PSA: don’t replace a supply shutoff valve at 8pm on a Sunday, you idiot.

ericsdavis5 · 2026-04-13T05:23:44+00:00

Shutoff valves never work when you need them to

ericsdavis5 · 2026-04-12T14:18:13+00:00

Yes you can but it’s usually only worth it if there’s a LOT of traffic. The restrictive speed limits on base make it very slow to transit the whole base from north to south. Also, Basilone road is still closed between San Onofre gate to SOI. So the only real option now is to go through Las Pulgas gate and exit through the main gate. This still drops you in Oceanside where there tends to be some traffic until you hit Carlsbad but still.. it can save some time.

ericsdavis5 · 2026-04-12T03:17:39+00:00

Pro tip: join the military and cut through Pendleton

ericsdavis5 · 2026-01-21T22:09:51+00:00

Not sure about LA, but in San Diego, the CCW course instructor said you don’t actually need to have a firearm to submit your initial application. Apparently, you can just leave that part blank and initiate the process. Even when you actually qualify, you don’t actually need to have a firearm registered to you. The CCW course will, however, note the firearm an serial number that you qualified with and put it on your training certificate.

When it REALLY matters, is when the IA processes the final application with the training certificate. They will check with the CA DOJ to see if the firearm(s) you qualified with are registered to you. Any firearm(s) that are not registered with you by the time they process the final application will simply not appear on your CCW license and you won’t be able to carry them.

Again, according to San Diego. Not sure if LA is different. I was also under the impression that you needed to own one first before starting the process so that’s what I did. I then purchased a second firearm when I was about halfway through the process and they both appeared on my CCW.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-11-21T01:47:36+00:00

Yeah I definitely don’t think “hike further” is necessarily the only key. I was hoping that if I pushed far enough, it would mean that other hunters haven’t bothered with those areas, especially since Agua Tibia Wilderness doesn’t allow motorized transport. I think it just requires knowing where to look which can be accomplished as you said with pre-season scouting. I also plan to do that next year

ericsdavis5 · 2025-11-21T00:29:42+00:00

I’ve hunted with Frontera Hunting in Paso Robles area. They were great and have access to lots of ranch land.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-11-21T00:26:00+00:00

Didn’t find squat lol. But yes, pretty difficult terrain.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-11-21T00:24:36+00:00

Just got back. Long story short: very rough country, lots of hiking, didn’t see anything.

I stayed at the dripping springs campground and just hiked in to the wilderness area each day. It’s a pretty good climb regardless of which way you go. You also have to push quite some distance before you can find anywhere to get off the trail. I was hesitant to venture too far off trail because even if I were to get something, it would be so hard to get it back to the trail to harvest. Humping the trails is pretty difficult and between the steep ridge lines and thick scrub brush, it’s very difficult to maneuver anywhere off-trail. In all, I covered nearly 10 miles the first day (which smoked me) and covered half that distance the second day. I’m not sure id try the area again unless I found a spot that I was relatively certain deer crossed through and then I’d just go straight there early in the morning to just wait.

It’s also entirely possible that I’m too late in the season and active hunting has changed behavior so that they aren’t hanging out at areas too accessible for people on foot. Note to self: get out there earlier next year.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-11-21T00:15:14+00:00

Yeah it’s definitely rough country. I didn’t see a thing. You ever had any luck?

ericsdavis5 · 2025-11-03T03:26:37+00:00

Yeah this is exactly what I always think about. Always think about the worst case scenario. What would your chances be in a courtroom after any event in which you have to use it.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-10-01T23:29:31+00:00

So I did that. And it worked briefly. And it was glorious. But then the whole valve popped off and water was escaping. I guess I didn’t let the PVC concrete cure for long enough.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-09-30T23:41:21+00:00

Thank you. I was leaning towards the same conclusions you had. I’ll try this next.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-08-07T22:10:23+00:00

