SMdoubleXL Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 We decided to go a few weeks after that so this was about mid August. aimed for Ohio Pyle -known for falls and good trails and handfuls of campgrounds near. when we arrived (the the area to access some trails and see some falls) there were like three other cars in the parking lot. Heading out always a dick also. Don’t do this to a tree. It’s a death sentence for the tree I thought he was off shitting but he fucking did this and you know he heard me for the next 20 minutes …… 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 When we left there were so many fucking people we couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Went several miles away and found a private campsite. Called Tall oaks. IMG_4358.MOV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 Afternoon nap forst time seeing these was here at this camp site. I was absolutely stunned and clueless at the same time. I didn’t know it I could touch it or not I ended up touching it. the lil bite marks everywhere this was the rental for that lil getaway. Super fun. And this campsite needed it, as far back as we wanted to go, anyway home bound 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morton Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Crazy that you caught that mushroom taking a selfie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko SprueOne Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 On 8/18/2021 at 12:09 PM, SMdoubleXL said: …… What is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) 10 hours ago, Ko SprueOne said: What is that? just gonna guess that it’s the type of worm that killed that tree. That carving made an opening that allowed pests to get in. A type of borer Similar looking to a caterpillar. that caterpillar will lay eggs and they will burrow through the area between the heartwood (the part of the tree that develops “rings”.) and the cambium. The cambium is the area that houses the xylem and phloem. The xylem transports the water and the phloem transports the food from the roots to the leaves. when you interrupt that flow, even in a small spot-it’s eliminates that food and water flow. The tree will die much sooner than planned. When those larvae make their way out they travel in that area. You will see little D shaped holes on the outside of the bark indicating it’s exit. like Dutch elm disease that almost wiped out a whole species of trees. And I believe whatever wood (tree$ the Louisville slugger is made of is a dying species (or dead) so hold on to any wooden Louisville slugger you have. It probbaly won’t be made anymore. and currently you should watch for the spotted lantern fly (I’m attempting to drop a link and it’s not working hit I’ll keep trying) also. Don’t transport firewood!! You spread these diseases!!! Edited August 23, 2021 by SMdoubleXL 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) This is a Google image of a borer’s track marks on top of the heartwood which you can see is exposed because the bark has chipped off of the tree due to cambium interruption. Edited August 23, 2021 by SMdoubleXL High af 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
where Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 I have no idea what this bug is but my kid demanded I capture it’s image 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUGR Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 On 8/18/2021 at 8:40 AM, One Man Banned said: Useless fact, if life grows on the top and bottom it's a pond, if only on the top it's a lake (sunlight reaches top/bottom of a pond but not the bottom of a lake). Anything to back this up? I am a salt water person, so this may be apples to pineapples. But, when you say “life grows” on top and not the bottom, it just doesn’t make sense to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
where Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) 25 minutes ago, LUGR said: Anything to back this up? I am a salt water person, so this may be apples to pineapples. But, when you say “life grows” on top and not the bottom, it just doesn’t make sense to me. The sunlight at the bottom and life differences in the water table are true but the biggest delineating element is natural lakes are usually fed by a lotic source and ponds are fed by lentic sources Edited August 23, 2021 by where 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) 34 minutes ago, where said: I have no idea what this bug is but my kid demanded I capture it’s image Is this what you’re referring to? i really don’t know, however, it looks like how the Spotted Lantern Fly larvae is described. Edited August 23, 2021 by SMdoubleXL Still high af Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUGR Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 8 minutes ago, where said: The sunlight at the bottom and life differences in the water table are true but the biggest delineating element is natural lakes are usually fed by a lotic source and ponds are lentic fed by springs Hmmm, I will research it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 Update. this is how it looks after getting a flat five minutes before you reach you’re favorite campsite and discover the rental had no spare and roadside cannot come til tmrw. super grateful as today could have been way worse. We could have been further away from a motel also the HP that pulled us over didn’t discover the zip that was within 2 ft of him plus weapon weapon. Will provide more updates and photos 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUGR Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) 8 minutes ago, SMdoubleXL said: Update. Plus edit edit. Edited August 23, 2021 by LUGR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
where Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 51 minutes ago, SMdoubleXL said: Is this what you’re referring to? i really don’t know, however, it looks like how the Spotted Lantern Fly larvae is described. Im drinking titos as well and obv smoking good im talking about bugs and geology 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndv Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 @SMdoubleXL thanks for the schooling on trees. Thanks to you I learned something today, and probably the only important thing I will learn this week. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 14 hours ago, LUGR said: Anything to back this up? I am a salt water person, so this may be apples to pineapples. But, when you say “life grows” on top and not the bottom, it just doesn’t make sense to me. Don't even know me and you're asking me to back that thing up? Rather bold and sassy of you, you been drinking that ranch water again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share Posted August 25, 2021 lil update. I fell asleep to this last night. sadly that has been one of the few upsides to this trip. Keeping in good spirits and will def provide detailed photo updates. IMG_4927.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 25, 2021 Author Share Posted August 25, 2021 As we got closer to one of our main destinations today we were informed that the area has been closed effective today. All campsites around Lake Tahoe are closed. Even a lil east of Reno. We are posted in another hotel reconfiguring. Trying to remain in good spirits and finding the positive side of things-grateful that we’re safe but really heartbroken at how severe those fires are and to imagine the damage it’s causing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.yuck Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 (edited) On 8/22/2021 at 11:53 PM, SMdoubleXL said: that caterpillar will lay eggs and they will burrow through the area between the heartwood and the cambium. The cambium is the area that houses the xylem and phloem. The xylem transports the water and the phloem transports the food from the roots to the leaves. Edited August 25, 2021 by mr.yuck 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 Heard about those fires. Hotel room with a great view tho..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 Mission accomplished I have no idea why the photo is posting upside down and i can’t fix it. HOWEVER. we hit Las Vegas Last night. what a fucking trip. Will organize a few photos and post up PA to NV 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 (edited) on the way as we start driving I usually have an idea of an area we will aim to camp. Depending on how long we want to drive that day and how far our next stop might be. We knew our second stop would be North Platte, so either way our second day of driving is usually a looooong haul. I Google map some campgrounds then I check their site and such as far as what we should be expecting. making sure we have broken down cash and firewood and such.there is usually a place nearby that sells wood if the campsite doesn’t. important ***do not transport wood from state to state****Or sometimes even county to county. You will most likely transport a dieses or pest with it that can Cause species loss. Our first campsite was here Coles Creek Campground https://goo.gl/maps/mJTjfeDWcNmsngsL8 It def did not have large spaces and was definitely geared towards rvs/campers. but it was gonna be a short stay so we didn’t put to much feeling into it. it was also raining about half of our stay. surrounded by a few crops. Corn for sure and I couldn’t make out what the other one was IMG_4814.MOV our lil set up Usually when we land -he starts fire. I set up tent. Then start prepping dinner. I’m sure we probbaly had some simple hot dogs for dinner on the fire. B fast is usually my thing since I am particular about b fast and most times cannot wait for fire to built so I cook up some type of eggs scramble on a lil portable propane set up we have. I have some meals planned out for this trip because im stoked about using my Dutch oven A lot of prep went into this trip found my mask from last year in our tent bag (upside down phot of frog) when you camp amongst rv/campers you tolerate a lot. A lot of noise and light interruptions. for instance-our closest neighbor started playing these songs near dinner time “Star spangled banner” ”proud to be an American” (Trump version) Im pretty sure they got up and said the pledge of allegiance He continued with the American themed songs we all grew up singing in elementary school and every American (country) song there after. Any and all you could think of. Light interruptions because a lot of campers use this set up too many people. Not enough wildlife and nature. Not our idea of camping camp had a little area where the park ranger gave presentations occasionally was able to get a peak at the lake/res We got up and smashed out as early as we could. IMG_4813.MOV Nebraska bound. Our fav spot. we had two spots we were really looking forward to on this trip becaue it’s gonna be a while before we come back west. this is one of them. Edited August 28, 2021 by SMdoubleXL PSA 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.yuck Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Kinda looks leafy and dense like soybean fields but super tall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndv Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 28 minutes ago, SMdoubleXL said: We got up and smashed Wrong thread, but nice! 