tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43024693051324143002024-03-13T14:22:40.627-06:00Camping TipsJohn Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-4300040475689309622023-09-21T15:49:00.000-06:002023-09-21T15:49:02.533-06:00Salsa: Glass or Can<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O-fpzcdJKhGnJaMEwVZlG2bhp0IcDoyDgHU_eHQBB3Lfdkmi-SLPUhtS44TNh9xAiCRaVEUy5Cbh6tQOvDiaroeiHS28jSNgKEZpNTK-0xviVl5-WhaJXedOH_jcaZFDbch861G4NMJQ0j2AfrwCDXlqVobxEz7BBq0QiTXj0RiZGIldPq8wMVudUzni/s486/product.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="371" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O-fpzcdJKhGnJaMEwVZlG2bhp0IcDoyDgHU_eHQBB3Lfdkmi-SLPUhtS44TNh9xAiCRaVEUy5Cbh6tQOvDiaroeiHS28jSNgKEZpNTK-0xviVl5-WhaJXedOH_jcaZFDbch861G4NMJQ0j2AfrwCDXlqVobxEz7BBq0QiTXj0RiZGIldPq8wMVudUzni/w489-h640/product.jpg" width="489" /></a></div>Who doesn't like salsa on a camp trip? No one I know! One thing we consistently try to avoid is packing glass bottles of anything. Cans are the way to go for us. It's EZPZ for a glass bottle to break and well...that's not a good thing on a camping trip.<br /><br />Salsa has never been sold in a can. It's ALWAYS in glass bottles. But you CAN get close in a can. Check out something generally called "Fire Roasted Tomatoes Salsa Style." It's not easy to find and it's not ordinarily cheap either.<br /><br />But once in awhile, we get lucky. Who doesn't love gittin' lucky? Today we found a digital coupon at Albertson's for $1.04 for a 14.5 ounce can of the Good Stuff.<br /><br />We generally add some dried chile flakes, dried hot chile powder, cumin powder, dried oregano and maybe some granulated garlic to this canned stuff. Of course that depends on who we're camping with. Some folks don't like the hot stuff. We forgive them.<br /><br />This stuff easily passes for salsa right out of the can so adding all of the above could be redundant. YMMV.<br /><br />Anyway, we're fully stocked up on canned salsa for our next camping trip. It's wonderful peace of mind not to have to worry about a glass bottle breaking. Ugh.<p></p>John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-18158377813354684122017-06-05T11:04:00.002-06:002017-06-05T11:04:18.729-06:00Tick Tock...Tick Talk..<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Yes, sports fans, 'tis time once again for our annual Tick Talk.</span></div>
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If you've ever hiked in Tick Country, you well know about the scourge of ticks. Ticks are serious stuff. They carry wicked diseases, including the dreaded Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease can be Life Changing to some people. Ticks scare us worse than bears. Why? Well, your chances of having a life-changing encounter with a bear are very slim. However, every time you hike in Tick Country, you are literally risking a life-changing experience. You can carry bear spray for the bruins and it works quite well. But how do handle ba-zillions of ticks?<br /><br />Before we get into talking a "tick solution" (literally), we'd like to scare you some more with tick stuff from the experts including Center For Disease Control, Mayo Clinic and the Lyme Disease Association.</div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><a href="http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/be-aware-of-signs-and-symptoms-associated-with-tick-related-diseases/">http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/be-aware-of-signs-and-symptoms-associated-with-tick-related-diseases/</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/about-lyme/other-tick-borne-diseases">https://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/about-lyme/other-tick-borne-diseases</a><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, "lucida grande", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">OK, now that you are sufficiently impressed with just what kind of really bad things can happen to you from ticks, it's time to talk the absolute best Tick defense: Permethrin. If you venture into Tick Country, you really need to get yourself some Permethrin and learn how to use it properly. Here are two decent resources on Permethrin:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.tickencounter.org/prevention/soak_method" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.tickencounter.org/prevention/soak_method</a></div>
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<a href="http://sectionhiker.com/treating-your-clothes-with-permethrin/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://sectionhiker.com/treating-your-clothes-with-permeth…/</a></div>
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As we prep to head to Tick Country this week, we're getting all our clothes treated and ready to wear. Here's the Amazon link (shortened) to the best deal on bulk Permethrin. We have been using this concentrate for 4 years.</div>
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Here's how we use it. First, we prepare a very dilute solution similar to the concentration sold by Sawyer. We make up 3 gallons and place the 3 gallons in a five gallon pickle bucket. We then place ALL of our hiking clothing (including socks and underwear) in this solution and let the clothing items sit for at least 12 hours. The idea is to impregnate every molecule of every thread with the permethrin. We use rubber gloves on our hands to hand wring each of the clothing items. We put them on a line to air dry outside. We carry some of the dilute solution in a spray bottle so we can spray our boots before each hike. We wear calf-length socks and use velcro to close up our pant legs at the ankles. If we are in Heavy Tick County, we wear cheap-o cotton gloves purchased at the dollar store. We also wear a cotton scarf and a wide brim hat. ALL items we wear are soaked in the solution.<br /><br />This stuff just doesn't repel ticks, it kills them on contact with the treated clothing. We haven't had a tick on us ever since we started using this method.<br /><br />Permethrin is safe to most mammals except cats. It can be lethal for cats. You can begin reading up about permethrin here:<br /><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin</a><br /><br />DISCLAIMER: Use at your own risk. We consider permethrin to be safe. However, user discretion is advised and recommended. The information here is presented solely as our own personal opinion and does not constitute medical advice. Consult available technical resources and consider asking your physician if permethrin is safe for you.</div>
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John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-27608557640703867572016-06-18T14:41:00.003-06:002016-06-18T14:41:40.863-06:00Onboard Fire ExtinguisherI've always wanted to carry a small fire extinguisher in the cab of our camping truck--a 1984 Nissan 720 4WD king cab. However, everything in that cab is so cramped and there's essentially no place to rig a fire extinguisher. Today, we finally solved that conundrum. We bought a small $10 <a href="http://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/products/fire-safety/fire-extinguishers/for-business/466179N/" target="_blank">Kidde Marine Model Mariner 5 </a>fire extinguisher and simply bolted the retaining device to a milk crate. The crate has been a fixture in the truck for as long as we've owned it. Now the extinguisher stays put, upright in the same spot and is readily accessible behind the driver's seat.<br />
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As you can see, it's firmly attached to the milk crate. No wiggling, wobbling or whatever.</div>
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Fits nicely behind the driver's seat. The seat goes all the way without hitting the extinguisher.</div>
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Very easy to get to behind the driver's seat.</div>
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John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-73873690540883565172016-06-02T11:14:00.006-06:002016-06-02T11:19:07.717-06:00Camp knivesWe've always had problems with camp kitchen knives. They are hard to store and can cause all sorts problems. A few years ago, we decided to simply cut off the sharp tips and shorten the knives to fit the 50 caliber ammo can in which we keep all our other camp utes.<br />
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Well, that worked great until realized fugitive dish water hides in the handles of those knives. We all know what stray water can do. Think mold and bacteria. So, this week we went to the thrift store and picked out two knives that are essentially waterproof. <br />
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We figured this would be a good time to explain the process so here ya go.<br />
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These are the former camp knives. They're great knives and will continue in use in our travel trailer where there is sufficient air flow and ventilation to help the knives dry out after washing.</div>
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The problem with the former camp knives is that water would get trapped between the handle pieces and the blade. When put into an airtight ammo can, well, use your imagination!</div>
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Here are the two knives we found for $2 each at our local Deseret Industries thrift store. There's no place for dish water to hide in the one-piece, molded plastic handles of these knives.<br />
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The new knives have two problems; 1) Sharp tips and 2) Too long to fit an ammo can.<br />
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So, we square the knives up and mark the proper place to cut.<br />
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A hack saw can cut through most knives. If not, a bench grinder will do the job.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoovUiOL4qctycBsxA6t0MFNZF8rlr1ei0EMm0F-m0ERgAsTvyz1NiKiHkGMrj9DNP9AP6DQiWKhLrjZAsw_LtnZNMrLQMkOS3PLmGIacFAf_mjSke49TNsuk_jRcrwQSKHP-xiCb7Fil/s1600/DSCN6277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoovUiOL4qctycBsxA6t0MFNZF8rlr1ei0EMm0F-m0ERgAsTvyz1NiKiHkGMrj9DNP9AP6DQiWKhLrjZAsw_LtnZNMrLQMkOS3PLmGIacFAf_mjSke49TNsuk_jRcrwQSKHP-xiCb7Fil/s640/DSCN6277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Good-bye sharp tip. If you've ever had a sharp knife tip fall and stick in your flip flop foot, you well know how such an incident can ruin a perfectly good camping trip!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjGDvNnULRtU0Wnxq4jYZa30PJ1TcMDlPDPRNQEhnZygbpANxzTHqwmlssDgPZkhsqo71raH0MaNzevS2xDwDTxanIili2v-ECkf01y8p_LU_MfpRQe79w1M5Ebbq3mlK_MPsuhc0t-jm/s1600/DSCN6279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjGDvNnULRtU0Wnxq4jYZa30PJ1TcMDlPDPRNQEhnZygbpANxzTHqwmlssDgPZkhsqo71raH0MaNzevS2xDwDTxanIili2v-ECkf01y8p_LU_MfpRQe79w1M5Ebbq3mlK_MPsuhc0t-jm/s640/DSCN6279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Then, you simply smooth the blunt end of the shorty knife, round and smooth the corners and you're good to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiVFhgyCUmuBsArU6iPcyb5rPmBP4rf8hQlmiECsyDlxcV6ujtK2Ntkan1vZ_JN-yAXbSGgmVWhX7C7svz5izB408T-TRfE-oaDFkzYI73SL_mCigUJ3paSJ7ReHJB5TwP6Nz5Eot6gUJ/s1600/DSCN6281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiVFhgyCUmuBsArU6iPcyb5rPmBP4rf8hQlmiECsyDlxcV6ujtK2Ntkan1vZ_JN-yAXbSGgmVWhX7C7svz5izB408T-TRfE-oaDFkzYI73SL_mCigUJ3paSJ7ReHJB5TwP6Nz5Eot6gUJ/s640/DSCN6281.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The new knives are perfectly at home in the 50 caliber ammo can utes box.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-85527174561340638802015-05-31T08:03:00.002-06:002015-05-31T08:03:18.060-06:00What's in those tubs?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jcvk97e5SUkZ99-l-uqD5LhfL80FjZp2GgZAlztEW3R3Hg0oroADgFvN_jqQn_fEUjMG3sq7HoSvFQWQr3xAKZ8llAuweXOqWZLNh-F2Y84MNcEUbhcvb6reRBYf0pasi8a31wgU4Vkj/s1600/DSCN4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jcvk97e5SUkZ99-l-uqD5LhfL80FjZp2GgZAlztEW3R3Hg0oroADgFvN_jqQn_fEUjMG3sq7HoSvFQWQr3xAKZ8llAuweXOqWZLNh-F2Y84MNcEUbhcvb6reRBYf0pasi8a31wgU4Vkj/s640/DSCN4578.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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About 35 years ago we realized "containerized camping" was the way to go. Everything has its place. <br />
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So, what's with the Year Twenty Fifteen rig? What's in those tubs?<br />
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First, the two small blue tubs are "truck stuff." One tub holds tools and two Nissan repair manuals. The other holds all the vital fluids a truck might need--antifreeze, oil, power steering, brake fluid and more. We also travel with two spare tires, a custom lug nut breaking bar and a high flow air pump.<br />
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OK, here's the contents of the nine gray tubs:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Tent</li>
<li>Cooking utensils</li>
<li>Food</li>
<li>Coffee</li>
