Tomorrow is the day

Faithful readers,

tomorrow I will be departing on the path to Maine. We have no itinerary, this should be a good time.

The cooler is full, the bikes are packed, kayak stuffed to the max. Items tied down, excitement level is very high.

Gone will be the familiarity of our beautiful mitten for adventure and exploring. We will be scaling walls, kayaking in the ocean, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, partying and finding treasures!

More to come later tonight. I have pics and an explanation of packing!

-J

So, packing packing packing, where to begin. I made a list a few weeks ago which was promptly lost. I made a valiant attempt to recreate that list, however I feel that that list was lacking, so I just began making piles of stuff and packing it into the bag.

I am pretty sure that I have everything packed. Watching a little Star Trek, enjoying some Leinie's Oktoberfest, and spending some quality time with C. Bromley before embarking tomorrow.

I fit all of those piles in my trekking bag.

Packed to the brim with all of the goodies that one could need for a multi-day trip.

Ready to go!

I will be using this trip to test out some of my newer jackets:

I am bringing a number of brands and weights, all with their own special features and claims. Hopefully they will provide favorable results.

Tim has allotted me space for my trekking bag, sleeping bag and a day bag.

For the day bag I selected the REI Traverse due to its ruggedness, waterproofing and capacity.

Since I am bringing the laptop and some camera equipment I plan on using my new Outdoor Products media backpack:

It will really help to keep things in order and safe from any unintentional impacts which will surely happen. So far this bag has been a good purchase, it holds everything in its own which is nice when you are traveling.

Well, it is time for bed, I leave you until probably Sunday morning. I hope you enjoy the weekend.

I leave you with a few pictures from my birthday trip home. Enjoy:

Taking some shots on the west fourty

This gnarled stump is a natural work of art.

A little grilled chicken at the Hart Motel, always a good time.

Chelsea picks out her first pumpkin at our new place, happy as ever.

I will talk to you all soon,

-J

Eton Emergency Self-Powered: Radio, weatherband, flashlight, cellphone/ ipod charger

Wow, that was a confusing thing to type, but what is not confusing is the operation of this little thing.

I purchased mine on a whim when a shop was having a sale. It just seemed to make sense; I like to do things outside where there is no power, and I am sometimes too forgetful to check the batteries in things before I do so. There it was, my solution, it is a radio/ flashlight/ cellphone charger..... all in one, no batteries required, perfect for someone like me.

To date I have used the Eton for fishing, camping, picnics, work and as a conversation piece at parties. We also used the radio feature during the many tornado watches and warnings that we had in the beginning of the summer. The reception is usually pretty good, the LED flashlight is bright enough for any situation and the volume knob goes way past eleven.

One feature that is a little of a disappointment is the cellphone/ ipod charger. It simply takes too long to charge the phone, I think that if you were in a dire situation where you needed to raise your battery level to a usable amount for an emergency call that this would come in handy. However with its slow charging time this is not a feature worth bragging about.

Overall, this is a great radio for both casual occasions and emergencies. The solar strip on the top of the unit is especially nice when you are setting up a tent, or just playing some Frisbee. Without solar backup, like in a tent at night, expect 1-2 minutes of cranking to get you about 20 minutes of steady radio reception at a moderate volume/ flashlight use. Not too bad to play cards by.

It is light, it is self-powered and works like a charm, my recommendation; buy one. Put it in your car, backpack, bedroom garage, anywhere really. 

-J

First Ascent- Little Tahoma

Eddie Bauer claims that this simple little pack is perfect for trekking or town, so I decided to put it to the test.

I got this bag around the Winter Holidays last year as a little Christmas gift to myself.

My initial trials with the Tahoma were in some frigid temps and pretty harsh conditions while on a few snowshoeing hikes.

The bag proved itself in the snow and has since proven itself in a variety of conditions and scenarios including kayak trips, hiking, jaunts into town, school bag, weekend clothes bag, biking to work bag, shopping bag and camera bag.

As with all things the Tahoma has appealing features and a few negatives.

This thing has multiple tool straps on the front which offer various ways of attaching extra items. It also has two compression straps on each side, with clips, that serve as compression straps and also aid in holding water bottles in the shallow side pockets.

The top-load feature of the large main compartment in placed in a neutral spot that allows easy access for you or a partner. While inside the main compartment you will find a hand feature, a mess pouch to keep necessaries out of the hodgepodge of the large compartment.

A quick access zipper on the top offers enough space to hold a wallet, some keys, your phone and a pocket digital cam. Lower down the pack there are two side-entrance pockets that are much roomier than they first appear. They come in very handy for holding flashlights, meal bars, tools, knives and other implements that are require quick access.

Ripstop construction assures a long life for the pack as well.

The back board does not offer much support, however in this case the flexibility of it does not take away from the pack overall. The limp back support actually helps to conform to the back, and offers a comfortable fit no matter the load, that is if the straps and compression adjustments have been made.

Little Tahoma does have accommodations for a hydration system or a laptop.

The negatives of this pack are not terrible, but they are worth mentioning:
     -Shallow water bottle pockets, while bottles fit they often fall out if not strapped in.
     -Non-waterproof zippers/ material. Not a biggie for a school bag, or a travel pack, but would have been nice on a few trips.
     -No hanger hooks for the water bladder (this causes folds in the bladder and your supply can be cut off temporally.

Overall this is a good entry level bag it also works well as a school bag or a traveling bag. It has all of the techy features that bag lovers could seek without being bulky or too heavy.

I would both buy it again, and recommend it to a friend.

In fact I bought one for C. Bromley. She loves it and will be adding her own review soon.

Take care.

-J

Eddie Bauer Friday Harbor Jacket: Test 1

Last night we were treated to a storm that was just incredible; possible hail, 70 mph+ winds, feet per hour rain amounts and monstrous thunder booms! It was great.

As we sat in the apartment I decided that this would be a great opportunity to test out the weatherproofing capabilities of my new Eddie Bauer Friday Harbor Jacket. The jacket is advertised as being waterproof, windproof and breathable. The website says that it offers, "ultimate protection in bad weather."

The severe thunderstorm of last night was definitely "bad weather." So in the midst of the storm I decided to don the jacket and run out into the malestrom.

Zipped up, hood on, flaps buttoned, and wrists tightened down I went out.

(As you can see we were prepared for power outages, and I was excited)

The jacket was very comfortable, even in the thick humid air of the storm. As soon as I stepped outside I was very happy to have it on. The rain was coming down by the bucket and when the weatherman said 70 mph winds he was not joking.

The detachable hood of the Friday Harbor provided great shelter from all that mother nature was throwing at us.

As you can see the rain just beads up and slips off the garment. I am very impressed at the breath-ability of the jacket as well. Though it is sold as a three season jacket (fall, winter, spring) I think that under the right conditions it could be the go to jacket even in a heavy summer rain. I have other shells, one from Eddie Bauer as well, for warmer weather, but if you just wanted one jacket to do the duty this might be your best bet. I remained dry the entire time I was outside dancing and running around.

The interior of the jacket is roomy enough to add a layer or too, but fitted enough to look great with just a t-shirt. I plan on continuing to test this jacket in a series to really give a good review of its claim to provide three season protection.

Let me know if you would like to see any specific options tested on it.

So far I give the Friday Harbor Jacket:

A big ole thumbs up.

Give one a shot by purchasing at:

Until next time.

J.