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 (edited) Nebraska bound new snacks IMG_4841.MOV We drive about 12 hrs. planned on two nights at this spot. this site is small -not many spots but it has no amenities either except vault toilet. However it sits right in the north Platte. We pull through the campsite to make sure there is a spot. Head back to a gas station to get some more cash broke and ice. We realize we had a flat as soon as we got off the dirt road. no problem. Let’s change a tire-nope. Not today. No spare and no jack. He decided on the roadside package with the rental. (Thankfully) he gets on the phone, I walk up about a mile to the next gas station for some fix a flat. I grab two cans. my walk Roadside assist gave us a few options. 1- buy a tire and we will get reimbursed for up to $200 and up to $100 for a room. 2- Uber to the next city with a budget for a replacement car which could be a couple day event with no guarantees. The closest city was about 200 miles back. (Where we got pulled over) it’s fucking Sunday. Nothing opens til the morning. We have a carload of stuff for travel. Both cans of flix a flat didn’t budge that tire. It had a gash in the inner sidewall, three fingers wide. our options just got real limited. found a hotel about 2 miles away with a tire shop a mile from that. we crawl the car to the hotel and park it. I didn’t know what else to do. while crawling we get to the hotel and now it’s time to reconfigure. so we started to drink and walked around the block a few times to smoke. we just decided that we would spend the an extra day at the next planned spot. we get a new tire. And roll out. heartbroken to leave this site but one day isn’t enough here I went up to the corner store grabbed a frozen burrito and whipped up some eggs for a lil fuel to hit the road. Edited August 28, 2021 by SMdoubleXL 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted August 29, 2021 Author Share Posted August 29, 2021 (edited) we hit the road - Even tho we know we’ll get reimbursed I told him I’m gonna try to recover money anyway I know how. We blew our budget within 48 hrs. By ALOT. my kid did this for her girlfriends bridal party and was gifted almost $300 was worth a shot We know we won’t make it all the way to our next planned, two day stay and we’ll end up near SLC for the night. I grew up camping in the Unitahs/wasatch mtn areas. Great camp spots so we’re crossing our fingers that we can kinda get set up and just kick it for a bit. we kinda locate one on a map. Had 4 spots only so we’re taking big chance. But there seemed to be a handful of sites on that same road so we planned a backup plan or two. there is a bear warning so I was a lil nervous but what can I do but all I know how to do. we pull in and there is no one there. Perfect. immediately on Bear river. we set the tent up on the right side of this pic you’ll see the river above the rock, second from the right in the pic. temp dropped a bit and then we both realized we didn’t bring a hoodie or anything more than a long sleeve. Ooops. Chilly af. But not miserable. the neighboring site these birch trees are one of my faves. I love the stands of them and the wind blows and their lil coin sized leaves flicker like sequins with their whitish underside. Not to mention how striking the bark is and the smell. again-what I fell asleep to. IMG_4927.MOV Made chili for this trip -mixed up some cornbread mix to pour over and warmed it on the fire perfect camp dinner I know parchment paper is NOT the way to get your cast iron seasoned but I was using it more with the mindset of quick and easy clean up. We just burnt the paper after breakfast and don’t need to clean up the Dutch oven. (and warned up quick with some eggs for bfast) I packed a tote this time with non perishables and cook ware and what not. At some point in the evening a fucking mouse made his way into our car. The next morning there was fucking mouse poop on some items that lead us to search further. this fucking mouse had a whole damn event in our car overnight. boiking water to clean with and having to throw out food and tear that car upside down to make sure the mouse was gone. let’s just keep fucking pushing We ended up regretting not spending another night in this spot The morning mouse fucking clean up made us have to forfeit plans to see a big homie in SLC Edited August 29, 2021 by SMdoubleXL Photo order 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 we head out - Utah has some really beautiful scenery. The drives have always been nice…… (upside down) ….until this drive. I’ve never taken the 80 across Utah. And I’m sure the smoke had something to do with it. his first time seeing the Great Salt Lake and he was really shocked to see how large it really is. I haven’t seen it in decades and I was still enamored by it. It goes on like an ocean in the distance IMG_4973.MP4 then it was miles of salt flats. (upside down) what I wish I would I could have captured was all of the little sculptures that travelers would do in the salt flats. And spell outs in the rocks. (I even saw a TKO spelled out in rocks haha) Imagine shit like half tires in the ground and painted to look like a snake coming in and out of the white ground. Random parts of shit lost and found