The "Dew Drop Inn" Chronicles

I just ordered one, so thanks again Michael.

If anyone else is interested in them, they are on sale! Shipping is $12 (for me to PDX), the the price of the unit is $43.99 (usually $47), so hurry on out to get one! Big savings to be had!

Now if I had been smart enough to use my 20% coupon on a Yeti at REI during the sale....next time that is on my list!

 

We think our X-Mini speakers are a perfect match for us. They sound great, they are USB rechargeable, and because they're backpack speakers they work well for a teardrop as well. We use an IPOD for music on our boat so we bring that when camping and just plug in the speakers, so not paying the extra dough for the blue tooth feature was a plus for us. Our campground neighbors have commented that these little speakers really kick! (oops, better turn it down some) so they are loud enough, they sound clean and the bass is good, we use the loudness profile in our IPOD's equalizer.



XMini Max xam15 from Amazon for about 40 bucks.

Michael

 

Michael,
Interesting speakers and the size...

While I've already "Torn though" Le Droppe's walls for a system half as good, I am looking for something for "Nellie"... I was looking at a Blu-Tooth speaker I could run off my iPod (if I can ever figure out the Apple iTunes mgmt style to the iPod" and was also looking at this..

Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker



As I "NEED" and absolutely HAVE to have the:
Innovative High Efficiency Transducer & Dual Passive Radiator Technology
Whatever the hell that is... ???

I need more “AIR” (in the speakers apparently more is better?)

 

Frank, I looked and listened to the Bose Sound Link Mini at one of the big box stores after Dan and Vanessa raved about theirs. This speaker sounds great, way better than the X Mini, but they use AC only to recharge, so inverter time, I didn't want to pay for the blue tooth I wasn't going to use and it is a bigger package. So in the end we went with the X Mini.

PS In the sound reinforcement world, ( I've done a lot of stage and concert work) "Pushing a lot of air" is a good thing.

Michael

 

Frank,

The Bose speaker sound is fantastic!!!! Well worth the cost. Will make your iPOD rock and they push a lot of air.

Jean

 

There are less expensive/ better reviewed speakers than what Bose produces, though most of us would be perfectly happy with the Bose, no doubt

One aspect of these speakers that is valuable to me is the ability to use the speaker as a speakerphone (with your mobile phone or home phone). Not so much of an issue while camping, but it's useful that the speaker can be useful when I am at home(and working)

(don't you love how I can make a very simple issue too complicated?)

-Al

 

We have the Boss too and love it at home, in the van and in the tear. Best part reduces cable clutter.

 

So "Air" is the name of the game...

didn't realize, as the only "Air" I'm familiar with was in the old "Tavern" days, Hot Air it was...heheh

I really like the sizing of the x-minis as easier to place but need blue Tooth and size will make a difference, lotta noise out there.

Interesting though, thanks all for the info...

Al:
Huh? heheh,

I'm still working on the Smart Phones, haven't gotten to the "Blue Tooth" stuff..
Slowly working my way through the "Tech Jungle"... one app at a time.. .

thanks... Air... it's what's for Sound... got it.. but not'Hot Air" eh??
onward and upward...

 

Yes Frank, hopefully not hot air, haha, Bose is well known for their sky high marketing in support of the stratosphere (thin air) prices!

I found this cig light socket rechargeable flash light on the check out counter of a hardware store in Cambria CA. So glad I succumbed to this particular impulse buy. It's so handy to use for those midnight trips to the restroom. It fits nicely on the shelf above my bed.


10 bucks at a check out counter near you

Did I mention that it's rechargeable, no batteries, just plug it in!

Michael

 

Heheh Michael, Stop!!!!

You're killing me.. Speakers, flashlights... Yikes... My credit cards are starting to Rumble and Shake.. heheh..

I use the Petzl head bands for most lights that I need, Gawd, I must have over 20+ of them in various modes of refinement.



I like the head band/hands free part and the Red filter option for night I use all the time..

I've got two in the cab, one on each side hook, one in the stove area and the rest are scattered about, pretty much lost track of them, but a welcome surprise when I open up a travel bag and find 1, A-hem or more, heheh, got a little carried away over the years.

