Blog - Page 3 of 5

GEARING UP

Treated myself to an early xmas of sorts and got a bunch of stuff I need for the road, since I’m likely to be on the road and in the desert for xmas.

Reese 37096 Front Hitch Receiver — Reese 37096 Towpower Front Hitch Receiver

– Got a front receiver hitch for my van so I have a solid front recovery point, though also the capability to have a front step, basket for generator, firewood, or other camp/road gear, AND can better hook up and steer trailers into tight spots or in recovery situations. Also makes it easier to reverse direction on a tight trail where one may not have enough room to back both trailer and vehicle off the trail.

Hoping to install it this Thurs when it warms up a bit. Well below freezing and gloomy out there lately.

– A 3in x 8ft 30,000lb tree-saver/winch strap/tow strap (below) to go with the 30ft 24,000lb recovery/tow strap I already have. Both are from TGL Recovery Gear, which I honestly don’t know anything about, though they sure get a lot of good reviews on amazon for their stuff and my 30′ strap has performed great, though hasn’t seen a ton of use. They’re offering a 15% off coupon as of this writing on the 30′ strap.

TGL 3 inch, 8 Foot Tree Saver, Winch Strap, Tow Strap 30,000 Pound Capacity — TGL 3 inch, 8 Foot Tree Saver, Winch Strap, Tow Strap

3" Tow Strap label — 30,000 Pound Capacity

– An All Weather Notebook from Snugpak. I’m all the time making quick notes in the field about flora, fauna, animal tracks and sizes of all, or camera settings, etc. I like this all-weather notebook more than the other popular brand because it is larger at 4″x6″ and easier to use with gloves on. Also easier to write in.

In my tests so far it works really well with regular pens, pencils, and Sharpie (which sometimes beads up on all-weather paper but not in this notebook). Ink from my Micron pens needs a few secs to dry or may smudge. It also has, inside the back cover so it stays clean, handy rulers in both inches and millimeters and conversion charts for length, weight, and temps.

Be aware, if you order from amzn there is just one notebook in the order, not three or four as they picture. It’s also green, not tan as they picture, which is fine with me. Mine is a full 6″ long, however, contrary to what a previous reviewer found.

4″ x 6″ All Weather Notebook from Snugpak

All Weather Notebook from Snugpak — Inside back cover with rulers and conversion charts

Snugpak has a bunch of great stuff. I have three of their Jungle Blankets, too, and use them regularly for myself and camp guests.

– Finally got another pair of good touch-screen gloves. I use these all the time when camping, with my cameras and mobile devices. I and want gloves that both keep my hands warmer and are effective with touch screens. My old ones from Manfrotto finally wore out a fingertip. I’ve had these a couple weeks now and can say they work even better than my old ones did. I like that they have grip texture in the palms, too. Very handy when gripping gear.

Touch Screen Gloves with Grip Palms — Handy Grip Palms

FAVORITE SPOTS

by Road

I have favorite spots around the country for making images.

I’ve scouted them for angle, lighting, night sky views, and overall vibe. Sometimes I look a long time before finding one that feels right.

A recent favorite spot, though, wasn’t scouted, chosen, or contemplated. It was just there, at the edge of camp. All I need do is turn my head.

Two favorite images were made right in this little slip between cattails.

One last year of my @hornbeckboats 14’ Nomad, Viking-like in stillness…

and one this year of a Great Blue Heron that came to visit at breakfast, wary but patient in posing.

Now I have the image at the top of this post, made right at the edge of camp, as a third favorite from this spot on the shore, to remind me that spots full of promise and beauty can be anywhere.

All you have to do is turn your head.

Where are your favorite spots, whether for making images or just being?

————————————
#favoritespot #myfavoritespot #naturephotography #wildlifephotographer #naturephotograph #newenglandautumn #writerphotographer #perfectspot #exploretocreate #goneoutdoors #mylifemyway #mylifeoutdoors #nomadphotographynetwork #passionproject #getoutandexplore #canoelife #birdphoto #greatblueheron #lightestboatsinthewoods #overlandadventure #photoop #photoopportunity #justlook #turnaround #magick #truemagic #photographylessons #photoworkshop #workshopleader

MILKY WAY MEMORIES – Night Sky Envy

by Road

Been a few inquiries about and requests for my night sky images.

This one, I think, is one of my best. It was made in early spring of last year between Alpine and Marathon in far West Texas.

It’s a single frame shot, the result of many long nights playing in the Chihuahuan Desert borderlands. With the darkest night skies in the lower forty-eight, one inevitably compares all other night skies to these.

The Yuccas in this image are nine, ten feet tall, to give you an idea of scale.

The Milky Way’s galactic core, so wonderfully apparent in this image, won’t appear again above the horizon in the northern hemisphere until late winter. It will be visible, then, for six or seven months.

I’ve already started scouting spots around the North America to take advantage of angles, perspectives, and times when the core is visible and the moon is dark in coming months.

Who wants to learn more about #nightskyphotography, stars and constellations, and shooting the Milky Way? I offer private lessons and small group workshops in a basecamp environment.

