Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

Wow, that's in nice shape.

 

I’m surprised the CI is taller.

 

Thanks SLO --- yah I saw the picture of it before it was 'corrected' and it didn't look bad --- the paint buffed out like new, and the hood needed to be painted. Underneath, where it matters, the frame and all the structural bits are rust free. Just a slight bit behind the driver rear wheel --- an accident folded the metal slightly. I'll be fixing that as soon as I figure out how to remove the moulding

The Leaf Springs and shocks were replaced and all of the steering components...Figured since I would be towing I wanted to make sure it was 'solid' -- should be good for several years. I plan on using it exclusively as a tow vehicle.

It is just a scoche taller...and inch or two at most. Its funny when I owned one years ago, it didn't feel small at all --- but after driving the SUV's of today it feels tiny. Feature creap and gradual size increases add up.

The simplicity of the build is interesting too --- I mean, if you pull the screws that hold the lift-gate trim, and you look down you see dirt Todays there is several layers of steel. The design philosophy of a different generation. I suppose it doesn't surprise me, the engine (4.0) is a 1960's design that had seen refinements, but not much. EFI and fuel injection...

I plug my scanner (it reads data points, DTC etc) and the entire screen is "N/A" except RPM's and a few other points. I kind of like it

I feel a lot more confident pulling with this over the rav4. While my trailer is below the numbers, I don't like being 'on the bubble' like that...but it's down right difficult to buy a tow vehicle these days. "Down" on the federal dictocrats who insist on ignoring people like us who use a vehicle for more than just going to work and walmart.

 

Where did you go last weekend? We're staying home next weekend - Memorial Day Weekend is full of revelers and amateurs that inspire me to do yard work. Though, with as little camping as I've had this year, I may still make a trip to a remote, virtually inaccessible campground I am aware of (and am keeping it secret!)

This last weekend was the Spring Gathering of our former teardrop club. It really breaks my heart that so many of them have 'upgraded' and the common thread of 'tearjerker' has been so diminished, this was the glue that held together a really good group of people. The "core" is still there --- but its a shrinking minority. Obviosuly, I wouldn't exclude anyone from coming.

We gathered at Racoon Lake SRA near Rockville Indiana --- west of Indianapolis and just northeast of Tera Haute. I got there Thursday afternoon and had a beautiful Thursday and Friday day. Friday night however the rains came --- my curse! --- but dried out on Saturday.

I was focused on my tow vehicle and didn't take any pictures. The trails in the park are pretty difficult, which makes for sunsets and sunrises on the water. The lake is man-made -- and while it isn't a TVA-sized lake, though its pretty good size. Lots of boating.

The only downside was bugs! I'm not sure what they were; they weren't mosquitos - my arms are covered with little bumps that burn more than itch. Here's my product...this is probably the best anti-itch medication I've found yet. The company that originally made it went out of business a few years ago. But a new maker has revived the product --- and it's just as good as the original and worthy of buying a couple of tubs if you are a bug-magnet

Chiggerex - The #1 Selling Treatment for Chigger Bites

 

We returned a few hours ago from camping at Rainbow Springs Florida. It was hot, but tubing in the 72 degree water will wake you up!

 

HAHA --- I remember as a child, I had a 4foot x 15ft above-ground pool (and I thought I had the world by its tail!) and we'd wait for 72 degrees, once it hit that it was deemed tolerable. After that, we were pune textured all summer

The coldest I ever tried to swim in was around 62 --- at which point I discovered I could not walk on water.

I'm hoping to have kayaks by our trip down --- I assume 72 is pretty much a year round temperature because of the rate the springs pump in fresh water?

 

Yes, the water is 72 year round at the start of the spring. We both thought it was slightly warmer further down the run. It’s only the first 10 seconds that really hurt!

 

Coaching Track & Field is done now & we have only one more week of school. Timer or us to get camping! Get a late start to it this year.

 

Frost warning tonight.

 

We're a little chilly here too -- house got down to 58 this morning. Outsid etemps around 45. Sleeping was wonderful with the windows open...

I wish I were camping this weekend, but it's memorial day and we've found it best to avoid amateur hour. In addition to that, a friend is celebrating his birthday Sunday, and we've got an 'emergency' road trip.

A pet servant was moving cross country and passed through or town. The pet 'ran away' and was not able to be found. He (the pet) was found nearly dead and rescued. After reading the pet's microchip, we tracked down the servant (10 hours away) so we'll be meeting at some halfway point to return the pet. I need another road trip anyway. I've never been able to take part in a reuniting like this...I'm looking forward to it.

No rest for the wicked I suppose

 

What is a pet servant?

 

I believe it’s the pets hired staff (owner).

 

OK,
Well, Dogs have owners.
Cats have staff.
Just sayin'

 

Hired staff and court jester.

 

Staff is a paid position.

A friend summarized it well --- In ancient Egypt, cats were worshiped as gods. They've never forgotten.

 

It hit 91 in the shade today. Glad I put the window A/C up. I keep it in an upstairs bedroom and because cold air sinks it keeps the entire house cool.

 

We broke down and turned ours on yesterday. It probably needs more freon, we just had the whole system replaced last fall when the furnace heat exchanger had a crack and it tried to kill us. We'll see how today goes --- according to the installer, the amount of refrigerant used is not exactly precise...which I thought was a little odd.

That said, I'm getting the camper prepped --- off for a quick weekend trip. The weather when I booked it was iffy, then nice but warm, today back to iffy....I think it will be whatever it is. I'm going to try a new tent this weekend.

But, eBike will be going with me if I can find a place for it. I need/want to get to Homeless Despot and pick up a tote big enough to carry the bike. I've seen his done with other folding bikes, I'll see if mine fits. This will make transporting them much more manageable. I'd like to have this problem solved by the end of the summer --- we're spending a week in Florida and want to have them there.

 

Mighty quiet here! What are your weekend plans? I going back to my childhood park this weekend. Nothing too thrilling - visit a friend, maybe take the ebike, but traveling minimalist. Probably not even set up a side tent since its just me.

It also looks like I'll be going to Toronto this summer. Never been there, only through the airport at high speed as I have been traveling to Europe. I'll have about 2 weeks up there. One week will be business the other pleasure...

I plan on visiting clifton hill while there, is there any other quirky and unusual things there worthy of a side trip?

Besides not bringing my ....pew pew toys, stun gun, and probably my pocket knife too. Anything I need to worry about at the border crossing or the local constables?

 

I’m driving down to Rib Mountain State Park with five other people then we are going antiqueing.

it’s currently sunny and warm.

 

We are doing some projects around the house before our upcoming camping trip to Jetty Park at Port Canaveral, Florida. It’s a popular County Park which has a great view of any scheduled rocket launches. The cruise boats come and go by the park also. No trip there is complete there without a visit to Ron Jon’s Surf Shop.