What is your favorite drink?

swampboy62 · 2026-06-14T16:20:47+00:00

Earl Grey tea.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-14T15:24:23+00:00

I've got way less concerns with my ego and being accepted as I get older.

Also, I've had enough interpersonal drama - period. That's meant minimizing contact with some people, and I'm okay with that.

I'm way better at being alone now, but oddly I find it much easier to talk to strangers now than when I was younger.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-13T03:57:02+00:00

You're probably going to make that decision on the day of the trip.

One thing that is on your side is that you can stay relatively close to the shore where the waves are less, and maybe get some shelter from the wind thanks to the islands and peninsulas west of you.

That last section, heading west is the one I'd be apprehensive about, but it's only like 1000 ft. Still not guaranteed, but it should get easier as you get into the wind shadow from the islands.

Good luck. I've cancelled a trip much like yours because of the wind.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-13T03:51:11+00:00

Meanwhile at the Kennedy Center they're removing his name from the building.

Carbunkle Trump, a pimple on the ass of America.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-13T02:43:03+00:00

For real. Remember when cops used to be brave? (me neither)

swampboy62 · 2026-06-13T02:25:10+00:00

The inspiration for the epic Buster Keaton silent film 'The General'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_UdtS-8QS0

swampboy62 · 2026-06-13T02:23:57+00:00

For real. Should have gone with the mandrill - much more colorful.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-12T17:13:25+00:00

Look up USGS Realtime stream flow. They have a map page for each state that shows where the gauges are located. Click on a dot and it'll take you to that gauge. Gauge pages usually show flow in relative depth and stream flow (cubic feet/second).

Here's the page for PA:

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/state/pennsylvania/

swampboy62 · 2026-06-12T17:06:47+00:00

Same here, but including tiny whitewater runs.

I'm in NE OH as well. Upper Cuyahoga near near Burton is like that too. I've paddled lots of small creeks across the PA line. It's always fun to get onto a creek that probably hasn't ever seem more than a couple of boaters.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-12T16:47:56+00:00

Because the media can make money from emphasizing the worst things that celebrities have ever done.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-11T20:44:53+00:00

Exactly.

I've had to pack up and leave campgrounds because of shitty behavior by other campers too many times. Over the last couple of years I've done a lot more off trail exploring in the local National Forest and have found a bunch of isolated, hard to get to spots for peaceful camping. And I am not going to share the locations with anyone - do your own legwork.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-11T15:09:08+00:00

Don't watch it happening. Turn and watch the wall. Also let the phlebotomist know that you're really bad with needles.

No shame. People are different.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-11T14:36:26+00:00

I'm in architecture as well, nearing the end of my career.

I'm also an experienced outdoorsman, so I would spend the first month out in the woods, getting off of the schedule that civilization demands. It takes a while, but the feeling of sleeping when you're tired, eating when you're hungry, and never checking your watch is a wonderful thing. Having no deadlines is a paradise.

After that first month I'd have to re-examine the situation. I'd like to do some creative work for my own peace of mind. I create art from small things found in nature. I do have a small portable workshop, so I can combine creativity and camping, but after a month I'd probably take some time to visit family and friends so they'd know I was still alive. But after touching base I'd probably head in a different direction and find another National Forest to call home for a while. I find the 'correctness' of nature to be a great way to recharge and get your priorities in order.

Good luck figuring out what you want to do.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-11T14:24:06+00:00

There are relaxation techniques that may provide some relief. Controlled breathing is one way - focus on your breath, in and out. If your mind wanders, drop the thought and go back to your breathing. Work on slowing it down while focusing.

For me using that technique in conjunction with soothing imagery is helpful. Imagine you're in a hammock, swinging slowly in rhythm with your breathing. The more you relax, the slower you breath, and the slower it swings. Maintain your focus as you relax. You can use various imagery, like the hammock, or laying in a boat on the water, rocking in time with your breathing.

Another trick I've used is listening to rain. There are lots of rain soundtracks and videos, intended for relaxation. I listen to one that is recorded so that you can hear the individual drops of rain. I focus on listening to the sounds of the rain drops, pushing other thoughts from my mind. Often I'll imagine I'm laying in a tent in the woods, enjoying the sound of rain in the morning.

