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Re: Not For The Faint of Heart
Here is a review as posted via Google+ Kerry Carroll reviewed 9 months ago Very happy with our experience here. Excellent sites, very level an d in great shape. We will absolutely stay here again. End Quote.. Note what this Kerry said.. Level and in great shape... Level my eye. I would also like to remind all those referring to the squirrels.. I love them.. have a few at home that I feed.. But I don't enjoy halve eaten nuts thrown at us. Lastly.. as for the hilly conditions.. when one has a bad back, bad knees and is on heart medicine.. going to and from the laundry/bath house was very challenging.. You can post all the Positive reviews you want.. simply because you're all RVer's and we aren't. I'm simply informing anyone who isn't an RVer, to stay away from these types of sites and yes we will continue to tent camp even in the rain.. been there.. done that.. enjoyed it.383Views0likes0CommentsNot For The Faint of Heart
Mama Gertie's Hideaway 15 Uphill Rd, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Last summer we wanted to take a trip to Asheville, NC and camp all the way down. Mind you we're coming from southern Maryland. Several weeks before departing Maryland, we stopped at one of the local truck stops to grab a laminated travel map and overheard a couple of RVer's talking about mamas campground. All we heard was praise and decided we would have to check this campground out. Calling ahead to reserve a site (tent camping) we had a very limited selection to choose from, but the host assured us there was enough space within a secluded area of the campground. While on the highway towards Asheville, we noticed signs directing us right to the campground, so that's was easy.. but what waited ahead of us.. Hills and more hills.. Not suited for man nor beast. the hills within the camping area really took a toll on our knees and back.. mind you the tent camping was several meters away from any bathroom.. so walking down the bath house was easy.. the hard part was walking back up the steep hills afterward. Two other issues crept up while camping there, 1st, while sitting in our chairs either early morning or late afternoon.. we heard this thumping noise and what seem to be allot of bark on the top of our tent.. turns out we just so happen to have set up tent under a squirrels feeding area and they were dropping their left overs all over us. death from above as we called it.. Later that night we were very well entertained by a young lady who camped two site above us. "Smelly Cat" as we later referred to her as, based on the (song from Friends) decided to play her guitar as well as her flute at 10:00 pm est.. If it wasn't for the fact that the camping area was so hilly with sharp hidden curves entering and exiting the campsites, the squirrels bombarding us for several hours and not having our deposit refunded because of these issues.. Just makes me wonder how this campsite is even staying in business. Then realizing, Wait a Minute, We're out of our element..*slaps forehead* this isn't a typical tent camper campground, moreover it was an RVer's heaven with even more sites on the way. So if you're a tent camper or a weekend hiker, avoid mama's "RV" Campground.. I stress RV for a reason. The whole time we were there, we felt out of place and stuck out like a sore thumb. Next time, We'll make sure we select a tent campers campground instead of an RV park.. Two Thumbs Down..9.1KViews0likes46CommentsCamera Review: Fujifilm XP60
Although I've been skeptical with other cameras before, I was beginning to have my doubts about this new one. Lets just say I was just about ready to text my wife to ask her what Costco's return policy is. One must realize that my frustration when it come to small cameras. Having bad hands I hate little buttons and I was getting discouraged with the new camera. First thing one notices out of the box was the sleek design and the camera's color. For me it was the yellow body XP60 which reminded me of a yellow corvette I had in 2004.. But that's another story. Reading the manual.. Well sort of reading the manual, it stated that the Battery wasn't charged from the factory and one will need to charge before use. Not having an external charger for the battery, I was forced to place the battery in the camera body and using the USB cord I went about charging the battery.. But something was odd.. The battery icon, indicated that the battery was fully charged. I continued to experiment. Diving deeper into the manual, I was getting discouraged again as the manual tended to wander.. I felt that there was more information within the manual there was really necessary. Beginning to wonder what ever happen to just point and shoot cameras, The XP60 had too much going for it. Not to say this is bad.. But in my case, After testing the first three settings/modes.. I found that they were pretty much useless in my hands. After one week of testing the first three modes, SR Automatic, Automatic and Programmable.. I've concluded that I'd do much better with an alternative mode. The SR Auto mode didn't focus on the subject I had intended it to.. Several times I've had to force the camera to focus on the subject matter. The Auto mode, cycled through all modes just to find the right setting for at that time. Often when one would move the auto mode would attempt to recognize what it is you're going to photograph.. And waste valuable time. While the Program (P) mode, listed way too many options and settings and should be left to the professional. But if you're a professional, then why are you using this camera.. Again, what ever happen to point and shoot. I was at my wits end after cycling through the three modes and taking three images within each mode, edited I posted them online. Viewing the images for the first time, I felt the images where stale, generic and non-responsive to what I was attempting to capture. This morning I tried again.. Though the