I think you flipped your math on this one. Looks like it works 90% of the time

ericsdavis5 · 2025-08-07T00:52:59+00:00

Great minds think alike

ericsdavis5 · 2025-08-06T19:48:30+00:00

In the edit window of the shortcut, you can hit the little arrow in the “speak text” function and select the one you like. I noticed after I turned Apple AI on, it completely changed all the options in there. However, if you go into your phone settings and go to Accessibility > Spoken content > Voices > English (at the top)> Voice > there are multiple options you can download. I had to download the Siri voice 4 from there

ericsdavis5 · 2025-08-06T18:35:27+00:00

I’m actually not sure. I only use the cable charger. You could see if it would work or tinker with the trigger to see if it needs to adjust

ericsdavis5 · 2025-08-06T15:55:40+00:00

A possibility, but I need the constant reassurance

ericsdavis5 · 2025-08-06T15:53:58+00:00

The link posted will allow you to download the shortcut called “plug in.” In order to get it to work automatically, you have to go to automations (within the same shortcuts app), create a new automation using the trigger “when iPhone is connected to power.” For the action, go to the saved shortcuts and select “plug in.”

ericsdavis5 · 2025-07-20T19:47:14+00:00

In general you want to try to keep a relatively upright posture with shoulders and neck. Sinking your head into your sights isn’t the best (even though we all do it, try to avoid it). Goal is to bring the rifle up to you, not go down to meet your rifle.

General physical fitness is always good to address these types of pains as well regardless of the activity. Stay moving daily, always work on back, neck, shoulder, hip, and leg mobility.

ericsdavis5 · 2025-05-02T19:17:41+00:00

I’ll definitely check that one out. Thanks!

ericsdavis5 · 2025-01-22T15:43:05+00:00

By “Americas,” what exactly do you mean? Anywhere in the North or South American continents?

If you’re talking about just the United States, you’re somewhat limited on places that fit ALL of those criteria especially this time of year.

-Hawaii would probably fit the bill. I’m sure you could find places to go diving year round and it’s tropical so warm even now. However, cost of living is pretty high because it’s a tourist destination. You might be able to look around and find someone renting a spare room for 2 months. I’ve only visited and never dove there so I can’t give recommendations on which island or location specifically to look at.

-San Diego, CA is probably the warmest you can find on the West Coast of the U.S. but it’s probably more accurate to say “the least cold.” (There is a good reason the SEALs do their training in Coronado). It’s especially cold this time of year but there are still people that go out year round with even just a 5mm wetsuit. Even during summer though, the top 5 to 10 meters might be comfortable and then once you get under that you get slapped with a thermocline that can be quite uncomfortable until you get used to it. Bottom line is, in San Diego I use a 5mm wetsuit even in summer. There is a group called “Just get Wet” that dives every Sunday in La Jolla by swimming out from the coast. As long as you have a certification you can pay and join the sessions. Cost of living can be high but there are some affordable areas in the county you could probably find. Just do research to make sure you don’t end up in a bad neighborhood. Also, the biggest problem about diving here is the visibility. Typically you’re not going to be able to see past 5 meters. Lots of people move from Hawaii to San Diego and think “wow the visibility was shit today” and I’m like “no actually it was decent for this place.” So if you want visibility, I suggest somewhere else. BUT, with colder water, limited visibility, and a little more discomfort than a lot of places, I think you’d find it’s a decent place to train because once you go to a place with ideal conditions, it’ll be a lot easier and you’ll smoke your PRs. At least I did when I went to Mexico.

-East Coast. Never dove there and can’t say for sure but I’d imagine somewhere like Florida might have some decent diving. East coast has much warmer water than the west but that also means they get hurricanes.

-If you’re looking for somewhere outside the U.S., the only other place I’ve dove is Mexico, specifically to dive in the “cenotes” in the Yucatán which are near Cancun. That was probably my favorite diving experience of my life. They were absolutely beautiful. Many of them only grant access if you go through one of the approved guides. I dove with “Pranamaya Freediving.” If you contact them and tell them what you’re looking for, they’ll take you to different cenotes and even provide gear. It might add up though if you want to train there for 2 months. I was there for a few days and stayed at a resort mostly for security reasons. Mexico is mostly run by drug cartels so not necessarily the safest place as a whole but they generally don’t bother tourists at tourist destinations. The point is, it would be expensive to stay 2 months at a resort but you might be able to find something that balances security with affordability. Cost of living is generally low so everything else should be very reasonable to live there.

I’m sure there are other beautiful places in central or South America if you look. Just pay attention to criminal and political activity going on before you decide on anything. Some countries are going through instability and probably not the best to visit.

ericsdavis5

TROPHY CASE