Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

Sweeney said:
How'd the carwash go? I'd imagine this was a blessing in disguise in the dry west...
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Pretty mellow, actually. I stood out in the warm rain and scrubbed it all over with a floor mop, and dish soap to get some old road grease off, then gave it a quick rinse with the pressure washer.

Our water is hard here, so the softer water rain rinse was welcome. Saved the $20 usually spent after a trip at the hand wash place.

Now I really need to put in a couple days of elbow grease in polishing aluminum then marine waxing...
 
Sweeney said:
It sounds like I might be able to brag a little :)

I had one of the best weekends I've had this summer :) We went to Brown County State Park (which is probably the "gem" of the Indiana parks)

I got there early on Friday to set up the camp, my bride, pets, and wards joined me later in the evening. This was a very unusual weekend, since I only made reservations on Tuesday of last week. I'm not sure how this happened or why the vacancy rate was so high. There were over 100 sites free, and even on Saturday, there were 3-4 sites near us that remained vacant all weekend.

We really didn't do too much except to take a drive around Bloomington in the national forest. The weather was delightful at around 80 degrees and sunny. It was just marvelous being able to slow down briefly and no the worried about rain. Every trip has been damp this summer.

Next weekend will be 'garage cleaning' making space for 2 tons of wood pellets, deep cleaning the pellet stove, the weekend following will be moving the 2 tons, which really isn't all that bad, its just a lot of effort.
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Ah, Brown County... We hope to get there this fall sometime after our daughter and granddaughter's visit ends mid September and they return to Perth. I hope it's as easy to find a site then...
 
dustinp said:
Thanks!
The Rokon has worked pretty well to get through the densely wooded areas where the trees are too close for a 4x4 to get through, and can pull up to 2000lbs. With the studded tires it will climb over dead-fall trees easily, and climb an upright tree until you can't stay on it any longer. Of course with the stake side trailer behind, it's then about as wide a 4x4 so you have to choose your path accordingly. I haven't tried it, but with the drum wheels and flotation tires you're supposed to be able to float it across water as deep as you can walk through to push it along lying on its left side.
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I’ve seen video clips of people doing some pretty amazing things, including using a Rokon as a floatation device going downriver!

I’m fascinated by that old/new tech… but don’t seem to have an actual use for it. Also on the radar is that NZ 2WD all-electric farm cycle, the UBCO.
 
SethB said:
I’ve seen video clips of people doing some pretty amazing things, including using a Rokon as a floatation device going downriver!

I’m fascinated by that old/new tech… but don’t seem to have an actual use for it. Also on the radar is that NZ 2WD all-electric farm cycle, the UBCO.
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Yeah, I hear ya. Sometimes you really have to think hard to come up with a reason to justify a new toy.:D
 
Kevin said:
Pretty mellow, actually. I stood out in the warm rain and scrubbed it all over with a floor mop, and dish soap to get some old road grease off, then gave it a quick rinse with the pressure washer.

Our water is hard here, so the softer water rain rinse was welcome. Saved the $20 usually spent after a trip at the hand wash place.

Now I really need to put in a couple days of elbow grease in polishing aluminum then marine waxing...
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Hard water stinks. Even with a softener, we get spots. Years ago, I bought a Deionized Water kit -- that does a NICE job. You only need to give it a quick sprtiz to wash away the minerals -- but you still don't get a tremendous amount of water, and the catalyst you use has gotten very expensive.


dustinp said:
Yeah, I hear ya. Sometimes you really have to think hard to come up with a reason to justify a new toy.:D
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I never have that problem....I think I got my PhD in justification..

Ken & Peggy said:
Ah, Brown County... We hope to get there this fall sometime after our daughter and granddaughter's visit ends mid September and they return to Perth. I hope it's as easy to find a site then...
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I think it gets busy then. I was looking around. But who knows who is going to cancel. With every service I subscribe too doing "adjustments" and $4 gas, and $8 hamburger...I'm glad for the camping but hate the reason for it. Or, at least what I perceive the reason to be...

I've had no problem finding space when I had time. THAT has been the hard part.
 
Tour 931 said:
The first day of September is going to be a hot one here in Wisconsin although not as hot as in three to six days. I enjoyed my first cup of coffee on my new swing.
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C95EC4FC-8638-4CE3-B497-8FF6E38E6933

  • Media owner Tour 931
  • Date added
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I bought one just like that for my wife for mother's day about 35 yrs ago. With a fresh coat of cedar toned semitransparent oil stain every few years it lasted about 30 years before gradually succumbing to the incremental effects of weather.
 
Tour 931 said:
I heard they closed it because of mud.
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Yeah, crazy what different effects can be caused by a 1/2 inch of rain, just depending on where it falls. Here, that much could have fallen overnight, and by morning you might not be able to tell it even happened. In some places in the southwest like @ Burning Man, you might have floated away.
 
No guarnatee that the desert WILL be dry.

I don't quite understand the draw to this event anyway. From all I know about it, its an excuse for debauchery, drugs, and rather immature behavior. Then again --- to some --- that may BE the draw. I think some of the art vehicles I've seen were 'fun'

Personal taste and choice I suppose.

