Back from the Rubicon
I still need to collect my thoughts and sort through the photos, but overall it was one of the better trips through that trail. I found I pushed my limits a bit more and spent more time on 2 wheels than usual, but all in all a great time was had.
A good friend of mine sent me this quote, I thought it befitting:
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Hellen Keller
Labels: jeep, outdoor, travel
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
Rubicon 2001 Trip Report
Here's a repost of a 2001 trip through the Rubicon where I had a great time with a bunch of great people. 
2001 Rubicon Trip Report
Labels: jeep, outdoor, travel
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
I love my topo software and color printer
We're going out for a little backcountry off roading and kayaking this weekend; sure is nice to be able to knock out a USGS 7.5' map specifically of the area I'll be at. :)
Labels: outdoor, travel
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
Make Excel talk VBA code
It's pretty simple and you can use it to read pretty much anything, cell reference, etc. Add a whole new level of creepiness to your spreadsheets.
strTextToRead = "Hello world lol"
Application.Speech.Speak(strTextToRead)
Labels: programming
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
A couple new hats
I decided to try a few different color schemes and yarns so I knocked out a couple more beanies this weekend. Since they're so cheap to make and the only real effort is time, there really isn't any reason not to experiment. Anyway, over the last few beanies I've made I've refined the process and my pattern to the point where I think I've got the perfect tight fit beanie down. I could make another pattern up pretty easy for a folded up base, or a bit looser hat which I might try next. I'm also using a fairly tight stitch on purpose, as I'm aiming for maximum warmth with these hats over style. I think an olive drab might work well for a solid color next, maybe put some sort of small decorative patch on the front.
Labels: backpacking, DIY, gear, outdoor
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
New beanie
I decided to go backpacking next weekend and it has been pretty cold at night, so while setting up my gear I decided I wanted to bring a beanie. I unfortunately lost the last beanie I had knit a while back, which is too bad because I really liked it so I was stuck choosing from a commercial beanie. I've got a few I've purchased, but like anything that's made en masse, they all just fit o.k. and going through them I decided I didn't want to bring any of them on the trip.
So I decided to crochet one and since I didn't use a pattern I was able to make it a custom fit for my fat head (24") Since it was crochet in the round there are no seams to contend with and since I made it, no stupid and itchy mfg tags either. Made with probably 50 cents worth of yarn and some free time on my Sunday while appropriately watching Man vs. Wild, I knocked out my earthy toned head-warmer. :)
The completed hat
And on my head
Labels: backpacking, DIY, gear, outdoor, travel
PermaLink / Posted by: Tony
