golddog goes for a ride

thank you for dragging us along behind the back bumper camera
happy to hear your back safe

You're welcome, and thanks, Red.

Odd you mention the back-em-up camera. I often forget to wipe it off, and when I want to use it, it's smudgy. Also, the panel etc is one of the bad designs of the Subie. The panel isn't shaded, so it's often glare on the screen and the backup camera isn't useful anyway.

However, the USB ports (below the screen) are recessed from the trim around the panel, making them tough to get to.

You can see what I mean here. Imagine the backup camera showing where the radio stuff is.

Also sometimes it will boot up very slowly. The other day after taking off from Devil's Slide, it took over a minute for the little spinner to quit showing and the components (EyeSight and whatever) to initialize. I'm not super impressed with their software.

I thought it was odd, just up from the ferry terminal at Anacortes, there's a "Welcome to Washington" sign. Thanks, but I never left.

I wonder how the people who live out in the San Juans feel about that.

I think there might be some ferries from BC, so it makes sense some of the time, I guess.

Walked up to the local outdoors/hardware store and got a couple kits for creating a new tent pole (one kit didn't have enough length).

Got home, tried following the instructions, which said to tape the shock cord to this metal threader. However, when doing so, even with just one layer of painter's tape, it wouldn't go through the hole in the section. The tape would pop off, or the threader would push, but not the cord.

The cord itself has enough stiffness to go through there. At first, I tried threading the cord through the old poles, thinking I'd just replace the cord. Got to one section where I couldn't get it to go thread initially though.

So, took the new sections, cut them down, then threaded through them and the ferrules (the metal bits that connect each section. Finally got it tied off. Much to my surprise, it was pretty much as close to the length of the old one whose cord didn't break.

The ferrules from the kit didn't really connect to the fiberglass (?) sections. They slid on, but not firmly. So, I duct taped one end of each ferrule, thinking that might make it easier to fold up/put together.

I'm leaving the disappointment of actually putting up the tent to test the new pole to tomorrow.

On the plus side, since I had to buy two kits, I'll have some extra shock cord, ferrules, and sections. Maybe I can find a bag to throw them all in and have them ready if there's a problem in future.

While I was there, also got a simple lock blade knife. Can't remember what it was, but a few times while out, there were times when having a knife would've been handy. Seems like a good addition to my camping kit.

curious what other sort of items are included in your camping kit

I'll respond tomorrow. Pretty much what you'd expect though.

I should probably make a checklist and laminate it for pre takeoff.

Only states I don't recall seeing license plates from were CT, RI, AR, LA, MS, AL and HI.

Of course, biking up to the bar for poker tonight, a vehicle with Arkansas plates passes me.

Thanks for these reports, goldie. They're always a blast for me.

You're welcome, Mack. Glad people enjoy the stories.

Since I got home early, I'll write about my kit. I've developed a packing system. I love a system. As facing the car from rear:

On the left side, camping stuff. tent, chair, mattress, sheets, pillows, sleeping bag, kneepads, brush, mallet for tent stakes.

In the middle, a couple of containers to hold stuff: extra TP/paper towels, snacks, soda, bread knife, facial tissues, stuff like that. Then, in the very rear/center, a small plastic bucket to hold shower stuff. Easy peasy to toss the next day's clothes and a +towel in there, and go to the shower room.

On the right, cooler, suitcase, gym bag for nighttime clothes, and dirty clothes bag.

Behind driver's seat, laptop in backpack. Also books in there, though I rarely end up reading at the campsite/hotel.

Passenger rear footwell: toolkit (screwdrivers, 1 of each type; pliers; duct tape; electrical tape. Probably now knife. As mentioned, not sure what I'm going to do with that stuff if I have a breakdown, but I pack it just the same.) Power-port inflator and tire pressure gauge. Extra beer*

Passenger forward footwell: camera bag (as noted, probably going away. Anybody want a decent digital SLR?)

Passenger seat: atlas (yes, I'm old).