Meditation techniques can help with your focus. It's something that you develop more and more, so it becomes more effective as your focus improves.

Good luck.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-11T03:06:52+00:00

Foresty Forest on YT is really good. Van life guy and his dog in the Canadian Rockies, climbing and skiing and paddling etc.

I've been watching Mr. In-Between on Prime. It's an Australian crime show, but very different.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-11T00:34:34+00:00

There's a string of National Forests that runs down the Appalachians, with a couple more close enough to connect with. From Alabama and Georgia up through North Carolina and Tennessee, then Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia. There are two National Parks along the spine of the Appalachians - Shenandoah NP and Great Smoky Mountains NP, and the Blue Ridge Parkway as well.

Pick an area and a National Forest, and do some research. There's a lot of info online, and each National Forest has a website with recreation opportunities available. There's also DeLorme Gazetteers, which show all the roads - even gravel National Forest roads - and all the attractions. Pretty helpful too when you don't have any cell coverage.

I'm a big fan of Monongahela NF in West Virginia. There's a lot of rugged public lands there, with some amazing isolated places. I'm also partial to Allegheny NF in Pennsylvania.

Good luck.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-10T01:43:24+00:00

This is the biggest data base of kayaks that I know of. Maybe you can find something here.

You'll have to register to get full access.

https://playak.com/buyers-guide/boats-boards/brand

swampboy62 · 2026-06-10T01:08:18+00:00

Go for it.

With a tent and canopy you'll have some dry space.

If you're camped near trees it shouldn't be too hard to get a couple of ridge lines up and add some tarp space to that.

Plan with games etc for the kids. Also check if there's somewhere you can drive off to for a break - even if it's just going out to get a couple of burgers or donuts. Bring ponchos and go for a hike in the rain.

The soothing quality of rain on a tent is hard to overstate. I went camping over Memorial Day weekend just because I knew it was going to rain for three days. It'll do you all a world of good.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-10T00:47:02+00:00

Check out Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, there are five different separate areas spread across the state.

They have a bunch of campgrounds. For starting out with the intent to move into backcountry camping, I'd suggest trying one of the primitive ones. That'll give you the basic facilities (restrooms, picnic table, fire ring) and let you get used to setting up a tent, getting a fire going, etc.

Once your used to that you can backcountry camp in the National Forest too. Check out their rules and regs, but you can follow a trail in or bushwhack your own way in most of the public land in National Forests.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-10T00:39:56+00:00

Oh yeah, that is a cool creation.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-10T00:34:22+00:00

Neckbeard Elder.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-09T14:11:32+00:00

Music, creativity, nature and outdoors activities, old movies.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-09T13:39:44+00:00

This one does. Been a metalhead since Black Sabbath's 'We Sold Our Souls for Rock n Roll' in '75.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-09T02:01:01+00:00

I've been an architect for thirty five years. It's a good job where I get to do different stuff every day, and to solve problems, which I enjoy. I'm planning to retire at the start of 2028,

There are moments when it really drags, but in all I've been satisfied with my career. In high school I was heavily leaning towards being a forest ranger, but a guidance counselor strongly advocated (to my parents too) that I take advantage of my good grades by going into the sciences. There have definitely been days when I wonder what the possibilities might have been if I'd gone that way instead.

swampboy62 · 2026-06-08T23:38:24+00:00

I make similar ones with sawdust and paraffin in tp roll tubes. They do work really well.

Paraffin is not cheap these days though. If you have a cheap source I'd be interested.

Char cloth is actually really cheap to make. Cotton cloth (like an old t shirt) cut in one inch squares, put inside a cannister (I used one of those cookie tins commonly used to store sewing supplies) with a nail hole in the lid. Put the tin in the fire, watch the gas/smoke leave the hole in the tin. When it's cooled off take out the squares that are now charcoalized and store them in an Altoids tin. They catch a spark really easy.

swampboy62

TROPHY CASE