The shoes that I bought a couple of years ago specifically for riding began falling apart soon after purchase, so what did I do, I went out and bought another pair from the same manufacturer. I couldn't pass up the mesh and lack of standard laces. Some people swear by their Keen sandals but I like to wear socks with my footwear. These are the new Salomon Rx Travel shoes meant for pre and post workout. Orange was the only color left in my size.
I also picked up an unobtrusive mirror for riding the roads out to the state park.
I stopped by a local military surplus store and bought a well used and very dirty Esbit stove (the only one left) as well as a unused surplus French army cook stove. I picked up a box of fuel tablets from Backwoods. I made out pretty well as the stoves were only $3.50 each and the fuel tablets were $7.00.
The kids decided to help out with the water boil test. It took me a while to clean out the Esbit stove so I lined the bottom with tinfoil to keep it clean. The fuel tablets leave lots of residue. I filled the pot with 16oz of water. This was probably too much as I went through two tablets and couldn't get the water to boil. I'm thinking that the tinfoil might also be a problem. It blocked airflow from below, there are holes in the bottom of the stove.
I placed a new fuel tablet in the French stove and had the water boiling in no time. Of course the water was still hot from the previous attempt.
The short support arms on the French stove brings the pot closer to the flame.
I stopped by a local military surplus store and bought a well used and very dirty Esbit stove (the only one left) as well as a unused surplus French army cook stove. I picked up a box of fuel tablets from Backwoods. I made out pretty well as the stoves were only $3.50 each and the fuel tablets were $7.00.
The kids decided to help out with the water boil test. It took me a while to clean out the Esbit stove so I lined the bottom with tinfoil to keep it clean. The fuel tablets leave lots of residue. I filled the pot with 16oz of water. This was probably too much as I went through two tablets and couldn't get the water to boil. I'm thinking that the tinfoil might also be a problem. It blocked airflow from below, there are holes in the bottom of the stove.
I placed a new fuel tablet in the French stove and had the water boiling in no time. Of course the water was still hot from the previous attempt.
The short support arms on the French stove brings the pot closer to the flame.
The most important new item, a French press. There's nothing better than coffee on a campout. I've never used a French press before so I thought I should practice beforehand.
What will you be able to see in that mirror other than your left leg?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you can make it out in the photo but you can see the roadway and the trees. I just coast with my left pedal up to see under my thigh. I'll remount it somewhere else later. I'm trying to avoid taking up anymore bar space.
ReplyDeleteTakes me back to MY day with a mirror! I didn't take up bar space, either...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dfwptp.blogspot.com/2009/10/mirror-crackd.html
Speaking of not wearing socks with sandles - I have a friend who wears Birkenstock sandles year-round (yes, even in the snow), but he always wears socks with them. Lighter socks in the summer, heavier wool socks in the winter. He even has green socks for St. Patrick's day! That French press looks very useful, albeit intimidating. I've never used one either. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's it, you're ready. Let's go.
ReplyDeleteyou're riding in style myles! make sure you stir the grounds in the french press about a minute into the steeping (and use a coarse grind).
ReplyDeletehere's a vid that could help from some west coast coffee guru's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7AREKxkiRw&feature=channel_page
nathan
French Press coffee is wonderful! I usually do tea on bike camping trips, as it's incredibly easy to bring a couple teabags along.
ReplyDeleteYou can wear socks with sandals! Some people have a kneejerk reaction against it, but I've tried it a few times recently, and it really worked quite well.
Keens are pretty good but they do stink if worn for many days in a row without socks. I would wash'em every so often!
ReplyDeletePlease let us know how the coffee press works!
Peace :)
Huh...missed the coffee press. I have a couple of different ones. I prefer my Bodum, but also have the less breakable GSI Lexan model. I have also been known to drag a hand held coffee grinder along too. Some of us have no shame :-D
ReplyDeleteAaron
Everybody-I like Keen Sandals and I'm sure I'll end up buying a pair before the summer is over. The thing that bothers me about sandals is sweaty feet and when grit gets between your foot and the insole, that drives me crazy.
ReplyDeleteI picked up some whole bean coffee from Addison Coffee Roasters. They from Addison, Texas (Dallas area) and they roast some pretty good coffee. I'm going to give the press a try. Nathan, thanks for the link to the video. It was just what I was looking for.
Good call on the french press for camping. I have a french press that folds to fit into a widemouth nalgene bottle... definitely the best camping coffee I've ever had.
ReplyDelete