rain hindered my ability to get as close as I wanted I was able to take one last images. A small grouping of flowers, which actually turned out better than expected. I can't say that my first three images didn't turn out (beauty is in the eye of the beholder) But I did like one of the images more so than the others.. This made me think of what other options or modes does this camera have and begin another search. Selecting the "Shooting mode" option, I cycled through a very long list, Possible too long but was able to find a "flower" mode. Later that day I started taking images most set with the natural lighting effect. The small view screens (all digital cameras are equipped with now) tend to leave out allot of detail for those with weak or poor eyesight. Forcing myself to take pictures of the flowers, I figure the flower mode would have done a better job of capturing the flowers true colors. Taking about 10 shots, I reluctantly walked back into the house and uploaded the images to my out dated computer. For some strange reason, this time when I attempted to connect the camera (while it was powered up) my computer finally recognized that there was a camera connected via the USB connection. Thus I was able to upload the images without removing the SD card. Feeling that I should open an alternate editing software instead of the Fujifilms version, I stuck with the Windows version instead. Again having an out dated, but gifted computer does have it's drawbacks. I wasn't able to edit what I wanted to the images once uploaded, But I was able to crop and make a few slight adjustment.. Mind you not much needed to be done to this last set of images. Seems I found the right mode for the right images. I'd have to say that this last batch of images actually turned out better then my first attempt. Crisper, cleaner and I was able to zoom in closer revealing more detail. One week passed and I wasn't feeling very comfortable with how the camera was functioning, But my wife told me to give it some time and keep experimenting. Realizing that from now on, I'd have to set the camera up in a desired mode before actually taking images. Thou if one was to leave the camera on a particular setting, I'd have to select the SR Auto mode just in case you're in a hurry. I've yet to test the video mode seeing how I'm going to clamp it to my PanaVice then attach it to the side, hood, tail gate of the Jeep. I'll have more on that test when the time warrants. I installed the FujiFilm's software just to see if I could alter the images any better than my current software (Picture it) Upon installing, I got an error message indicating that the software may not work in this environment being because the computer I was on was a bit out dated by 10 years.. However the installation went very well other than restarting several times.. and showing me another error which deals with a 3D mode or function. Once everything was said and done, It asked for me to plug in the camera and upload the images.. Once there, the software took me directly to the editing software.. and Pow! I noticed what was called and "optimization" option. which automatically adjust the image/s depending on how the image looks.. I recall this same type of option on the Kodak M1093 easyshare but Kodaks mode did the optimization right after one took and image. Fujifilm's OP mode is done within the software.. Odd. Anyway.. I took a few shots of a large crystal and hoped for the best.. I was very surprised to find out that within the upload the optimizations mode took over and correct the lights and darks etc.. I'd have to say things are getting better and that was the best Picture I ever took of one of my crystals. Even thou my computer was outdated by 10 years.. it handled the software and I was able to get back to correcting and editing my images. The (Picture it) software which was preinstalled on this gifted system works very well, but again I felt the images lacked texture, substance and seem flat.. With the fujifilms software, things are looking and feeling better. I hope to have so images to show for it very soon in the Fujifilm forum area. I've found that I just haven't had the time nor the inspiration to just get up and take some pictures. Focusing on my blog site has helped these last few weeks as to redirect my thoughts the the jeep and their years travel. Along with that we intend to participate in several jeep events and of course I'll have the camera handy. However and lastly, as an update to this review, I still view this fujiflim xp60 as synthetic, stale and campy. Meaning the camera, images as well as the editing software are not very desirable.. But until that time when I can actually buy a camera I want and can actually use, I'm stuck with this kind gesture from my wife to make amends to the fact that I've been without a camera for several years. Perhaps the XP60 is good for something.. but I've yet to find it.1.1KViews0likes3CommentsHard Surface To Trail
Although many of you have big rigs.. We still enjoy the smaller rig mainly our Jeep Wrangler, and yes it's full of just what we need while on the road. Swapping tires and rims with another jeep owner has improved the gas mileage. Our adventures ar more like, my wife saying "What are these dotted lines?" while pointing to a laminated truckers map.. No we don't use GPS. Last summer we took a trip to West Virginia in the hopes that we could find that one lone trail we took back in 2006. Camping out at Greenbrier campground and using it as our base camp.. We set out to find this trail once again. Mind you, the full article can be read here: West Virginia Boat Ride (Revisited) Long story short.. Without giving to much away.. We found that trail and and made it home safely.. Thou I'm not to sure we'll want to do that again.. At least until we recuperate a few months.430Views0likes0Comments
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Bucketlist destinations you just can't miss. Which spots stick with you?Jul 17, 202513,487 Posts
