Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

dustinp said:
Something we tried at the last CICO was laying down about a 8x10 tarp a few feet behind where we wanted the TD to end up sitting, then back that last few feet so that the TD wheels were on top of the tarp. We then pulled up some of tarp into the fender wells behind the tires creating a barrier to critters/bugs coming under the TD into the gazebo, then put down our jack blocks, and leveling jacks on top of the tarp, and pulled the excess tarp up around the bumper. That created a pretty effective seal for underneath. I've been working on a couple light wt. PVC pipes with suction cups attached to hold the screen door flaps more securely to the sides of the TD when insects are more of an issue.
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Thats a great idea! Saves having to buy a footprint and in case of the Northern Breeze 12x12, figure out how to mod/custom sew something to fit the zippered footprint (which I bought but still not used...;)

Also the PVC w/suction cup idea, easier than custom sewing a hole in the NB zippered door (also pending...while I decide on which side is best to slide out...;)

If I put the NB far enough forward, I have privacy to slip out in my pj's...do my bidness. No side tent setup needed.
But then the room to sit out in back is only enough for two camp chairs side by side, table.

Using the NB like Dustin has done with Clam, and Sweeney you have done with G6, if I slide the NB back from rear as much as possible but still use side table, there is room for four chairs...
But then I need the side tent for my bath-spa option...;)

So, lots of good choices for a tent as screened spare room for the- Luxury glamping extended for longer stays, inc cold shoulder seasons with the side gas port figured out now to connect Big Buddy as toe and space warmer.
The one disadvantage to the NB is the side window covers/awnings dont cover and seal as well as the Clam or G6 with the panels, so with a good breeze there is leakage thru the NB screens...so another project is add some ties or velcro...

Or just go to a G6, the heavy duty or the lighter with roof vent.

One other comment for anyone thinking about adding a big tent- I chose the NB based on recommendations of several here in past, pre Clam and G6 options.

The Northern Breeze is very well made, holds up to wind well, has a built in roof vent, adjustable etc
but being a traditional square external frame, while sturdy, is lots more work to setup, take down and stake in guy lines... once practiced 30 min solo up or down, but generally more of a PITA for me to use unless 3 day stay or longer.

And it needs a sturdy rainfly in someplace with snow...which I have a Kelty tarp to try on, tossed over the top and staked in for next trip.
Even if its a bust ... I'm thinking the Kelty would work as a standalone shade tent for dispersed camping in desert where you definitely need some shade on the spam can, when it gets over 90 in the sun.

Anyway, sorry to blabber on but thanks again to all for sharing, as its just another benefit to getting a CampInn- all the wise ones here who pass on good tips to noobs like me just getting started; 20 years of good stuff archived here.

I'm reminded of Cosmo Weems (god rest his kind soul) you-tubes about sweeping snow off his Clam in the storm in Maine Woods boondock...Neither CI nor a Vistabule can be true 4season without a lot more effort, or toughness of the user.

See Bear's story about camping on the Yellowstone in minus 40 degree...the HughGlass of CampInns!
 
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Kevin S said:
Thats a great idea! Saves having to buy a footprint and in case of the Northern Breeze 12x12, figure out how to mod/custom sew something to fit the zippered footprint (which I bought but still not used...
Also the PVC w/suction cup idea, easier than custom sewing a hole in the NB zippered door (also pending...while I decide on which side is best to slide out...
If I put the NB far enough forward, I have privacy to slip out in my pj's...do my bidness. No side tent setup needed.
But then the room in back is only enough for two camp chairs side by side.

Using the NB like Dustin has done with Clam, and Sweeney you have done with G6, if I slide the NB back from rear as much as possible but still use side table, there is room for four chairs...
But then need the side tent for my bath-spa option...

So, lots of good choices for a tent as screened spare room for the- Luxury glamping extended for longer stays, inc cold shoulder seasons with the side gas port figured out now to connect Big Buddy as toe and space warmer.
The one disadvantage to the NB is the side window covers/awnings dont cover and seal as well as the Clam or G6 with the panels, so with a good breeze there is leakage thru the NB screens...so another project is add some ties or velcro...

Or just go to a G6, the heavy duty or the lighter with roof vent.

One other comment for anyone thinking about adding a big tent- I chose the NB based on recommendations of several here in past, pre Clam and G6 options.

