More About Truck Campers
Posted September 24, 2009 , comments closed
Truck campers are very popular in America, Australia, and Europe. It is a practical car for road trips and camping. Truck campers are a type of recreational vehicle. Camper shells are also known as caps or toppers. These rigid canopies or small housings are mainly used as pick-up truck accessories. Camper shell housings are made out of aluminum or fiberglass. These are normally mounted on the rear bed’s top of the pickup truck. It entirely covers the truck bed like a roof. The shells are large and can sometimes be used for camping purposes. In fact it was initially built for camping. Nowadays, the shells are used for storage and utility purposes. Some shells can be large enough to overlap the cab of the truck’s top. Camper Trucks Truck Camper is a term used in North America that refers to any RV or recreational vehicle carried in the pickup truck’s bed. It is also commonly called TC as its resulting acronym. The types of recreational vehicles in North America are sometimes referred as cab-over or slide-in. The term dismountable or demountable are frequently used in Europe. Slide-in is the term generally used in Australia when referring to types that belong to recreational vehicles. Perhaps the most flexible type of recreational vehicles is truck campers. This type of truck is able to go anywhere pickup trucks can go. These are made available in the market since the early 1950s. Throughout the years, these products had gone through developments and enhancements that make them at the same level or type as to recreational vehicle types. In North America, the leading and largest manufacturer for truck campers is the Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation. This corporation is located at Lancaster, California. The second largest manufacturer is Arctic Fox located at La Grande, Oregon. People in Canada and the western part of United States still continue to use and buy truck campers. In addition, Canada and the United States are the headquarters of large truck camper manufacturers. Truck campers are also becoming popular in Australia due to its practicality and versatility. These are also a perfect choice for fishermen, horseback riders and hunters as well as sports enthusiasts. The reason why a lot of outdoor kind of people picks truck campers is that their horse trailers or boats are easily pulled behind and they can camp off the road for relative comfort. It costs the same as larger recreational vehicles. All amenities must be packed in a smaller package. Recreational vehicles must be able to bear the abuse of bumpy roads Recreational Vehicle Classes Some recreational vehicle classes are also considered truck campers. First is the Clamshell. The construction of this type of recreational vehicle is utilized by two manufacturers from Canada. The two manufacturers are Northern Lite and Bigfoot. This vehicle consists of two fiberglass camper shells horizontally joined together at the center. Hardside Aluminum is a type of camper that utilizes aluminum or wood framing. The camper is finished with an aluminum siding. Hardside Filon utilizes wood framing usually made of fir. It is finished with Filon, a thin layer of fiberglass on the backing of the wood. The popup type is usually low in profile. It is designed to cut down on wind resistance and weight. The construction techniques mentioned above may be applicable for this type of camper except for the Clamshell. This truck’s roof is raised mechanically to add some height. Camper shells are necessary accessories that owners buy to protect the loads in their trucks. Almost all trucks you see on the road are adorned with these.
6 Ephemeral Art Forms You Won’t Want to Miss
Posted September 18, 2009 , comments closed6 Ephemeral Art Forms You Won’t Want to Miss
Tired of visiting the same old museums, finding yourself craning over tourists to get that perfect picture of the diminutive Mona Lisa only to find a better reproduction in the museum shop? Sure, museums have their big fans, and were else are you going to see a collection of static art that just, well, stands there for time immemorial? Museum alternatives abound, but what’s an art lover/museum hater to do?
Temporary, or ephemeral art has a now-you-see-it-then-you-don´t quality to it. It may be constructed for the viewer, as a form of prayer, or even for the joy of the art itself. If you’re looking for a way to infuse art into your very pores while waiting on not a single museum line nor padding down a single hard marble museum floor amid the clicks and whirs of your fellow humans’ preferred recording devices, consider the following six forms of art that are as unique as the artists that create them.
Sandcastles
For artwork that absolutely will not stand the test of time, particularly on a windy, heavy-surf beach that’s subject to rain, nothing can beat the sandcastle. Kids’ versions with moats and scavenged trash these are not. Rather they are works of art that take hours (and sometimes teams) to construct.
