Man Camp 2010
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Topic author - I sleep in my van
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- Location: Tampa, FL on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico
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Man Camp 2010
Hello All, I haven't posted in awhile but I have been lurking every now and again to see what everyones up to. My sons and I had our annual Man Camp last month so I thought I'd post a few pictures. We didn't get as many as I would have liked but there are a few funny ones in the bunch. The rule was that you had to have facial hair to camp so I was in but my youngest Daniel who tried to grow a beard just couldn't make it grow. He did show with some peach fuzz though so he was accepted :>)
We camped at Chassawitzka River again this year but got started a little late. It was hot, humid and the mosquitos were relentless...did I say it was hot? But the river was amazing as usual. You can't beat a cool Florida spring fed crystal clear river on a hot afternoon. Enjoy the photos:
loaded up and ready to leave
around the fire
redneck facial hair...
lunch for some..I had a Bubba Burger with Cheese & Chili
more light play...it is actually a pretty accurate image of what the mosquitos were doing...
davinci man?
couldn't stand the pink & green hull anymore so I painted on some Florida Camo when I got home
I used 4 different colors and palmetto & ferns for stencils
I think it turned out ok
looked so good I decided to build a motor mount for my little 3.5hp Champion
bow
stern
Camp Lessons Learned:
1. Never camp in Florida after March...without a/c...
2. Deet 40% does not stop Florida swamp mosquitos...
3. Do not drive off with your Sport-Z tent attached to the bumper...
4. Do not wear wet swim trunks all night in Florida heat...
Canoe Power Lessons Learned:
1. 3.5HP is a lot for a canoe...
2. Canoe with 3.5HP is unstable without a load or another body in the front...
3. My awesome Samsung Rugby cell phone is waterproof!
We camped at Chassawitzka River again this year but got started a little late. It was hot, humid and the mosquitos were relentless...did I say it was hot? But the river was amazing as usual. You can't beat a cool Florida spring fed crystal clear river on a hot afternoon. Enjoy the photos:
loaded up and ready to leave
around the fire
redneck facial hair...
lunch for some..I had a Bubba Burger with Cheese & Chili
more light play...it is actually a pretty accurate image of what the mosquitos were doing...
davinci man?
couldn't stand the pink & green hull anymore so I painted on some Florida Camo when I got home
I used 4 different colors and palmetto & ferns for stencils
I think it turned out ok
looked so good I decided to build a motor mount for my little 3.5hp Champion
bow
stern
Camp Lessons Learned:
1. Never camp in Florida after March...without a/c...
2. Deet 40% does not stop Florida swamp mosquitos...
3. Do not drive off with your Sport-Z tent attached to the bumper...
4. Do not wear wet swim trunks all night in Florida heat...
Canoe Power Lessons Learned:
1. 3.5HP is a lot for a canoe...
2. Canoe with 3.5HP is unstable without a load or another body in the front...
3. My awesome Samsung Rugby cell phone is waterproof!
Last edited by 9dawgs on Tue May 11, 2010 7:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jim<><
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
Re: Man Camp 2010
Great to hear from you!
Love the pics! Canoe looks great! But the lessons learned was the best!
Love the pics! Canoe looks great! But the lessons learned was the best!
'94 Astro AWD EXT LT - Over 211,000 ,parts van now!
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
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Re: Man Camp 2010
How long have you lived in Florida?????????????? You know those swamp skeeters drink deet for breakfast.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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Re: Man Camp 2010
Love the paint job on the canoe! Pretty neat ol' outboard for it too.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!
No new projects until the current ones are done!
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!
No new projects until the current ones are done!
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Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:27 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico
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Re: Man Camp 2010
Haha, pretty much most of my life except for 23 yrs in the military... I know better too. My boys convinced me to go camping against my better judgement! It's all good though, we had a blast.Smiliesafari wrote:How long have you lived in Florida?????????????? You know those swamp skeeters drink deet for breakfast.
Jim<><
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
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- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
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- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
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Re: Man Camp 2010
Love the pics! It's great to see a family all together enjoying life. We will be doing our first camping trip this weekend...can't wait.
Camo paint looks great and the lessons learned made me laugh!
Camo paint looks great and the lessons learned made me laugh!
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
Re: Man Camp 2010
that is a hoot!
looks like a good time had by all...especially the mosquitos.
saw a rig like that on a canoe years ago, with a trolling motor.
looks like a good time had by all...especially the mosquitos.
saw a rig like that on a canoe years ago, with a trolling motor.
