EVENTS
7380 El Camino Real
Atascadero 466-2411
Frite Nite will be on October 24th this year. Several members are planning to attend. Brian T handed out flyers and applications with the details. You must pre-register this year, and there is a new location. You will receive maps and details with your confirmation. There is a great raffle. Bill, of the Point Mugu club, which puts this event on, attended our meeting and indicated that they like costumes and Halloween decorated vehicles. The obstacle course at hungry valley will be available until noon. Brian also stresses that there will be no drinking of alcohol on the trail and there will be law enforcement.
Kevin H is visiting the area and is looking for someone to attend the Panamint Valley Days, November 6, 7th & 8thwith him
Frank and Donna A gave a report on the workdays that they have had on their land in Atascadero. Frank asked members to call him if they are interested in helping develop a campsite and roads.
Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen P.
THE COFFEE BAG
So if you are like Mark, you might want to add this little bundle to all the stuff you throw in your 4 wheeler:
The coffee bag is meant to be a compact, ready to use unit, that is kept on the top of the load, handy when you need it. That means it is the last thing to go on the load, not buried somewhere that you have to dig for a half an hour to get to.
In it is, of course a coffee pot. We have a cute little one from mirro that has a drip basket on top, holds 4-8 cups and has a nice plastic handle that smells great when you put it on the fire. So that's why you have item #2...some kind of primus stove. A little backpacking one is great, you don't want it to take up much room.
Our stove comes with one tin cup, but I hate to drink out of plastic or tin, so into the bag goes 2 glass mugs. Stainless steel ones are better, they don't get plinked when your coffee bag falls off the back of the jeep and gets run over by your trailer. (That happens because you've packed it on top where you can get to it easy and you forgot to bungie it back on) Stainless steel cups will crush, granted, but they usually survive with some type of cavity that holds coffee. Rather like a squashed fuel tank, granted, it holds less, but when you have to be on the trail by 7 AM, 3 smashed cups is roughly equivalent to one intact one.
Next you need some type of ignition device. We have three. First we have matches. They don't light up in the rain, even if you put them in a plastic bag...Try water proof ones, though I really don't believe they work, so I keep my matches...the "strikes anywhere" type in a cute little container. I don't advise the safety type...I once witnessed a near death experience when a guy tried to light a match on his leg after he had spilled gas on his levis. Second, we have a really fancy steel flint setup that uses magnesium which throws out great fireworks when you strike it. The Guy at Gearheads in Moab that sold this thing to us actually uses it as a flashlight. Walks along throwing sparks...he lives in the desert...nothing to burn. Small brain. Our last resort ignition device we got at a mountain man rendezvous...an actual piece of flint rock and some dryer lint. You gotta be desperate. I suppose failing all that you could always find a stick and a shoelace.
Since our pot is a drip, we need a second pot in which to boil water, so it can be poured into the drip basket. We used an old mess kit pot with a ail, that fits right over the bottom or our coffee pot, nesting, so that it doesn't take up extra space.
To keep coffee grounds under control, we use filter packs. If you're like Mark, after you use them you can wring them out into your last cold cup of coffee, and when they are that dry, they'll even burn on what's left of your fire. Also, a hot pad and dish rag which, when wrapped around your glass mugs helps keep my glass mugs in tact. Further, the hot pad prevents flying coffee pots. Come on, I know you've grabbed the pot handle when it's been over the fire.
Since this coffee bag we have is a survival kit of sorts, I deep my air mattress patch kit in it, a couple of pieces of parachute cord and some biodegradable soap that I've never used because if you don't get all the soap out of your coffee pot, your coffee has this wondrous laxative effect. In the cavities provided by the coffee pot I put the packs of coffee, a baggie of cocoa and tea, sweeteners, creamers etc. Sometimes I even shove in a couple of granola bars. I also shove in a baggie of cold cereal, and a couple of paper bowls which fit nicely around the mugs wrapped in the dish towel and hot pad. Two spoons and a dog knife compliment those nicely.
All this stuff actually fits in a small military heavy canvas bag with a zipper and handles to bungie it to your rollbar by.
So, just add water, and you have a camping survival kit!
Next month: Find out what a dog knife is. And I will tell you all about what's in the little red pack that is always hanging from my headrest. What's it for? I'll give you a hint...you'll use it after you drink the coffee from the pot with the biodegradable soap left in it.
Shamelessly Submitted, Kathleen P.
SOLD
Invited by RJ Midstate Cruisers
Second Saturday of Every Month
Cool Cats Cafe, 5:30-8:30
Prizes, Raffles, 50-50 Drawings
Show Off Your Vehicle-Cruise
Meet and Visit New Friends
Please Send Dues to Membership Director, Treasurer, or Secretary