The New Breeze is very well made, holds up to wind well, has a built in roof vent, adjustable etc
but being a traditional square external frame, while sturdy, is lots more work to setup, take down and stake in guy lines... once practiced 30 min solo up or down, but generally more of a PITA for me to use unless 3 day stay or longer.

And it needs a sturdy rainfly in someplace with snow...which I have a Kelty tarp to try on, tossed over the top and staked in for next trip.
Even if its a bust ... I'm thinking the Kelty would work as a standalone shade tent for dispersed camping in desert where you definitely need some shade on the spam can, when it gets over 90 in the sun.

Anyway, sorry to blabber on but thanks again to all for sharing, as its just another benefit to getting a CampInn- all the wise ones here who pass on good tips to noobs like me just getting started; 20 years of good stuff archived here.

I'm reminded of Cosmo Weems (god rest his kind soul) you-tubes about sweeping snow off his Clam in the storm in Maine Woods boondock...Neither CI nor a Vistabule can be true 4season without a lot more effort, or toughness of the user.

See Bear's story about camping on the Yellowstone in minus 40 degree...the HughGlass of CampInns!
Click to expand...
I viewed Cosmo’s snow video too. He had to be pulled out with a wrecker and if I remember correctly, he had some damage to the car. The snow was that deep. I always enjoyed his videos. He sold a lot of Vistabules.
 
dustinp said:
Something we tried at the last CICO was laying down about a 8x10 tarp a few feet behind where we wanted the TD to end up sitting, then back that last few feet so that the TD wheels were on top of the tarp. We then pulled up some of tarp into the fender wells behind the tires creating a barrier to critters/bugs coming under the TD into the gazebo, then put down our jack blocks, and leveling jacks on top of the tarp, and pulled the excess tarp up around the bumper. That created a pretty effective seal for underneath. I've been working on a couple light wt. PVC pipes with suction cups attached to hold the screen door flaps more securely to the sides of the TD when insects are more of an issue.
Click to expand...

Great idea....Simple and not a bunch of parts. I actually don't mind the parts , what I hate is wet parts. Using the Gazelle, clam, king-camp canopy, the coleman canopy --- whatever. If its dry -- easy. But wet you've got to contend with musty smells and mold. Yuck! My garage is too small to hang them up to dry....

This is my only problem with teardopping!!


Kevin S said:
I'm reminded of Cosmo Weems (god rest his kind soul) you-tubes about sweeping snow off his Clam in the storm in Maine Woods boondock...Neither CI nor a Vistabule can be true 4season without a lot more effort, or toughness of the user.

See Bear's story about camping on the Yellowstone in minus 40 degree...the HughGlass of CampInns!
Click to expand...

Weems was full of great ideas....I didn't discover him until just before he passed away :(

Where's that 'bear' story -- posted here on is it documented in video...-40 yikes! 20 is about my limit, after that the fun-o-meter drops to numbers low enough I'll stay home or pack up and leave....
 
Sweeney said:
Great idea....Simple and not a bunch of parts. I actually don't mind the parts , what I hate is wet parts. Using the Gazelle, clam, king-camp canopy, the coleman canopy --- whatever. If its dry -- easy. But wet you've got to contend with musty smells and mold. Yuck! My garage is too small to hang them up to dry....

This is my only problem with teardopping!!




Weems was full of great ideas....I didn't discover him until just before he passed away :(

Where's that 'bear' story -- posted here on is it documented in video...-40 yikes! 20 is about my limit, after that the fun-o-meter drops to numbers low enough I'll stay home or pack up and leave....
Click to expand...

Yeah, packing up wet is no fun, and we do our best to avoid it, to the extent of packing up the night before if rain is predicted overnight or the morning we are leaving, but it's remarkable how quickly at least the Clam fabric, (and I'm assuming the Gazelle is similar) dries out with a little break in the rain. I usually can shake the majority of the droplets off, and what little remains usually dries out pretty quick, or a towel on a broom is pretty effective at hurrying it along.
 
dustinp said:
Yeah, packing up wet is no fun, and we do our best to avoid it, to the extent of packing up the night before if rain is predicted overnight or the morning we are leaving, but it's remarkable how quickly at least the Clam fabric, (and I'm assuming the Gazelle is similar) dries out with a little break in the rain. I usually can shake the majority of the droplets off, and what little remains usually dries out pretty quick, or a towel on a broom is pretty effective at hurrying it along.
Click to expand...

If it is going to rain on us on the last night especially we’ve been known to pack up and take off during the day before it starts to avoid everything being wet. We don’t have a garage, so finding space to hang stuff is a hassle for us. Our walk up attic is the best place to do it, but what a pain. Of course that only works if you are close to home.
 