<li>Share rain gear</li>
<li>Susun clothes</li>
<li>Susun hike stuff</li>
<li>John clothes</li>
<li>John hike stuff</li>
</ol>
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Note that we hold coffee in such high regard it gets its very own tub all to itself. Coffee is definitely not an afterthought with our camping rig!<br /><br />The six gallon milk crate holds all the tie down material to pitch a tarp. The three .30 caliber ammo cans hold:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Eating utensils</li>
<li>Spices</li>
<li>Bear Spray</li>
</ol>
</div>
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A separate metal box hold a variety of mosquito, gnat, and tick repellents. We call it The Bug Box.</div>
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Our early 1950's Coleman stove is large enough to hold all kinds of stuff, including three propane fuel canisters and related flotsam and jetsam.</div>
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By the time everything else gets added this year, we probably won't be able to see through the rear view mirror. Also, because we're carrying the canoe, our fuel economy will be terrible. But what are summers for if not for camping, boating, hiking and enjoying the IdaWy outdoors?</div>
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John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-69365789308687738092014-07-31T13:58:00.002-06:002014-07-31T14:11:36.112-06:00Stealth Cam G26NG ReviewWe purchased a Stealth Cam Model G26NG from Sam's Club on July 31, 2014. This blog post will serve as a place for the review of this unit. We will continue adding photos and narrative regarding the unit as the review process evolves.<br />
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Sam's sells "game cameras" each summer as a "seasonal item." The cameras are usually placed on an end cap near other hunting-related items in Sam's pseudo-sporting goods department. This summer, we noted the cameras shortly after July 4th. We almost missed out on this camera as the inventory shrunk by about 2/3rds between early and late July.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx1_elq8YTfs5DFppw3_U4AxISFaqtBftLl-qILtUBpwRHakynffcmLV9aEtafUvb7LIprKlQpQ8L-GutrMsloppKafyXVyoWts4pB0TFjOHHYMtmOmcptZ6lWKEXMz4ATg2Zfoxgwpjo/s1600/DSCN4829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx1_elq8YTfs5DFppw3_U4AxISFaqtBftLl-qILtUBpwRHakynffcmLV9aEtafUvb7LIprKlQpQ8L-GutrMsloppKafyXVyoWts4pB0TFjOHHYMtmOmcptZ6lWKEXMz4ATg2Zfoxgwpjo/s1600/DSCN4829.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Originally, the supply of this particular game cameras filled an entire end cap and spanned two pallets!<br />
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After getting the unit home, we used an X-acto knife to carefully and surgically cut open the stubborn blister pack material. By using this technique to extract the camera unit, we keep the packaging looking pristine and "resalable" in case we need to return the unit within the 90-day window.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLp9cxfpHJRYKxFBQ5r-2oX9iAuRWbwymyIRr0qHTN3h3L8-aU5Aa8QkHQO_nH5nZCHZ_OEJoZwDfbH-09RvkC8Bj1PIPf0ZfIEc60VrNcyu1tW0elU9eoflgrBrqpP2mqABMIBIVVGE3/s1600/DSCN4831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLp9cxfpHJRYKxFBQ5r-2oX9iAuRWbwymyIRr0qHTN3h3L8-aU5Aa8QkHQO_nH5nZCHZ_OEJoZwDfbH-09RvkC8Bj1PIPf0ZfIEc60VrNcyu1tW0elU9eoflgrBrqpP2mqABMIBIVVGE3/s1600/DSCN4831.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Above, the X-acto cuts have already been made but appear almost invisible in this photo. Below, the camera comes right out and the blister pack remains intact. Under no circumstances will we use the included batteries, SD card or strap. By leaving those accessories intact in their packaging, it's easy to make a case that we would be returning the camera unused should the need arise. Hopefully, we can find the manual online and no have to extract and unfold the included manual.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsIEZ3CHAFO86rzGERtfufrGyAk3VPCymT9ilw9BZmTEjQLxQGh_GTks94c5D055Ocs0RRYoCvyLo668irFCqYy42ND_9I1PMt4AkX3bHWdvuVZFN1TjbC9moC-Ed5lR2QjVqalHKrdDX/s1600/DSCN4832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsIEZ3CHAFO86rzGERtfufrGyAk3VPCymT9ilw9BZmTEjQLxQGh_GTks94c5D055Ocs0RRYoCvyLo668irFCqYy42ND_9I1PMt4AkX3bHWdvuVZFN1TjbC9moC-Ed5lR2QjVqalHKrdDX/s1600/DSCN4832.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Below you can see the camera in its first "state-of-inspection." The first thing we noticed and disliked is there appears to be no protection for the lens. The LED lights are behind some protection but not the lens, as you can easily see by the second photo below.<br />
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Once we find 8 AA batteries and one of our many spare SD cards, this review process will continue. Stay tuned.<br />
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The manual for this model is located here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.gsmoutdoors.com/downloads/61/stealth-cam-2013-2014-manuals/">http://www.gsmoutdoors.com/downloads/61/stealth-cam-2013-2014-manuals/</a> It's 5.5 megs and a very fast download in PDF format. There's 20-something pages of info in the manual. The rest of the manual appears to be in one or more foreign languages.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-6908589643634039202014-05-10T07:01:00.003-06:002014-05-10T07:01:51.435-06:00Buckaroo Coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55XhXllZG8YMqHgSK8_gSgrZmsZZQhSh1TKcshYID-GcHpvIIV7ys80Xk92HLfGR6qDwuLUA40yMNF9atvrwZbhev7bd5hNI1yrhNRnttgUWX0ua8K_7fbJyMAYTZOa-0WoqScG0x68eh/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55XhXllZG8YMqHgSK8_gSgrZmsZZQhSh1TKcshYID-GcHpvIIV7ys80Xk92HLfGR6qDwuLUA40yMNF9atvrwZbhev7bd5hNI1yrhNRnttgUWX0ua8K_7fbJyMAYTZOa-0WoqScG0x68eh/s1600/coffee.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Stephen Neal Saqui</span></div>
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Buckaroo coffee: Heat water over a Coleman stove. Do not let the water boil, bring it up until it is rolling but not boiling then take it off the heat and spoon two spoons of medium ground coffee (of your choice as long as it's not decaffeinated). Put the cap back on the pot and let it sit. Forget all the lies about salt or eggshell, just let it sit. Go about fixing things to eat with it if you're hungry. When the grounds have settled to the bottom, pour a cup and drink. That's Buckaroo coffee. I have a hand grinder and prefer to grind good roasted beans. Harry Rogan liked Folgers and would scoff at my way but he would drink my coffee and I his. Now there's another thing about Buckaroo coffee...in the Nevada Mountains one might be out prospecting or walking (some call it hiking) and when returning to camp one ALWAYS makes a pot of Buckaroo coffee. That's how it's done. You noticed I didn't say what size spoon? Pick one.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-54407458043661688852014-05-08T10:25:00.002-06:002014-05-08T10:33:30.154-06:00Creating Space<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqG7cz7i8WAXDHhr5aIhPyWxim8SiIssnN8z24nK0GsuyuAm_dGHpMNeUhLK1uToOwkwpBblmbBN0a9S12SpVA2sCBIMDB_dlZ4W9ymJrb6Dk93GRmpZXvn355KMIwCMEj5RuNc9Z2x_s/s1600/DSCN4239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqG7cz7i8WAXDHhr5aIhPyWxim8SiIssnN8z24nK0GsuyuAm_dGHpMNeUhLK1uToOwkwpBblmbBN0a9S12SpVA2sCBIMDB_dlZ4W9ymJrb6Dk93GRmpZXvn355KMIwCMEj5RuNc9Z2x_s/s1600/DSCN4239.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We keep a lot of old OSB and scrap lumber around to tinker with rigging our camping gear each year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An empty pickup bed is a lot like an artist's blank palette--it's just waiting for YOU to apply your talents to find new and unique ways to pack all your camping stuff. Instead of creating a painting with your blank palette--you're creating space!<br />
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For each year's camping season, we always reinvent our wheel. We always create new space. We always come up with a different way to use the same blank palette. It's been that way for 50+ years and there's every reason to believe it will be that way until we pass on to the Great Campground in The Sky.<br />
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This year we wanted to solve a vexing problem with the way we packed our 1984 Nissan short bed last season. As everyone who camps knows, you get done with certain things last. It would help if the last things you use in the morning go into the truck last instead of first!<br />
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This year, we think we finally got it right. Of course, we say that EVERY year but, really, we might have it right this year.<br />
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As everyone knows, plastic tubs are the mainstay of our camp rigging. These tubs sell at Wal-Mart for $5 or less. There are four sizes. Really small, small, large and really large. We don't use the really large ones, only the first three sizes.<br />
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Anyway, the tubs are tapered so that they can stack easily. This means they are MUCH wider at the top than they are at the bottom. If you put a spacer under a tub to elevate it, you can often make the tubs fit nicer in your blank palette. Generally, we've always used a piece of OSB on top of a 2x2 for a spacer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p9HokWvhEy4FhD5NRgWAaQIvIE7R8OfNhSCPZZjuIx1mGQZ-Yz6XqNhzJzpK1m3emBId22xWzE2BSCLNV0KdmbOb-T67XXBtlv_FF4sRZL89m5kyH_9Ojax1Rj9qWLrPfEJBYaeEPEaz/s1600/DSCN4241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p9HokWvhEy4FhD5NRgWAaQIvIE7R8OfNhSCPZZjuIx1mGQZ-Yz6XqNhzJzpK1m3emBId22xWzE2BSCLNV0KdmbOb-T67XXBtlv_FF4sRZL89m5kyH_9Ojax1Rj9qWLrPfEJBYaeEPEaz/s1600/DSCN4241.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">POOF, Creating Space!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This year, we finally got decided to actually create space by combining the "Spacer Concept" with a brand new way to rig the back of the truck.<br />
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Lo and behold, we created some really fun space. We can actually place three .30 caliber ammo cans in our newly created space, PLUS our Bug Box. In addition, four of the small tubs fit perfectly in a space they simply wouldn't fit before. Meanwhile, there's now space for the tarp, groundsheet and trash to go in last.<br />
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This is huge because, prior to creating space today, the back of the pickup bed really didn't work all that well. Now it works like a Swiss watch.<br />
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The moral of this story is to look at whatever blank palette you have with "fresh eyes." Try to see new, unique and different possibilities. Think in three dimensions. Don't be afraid to shake it up and reinvent how you store your stuff. There's almost always a better way of creating space.<br />
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Not only do four small tubs now fit between the cooler and the stove, we have space for 3 ammo cans.<br />
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The portable CB radio finally gets stored in a quickly accessible spot. The fire tools fit on one side and the hiking sticks fit on the other. A 50 caliber can will go on top of the CB. The groundsheet will fit in the big space on the right and trash in the middle on top of the Bug Box. The tarp lays down on top of the two boxes on the right.<br />
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So what are in the four tubs? The two tubs in the middle are Kitchen Stuff. One is pots and pans and coffee stuff. The other is food that doesn't need to be in a cooler. The two tubs at right are our own personal clothing boxes, one for each of us.<br />
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All the overnight stuff (tent, sleeping bags, pillows, foam pads, etc.) goes up front on top of the safety gear.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-21151013160064775702014-05-08T08:53:00.001-06:002014-05-08T09:03:40.221-06:00Corn cakes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsL13hlCifAw5kH3gdUn8klulvUZNlrVcj6xE1qOVhmy87LOyu3Yv7-J87xdwzjPKh9q8am9WBFc6uSgJhsXJMuf1rMEUB2JZAbj7uzI7-EG0dElKp3GjSHnfIpRtGlOEbN0hP8rUx-vi/s1600/DSCN4237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsL13hlCifAw5kH3gdUn8klulvUZNlrVcj6xE1qOVhmy87LOyu3Yv7-J87xdwzjPKh9q8am9WBFc6uSgJhsXJMuf1rMEUB2JZAbj7uzI7-EG0dElKp3GjSHnfIpRtGlOEbN0hP8rUx-vi/s1600/DSCN4237.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YUM! Agave syrup, butter, yogurt and chopped walnuts on top of a corn cake.</td></tr>
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Four years ago, we were smitten with being able to bake stuff while camping. We did a pretty good job figuring out how to bake while tent camping--and NOT using dutch ovens.<br />
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One of the things campers always bake is cornbread. Cornbread is a very reliable Ol' Camping Sidekick that probably dates back 200 or more years.<br />
