Recent content by oldschool

I noticed that the older I got, the thicker the Thermarest pad had to be. After doubling them up in an effort to get some good sleep, I made the transition to using a hammock. Several years ago my wife started using trekking poles when hiking. Being the supportive husband that I am, I, of...

Heather, I'm enjoying your trip reports (and your blog). You are so much better at putting your observations and feelings in to words than I am. How do you remember all the details? Do you keep a daily journal while tripping?

You could be right about a possible early ice out, srobocop. Here in the Adirondacks, we've had lots of snow but mild temperatures. It takes sub-zero temperatures (which we haven't had for 2 months) to form thick lake ice beneath the insulating layer of snow.

Rare is the day when Low's is like glass. Thanks for taking the time to set up all those scenes.

That's good news Steve. And thanks for sharing about your accident. It was a good reminder for this self-employed carpenter to make very deliberate movements when that saw is running.

My natural inclination is to get to my destination asap so that my vacation can start. My wife is the opposite. So I think I have mellowed a little after 35 years of marriage. So I am learning to enjoy the journey even though I'm on an interstate. When our family was young, we learned that...

I've split a laminated paddle blade because I used it to chop through ice on a late season day trip. It was easily repaired.

Beautiful pics. Where in PA is Bradu's Lake?

I got a couple of books for Christmas: "Crusoe of Lonesome Lake" by Leland Stowe. This is actually a re-read for me; I was assigned to read it in school 40 years ago. It may have been one of the few assignments that I actually did back then. I couldn't remember the author, main character, or...

I thought the Minnesota state bird was the mosquito.

One of the things you have probably already considered is what kind of paddling/tripping you do. And then ask yourself what kind of tripping you want to do. The weight of the solo canoe is very important; many folks make it the most imortant consideration during the purchasing process. I...

Attempting to rip wet lumber or foil covered insulation board with a Saw Stop starts to get expensive. I just have to remember to use the bypass switch. Hopefully other saw manufacturers will develope their own finger saving brakes.

SG, when you refer to mahogany, what type of mahogany are you talking about?

I love Old Forge Hardware; it wasn't until my third visit that I finally stopped getting lost. The first few visits are like being in a maze and not sure of they way out. Its not often that one gets to go in to a store that still has the old, creaky wood floors. I feel like I walked in to a...

Robin, you are living the dream. Your canoe rack caught my eye: I didn't see any diagonal braces. Is there special hardware attaching the horizontal brackets to the wall?