One little-known secret is that dirty sand works better than pristine sand, as the grains of sand cling to one another a little better. Mid June brings crowds to Newport Beach, Oregon for the sandcastle building contest there, but true professionals will also be found at the US Open Sandcastle building contest which is holding its 30th annual competition on August 8th, 2010 in Imperial Beach California.
These temporary artworks won’t last long, so you’ll have to be there or crane to get a better look at your friends’ photos.
Sand painting
Religious sand art is present in many parts of Asia, particularly in Tibet. The sand mandala (from the Sanskrit mandala meaning essence, containing or circle circumference) is a colorful, almost kaleidoscopic circle designed by Buddhist monks and then filled in with sand using a series of funnels, bags and scrapers.
The mandalas are made of crushed sand or rock, though crushed lentils and other materials may be used. Mandalas are also present in Hinduism, where they may also be called Yantra. In both cases, mandalas contain religious symbols, and are not meant to be preserved. The making of the mandala is a form of worship by the person who makes it.
Ice Sculpture
Carving a giant block of ice into a recognizable glittering figure isn’t quite the same as standing on the beach under the hot sun, but it’s got that pop-culture element, and the results can be spectacular. Tools include a chain saw, drills with different bits, hand saws, picks and chippers, and of course, tongs. The usual uniform is somewhat unbecoming, with rubber boots and gloves being practically de rigueur. To buy your own ice carving supplies (including giant trays in which to freeze the ice blocks), follow that link.
For those of us who are less likely to hack at a piece of ice, and more likely to want to go see one, the winter festival in Quebec is a good option, or for the more intrepid, go to Harbin in northeastern China, where Siberia-like winter temperatures may drop to nearly 40 below. To see a more complete list of winter and snow festivals, click there. These competitions tend to take place in the winter, so plan on bundling up and heading out to see them in January or February.
Butter sculpture
Moving away from the frozen-solid and towards something a little warmer, are the different types of butter sculpture. The oldest instance of butter sculpture is actually a Tibetan religious artform called Torma, in which butter is mixed with other ingredients, such as flour and colorful dyes either as ritual items or to later be consumed. The monks work the cold butter with their hands as though it were clay, and form it into various shapes of religious significance.
A more mass-market kind of butter sculpture consists of shaping a giant yellow cow out of “pure creamy Iowa butter,” over a frame of wood and wire mesh at the Iowa State Fair every August. The tradition is long-lasting, though the cow is not. The cow has been reproduced every year since 1910, and versions have cropped up in states as far-flung as New York. Other themes such as the Last Supper have also been created, though plans to build a model of Michael Jackson were thankfully, scrapped.
Carved vegetables
Many of the garnishes that appear on your plate at a Japanese or Thai restaurant are truly works of art. If you’ve ever wondered how to make those tiny birds or clever radish roses, or even a giant carved watermelon where the red flesh is visible through the green rind, consider buying this book. The website also has links to different sets of peelers and carving tools you may need for your next play-with-your-food project.
But a better-known type of vegetable art can be seen mainly in late October, and mainly in the United States. Despite cold temperatures, the carved pumpkin (or Jack o’lantern) doesn’t usually stand much of chance of making it far into November, making it somewhat ephemeral as well.
Between neighborhood vandals, rot and the local fauna, these artworks are mainly best enjoyed on their shining night, which is Halloween, or October 31st. Impromptu parties abound, with children and adults hacking at pumpkins with slippery hands and old kitchen implements and seeded pumpkiny pulp stuck to nearly every available surface. To see a giant collection of carved pumpkins, join the crowds that pour into Keene, New Hampshire every year for their giant display at the Pumpkin Fest. They usually have more than 20,000 pumpkins, though they recently lost their most-carved-pumpkins crown to Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for sick children, which held its own Jack o’lantern contest in Boston in 2006. Tune in this year to see if Keene wins its title back on Saturday, October 17th. More details here.
Flower carpets
Carpets are usually long lasting, at least until someone spills grape juice on them. These carpets are made of flowers and flower petals, or of colored sawdust, to cover large surfaces and be seen from a distance. One very large display of this sort is the Tapis de Fleurs in Brussels, Belguim, which will be premiered this year on August 12th at 9 AM.
