addictions.  Even if I can't afford one of my own.