I think we all probably do the same thing...keep ahead of the rain is an art.

I often thought about spraying down with the Rustoleum (or another brand) hydrophobic spray. You'd probably need 2 or 3 'fabric spray' bottles to cover the gazelle. $60 or 90 bucks....dunno, that seems like a lot except it would be even 'more' waterproof....

The galley cover isn't as bad to keep dry, its lightweight and can just be draped over the camper with a fan to dry it out. The Gazelle is big and floppy.
 
Tour 931 said:
I plowed my driveway and noticed the ice on my lawn art.
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255F5829-5F95-4D6B-B474-36EDCAD1ED34

  • Media owner Tour 931
  • Date added
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great photo, but not great weather :) We had some snow followed by rain this morning. I'm sure the 70's and sunny will get here, and it is only April, but I'm ready!

I'm a little disappointed, I need to scrub by westward trip -- had a few things pop up, including weather that is just not looking good. I thought this might be a problem -- March and April are bridge months, where weather changes fast, and can be either 100 degrees or freezing.

See how it goes....
 
Hi everyone. I'm just outside of totality here at home (actually I'm at 99.8%) and even though tomorrow here is looking to be pretty cloudy I have the rig setup to capture what I can. Attached is the Sun a few minutes ago. If I manage to capture anything good tomorrow I'll upload it here.

I'm in central New York in case anyone is wondering.

Clear skies!

Edit: added a colorized version.
 

Attachments

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dougbee said:
Hi everyone. I'm just outside of totality here at home (actually I'm at 99.8%) and even though tomorrow here is looking to be pretty cloudy I have the rig setup to capture what I can. Attached is the Sun a few minutes ago. If I manage to capture anything good tomorrow I'll upload it here.

I'm in central New York in case anyone is wondering.

Clear skies!

Edit: added a colorized version.
Click to expand...
Great pics! We're in Sweeney's back yard - Nashville, IN. Looking a bit iffy here too, but fingers crossed...
 
dougbee said:
Hi everyone. I'm just outside of totality here at home (actually I'm at 99.8%) and even though tomorrow here is looking to be pretty cloudy I have the rig setup to capture what I can. Attached is the Sun a few minutes ago. If I manage to capture anything good tomorrow I'll upload it here.

I'm in central New York in case anyone is wondering.

Clear skies!

Edit: added a colorized version.
Click to expand...
Nice pics!
Looks like the further north the better the weather...
Good luck!
 
Ken & Peggy said:
Great pics! We're in Sweeney's back yard - Nashville, IN. Looking a bit iffy here too, but fingers crossed...
Click to expand...

I gave up --- lots of reasons but I went to Florida ;) I'm down here now, going to try to catch up with Van later this week. I might have waited until post apoc-eclipse but I found seven consecutive days in west central florida (not telling you how! LOL) I rolled in yesterday afternoon at about 4.

Sadly -- I'm traveling solo -- my wife couldn't get time off work, and I don't have faith in my hotspot for reliable internet so she can't work remotely. So I have to go this trip alone. I planned on a westward trip, but on Saturday it was still snowing in Flagstaff. Combined with difficulty finding places to stay the night between here and New Mexico, and lack of being self contained, I decided to play it safe and go someplace I knew was warmer.

So, I think today I'm just going to hang around the campground, maybe get adventurous and heat out into some of the hiking trails, all while watching the slow cooker does its thing.

Speaking of which, a slow cooker isn't something I would carry with me everywhere I go. Single tasker and it takes a lot of space. However, for gatherings, where the single tasker is worth the space...it shows promise. A Presto Nomad -- 6 quart little suitcase. It seals tightly and clamps with a handle. I wanted to 'dry run' with it before our next gathering in May, this seemed like a good situation.

I discovered the Nomad at the last Crossroads gathering, someone made "Mississippi Potroast," which is quite good. I'm trying it today, assuming the squirrels don't pull some shenanigans. Right now, there are 6 or 8 of them circling me, waiting for me to make a mistake.

Later in the week, I'll be meeting Van for lunch --- he's got a great track record for good chow. Maybe head into Ybor City (Tampa) --- I hear it is a pretty amazing experience.

I don't want to go too far, if there's any 'must sees' I'd love to know. I've already seen the pink elephant with glowing eyes. :) Boy, is that nightmare fuel!
 
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