My Van-Life Crisis (New Adventures)

[VanLifeCrisis]

Play on mid-life crisis

I bought my first kayak, an inflatable Intex Challenger. I got the k2 2 person model, sadly im over the puny weight limit of the k1. It was a chore setting up and breaking down (pump broke repeatedly), but it was fun using!

There was serious rainfall and flooding, so it was bazaar at the lake. Road was out so had to carry the kayak in, but not too bad. Water was so high beach was gone, heck some trees were...

kayak cookout anyone?

I think ill be pretty sore tomorrow, especially the shoulders from carrying then paddling. i need to find a better seat, the inflatable one is a bit of a joke. the sides of this are much higher than other kayaks ive seen so you have to sit up a bit.

 

[Rugster]

I keep looking at those, I miss my kayak but if I got another, I'd think an inflatable would work. Keep us up to date on it's reliability

 

[TMG51]

I keep wondering if my camper van would look more or less conspicuous with a rigid canoe strapped to the side of it. :-/

 

[Patrick46]

I kin row a boat


...canoe??

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Uh, Martin, you DO know that a PROPER male mid-life crisis involves either a red convertible or a much younger girlfriend, or both, right?

Regards
John

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I kin row a boat


...canoe??

My father used to warn me that a man who would pun probably has other unsavory habits also . . .

Regards
John

 

[Patrick46]

not me!!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Uh, Martin, you DO know that a PROPER male mid-life crisis involves either a red convertible or a much younger girlfriend, or both, right?

Regards
John

I know! Thats why im having a van life crisis lol Im a little under the age for the real one still

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Ive thrown a review up on that Glacier fridge on my blog and a companion video on my youtubes.   I also started a series of "Van Life Hack" videos with little tricks to make van life easier.  The first one is about drying myself and towels, something i struggled with since i'm in the water a lot  

[video=youtube]


I have another in the works already for next week about the luggable loo and a particular problem.  Id like to get up some talking head videos ive filmed about what vandwelling is and specifically what it means to me, but the lip sync on movie maker is not working out, so it looks like an 80s kung fu movie.    I might just pony up for sony movie studio.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I went to the top of a pretty high mountain, and it has a spectacular view from the interstate where you can see mountains for miles.  

(Here is a picture someone else took from the interstate, very dangerous!)
 

There was no lookout here (but nearby, overlooking....another hill, and some houses??), but there was a road leading off the side near the top.  I decided that there probably is some spot back there to see better and maybe get a picture.   So off i went, down some squirelly gravel road   Unfortunately the only place i saw that might lead to such picturesque views were gated off for cell towers with wire fencing...

I think I might try to walk down it one day, but alas I let the inner chicken in me keep me from trying that day.

 

[WriterMs]

Nice video. Succinct yet fun. I had wondered about using the microfiber. I have small hand towels that I like to use but they are regular cotton. Since I was almost always in very dry climates when I camped last year, I didn't have to worry about things getting dry. I may add a couple of the microfiber to my linens bin. Thanks.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Thanks! I really love em. I'm in a pretty damp place here, and they are handy. I like multi use items, and they are great for cleaning my windshield from condensation, and drying out my kayak too. Worked better than my shamwow, which was bigger and absorbent, but doesn't wring out or dry out as easy.

 

[janncoo]

Nice video. Great advice on the microfiber towel. Jan

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Is it awkward? hmmm not sure, but ive been training my replacement at work. Seems like a great guy. Its kind of hard for me to restrain my 'i dont give a f' attitude since ill be gone in a week (!!!) but i dont want that to bleed over into my trainee. Im not gonna hold back on my views on some of the messed up policies they have that i always choked on before.

Like not renting to local people, cause, you know, they cant be good people. or using your 'judgement' to refuse people, which i gathered means anyone with tattoos, piercings, young, poor/drives an old car. :/ the worse one for me was when they questioned why we would rent a room to a man who was with his baby by himself (there was some trouble with the ex/ mom the next day, didnt even happen at the motel). Didnt we find that suspicious? No...So single dads need not stay?

basically they want me to judge people as they clearly judged me when i moved into the van 2 yrs ago. there were many aspects to like about my job, but that was a big one i wont miss

 

[Theadyn]

A week to go, hang in there!!

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

i am! Just weird sometimes.

Ordered my dometic fridge wed. Cool tip about amazon, if you order a large item, never be tempted to pay for shipping to get it faster, the free 10 day will be upgraded to fedex standard or even 2day shipping anyway cause size of item.

 

[Terry]

Those mid (late)life "crisis" things aren't so bad if you find the right kind of cure.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Got my Dometic CF 18 today woot! It is vastly smaller than the Grape solar fridge i reviewed on my blog, but I actually like that. I think it will still fit my needs. I hooked it up and it ran (on low setting, apparently the high is only for when hooked to an engine or something...), and cooled down pretty fast. No temp gauge on this model so i went by feel. It does have a light that changes color when it reaches the temperature of the cold-freeze dial (whatever that is).

When the sun went down, it started blinking an error. This time i knew it wasnt the battery, and some research on the error suggests it is indeed voltage drop. I have my ciggy plug routed through my fuse box with other things. I tried turning off my vent fan, and that seemed to help. I also noticed that despite the cable I added being thick enough, I just butted into a thinner wire that came with the ciggy plug. This might have been a bottle neck on the other fridge too. I rewired the plug with about 12 inches of wire, no joints just terminals right from the battery (waeco's uk website snarkily suggests this..i can't tell if their FAQ is trying to be comical or not..).

Working great since, no error light. Whew. Ill give it a day or two before buying groceries and sticking it in. Ill probably do a review later at that time.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Man its been raining for weeks, im starting to think it wont dry out here till spring. makes working on the van tough. Im on my sister's homestead, but now im progressing. Ive completed my rock n roll style bed frame in between showers. Next is cabinetry, roof rack, and a tune up then im outta here.

Now if the rain would just stop lol

 

[WriterMs]

"rock and roll style bed" --- I'm sure we'll all be waiting on pics for this. LOL

Or did I miss an earlier explanation of what that is?