The Main Gripe I have about the petzls is that blasted battery door. It's always opening up and throwing out a battery or won't close enough to stay on. Not good when walking home on a trail and the batteries are sooo small hiding in the dirt/shrubs.. much like Sasquatch, often talked about, never seen...

Finally found my new best friend, the blue Painter's Tape... non-stick residue, easy to use, off/on again, no fuss, no muss.. so averted that issue... for now anyway...

but thanks for the thought, heheh... hmmmm.. let me see what I can find for you.. bottle opener? LOL..

Fun, finding gadgets are always fun to find... the hard part is.... Finding the box or storage that they'll fit into after the novelty wears off..

Heading off to Juniper Sand Dunes, Pasco and then down to Klamath Falls, Oregon KOA for some trail riding with "Nellie".....



Can't take 'Le Droppe' yet.. working on it though, maybe by end of year...

Cheers..

 

That's exactly what I'm driving at with this thread within a thread, no batteries to buy, store, find and replace, no batteries period. Or at least that's the goal, still have a couple things that require batteries but am always looking to replace those as well. Just love all our 12 volt rechargeable devices.



All you need to keep all these devices charged is one of these...



... and one of these.



Have a great trip Frank. Won't be too hard with such a sweet ride!

Michael

 

Michael,

Yes, your photo of the javelinas near your teardrop is great and certainly did look familiar!

Diane

 

Yep, Michael,
I'm looking at the panels, believe I posted the ones somewhere else, but they are still at the top of the list...

I'll be getting 2 new ones, permanently on the roof - 120w I believe on the new camper next year or two... it's really the way to go..

My only concern with the portable panels it they end up "Walking away" even if chained up... I'll deal with that when the time comes..

Nellie trip, pics when I get them.. or links anyway so as not to clutter up the TD forum..

Cheers..

 

Susan and I moved from Miami to Seattle in the early 90s and like all DIYs we did it ourselves. Susan driving a 24 foot moving van and yours truly driving our van towing a 20 foot sailboat. The first day we made it to Tallahassee, in the morning before leaving for the days drive I looked around at the hitch, kicked the tires etc. slid my hand behind the inside face of the trailer tires, oops what tire face, most of the tire that you couldn't see was gone on both tires, we had been running on just the innermost skin of the tire for who knows how long. Talk about a wake up call. Anyway we got 2 new tires for the trailer and got to Seattle without another incident. Whew, survived on dumb luck alone!

Fast forward 20 years to us camped at San Simeon in March when we survived gale force winds and torrential rains, well just barely cuz a pole on our Northern Breeze snapped in two and we had to take it down in the middle of the night.

Those incidents were the genesis of Susan's wheel cover project.





Protecting your tires from UV is always a good idea, adding a large pocket to throw your soaking wet rain jacket in when it's too stormy for a canopy or side tent borders on genius. We know this from living in a small space, any time you can keep wet stuff from getting inside is a good thing, that moisture has to go somewhere, it condenses on the windows, inside of cabinets and the most dreaded place of all, under the mattress.



Susan made the cover from lightweight rain jacket material.

Michael

 

Maybe this could be the next option available at CI like the extension table. looking forward to seeing it in person.
MDP
Mike & Denita

 

I had noticed your wheel covers in a previous picture and wondered if there was a story behind them - thanks for the story - cool idea.

 

Every once in a while, just when you least expect it, you come across something that you just can't believe you're seeing, like a Mini Clubman towing a teardrop, not ours someone else's!



Saw this rig camped across the street from our marina at the John Wayne RV park. Nice folks up from California. Phil confirms that the Mini Clubman makes a fine TV, there you go.

Michael

 

Good looking combo Michael but I like yours better !
MDP
Mike & Denita

 

Thanks Mike, can't beat a Camp-Inn!

Michael

 

Hi Jenn

We are aboard "Talelayo" at John Wayne Marina on Squim Bay. We are going to overnight at Fort Townsend SP in Dewey on Wednesday so we don't have to drive back to Squim after the Sea Shanty Song Circle. You should come, it's a lot of fun!



That trailer is a Little Guy Silver Shadow 6 by 10, it has a king size bed in the sleeping cabin!

Michael