Good Evening
6/22/25 8:30 68f (19.4c) Clear blue sky, light wind, the sun has ducked behind the west ridge. Got home from four days of grubbing in...
My Afternoon
6/14/25 2:30 74f Had an interesting afternoon today. Started with the No Kings Rally downtown at the fountain, then I met Mike for a walk on the old highway. Here's some pix... ...
Midweek Campout
Ran up to Kingsley Thursday for a quick overnight camp. I thought I might kayak and do some fishing but it was windy and I was lazy -I never even took the boat off the truck. ...
6/10/25
Walter and I took a walk down Thomsen Road this morning. I was hoping to get out while it was still cool enough to enjoy, but I almost waited too long. It was close to 85f when we got back. ...
FLEXTAIL Tiny Pump x 2024
Andy bought one of these little pumps for his Thermarest pad a while ago. I laughed at him for buying another unnecessary gadget. Until I got a huge self-inflating sleep pad from Sportsman's Guide. It is supposed to be self-inflating and it kinda is, but deflating it...
Good Morning
6/22/25 7:00 42f (5.5c) Overcast, light breeze, no rain at the moment. We got ice pellets again yesterday evening, followed by hard rain, tapering to sprinkles and squalls. This morning everything is damp but dig down an inch or six and it is dry as...
Good Morning
Happy Solstice. 6/20/25 4:45 a.m. Feels like about 40f. Brisk but calm this morning. Funny light, I can't tell if the sky is clear or overcast. We are camped in a little draw downstream from Musser Reservoir. Up at a quarter to five to climb the hill behind camp and...
Good Morning
6/21/25 6:30 32f Blue sky and faint breeze for now. The sun has topped the ridge and I can feel a breeze beginning to stir. It will be blowing up the canyon soon. We experienced some weird weather for the Solstice yesterday. Started warm and sunny. Clouds blew in...
Good Morning
6/19/25 6:00 49f (9.4c) The moon slips into the last quarter, almost unnoticed in a serene blue sky. Faint strands of mares tails float by. Tractors pull sprayers whining through the rows. Up the hill, too impatient to wait or perhaps traversing...
Good Morning
6/18/25 6:30 61f(16f) The last bites of spring are melting into summer, like a couple spoonfuls of ice cream, unfinished on the plate. Due south, midway in her transit, the half moon wanes toward the last quarter against a backdrop of blue. The sun...
Peas Porridge
Peas Porridge is a simple, hearty meal with ingredients that keep well on the trail. Ingredients 3 cups dried peas any sort of pork from a ham bone to chopped bacon 2 cups broth, substitute bouillon if needed for trail life 2 potatoes 1 onion 2...
Bushcrafty
If you're not bringing a cocktail shaker you are doing it wrong. Bushcrafty: Two ounces Irish Whiskey, two ounces Shanky's Whip, one ounce filtered stream water, one-quarter lemon, one quarter lime-both squeezed and dropped into the cocktail shaker with a handful of...
Dutch Oven Trailer Trash Casserole
Trailer Trash Casserole: Tater Tots, diced onion, ground beef, Cream of Mushroom Soup, cooked in a Dutch Oven, finished with grated cheese melted on top. Ketchup added to taste. Ingredients 1/2 bag of Tater Tots 1 diced onion 1/4# ground beef per person 1 can...
Irish Toddy
My new favorite is an Irish Toddy. Place a slice of lemon and a squeeze of lemon juice in a mug. Cover with scalding water, leaving room for one ounce of Shanky's Whip and one ounce of Irish Whiskey. Give it a stir and enjoy. Repeat as necessary....
Nettle Soup
Stinging Nettles are a nutritious early season foraged food which can be found throughout the United States. Gloves and garden nippers and a little care make it possible to harvest them without getting stung. Drying or boiling the plant neutralizes the stingers,...
