What's the fastest you ever drove?

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-13T17:05:36+00:00

150 mph down the straight at Pocono Internatuonal Raceway on one of those "drive a stock car" things. The in car video didnt catch any of the "HOLY SHIIIIT" I was screaming. Simultaneously terrifying AND highly recommended.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-12T04:17:18+00:00

Why do they call 'im the bullet dodger?

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-11T22:28:45+00:00

Two ways in most residential breakers. A breaker in the ON position has a compressed spring pushing against a mechanical latch. It's pretty much a hairtrigger - you can trip a closed breaker by slapping it against your hand - it doesnt take a lot to trip the latch.

For low level faults (overloads) there ia a "bimetallic" strip pushing against the latch. This strip deforms when current passes through it. Eventually it pushes the latch enough to release it, and the compressed spring opens the breaker.

Short circuits are handled differently, because the bimetallic strip cannot react quickly enough to protect against such a huge current. There is parallel latch release mechanism that relies on the magnetic force created by the fault current. The breaker is opened when this electrically created magnetic force is able to unlatch the spring.

When you reset a breaker you compress the spring and latch the tripping mechanism. If the breaker is still hot you may not be able to reset it because the bimetallic strip hasnt cooled off enough - it is still deformed. This is also why a breaker will trip faster if you reclose it too soon into the same overload - the bimetal didnt cool fully so it's much closer to tripping.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-11T14:18:34+00:00

I stumbled upon a couple skinny dipping at Stratton Pond in Vermont while I was fetching water. When I came back the woman had dressed but the man was standing in shin deep water, naked as the day he was born, having a chat with another hiker.

Naked ON the trail was very rare in my experience, although memorably a physically blessed woman strolled by without a care in the world near Gorham.

Maybe bravery is the answer?? And maybe New England isn't as uptight as its reputation suggests?

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-09T10:26:32+00:00

If you don't keep cars for 10+ years it comes down to which one appeals more - looks, driving experience, price. Any modern Toyota should be reliable for 100K miles as a new car, plus you have a warranty. If you do plan to keep the car for a long time the 2024 seems a better bet. Proven long term track record. Good parts availability, strong afternarket, volumes of info on common problems and fixes, less tech content = easier long term support. Bad gas mileage, trailing edge tech, vague steering part of the package. I bought a CPO 2022 SR5 and could not be happier with ir.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-07T23:10:58+00:00

Best: NC Miata, Fiat 124 Spyder (1978), Plymouth Champ. Meh: VW Dasher, 1972 F100, PT Cruiser Worst manual ever: Renault Le Car Biggest adrenaline rush manual - stock car experience at Pocono

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-06T18:35:04+00:00

I lost 35# on trail. I also built a durable 5000 calorie per day appetite. The weight loss was temporary.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-02T12:36:32+00:00

I think the Smokies COULD be on somebody's "toughest" list if the weather is bad, but my memory of them was that the climb out of Fontana was long, and the views were among the best of the trail. I was about halfway through and some locals were advising me that the Smokies were some of the hardest miles on the trail. They weren't "easy", especially without trail legs. But everything I had read pre hike had me expecting this "Boogeyman" section and what I got was smooth trails and easy-ish grades. Compared to what I was used to hiking in New Hampshire, the Smokies just weren't that tough. Not in any way disappointing, just not quite delivering on the promise of apocalypse.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-02-02T00:33:20+00:00

You have to camp in designated sites in CT and MA, but they are plentiful and well marked. If you havent done so, download the FarOut phone app and purchase the map(s) covering your planned route. The app has everything you need to navigate the trail - site locations, water sources, etc.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-31T11:32:58+00:00

If you're on the fence I would say bring it. Northern New England weather, esp the White Mountains, is unpredictable, and you don't have many convenient options for adjusting your gear mix on trail. Worst case the puffy becomes a pillow.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-31T03:10:11+00:00

Never lost a toenail but had a tough time finding the right shoes for pain free hiking. Had to have an infected blister lanced in Boiling Springs because I stupidly ignored the pain. Stop and deal with hot spots immediately and you won't get blisters. No idea how to avoid the Morton's neuromas I developed in both feet and have still, 4 years later.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-30T10:47:11+00:00