'89 Astro, 4.3L, TBI. Minor intake and exhaust mods. Rebuilt 700R4 trans (by me). Corvette servo, 0.5" boost valve, police grade 1-2 accumulator spring (shifts fast and solid). B&M stacked plate trans cooler. Bilstein shocks. Belltech sway bars front and back. New head unit, speakers and subwoofer. Needs paint and a new headliner.
name's Steve
I can't remember all I've forgotten about that....
name's Steve
I can't remember all I've forgotten about that....
Re: Man Camp 2010
great lessons learned
love that van had it as my desktop background for awhile. Jen said; "you aren't doing that to ours are you?" .. LOL.. i can dream
love that van had it as my desktop background for awhile. Jen said; "you aren't doing that to ours are you?" .. LOL.. i can dream
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
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Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:27 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico
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Re: Man Camp 2010
Yes, a trolling motor is the preferred power for canoes I guess. I wanted MORE POWERkings-x59 wrote:that is a hoot!
looks like a good time had by all...especially the mosquitos.
saw a rig like that on a canoe years ago, with a trolling motor.
I looked for canoe motor mounts online before I decided to build one myself. They cost anywhere from $100-150 plus shipping for what looked like cheap materials. Mine is made of solid oak that I had laying around my garage plus some mount bolts I had from an old broken trolling motor. The only thing I actually bought was $5 worth of lag bolts, nuts and washers.
The motor is a 1941 Champion 3.5hp that I've had for years. I rebuilt and repainted it. It runs like a top and pushes the canoe very well I just need to remember to put some weight in the front for stability! When I did my sea trials on it's first powered voyage I was in it by myself and went overboard when I tried to turn at almost full throttle...I grabbed the side and went for a ride until I could reach up and pull the plug wire off. The problem was with the bow so light I was running with a nose up attitude and loss stability. Never flipped the canoe though. I swam it back to shore. Next attempt will be in shallower water with my co-pilot Daniel up front for weight!
Jim<><
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
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Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:27 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico
- Contact:
Man Camp 2010 - More Pics & Cave Dive Videos
I got some more pictures. These are of our time on the river. The videos you'll have to click the link to view. They are of some trips through one of the caves. Stephen brought his waterproof digital camera that had a video function. Hope you guys enjoy
getting ready to launch
splash down
My son Zac in all his redneck glory.
My son Tim on the ascent.
Tim hanging from the tree like a bearded monkey.
Cooling off in one of the springs after a looong paddle..this spring was actually salt & fresh water (brackish), that's why the water was a little murky. In this picture from left to right are my sons Justin & Zac, my friends son Stephen and my daughter-in-law's brother Jesse.
Here are two links to the cave dive videos. They are both awesome
http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x186 ... 010244.flv
http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x186 ... 010245.flv
getting ready to launch
splash down
My son Zac in all his redneck glory.
My son Tim on the ascent.
Tim hanging from the tree like a bearded monkey.
Cooling off in one of the springs after a looong paddle..this spring was actually salt & fresh water (brackish), that's why the water was a little murky. In this picture from left to right are my sons Justin & Zac, my friends son Stephen and my daughter-in-law's brother Jesse.
Here are two links to the cave dive videos. They are both awesome
http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x186 ... 010244.flv
http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x186 ... 010245.flv
Last edited by 9dawgs on Sat May 15, 2010 7:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jim<><
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
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- I sleep in my van
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- Location: Orange County, CA
Re: Man Camp 2010 - More Pics & Cave Dive Videos
Neat pictures and sweet videos, thanks for sharing!
-James
1987 LT
249,000 miles
1987 LT
249,000 miles
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- I plan to be buried in my van
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Re: Man Camp 2010 - More Pics & Cave Dive Videos
Ha! Great stuff, Jim! You sure there aint no gators in that there water?
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- I plan to be buried in my van
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Re: Man Camp 2010
nothing like a good man camp to get a fellar to post again! Good seein ya and looks like a great time. Nice job on the canoe.
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Topic author - I sleep in my van
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:27 pm
- Location: Tampa, FL on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico
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Re: Man Camp 2010
Haha! Yep, man camp gets your mind back in the right place to appreciate the good things in life. I'll try to be a little more visable on here. Life has been very busy lately. With the summer months approaching it's time once again to enjoy what we have here in Florida and the reason so many snowbirds relocate to the Sunshine State.T.Low wrote:nothing like a good man camp to get a fellar to post again! Good seein ya and looks like a great time. Nice job on the canoe.
Jim<><
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)
'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)