56 nights in the woods

November 2019 – 1 night

  • One night on East Branch Sacandaga River

December 2019 – 2 nights

  • One night at Moscow Hill Assembly Area
  • One night at Cole Hill State Forest (hot tenting NYE)

 

April 2020 – 2 nights

  • Two nights on the East Branch Sacandaga River

May – 8 nights

  • Two nights on the East Branch Sacandaga River
  • Three nights at Mason Lake, Memorial Day Weekend
  • Three nights on Hardwood Hill after Memorial Day

June – 15 nights

  • 3 nights on Hardwood Hill
  • 3 nights at Mason Lake
  • 3 nights at Mason Lake
  • 1 night Hardwood Hill
  • 3 nights at Horseshoe Lake
  • 2 nights at Jones Pond

July – 13 nights

  • 3 nights on Forest Road 71 Green Mountain National Forest
  • 2 nights near Somerset Airfield Green Mountain National Forest
  • 3 nights on Piseco Powley Road near Potholers
  • 3 nights at Spectulator Tree Farm, Old Route 8B
  • 2 nights Piseco Powley Road

August – 10 nights

  • 8 nights – Finger Lakes National Forest (summer vacation)
  • 1 night at Cole Hill State Forest (hammock camping in the back country)
  • 1 night at Burnt Rossman State Forest near Duck Pond

September – 7 nights

  • One night on upper Forest Road 71 Green Mountain National Forest, Thursday Labor Day Weekend
  • 3 nights Forest Road 71 Green Mountain National Forest near Shep Meadow Labor Day Weekend
  • 3 nights at Mason Lake

October – 1 night

  • One night Cherry Ridge Camping Area in Brookfield

November – 3 nights

  • Stoney Pond State Forest during second week of November

Drove 6,800 miles but camped 55 nights this year

Drove 6,800 miles but camped 55 nights this year (November 2019 – November 2020) 🚘 β›Ί

That’s what I figured out based on my state inspection records and a count of every time I camped between mid November 2019 and currently. Maybe it’s off by 10% – with the bigger tires – but that’s still only about 7k for the year. With the pandemic smoldering all around and with my truck getting older, I’ve been choosing shorter trips and when I get to camp often setting up for multiple days, relying heavily on the solar power and the two batteries for power.

I’ve gotten to the point where I like to travel less, do less driving and when I get to a campsite settle in for a few days. Plus with remote work, I’ve been busy with work stuff and it’s been hard to ask for time off during the pandemic and my hectic work schedule. Even when that meant driving into town to get the Wi-Fi, those trips were quite direct – not a lot of chance to get out and tour the countryside.

Next year I probably will end up traveling more and if I do I’ll have to plan to make appropiate repairs to the truck to ensure reliability. That said, I kind of like setting up camp and just walking to destinations from camp. Solar and the batteries means I don’t need to drive much to keep things well charged. And walking gets you better educated on the woods then constantly driving and passing the land by at 55 mph.

Biden Transition Updates : NPR

Michigan Lawmakers Defend Election After Trump Meeting : Biden Transition Updates : NPR

In their joint statement after Friday's meeting, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House of Representatives Speaker Lee Chatfield said they used the meeting to seek additional coronavirus relief for the state. They added that they had "not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan."

"We will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan's electors," the statement said.

Watching ‘The Most Dangerous Animals In The World’ – The Bronx Zoo in 1963 – Flashbak

Watching ‘The Most Dangerous Animals In The World’ – The Bronx Zoo in 1963 – Flashbak

On June 8, 1963, the Illustrated London News ran the following story about an exhibition at the gorilla house at The Bronx Zoo in New York City. The exhibit told visitors:

“You are looking at the most dangerous animal in the world. It alone of all the animals that ever lived can exterminate (and has) entire species of animals. Now it has the power to wipe out all life on earth.”

1488 | Hate Symbols Database | ADL

1488 | Hate Symbols Database | ADL

1488 is a combination of two popular white supremacist numeric symbols. The first symbol is 14, which is shorthand for the "14 Words" slogan: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." The second is 88, which stands for "Heil Hitler" (H being the 8th letter of the alphabet). Together, the numbers form a general endorsement of white supremacy and its beliefs.

Santa Claus is ‘immune’ from COVID-19, says Dr. Anthony Fauci

Santa Claus is ‘immune’ from COVID-19, says Dr. Anthony Fauci

Santa will be spreading lots of joy — not COVID-19 — when he visits millions of homes this Christmas.

That’s because Kris Kringle is immune to coronavirus, according to the nation’s top infectious disease expert.

“Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told USA Today