You love the water but you camera doesn’t.  How do you remember your canoeing vacation when you are worried about ruining your camera.  The are two ways to go.

Disposable Cameras

This the way to go if you do not want to risk your expensive camera.  The downside is that you cannot zoom in and can only take a few cameras.  If they get wet your cooked.  You can get waterproof cameras that have a plastic case around them but if you drop it on the ground, it gets scratched and your pictures are blurry.  They also cost a lot more.

 Waterproof Camera Bag

This is the best option if you want to take your camera along with you.  It is similar to those dry bags you can get but is just a lot smaller.  They are made for cell phones but they can actually fit more inside.   It fit my digital camera, extra batteries, wallet and my cell phone in this little dry bag.  The best part is that you roll the end of it to seal it and in the process you create a pocket of air that protects everything inside.

The price is about the same.

Disposable Camera -  $5.00

Waterproof Camera - $15.00

Dry Bag - $23.80 at EMS 

Camera, Canoeing, Dry Bag

The first park on the way to #1 is Acadia National Park in Maine. This is an amazing park with all types of views and land types. There are mountains, oceans, shorelines, lakes and even woodlands.

The cool part of Acadia is that it is mostly on two islands, Mount Desert Island and Isle Au Haut. It is one of the smallest parks in the country yet it still attracts 3 million visitors a year.

There are tons of things to do.

• Whale Watching
• Nature Tours
• Hiking
• Fishing
• Bicycling
• Paddling
• Swimming

You can also take a free island explore bus which will take you through most of the park and stops at the major points of interest. There are even bike racks in the front of the bus in case you want to take the bus a bit and then bike for a while.

Fees

Camping (per site per night)
Blackwoods Campground: $20 (May 1-October 31), $10 (April and November), free (December 1-March 31)
Seawall Campground: $14 walk-in, $20 drive-in

Ranger-Led Programs - All other programs are free.
Beyond the Beach: $10 adults, $5 children 5-12, free under 5
Knowing the Night: $10 adults, $5 children 8-12
Riding the Roads: $15 adults, $10 youth 14-16
Boat Cruises: Prices vary; check with boat operators.

Links

Acadia National Park (Government Website)

Acadia National Park (Visitor Website)

National Geographic - Acadia

Arcadia Magic (cool pictures)

Gallery

So you are about to be ending your workweek in a day or two.  What is the best way to relax around your back yard or around the wilderness.  Go lay on some rope.  Hammocks are some of the most comfortable ways to nap for a few minutes are sleep all night.

For a fancy hammock that can stay out in your yard all summer, I would get the canvas/cotton hammock Byer of Maine Rumba.  I actually own this one and it has been through summers of direct sun and normal wear and tear and is still in perfect shape.  You can either buy the stand for it or tie it too a tree.  We have it sitting by the pool and it works great.

For a more classic hammock try the normal woven one that is cheap and still works really great.  The woven one you can also make yourself if you feel up to it but I think it is worth the $20 to shell out.  Unfortunately, the hammock doesn’t come with the beautiful ocean view. 

Another hammock I tried and thought was very cool was the tent/hammock combo.  Basically, it is a tent over your hammock.  It is a great way to camp lightweight and is very cool in the hot summer nights.

Here are some other cool and mostly useless hammocks.

The $20,000 hammock that is talked about in The Whispering Crane Institute.

 Or you could take a bath.  It is made out of  “soft polyurethane shell deforms to accommodate the contours of the body.”

Aww Of Course.

Funny Hammocks, hammocks, Sleep, Tent Hammocks, Wierd Hammocks

This is a very easy recipie that anyone can cook.  It doesn’t take a lot of time to cook, prepare, or even clean up.

First cook the sausage until its done.  Toss them on a paper plate with a paper towel on it to absorb some of the grease and make clean up easier.  Just a sidenote - Don’t leave garbage around that smells good to animals.  I doubt this recepie will make enough for all of the wilderness to eat too.

Next scramble the eggs in a small pan.  As the eggs become cooked, add the precooked sausage and completely finish cooking.  

Add shreddded cheese. 

While that is finishing cooking, wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and throw them on the grill or on a hot pan for about 3-5 min.

Quick tip - If tortillas are hard, wrap in wet paper towel for a while and they may soften.

To finish, fill the tortilla with the egg, sausage, and cheese mix. Add salsa if you like and fold it like a regular burrito.

EXTRAS - Try hash browns, bacon, onions, peppers, ham or whatever you enjoy.  

Breakfast, Camping, Recipie

There are a ton of types of sleeping bags out in stores today. Which one is best for you depends on the type of camping you are planning to do.

What Matters?

Size. Of course size matters.

If you were going camping in a RV or anything else that storage is not an issue, you would want to stick with the cheap bags you can get pretty much anywhere. They are really cheap and provide just as much comfort if not more than any other type of bags out there.

Things are different if you plan to backpack or travel by water.

When you backpack, weight becomes an issue and well as space. You need a bag than can keep you warm at night and still is lightweight. Do not be fooled with a fleece bag or a fleece sleeping bag liner. I have used them before in the middle of summer and still found myself cold and shivering through the night. The lightest insulation for sleeping bags is downfill or just sometimes just called “down“.

Water

Another factor you need to consider is the ability of the fabric to resist water and how quick it will dry if it does get wet. There are not too many “waterproof” bags out there because if they don’t let moisture in, they won’t let body moisture out either. The best bet is to get an articifial fill like polyester or nylon or even a polyester/cotton blend.

Types of Bags

Mummy Bags (Cocoon Bag)

The best type of bag to use in colder temperatures because it allows you to draw the bag around your mouth so that you retain as much body heat as possible. Another plus for the mummy is the bottom of the bag tapers so that it is smaller around your feet, requiring less energy to heat and stay warm.

Tapered Bag

Similar to a Mummy Bag only they do not close around your mouth. They still taper (hence the name) around your legs and are wider at your shoulders.

Rectangle Bag

This is the more typical and roomy sleeping bag comes in single or double for one or two people. If you get a double, that keeping warm is probably not going to be an issue for you. Many times they are lined with flannel. The downside is that they do not pack very small and are bulky.

X-Factors

Little Pockets below your head. I love to put my glasses and Chapstick and a flashlight in there so I know exactly where they are during the night.

Colors

Who doesn’t love a cool looking sleeping bag. Those neon colors, intense stripes, and blinding zippers might look cool in Vegas but in the outdoors, simple ”earthy” colors are best because if you sleep outside, you will not disturb any wildlife.

Price

The best quality for the lowest price.

The bag that I use and I feel is the most bang for your buck is the LaFuma One Kilo Extreme. It is only 35.3 ounces (1 kilo duhh) goes down to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. The filling is Thermolite (100% polyester) and has a nylon shell. It is a mummy style bag that I use in the summer and in the winter with a liner when I go camping in the snow. The best part is that it was only $80.

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Camping Gear, Sleeping Bags

Welcome to the Campsite. This is going to be a blog about, you guessed it, camping. I will be talking about camping gear, camping basics, and about once every week, I will be posting a cool recipe that can be cooked on a dutch oven, campfire, or on a grill. You will read the latest about new camping supplies, the best camping sites, and the easiest way to get the most out of your camping vacation.

This blog is a valuable resource for anyone who is a first time camper or even is veteran outdoorsman. Comments will be greatly appreciated and please share your experiences and advice.

Campsite, Welcome