To learn more in general about night skies around the world, visit the International Dark-Sky Association @idadarksky

#astrophotography #milkywaypics #starchaser #milkywaychaser #farwesttexas #bibe #bigbend #borderlands #milkyway #photography #skyporn #celestialmadman #giantyucca #photographyworkshops #astrophotographyworkshops #westtexas #terlingua #marathontexas #alpinetexas #igerstexas #tmwanders #nightscaper #igtexas #instagramtexas #idadarksky #longexposure_shots #nightshooters #nightimages #longexpo

MAPS! Love my paper maps. . .

by Road

Easy to tell what I’m researching and thinking about as far as destinations when you see which map books I have out.

The DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer map books pretty much set the standard when they started publishing the Maine Atlas & Gazetteer In 1976. It was their first product, and I’m tickled that Swiss company @Garmin, who bought DeLorme in Feb 2016, has kept the original cover for the Maine Atlas, while all other have the new cover.

DeLorme went on, of course, to develop the inReach, which set the standard for survival communication gear and is why Garmin bought the company.

I’ve owned and used several copies of the Maine Atlas over the years, starting when it was first published over 40yrs ago. The whole series is highly recommended. The back covers show how each state is divided up in pages for quick ref.

The Backroad Mapbooks from @backroadmapbooks are the smaller but equally impressive Canadian version and have proved indispensable in researching upcoming planned adventures. Highly recommended!

Last in the pic is my 2018 copy of The Milepost from @themilepostofficial, THE Bible of North Country Travel. Indispensable. Thorough. Recommended!

Links to mapbooks on Amazon, where I bought mine:

DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteers

Backroad Map Books (Canadian Provinces)

The Milepost – since 1949, the bible of the North Country. Includes Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories

………
#maps #papermaps #delorme #atlas #gazetteer #garmin #enroute #travelplans #northcountry #atlanticprovinces #maritimes #optoutside #overland #expedition #adventure #letsgosomewhere #letsgetlost #adventurist #explorer #toomanycrowdsincali #welivetoexplore #explorenorthamerica #solotravel #wanderer #graveltravel #boondocking #travelblog #getoutstayout #roadlife #ontheroad

Books, Boots, & Hats

by Road

Books, boots, and hats, pretty much in that order; that’s what I most depend on in life.

Books. Far as I’m concerned, one can never have too many books. Books can be powerful, magic, things if you let them.

The titles of these two books are self explanatory and help fulfill my insatiable curiosity about woods and water. Both are considered classics and both are reads I’m eager to absorb.

Look for future reviews on each. You can find out more about these two titles here:

* The Science and Art of Tracking – Nature’s Path To Spiritual Discovery – Tom Brown, Jr., acclaimed outdoorsman, author and tracker extraordinaire.

More about Tom Brown Jr

Other books by Tom Brown Jr

* Finding Your Way Without Map Or Compass – Harold Gatty, legendary Australian navigator and explorer.

More about Harold Gatty

Other books by Harold Gatty.

Boots. Well hell, I’ve been wearing good western boots since I was a young teenager. That’s like seven decades ago now. No, all seriousness aside, I’ve learned that having several pair of good boots, whether western or not, to rotate wearing saves my feet, overall health, and the boots too. Choosing boots wisely pays off in the long run with good footwear that will last you longer and allow you to be on your feet longer to do the work you need to do.

These are my favorite boots, Justin #1122, still made in the USA of what they call Mulehide but is actually a thick steer hide. This is my second pair, my first pair having been bought in the 70’s. Yeah, like last century 70’s. They wear like iron and outlast any other good working boot I’ve ever owned.

Of course, like most well-made things I like, they quit making these a few years ago. If anyone finds a pair of Justin #1122 in 8.5D, new or decently used, I’ll pay a finders fee if I end up getting them. I’m serious. I like these boots that much.

They’re due for a good cleaning and greasing. I like Huberd’s Shoe Grease for that. It’s an old standby going back to before the Great Depression and is made from pine tar and beeswax with no animal fat or tallow. It’s great for softening, waterproofing, and preserving leather without causing deterioration of threads and stitching. It’s one of those touchstone smells, too, that always brings back memories of where and when I used it before.

Hats. I love my hats. This one is a new Akubra from Australia, something I’ve been wanting for a long time. It’s their Snowy River in a Santone Fawn color and is a classic stockman’s hat meant for all weather. I love this color and it fits my gigantic noggin quite well. You can bet I’ll be getting their classic Cattleman hat, too.

Books, Boots, and Hats. That’s what I depend on most in my life, for both traveling and sitting around jawing.

What do you depend on most?

#books #boots #hats #haroldgatty #tombrownjr #knowledge #knowledgeispower #liveauthentic #akubra #myoutdoorlife #geartesting #sustainablelifestyle #optoutside #worktravel #justin #adventurist #realvanlife #bushcraft #getoutandexplore #tracking #orienteering #nomap #nocompass #noproblem #readingsign #spirit

Tags

…