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But what if you don't want to bake? What if you want to have a "corn fix" without baking? Well, Corn Cakes can ride to the rescue.<br />
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A local grocery put corn muffin premix on sale this week for 33 cents each in a 6.5 ounce package. We became curious and Googled "can you make corn cakes out of corn muffin mix." Sure enough, we found a recipe. This morning we tested it out. It was a home run ball. We both loved the corn cakes. So, now we have a new way to have a "corn fix" without baking. The corn cakes taste a lot like corn muffins or corn bread only they are better. Plus, corn cakes can be whipped up in practically no time at all. That means no preheating of a dutch oven or camp oven. And no waiting while the concoction bakes for upwards of 20 minutes. Nope, it's almost instant gratification with corn cakes. We love 'em and already want more of 'em.<br />
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The recipe is really simple. Here is the link to it. In case the link stops working, we've also put up a screen shot of the recipe below the link. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/corn-muffin-pancakes/">http://allrecipes.com/recipe/corn-muffin-pancakes/</a><br />
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<br />John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-38134263091972562832014-05-05T14:28:00.002-06:002014-05-05T14:28:47.064-06:00When Bigger Is BetterEach and every year we concoct a different Kitchen Rig. Each and every year since 2010, the Kitchen Rig has been centered around a Coleman 425F stove. The 425F is the small two burner, lightweight model.<br />
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We started out yesterday thinking that the 425F was once again going to be the foundation of our Kitchen Rig. Some strange twists and turns took place yesterday and, as of May 5, we've completely upended redesigned and restocked our Kitchen Rig.<br />
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It all started when we decided to get rid of our Coleman 426D 3-burner stove. We list it on eBay and also our local Craigs List and spent most of the day lamenting no one bid on the 1978 behemoth. We have about 18 photos in this blog post and the story is best told with captions beneath each picture.<br />
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Here's the Coleman 426D that we fully intended to sell on May 4th. We bought it perhaps 3-4 years ago and it's just been sitting in the Cook Shack taking up space and getting in the way. Yes, it needs a good cleanup but we figured we'd price it low and just get it OUTTA HERE!<br />
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Later in the evening May 4th, we decided to take a good close look at our Coleman stove inventory. The stove at left is the 425F. The 462D is in the foreground and the 413D is at right.<br />
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Here's our venerable, yeoman 425F. The large burner measures 60 millimeters in diameter. The 413D's burner measures 62.5 millimeters but burns MUCH hotter than the 425F. The 426D's main burner is also 60 mm and the two side burners are smaller.<br />
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Here's what really tipped the scales to a new Kitchen Rig this season--our discovery that the 426D 3-burner would fit perfectly in the back right rear area of Marvie--our camping truck. The 426D fist so well there it's incredible. It snaps into place and I can drive around town without the stove flying all over the back of the truck bed.<br />
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As you can see, this is how we stowed the 425F last season. It takes up "most" of the same space but unfortunately, there's really nothing much we can do with the remaining space. When we realized the 426D would make maximum, optimal usage of that space, we were hooked. We immediately ran in the house and ended our eBay auction and deleted the Craigs List ad.<br />
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We also knew right away that we'd finally have some elbow room in the 426D. Above is how cramped it has been packing the 425F. It's always a "trick" to make everything fit. Also, the spare fuel canister has to be stowed in a place that's difficult to access.<br />
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This morning we were very happy to see hoe much room we had in the 426D. TONS of space!<br />
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So much space we can now carry two of our favorite spatulas. Our normal "UTES" box for kitchen utensils is a 30 caliber ammo can. No way can a decent spatula fit in a 30 caliber ammo can.<br />
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Not only that, but we also immediately realized we can once again start carrying a griddle that will fit the 426D perfectly and still ahve room to use another burner.<br />
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And not only that but the griddle fits INSIDE the stove! YEA!<br />
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Our "go to" bacon cooking rig just won't fit well on the 425F and doesn't fit all that well on the 413D either. However, it fits GREAT on the 426D.<br />
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Both the griddle and the big Lodge cast iron skillet look like a match made in Heaven on this stove.<br />
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We swapped out our small coffee pot for a much larger version.<br />
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The surface area of the 426D is so large the possibilities seem endless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop6ElQRQqdRX2tpVe6kHEvPuSK8Z3Wym0UDwVfBIjiwBbOxlE7rL-har-kvUw9GFaMqXUX10Np55gJC2SPXhBAnmVuTUyOv32mQWdxgnrtTFxKoi5xG_ShoxE-DL6ZnjFquq3lfgtqgGr/s1600/DSCN4107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop6ElQRQqdRX2tpVe6kHEvPuSK8Z3Wym0UDwVfBIjiwBbOxlE7rL-har-kvUw9GFaMqXUX10Np55gJC2SPXhBAnmVuTUyOv32mQWdxgnrtTFxKoi5xG_ShoxE-DL6ZnjFquq3lfgtqgGr/s1600/DSCN4107.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Here's a small wok, a stainless skillet and a griddle, too.<br />
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We began to see endless permutations and combinations of various cookware that we had never considered possible or practical before. We're still working on which pots, pans and skillets we intend to pack for this season's Kitchen Rig. We will post up a final inventory once we know what it is.<br />
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<br />John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-42604163988953018322014-02-20T11:44:00.001-07:002014-02-20T11:44:11.256-07:00Potassium and Tomatoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosXXPPLBlCVyXNyZJhlGjXi36uZANTelEjjnVXtuf8AwciIMemdW9d3SYJUHsWcYvB2DqQi6sx0SYlYLKWQHGjQQubuZ37TmUG2kIhnuGksyitQ9zI_unVw9HFULY3eD9IA6sghlHJq8S/s1600/tomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosXXPPLBlCVyXNyZJhlGjXi36uZANTelEjjnVXtuf8AwciIMemdW9d3SYJUHsWcYvB2DqQi6sx0SYlYLKWQHGjQQubuZ37TmUG2kIhnuGksyitQ9zI_unVw9HFULY3eD9IA6sghlHJq8S/s1600/tomato.jpg" height="200" width="186" /></a></div>
By now everyone knows Potassium is arguably the most important mineral a hiker can have. Anyone doing any sort of physical exertion such as running or even working outdoors in the hot sun, knows that Potassium really makes a difference. Heck, that was the whole "schtick" behind Gatorade. But if you look at the nutrition label on a Gatorade or similar sports drink, you realize how little potassium there is in one of those overpriced bottles of sugar water. An eight ounce serving of Gatorade typically contains perhaps 25 milligrams of Potassium.<br />
<br />
No take a Lookie at Sun Dried Tomatoes. The nutrition facts below are for a 100 gram serving so it's easy to divide any of the values by 100 to get the content per gram. ONE GRAM of sun dried tomato has about 40% more Potassium that eight ounces of Gatorade! That's incredible.<br />
<br />
We've always known cooked tomatoes contain mind-boggling amounts of Potassium. Ditto with canned tomato juice. One V-8 each day when we're car camping pretty well takes care of my potassium needs for a full 24 hours. Carrying sun dried tomatoes on a backpack trip is the next best thing to having canned stewed tomatoes or canned V-8 juice. <br />
<br />
We bought a package of California-produced sun dried tomatoes and split it four ways. One fourth of the dried tomatoes was chopped and cut up to use in our dinner recipes. The other three portions will be used each day of our hike. Each of those portions will provide about 650 milligrams of Potassium each day.<br />
<br />
Coupled with the other potassium-rich food we bought for this trip, we're going to be fine as far as this important mineral goes.<br />
xxx
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<table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" style="width: 260pxpx;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0em;"><b>Nutrition Facts</b></td></tr>
<tr valign="left"><td colspan="5"><pre style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; max-width: 580px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px;">Tomatoes Sun-Dried </pre>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;">Serving Size 100g</td></tr>
<tr bordercolor="#000000"><td colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Calories</b> 258</td></tr>
<tr><td align="right" colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.42em;"><b>% Daily Value<sup>*</sup></b></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Total Fat</b> 2.97g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">5%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Saturated Fat 0.426g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">2%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Cholesterol</b> 0mg</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Sodium</b> 247mg</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">10%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Total Carbohydrate</b> 55.8g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">19%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Dietary Fiber 12.3g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">49%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Sugar 37.6g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Protein</b> 14.1g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Vitamin A</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">17%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">•</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Vitamin C</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">65%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Calcium</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">11%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">•</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Iron</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">51%</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" colspan="5"><sup>*</sup>Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Vitamins</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"> %DV</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin A</b> 874IU</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">17%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Retinol equivalents 44μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Retinol 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Alpha-carotene 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Beta-carotene 524μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Beta-cryptoxanthin 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin C</b> 39.2mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">65%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin E</b> 0.01mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin K</b> 43μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">54%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin B12</b> 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Thiamin</b> 0.528mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">35%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Riboflavin</b> 0.489mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">29%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Niacin</b> 9.05mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">45%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Pantothenic acid</b> 2.087mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">21%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin B6</b> 0.332mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">17%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Folate</b> 68μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">17%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Folic Acid 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Food