What's in those tubs?

About 35 years ago we realized "containerized camping" was the way to go.  Everything has its place.

So, what's with the Year Twenty Fifteen rig?  What's in those tubs?

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.

OK, here's the contents of the nine gray tubs:

1. Tent
2. Cooking utensils
3. Food
4. Coffee
5. Share rain gear
6. Susun clothes
7. Susun hike stuff
8. John clothes
9. John hike stuff

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!

The six gallon milk crate holds all the tie down material to pitch a tarp.  The three .30 caliber ammo cans hold:

1. Eating utensils
2. Spices
3. Bear Spray

A separate metal box hold a variety of mosquito, gnat, and tick repellents.  We call it The Bug Box.

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.

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?

Stealth Cam G26NG Review

We 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.

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.

Originally, the supply of this particular game cameras filled an entire end cap and spanned two pallets!

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.

 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.

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.

Once we find 8 AA batteries and one of our many spare SD cards, this review process will continue.  Stay tuned.

The manual for this model is located here:

http://www.gsmoutdoors.com/downloads/61/stealth-cam-2013-2014-manuals/  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.

Buckaroo Coffee

Stephen Neal Saqui

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.

Creating Space

We keep a lot of old OSB and scrap lumber around to tinker with rigging our camping gear each year.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

POOF, Creating Space!

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.

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.

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.

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.

 Not only do four small tubs now fit between the cooler and the stove, we have space for 3 ammo cans.

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.

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.

All the overnight stuff (tent, sleeping bags, pillows, foam pads, etc.) goes up front on top of the safety gear.

Corn cakes

YUM!  Agave syrup, butter, yogurt and chopped walnuts on top of a corn cake.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/corn-muffin-pancakes/

When Bigger Is Better

Each 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This morning we were very happy to see hoe much room we had in the 426D.  TONS of space!

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.

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.

And not only that but the griddle fits INSIDE the stove!  YEA!

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.

Both the griddle and the big Lodge cast iron skillet look like a match made in Heaven on this stove.

We swapped out our small coffee pot for a much larger version.

The surface area of the 426D is so large the possibilities seem endless.

Here's a small wok, a stainless skillet and a griddle, too.

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.

Potassium and Tomatoes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
xxx

Nutrition Facts Tomatoes Sun-Dried Serving Size 100g Calories 258 % Daily Value* Total Fat 2.97g 5%     Saturated Fat 0.426g 2% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 247mg 10% Total Carbohydrate 55.8g 19%     Dietary Fiber 12.3g 49%     Sugar 37.6g ~ Protein 14.1g ~ Vitamin A 17% • Vitamin C 65% Calcium 11% • Iron 51% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Vitamins   %DV Vitamin A 874IU 17%     Retinol equivalents 44μg ~     Retinol 0μg ~     Alpha-carotene 0μg ~     Beta-carotene 524μg ~     Beta-cryptoxanthin 0μg ~ Vitamin C 39.2mg 65% Vitamin E 0.01mg 0% Vitamin K 43μg 54% Vitamin B12 0μg 0% Thiamin 0.528mg 35% Riboflavin 0.489mg 29% Niacin 9.05mg 45% Pantothenic acid 2.087mg 21% Vitamin B6 0.332mg 17% Folate 68μg 17%     Folic Acid 0μg ~     Food Folate 68μg ~     Dietary Folate Equivalents 68μg ~ Choline 104.6mg ~ Lycopene 45902μg ~ Lutein+zeazanthin 1419μg ~

Minerals   %DV Calcium 110mg 11% Iron 9.09mg 51% Magnesium 194mg 49% Phosphorus 356mg 36% Sodium 247mg 10% Potassium 3427mg 98% Zinc 1.99mg 13% Copper 1.423mg 71% Manganese 1.846mg 92% Selenium 5.5μg 8% Water 14.56g ~ Ash 12.6g ~

Stats Percent of Daily Calorie Target (2000 calories) 12.9% Percent Water Composition 14.6% Protein to Carb Ratio (g/g) 0.25

Nutrition Facts Tomatoes Sun-Dried Serving Size 54g Calories 139 % Daily Value* Total Fat 1.6g 2%     Saturated Fat 0.23g 1% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 133mg 6% Total Carbohydrate 30.1g 10%     Dietary Fiber 6.6g 26%     Sugar 20.3g ~ Protein 7.6g ~ Vitamin A 9% • Vitamin C 35% Calcium 6% • Iron 27% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Vitamins   %DV Vitamin A 471.96IU 9%     Retinol equivalents 23.76μg ~     Retinol 0μg ~     Alpha-carotene 0μg ~     Beta-carotene 282.96μg ~     Beta-cryptoxanthin 0μg ~ Vitamin C 21.17mg 35% Vitamin E 0.01mg 0% Vitamin K 23.22μg 29% Vitamin B12 0μg 0% Thiamin 0.285mg 19% Riboflavin 0.264mg 16% Niacin 4.887mg 24% Pantothenic acid 1.127mg 11% Vitamin B6 0.179mg 9% Folate 36.72μg 9%     Folic Acid 0μg ~     Food Folate 36.72μg ~     Dietary Folate Equivalents 36.72μg ~ Choline 56.48mg ~ Lycopene 24787.08μg ~ Lutein+zeazanthin 766.26μg ~

Minerals   %DV Calcium 59.4mg 6% Iron 4.91mg 27% Magnesium 104.76mg 26% Phosphorus 192.24mg 19% Sodium 133mg 6% Potassium 1850.58mg 53% Zinc 1.07mg 7% Copper 0.768mg 38% Manganese 0.997mg 50% Selenium 2.97μg 4% Water 7.86g ~ Ash 6.8g ~

Stats Percent of Daily Calorie Target (2000 calories) 6.95% Percent Water Composition 14.6% Protein to Carb Ratio (g/g) 0.25