Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

[stingo]

Excellent report, and great pics. I can sympathize as the last time I was out camping it got really (unexpectedly cold) - I was grateful to have a good cold weather sleeping bag, "just in case".

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

I can make a killer campfire, though.

As a man, that's your only REAL required skill. Let the womenfolk domesticate--we just discover/invent. Congrats.

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Too cold and too uncomfortable on the air mattress.

Totally agree. I have one but never use it--I'm much more comfortable on bare, hard ground with maybe a thin mat underneath. It sags in the middle and really throws my back outta whack. Plus, all that air between you and the ground isn't heated.

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Our selection of a tent based on its "high level of airflow" was looking less than smart. We were thinking about hot summer nights, not the wind chill factor.

No matter what the temperature, you'll be thankful for that once you break out the baked beans.

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Give Jack a stick and some dirt and he's set for two hours

That could be said for a lot of people around here.

Originally Posted by RedLefty

We went down a lot of trails and even skirted the Brazos river for a while, which is approximately the color and consistency of diahhrea. But hey, it's a river.

Yes, a raging river of poo.

"Daddy, what's that smell?"
"That's Houston, honey."

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Saturday night we ate burgers and hot dogs, and a buddy of mine had brought a 6-inch black and white TV with some rabbit ears. He could get a fuzzy version of CBS. Final Four action. Oh yeah. I got to "see" the Jayhawks win while sitting under the stars, next to a campfire with friends. Good memory.

A sign of a true outdoorsman, right next to someone going on a blankets-and-jeans run.

Originally Posted by RedLefty

I had three desserts that night -- smores, apple cobbler (made in the new dutch oven my father-in-law brought) and some cake and ice cream. I have no idea where the cake and ice cream came from, but a guy offered me some and I accepted.

You had me at "dutch oven."

Originally Posted by RedLefty

--No shower/shaving for three days. Just a normal weekend for Phaedrus, but for me it was novel and nice. The added manliness helped me grow two new chest hairs, bringing me to a a grand total of three.

No real need to shower or shave during a three-day orgy/bender. Plus, I don't have a wife and kids to please, just a dog and sometimes a girlfriend. I just blame the dog for any wayward odors.

Looks/Sounds like a great time. I haven't been camping since high school, but the itch has never left; life's just kinda gotten in the way, ya know? You'll be wanting to get back out sooner than you think. Just don't wait for that Houston summer to creep in; it's a long time to autumn in your neck of the woods.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

I haven't been camping since high school, but the itch has never left.

I hear they have creams for that.

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I hear they have creams for that.

When the doctor walks back in holding a chart and says, "Well, Mr. Smith, I gotta be honest: I've never seen anything like this before, at least not in humans," you know it'll take more than a topical treatment.

[RedLefty]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

As a man, that's your only REAL required skill. Let the womenfolk domesticate--we just discover/invent. Congrats.

Good to know! My fraternity in college made bonfires sometimes, and for one year I was in charge of them. Everybody complained that I got it too hot.

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

Totally agree. I have one but never use it--I'm much more comfortable on bare, hard ground with maybe a thin mat underneath. It sags in the middle and really throws my back outta whack. Plus, all that air between you and the ground isn't heated.

I'm thinking you and I are alike here. I'd like to try just a sleeping bag next time, or maybe that pad thingie mentioned earlier by RobLL.

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

A sign of a true outdoorsman, right next to someone going on a blankets-and-jeans run.

Well played. I'll give you that one.

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

You had me at "dutch oven."

Funny story here. RW's dad (RWD) has a way of asking for advice and then completely ignoring it and doing his own thing. That happened with the cooktime for his apple cobbler, 20 minutes after we'd put it in the coals:

RWD: So how long should it cook?
RL: I don't know -- how you seen it done before, or read about it?
RWD: Yes, and everybody says 20 to 30 minutes.
RL: So lets take it out and peek at it.
RWD: No, I made a thick cobbler here. It'll take longer to cook.

(20 minutes later)
RL: Alright, it's been 40 minutes now. Ready to take it out?
RWD: No, the coals have been cooling down. It needs to go longer.
RL: But wouldn't that be accounted for in the 20/30 minute recommendation? Nobody can tend a fire while there's an iron oven in the middle of it.
RWD: We'll wait

(Another 20 minutes later)
RL: Been 60 minutes now. Can we take it out?
RWD: I don't think so. 75 or 80 minutes might be just right.
RL: Dad, if it's undercooked we can put it back in. But if it's torched then it's too late and we need to grab it now.
RWD: Okay.

We took it out and the top was completely black. He had to scrape off an entire layer of biscuits and some apples too. Then scrape some more off the bottom. We ended up with about half of it being edible. Still delicious, though!

We had an identical exchange later regarding the amount of coffee grounds to put in the French Press...