The concept for the first flower carpet in Brussels was developed by E. Stautemans, a landscape architect whose projects have included a massive carpet at Ghent of 164 x 42 meters, but the foreground of the Grand Place in Brussels is his favored setting, and this 77 by 44 meter carpet is still huge and impressive. For more information, visit the Brussels flower carpet site here.
Other flower carpets are constructed around the world at Corpus Christi, a Catholic holiday that takes place in June. Carpets may be seen in areas as diverse as Tenerife in the Canary Islands, inside the Arundel Cathedral in Arundel, England, and of course in Rome. These carpets filled with religious symbols are meant to be admired, and at the end of the day, trodden upon, making them a truly short-lived affair.
With so many continually changing works of art (or kitsch) to see in so many locations, there’s no reason to limit yourself to museums, canvases or mundane sculpture materials. There’s bound to be something decorated, painted, carved or cast somewhere near you. Tell us about it!
Photo credits:
Sand cats by ThisParticularGreg on Flickr, Dogs playing poker by kandinski on Flickr, Sand dinosaur by wikimedia, Sand painting by wikicommons, Ice sculpture by Today is a good day on Flickr, Butter Harry by jakebouma on Flickr, Butter cow by wikimedia, Watermelon by bluemodern on Flickr, JackOLanterns by anonymous to you on Flickr, Carpet by vdhaeyere on Flickr
Friends of the Earth grades 10 major cruise ship lines
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Sep 18, 2009
An environmental group released its report card Wednesday on how well cruise ship companies operating in American waters are doing to reduce pollution, and not one received an overall grade of “A.”
Friends of the Earth graded 10 major cruise ship lines, including some of the biggest names in the business, such as Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival received a “D-minus.”
The report issued the highest grade — a “B”— to Holland America Line. Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises also scored relatively well, each getting a “B-minus.”
The lowest grades —”Fs” — went to Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International. Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises also scored poorly.
Cunard Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises received about average grades.
“Typically, cruise ship passengers are attracted to cruise vacations with pictures of pristine waters and promises of unspoiled scenery and abundant wildlife, but these passengers are never told that their vacations could leave a dirty mark on the places they visit,” said Marcie Keever, who spearheaded the “Cruise Ship Environmental Report Card.”
Cruise Lines International Association, a group representing 24 cruise lines, castigated the report, calling it arbitrary, flawed and ignoring “the fact that our cruise lines comply with and in most cases exceed all applicable environmental regulations.”
“It is regrettable that Friends of the Earth authors such misinformation when in fact this industry has made tremendous progress in the past several years in advancing technology and developing programs that go a long way in protecting the environment,” the association said in a statement.
Friends of the Earth graded the cruise lines on three categories: sewage treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance in Alaska waters. It also issued a simple pass/fail grade for each line’s accessiblity to environmental information.
The group said Florida, which has some of the least stringent laws preventing cruise ship pollution, also has the top three cruise ship departure ports: Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale.
Alaska and California have taken the strongest stance nationally against cruise ship pollution, the group said.
Keever said some of the cruise lines have been working to make its ships less polluting, especially in the area of sewage treatment. Holland America, Norwegian, Cunard and Celebrity received high marks for having advanced sewage treatment aboard their ships.
Carnival and Disney received “Fs” for sewage treatment.
Disney, with two ships and two under construction, could score better on sewage treatment next year because it has promised to make upgrades on all its ships, Keever said. The company announced last week that for the first time it would begin offering tours in Alaska beginning in 2010.
Keever said the technology is in place for cruise ship companies to meet Alaska’s stringent environmental laws — a claim disputed by Alaska Cruise Association president John Binkley. He has said cruise lines would be happy to adopt affordable new technology to meet Alaska’s tougher standards if it were available, but there is nothing that is reliable.
Binkley was not available for comment Wednesday.
In 2008, 12 of the 20 ships allowed to discharge in Alaska waters received violations, mostly for ammonia and heavy metals, Keever said. The fact that eight ships had no violations shows it can be done, she said.