Folate 68μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Dietary Folate Equivalents 68μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Choline</b> 104.6mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Lycopene</b> 45902μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Lutein+zeazanthin</b> 1419μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Minerals</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"> %DV</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Calcium</b> 110mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">11%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Iron</b> 9.09mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">51%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Magnesium</b> 194mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">49%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Phosphorus</b> 356mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">36%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Sodium</b> 247mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">10%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Potassium</b> 3427mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">98%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Zinc</b> 1.99mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">13%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Copper</b> 1.423mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">71%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Manganese</b> 1.846mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">92%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Selenium</b> 5.5μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">8%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Water</b> 14.56g</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Ash</b> 12.6g</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Stats</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Percent of Daily Calorie Target</b><br />
(2000 calories)</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">12.9%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Percent Water Composition</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">14.6%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Protein to Carb Ratio (g/g)</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0.25</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</tbody></table>
<table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="2" style="width: 260pxpx;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0em;"><b>Nutrition Facts</b></td></tr>
<tr valign="left"><td colspan="5"><pre style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; max-width: 580px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px;">Tomatoes Sun-Dried </pre>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;">Serving Size 54g</td></tr>
<tr bordercolor="#000000"><td colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Calories</b> 139</td></tr>
<tr><td align="right" colspan="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.42em;"><b>% Daily Value<sup>*</sup></b></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Total Fat</b> 1.6g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">2%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Saturated Fat 0.23g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">1%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Cholesterol</b> 0mg</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Sodium</b> 133mg</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">6%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Total Carbohydrate</b> 30.1g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">10%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Dietary Fiber 6.6g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">26%</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Sugar 20.3g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Protein</b> 7.6g</td><td align="right" colspan="1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Vitamin A</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">9%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">•</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Vitamin C</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">35%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Calcium</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">6%</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">•</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">Iron</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">27%</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" colspan="5"><sup>*</sup>Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Vitamins</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"> %DV</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin A</b> 471.96IU</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">9%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Retinol equivalents 23.76μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Retinol 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Alpha-carotene 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Beta-carotene 282.96μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Beta-cryptoxanthin 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin C</b> 21.17mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">35%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin E</b> 0.01mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin K</b> 23.22μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">29%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin B12</b> 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Thiamin</b> 0.285mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">19%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Riboflavin</b> 0.264mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">16%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Niacin</b> 4.887mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">24%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Pantothenic acid</b> 1.127mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">11%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Vitamin B6</b> 0.179mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">9%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Folate</b> 36.72μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">9%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Folic Acid 0μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Food Folate 36.72μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"> Dietary Folate Equivalents 36.72μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Choline</b> 56.48mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Lycopene</b> 24787.08μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Lutein+zeazanthin</b> 766.26μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Minerals</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"> %DV</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Calcium</b> 59.4mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">6%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Iron</b> 4.91mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">27%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Magnesium</b> 104.76mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">26%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Phosphorus</b> 192.24mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">19%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Sodium</b> 133mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">6%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Potassium</b> 1850.58mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">53%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Zinc</b> 1.07mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">7%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Copper</b> 0.768mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">38%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Manganese</b> 0.997mg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">50%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Selenium</b> 2.97μg</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">4%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Water</b> 7.86g</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Ash</b> 6.8g</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px;" width="33%"><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="-1" frame="box" rules="none"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.82em;"><b>Stats</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Percent of Daily Calorie Target</b><br />
(2000 calories)</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">6.95%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Percent Water Composition</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">14.6%</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;"><b>Protein to Carb Ratio (g/g)</b></td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0.1em;">0.25</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;" />John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-40226264648894740492014-02-20T09:11:00.002-07:002014-02-20T09:24:25.428-07:00Coffee Cravin'<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I drink coffee. I Love Coffee. I crave coffee. OK? OK!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, here we go on a short backpack trip. What's one of the first things a Coffee Cravin', Coffee Lovin' Coffee Drinker to do, huh? Why, make certain we can get our Coffee Fix each morning we're in The Canyon. Each of the photos has a caption below and there is more narrative below all of the photos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwQcqklm6no7eHvu_bD48-3kePwNuKsTOizNlv4Nnf_lT1L2sp2lFcj-BTmSRDSi159U4cuavvb4VBbhTWUPRTTu4jV3tueztEbbl0WybhWnek8V0FrkhyphenhyphencZ76SL0cpON-VUIxfZhfvym/s1600/DSCN1347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwQcqklm6no7eHvu_bD48-3kePwNuKsTOizNlv4Nnf_lT1L2sp2lFcj-BTmSRDSi159U4cuavvb4VBbhTWUPRTTu4jV3tueztEbbl0WybhWnek8V0FrkhyphenhyphencZ76SL0cpON-VUIxfZhfvym/s1600/DSCN1347.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Believe it or not, Wal-Mart sells the best instant coffee at the best price anywhere. Of course saying it's "the best" is subjective but lookie there at the price--ONE DOLLAR for enough instant coffee to make 32 eight ounce cups! You may disagree that it's the "the best" but you can't possibly disagree that it's the best price!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-Nu4Zl27tT5njwcRcldif7sh5RouZekyccaoUcEBp3UKtu1k7Vfg44eMfARZea3L67L2_LBi3vhb9fylUFDxYTqPjzYN3XJYhBBz3hgBh5hAXqOrkV7I2Zs1QbuZQVxMgVsCQORaM47F/s1600/DSCN1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-Nu4Zl27tT5njwcRcldif7sh5RouZekyccaoUcEBp3UKtu1k7Vfg44eMfARZea3L67L2_LBi3vhb9fylUFDxYTqPjzYN3XJYhBBz3hgBh5hAXqOrkV7I2Zs1QbuZQVxMgVsCQORaM47F/s1600/DSCN1358.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This instant coffee is made in Mexico. The Mexicans have a LONG Love Affair with instant coffee and those people South of The Border really know how to make a potent freeze dried dose-o-caffeine. When you're looking at instant coffee, you definitely want to see "100% Instant Coffee" on the label. As everyone knows, the trouble with ALL instant coffees is that taste like, well, instant coffee. So what to do?</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ13UFO6soGZWfU4tElcbodU3Zz0TE86exJ2-mqnglogREFmSI7x_Zmoapem6H3lNoVfqpdX1wk4bCMV7dYz3ZWNf1h4OfRTkay1uRtf6NUVShUXxFu0vbYOIZNdS4f2xTxhyndrZPdWkR/s1600/DSCN1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ13UFO6soGZWfU4tElcbodU3Zz0TE86exJ2-mqnglogREFmSI7x_Zmoapem6H3lNoVfqpdX1wk4bCMV7dYz3ZWNf1h4OfRTkay1uRtf6NUVShUXxFu0vbYOIZNdS4f2xTxhyndrZPdWkR/s1600/DSCN1363.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Enter our Dear Swiss Miss. This Miss has been a mainstay of our Camping Coffee for longer than we can remember. The best way to mask the instant coffee taste is to mix the granules with Good Ol' Swiss Miss. Trust me, use the full sugar mix--not the sugar free mix. You will be amazed at how wonderful instant coffee becomes when mixed properly with hot chocolate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlvUkQxgWfKbn2PcRw3HG9w5CWOuQ2Yl8sHGKOdaXGp2dZmiXVnYHelEO0qFAgt62Hry91YBahe-9dKGm1VLpBZxwVez5CIFWvyTB2MnzhyB6gOFFhJkkW_IS4nrl8c_yYLLECj8Udpi1/s1600/DSCN1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlvUkQxgWfKbn2PcRw3HG9w5CWOuQ2Yl8sHGKOdaXGp2dZmiXVnYHelEO0qFAgt62Hry91YBahe-9dKGm1VLpBZxwVez5CIFWvyTB2MnzhyB6gOFFhJkkW_IS4nrl8c_yYLLECj8Udpi1/s1600/DSCN1362.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As most everyone knows, typical hot chocolate is essentially caffeine free. Bummer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_vgJ8wHWgFP-uDsAR5FZrrE2MlkxzRv3JmD74edoIgehS0kVIdpyyZJUphKb7eyyWQkvKJbtPrZ8ctTMc6NI3z2Okl-Fn8xoNy6GE6sgP9Hn2vR_N_eQbox7FOwnkrFANMRMT49nkNzN/s1600/DSCN1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_vgJ8wHWgFP-uDsAR5FZrrE2MlkxzRv3JmD74edoIgehS0kVIdpyyZJUphKb7eyyWQkvKJbtPrZ8ctTMc6NI3z2Okl-Fn8xoNy6GE6sgP9Hn2vR_N_eQbox7FOwnkrFANMRMT49nkNzN/s1600/DSCN1361.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you look at the hot chocolate label, there's a lot more than sugar in there. It's that saturated fat that really is a Game Changer and makes a cuppa camp joe so danged much fun in the morning. Hot chocolate is also a nice bonus source of potassium, which we consider an essential Hiking Mineral.</div>
