http://blogs.bootsnall.com/TravelEvangelist/kiwi-roadtrip-week-one.html Chicago couple departs on 1 year RTW trip...goals include eating and tracking down Ken Lay. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:50:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://blogs.bootsnall.com/TravelEvangelist/kiwi-roadtrip-week-one.html#comment-2212 Kirby Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:56:58 +0000 http://blogs.bootsnall.com/TravelEvangelist/kiwi-roadtrip-week-one.html#comment-2212 I can relate to bad tents, my father had a “Miner’s” tent without a floor, and once while asleep, I rolled out and down a 20 foot embankment, coming to rest against a tree in my sleeping bag, on the edge of the trout stream that we had hiked into somewhere in the middle of the UP. Of course no one missed me until morning, and I was still sleeping when my father found me with his camera the next day. The Kodachromes of this are hilarious I must admit. As an old fart camper from way back when, and after seeing the picture of JR in the tent, the mess of ropes are just tie downs that help keep the tent in place in high winds. See those little black "tags" on the fly or poles? You tie those ropes down and then stake them to provide rigidity in a wind. Totally unnecessary in calm weather, or when you are inside the tent -- but if you are gone and a big wind comes up --whoosh! And off your tent goes down wind. the stakes in the four corners will be flung to the winds unless you tie the tent down. Thanks for the update, you made me jealous of my former life as an ice climber and mountaineer as you described your traverse of the glacier!! Travel safe, and see you in a month. I can relate to bad tents, my father had a “Miner’s” tent without a floor, and once while asleep, I rolled out and down a 20 foot embankment, coming to rest against a tree in my sleeping bag, on the edge of the trout stream that we had hiked into somewhere in the middle of the UP. Of course no one missed me until morning, and I was still sleeping when my father found me with his camera the next day. The Kodachromes of this are hilarious I must admit. As an old fart camper from way back when, and after seeing the picture of JR in the tent, the mess of ropes are just tie downs that help keep the tent in place in high winds. See those little black “tags” on the fly or poles? You tie those ropes down and then stake them to provide rigidity in a wind. Totally unnecessary in calm weather, or when you are inside the tent — but if you are gone and a big wind comes up –whoosh! And off your tent goes down wind. the stakes in the four corners will be flung to the winds unless you tie the tent down. Thanks for the update, you made me jealous of my former life as an ice climber and mountaineer as you described your traverse of the glacier!! Travel safe, and see you in a month.

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