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

Just don't wait for that Houston summer to creep in; it's a long time to autumn in your neck of the woods.

Summer runs from May to September. It's almost here!

[LisaS]

Sounds like it is a good thing you put up the tent for RWD or you might still be out there talking about it.

[Phaedrus49er]

He just likes his cobbler Cajun-style.

(I love how "dutch over" elicits the most response.)

By the way, you mentioned all the Reds present except RedScrote. I assume he hung in there?

[LisaS]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

.

that's not a plastic container of lighter fluid in the lower left corner is it? If so - all claims to campfire building prowess are thereby annulled.

[kfisherx]

Hmmm.... Not nearly the disaters I was hoping for but good wholesome reading nonetheless. As a seasoned camper, I know that you always, always, always layer for 30 or less temp and also always, always, always have extras in case you get wet.

It is actually a good thing it didn't rain on you with rhose little ones. That can be real taxing.

Nic pics btw. Gives a good look at the family in a more normal light than just the logs.

Oh yeah, and way to stick to the ol' diet there.

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by LisaS

that's not a plastic container of lighter fluid in the lower left corner is it? If so - all claims to campfire building prowess are thereby annulled.

Oh... my... god... I just lost all respect...

[RedLefty]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

found it! dobson or fishfly larvae.

Maybe yours was, you lucky dog. Ours was just a boring millipede.

Originally Posted by stingo

Excellent report, and great pics. I can sympathize as the last time I was out camping it got really (unexpectedly cold) - I was grateful to have a good cold weather sleeping bag, "just in case".

Yeah, RW brought one back on Saturday. I indeed own a nice cold-weather sleeping bag. We just didn't bring it the first time.

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

By the way, you mentioned all the Reds present except RedScrote.

It was touch and go on Friday night, with very little touching. The boys were trying to find warmer and higher ground.

Originally Posted by LisaS

that's not a plastic container of lighter fluid in the lower left corner is it? If so - all claims to campfire building prowess are thereby annulled.

I said I could build a campfire. I don't think I ever said I got to build it on Saturday. RWD had it going before Samantha had woken up.

Originally Posted by kfisherx

As a seasoned camper, I know that you always, always, always layer for 30 or less temp and also always, always, always have extras in case you get wet.

Oh yeah, and way to stick to the ol' diet there.

Yeah, that would be proof that I was a camping virgin.

And what diet, Senorita Bulks-a-Lot? In the words of Alan Aragon, I avoid food avoidance.

[RedLefty]

With all this talk of scrotes I forgot to mention that I lifted today. NROL Strength I. Time for the hardest workouts of my life in terms of effort and prehab focus. I'm bouncing back from leg and shoulder injuries and am ready to go. We'll see what results from it.

--Front Squat (6/1/6/1/10-12/15-20, 311, 180RI) - 6 @ 95lbs, 1 @ 135lbs, 6 @ 95lbs, 1 @ 135lbs, 10 @ 65lbs, 15 @ 65lbs

SUPERSET
--Bulgarian split squat (3x15ea, 311, 0RI) - 15 @ BW, 12 @ BW, bonk
--Step-ups (3x15ea, 311, 90RD) - 15 @ BW, 8 @ BW, bonk

SUPERSET
--back extension (2x10, 222, 90RI) - 10 @ 10-lb plate, 10 @ 10-lb plate
--Swiss ball crunch (2x10, 222, 90RI) - 10 @ 10-lb plate, 10 @ 10-lb plate

What I noticed:
1) It's been a while since I did any significant lower body work. Felt good but very weak.
2) My core is significantly stronger than before. I guess daily rotating planks for rehab can have that effect.
3) Alwyn still sucks donkey balls. I bonked hard on the first superset.
4) For a while, every minute I spend on lower body Alwyn workouts will have to be matched with a minute on prehab work. It's just what I'm going to have to do until these hip/glute muscles get retrained properly. I have no interest in returning to the land of shaky patellas.

And you will all be very pleased to hear that the YMCA had the usual suspects out to play today:

1) I was at the urinal in the locker room when I heard the door open. "~YAHHHHH-deeee-BOOOOOO.... diddy-diddy-bum-bum....just tell me if you want me to stop~", sang the opera man, looking right at me. He started singing the second he entered the door.
2) Kent was there. Hawaiian pants, polo shirt, pulled up socks, weird medicine ball drills. The usual.
3) A guy was doing military press on the smith machine. And he put collars on the bar to hold the weights on. Yeah.

And is it just me, or does Tyler Hansbrough look perpetually surprised?

[RacerBill]

Great camp stories. That was certainly a memorable time.

Here's what Rob was talking about. Now I'm convinced that "LL" in his screen name is a subtle advertising strategy:

Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro Sleeping Pad: Sleeping Pads at L.L.Bean