Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

I suspect they aren't as grand, but there are many beautiful and sometimes unusual places

 

Tour 931 there are a couple right out your back door where you live ....
Copper Falls and Potato Falls....

Copper Falls State Park | Wisconsin DNR

Campground and Parks – Iron County Economic Development

 

Thanks. I’m going to check it out. It’s not very far from me.

E7DEC8BB-39D9-461A-BB32-04DF493F686E by Tour 931 posted Nov 12, 2022 at 5:05 PM

 

You can go to Bayfield and the Apostle Island, get over to Door County. Go over to Minnesota and up to Cook County. Get to the Upper Peninsula of MI and go to Porcupine Mnt, Munising, Taquhmanum Falls, there are some neat places

 

The annual ice age has returned to Wisconsin and I’m sipping some Black Rifle coffee while looking out the window. The sun should be shining and all I see is white.

8CA26E3F-8678-4061-9330-147E1C2541A2 by Tour 931 posted Nov 15, 2022 at 5:26 AM

 

Cold, rainy day in SC.

 

Perfect timing! I love seeing the wonder on faces of people who have never seen snow before -- I think it goes back to my 2'nd grade when we had a little girl who just moved here from Mexico -- she was allowed 1 day by the teacher just to be memorized. After that, Sister Arlene had to move her chair so she couldn't see the window

We've entered the grey time. A few snow showers today...maybe. But at this point, it's OK. The Sooner it's here, the sooner it's done. OK, there's a logical fallacy here -- it will be done when it's done, and that has nothing to do with when it starts. But maybe I'll FEEL better about it.

The good news is, I got the Eavestroughs (gutters) cleaned yesterday after a surprise snow/freeze that hit us last weekend --- the very weekend I was planning on cleaning them. What a horrid job.

Today, the pellet stove is being delivered -- I love my fireplace, but the headache of finding firewood annually (I've gone through 3 companies in 4 years, and only had 1 "good" year where what was delivered was dry enough to burn though it was all supposedly seasoned.

This weekend I'll be visiting family I haven't seen sine June up north. Sadly probably too cold to take the teardrop but I might. Will have to deal with no-water since the temperatures will be in the teens. I'm considering getting heated pads to stick to the tanks. I won't be able to travel wet (water in tank) but this would extend the season...

 

Be interested in the heated pads idea, on the CI water tanks...

 

I did some looking --- they're pretty cheap, actually. 12 volt is the problem.

Pulling about 4amp (x 2) = 8 amps which exceeds the 6 amps of the charger. The battery would be depleted even when plugged in. This assumes 100% duty cycle, of course, and I'm not sure what the duty cycle would be at 20 degrees, which is the lowest temperature I reasonably would camp at.

Now, throw in a furnace...and I think that just justified a lithium battery. Even then, you're still going to need short power. 8 amps is a lot.

SO....I haven't found 120 volt pads yet....I am thinking that this would be the only reasonable approach, and assume you fill the tanks when you get there --- IF the water is turned on, and you have way to dump your grey tank before you depart.

Did I mention I dislike winter in this thread....

 

I’ve found a gallon jug of water is about all I need for winter camping. It’s not like I’m going to use the sink to bath in when it -20F.

 

I definitely don't use as much, but washing a dish or two is a necessity -- The biggest risk is actually the plubming area and the ability to drain the grey tank. I don't want to let that sit for weeks/months while the camper sits in the garage if I come home from a weekend with freezing temps that I can't dump.

Frankly -- it's probably ENTIRELY unnecessary --- I am just feeling "desperate" for 1 more weekend, and winter has gotten here just a little early.

I'm supposed to be visiting family in northern Indiana this weekend --- they got about 4 inches of snow on the ground wiht more expected. I had planned on going up in the morning, then returning Sunday. Not looking good.

 

I have found it unnecessary to wash dishes when it’s freezing out. Just keep them frozen and nothing will grow.

 

That's probably the time to forgo using the winterized holding tanks, and just carry the gallon or two you think you'll need, use your stove to warm it and a couple collapsible dish pans for washing and rinsing, then toss the water out rather than down the TD drain.

 

3F outside, 68F inside

B7794123-34A8-4CB1-ABBB-583AC5EEA4C6 by Tour 931 posted Nov 20, 2022 at 5:04 AM

 

Camper is winterized. Heading to Kentucky tomorrow to see our daughter and get her ready to move to Atlanta in the next couple of weeks for a new job. Time to start thinking about 2023 camping destinations, both local & where to possibly go next summer. New England & Canada? Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive? Upstate New York? Other?

 

Good point Getting the grill clean is the only must do part -- and that's easy. Crank it up and burn it off.

Sad day -- Winterization day. My garage is attached to the house, and it tends to stay in the high 30's even on colder days. Surely this would be different in sub-zero temps outside. But I think a 40 watt bulb in a work light stuffed into the left carbo bay would keep things from freezing, assuming I drained the water lines. So far, this winter's forecasts are looking pretty mild. But as the good Doctor said, "Its work so far, but we're not out yet"

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving --- pumpkin pies are made, and pecan pies are in the oven. But this makes me think of the past year and what I am thankful for --- the list is very long.

But since this is a camping forum, the first thing I am thankful for is the simplicity of a safe year of camping. Secondly, I'm most thankful I got to make a trip to the CICO after a decade of trying. This was the highlight of my camping year, meeting so many new friends including many I have known virtually for some time.

Next year, I hope to add a few more states to my map. I"m just going to have to play it by ear at this point. Maybe Florida again. Possibly Ozarks. I hear Branson is a lot of fun. Maybe Hellen Georgia, since I don't travel internationally anymore. Mackinac? We'll see! Too soon to say for sure.








e it

 

Twelve days till blastoff to Florida. This two week trip will only be in the car. My traveling companion will be my 97 year old neighbor and her daughter. We will be staying at her relatives down and back and at her timeshare on Marco Island.

I have named this trip Driving Miss Daisy.

 

We could maybe go without winterizing, but our camper is in a carport instead of a garage. It does get into the 20s or teens overnight here so you’d be gambling. If mine was in enclosed garage, I wouldn’t winterize it. One year I had the pump on my pressure crack & so did everyone else. This one small engine repair guy made a killing that year. I winterize it now.


Helen, GA is about an hour from me. You can hit Little Switzerland in NC along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

A few days ago the low was -1F and in a few days the high will be in the 50’s.

Right now it’s 24 heading to the low 40’s. Time to get a few more outside things done.