The 10 cruise lines received lower grades for reducing air pollution. Seven out of the 10 cruise lines received “Fs.” Only Princess received a high grade.
Princess has spent millions to reduce emissions from its cruise ships, Keever said.
The company invested $4.7 million in the Juneau port so that ships tying up there can plug into shore-based power instead of running their own engines to provide power to passengers and crew. The company also has invested $1.7 million to upgrade the Seattle port. Keever said nine of Princess’ 17 ships are equipped with electrical plug-ins.
The Los Angeles port later this year is expected to have shore-based power at its cruise ship terminal, she said.
Without the power upgrade at the ports and the retrofitting of the ships, cruise ships are forced to burn bunker fuel while in port, a “dirty-burning” fuel that is 1,000 to 2,000 times dirtier than diesel truck fuel, Keever said.
Cruise ships also can be equipped to burn marine distillate, a cleaner-burning fuel than bunker fuel, Keever said. California recently required all ocean going vessels, including cruise ships, to burn the cleaner fuel within 24 miles of shore.
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Delivers Service and More – Real Life Review
Posted September 11, 2009 , comments closedLast weekend my husband and I celebrated his birthday by making the quick drive from San Francisco to stay as guests of the legendary Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, California. They were gracious enough to provide us with a room and valet parking, as well as access to the Club Lounge, at no charge, so that we could experience the wonders of the property.
It was a delightful 16 hour getaway that we would repeat every weekend if possible. Let me tell you, they earned that fabulous reputation! Gorgeous location, luxurious amenities, and that so-well-known Ritz Carlton service equal a pretty fabulous hotel experience.
If you can celebrate your birthday at the Ritz, do it!
The Arrival
We drove down the long driveway leading to the property, stopping at a gatehouse to give our name to a friendly guard. She responded, “Well, Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln!” and ushered us up to the valets, mostly cute young boys dressed in plus fours, i.e. old timey-golf outfits. Nice touch for a property that boasts two golf courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
At the front desk my husband was once again wished a happy birthday — by three different Ritz Carlton staffers – and we were offered glasses of wine from the tasting they were doing in the lobby. Delightful!
Balloons + feather beds = a great night’s rest!
The Room
Our room was a decent size, with a king-sized bed made all the more cozy with a feather bed and dreamy Egyptian cotton linens. The giant HD flatscreen tv was housed in a built in hutch, which also contained the honor bar (Cashews: $11) and a stunning “personal wine cellar” with several bottles of real wine. Seriously, Gary Vanynerchuk would have whole-heartedly approved of this hotel! They even offer wine classes!
The in-room wine cellar.
Making the room all the more festive were the balloons and birthday cake that greeted our arrival, along with a nice note welcoming us.
“Look, they even put a Leo on the cake, for my sign,” my husband joked.
“That’s the Ritz logo,” I replied, rolling my eyes at him. “But yeah, they do seem that good with the details.”
The view from our room: golf, bluff and Pacific Ocean
The Ritz Carlton Club
I wrote about the incredible Ritz Carlton Club lounge when I stayed at the Dearborn Michigan Ritz. Note: you always want to get a room with Club Level access. Always.
Best way to start a weekend? With champagne and pate en croute!
This lounge was even better than the one in Dearborn, and we made full use of it. We were welcomed by the very friendly concierge, Carmen, who asked for our room number, wished my husband a happy birthday (seriously) and then gave a tour of the lounge.
There are five different food presentations each day. This pre-dinner one included areas with a bar (wine, champagne, name brand booze), a charcuterie and cheese spread, chicken and carmelized fig hors d’oeuvres, six giant glass jars of cookies, an espresso/mocha maker (regular and decaf), and a broad variety of soft drinks including sodas, juices and multiple types of bottled waters.
We only meant to get a glass of champagne and a snack, but everything was so delicious, and the view of the golf course, bluffs and Pacific Ocean were so beautiful that we wound up hanging out for about 45 minutes. And we went back for dessert, later that evening!
Chocolate covered marshmallows and brandy!
