Base Camp Journal
(01/06/26)
Ok, the new year begins with my first ever Resolution - to make working out a dedicated job...
Most of the first few days have been rather wet, but on the 6th. the sky cleared and the sun came out, so I put on some of my 'new' thrift shop workout gear and took my after-lunch constitutional...
Coming back from my afternoon 10-block walk on Jan. 6th...
(01/16/26)
A few days ago I had my latest official blood sugar check. The number was higher than before, but I wrote a note to my primary doctor filling her in on my diet and exercise changes because there's no monthly Diabetes group meeting in January. I just did my own intensive blood sugar check last week, with the overall results right where I want it, but the doctors won't see it until my next official check in April or May...
(02/13/26)
Ok, there hasn't been much to relate, except that we have one last weather system sweeping through with weeks of off and on rain here in the Bay, while severe winter storms continue in the Midwest and East Coast...
We're about three weeks away from the daylight savings time shift, so I've started thinking of spring cleaning, kind of. Not just tidying up my unit, but a modest overhaul of my bike gear, in particular the touring part of the tourpacking equipment...
I recently checked my previous podcast archive pages and discovered that the 100W Power Plant pdf was gone. I don't know if it was deleted or my site was hacked, but I put it back, and then thought about how useful the full system is, now that I have a stronger solar panel and a better power pack. I mean, both setups are only meant to power the travel laptop and my phones, and the first one is bulky, heavy, and requires that cumbersome cargo frame. The best job it can do now is power my laptop and phone if the power goes out at home - it certainly won't run my small fridge...
Making that one small change means I can greatly streamline the touring gear..
The battery box from now on stays at home...
The frame goes, but the cargo case remains...
Without the frame, the trailer no longer needs those front wheels, making the setup much easier to pull on a long haul...
Strangely, I don't feel bad about breaking down and discarding this now-outdated equipment; this is no different than replacing the 60W panel with the 100W panel. I'll try to salvage the hardware, but there's no point in holding onto crap for sentimental reasons...
(02/21/26)
Ok, I have free time to get on with dismantling the cargo frame and trailer front wheels. It was a bit tight since my base camp unit is so small, but it only took a couple hours total...
Once the cargo trunk was detached, the steel rods were placed in the corner to break down later. The D-shaped anchors on the bottom shelf and the steel braces under the top shelf were removed and can be tossed. I forgot how heavy those two slabs of wood made the whole thing...
With the 10-in. front wheels removed, the cargo trailer itself goes back to its light and sleek form...
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