My wonderful Kodiak Canvas Tent

Ever since I used the following photo as my header picture, I have been getting a lot of e-mails regarding what I consider to be the best little tent in the world.

I do not think I have researched something as much as I researched finding the perfect tent for my annual trip to the Chili Cook-off in Terlingua, Texas.

It was important to me to be able to find a tent that was sturdy, held up to gale force winds, have room for me to stand up in but most importantly that I would be able to set it up by myself as I pride myself in being a self-sufficient person.

My research took me to the Burningman website http://burningman.org/.  If you are not familiar Burningman, it is an event that takes place annually in the Nevada desert during the Labor Day weekend.  They have to deal with hurricane force winds, white-outs and extreme heat and/or cold conditions.

It is here that I found how highly regarded Kodiak Canvas tents were.  I have back issues and can not carry heavy loads or the initial weight of the tent would have probably kept me from ordering one. However, if you separate the tent from the tent poles and heavy stakes, it was a doable weight for me and fit very nicely in my car since I no longer had Terlita (my camping van).

My tent is 8 ft x 9 ft the smallest they carried at the time.  I would have loved to have ordered the 10 ft x 10 ft tent but did not know how a few more feet would have affected its set-up.

This tent has steel poles both on the top as well as on the two sides poles.  It does not require guy lines but there are like 15 tent stakes to pound into the ground.  While that would not be a problem in the beach or your backyard, you need to take that into account if you plan to camp in a rocky location like in Terlingua, Texas.  The first time it took me almost five hours to set-up camp by myself.

This tent is rain proof and you need to set it up in your back yard and spray it with a lot of water to season it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP7FFOIKgYU

I bought mine from Competitive Edge Products whom at the time had the best price and at last check continue to have it http://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/Kodiak-Canvas-Tents-6098-9-x-8-ft-Flex-bow_p_17.html

If you have any other questions please leave a comment or you can e-mail me at terlinguadreams@outlook.com

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Seeking camping gear advice...

I know there are a lot of readers out in the blogsphere that enjoy camping.  I am fortunate to own, in my opinion, the best tent in the world...a Kodiak Canvas tent.

Due to my procrastination it has been pitched in the back yard since October 2014.  With all the rain we have been having these past couple of months it has fallen victim to a little bit of mold. Have been researching solutions and so far have found that I can treat it with bleach, peroxide or rubbing alcohol.

I am pretty sure I do not want to use bleach.  Has anyone had this problem with their canvas tent and if so what method did you use?

My next question is where do you keep your green propane canisters and how long do they last? I bought two canisters back in 2010 but only used one.  I bought it for my Zodi hot water heater in case it got cold and cloudy while at the cook-off and I needed to heat some water for my shower.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.


NBA Playoff Corner

I am loving these NBA playoffs, so far they have lived up to the hype of being different and unexpected.

Could not believe the last Clippers vs Rockets game...how could they blow a 20 point lead?  They lost a great opportunity to have won at home.  Game 7's are never easy and now the momentum goes to the Rockets....shades of the Spurs :(

Beautiful weather

We have had two absolutely beautiful days in the 70's.  It really feels like spring rather than winter. So much so that I think some mosquitoes must have been hibernating in the flower pots in the enclosed porch and came alive today.  Both mother and I have been viciously bitten by them :-(

John "Walter" Deere, my friendly neighborhood horse did a great job of mowing the weeds and I feel the need to keep up with the yard now that it is still under control.

Cliff - if you are still reading me do you want the mesquite wood?  I really do not think I can stand to look at those darn trees for another year...they got to go!

I never thought I would actually have something nice to say about my cheap Walmart mesh tent but you know what?  It has held up pretty good in the backyard for the past three months.  Ok, new readers to the blog, before you judge...let's get one thing out of the way...I am a procrastinator and it takes me a while to get to things.

My wonderful Kodiak Canvas tent up has been up a little longer as I saw no reason to take it down but that tent is designed to be able to take a beating both in Alaska and in Black Rock City (Burningman) so Del Rio is like a none issue.

Our menagerie of animals keeps growing.  You can read about it here or if you prefer just click on the header picture and it will take you there http://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.