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So, now it's time for the Mad Coffee Scientist to get to work. Here are most of the tools of our trade.<br />
The first task is to CAREFULLY cut off the top of a hot chocolate envelope making sure you are at the tippy top of the opening. Second, pour the powder into a quarter cup measure. Stainless steel works better than plastic. Then gently bang the bottom of the steel on the counter top to settle the chocolate powder as much as possible. Then, top off the quarter cup measure with instant coffee and use a knife to make sure it is a level measure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBH1FKyLhzwXdagfkx6Oc6E3eq4W9Er47mlEoFnY6B_12tdOlsyR-_MCt9g2n4KIrQQlewSqd6Jqh_BzK8hOqsn061h6pfZi-_I8BaRLtYEXSfYN493BsKT5rx3blNQX3mePC7n1E0FPC/s1600/DSCN1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBH1FKyLhzwXdagfkx6Oc6E3eq4W9Er47mlEoFnY6B_12tdOlsyR-_MCt9g2n4KIrQQlewSqd6Jqh_BzK8hOqsn061h6pfZi-_I8BaRLtYEXSfYN493BsKT5rx3blNQX3mePC7n1E0FPC/s1600/DSCN1352.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Then pour this mix into a bowl. Imagine using a mortar and pestle to get a better mix that goes into solution easier. That's the goal here. Mix thoroughly.<br />
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After a VERY thorough mixing of the two ingredients, the coffee should have Become One with the Cocoa.<br />
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Next, we carefully spooned the mix from the bowl back into the original envelope, carefully rolled down the top much the way a river runner rolls down the top of a dry bag and sealed with a small piece of transparent tape. The weight of each package varied slightly.<br />
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Finally, we have enough for two cups each of our two mornings. With a Zip Locl sandwich bag, the net weight calculates out to precisely 4 ounces. The weight of the waste to hike out with will be 5 grams.<br />
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Our trusty 1.7 ounce cup and our little six ounce pot. (Weights--not capacities.)<br />
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And, the fruit of our labor! A steaming cup of really yummy, fully-charged coffee.</div>
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We did quite a bit of mathematics on this process. First, we weighed the unopened packet of hot chocolate. It calc'd to .80 ounce. (Eight tenths of an ounce.) Then we weighed each packet afterwards and then weighed all four packets together to get a true average weight.</div>
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Then we studied the two websites below. Basically, without going into farther detail, we will be getting at least 350 milligrams of coffee each morning and that's plenty for us. We are very pleased with the fruits of our labor.</div>
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<a href="http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/caffeine-content">http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/caffeine-content</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-content/coffee-instant">http://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-content/coffee-instant</a>John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-24952588686628918992014-02-16T15:45:00.002-07:002014-02-16T15:51:55.380-07:00Backpack food<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAZNMUnTrfVQNm5lkZ078uJDdBBb28VNc0lgF9pPZBoTjBM1jtPLQt2N-u6f3nvpjMM4GafOBz0BZPw8HsAaZkd1XMzF2dWIHeV8YRs8VTFkdRwUnDQec9V9G8s0Xc1176ZwQvP05iAar/s1600/DSCN1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAZNMUnTrfVQNm5lkZ078uJDdBBb28VNc0lgF9pPZBoTjBM1jtPLQt2N-u6f3nvpjMM4GafOBz0BZPw8HsAaZkd1XMzF2dWIHeV8YRs8VTFkdRwUnDQec9V9G8s0Xc1176ZwQvP05iAar/s1600/DSCN1276.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, there's a lot of chemicals in processed foods. However, we cut ourself a lot of slack when we are backpacking.<br /></td></tr>
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Every camper has her or his own ideas about camp food. Every backpacker has their own ideas about the food they carry. Camping and backpacker meals are like snowflakes. No two camper's or backpacker's meals are the same. Sure, some meals may be similar but they are always slightly different--just like snowflakes.<br />
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And so it is that we have begun to dredge up our long lost backpacking recipes. If we are car camping, weight and space are rarely an issue. The more food the merrier. We often take twice as much food as we need just so we can change our menu on a whim when we feel like it.<br />
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Well, backpackers don't generally have such a luxury. Backpackers need to run a tight ship, make a lean and mean menu and stick to it. No whimsy for them!<br />
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It's been years since we hefted on a backpack and took off down the trail. Luckily, we learned a lesson long, long ago. All you need to do is walk S-L-O-W-L-Y through some stores and stop and stare at stuff. Look very closely. Read labels and directions. Buy stuff. Take it home. Experiment. Play around with recipes. Why, it's easy peezy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8hAI2IJuQFKN-hPMp8JqF96A-GTCTz9gR2vk59IB6DNwo5Jh-XSGJbiYh6AuzH-APdMB57ZqOC448nNNOmaW7LNbGwpiItb8hyJ2M6WJxMIhT4pHHeegxq1fwUSMG5BxGNJYuoP1slKK/s1600/DSCN1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8hAI2IJuQFKN-hPMp8JqF96A-GTCTz9gR2vk59IB6DNwo5Jh-XSGJbiYh6AuzH-APdMB57ZqOC448nNNOmaW7LNbGwpiItb8hyJ2M6WJxMIhT4pHHeegxq1fwUSMG5BxGNJYuoP1slKK/s1600/DSCN1277.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Surprise Find--Dried Okra!</b></td></tr>
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So, that's what we've been doing lately...taking trips down memory lanes (AKA: Grocery Aisles). Sure enough, just like riding a bicycle, it all comes back. It didn't take us long to remember all our old staple foods and meals for backpacking. Once that knowledge is branded into the synapses, that knowledge never leaves.<br />
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Right now as we are writing this it's 3:30 pm on a Sunday. And we're eating grits....and lovin' it. We forgot all about instant grits. And we sure forgot just how danged good they taste, even at 3:30 pm on a Sunday!<br />
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Why, you just need to boil and hap cup of water, turn off the flame and pour in the grits and let 'em sit. We remembered the grits while prowling the aisles of a big box grocery in Phoenix today. Heck, throw in some oil, some chopped walnuts, chopped apricots, raw sugar, and top it all off with some coconut flakes and we've got a great breakfast going. After eating it, boil a coup of water to clean the pot, make some hot chocolate and we're good to go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW8iH5EE6eDSyhQ9wduBcx_zl1dAXvvZkvE8LfE7z1RfR1PqNd6giuVh0gNsjDCJRy9m_ACk9rsGngRiiqszp1hiiMRz53vTiTeMICbsFrfr84Cd6tlV3c982QOCjtvZF7142nf-eRSFv/s1600/DSCN1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW8iH5EE6eDSyhQ9wduBcx_zl1dAXvvZkvE8LfE7z1RfR1PqNd6giuVh0gNsjDCJRy9m_ACk9rsGngRiiqszp1hiiMRz53vTiTeMICbsFrfr84Cd6tlV3c982QOCjtvZF7142nf-eRSFv/s1600/DSCN1281.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar, bulgar & fresh peanut butter</td></tr>
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Next item I flat forgot is just like the grit, only better and more versatile--Bulgar. You don't even have to heat water to hydrate bulgar--just put it in the pot the night before and it will be all re-hydrated by morning. You can pretty much do anything to bulgar, the possibilities are endless.<br />
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Another great breakfast staple is powdered potatoes. The now come in a bewildering array of flavors and our favorite Idahoan brand is made right in our summer home town, Idaho Falls. In fact, a Dear Neighbor actually helps to make them!<br />
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We're going to put some pre-cooked bacon into a pot of those taters and then do a second pot of scrambled eggs made from powered eggs.<br />
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Small corn and small wheat tortillas are great for a short backpacking trip. In recent years, bakeries pioneered stuff called "Sandwich thins." Sandwich thins are basically a low rent kinda, sorta bagel. Interestingly, one half a sandwich thin is lighter in weight than most tortillas but is better suited to hold peanut butter. Peanut Butter is probably the Number One Staple of campers and backpackers worldwide. <br />
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Who knows, you might even get a Ticket from the Backpack Police if you left home without peanut butter.<br />
Anyway, we forgot all about sandwich thins until we were walking slowly around the store staring at stuff. We're going to take maybe two of them on this trip just for the peanut butter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3P6kOnIbv0sy4UoMwhlrXCP8hX4dy2sGLJmN52JC0ZdavHcuVNdRcbP4ewPfmOOnDlR0PnZ64MNH7pMYvYHN6-JXPGccDiH3Z4Lkz7hUQrIfxjiSK3o4pukxvt7qjyYTslp7AOLSfM5m/s1600/DSCN1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3P6kOnIbv0sy4UoMwhlrXCP8hX4dy2sGLJmN52JC0ZdavHcuVNdRcbP4ewPfmOOnDlR0PnZ64MNH7pMYvYHN6-JXPGccDiH3Z4Lkz7hUQrIfxjiSK3o4pukxvt7qjyYTslp7AOLSfM5m/s1600/DSCN1279.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From top-clockwise-dried apricots, honey-roasted sunflower seeds<br />Cajun seasoning, dehydrated refried beans and walnut halves.</td></tr>
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Then there's instant rice, cous-cous, dehydrated refried beans and Stove Top Stuffing. Each of these four yummy food simply requires soaking in hot water to come to life. No fuel-wasting boiling is necessary.<br />
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Today we found some dehydrated shrimp, dehydrated okra, edeame beans, sun-dried tomatoes, crystallized ginger and other similar goodies. Tuna and salmon now come in foil packs that don't have to be drained. There's there the staple salami and hard cheeses. We might even carry a small can of chicken, too. They come in such small cans now the empty can surely can't weigh hardly anything.<br />
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So many choices, such a short hike! It sure is fun messing with backpacking food again!<br />
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And now we close this post by eating some refried beans, freshly re-hydrated just for this occasion. Oh, Man, YUM--they are good!<br />
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<br />John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-90118442837715140062013-08-08T09:28:00.001-06:002013-08-08T09:35:15.264-06:00Perking Right Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLoDZfo2gyBG_lXBjMDSKcUxmO13ELytGJFMFu3HgwU1KXUcer9_L3s4F-I1O2I6apXBFjUqU_5rHVVbAOyVUF-OWV53KdFz7VyCSpnzJ76XdV2kln7ymt-fJQFmoFTS_x9IEB2DmMcie/s1600/percolator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLoDZfo2gyBG_lXBjMDSKcUxmO13ELytGJFMFu3HgwU1KXUcer9_L3s4F-I1O2I6apXBFjUqU_5rHVVbAOyVUF-OWV53KdFz7VyCSpnzJ76XdV2kln7ymt-fJQFmoFTS_x9IEB2DmMcie/s640/percolator.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Nothing says camping to us like perked coffee made in a genuine percolator. Although some would say getting gourmet coffee out of a percolator is impossible, we beg to differ.<br />
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If you want The Best perked coffee, you have to be prepared to pay your dues and do your diligence.<br />
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Let's go through the drill. Now, bear in mind this is not an exhaustive tutorial on making great perked coffee--it's just the beginning.<br />
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First things first--you MUST use a stainless steel percolator. Do not even THINK of using an aluminum one. If you insist on using an aluminum percolator then read no farther--this perked coffee primer is NOT for you!<br />
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Second, you MUST keep your stainless steel percolator clean and SPOTLESS. Grime and built-up coffee stains might be a picturesque piece of camping ambiance but they simply murder good coffee. Keep it cleaned constantly. Period.<br />
