View allAll Photos Tagged HardShell
Narceus americanus-
This is a black millipede with long red stripes. It is scientifically known as the Narceus americanus.
Its common name is the North American Millipede. This millipede is noteworthy in that it is the largest of all the millipedes in North America. It can grow to a length of 10cm- which makes it twice as large as any other millipede in North America.
This Millipede feeds on plant matter–mostly decayed or dead plant matter–and is most often found outside, very rarely venturing inside. They may be considered pests by gardeners.
They live in woods and fields, anywhere there is darkness and moisture. They are usually found underneath logs or dead leaves.
Millipedes eat dead and decaying plant matter, such as old leaves, stems, and flowers. They also eat fungi that is on the plant matter, and sometimes they eat partly decayed animals, such as earthworms, snails, and insects. Millipedes are very important, because they help put nutrients back in the soil for plants and other organisms to use.
Millipedes have tiny holes, called spiracles, on the sides of their segments. They breathe through these holes and must stay in places where there is moisture.
North American Millipedes are mostly nocturnal, coming out to feed at night.
Millipedes have predators, but they also have some good defenses.
First, if a millipede feels threatened it can roll up tightly into a coil, with its head and legs turned inward. This way its hard exoskelton (shell) protects the soft parts of its body.
If that doesn't work, the millipede lets out a foul-smelling chemical which makes it unappetizing to many predators.
Even with these defenses, millipedes are eaten by frogs, lizards, some beetles, and a few birds. Their main predators, though, are shrews. Millipedes are one of the shrew's favorite snacks.
Lobster is a strong Holiday tradition in Atlantic Canada.
The harvesting starts the last week of November or very near that time.
The regulated areas, designated for fishing lobster, during this period are 33/34 which encompasses the Bay of Fundy, St. Mary's Bay, Southwest Nova, all along the South Shore, all the way to Halifax.
This time of the year, the cold waters, yield premium hard shell lobster, full of sweet meat, that is unparalleled.
Freshwater turtles are reptiles with hard shells that protect them from predators. They spend most of their life in the water only coming on land to migrate between water bodies or to nest. Australia is home to about 23 species of freshwater turtle. All but one of these species belong to the family Chelidae, which is found only in Australasia and South America. These ‘side-necked’ turtles retract their head and neck beneath their shell by folding it to one side, rather than drawing their head backwards as most of the world’s species of turtles and tortoises do. Australia is also home to 6 of the 7 species of marine turtle, but lacks the truly land-based tortoises that occur on all other continents except Antarctica. New South Wales is home to 7 species of native freshwater turtle, two of which are found nowhere else. North American species of freshwater turtles like the red-eared slider turtle have also been found in the Sydney region, probably as a result of people releasing imported pets into local waterways. S20N_277
Different views going for a more natural looking turtle.
Second entry to the
Eurobricks Turtle Insanity Turtle Building contest.
A group of deer high on the Northern face of Camaderry Co Wicklow. I had seen this group as I was on the way up but they kept moving just out of range. I managed to work my way downwind of them and got within a 100m at this point where they had stopped on the top of a butress and got a couple of shots before they dropped out of sight. Not a great shot - I think the sky lets it down and it is not very sharp - but for me it captures the wildness of this less commonly ascended part of the mountain
Shot with a Nikon D5000 with a Nikkor 55-200 @ 200 f11 1/50
I was wearing merino base layers, Polartec mid layer, a 750 fill down jacket and a ME hardshell and the cold was still getting through when I stopped moving ;-)
Winter is really biting now and the Dublin Wicklow and Glen Imaal mountain rescue teams have had a busy weekend in Wicklow
I get a decent number of questions asking me what I shoot with, do I use X or Y or whatever... so to make it easier I recently just took a photo of what's in my camera case, and then dumped it out so folks could get an idea of what tools I use (admittedly some more than other's).
A close up of this photo of my camera case. You can also see this photo of the case unloaded (which shows more stuff since some stuff is hidden as it's stacked under other equipment).
Camera Bodies:
Canon 5DMkII
Canon 5D
Canon 50D
Canon 20D
Canon Elan 7
Lenses:
Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
Canon 35mm f/1.4L
Canon 45mm f/2.8 TS-E (not shown)
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 85mm f/1.2L MkII
Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
Canon 135mm f/2L
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 MkII
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
Lensbaby Composer (w/ lens diaphram set)
Flash / Lighting Stuff:
Canon 580EXII x3 (w/ foot stands)
Pocket Wizard Plus II x4
Sekonic L-358 (w/ Pocket Wizard Trigger Module)
Canon Remote Shutter Release Cable (to trigger camera via Pocket Wizards)
Pocket Wizard Mini to PC Sync Cables x4
Canon CP-E4 Camera Battery Pack (filled with Maha Powerex 2700mAh batteries)
Canon ST-E2 Wireless Trasmitter
Film / Memory Cards:
SanDisk Ultra II 2GB x 9
SanDisk Ultra II 4GB x 1
SanDisk Extreme III 8GB x 2
Fuji Pro400H and NeoPan Film
Gepe Cardsafe Extreme Cases x3
Accessories:
Lastolite White/Grey Card
x-rite Colorchecker Passport w/ no case (recieved it as a beta tester for the product)
Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch
Business cards, Canon CPS Calendar, Pen
Large and Regular Sized PhotoClear Cleaning Cloth
LensPen, Giottos Cleaning Brush
Hot Shoe Level
Extra Battery for Canon 5DMkII and for the ST-E2 Transmitter
Battery Chargers for Canon Camera's
Hoya CP Filter
Case:
Pelican 1614 Hardshell case w/ rollers and adjustable dividers
Pelican 1609 Lid Oranizer for 1600 Case
Pelican Silica Gel Pack (for removing moisture, able to be used over and over)
Tech Details: If your curious how one takes a photograph of all of one's photo gear the answer is you borrow a friends camera from down the street (a Rebel XT/350D with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens).
Lighting provided by one White Lighting X1600 to camera right difused through a large softbox, with Westcott 42" Silver reflector to camera right to just bring in some fill light. A short roll of White Savage Seamless just hanging off the knuckle arm of an Avenger C-Stand (easier and quicker than getting out a big background stand). Triggered by a good ole-fashioned sync cable connected to a Nikon AS-15 on the hot shoe since the RebelXT/350D lacks a PC Sync connector.