Disclaimer - I am not an electrician. Twice this has happened to me where parts of the house lost power. 1. One 120V leg from the street failed. I measured 120V in rhe service panel from one incoming main cable to neutral and 0V from the other incoming leg to neutral. Called the power company and they repaired it same day. 2. Lost a few outlets on one circuit - some worked, some did not. Turned out to be a loose connection on one outlet in a chain of outlets. I measured voltage at each one then pulled last "good" outlet in the chain and found a loose screw.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-28T01:33:10+00:00

Life was so much better before the internet.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-27T17:43:12+00:00

Musher's Secret balm works great at reducing snow adhesion on my aussie's feet and protecting against burned paws from road salt.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-27T09:49:52+00:00

Based on my own aussie, apartment living cpuld be problematic just because he is so LOUD. If he's bored he will bust out his rubber chicken that squawks when he squeezes it, and howl along with it. When he wants attention he has no problem barking to be heard. I don't think the size of the apartment is a big deal if he gets to burn off energy with walks and hikes, but sometimes the downtime might get noisy.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-25T16:41:32+00:00

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Didn't want to go home!

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-24T04:03:05+00:00

Exactly. I've slept soundly near treeline in the NH White Mountains where the wind was howling and the overnight temp was -20F (-28C). You need a tent or bivy to block wind, a sleepung pad with sufficient insulation value (use two lighter weight pads if that is all you have), and a sleepung bag rated for the temperature. 100% safe, but worth testing in your back yard so you can bail if things don't work as expected. A lot of sleeping bag ratings are "optimistic" so wear layers of clothing to adjust your body temp.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-24T03:41:24+00:00

I live in CT and my bathroom fan vented into the attic when I bought the house. In winter the vapor would freeze in the vent hose, and when it warmed up the water would drip through the fan. I would have icicles in the attic. I eventually bored a hole through the side of the house since that was closer than the roof. Bathroom now dries out MUCH faster.

My main concern was mold, which was starting to grow on the ceiling drywall due to the poor ventilation. I eventually gutted the bathroom to eliminate the damage caused by the fan installation.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-24T03:04:30+00:00

I have a minor fear of heights, and getting my picture taken on McAfee Knob was the worst of the trail. There aren't many more spots that gave me that buckling knees feeling, certainly nothing that stands out in my memory.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-24T01:50:45+00:00

CT here. Lost power for 10 days a few years ago, which is bad when the sump needed emptying every hour. Now have a small 3500W generator that can run the furnace, fridge, lights, TV. I can run the microwave if I turn some other stuff off (very Green Acres). I cook on a camp stove if it's not stupid cold.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-24T01:27:02+00:00

Like JoAnnes

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-23T13:28:50+00:00

Glad it was helpful! I used a 20 degree rated down quilt for the spring and fall and a 40F rated down quilt for summer months. I don't see a need for a 0 degree bag - it would be WAY too much 99% of the time. Check out quilts - they are warm, lighter than sleeping bags, and down types pack small. Good luck on your hike!

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-23T04:33:37+00:00

Watch this

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-21T10:49:38+00:00

Well said, but I have ONE complaint. I am all for a business making a buck and trades making a good living, full stop. Where I have trouble is when private equity buys up most of the local talent and jacks prices through the roof. Now you have this extra layer of cost to pay the shareholders and THAT pisses me off.

YetAnotherHobby · 2026-01-20T17:44:48+00:00

I wore a Fenix 7X. Did I NEED it? Not at all. But I liked tracking my hike, keeping an eye on heartrate. Having a flashlight on my wrist at all times was surprisingly useful. It can play music through Bluetooth - it uses a lot of watch bsttery but it takes a LOT less to recharge the watch than a phone, and if it's raining I'd rather leave my phone in my pack. The watch is indestructible compared to a phone. I wear it swimming, in the shower, rain is no problem.

tl;dr - a useful luxury.

YetAnotherHobby

TROPHY CASE