As usual, I kept an eye out to see how other people (a.k.a. the paying guests) were treated, and the lounge was a great spot for spying. During this first visit I saw Carmen being incredibly gracious to everyone who came in, and the other staff members being polite and efficient. Someone even went down to the lobby store and brought back a bottle of Tylenol for a guest!
The Ocean Walk and Terrace
The late afternoon was so beautiful that we finally forced ourselves to leave the lounge and take a walk around the property. There is a paved walkway shared by golf carts, guests and several local dog walkers. We strolled along the perfectly manicured golf course and walked down a quick set of steps to a sheltered beach packed with people enjoying the unusually warm Northern California end of summer day.
Then we back to the Terrace in time to hear the bagpipe player.
Bagpiper at sunset with hot chocolate bar behind him!
We were lucky enough to score a pair of chairs with a great view of everything. We plunked ourselves down, ordered signature Vodka Lime Rickeys, and waited for the sunset show. Faintly at first, and then growing louder, we heard the the strains of the bagpipe, which isn’t a soothing instrument, but it certainly lends an air of distinction to the proceedings. The kilt-wearing player did several songs, entertaining the crowd of families, couples, two bridal parties and several dogs for about 30 minutes, until the sun went down.
Signature lime rickeys at sunset!
Then staffers lit the two giant fire pits and started serving hot chocolates. With booze if you want it.
So. Awesome.
The Other Important Stuff
The perfect bathroom!
- I didn’t have a chance to tour any other rooms, but I know that next time I visit I want to get one of the Terrace Fire Pit Rooms. Just like the name implies, you’re on the ground level and have a personal fire pit right outside your room.
- The bathroom was perfect. Almost as big as the room, white marble, Bulgari white tea soaps. The toilet was in a little room with a door, good for privacy. Water-efficient rain showerhead, nice terry robes. Great light, including one of those terrifying magnified makeup mirrors with a built in light.
- When it gets cold, the staff brings blankets out for people sitting on the terrace around the fire pit.
- The spa is right by the Terrace, so right after you finish your massage, or workout you can wander out in your robe, have a drink, and contemplate the ocean.
- Weddings! We saw two while we were there and those were some happy brides — and even happier guests!
- Don’t bother washing your car before you go. It’s outdoor parking and your car will be covered with dew in the morning.
Beach Camping: Kirby Cove, Marin Headlands, California
Posted , comments closedI admit–sometimes I sit down to write a beach post and my mind goes blank. What do I write about? Which beach, where, how and why? I call to my husband in the other room, “Name a beach! Any beach!” And he spouts off beaches I’ve already covered. So then I turn to Google and type in: beach. Too much. Pretty beach. Not helpful. Ugly beach, beach with sand, beach with waves, tropical, cold, black, white and, um, beachy? Sometimes there are just too many options. So today I typed in: best beach Northern California, and this is what I got. Kirby Cove, my first thought, well, duh, why I hadn’t I thought of this before?
Kirby Cove is a darling little beach nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands, and yes, if you’re wondering–a beach can be called darling if it’s a cove. This beach is available for day-use but better visited as a camping spot, particularly with kids. To get there you must hike roughly a mile, starting high above the beach at eye-level with the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. Park on Conzelman Road and walk down through groves of cypress, eucalyptus and pine. (The smell is heavenly!) Along the way you will see the the abandoned Battery Kirby which was in service from 1898 to 1934, (a great opportunity to teach kids about the history of the area!). Once at the beach, you will find clean, coarse sand with a perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, the bay spread wide before you. And if you’re very lucky, you may spot a whale. The water is fairly gentle but cold; there is no lifeguard on duty. Dress in layers for cold weather as the area is often foggy.
Kirby Cove includes four camp sites each with a maximum of ten people–reservations are highly sought after, so reserve well in advance. Kids can play in the trees or on the beach, watching sailboats and tankers glide beneath the Golden Gate. In the fall, watch for hawks, falcons, harriers and other birds of prey. Parking is restricted to three cars per site, within 100 yards of the campsites. Pit toilets, BBQ-pits, picnic tables, and fire rings are available, but there’s no water for drinking and hygiene. Call 1-800-365-CAMP for more information and reservations.
Photo credits in order of appearance: Golden Gate Bridge, Beach.
