Steve K.
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I’m partial to my driftboat because:
1. Comfort….I can fish dark to dark and not be exhausted.
2. I can float whitewater.
3. I can float slow water.
4. I can attach my 6hp longshaft and motor up and float back down …for those times when I don’t want to fool with a shuttle.
5. I can fish small farm ponds.
6. I can fish the biggest reservoirs (with motor attached). Think Hebgen gulpers.
7. I can launch anywhere as long as I can either drag the boat by hand or get the trailer close to the water.
…oh….and I’m also a little partial to wood 🙂 I bit the bullet and ordered my trailer from Hyde. It wasn’t cheap but it’s a Cadillac as far as boat trailers go. Money well spent if you are laying down some serious interstate miles.
Michael,
Lightweight means many things to many pepole….I enjoy backpacking, flyfishing and photography, all in the same trip. So weight is a huge consideration for me. I have a nice carbon fiber tripod but it is much too heavy for backpacking. A little over a year ago I tried to find a ballhead / tripod combination that was functional, somewhat sturdy, affordable and didn’t weigh a ton….it would be solely dedicated to my backpacking trips. Anyhow…after much searching, and a little alteration….I came up with a 3 pound tripod and head combination (see photo below).
It’s a carbon fiber tripod off of Ebay and is sold under the name of Amvona. I got mine for a bid of about $60 if I remember right. I believe Zach bought one for even less. I removed the bottom section of the legs to save a little weight and added a small Manfrotto ballhead. It tips the scales just below three (3) pounds. It is perfect for my application. It does have limitations but it’s weight (or lack thereof) overides a lot of the shortcomings.
In summary….don’t get this one for family portraiture and such…but if you want a really light outfit to take into the backcountry….this might be your ticket.
I see you are a macro bug fanatic. Nice shot.
Do you know Will Milne? You guys would probably hit-it-off.
Welcome to IA.
I’m a Dahlberg fan as well. Every now and then Larry Csonka has a good episode of North to Alaska. It is turning into an infomercial for lodges though.
As an aside….I can’t understand why….during the winter when a lot of fisherman are sitting by the fire on Saturday mornings….do they show mostly hunting shows. And then….during the warmer months when we are all fishing…. the networks air the fishing shows.
Just sayin’….
Thanks for the input. Matt…thanks for your offer.
The reason I bring this up…..I subscribe to a off-roaders/expedition travel message board. Many of those folks drive down to Baja from San D-eggo and camp along the beaches. They’ve mentioned some hassles with the federales like you all have said. One theme that they discuss is the fact that it is getting increasingly worse from year-to-year. Perhaps it’s the economy. I’ll see if I can find one of the pertinent threads on their message board. Their info is typically current as they travel down there year-round and provide trip reports upon their return.
thanks….Steve
Safety is an illusion.
I think Carter makes an interesting point. Chances of something negative happening are probably small. However, if you are constantly looking over your shoulder and wondering what is around the next bend….your trip will be miserable.
If you are carefree and happy-go-lucky….chances are you’ll emerge unscathed and have a blast.
Personally, I’m thinking it’s just not worth it at this point in time.
Hey guys…thanks for all the emails and words of encouragement. The photos were their undoing.
Turns out this ain’t their first rodeo.
Getaway driver (18 years old) in jail with $550 bond. Lives with grandparants and they won’t bond him out. It was their Jeep he was driving. Grandma and Grandpa seem to be good people. I feel for them. Getaway Driver is a documented gang member. Confessed to the crime but won’t give up his two buddies.
Crowbar Boy also an adult….was kicked out of school last year for a violent attack on another student during school hours. He was supposed to turn himself in last night but didn’t show.
3rd passenger…juvenile. Authorities didn’t give me his name and I didn’t ask. Interviewed yesterday.
Mailbox is still standing….3 days in a row…that’s some kind of record I believe.
Shannon you may have a point although there’s no way of knowing right now. I did get a phone call with a potential ID of Crowbar Boy. If the information is correct…..he is borderline juvenile/adult……we’ll see.
Thanks for all the assistance.
Thanks for the advice. I think an enhancement of the photograph would be acceptable just to get the identity of the offender….similar to the FBI enhancing bank robbery video. I could be wrong on this. The enhanced version might not be admissable in court though.
I did get the tag number although not a photo. They didn’t hang around long enough for me to compose a shot.
Mega props to Corey as well. I had previously seen Corey’s name in The Drake but thought it was spelled differently and possibly a different person. My apologies. I always dig his work.
Great job guys.
Okay….I’ve got one foot out of the closet so to speak. The poster formally known as “Drifter” has undergone a very difficult and stressful handle change. For those of you that have not experienced this procedure….it’s traumatic to say the least.
The bed liner is the standard one that comes with the truck. It’s some sort of composite material.
The wire shelf came from Lowe’s. It’s the type that is used in closets and you can custom cut the length to fit the contours of the fiberglass shell. It is sitting on top of two expandable shower curtain rods….I know….sounds ghetto but actually looks like it is made for that application. The shelf is secured to the rods with zip ties. The rods also sit just above the lip of the window frame for extra support. So far….so good.
The Rod Loft rod holders are zip tied to the rods as well. A set of Rod Loft racks with their rods are around $100. I ordered just the racks for about $25 bucks so I came out ahead on the deal.
Here’s some more photos:
http://www.pbase.com/stevekeeble/toyota_tacoma&view=slideshow
I’ve found that the wire rack is quite handy for hanging clothes using coat hangers.
Thanks Dusty.
It is an A.R.E. shell ( http://www.4are.com/ ). It has the “Windoors” option which I really like. You can locate a dealer by going to their website and use the “dealer locator” option. I built the sleeping platform out of 5/8 inch birch plywood.
The truck bed is 6 foot and some change. I’m 6′ 1″ and can comfortably lay down in it.
Hope this helps.
Dang Pablo…you got me all excited till I checked the spec sheet:
CAPACITY 1
Min Wt 2 lbs. 6 oz.
Pkg Wt 2 lbs. 13 oz.Were you able to trim the weight further? Did you get rid of the stakes, stuff sack, etc? I’d love to find a quality tent under 2 lbs that has a floor and mosquito netting.
I see the MontBell Crescent 1 at 2 lbs. 1 oz.
Okay…..which one of you has the obligatory IA food shot? Or were you too busy fishing 😉
You guys set the bar high with your photos and fish catching…..Nicely done guys!
Nice job Steve.
Is that the Tamiami Trail in the background of #3?
My father used to take me to the Glades and Lake Okeechobee when I was a kid (early 60s). Your photos jogged the memory some. I remember the Seminole Indians had chickees along the highway that were on stilts. I also remember Frog City as a place to gas up the car and boat and get bait.
I’ve been to the Keys several times since but not the Everglades. A spring trip to Flamingo may be in order.
Thanks again for posting.
I can also vouch for Mitch and The Gear Revival. Quality lightly used gear at cheap prices. I bought a $300 NF Gore Tex jacket from him for $150……Mountain Hardwear stuff half price….etc. Think outdoor gear thrift store.
Dave,
I use a Mountain Hardware Sprite that weighs just under 3 lbs. I’ve used a lot of backpacking tents and this is by far my most functional and lightweight I’ve used. It even packs small (I lash mine to the back of my Granite Gear pack.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___24248
This is it in the foreground:
If you want to go lighter and can do without a floor….maybe check out the Golite tarptents (about 2 pounds). One thing to consider….the tent I’ve mentioned is NOT freestanding. So if you are camping in rocky areas, driving a tent stake in the ground can be a hassle.
I’m assuming you want this for your bike trip????