I get a decent number of questions asking me what I shoot with, do I use X or Y or whatever... so to make it easier I recently just took a photo of what's in my camera case, and then dumped it out so folks could get an idea of what tools I use (admittedly some more than other's).
If you dump out my camera case... this is what falls out. Too see what it looks like packed inside see this photo.
Camera Bodies:
Canon 5DMkII
Canon 5D
Canon 50D
Canon 20D
Canon Elan 7
Lenses:
Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
Canon 35mm f/1.4L
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 85mm f/1.2L MkII
Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
Canon 135mm f/2L
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 MkII
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
Lensbaby Composer (w/ lens diaphram set)
Flash / Lighting Stuff:
Canon 580EXII x3 (w/ foot stands)
Pocket Wizard Plus II x4
Sekonic L-358 (w/ Pocket Wizard Trigger Module)
Canon Remote Shutter Release Cable (to trigger camera via Pocket Wizards)
Pocket Wizard Mini to PC Sync Cables x4
Canon CP-E4 Camera Battery Pack (filled with Maha Powerex 2700mAh batteries)
Canon ST-E2 Wireless Trasmitter
Film / Memory Cards:
SanDisk Ultra II 2GB x 9
SanDisk Ultra II 4GB x 1
SanDisk Extreme III 8GB x 2
Fuji Pro400H and NeoPan Film
Gepe Cardsafe Extreme Cases x3
Accessories:
Lastolite White/Grey Card
x-rite Colorchecker Passport w/ no case (recieved it as a beta tester for the product)
Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch
Business cards, Canon CPS Calendar, Pen
Large and Regular Sized PhotoClear Cleaning Cloth
LensPen, Giottos Cleaning Brush
Hot Shoe Level
Extra Battery for Canon 5DMkII and for the ST-E2 Transmitter
Battery Chargers for Canon Camera's
Hoya CP Filter
Case:
Pelican 1614 Hardshell case w/ rollers and adjustable dividers
Pelican 1609 Lid Oranizer for 1600 Case
Pelican Silica Gel Pack (for removing moisture, able to be used over and over)
Tech Details: If your curious how one takes a photograph of all of one's photo gear the answer is you borrow a friends camera from down the street (a Rebel XT/350D with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens).
Lighting provided by one White Lighting X1600 to camera right difused through a large softbox, with Westcott 42" Silver reflector to camera right to just bring in some fill light. A short roll of White Savage Seamless just hanging off the knuckle arm of an Avenger C-Stand (easier and quicker than getting out a big background stand). Triggered by a good ole-fashioned sync cable connected to a Nikon AS-15 on the hot shoe since the RebelXT/350D lacks a PC Sync connector.
NOTE: This photo made it into Flickr's 'Explore" as one of the top five hundred most interesting photos on a particular day. You can see all of my photo's that have made it into the Flickr Explore pages here.
At Stage Harbor in Chatham, Cape Cod with Morris Island in the background.
© Christopher Seufert Photography
The hard clam or quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria is a bivalve mollusc native to the eastern shores of North America, from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula. Older sources may give it the systematic name Venus mercenaria. It is one of many unrelated bivalves referred to as clams.
"Turtle Island" by Patti Deters. A Yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) or pond slicer has climbed onto a small clump of moss and other pond detritus. The small reptile rests on the tiny island, soaking up the warmth of the sun. As an ectotherm, he relies on external warmth, so basking in the sun on the moss helps regulate body temperature. He is surrounded by calm water and is beautifully reflected on the surface. Sunlight creates a soft, bokeh effect in the background, adding a serene atmosphere to this aquatic scene. If you like outdoor nature photography, please enjoy more animals and other wildlife images at patti-deters.pixels.com/featured/turtle-island-patti-dete....
Freshly steamed Nova Scotia lobsters await consumption. Newspaper is the tablecloth.
Some guests will dip their morsels in melted butter.
I decline.
The sweet taste of those lobsters, harvested in the cold waters of the Bay of Fundy, is all I need.
June 28, 2016
Meet our new friend; a painted turtle we found in our yard after most likely laying eggs. Look how Nature has adorned her with such beautiful eyes and gorgeous intricate stripes on her body and shell. These turtles are flashy in the water, but up close they really are amazing.
She did NOT like being picked up, and gave me a good "hiss." Once I photographed her, I let her go on the other side of our fence since our dog would have LOVED to play with her... and she plays a little rough with turtles!!
EXPLORED: July 2, 2016
#315
Brewster, Massachusetts
Cape Cod - USA
Photo by brucetopher
© Bruce Christopher 2016
All Rights Reserved
No use without permission.
Please email for usage info.
Many Atlantic Canadians enjoy lobster over the Holidays as the cold water produces some of the very finest lobster in the world.
July 5, 2017
A female painted turtle is in the process of finding a place in our yard to lay her eggs. We have at least one show up every year. I'm not sure if she is the same mom that is returning each summer.
Brewster, Massachusetts
Cape Cod - USA
Photo by brucetopher
© Bruce Christopher 2017
All Rights Reserved
...always learning - critiques welcome.
Shot with a Canon 7D.
No use without permission.
Please email for usage info.
A normal composition of beach litter on this little beach, with the bonus of yet another Vaisala weather sonde, quite disintegrated. These used to be hardshell, not so easily broken down. Most of what we find here is fisheries related.
Every Friday in the Summer, the wharf at Belliveau's Cove offers for sale, fresh lobsters, mussels, clams, snow crab. Live music and wonderful sunsets on the wharf.
September 25, 2018
Fresh steamed little necks or small quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) from the Brewster Flats.
Brewster, Massachusetts
Cape Cod - USA
Photo by brucetopher
© Bruce Christopher 2018
All Rights Reserved
...always learning - critiques welcome.
Tools: Canon 7D & iPhone 6s.
No use without permission.
Please email for usage info.
I get a decent number of questions asking me what I shoot with, do I use X or Y or whatever... so to make it easier I recently just took a photo of what's in my camera case, and then dumped it out so folks could get an idea of what tools I use (admittedly some more than other's).
This is what I keep my camera gear in... if you want to see the contents dumped out see this photo where it's easier to see everything as in this photo there is a lot of stuff that is buried under something else.