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Third, you MUST buy the proper coffee filter. A normal percolator will make a dark brown liquid that's only one step above the dreaded so-called "cowboy coffee." Trust me, we HATE cowboy coffee. We don't care how many stories people tell about the mystic of cowboy coffee and how you put in egg shells and whatever other disgusting things you do to destroy perfectly good coffee grounds. Cowboy coffee sux. That's the bottom line.<br />
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So, you buy the correct filter. It's a square piece of filter paper with five pre-punched holes. You carefully line the basket with this filter, put in the grounds and then CAREFULLY fold over the corners of the filter until your precious grounds are safe and properly encased. If you've done this step correctly, there will be NO grounds either in the bottom of the basket or in the coffee itself. Cleanup is a no-brainer.<br />
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Next, you have a fine and delicate chore ahead of you on the road to perfect perked coffee. It involves genuine scientific research.<br />
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A scientific procedure is one that can be replicated again and again based on, well... science.<br />
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The science of perfect perked coffee is finding the right grounds, in the right amount, matched with the right amount of water and perked for the right time over the right flame. Each of these things is a critical variable.<br />
<ul>
<li>Type of grounds</li>
<li>Amount of grounds</li>
<li>Water quantity</li>
<li>Time of perk</li>
<li>BTU of flame</li>
</ul>
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Messing up any one of the above can single-handedly destroy perked coffee.</div>
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<div>
You will need to keep meticulous, scientific notes and make many batches of coffee to find the right mix of these variables to suit your taste. For us it is one-third cup of a secret coffee ground to the right grain size filled to a certain mark on the percolator and perked for precisely 5 minutes over a very low flame.</div>
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<div>
If the perk bubble rate is too fast, the coffee will become bitter. Too slow and the coffee will taste "thin."</div>
<div>
Getting the right perk rate is best determined by using a "perk-o-meter." You point this laser device at your percolator and it gives you a read out of PPM--That's Perks Per Minute. You can find a perk-o-meter at any reputable science supply store.</div>
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Now, the next trick is INSTANT removal of the coffee from the percolator. The second it is done, pull it off the stove and immediately decant the percolator contents into a spotlessly clear, high-quality thermos. Coffee left to sit in a percolator will become rapidly bitter and will taste weird. The thermos is as much a part of the equation as the percolator itself.</div>
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Well, there you go--a primer. We will eventually post some photos of the filters.</div>
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John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-41487266744107070762010-07-04T15:04:00.000-06:002010-07-04T15:04:24.566-06:00Flame Tender & Stove Cleaner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VE_MHFMUsXnUcpQZMztUvIIBYxjYX7TMELn0B-Jh3y0vZHtPMk_Ewvz0Zvl9PC9n0AbxzPyQxIzN6bwCir02SLcZ_BG1PGg_by444oLdPjsDAFOENXnHkWMtaD-815W-Q0B-6d0lUVlo/s1600/stove_flame_tender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VE_MHFMUsXnUcpQZMztUvIIBYxjYX7TMELn0B-Jh3y0vZHtPMk_Ewvz0Zvl9PC9n0AbxzPyQxIzN6bwCir02SLcZ_BG1PGg_by444oLdPjsDAFOENXnHkWMtaD-815W-Q0B-6d0lUVlo/s320/stove_flame_tender.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dLsAb-egogGaQqK9_BKpYKe_NB7gvhPj_dG9fTobyorcEz2SQoU2Wyqhuh1CEFhi4SkdN0Fv-mBCvTAwRuoYy128BhxA7aefNEJe7za7ERXfRjsqgHg1_8CNtbMy_6uR5DJSsFkwTuE0/s1600/stove_awesome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dLsAb-egogGaQqK9_BKpYKe_NB7gvhPj_dG9fTobyorcEz2SQoU2Wyqhuh1CEFhi4SkdN0Fv-mBCvTAwRuoYy128BhxA7aefNEJe7za7ERXfRjsqgHg1_8CNtbMy_6uR5DJSsFkwTuE0/s320/stove_awesome.jpg" /></a></div>One thing that's real important for any campstove is what's called The Flame Tender. These are mostly antiques. They may still sell them new but I've never seen a new one. You find them in antique stores.<br />
Their purpose is obvious and basic. they can tame a tall flame and render it a simmer. A lot of camp stoves don't simmer well, their flame is far too hot to simmer or "keep warm," as the case may be. The flame tender is your bridge between a really HOT flame and a perfect simmer. Sometimes even the left burner won't simmer well. That's when the vaunted flame tender really shines. A low flame on the left burner underneath a flame tender becomes the perfect "keep warm" temperature without scorching and ruining your meal. There are many variations of the flame tender. Try to get one or more that have a handle. The ones without a handle are a real hassle and you will eventually get burned. I guarantee it.<br />
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There's really only one chemical we use for keeping the stoves cleaned--it's called Awesome cleaner and it's found almost entirely in "dollar stores." I once saw it in a regular grocery but I can't remember where or when. When we run low, we just go to the nearest dollar store, pay a buck and restock on Awesome. It's the perfect stove grease cutter. A few paper towels or a rag and some awesome and you're good to go.<br />
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Do carry a pair of pretty good gloves to use to move around hot skillets on your stove top. Also, have at least one decent trivet handy. Anything can be a trivit, from a flat piece of wood to a ceramic floor tile to a piece of iron cast specifically to be a trivet. We recently found some great 12 x 12 marble tiles at Lowe's for 50 cents each. They will make a real nice trivet and are large enough to handle anything.<br />
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Typically, we keep all the shims, teflon tape and stove clutter in a stout fabric bag. Wrap up the bag and stow it in your Coleman. In our 413D there's now plenty of room for everything with space to spare. If you just throw the clutter in the stove body, it will bang around and get real annoying. Also, it's a pain to pull out each piece and the stuff usually makes an unsightly chunk of clutter on the picnic table. Keep is wrapped up in a stout bag and the cook area looks a lot better. Also, if you have children, it's less likely they will be attracted to the gadgets and stove widget that you use. In addition, all those little things can easily get lost. By keeping them in a bag all is well.<br />
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I think that pretty well covers all of our ideas on stoves and related topics. It's now time to move onto some other topic. We've pretty well discussed all there is to mention about stoves. If there's something we missed, please call it to our attention in the forms of a comment on this blog. Thanks & Cheers, jmJohn Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-87487640343614627812010-07-04T07:00:00.001-06:002010-07-04T07:01:12.522-06:00The Green Brothers--A Coleman Duet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh168x2UMcZ6aeOPrcdHLLCJxQXwyewQSp-O_LeCyD4DeYIFeJj-Qx0GVXZILSju-w1HWuqz-b8z2h9G-VF4Zk-rTfWRe2BZaqnqvRQJ6MNwkapn9QMK_RLtqPLG5zVGaWgAxYpQhrDe_Fc/s1600/green_brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh168x2UMcZ6aeOPrcdHLLCJxQXwyewQSp-O_LeCyD4DeYIFeJj-Qx0GVXZILSju-w1HWuqz-b8z2h9G-VF4Zk-rTfWRe2BZaqnqvRQJ6MNwkapn9QMK_RLtqPLG5zVGaWgAxYpQhrDe_Fc/s640/green_brothers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Hey, this Duo is HOT! Rock ON! Now that we have two Old Coleman Stoves, it sure didn't take long to find a credible excuse to set up BOTH of them and let the party begin. What better day to inaugurate a Double Play than July 4th, King of Cookout Holidays. We have company coming for a 9 am breakfast this morning. The Green Brothers will have a starring role in making it a memorable meal. No shuttling stuff back and forth from the inside kitchen. Nope, most of our grub will be rustled up right on the glowing red hot burner plates courtesy of The Coleman Boys--they came from a green family long before green was chic, hip and cool. Yeah, we're Green--Coleman Green!<br />
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July 3rd, we even unwrapped an artifact. A NIB Coleman aluminum stove stand. This rare artifact was purchased as a garage sale in 1999 and had remained unsealed in its original box ever since. No kidding. So, yesterday was the perfect Special Day to pop those old-fashioned copper staples and pull this puppy into the light of day. We leveled up both stove, hooked one to a tank and the other to a green bottle. We would have used two propane tanks but we have only one adapter hose. We do keep a spare adapter so that was no problem.<br />
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Our friends arriving this morning are Spud Heads--they both are TNN--Tater Nation Natives. They were both born with hash brown hair and grew up curly fried. They've always had a little scallop in their gallop and they can get half baked with the best of them! So, naturally we HAVE to serve potatoes this morning and they can't be "Sinner Potatoes," as they call dehydrated potatoes. They have to be the real deal--fresh fried country potatoes. Heck, that's A LOT of work!<br />
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The biggest piece of work involved was cleaning our stainless steel griddle. This behemoth weighs a blue ton and, over the years, it had become encrusted with a thick patina of cooking residue. Some people call that "seasoning." We call it YUCK! It took about an hour of grinding, sanding, buffing, polishing and oiling but here it is in all its glory--a shaving mirror disguised as a griddle!<br />
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Well, it's T Minus Two Hours and counting until Backyard Breakfast is served. We gotta get cracking, peeling, chopping, boiling, sizzling and just downright hopping to "git 'er dun." We will photo document this one--it's going to be easily as good as making a meal in a real campground campsite--only it's in our backyard without all the gear hassle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v6QHr3EniwA1hpNR_PWNVNlKUutS5IWdLb4bTXy40M9Zq8e7m_VhYURZ_uN4EnmjAcs8ttAPS6LimiRuzXrjCYWoNfHd0x2cUxx5YHx9wZgDPFQI9U-pzMF2-STe06XocQChhkF3I4bl/s1600/griddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v6QHr3EniwA1hpNR_PWNVNlKUutS5IWdLb4bTXy40M9Zq8e7m_VhYURZ_uN4EnmjAcs8ttAPS6LimiRuzXrjCYWoNfHd0x2cUxx5YHx9wZgDPFQI9U-pzMF2-STe06XocQChhkF3I4bl/s640/griddle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-37165364928731972522010-07-03T10:49:00.000-06:002010-07-03T10:49:17.312-06:00More stove tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCb_yi-XX01svkYBGb2t0koXDdmTdlWkx8QZ-m7ldtkc-J2i3SL2inT0u43lo-GpHNrZbI0h1lfZiKWz1jFy0JkQy-M_HuBQfJ5X56RCc8C3SNK0QAMvZ5uBhSFICXBth76KdC6AhlInr/s1600/stove_stencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCb_yi-XX01svkYBGb2t0koXDdmTdlWkx8QZ-m7ldtkc-J2i3SL2inT0u43lo-GpHNrZbI0h1lfZiKWz1jFy0JkQy-M_HuBQfJ5X56RCc8C3SNK0QAMvZ5uBhSFICXBth76KdC6AhlInr/s640/stove_stencil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Perhaps one of the msot fun things about an old Coleman stove is the blank palette top. It's like an artist's canvas waiting for your creativity--something to make Crafters smile. Years ago (perhaps 1999) it dawned on us to stencil the top of the Coleman with something that would look good when seen at any angle. I wish we had a dollar for every smile this has sparked. The added design really gives the stove a touch of Camp Class. It's a cheery thing to see first thing in the morning, too. It brings a smile to our faces every time we glance at it. We haven't yet figured out what to put on the 413D. We've sure been thinking about it a LOT, though. We doubt it will be the same motif. There are so many possibilities.<br />
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OK, another tip is about New Age picnic tables and Old Coleman Stoves. You may have noticed that some public agencies are using picnic tables made from recycled milk jugs or other "green" plastic material. This is a nice idea but the tables don't mix with Old Coleman stoves. Nope, like oil and water. The heat coming from the bottom of the stove can melt one of those table tops faster than a New York Minute. That's why we always carry a piece of wood larger than the bottom of the stove. It's in case we need to protect the picnic table top. Besides looking really ugly, the melted plastic really STINKS and it's probably emitting toxic fumes, too. <br />
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Keep the stove clean. It's a really good idea to keep the grease and cooking splatter off your stove. A dirty stove attracts flies, mice and other vermin. It might even attract bears in Bear Country, too. Once a year, we take the stove body to the car wash and blast the heck out of it. Then we turn it upside down and let it thoroughly dry out. we also use a caustic cleaner to remove grease and oil. We're pretty Type A about keeping the stove clean. Luckily, Old Coleman's are easy to clean.<br />
