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Forum
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RE: Remembering my best physical condition
The summer of 1975 (age 25) when I was on the Fire Service Coeur d’Alene Interregional Fire Crew out of Wallace, Idaho. They flew us to fires throughout the West. Our crew boss was a HS football coach and he trained us like we were prepping to play in the Rose Bowl: when we weren’t on fires we did trail maintenance, etc. in the mts in N. Idaho. At the end of each non-fire work day he would have us back at our base camp doing circuit training outside...I remember bench pressing a small telephone pole, me on one end with another guy on the other...running laps for time, etc.
When we got called out to big fires they would truck us as far as they could into burn, and then we’d march the rest of the way into the actual fire, sometimes for miles over hill and dale. We would “March” just short of a run the whole way with full packs. We would put in 12-14 hrs on the fire line, and then walk out the same way we had come all the way back to base camp, get 6-7 hrs of winks, and then go back and do it again...and again, sometimes for days on end.
Best shape I’ve ever been in. Way better than my years on the football team, even with August “daily doubles”.
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jamesu
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09/24/21 05:14am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Canada sizzling!
The prediction for tomorrow (Monday) is 110F in Seattle. That’s an all-time record. Most folks in W. Washington have no air conditioning. Until now it was never needed.
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jamesu
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06/27/21 07:18am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Pt Townsend Coupeville Ferry Seattle Area
We like to camp at Fort Casey SP and watch the ferries come and go. I've watched them circle in the fog just offshore waiting for the fog to clear for more than 45 minutes. I have an app on my cell phone that allows me to track their position.
What’s the name of that app? Would love to download it.
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jamesu
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05/12/21 06:57am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: 3/4 ton diesel vs. gas
I am the “OP”. When I posted this in the wee hours yesterday AM I figured a few of you guys would respond. I am overwhelmed by 4 pages worth in just one day.
My 3/4 ton Duramax is in the shop awaiting parts for a very costly emissions-exhaust system repair. Fortunately it is covered by a Chevy recall notice that I didn’t know existed until the service dept told me. Praise God!
My situation got me thinking, and that’s why I reached out to you guys. Thanks for all the measured, knowledgeable responses.
We tow through the Cascades a lot, and I want/need the performance my diesel provides, not what my old half ton gasser provided for all those trips back in the day. That’s why I tested you all with what you think about a 3/4 ton gasser vs. 3/4 ton diesel...I definitely get it.
I’m retired, and I am not wealthy. The cost of my current Duramax repair spooks me no end...regardless if it’s paid for by a recall or paid for by me. Thank you all for your feedback.
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jamesu
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04/28/21 09:59am |
Tow Vehicles
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3/4 ton diesel vs. gas
Because of quite expensive repairs on my diesel (see signature) it has got me thinking. I am half way contemplating trading for a 3/4 ton gasser. My diesel tows very well, so I am wondering: would a 3/4 gasser’s towing performance be comparable to my Duramax, or would it be more like a “beefed up” version of the 1/2 ton gasser I used to tow with years ago? On trips I am towing 8500-9000 lbs.
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jamesu
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04/27/21 05:18am |
Tow Vehicles
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First camping trip
Just returned home from a short trip to test out our systems...our first camping trip in over 18 months due to COVID. Everything worked fine.
Beachwood RV Resort on Birch Bay about 4 miles south of the Blaine border crossing. This time of year Beachwood is normally packed with Canadian campers from BC...there were no BC plates anywhere and Beachwood was basically empty. It was quiet and peaceful but also eerie.. The only ones.crossing the border either way are the truckers and other essential people. We miss our BC neighbors.
Life has changed for all of us.
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jamesu
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04/18/21 06:19am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Questions for Veterans
My 2 years USNR active duty with NavCommSta - Philippines ‘70-‘72 during V’Nam changed my life, and it was punctuated was by the unwelcome “Welcome” back to the States while traveling home under orders in my Dress Blues in May, 1972. As a 30 yr. cop I know you can relate to what we old Vets have experienced.
Wear the shirt.
(NavRadSta (T) Capas, Tarlac, Philippines, Oct., 1970 - May, 1972)
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jamesu
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04/01/21 04:27am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Traveling from Bryce Canyon to Moab
The safe route would be to go west on 12 to 89 and take I-70 then 191.
But if you want scenic take 12 east to Torry then 24 to I-70 and 191 to Moab. IMO 12 scares more people but it is a decent road, you just need to drive it. Couple of hard short climbs. Lots of RV's of every size on it. You won't sent any speed records om it. From Torry on it is just another road.
We broke the trip up and over-nighted in Torry at the Rim Rock RV Park. Nothing fancy had a full serve restaurant and a decent burger and shake joint down by the RV park. Early November and had the place to ourselves.
Good gas stop at the Sinclair station just to the east of Escalante.