Click here to see it larger.
Click here to see a close up of the bottom section of the case.
Camera Bodies:
Canon 5DMkII
Canon 5D
Canon 50D
Canon 20D
Canon Elan 7
Lenses:
Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
Canon 35mm f/1.4L
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 85mm f/1.2L MkII
Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
Canon 135mm f/2L
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 MkII
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
Lensbaby Composer (w/ lens diaphram set)
Flash / Lighting Stuff:
Canon 580EXII x3 (w/ foot stands)
Pocket Wizard Plus II x4
Sekonic L-358 (w/ Pocket Wizard Trigger Module)
Canon Remote Shutter Release Cable (to trigger camera via Pocket Wizards)
Pocket Wizard Mini to PC Sync Cables x4
Canon CP-E4 Camera Battery Pack (filled with Maha Powerex 2700mAh batteries)
Canon ST-E2 Wireless Trasmitter
Film / Memory Cards:
SanDisk Ultra II 2GB x 9
SanDisk Ultra II 4GB x 1
SanDisk Extreme III 8GB x 2
Fuji Pro400H and NeoPan Film
Gepe Cardsafe Extreme Cases x3
Accessories:
Lastolite White/Grey Card
x-rite Colorchecker Passport w/ no case (recieved it as a beta tester for the product)
Business cards, Canon CPS Calendar, Pen
Large and Regular Sized PhotoClear Cleaning Cloth
LensPen, Giottos Cleaning Brush
Hot Shoe Level
Extra Battery for Canon 5DMkII and for the ST-E2 Transmitter
Battery Chargers for Canon Camera's
Hoya CP Filter
Case:
Pelican 1614 Hardshell case w/ rollers and adjustable dividers
Pelican 1609 Lid Oranizer for 1600 Case
Pelican Silica Gel Pack (for removing moisture, able to be used over and over)
Tech Details: If your curious how one takes a photograph of all of one's photo gear the answer is you borrow a friends camera from down the street (a Rebel XT/350D with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens).
Lighting provided by one White Lighting X1600 to camera right difused through a large softbox, with Westcott 42" Silver reflector to camera right to just bring in some fill light. A short roll of White Savage Seamless just hanging off the knuckle arm of an Avenger C-Stand (easier and quicker than getting out a big background stand). Triggered by a good ole-fashioned sync cable connected to a Nikon AS-15 on the hot shoe since the RebelXT/350D lacks a PC Sync connector.
5Li Heart Taco Tray. Choose from Silver or Black trays with pink or red roses. Each tray is clickable for male/female/kid/held tacos to share! 4 sets to choose and each comes with a hardshell/softshell taco in each set.
As some of you may know, I am attending the Great West Lego Show at STEAM this year (Oct 4,5,6) in the UK. Since I want to display some of my train MOCs and run them on Carl Greatrix's beautiful layout, that means I need to get them from Ottawa Canada to the UK.
After reviewing my options, the best method (economically and logistically) was to bring them with me as additional checked baggage. The excess baggage fee from Air Canada is still far less than any shipping method and I get to keep my MOCs with me during transport.
Keeping the MOCs safe for transport / baggage handling required some more thinking. In the end, I decided to buy a standard 28" hardshell suitcase and modify it. The hardshell case is relatively durable and is fitted with TSA/CATSA compatible locks (useful to allow easy access for security/customs screening). Rather than wrap everything in foam and hope for the best, I decided an "engineered" solution was required! In particular, a hardshell case will deform and squash under load which would crush MOCs even if wrapped in foam. Therefore, I added a slotted compartment system which is adjustable, lightweight, prevents MOCs from moving, and provides a rigid framework to prevent crushing. MOCs will stay safe if they cannot move, hence the compartments. They will also stay safe if impact forces are spread and absorbed by the entire structure, hence the rigid foam inserts between compartments along the floor and walls.
Ultimately, time will tell if this solution works. Right now, the focus is getting my MOCs ready! So many things to clean up and finish and so little time. There will be no more public updates for "Tornado". Its debut will be reserved for STEAM. So, if you're in the UK area Oct 5/6; that will be your chance to see it for real!
The White Falcon features '59 styling, High Sensitive Filter'Tron™ pickups, trestle bracing, Neo-Classic™ thumbnail inlays, Space Control™ bridge, sleek Gretsch horizontal headstock logo and a Bigsby B6GB vibrato tailpiece. Comes with deluxe hardshell case.
TOP: Arched Laminated Maple
BRACING: 1959 Style Trestle Bracing
BACK AND SIDES: Laminated Maple Body, 17" Wide, 2.75" Deep
NECK: 3-Piece Maple
PICKUPS: 2 High Sensitive Filter'Tron Pickups
FRETBOARD: Ebony, 12" Radius (305mm)
SCALE LENGTH: 25.5" (648mm)
BRIDGE: Ebony-Based Space Control Roller-Bridge
TAILPIECE: Bigsby¨ B6GB Vibrato Tailpiece
HARDWARE: Gold-Plated
FINISH: Gloss Urethane
NO. OF FRETS: 22
MACHINE HEADS: Grover Imperial Gold-Plated Die-cast Tuners
UNIQUE FEATURES
V-Shaped Falcon Headstock with Horizontal Gretsch Logo
Neo Classic "Thumbnail" Inlay Position Markers
Gold-Sparkle Fingerboard and Headstock Bindings
Oversized Bound F-Holes
Multiple Gold-Sparkle Body Bindings
Gold-Sparkle Inlaid Gretsch Logo on Headstock
Gold Plexi Dove-Style Pickguard with Falcon Detail
Knurled Strap Retainer Knobs
Adjustable Truss Rod
Some say Turtle lives forever. His children say he carries Mother Earth on his back through space as a reward for his courage and kindness. Even today the turtle lives a long and slow paced life. His shell shows us the hurt that hate causes. The weight of it shows how deep and heavy war scars those that live through it. It reminds us how long it takes to rebuild, forgive, forget and learn to love again. (Excerpt from Native American Legends: Brother Turtle The Rock Animal)
That time of the day for two turtles . . . getting some sunshine on an early Springtime day, and perhaps a little time for some shell to shell contact.