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There's one other tip about those old stove. Use a fine (REALLY fine) piece of wire to periodically poke into the small holes that rim the circumference of the burner plates. They do get clogged and keeping them clean will give you an even flame and a much hotter burner.<br />
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Well, that's about it for Coleman stoves. I will take one last look in my stove bag and see if I forgot anything.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-47289320905081252522010-07-03T08:35:00.000-06:002010-07-03T08:35:21.046-06:00The stove stand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3XHgPX2iY4qKcHNjsUUPa0LfHjlHjTyyEk_LVvrObuIQympkG5JKs8zQhnS1XaWFprml4iM3n1IujKP74vIx_9pEigF5Sayqw671eVCTNwYhNrpe-0sd97nVKcJ9b11rgT2qZeKI8uyf/s1600/stove_stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3XHgPX2iY4qKcHNjsUUPa0LfHjlHjTyyEk_LVvrObuIQympkG5JKs8zQhnS1XaWFprml4iM3n1IujKP74vIx_9pEigF5Sayqw671eVCTNwYhNrpe-0sd97nVKcJ9b11rgT2qZeKI8uyf/s640/stove_stand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Stove stands are indispensable. When necessary, they can free up space on a small picnic table. If a picnic table isn't available, you can use a folding table and put the stove elsewhere. Likewise, if the wind is blowing from different directions, you can adjust the location of your stove to always have it's back toward the wind. If you're cooking something that splatters grease everywhere, it's great to be able to segregate the stove location to keep the main area clean.<br />
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Old Coleman stove stands are great but they are inherently dangerous. They can easily cause a painful pinch of your fingers or, worse, a deep cut into a pinky. Bummer! Be VERY careful folding and unfolding them. They can really BITE! Second, the stands are inherently unstable. What camper hasn't bumped into a stove stand only to see dinner dumped onto the ground? It's no fun.<br />
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If you're going to use s stove stand, take time to make a custom wooden cook top for the stand. Cut holes in the right places so the wood locks into the tabs on top of the stand. This prevents the stand from creeping closed and tipping over when you least expect it. Likewise, it gives you a great surface to use your shims to level the stove. lastly, it gives you extra work space upon which to place your utensils.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-33699942190824994202010-07-03T08:23:00.000-06:002010-07-03T08:23:14.407-06:00Stove leveling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUwRu8oLCfysE3jFKFSHR9syTj9ZvV6d0yg8VQDk1WeZMS8UKZm5xyf-Jh7VPlx6t6u99O5Acg8l5VbtQs0LjiVrKP3s2MV7Qm39tG2ZHyyP-v8OHcsKTe1Hh3fivsGPqxTaoheHeokJ0/s1600/level.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUwRu8oLCfysE3jFKFSHR9syTj9ZvV6d0yg8VQDk1WeZMS8UKZm5xyf-Jh7VPlx6t6u99O5Acg8l5VbtQs0LjiVrKP3s2MV7Qm39tG2ZHyyP-v8OHcsKTe1Hh3fivsGPqxTaoheHeokJ0/s640/level.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Believe it or not, one of the most overlooked aspects of using a camp stove is the stove leveling process. Most people simply plop down their stove and think they are good to go. Nope, Little Buckaroo, yer not! The stove must be leveled to work properly, from both a mechanical and a cooking perspective. Propane will not distribute evenly in an unlevel stove. Likewise, the liquid in your cook pots and skillets will all run to one side on an unlevel stove. Just take a few moments to level the stove and it will work perfectly and you can cook evenly.<br />
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Buy a small bubble level. Attach it with brads to a small block of wood. Place the level on the stove grate. Use carpenter shims to level the stove. It's that simple and you will be amazed at the difference it makes! It took me years to finally realize the vital importance of leveling a stove. Now, I simply can't imagine doing it any other way!John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-56403449525263325992010-07-03T08:15:00.000-06:002010-07-03T08:15:12.033-06:00Propane stove conversion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6ZQ8r-BKCZaNQ_B7-HE2ppDeyaxDEkFl1Q4mpejvCQVn7AE8PDScjue6Evo52qoYT_4Ag64NMwv6CuMLFfMvr2_Y-yHth_e_CUQgsVuWJfhdIKEJWBTo-IAnXwh8-v9PlY_GjwRv7UR1/s1600/propane_adapter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6ZQ8r-BKCZaNQ_B7-HE2ppDeyaxDEkFl1Q4mpejvCQVn7AE8PDScjue6Evo52qoYT_4Ag64NMwv6CuMLFfMvr2_Y-yHth_e_CUQgsVuWJfhdIKEJWBTo-IAnXwh8-v9PlY_GjwRv7UR1/s320/propane_adapter.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFNBrvTusDoXTM_xbBSt7Aspmouji3iYdzlEe8BzTjMwDBZIaUQTGw0M6qz6WD2_0jQMdot1PvgkjFwsz0g5JyoGHnQiJUH1_ZQ5KJH__MTAB_E0m19tYpmqphUfVkm6SVdXW1luSRJCb/s1600/propane_hose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFNBrvTusDoXTM_xbBSt7Aspmouji3iYdzlEe8BzTjMwDBZIaUQTGw0M6qz6WD2_0jQMdot1PvgkjFwsz0g5JyoGHnQiJUH1_ZQ5KJH__MTAB_E0m19tYpmqphUfVkm6SVdXW1luSRJCb/s320/propane_hose.jpg" /></a></div>Above are generic photos of the two primary items you would need to convert a Coleman stove to propane. Total cost for these two items is expensive. Expect to pay at least $40 for the pair and probably $50!<br />
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Adapters vary in their ability to control a simmer flame. There's no way to know how well any given adapter will simmer prior to purchase. It's strictly luck of the draw. I'd suggest that you buy the adapter from Wally World so that it can be returned if it doesn't simmer worth a dang. DOn't skimp on the hose--get a long one. It allows much more flexibility in locating the tank in proximity to the stove. Also, hoses love to coil and curve and they don't travel in a straight line. Make sure the hose as a thumb wheel on it so you don't need a wrench to screw it into the tank.<br />
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A note of caution: ALWAYS carry teflon tape! NEVER leave home without teflon tape! It's inevitable that the hose and adapter will not fit perfectly together. Truly inevitable. When that happens, your stove is useless as there will be a dangerous fire breaking out in teh worst possible place. Believe me, we've had it happen too often to count. Now that we carry teflon tape, it never happens. We always tape the joint between the hose and the adapter and it makes camping much safer for all concerned.<br />
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The other weak link in the adapter is the coil spring that provides tension into the actual stove innards You have to have a very tight fit between the adapter and the stove portal or else you will get yet another propane fire breaking out there. <br />
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The steel used in the spring that comes on the adapter is great stuff but heat makes it brittle and it will eventually break off. It's not a matter of "if" it will break, simply when. Meanwhile, the steel is basically impossible to bend with your fingers. That's why we carry two small pliers--one needle nose and one regular. We now never worry about when the spring will break. it doesn't matter. one nice thing about the 413D is that there is a real EDGE on the inside of the box. We can simply slide the spring coil over this edge and don't have to worry about bending a hook on the end of the spring.<br />
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There's one other weak link in the hose. Almost all hoses have a machined fitting that goes into the tank. There's a little circular machined recess in the tip of the hose. There's an O ring that fits into this recess. Propane gas has a chemical that makes O rings brittle. They crack and eventually break off. Believe me, this is NOT a good thing! Some of these O rings don't even last a season. They will rarely last two seasons and, three? Forget it! The O rings typically costs 25 cents each at a full service propane place. We buy 10 of them and keep them two film cans. That way when we lose one, we're not SOL. Keep an eye on that O ring at all times. Swapping it out BEFORE it breaks is highly recommended! If you've ever had a propane fire break out right at the tank, you know how terrifying this can be. It's all because of that skipping little 25 cent O ring!<br />
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This should go without saying but.... Be sure to wait until your stove cools completely before packing your hose inside the stove. Duh. Well, believe it or not, I got in a hurry once and totally destroyed a perfectly good hose by allowing it to contact the hot burner plate. Opps. If you can put your hand on the burner plate, it's cool enough to pack the hose inside. Otherwise, chill out and wait.<br />
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Another caveat is spare propane. You need two things. One is a mechanical propane tank gauge. They sell for less than $15 most places. Don't let you tank fool you. Monitor it before and after each trip. Keep it full. An empty propane tank is very embarrassing and problematic. Also bring along not one but TWO green propane bottles. It's cheap insurance and does wonders for peace of mind.<br />
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Here's a tip about the green bottles. They are cheap for a reason. They are intended for one time use only. By and large, if you ever have to use them, plan on using ALL the propane in them or throw them away immediately after usage even if they have propane left in them. Why? Well, the little funky valves in those green bottles are worthless. At least 50 percent of them will leak gas after their first use!!!! It might be a leak so small you can't smell it or hear it but they will be leaking and eventually you could have a disaster. Susun has good ears and she can hear a gnat fart at 50 yards. So, I have her listen to the green bottles bu holding the end into her ear. It looks weird but it works. She can detect a tiny leak. You would be amazed how many of them leak. They DO NOT leak when they are new and unused. It's after being used that they leak. That's why we just throw them away in a VENTILATED dumpster. Oftentimes, if the leak is big, we will simply put them downwind and let them run out of gas before throwing them away. Green bottles are very dangerous. Use then with great caution and suspicion! User beware!John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-90405228740272341002010-07-03T07:55:00.001-06:002010-07-03T07:56:32.276-06:00Stove ignition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwH0f4cBZ3s4ayc2IKWSSk0_pHAGrE48FVWKUfFgvjFUYxKvqLxsWZXIDmRrHD6oeFxKwqeLEKNAC59NsrJQjRprkDG3krprNgcl0VQt3pFUjdAdY5Bx_nHAZwxt0waGhFfW10DS79vjV/s1600/stove_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwH0f4cBZ3s4ayc2IKWSSk0_pHAGrE48FVWKUfFgvjFUYxKvqLxsWZXIDmRrHD6oeFxKwqeLEKNAC59NsrJQjRprkDG3krprNgcl0VQt3pFUjdAdY5Bx_nHAZwxt0waGhFfW10DS79vjV/s320/stove_7.jpg" /></a><br />
Here are some perspectives regarding methods of lighting a Coleman stove.<br />
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There are at least three ways to light your stove. Using a match is the most obvious. Matches have drawbacks. The next is what we call a "clicker." It's a butane thingie that's "point and shoot." These have drawbacks, too. The third is a device that lights a welder's cutting torch. We call it a "sparker." Its drawbacks are fewer than either of the above and it's what we use to light the stove. It's major drawback is that it doesn't work when it's wet. However, as long as we keep it dry, it works great. The main drawback of matches is that you have to get your hand too close to the burner plate to make them work. Also, high humidity can making striking a match a real guessing game. If the match heads are damp, forget it. The clickers are great but they've become less reliable over the years. You never know when one of them will up and die. Typically they die in secret just before your camping trip. You get to camp only to find out your clicker is DOA. Even carrying two or 3 clickers sometimes will not solve this vexing issue of Sudden Clicker Death Syndrome. That's why we prefer the sparker. We do ALWAYS keep at least two stashes of matches tucked into various boxes. It would be crazy to leave home without matches! We keep the matches in their own zip lock bags to seal out humidity. damp matches are worthless. The nice thing about the sparker is that it's virtually bombproof and can't accidentally start a fire by itself. You can throw it inside the stove and it's always there. Matches somehow take on a life of their own, sprout legs and walk away to unknown, mysterious locations. Matches and socks are probably related in a way that is poorly understood.<br />