Between-seats storage: misc small stuff like parks pass and passport. Brought players' cards, as I thought there was a chance of spending a few hours losing money to some locals. Didn't happen.

*I always try to find local beer that I can't get here for campsite/hotel enjoyment. Out of each six-pack I buy, I save on for my neighbor as a thanks for watching the place, so he can try something different.

I have somehow acquired six beach towels over time. The three pink ones are camp towels: wipe off condensation when packing the tent, clean spills, etc. They also get put over the cooler to provide some insulation, The others are my shower towels.

Some stuff gets packed around, in space. For example, I normally wear sandals all summer. Knowing where I was going, I knew there was a pretty good chance I'd want hiking boots (didn't use) and tennis shoes (did), so put them in some spare area in the rear footwells.

-----------------

Looking back, I'd probably change a couple things. Might've stuck around the casino in Oregon and played some, maybe even did an overnight there.

On the final night, was considering going to our casinos on the way down. Decided I was too tired/stressed from driving in the dark when going by the exit on I 70. Shoulda stopped at Yampa Valley State Park (real nice campground out west), duct-taped the tentpoles together, spent one more night camping (real nice out), and then stopped to play cards (if I was in the mood) the next day.

Alas, sometimes regrets are of our own making. Not going to change my life, just mild disappointment.

Putting together the new tent pole instructions say to leave about 5" extra, and tie a knot. I assume this is to have slack in the cord when breaking down the pole.

They supplied end caps. They're little funnel-shaped things; the big end slides on the pole, the narrower is supposed to go on the tent corner piece.

So, I put that on, ran the cord through, and tied the knot. Of course, with the rope in there, the tent male end wouldn't go in the female pole end.

Next, I pulled the cord taut, and put the cap over the end of the pole with the string coming out the big end. That would work, but it seems as if it's going to wear out the cord quickly, sliding that metal cap on and off every use. Plus, I'll probably lose the cap.

Then it occurred to me that I have extra ferrules (due to buying two kits), which are the bigger size on both ends. Put the tent up in the family room to test this try out. Of course, it's not pegged, so things are sliding around.

Since the new pole isn't taut (due to the extra cord), and the ferrules don't grip to pole sections firmly, and the tent isn't pegged down in the LR, there was some slipping around and sections coming off, but I got the tent up after a while. I think this is gonna work, but my technique needs some refinement. Maybe something like wrapping the loose end of the cord around the tent piece to keep the pole tighter while putting it up.

Also going to try restringing the old pole set. But not today. Someday. Didn't have success with that yesterday, but maybe another try will get it going.

Fooled around with the tent poles yesterday. WAs going along swimmingly, getting the old poles re-strung. On the next-to-last one, the cord wouldn't go through.

Held it up to the light, didn't see a blockage. Ran the threader thing through there several times, no luck.

Went and did other stuff. Got back to it in the evening. Not sure what happened, but the cord went through.

Last piece was blocked by something. Too dark/deep/narrow for me to tell what. Again ramrodded with the threader (gently, it's not very thick), and eventually the tail-end piece of the broken string popped out. I guess the knot had enough tension to be kinda stuck, but it gave after a while.

Now collected up the new pole (that I'd created from the kit the other day) and the various pieces left over then put them in the bag the kit came in. Now I've got an extra pole plus some parts in case of an emergency.

Threaded that one, put a knot, and put up the tent to test things out. One end of the newly-strung pole kept popping off the key thing at the bottom of the tent. Put that one on, and the other would pop off. WTF? Also noticed the top of that pole's arc was lower than the original.

Got my kit bag out. Sure enough, I'd missed putting a section in. Of course, I'd already cut the cord (thinking I was done), and it was still hot enough out I didn't feel like walking up to the shop to get more cord.

I was able to get the cord out of one end of the pole, untie the knot, stretch the cord, thread in the new section, and re-tie the knot. Tent seemed ok with that. Newly-strung pole is probably a little more tense than it should be, but I think it'll be o.k.

Not sure if I'll do another trip this year to give things a good test. ON the plus side, now that I've done it once, future work should be easier.