Every Friday in the Summer, the Wharf at Belliveau's Cove offers for sale steamed lobster, mussels, snow crab and clams. It's called Les Beaux Vendredis [The Beautiful Friday's]
This work is protected under copyright laws and agreements.
All Rights Reserved (c) 2020 Bernard Egger :: rumoto images
Todos los derechos reservados • Tous droits réservés • Todos os direitos reservados • Все права защищены • Tutti i diritti riservati
▻ Absolutely no usage without my prior written permission
NO RELEASE ! NO Creative Commons license | NO flickr API
photographer... |► my collections.. |► my sets..
:: Я фотограф, Bernard Egger, фото, rumoto, images, фотограф, photographer, 写真家, Nikon FX, full frame, fine art, photography, Fotografie, Fotográfico, Fotografo, top shots, stunning, awesome, outdoor, adventure, extreme adventure, Off Road, nature, wild, wilderness, happiness, free, дружба, Europe, Eurasia, east, Крым, Krim, Kaukasus, Caucasus, Кавказ, Kawkas, კავკასიონი, Kawkasioni, Կովկաս, Kowkas, Qafqaz, Kafkas, Greece, Elbrus, Ararat, Armenia, Հայաստան, Երևան, Yerevan, Altai, Алтай, Altay, Silk Road, Seidenstraße, Siberia, Sibirien, R504 Kolyma, Road of Bones, RF, Russian Federation, Russia, восток, Vostok, Permafrost, Tundra, Ту́ндра, Taiga, Baikalsee, о́зеро Байка́л, osero Baikal, Байгал, Bajgal, Яма́л, Yamal, Magadan, Магадан, Kamtschatka, Камчатка, Karelien, Карелия, Arctic Circle, Nordlicht, Polarlicht, Polarkreis, Wolf, волк, Wildtiere, Wolf, Bär, медведь, bear, Elk, Elche, eagle, Beluga, Lachs, fishing, hunting, Travel, travelling, Reisen, Tour, Abenteuer, campfire, James Baroud, Autohome, Maggiolina, overland, RTT, roof top tent, Dachzelt, Übernachtung, camp, wild camping, wildlife, outside, backpack, Petromax, travel trailer, friendship, passion, Passione, Leidenschaft, emotion, Emozioni, Poster, posters, Motorsport, motoring, motorracing, Rennsport, Rally, Rallye, Automobilsport, sportscars, машина, авто, Automobile, Autos, car, 車, Sportwagen, Manx, IOM, TT, Ennstal-Classic, Chopard, ZENITH, Silk Way Rally, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Le Mans, Goodwood, FOS, Passione senza Tempo,
James Baroud Space XXL EVO hard shell RTT rooftop tent on Hapert Basic Pro Trailer (c) Bernard Egger :: rumoto image low 7
#RTT #erfahrungsberichte #rtt_experience #dachzelt #dachzeltnomaden #roadtrips #abenteuerreisen #fernweh #dachzeltreisen #dachzelturlaub #roof_top_tent #rtt_travel #dachzelttour #rtt_adventure #dachzeltabenteuer #campfire #Autohome #Maggiolina #overland #freetravel #wildcamping #glamping #wildlife #wilderness #outdoor #traveltrailer
It was raining all the day so my main motif became people with umbrellas. For a while I lingered around a main shopping street but none of the captures I took satisfied me. So I left this place and around a corner I found this warning sign. "Yes, the right subject" I thought. Looking for the right angle to make a shot, meanwhile I had been in a really uncomfortable squatting position, suddenly a female voice asked from behind me: "What do you capture?" I stood up showed her a test shot and told her, that the warning sign caught my attention. She said: "It would be terrific when somebody would slip and fall while you take the captue! You know, I also photograph and I have a clue how hard it can be to find the right motive. Let us fake this photo. I will come along and than I pretend to slip"
A couple of captures later she browsed them on the cam's display and told me; "Nooo, none of those is good. We have to replace the sign". No sooner said than done. Well, that picture is the result, but she did not like it either. "Too dark, not good, ... there have to be better reflections on the wet street surface" she told me. "Come let us look for another subject; I know a big puddle over there."
During the search for the perfect puddle we talked about photography of course. The lady hadn't much knowledge of equipment, lenses or focal lengths,- she told my that she shoots with a Panasonic camara - but it turned out that she had some photo exhibitions in the past. Now she is only photographing for her self but she still has fun doing it.
So after half an hour exposed in a downpour we had some other photos. My upper body had been protected by my trusted Gore-Tex hardshell but my trousers were soaked. "Ohoh, your camara became wet all over" she said with a concerned facial expression. I quite her and told her not to worry about the waterproofness but I pointed at my wet pants. "That concerns me, I have to go home", I told her.
Homebound in the subway, wet and tired, I dwelled on thoughts.
What did I learn?
Equipment does not matter as long It is still fun (and waterproof).
Thank you old lady!
P.S.
I am tired and did not review the text. So excuse any orthographic mistakes please.
This work is protected under copyright laws and agreements.
All Rights Reserved (c) 2020 Bernard Egger :: rumoto images
Todos los derechos reservados • Tous droits réservés • Todos os direitos reservados • Все права защищены • Tutti i diritti riservati
► Absolutely no usage without my prior written permission
NO RELEASE ! NO Creative Commons license | NO flickr API
photographer... |► my collections.. |► my sets..
