Log 2017011001

When I checked about 40 minutes ago, these logs were 38 pageviews away from 10,000.

I've got a big meat pressure canning day planned for tomorrow.  At some point, I'm going to probably pick up a vegetable canner.  I'm being held accountable by my nutritional.

The day after tomorrow, I'll get the full brake job done on my 2008 Chevy HHR LS.  The sooner I can do that, the sooner I can leave to hike the remaining Buckeye/ North Country/ American Discovery trail in South Central Ohio.  A buddy of mine sounds like he's going to complete the circuit before I do, but I might have an edge on completing all 3 in Ohio?

Yesterday, I finally got access to my gear bin.  And I used my own Full Generic Gear Inventory to create my next packing list.  The trouble with the winter is that I have find all of my thermal gear.  If it's not in the bin, I'll have to buy it before I launch.  The winter can be lethal.

I don't have all of my pictures sorted into their proper folders, yet. I wish that I would have of had one for you today.

Log 2016060901

I packed the car with essential gear.  And because I've been working on the motorhome for about 34 days, I'm getting to point where I can't think or communicate with people.  So I think I need something physical right now.  Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Scioto Trail State Park to start hiking the on-road trail to assess what my abilities are now?  It should take some of that 185 miles that I have left down quickly.

One of the bolts on the car's full size spare holder on the trailer need to be cut of with a hacksaw.  Otherwise, I replaced the mounting bolts in both the full size car and trailer spare tire holders.  The spare tire well in my 2008 Chevy HHR LS isn't large enough for a full size spare.  And I wouldn't dare tow with the dough nut, especially if it had to be on one of the rear wheels.  And I usually never tow my utility hauling trailer without a spare wheel for it.  So that's why they both mount to the trailer's tongue.

Log 2014070602

Last year, I mounted my large gear and tool bays along the front and side rails if my utility hauling trailer because I wanted their weight to rely more on the car's rear suspension. But in all that time, I questioned whether that was the right decision, especially since I've recently done some work on the car's springs and struts.

This year, I plan to relocate those bins so they sit directly over the trailer's axle.  Well, strapping them over the trailer width wise like I always have isn't a problem. But, doing it length wise is now.

There's two problems when mounting there. First is that I'd have to use towing steps over the top of the bins that would reach around and hook to the bottom of the frame. That would interfere with the proper packing of the trailer. 

The other thing is that I could install hooks, but since the back rails are being redesigned to function as a ramp, specifically for the bins (they're heavy and have wheels. Standard hooks would I'm peas the bind and defeat the purpose of the new rear door.

So, I purchased some new recessed hooks. Special holes in the trailer's floor will need to be cut out in order to mount them.

Log 2013071501

2008 Chevy HHR LS had both rear struts replaced at 124,144 miles on the odometer.  Brake shoes, pads, discs and drums were replaced sometime around 124,115 miles.  I still have yet to change the driver's side front ball bearing, engine oil and bolts to the plastic air filter manifold that were lost after a professional oil change.  It still remains uncertain as to whether the new struts lifted the back end enough to keep the hitch from scraping the ground when the car and trailer go over a raised curb, or back down from one.

This past week, gear was obtained from storage, which includes:

4L Water Bladder and drink tube
8GB Flash Drive
Two empty plastic containers
A small bottle of Febreze
A small bottle of water with approximately 8% Clorox Bleach
Sleeping bag compactor, size M
Blue jacketed speaker wire
Powered 7 port USB hub
Bluetooth wireless keyboard and trackball combination unit
75ft of outdoor extension cord

This week, the roof rack bag, music, cookware and laptop bags were all weatherproofed.  The 40lb weight vest was also used this past week.  So far, the repairs had little positive effect on the unit's performance and running with it is out of the question. 

Months ago, I requested an offline PDF copy of the Haynes repair manual for my HHR.  And from the reply email I received, I was under the impression that they have no desire to either make such a product, or even consider it.  They have a web version, but its no good to me if I'm somewhere remote.  I bring this up because the manual was stored in the laptop bag on the roof rack prior to the weatherproofing.  This past week, I was able to use a blow dryer to dry out its pages and save it.  The manual belongs in a pouch behind the driver's seat and I can place it there from now on.  But what if I use it in the car, but my wet, sopping hands have to turn the pages when it's raining outside?  I once considered taking a razor to its binding, then placing it's pages through an Automatic Document Feeder and making my PDF copy of it.  But, I'm not sure that the wheels in scanner's ADF will handle it's newsprint pages without tearing it up?  And now that it's damaged, I'd have to purchase a new manual to get it done.