What he said in paragraph #2: we took that route from Zion & Bryce Canyon to Moab in 2011 as part of our clockwise “Grand Tour” route of the 5 NP’s in S. Utah. East of Torrey you pass through Capitol Reef NP. Stunning scenery on this route pretty much to whole way. Would love to do it again.
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jamesu
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03/06/21 05:20am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Brady Bowl 10
Yesterday’s “Super-Bowl-Tom-Brady” was as methodical as my surgeon performing my successful Robotic Radical Prostatectomy. A thing of beauty.
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jamesu
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02/08/21 05:14am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: How would you answer this question ?
Luzon, 1970-72, US Navy. “I was not on vacation over there. Readjusting to home was a lot tougher than adjusting to that place.”
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jamesu
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02/08/21 05:07am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: RV Dealers
This is our fourth brand-new TT. Each one came with LP tanks, sewer, and water hoses, etc. You should ask for them if not given.
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jamesu
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02/07/21 06:02am |
Towing
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RE: Seattle Area I-5 South to Carnation
If your going midday go south five to east bound 90 and go north on 203 from fall city
No way. Stay out of Seattle. Do what Enblethen and I said.
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jamesu
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02/06/21 05:20am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Seattle Area I-5 South to Carnation
Best would be turn east from I-5 on US 2 in Everett. Then at Monroe turn south on SR 203 to Carnation. Worst part would be a couple high traffic miles entering Monroe. SR 203 is a good two lane highway. Not much for shoulders.
I agree with “enblethen”. I am an Everett native, and that’s the best route from Swinomish to Carnation.
With the above route here is an option in case southbound I-5 is backed up heading into Everett: go east on SR-530 at the Arlington exit, south on SR-9 through Lake Stevens/Frontier Village, and east on US-2 just north of Snohomish. Traffic in Snohomish County can be horrendous now so you always need alternatives.
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jamesu
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02/06/21 05:17am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Port Townsend Ferry to Coupeville in WA
Your choice on tides. I have never had a problem towing on that ferry run, regardless of tides. WSF personnel are great and will work with you if there is going to be an issue with your clearance. There are two ferries and one is leaving every 45 minutes.
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jamesu
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02/06/21 05:05am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Dump Station Etiquette???
Wear rubber gloves or disable gloves. 1. Hook up your hose, 2. Dump (Black 1st, Gray last) 3. Rinse inside of your sewer hose + any escaped poo down drain with the provided hose. 4. Put your stuff away. 5. Get out of there...particularly if others are waiting.
Trust me, they’ll be watching you.. A good “dump job” takes me a good 10 or so minutes when I am working efficiently. Practice makes perfect.
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jamesu
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02/03/21 06:13am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Greasing the hitch
Reese Hitch Ball Lube
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61yv70lxV8L._AC_SL1500_.jpg width=160
Reese Grease...the same stuff I use on my ball and my stabilizer metal-on-metal touch points. Will help keep the ball from getting pitted over time. I know this from experince.
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jamesu
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01/05/21 07:17am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: I just got the new RV Magazine
Issue #1 of “RV” reminds me strikingly of “Sunset” magazine. Like “Sunset”, this new “RV” appears to be aimed towards younger, “woke”, well-off Silicone Valley-type Yuppies. That’s not us, and that’s not the campers we share our favorite campgrounds with.
We don’t subscribe to “Sunset” anymore, and from my perusal of the first issue “RV”, I doubt that “RV” will ever become dog-eared as our old “Trailer Life” magazines always became.
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jamesu
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01/02/21 07:04pm |
Good Sam Club
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RE: Who says we are not all family
Each of us is called upon to step up to help out from time to time, but this guy went above and beyond. My hat is off to him.
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jamesu
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11/27/20 06:42am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: 2003 Ford F150 4x4 Towing
I towed with a ‘03 F-150 4x4 “Lariat” for 10 years. Nice truck. TT was 5330 lbs. dry weight. Probably was towing 6500-7000 lbs.
The F-150 gave me it’s all, but after 10 years of driving the Mt. Passes up here in the NW it was time for a change. After my last few trips up and over the Mt passes in both the Cascades and in the Calif. Siskiyous I had had enough. Got tired of heading up the passes at 35 mph and sweating whether or not my brakes would hold out coming down the other side.
I traded in my 1/2 ton Ford and bought the 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax diesel, used, in my signature. There is no comparison: up the Mt. Passes at 60 mph consistently, and down the backside with the Allison Transmission slowing us down. I know longer worry about burning out my brakes. Much safer and much more enjoyable. Tows beautifully and very dependable.
Your F-150 will do the job, but it will be working really hard in order to do it. If you can swing it, I advise towing with a 3/4 ton truck at a minimum; a 3/4 ton diesel is even better.
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jamesu
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10/16/20 02:16pm |
Towing
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