James Baroud Space XXL EVO RTT rooftop tent - Hapert Basic Pro Trailer (c) Bernard Egger :: rumoto images 2349 cc
#RTT #anhänger #rtt_experience #dachzelt #dachzeltnomaden #roadtrips #abenteuerreisen #fernweh #dachzeltreisen #dachzelturlaub #roof_top_tent #rtt_travel #dachzelttour #rtt_adventure #dachzeltabenteuer #campfire #Autohome #Maggiolina #overland #freetravel #wildcamping #glamping #wildlife #wilderness #outdoor
Kalavinka 3 tone" Build "Dura Ace 7600 Hub Set laced to Brobycarbon C60 Carbon Rims" "Gator Hardshells" "EIA Gold Medal Pro Track Cog 17t 1/8" "Nitto Qull Stem NJS" "Nitto S65 Seatpost" "Kashimax AX4A Aero Saddle" "Dura Ace Fc-7600 cranks" "Sugino Zen Chain Ring" "MKS Custom Nuevo Pedals" "SAG Straps" "Izumi Njs Chain"
Kalavinka 3 tone" Build "Dura Ace 7600 Hub Set laced to Brobycarbon C60 Carbon Rims" "Gator Hardshells" "EIA Gold Medal Pro Track Cog 17t 1/8" "Nitto Qull Stem NJS" "Nitto S65 Seatpost" "Kashimax AX4A Aero Saddle" "Dura Ace Fc-7600 cranks" "Sugino Zen Chain Ring" "MKS Custom Nuevo Pedals" "SAG Straps" "Izumi Njs Chain"
Crescentia alata. Sin: Cirian, Tecomate, Guaje Cirian, Morro, Calabazo, Totuma. Arbol de las zonas tropicales de México y América Central hasta Costa Rica. Los frutos son como calabazos redondos que al ser ahuecados se utilizan como cuencos o jícaras para uso doméstico o para artesanía. Las flores y los frutos crecen directamente del tronco semejante al cacao.
Amacuzac, Estado de Morelos, México
"Crescentia alata (variously called Mexican calabash, jícaro, morro, morrito, winged calabash) is a species in the trumpet-flower family Bignoniaceae and in the calabash trees genus Crescentia, native to southern Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica."
The hardshell of fruits are gourds used as beverage or food containers or crafted as art pieces.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescentia_alata
www.siac.org.mx/tecnos/mor84.pdf
www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/info_especies/arboles/doc...
INGREDIENTS
8 Old El Paso® taco shells
2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 large onion, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium jalapeño chili, seeded, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat taco shells as directed on package.
2. Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook chicken in oil about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink in center. Remove chicken from skillet, and keep warm.
3. In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil until hot. Cook onion in oil about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in garlic, jalapeño chili, cumin, chili powder and salt. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Return chicken to skillet. Stir in tomatoes. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot.
4. To serve, place 1/4 cup shredded lettuce in each taco shell; divide chicken mixture among shells. Top with cheese and cilantro.
A new member to the GARC racing circuit is Lobster Pride, a heavy weight racer piloted by two members of the Hardshell clan. With two wins in the season already, these two gentlecrustaceans are a promising pair for the podium this year!
Simon's been badgering me to build micro-GARCs since the fad started, so I finally caved and built one last week, I was only able to get around to stickering and posting it until now though.
Depending on time and sticker availability, more racers may be forthcoming!
I think there are moments in life where we all wish we could suck ourselves into an impenetrable shell and block out the rest of the world. I guess turtles have it pretty good sometimes. Huh.
Ever wonder what one should take with them on an extended international backpacking adventure? Well, here's what I took on a 4-month long backbacking trip to Japan. This is going to be a long read, with(almost) every piece of gear I carry with me on a trip like this, and brief descriptions where necessary.
Let me start by telling you how I organize gear. 1-Shelter(including clothing and sleep system). 2-Food/Water(including cook systems and water procurement systems). 3-Tools(including weapons, blades, electronics, etc). 4-Miscellaneous(Camera gear, repair kits, IFAKs, etc.) 5-Carry systems(backpacks, mostly)
Starting with Shelter(see top left of image):
-Koppen Viggo 20 sleeping bag. I've been meaning to get a quality bag, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. If it keeps you warm, then you can make do with it.
-Coghlan's Bug net. In the red stuff-sack. Absolutely essential on warm/temperate adventures. Trust me. No, really, trust me.
-Eno Singlenest hammock. Do NOT buy a lower quality hammock. Again, trust me on this one. I've seen FOUR cheap hammocks break without any misuse. Buy a quality hammock. Also note: Mine came with very heavy, solid steel carabiners and no hanging line. I've replaced the biners with Metolius FS Mini biners. They are incredibly light weight while retaining a 22KN strength rating. Highly recommended! For hanging line, I use 750 cord; light and strong enough to hang on.
UPDATE: I still use this hammock, but my suspension system has changed. I now use Amsteel Blue as my hanging line, and I use a knotless setup with aluminum descender rings.
-Blue blanket borrowed from ANA airline after I landed in Tokyo. I don't carry anything like this usually, but this one's sort of like a souvenir to me.
-Carabiners. Aformentioned Metolius FS Minis.
-Small green bundle of fabric is a home-made sil-nylon pack cover. Sil-nylon is incredibly light(I mean INCREDIBLY light), much less bulky than many other waterproof fabrics, but is not as durable. Mine has held up well, though.
-Green folded fabric is a home-made bivy sack. I do not use a tent for a few very good reasons. I'm often stealth-camping, and a tent is WAAAY to overt for that, and a tent is heavy and bulky to carry. I haven't used a tent in years and I've had absolutely no regrets. There are some sacrifices made when using a minimal system such as a bivy, though. Ask me about it if you want some pros and cons.
-Sleeping pad. I use a cheap, Wal-Mart sleeping pad, cut to shape in order to fit in the floor of my Alpacka Packraft. There are lots of good reasons to use a cheap, closed-cell foam pad instead of an expensive pad, but the primary reason is that your sleeping pad will probably be destroyed by use over time, and a ruined $8 pad is easier to swallow than a ruined $80 pad.
-Being used as a tablecloth in the image, a cheap 6'x10' tarp. For the same reasons I use a cheap sleeping pad, I use a cheap tarp. I do have to make a note here, though: Not all cheap tarps are the same. I wish I could give you advice on which brands to avoid and which ones to buy, but I really don't remember the brands of the tarps I've bought. Anyway, many cheap tarps have extremely weak eyelets, a weak weave, and(if this is important to you like it is to me), a gloss coat. Some, however, do not have those problems. It's hit-and-miss. Good luck when shopping around, and let me know if you find a decent brand.
Clothing:
-Under Armour compression boxers, 2 pairs. Not recommended. On long treks, they do not wick away sweat as advertised, so you'll end up clammy. They also ride up a bit, and I used to hate that, but I've realized that letting them ride up -though slightly uncomfortable- helps to minimize chafing in and round your sensitive bits.
-5.11 Level 1 9” socks, 3 pairs. The ONLY socks I adventure with. Fantastic elasticity, great durability, and don't start to stink for a loooong time. Great socks!
