While I was writing about my beach cum camping vacation in my last blog, I came up with an idea for this one...camping essentials! In the last couple of years M and I have camped many times in and around Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana and now in California. Everytime on such vacations, we commend ourselves for buying the 'right' camping gear, esp. the 'pocket rocket'! Believe it or not, it is quicker to make pasta on this one than making it at home. So, here's a list of our favourites along with links to their pictures:
- REI Half dome tent - This one sleeps two, and is the one of most popular tents around! We have the '03 model.
- Petzl Headlamp - M loves this one!! It's the ease of not having to carry a torch or lamp around in the night and the fact that its white light, makes this our favourite.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=32354328&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1
- MSR Pocket Rocket Stove - this one is ultra sleek. It is compact yet powerful. It amazes us everytime we use this one! The name 'PocketRocket' says it all! The fuel is MSRIsoPro that needs to be bought separately. REI stocks this(and many more!).
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=14104244&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1
- Coleman Rechargeable Twin-Tube Fluorescent Lantern - the one that I especially like on this one it is rechargeable from household current and 12V sources...which means you can even charge it from the car! Cool... right?
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=633&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1
- Thermarest -This camp mattress is a good buy.
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39064992&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1
- Open Country Backpack Cookset - the separate clamp handle can be used with all the pans that come in this cookset is a nice feature. You don't have to worry about 'handling' your pans!
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=13886&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1
If you are an online shopper, campmor.com is a good site to shop. We found some good deals on this. rei-outlet.com is another one.
Toast....to all you campers out there!
Friday, July 21, 2006
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Beach Vacation!
From one beach to another...that 's all we did July4th long weekend! The biggest attraction in the Central Coast of California are the beaches and that's where we headed. Since we didn't find accomodation in the hotels that we wanted, we decided to make it a camping cum beach holiday.
I found a KOA campground about 40mts from the beaches in a city called Santa Margarita. We drove on scenic highway 1 on our way there, and was it beautiful or what! The highway runs through a mountain and so it is winding all the way. Other than the pleasure of driving these roads, you are treated to a vast expanse of water, the Pacific, on one side and the mountains on the other. All along this route are some national forests, state beaches and vista points. We stopped at a couple of beaches. We found 'Garapatto Beach' very exciting for its white sands and pure blue waters. The 200 mile journey took us about 6 hours, and we reached our camping ground around 6. We pitched our tent, and made some quick dinner on our 'pocket rocket' stove, and sat out until the moonlight was the only light around.The best part of camping are the early morning hours, when the sun is not totally out but it is bright enough to wake you up from inside the tent and when you can hear the birds chirping loud and clear. I love it!
The first day we went to Avila beach, It was a family friendly beach and it was fun watching the kids mudskate and surf. Fishing seemed popular too on the pier. The next day we did Grover beach. We found the waters a li'l warmer than Avila and also less crowded. Because of its proximity to Pismo, which attracts HUGE number of visitors, this is a much quieter beach.
It was so much fun to get back to camping once again, our first in California! KOA campgrounds is a good option if you are looking to stay for a couple of nights especially(or may be only)while on road trips. Most KOA campgrounds also have cabins, which is another great option for people who don't want to carry all the camping gear!
I found a KOA campground about 40mts from the beaches in a city called Santa Margarita. We drove on scenic highway 1 on our way there, and was it beautiful or what! The highway runs through a mountain and so it is winding all the way. Other than the pleasure of driving these roads, you are treated to a vast expanse of water, the Pacific, on one side and the mountains on the other. All along this route are some national forests, state beaches and vista points. We stopped at a couple of beaches. We found 'Garapatto Beach' very exciting for its white sands and pure blue waters. The 200 mile journey took us about 6 hours, and we reached our camping ground around 6. We pitched our tent, and made some quick dinner on our 'pocket rocket' stove, and sat out until the moonlight was the only light around.The best part of camping are the early morning hours, when the sun is not totally out but it is bright enough to wake you up from inside the tent and when you can hear the birds chirping loud and clear. I love it!
The first day we went to Avila beach, It was a family friendly beach and it was fun watching the kids mudskate and surf. Fishing seemed popular too on the pier. The next day we did Grover beach. We found the waters a li'l warmer than Avila and also less crowded. Because of its proximity to Pismo, which attracts HUGE number of visitors, this is a much quieter beach.
It was so much fun to get back to camping once again, our first in California! KOA campgrounds is a good option if you are looking to stay for a couple of nights especially(or may be only)while on road trips. Most KOA campgrounds also have cabins, which is another great option for people who don't want to carry all the camping gear!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Not a sporty sport!
Intrigued by the Zidane incident, I am starting to wonder if the word 'sporty' needs to be redefined in the Dictionary! What was sporty about two 'sportsmen' heckling each other until one of them got the better of the other and sent him out of the game.
Nothing more to add....I am thinking may be I am better off watching golf or tennis where it more about the game and the player itself than these team sports where there is no sense of gentlemanly behaviour.
Comparing ourselves to our previous generations, person to person interaction is getting slimmer and our trust circles are getting smaller and smaller...as we say for most things the world comes around..I hope it does soon and we start to being like our ancestors in this regard!
Nothing more to add....I am thinking may be I am better off watching golf or tennis where it more about the game and the player itself than these team sports where there is no sense of gentlemanly behaviour.
Comparing ourselves to our previous generations, person to person interaction is getting slimmer and our trust circles are getting smaller and smaller...as we say for most things the world comes around..I hope it does soon and we start to being like our ancestors in this regard!
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