I have become so exasperated with clickers I can't even stand the sight of them any more. They work really great when you really aren't depending on them. But when the chips are down, clickers will leave you stranded beside the road. Their fickleness is very frustrating. If I could find a reliable clicker, I would change my mind but the words "reliable clicker" are a classic oxymoron.<br />
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I haven't priced out sparkers recently, nor would I even know where to buy one in Idaho Falls. I presume I could find one at a welding shop. I will look around and obtain some prices. Well, that was easy--Amazon sells them! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Welding-Torch-Striker-Lighter-Soldering/dp/B000OVPAUU">Click here to see the listing.</a>John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-9575670061079372212010-06-28T18:26:00.007-06:002010-06-28T19:39:14.143-06:00A test of the 413DHere we go--Type A-Ness to The Max!<br />
We fired up the new 413D and amazingly got the right burner to 977 degrees! It actually maxed out the temp gun a couple of times. That means it went over 1000!<br />
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Meanwhile, we put on precisely one gallon of water. We want to cook four ears of sweet corn. A gallon can cook more than four ears but we figured bringing a gallon of water to boil would be a good test of the 413D. We actually used a measuring cup to make sure we put in precisely 128 ounces of water.<br />
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The pot is 10 inches in diameter and 8 inches tall. The water content is 3.5 inches. The water temp was 68 degrees before we put it on the stove. The ambient air temp is 85. Winds are light, officially 6 mph right now at the Idaho Falls Airport. We put the water on at 6:12:30. We will now go out and monitor the water and see how long it takes to boil a full gallon.<br />
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Most stove testers use the Boil Time (BT) for a mere CUP of water! What good is that unless you are a backpacker making soup? Why not go the full monty. A gallon BT will really tell you something.<br />
The only other BT that matters is a coffee pot but the size of those vary so widely it's hard to find "commonality."<br />
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The water came to a roiling boil at 6:37:00, that's 30 seconds less than 25 minutes. Yes, that seems like a long time but for a FULL gallon of water, that's nothing. We put on our four ears of corn at 6:38:00 and will time how long it takes to bring it back to a boil.<br />
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WOW, It came back to a boil in less than 3 minutes!<br />
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We pulled the corn off after 6 minutes BT @ 6:44 pm. We let them cool for a couple of minutes and scarfed down those ears like we were starving sailors stranded on a desert island.<br />
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As long as the stove is already set up, I think I will test boil a pot of coffee. Stay tuned.<br />
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I put the pot on at 7:04:00 and it boiled at 7:16:00. Bear in mind it's a large pot with a small bottom surface area. Stainless steel pots with large bottom surface areas will have lower BTs than smaller diameter vessels.<br />
This particular coffee pot is a Family Heirloom. It was the pot Doris and Don used on all their camping trips. It was in their camper th day Don had his unfortunate accident up in Washington! As such, we consider it a Sacred Obligation to use this pot to make our coffee for as long as this pot shall last.<br />
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Sometimes I get impatient with the pot and boil water in a larger diameter stock pot and then pour it into the coffee pot. This is a valid option for shortening the BT of coffee water. BT is what it is all about in camp.<br />
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Well, that concludes our test of the 413D. I will add photos later. At least we have the data. Cheers, jp<br />
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No, not quite--the Doris & Don Pot holds a couple of ounces over 8 full cups--that's 64 ounces! That's a half gallon. So the BT was actually pretty good. A full gallon with a much larger diameter bottom took 25 minutes. A half gallon with a small bottom took 12 minutes. All-in-all, I'd give that an A+.<br />
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What we do in camp is real simple. We get up and put on coffee water and then do all the other camp chores one does in the morning. It usually takes awhile to get a fire up and running. It take awhile to go to the outhouse and so forth. So, the 15 minutes or so that it takes to boil the coffee water doesn't really seem so long. Bottom line is that we let out coffee percolate for 10 minutes so you know it's at least 25 minutes to coffee when you get out of the tent. It simply cain't be done quicker for the coffee quantity and quality we desire.John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-49952955287374879812010-06-27T08:30:00.002-06:002010-06-27T08:31:31.533-06:00Coleman 413D vs 425D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCYc23yVPUwFixj9AE_cK_d_2djvemAM56ZCN978X5yPlFp-cktGFvfhsmqykoE6r82cFSxu7w0gXNvw89ATzusnM7wqzD8Azaeqi2tPauudsSRjEUKgk0G-TpoNM8Dy2YtPzsIvoo3zp/s1600/stove_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCYc23yVPUwFixj9AE_cK_d_2djvemAM56ZCN978X5yPlFp-cktGFvfhsmqykoE6r82cFSxu7w0gXNvw89ATzusnM7wqzD8Azaeqi2tPauudsSRjEUKgk0G-TpoNM8Dy2YtPzsIvoo3zp/s640/stove_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ah, the venerable Coleman stove! It's such a integral part of The Great American Camping Experience. Probably anyone who has ever camped has been up close and personal with a Coleman stove. Those green boxes are a genuine icon of camping. One of my very first memories of camping was my Dad cussing out a Coleman stove that simply wouldn't start. He'd pump and pump and cuss and cuss and that stove wouldn't budge--nary a flame to be seen from its cold, stoic burners. I've fretted over many a white gas-fueled Coleman stove myself--their frustrations are legendary.<br />
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But no more! Those days of pumping and cussing are long gone--a distant memory of bygone years. Today, we convert our old relic Coleman stove to propane and laugh all the way to the picnic table. HA! What white gas? That smelly, dangerous fuel is a thing of the past. It's probably been 15 years since we purchased a gallon of white gas. That's been at least 15 years of Coleman stove bliss. Coleman stoves are truly wonderful to use and even more so now that the Frustration Factor has been removed from the equation of their usage.<br />
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It's simple and relatively cheap to convert a Coleman to propane. You simply buy a $20 adapter, a $20 hose, a propane tank and, viola, instant success. The propane adapter fits perfectly into the stove just like the old fuel tank did. Poof, it's done in seconds. As long as your propane tank has gas in it, you're good to go. Turn a knob, fire up a match and you've got FLAME, baby! The danger of a gas explosion is virtually eliminated. What could be better than that?<br />
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Since at least the mid-1990's, we've been using a Coleman 425D. This model was built in 1965-66. It's a wonderful stove with few design drawbacks. On June 26, 2010, we accidentally found an even older Coleman 413D. It was produced from 1950-1953, probably reaching it's peak production in 1952. The overall trend in Coleman stoves has been to make them lighter and smaller with more bells and whistles. The older Coleman stoves are built like Sherman tanks--big, heavy, stout, real steel artifacts of a bygone era when American workers actually MADE stuff right here in the Good Ol' U.S.A. There's probably more real steel in an old Coleman stove than there is some modern hybrid passenger cars!<br />
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This is our very first post to the Camping Tips blog. As we've been typing this post and processing photos, we've realized we're getting in over our head on this topic. There's simply no way to summarize everything we want to say about our Coleman stoves in a single blog post. I think it's going to take at least 3 and maybe 4 (or even more) blog posts to cover this topic. WOW, my head is spinning. Anyway, here's what we will do--we will put in a little bit more about the stoves and then do back to the drawing board to "rethink" how to discuss this topic. Then, we will come back later and delete this post and start from scratch.<br />
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Here's the nitty gritty comparison between the two stoves--the 425D measures 18x12x4.375 and its burners are 9.5 inches on center. The 413D measures 22x13x5.375 and its burners are 11 inches on center.<br />
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The actual net cooking area of the 425D is 10 x 17. The net cooking area of the 413D is 20.375 x 11.25--a 35 percent increase in cooking area! The extra inch of depth and larger overall dimensions of the 413D allows storage of two green propane bottles onboard. (ALWAYS carry extra green bottles in case your large propane tank runs out of gas at a most inopportune time!)<br />
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The burners on the 413D run considerably hotter than the 425D. We clocked the right burner (always the hottest) at well over 900 degrees. The photo shows it clocking at 923! The hottest we could get the right burner on the 425D was 850 with occasional short bursts to 875. Meanwhile, the left burner on the 413D ran consistently 870 with short bursts to 900. The 425D's left burner ran only 800-830. Basically, the 413D is running roughly upwards of 10 percent hotter. This doesn't sound like much but it will make a huge difference in the time it takes to make morning coffee--a VERY important measure of any stove's success.<br />
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Well, there's huge amounts of stuff to write about these stoves but I have spent far too long this morning messing around with blogs--it's time to get out and enjoy the day. Cheers, jp<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh083kD5vGozsos-npyEJM4QpBlusBtKqUg8MS5rlEpsYh3G8536VQNlRtClrCxS1n_bR4cfVIhJIXPgapiqrvz1sjnMzJNeGzdZbF7pdMYJEbAs8NRCuqbujY6VM1CnMaFes5LFD4mPrgg/s1600/stove_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh083kD5vGozsos-npyEJM4QpBlusBtKqUg8MS5rlEpsYh3G8536VQNlRtClrCxS1n_bR4cfVIhJIXPgapiqrvz1sjnMzJNeGzdZbF7pdMYJEbAs8NRCuqbujY6VM1CnMaFes5LFD4mPrgg/s200/stove_1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCte1G0miTgb6wG04Ngn5dUl_8dxPpjb65qyY4zKR-RdTsTFVicjjXi8D-3YVHTa5nV4u0c4soARKc9481qKVpT3kJGnY2YUUebeL4u8w4oZzWaKkh8SJCjH5i-PkoxjJtkb1A0Prc-RkK/s1600/stove_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCte1G0miTgb6wG04Ngn5dUl_8dxPpjb65qyY4zKR-RdTsTFVicjjXi8D-3YVHTa5nV4u0c4soARKc9481qKVpT3kJGnY2YUUebeL4u8w4oZzWaKkh8SJCjH5i-PkoxjJtkb1A0Prc-RkK/s200/stove_2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzvBnstNvOxod4rcEZOzcGAnyrksdEnOpaUZ9TZKujBgKeDtzlmTKIBB72xxSngneXbRAK_7n5KpmbOapXA1wK6_s3l28YDNkYOHZsFeVtaawCbJLvThVBfdrWn0EIVfKRj7Gkz-eEFnR/s1600/stove_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzvBnstNvOxod4rcEZOzcGAnyrksdEnOpaUZ9TZKujBgKeDtzlmTKIBB72xxSngneXbRAK_7n5KpmbOapXA1wK6_s3l28YDNkYOHZsFeVtaawCbJLvThVBfdrWn0EIVfKRj7Gkz-eEFnR/s200/stove_3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl4g6YtSzo028DFQpnXRRtBM-HC2F5Cn1OUc6KyAWpdBKhjD_OxwuK9Ou89d2PTz49l8KeV16Dorb2kJtLIU2i2kKNlSGoedZfOQs6EWZXeufQzMtf_1PAnKhofyLRMfg9At3DpUGPD9P/s1600/stove_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl4g6YtSzo028DFQpnXRRtBM-HC2F5Cn1OUc6KyAWpdBKhjD_OxwuK9Ou89d2PTz49l8KeV16Dorb2kJtLIU2i2kKNlSGoedZfOQs6EWZXeufQzMtf_1PAnKhofyLRMfg9At3DpUGPD9P/s200/stove_4.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEIitwnb-QqjNsspKiqsoHtjO_c7hCiWrKf00OwD0MeylHDZJHiI0zbg1r6pNGHQKdsbPR8wm3SW81I0JodECRKRj-G3AMS7YEsYhcvZsicdKLAtWqFxLSsw4WQ5MMDC33zeBJCcQBKWu/s1600/stovbe_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEIitwnb-QqjNsspKiqsoHtjO_c7hCiWrKf00OwD0MeylHDZJHiI0zbg1r6pNGHQKdsbPR8wm3SW81I0JodECRKRj-G3AMS7YEsYhcvZsicdKLAtWqFxLSsw4WQ5MMDC33zeBJCcQBKWu/s200/stovbe_5.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqkuktDX1LI59195Yova-XHCCzMv_XU67Tj-SaihMQ7YoK4MryCP98xjWLNTe0rosqVX5Y8KQs2MjUTaN3f50TMKL3AuCVSITEqIfPA3pRRIA1s-Ot5JDcrhUAnBRzN7fp_fvAvL18Wfi/s1600/stove_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqkuktDX1LI59195Yova-XHCCzMv_XU67Tj-SaihMQ7YoK4MryCP98xjWLNTe0rosqVX5Y8KQs2MjUTaN3f50TMKL3AuCVSITEqIfPA3pRRIA1s-Ot5JDcrhUAnBRzN7fp_fvAvL18Wfi/s200/stove_7.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4302469305132414300.post-86747255351382447392010-06-26T07:31:00.001-06:002010-06-26T07:31:04.989-06:00Blog BornThe Camp Tip blog was created at 7:30 am June 26, 2010, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. John Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110501414573322917noreply@blogger.com0