UPDATE: While I still love how comfortable they are, they aren't as durable as I used to think. I've now owned about a dozen pairs of these, and I've stopped buying them. I've switched to Vermont Darn-Tough socks. More durable, about as comfortable, and they have a lifetime warranty.
-Starter longsleeve base shirt and Starter shortsleeve base shirt, one each. I'm not a snob. I love quality gear, but when a cheap option works this well, I'll advocate its use. These Wal-Mart shirts work just as well as my Under Armour shirts, at a much lower price point. Recommended.
-5.11 Taclite Pro pants, 1 pair. Never ask me about these pants, because I will never stop talking about them. I have a confession(something some of you know already): I love good pants. I REALLY love good pants, and I've spent thousands of dollars on quality pants over the past few years, and out of ALL of them, the 5.11 Taclite Pros are the pick of the litter. They are the best pants I've ever owned, without a doubt. I have them in several colors, but my favorite color is Tundra.
-Lightweight synthetic shorts, 1 pair. Useful in hot weather and as swimming trunks. Here's just a general note: Avoid cotton in all of your clothing. Seriously, just avoid it.
-Light fleece pajama pants, 1 pair. Used as (surprise!) pajamas, but also as an insulating layer in cold weather.
-Light fleece pullover, 1. Insulator in cold weather.
-Columbia HeatMode 2 jacket. Thin jacket for wind/light rain protection. I use this often but it's now out of production. I always travel with a light jacket made of a tightly-woven, synthetic material for wind and rain protection.
-Tru-Spec Web belt. A great belt for it's $6 price point! Recommended if a higher quality belt isn't in the budget. Also, it's flexible enough to be comfortable underneath a backpack hip-belt.
-Baseball cap, for sun protection.
-Shemagh, for 8 trillion different reasons. I recommend everyone have a shemagh on them at all times. Great for lots of things, but I use mine primarily as a scarf, for sun protection, and as a face mask.
-Lightly insulated gloves, for cold weather and for keeping your hands clean while adventuring. I use mine often, always have a pair of gloves! Standard Mechanix gloves are basically a Gold-Standard for adventure gloves.
-Marmot Precip hardshell jacket and pants. Although pricey, I recommend these. I'd actually pay the high price to buy them again if anything happens to mine. Durable, light, packed with features. Great rain suit!
UPDATE: I did end up buying a second set of these after my first ones disintegrated, and my second set is now also disintegrating. I no longer recommend this set. I'll update when I find a good alternative.
-Finally, I separate my clean clothes and my dirty clothes in their own mesh bags.
Food(Top right of the image):
-I won't get into my usual backpacking food, but there are lots of good resources on the web for that kind of info. Message me if you want to know my usual choices.
-I will mention the protein powder, though. If you're hiking and doing a lot of physically demanding tasks, FEED YO' MUSCLES, SON!
-Hard-sided, watertight container. I carry most of my food in a container of this description. It keeps delicate food items or potentially messy food items from getting crushed, it has an air-tight seal to keep animals from sniffing out your food, and it's waterproof. Alternatively, you could use a roll-top dry-bag, but that wont keep your food from getting crushed.
-Jetboil Flash. I avoided Jetboil systems for a long time, primarily because of their price, but when I encountered a fellow traveler using one in the Redwood forests of Northern California, I was blown away. I bought one a few days later, and now I'm spoiled and I never want to use any other cooking system again. Highly recommended!
-Lexan spoon, but no fork. I don't carry a fork because chopstix are easily crafted from twigs or acquired from restaurants. Here in Japan, they give them to you at the cash register when you buy food at grocery stores.
-Spare fuel canister. I actually don't usually carry a spare, since one canister lasts so long, but when I took this photo, my current canister was running low, so I bought a replacement.
-P-38 can opener. Always.
Water(In front of the sleeping pad):
-Nalgene SILO 1.5l water bottle. Nalgenes are an industry standard, and for good reason. However, I'm not picky, as witnessed by the next bullet point...
-Generic 1.5l softdrink bottle, repurposed as a water bottle. Same capacity as the SILO, lighter, but not as durable. I'm not a loyalist to any brand here, not even Nalgene, just be sure to use a reasonably durable bottle.
-Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter. I've been using this filter for years. Highly recommended. I did install a pre-filter the day I got it, though. I use cheap, very small, very light fuel filters. Don't get hung up on certain brands or models, though. I've used MSRs and other Katadyns, and I've done lots of personal research, and they all seem to do the same thing with similar results. Just don't get a Lifestraw. Seriously.
Tools:
-Morakniv HighQ Robust(Not pictured). This tool, as well as the next three tools listed, were in my system until I was arrested in Tokyo and they were confiscated. As a knife guy, I could talk at length about options and philosophies of use, but I'll just leave it at this: Moraknives are the best fixed-blade knife you can buy at their price-point.
-5.11 folding knife. Cheap garbage(Not pictured). I got it as a promo item when I ordered some other 5.11 gear, but I brought it in place of a better, more expensive knife in case anything happened to it. I'm lucky I did...
-Lockpicks. I have Sparrows, SouthOrd, and Peterson lockpicks. I've picked my fair share of locks, and I want to tell you all something. Home-made lock picks are better than each of the above-named brands. My standard set contains the following picks, all hand-made by myself: A shallow hook, a deep hook, a DeForest diamond, a Bogota 2-peak rake, a top-of-the-keyway serrated tension wrench, and 2 bottom-of-the-keyway smooth tension wrenches in different sizes. I carry my picks in a Sparrows Sentry case. Sometimes I carry shims as well, but I wasn't carrying any when I came to Japan.
UPDATE: My every-day lock pick selection has changed. If I'm going minimalist, a set of SEREpicks are what I carry, but if I can spare the extra room, I also bring a traveler's hook, some shims, an EZ-Decoder, and a few bypass tools.
-Leatherman Wave(Not pictured). Always have your multi-tool. There are lots of variations, only you can decide witch one is best for you.
-The pliers on the bottom of the image are a stand-in for a multi-tool. I found them in an abandoned building, so I took them with me. Pliers are incredibly useful, which is one of the primary reasons for carrying a multi-tool.
-No-name, fixed blade knife(bottom-center, next to my Rhodia note pad). I bought this a few days after I got out of jail in Tokyo, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's roughly three-quarter tang, hand-profiled, very hard carbon steel blade. It's been great so far!