I grabbed 2 spots again at my beloved Brown county --- and sites are still available for the weekend. If the weather holds out, its going to be a great couple of nights for campfires and friendship. I think I'm going to try to score a brisket, and take the pellet smoker with me. If not Brisket, maybe some strip steak...though it is as expensive as ribeye...the king of steak

The pellet smoker is huge and heavy -- the time I wish I had a van. The Traeger Scout is probably the best cooking investment I've ever made - load it up, set it and forget it. The smoke just rolls for hours. With the class A, it rode in the belly and was used almost every trip. I also have a big green egg, but there's no way it travels...
 
Sweeney said:
No guarnatee that the desert WILL be dry.

I don't quite understand the draw to this event anyway. From all I know about it, its an excuse for debauchery, drugs, and rather immature behavior. Then again --- to some --- that may BE the draw. I think some of the art vehicles I've seen were 'fun'

Personal taste and choice I suppose.

I grabbed 2 spots again at my beloved Brown county --- and sites are still available for the weekend. If the weather holds out, its going to be a great couple of nights for campfires and friendship. I think I'm going to try to score a brisket, and take the pellet smoker with me. If not Brisket, maybe some strip steak...though it is as expensive as ribeye...the king of steak

The pellet smoker is huge and heavy -- the time I wish I had a van. The Traeger Scout is probably the best cooking investment I've ever made - load it up, set it and forget it. The smoke just rolls for hours. With the class A, it rode in the belly and was used almost every trip. I also have a big green egg, but there's no way it travels...
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My wife swears by her Ninja Wood Fire Outdoor Grill and Smoker. She has cooked some awesome ribs in it.
 
Kevin said:
I got the small Traeger based on your tips, Sweeney, and really enjoy it.
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Oh, I do --- I've had mine for years...I got them about the time the 'ranger' or 'scout' came out (mine has the larger fuel box --- I think its a ranger) and I LOVE it...The only hard part is cleanup. But that's the nature of a smoker.

I like "Pitt Boss" competition blend fuel the best so far.


Van_and_Terri said:
My wife swears by her Ninja Wood Fire Outdoor Grill and Smoker. She has cooked some awesome ribs in it.
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It looks really interesting... a couple of questions about it (their website isn't helpful)
  1. How hot does it get --- can you get a good searing heat --- 550+? The biggest limitation of the Traeger is it only goes to 450, which isn't HORRIBLE it just not great. I got spoiled by the Big Green which will get >HOT< and is great for flatbread and searing meats.
  2. How long does a load of pellets last? I don't think you're going to get a 10-hour smoke out of it. The Traeger uses the pellets as the heat source; the 120 volt use is very low, only a small probe to light the fire. This means lots of smoke for the duration of the cook.
  3. Cleanup - traeger is bad. "liquid smoke" is everywhere, and the outside is usually sooty/dirty making moving it really a pain. Its also heavy...45 pounds plus.
Drat --- Now I need me some brisket! Which, I'm taking with me to Brown for Saturday night :D
 
Sweeney said:
Oh, I do --- I've had mine for years...I got them about the time the 'ranger' or 'scout' came out (mine has the larger fuel box --- I think its a ranger) and I LOVE it...The only hard part is cleanup. But that's the nature of a smoker.

I like "Pitt Boss" competition blend fuel the best so far.




It looks really interesting... a couple of questions about it (their website isn't helpful)
  1. How hot does it get --- can you get a good searing heat --- 550+? The biggest limitation of the Traeger is it only goes to 450, which isn't HORRIBLE it just not great. I got spoiled by the Big Green which will get >HOT< and is great for flatbread and searing meats.
  2. How long does a load of pellets last? I don't think you're going to get a 10-hour smoke out of it. The Traeger uses the pellets as the heat source; the 120 volt use is very low, only a small probe to light the fire. This means lots of smoke for the duration of the cook.
  3. Cleanup - traeger is bad. "liquid smoke" is everywhere, and the outside is usually sooty/dirty making moving it really a pain. Its also heavy...45 pounds plus.
Drat --- Now I need me some brisket! Which, I'm taking with me to Brown for Saturday night :D
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Terri said the pellets last several hours, but you can add as needed while cooking. She said the max temperature is 500 degrees. Cleanup isn’t bad because the smoke comes out the back and she lines the pan with foil. It is heavy! The Ninja uses pellets and electricity for heat. I haven’t used it, so everything here is second hand information.
 

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Van_and_Terri said:
Terri said the pellets last several hours, but you can add as needed while cooking. She said the max temperature is 500 degrees. Cleanup isn’t bad because the smoke comes out the back and she lines the pan with foil. It is heavy! The Ninja uses pellets and electricity for heat. I haven’t used it, so everything here is second hand information.
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It looks like the gasket seals against the insert, then the insert, which drains out the back...and I read there are foil inserts which would make cleanup pretty easy :) That - I like. I'm lazy.

This looks pretty clever, though a 220-degree "smoke" session look like the meat would still have quite a bit of direct heat from the elements below.

I'll have to look more closely at these -- it might be a better alternative for camping than what I have...
 
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