assembled to make dozens of lil sculptures along several miles of these salt flats. but caught this big one Another thing I have to wait til I get my camera back for pics (it’s still in Vegas) - I got to see the fucking Morton Salt Factory. (fun fact: the Morton Salt girl is my favorite character ever) Miles of Salt Flats Paired with the smoke -created an unsure feeling. Neither one of us knew whet the landscape was supposed to look like or what it was in front of us so every so many miles it laid itself out. Utah had these along the 80-wildlife walkovers I have a thing for single trees in fields this is when we started calling the CA DOT and learning that certain campsites were closed certain ones only allowed propane fires etc… Once we hit Wendover we called again and the status has changed so quickly that all campsites were closed. I quickly booked a room at a hotel I’ve stayed before with a view that would brighten the mood but that smoke was heartbreaking to think of the damage. we decided that-we would book another night and just explore during the next day. until we called again to learn that all roads were closed now. I sulked in the tub a bit with a drink with the most ridiculous tan lines in my feet Sat in the window and watched this yard work all night. what would Jesus do the next morning the smoke was so bad we were grateful not to be up further in it and just kept pushing. ash on the car. saw this tree commonly and really liked it. A type of cedar. I’ve just never seen it in this structure. I know this is a young one but it was one I could get close enough to another thing I wish I captured in photo was the amount of wild horses we saw on this lil highway comin out of Reno area Air quality so far this trip has been a bust, as this was our main destination. It was seeming to rushed and full of disappointment. The drive to Vegas was my only vacation since I had to turn around and fly back for work. (He has to make to drive back by himself with the dogs.) I told him if we don’t find a camp in the middle of the desert and stay somewhere-anywhere for two days before we get to Vegas or the rest of the trip was going to be more than miserable for the both of us. Then I recall that NV has a fair amount of hot springs and we had between Reno area and Las Vegas to find one…… 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 I nail down 2 more promising looking places that won’t set us too far off of the route; one more than the other. One would keep us closer and allow us to be able to check out one more spot before we land. Reviews prepare us for a 6 mile dirt road that is sandy and washboard-y-to a spot that has no designated campsites and only offers a vault toilet. We’re game. Let’s plan two nights here just to sit the fuck still for a day. We have food water (but the time ‘we got there we looked at eachother and said-we should have brought more water’. (6 gallons) But if worse came to worse we pack up and go. It took almost 30-40 min to travel that 6 mile dirt road. we stop at some abandoned type town on the way and gather some wood for small fire. We know we won’t need wood for heat type of fire. We enter wild cow area. IMG_5054.MOV we start to see some green patches and knew there was some type of water nearby then we find it. Two large ponds and a tub full of mineral water, In the middle of the fucking desert, surrounded by tall grass A steam ran down to across the street (near the drive that enters this area) It feed another marshy area across the street and down the way -where we noticed a dozen or so cows and babies eating on the tall grass. You can see they come around these springs with some old hoof tracks and cow shit occasionally. the cows roamed back into the field and outta sight so I went to check out the stream below while he worked on his idea to get us shade for the next day. There wasn’t a tree in sight there were bull frogs in this stream. It was awesome these are what the cows were eating. Mounds of tall grass that dried over. it was near to see the different plant species in this boggy area I only had my phone so it’s not the best pic-but there was a kookaburra mounted on some grass ( in the center of the pic) he backed the car up near this old tank that was once used to help control overflow of these ponds. he managed to secure the tarp from above so we put our tent under that. I set up tent. He works on fire. High rock and deep well with small rocks inside to guard from wind and make a spot for some good hot rocks to cook on. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMdoubleXL Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 (edited) the tub was 95-100 degrees so we decided we would go in after sunset. So many species of birds here. Some lived there. A lot visited. I have pics of some visitors on my camera I’m waiting for perspective the bats started coming in to eat at the bugs over the water, along with a few new birds. FullSizeRender.mov this amazing tree. Just a few around there. Attracted what looked like a large type hummingbird -but then I was trippin because I caught a hummingbird on this tree. Visiting. (pics to come) I knew it had to have some kind of flowers. Tamarisk. (After investigation) it’s flowers. tote came in handy for a work area out here a very old man pulled his trailer in and we figured he’d be here for the night. I dgaf Im still going in that tub tonight. Edited September 1, 2021 by SMdoubleXL 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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