-Four-Sevens QT2A-X flashlight, with a poorly-done, home paintjob. I've been using this light for a few years now, and I cannot recommend it. I'm a “Flashaholic,” a term coined by Nutnfancy, so I am VERY particular when it comes to flashlights. This light does not stand up to my requirements. Ask me about it if you want to know more.
UPDATE: ARMYTEK, Surefire, or Streamlight are all great options. I've been carrying Armytek now for a while, and I can't recommend them enough.
-The light is in a home-made .93 Kydex holster. Very cheap, very trim, very effective, great retention.
-Also attached to the light is a Tac-Ord lanyard. I will always recommend attaching your light to a lanyard.
-Fenix diffuser head, modified for use on the above flashlight.
-Fenix Headband, for turning any light with a body diameter of 18-22mm into a headlight. Recommended! However, the process is slow. The retention screw must be completely removed in order to set the light into the clamp. A faster system would be nice, but I haven't found one that's better than this.
-Streamlight Nano/Terralux TLF-KEY1 frankenlight. I recommend both of these micro flashlights, but I recommend the frankenlight even more! With the body of the Streamlight and the head of the Terralux. :p
-Suunto A30 compass with a 550 lanyard. Great compass, very accurate, glow-in-the-dark, rotating bezel. Recommended.
-Garmin eTrex Legend handheld GPS. This thing is definitely dated, has an old, unreliable antenna, and has frustrating controls. Not recommended at all.
-Goal Zero Guide 10+ charger(pictured) paired with the Nomad 7 solar panel(not pictured). This system has served me well over the past 4 years. It charges 4x AA or AAA(with adapter) batteries at a time, and you can usually get enough sunlight in a day to make 2 full charges. It'll also charge my camera batteries, one at a time, and has a USB 2.0 port, so will charge cell phones, MP3 players, whatever. It's a decent, inexpensive system. You can't expect super high performance in a light, backpack-able package, but this is probably as good as you're going to get in this philosophy of use. I will say that it is the most versatile system I've ever found in my research. Recommended. Ask me about it if you want more info.
-8 Goal Zero NiMh, 2300mAH AA batteries, stored in a Bluecell battery case.
-8 Goal Zero NiMh, 800mAH AAA batteries, stored in a Bluecell battery case.
Miscellaneous Stuff:
-50-100' of 550 paracord. Innumerable uses.
-100' of bank-line. Choose your own diameter, I use #15. Great for anything that requires less bulk and strength than paracord.
-Sewing kit. Plenty of thread, multiple needles, stored in a plastic, flip-top tube container. I use mine constantly.
-Primary phone: Nokia Lumia 520 (Windows-based). Not recommended. Windows hasn't been working on their phone OS as long as Android and Apple has, so there are more bugs than the competitors.
-Secondary phone: Motorolla Moto G(Gen1) 8gb, Global GSM(Android-based). Fantastic phone at it's price! I did a lot of research before buying this phone, and I've been very happy with it.
UPDATE: Still using the Moto G series of phones. I'm currently using the Moto G 5 Play, and I'll be buying the 6 when this one dies.
-Note! The Maps.Me Android app is amazing for international travel. Requires no data, no service, nothing. You download whatever maps you want, and you can zoom in, search, navigate- all possible without any connection at all! Great app, very detailed maps for almost every country in the world.
UPDATE: STILL MY RECOMMENDED TRAVEL MAP APP!
-Notepad. Pictured is a French-made Rhodia dotPad #12. Not recommended. Assembled with a single staple, covers are falling off after 2 months of carry and use.
-Writing utensils: Pictured are a 1) Pilot Opt. 0.5 mechanical pencil. Terrible eraser, mediocre spring-tensioned clip. 2) Pilot 3-color, 0.5 Frixion pen. At first I was stoked on this pen. The ink used will disappear with heat, so you get a rubberized-plastic eraser that is designed to create heat through friction, making the ink almost completely disappear. But, after asking around, I've heard stories of ink disappearing when left on hot dashboards and such. That's a dealbreaker. 3) Stabilo Worker 0.3 pen. Not recommended. Running about $8, its ball-point system will NOT keep your lines anywhere near 0.3mm. More like .7 or so. Personally, I'd replace each of these with Zebra pens and pencils. Simple, attractive, reliable.
-Extra pencil lead. I like harder lead rather than softer, but I haven't done enough research or testing to recommend any certain brand.
-Full-sized notebook. The one I'm currently carrying another French-made book- a Jour & Etoffe Color-Fil, 6mm-ruled notebook. Recommended, but good luck finding one. I'm actually kind of particular with my notebooks, but carry whatever you want.
-Generic protractor/ruler combi-tool. I happen to enjoy technical drawing, so I carry something like this often, just to aid in my doodling. However, a ruler is very useful in travel. Most multi-tools will have one engraved in the handles.
-Tissues
-Primary wallet: Keep one wallet with your day-money and photocopies of your Ids in an accessible pocket.
-Secondary wallet: Keep another wallet with the rest of your money and your actual Ids in a separate pocket, preferably a more secure one.
-A few lighters. I don't smoke, but lighters come in handy every so often.
-MP3 Player. I hate iPods, so I've been trying different players over the years. The latest iteration of Sandisk's Sansa series, the Sport+ is actually pretty good. No removable battery, but it has expandable memory, so you can use your micro SD card.
UPDATE: The Sansa series was awful, so I found a generic MP3 player buy a company called Niusute, and it's been GREAT. I've had it for about a year now, and it's held up well. It doesn't have a user-replaceable battery, but it does have expandable memory, and its best feature is that it has a battery life of 80 hours! I use it constantly, and I generally recharge it once a week.
-Micro SD to regular SD adapter, in protective case.
-I am very partial to JVC Marshmallow headphones. I recommend them to everyone, but I bought a different kind of headphone after reading lots of favorable reviews. They have something of a cult following, but frankly, I have not found any reason to like the MonoPrice Hi-Fis. Mediocre. Better than dollar-store headphones, but not by a whole lot.
-Extra ear pieces for my headphones. I always manage to lose mine.