Spurs Corner

I have been in hog heaven this week.  My Spurs have done me proud.  Of course, they love to keep their fans on the verge of a heart attack

Kawhi needing a time out to get off the court made me and a couple hundred thousand more tremble last night...thankfully he was alright!

Go Spurs Go!!!!!

Finally took down my tent!

If you have been reading me for a while...you are probably aware that I am a procrastinator...so it is no small wonder that after four long months I finally took down my tent!

It took me a whole month when I got back from Terlingua just to take it out of the trunk of my car! Originally only set it up to clean it out...but when my cousin came down for Christmas...I left it up so I could stash  the millions of boxes I brought down from Houston after my home was burglarized.  My bedroom doubles as a guest room when we have company.

You might ask yourself...why didn't you take it down earlier?   That would be because besides being a procrastinator, I am also lazy and have a bad back to boot :-(

This wonderful little tent is 8 feet by 9 feet and can accommodate someone 6 foot tall.  While I am not six feet tall...I need to have clearance for my yet to meet tall weathered cowboy. :D  This tent allows me to stash a lot of boxes, two tables, chairs and my gigantic ice chest which of course is also full of camping stuff.

Remember last year I could not get up after
kneeling down to scrub the floor?  Was prepared this time around

The limiting factor was where to put all the stuff I have stored here?  Once again my bedroom became the dumping ground for my boxes as well as the trunk of my car and mother's mini-van...much to her chagrin!

A clean floor :)

I started at 11:00 a.m. and took my time because I did not want to hurt my back with all the lifting.  Took several breaks including eating dinner and though I took it down...I am still in the process of cleaning the bottom of the tent.  I came in at 8:30 p.m. and I am exhausted after nine and a half hours!

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

The Best Little Tent

We got a little rain yesterday, none to make a dent in the drought relief scale but it is better than nothing.  The wind blew those round pollen balls all over the top of my Kodiak Canvas tent...No, I  have not taken it down!

God, I love my tent.  It is the best shelter for me in Terlingua and the best little shed while in Del Rio.  It has more than paid for itself tenfold.   If you are in the market for a good tent...look no further.  Now after that commercial minute...I hosed it down good and it looks just as it did when I first got it.

Those pesky Mesquite trees are all in bloom...if you have been reading this blog for a while...you will know that that does not make me happy :-(

Had a lot of things I needed to do today but after I got my fingers stuck in fly ribbon http://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/ got sidetracked and did little if nothing.  Oh well, like Scarlett O'Hara used to say "tomorrow is another day".  :-)

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

A Rather Windy Day

I can not say we were not forewarned and for once the weather people nailed it.  I am so glad I put away everything that could blow away or cause damage as well as watered the trees and weeds to try to keep dust to a minimum.

You know I suffer from CRS...to new readers that means exactly what you think it means...Can't Remember Doodoo.  However, I can not recall when I have seen it so windy here in Del Rio, not gusts to 48 mph.  Not saying that it has not happened before, just do not remember it happening while I was here.

The strong winds started around 2:14 a.m. and were relentless throughout the day.  There was no way I was going to venture going outside.  This was a stay inside kind of day.  Looked at my little Kodiak canvas tent swaying but staying put like it was designed to do.  She has seen worst winds, Chili Cook-off 2011 comes to mind.

The electricity went off several times during the day, the longest being for 44 minutes.  Looking out the window I saw one of mother's dead trees succumb to the wind and a large branch fell from one of her many mesquite trees.  Tomorrow I will assess the damage.

Wanted to welcome Great Scott to the blog.  Thank you for your readership.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

New Blog

It was a very windy day but nothing like what is expected for tomorrow.  Went around the yard picking up things that may act as projectiles.  I had been hoping to take down the Kodiak Canvas tent but first I need to empty it out.  The problem is where do I put the things I have stored there?

This afternoon I was able to capture the same bunny rabbit I saw yesterday.  I do not think it was Sofia as it has been a long time since she visited me.  To be honest I do not know what the lifespan of a cotton tail is.  However, like Sofia she was not scared of me.

Today I began a new blog that documents my relationship with Walter as I receive a lot of inquiries about him.  If you care to check it out here is the link http://mylittlewalter.blogspot.com/

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.