tuesday April 2nd, morning
started raining heavy around 6a.m., it was nice listening to the rain as I woke up. I was parked the wrong way wind wise. Ideally, i park the front/nose of the truck into the wind, but the wind was hitting the back passenger side. all that happens is that the wind pushes the large back GFC tent wall in some and then the struts lift it back up, but there’s no way to sleep through that if it’s all night. i’d have had to get up out of bed and turn the truck around into the wind, so i’m lucky it didn’t start until i was up anyway.
getting breakfast at cracker barrel. taco pancakes, without the cheese. i don’t want to tempt fate with that much grease. the tacos are a pancake with a fried egg and bacon, so I’m already pushing it. lol
last night, i rearranged the GFC’s downstairs a little. I had my folding toilet thing closest to the driver side, but i have a milk crate of campfire stuff on top of a 5gallon bucket filled with wood pellets.(with a screw top, air tight lid). Switching things around so the folding toilet is in the aisle of the truck bed gives me more visibility out the rear window, and it also puts the campfire stuff within easier reach once I get to the woods.
Last night, I also set up the rain awning on the driver side GFC tent door.
It worked like a champ this morning when i was getting out of the truck while it was raining. I’d also pulled up the ladder last night, so having the awning overhead made it that much easier to drop down from up top. i could do it without getting rained on. I’m looking forward to making one for Mark and Teresa, to see how they like it. Now THERE’s a business plan. there’s actually a guy that sells sewed bags you attach to the support beams below, maybe I’ll go into business w him. lol (he makes em and gives me $5. now THAT’S what I call “plantation capitalism”….just kidding. It’s hard work making these things and I don’t think I’d feel entitled to $5 everytime one gets made)
anyway, I might just shoot for joplin missouri today. that would put me 1 hour away from Bentonville tomorrow. then I can hit Bentonville during the day and head east towards the Ozark St Francis Forest. before it gets dark tomorrow.
woofed down my breakfast, time to get going now. onto St Louis bbq!
tuesday April 2nd, 10:30a.m. west of indianopolis.
The sun came out so I’ve parked in a rest area about 30 miles west of Indianapolis. I’ve popped the GFC tent up, so it can dry out some. I had to close it up while it was raining this morning at the Dayton Cracker Barrel. I’m going to give it at least another 5 minutes, then I’ll close it up and get moving to St Louis again.
Nothing like dirtbag camping in full view of everyone! I’ve done this before. I remember stopping like this between camping at Cranberry Lake and on my way to 8th lake campground. Although that time I had wet bedding, so I had everything draped over my open truck doors, and my camp chair too. Take advantage of the Sun when you need it.
Here’s a flashback to then
I think if you care deeply about what strangers think, life is way too hard. Do your thing… Embarrassment is for wusses. In fact, I bet it gives people something to talk about for a bit as they leave the rest area. it’s not like driving through Indiana via i70 is exciting. lots of flat farmland.
April 2nd, St Louis, tuesday 1p.m. cdt.
changed up my bbq choice at the last minute, when i realized the other one was a bit out of the way, and another 45 minutes. with the time change, my stomach knows it’s 2pm, and it’s not happy…but it’s about to be once the food arrives.
Okay, that bbq was awesome…humbling even. The bbq I make in my smoker is not even close. Anyway, good thing I don’t live out here, I’d weigh 400lbs.
April 2nd, Buc-ee’s tuesday 6p.m. cdt.
just finished a stop at buc-ee’s near springfield mo
good as the last one I stopped at, didn’t get all junk. got a fruit cup, yogurt, a veggie burrito, and then undid all that with $15 worth of fudge. but the fudge keeps well, and it’ll be good fuel for bikepacking. or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
April 2nd, Joplin Missouri tuesday 8p.m. cdt.
setting up the tent seemed easier. i stopped at Joplin. Bentonville is only an hour from here and the bike shop I want to check out doesn’t open until 10a.m. anyway,. if i get to Bentonville early, i can go to Walmart first.
when I set up the tent tonight, i tweaked the cushion setup i have both of the smaller cushions in the center now. one on the passenger side, one on the driver. my standing spot is behind the cooler on the driver side. i’m standing in the truck bed, just in front of the rear driver side wheel.
Having the other cushion in the center on the passenger side makes it easier to get to the clothes bags that I keep on the passenger side. Should have thought of this sooner, but I think on the arizona trip i had less room to stand inside. this time i have more room to stand with the folding dry toilet vs the wet cassette toilet i had last time.
The only problem is the paper towel holder velcro strip i sewed onto one of the 2x2 cushions is in the wrong spot now. oh well. I just want to test this new layout out, I can always use some vhb tape to mount a velcro strip onto the larger movable tent floor panel. no biggee.
time to watch some Ted Lasso and get some sleep. with the hour gain, it’s more like I drove until 8:30. instead of the 7:30 local time. i think i’ll sleep well. i made sure to park the nose of the truck into the wind this time too (west, southwest) hopefully it won’t change overnight. touch wood.