-On this trip, I brought a small Japanese dictionary. The one pictured is excellent. I did some research before settling on this one, and I'm glad I chose it. Recommended for anyone traveling to Japan.
-Pack towel. Never go anywhere without your towel! Arthur Dent will tell you why.
-Business cards. I don't have any reason to have my own, but I collect them everywhere I go from people I meet. It's easier than asking people for their Facebook or E-mail. Just get their business card and stick it in your wallet.
-Lenovo Thinkpad E440, with a Core i5. I usually don't travel with a full-sized computer, but I wanted to edit photos as I went, so I brought my photo-editing computer with me. Included is the appropriate charging cable, a wireless mouse, and a mouse pad. A note on the mouse: Bring a wired mouse when traveling if you bring a mouse at all. It wont take any of your valuable rechargeables, so they can be used elsewhere.
-Silicon Power 1TB external HDD. Highly recommended! I've had this for about a year and a half now, and I've thrown it in snow, dropped it on concrete, dropped it into a sink full of water... And it comes with its own cable, stored neatly in a built-in compartment. Great hard drive!
UPDATE: Still recommend these! Great hard drives!
Hygiene:
-Antibacterial wipes
-Nail clippers
-Razor
-Toothbrush
-Castile soap stored in a repurposed glycerin bottle. This stuff is amazing. I use Dr. Bronner's. It's made of plant material, non-toxic, biodegradable, and extremely versatile! It can be used as shampoo, body wash, face wash, shaving cream, and even toothpaste. As an added bonus for the Tea Tree variety of Castile soap- it acts as a bug deterrent. For about half a day after using it, it works very effectively to repel mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, whatevs. Highly recommended in every flavor!
-My hygiene supplies are all stored in a Kifaru zipper pouch.
Camera Gear: I'm not going to get much into camera gear here. It's not all pictured, but ask me about it if you want to know anything. I'm going to list a few things here, though. Just the “notable” things, I guess.
-Nikon D750.
-Canon 70D.
-5 batteries for each. A mix of OEM and non-OEM. There are lots of good off-brand batteries, do your research before buying.
-Joby Gorillapod Focus with the Ballhead-X. Highly recommended! Love this tripod.
-A zoom lens. At least 250mm, but keep weight in mind if you're backpacking.
-A 50mm lens. Because it's beautiful.
-A wide-angle lens.
-I personally love fish-eye lenses, so I carry one with me. I love being able to see ~so much~ and the distortion doesn't bother me at all.
-Chargers with car adapters.
-LowePro Toploader Pro 70AW. This is another thing that you shouldn't ever ask me about. I will talk your ear off about the quality and features for hours. Of ALL LowePro gear, for that matter. I also have their ProTactic 350. LowePro gear is not particular cheap, but it's worth every penny you'll pay for it. Would you put $5,000 worth of camera and lenses in a $20 case? I wouldn't. Amazing gear. Also, the AW versions have a built-in rain cover.
-Attached to the above bag is a LowePro lens case, compatible with LowePro's SlipLock attachment system.
-Extra memory cards. Seriously, bring extras.
Carry System:
-REI XT-85. I've been using it for two years. Highly recommended.
-Adidas Cinch-bag. Bought it in college, and it's still in great shape. Highly recommended. I bring this with me for times when I can store or hide my XT-85, so I can explore a city without being weighed down. There are lots of small packs that will fill this role, but this is what I had on hand, and I like it.
Not pictured: Here are things I usually bring, but didn't bring on this trip; or gear that I DO have now, but didn't put it in the picture for some reason.
-Handcuff key and Master bump key. Located in a hidden pocket somewhere on my clothing. When I was arrested in Tokyo, and they VERY thoroughly searched ALL of my belongings, they never found these. :)
-IFAK. Stands for Individual First Aid Kit. There isn't one pictured because my custom-built level 1 IFAK went missing before my trip. Whoops.
-A mesh bug shirt. These aren't super effective, but I often carry one because they are extremely lightweight, and offer a ~little~ bit of protection. Just enough to keep you from losing your mind as you set up your net over your sleep system.
-When I'll be filtering water from sources that are likely to contain critters, such as agricultural run-off, I will carry a water purifier in addition to my water filter. My purifier of choice is the Steri-Pen Adventurer Opti with the purpose-built solar charging case.
-Many of you know how much I love packrafting. When you carry one, you have to include the other components of the system. For me, these components are as follows: Packraft, paddle, repair kit, inflation bag, dry bag for the rest of your gear, paracord for lashing your gear to the raft while traveling by water, seat, seat back, riser seat, and stuff-sack. The entire system usually weighs about 7 pounds with the gear that I own and use. It's possible to get your entire packrafting system down to about 5 pounds.
-Guns. When I travel in places where I can legally carry a pistol, I carry a Glock 19(Gen 4) in one of two ways. When I carry openly, it's in a G-Code XST RTI holster on a Low-Ride RTI platform, attached to my clothing belt(not my pack belt). When I'm concealing, I add a Kifaru Koala to my pack system, and I carry the pistol in the Koala's dedicated CCW compartment. In either case, I always use Glock 17 magazines outfitted with Arredondo +6 extensions. Arredondo products are very highly recommended by me! Awesome stuff. I carry spare magazines in either a G-code dual mag holder(RTI variety), or in the mag caddies inside the Kifaru Koala.
-The Kifaru Koala is another piece of gear that I'll talk forever about. It's amazing. Perfect. Lovely. Perfect. Comfy. Perfect. I love it! Added bonus: Last year, Kifaru dropped the price on the Koala. Yay!
-Last but not least... Kelsey. Poor Kelsey got left at home on this trip. It was a difficult decision, and I've regretted it many times over since arriving in Japan. I only hope she'll forgive me when I get back. I'm sorry, Kelsey. :(
I think that pretty much covers it! That was even longer than I thought it would be... If you've made it this far, I'm sure you can tell by now that I'm very particular about the gear I use, and most of what I own has been thoroughly researched before it was purchased. I love quality gear, and it's very important to me to use gear that performs its intended task very well. I never buy anything just because it's the first thing I found on Amazon that does vaguely what I need it to do. No, I spend months, and sometimes even YEARS(no kidding) researching a particular piece of equipment before buying it. If I own it, it's because I have deemed it to be better than any other piece of gear that fits the exact niche I set out to fill.