adventures in Hammocking
• click on logos to order you gear•
life is Better between the trees
It has been a while since I’ve blogged. A few life changes have happened. First, I no longer work nights and also no longer work weekends! This is awesome for family life but some places are not as much fun on the weekend as on weekdays when there are no crowds. I haven’t gotten out as much as I’d like to, but I’m getting settled with the new schedule. Second, I got a truck…not just a truck a Tundra. For some that may not be a life change, but for me it is!
A couple weeks ago, my daughter and I decided to go on a camping trip. It was the Tundra’s maiden voyage and we went to Oconee State Park. We had an awesome site right at the water with lots of room. Lots of trees to set up our hammocks for camp and more to set up by the water for day time relaxing: let's be real - napping! We rented a paddle boat and went for a few walks but mostly just chilled out, cooked hotdogs on a stick, and made s’mores (ahh..camp life). It was pretty quiet except for the kids next to us playing in their hammocks...and oh yea that pesky wood pecker who interrupted my nap! We had a great weekend, and the best part was getting away with my daughter and sharing something we both love to do. A side note: we back tracked out the first night and ate at Mountain Rest Café. I recommend a burger; you can order it by 4,8,12, or 16 ounces and taste like mom used to make. If you have never been here, I encourage you to give it a look/see! (Look/see is a term I heard a lot as a child, and it just came to me.) Anyway, there are quite a few campsites right on the lake allowing you to RV, tent, hammock, or however you would like to camp. They even have cabin rentals. If you are looking to keep busy, there is plenty to do. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, or flat bottom boats. They also have a game they call carpet golf. Not to mention, you can fish, hike, play ball/Frisbee, or anything you can think of in their big, open fields. The check in is a little country store where you can get drinks, snacks, and a few camping supplies if you forget something. It is complete with a big front porch and Adirondack chairs for just chilling out. The best for last…no cellphone service!!! They do have Wi-Fi at the store, but it is good to unplug!
0 Comments
SPECS
Let's get back to the hammock. It stands out because of a couple of its features. First, it packs in the stuff sack like it is a dry bag which makes it easy to clip on your backpack. Yes, the straps fit in the sack also. Secondly, the straps are not a daisy chain like most others but have a one-piece adjustable buckle. This enables you to get perfectly level while simultaneously saving on weight due to the straps consisting of less fabric. It definitely passed my "being-different" test. When it arrived on my doorstep, I decided to take a walk to the park to try it out. It is awesome to have a park full of perfectly spaced trees just a couple hundred yards away! The set up was a breeze: the straps have a loop on one end that goes around the tree while the carabiner just hooks into the loop on the buckle. You just give it a little back-n-forth, and it is level. Then the moment of truth - climbing in. As a big guy, it seems like falling is always in the back of my mind. I plopped myself in it with no issues. Come to think of it, I don't even recall it having a first-time stretch. It was very comfortable sideways, and I was able to find a super comfortable long-ways angle! I even swung in it a little and saw no signs of wear on the straps at the point of the buckle. This is an awesome bug guy hammock! The pictures will show the way it packs down like a dry bag along with the buckle on the strap. I suggest you give these guys a look. Forgot to mention awesome price also! www.hikeguru.net/ also available on Amazon! PICS In case you didn’t figure from the title, The Swayy is a fully insulated hammock. Specs:
A while later, we had another cool day and decided to take it to bald rock to get some good pics! I learned an important PSA announcement! When you tighten the buckle, you tie a knot, or the buckle will eat thru the strap. Yes, this happened to me, and dropped my 275lb butt on the rock! So, after talking with the owner I know to tie the knot; he assured me they are also doing an upgrade on the straps. They are a start-up, and we have had several conversations about different things. He is very receptive to feed-back which is going to make for an even better product in the future. He even sent me parts to fix mine. It is by no means bad now; with his passion and willingness to accept feed-back, it is only going to get better! One last thing – these guys have a purpose! Each year, they send a percentage of sales to Papua, Indonesia to help build jungle school houses for kids who have literally never heard the alphabet! They want to have an impact for generations to come. If you like to hammock in the cool to cold months give these guys a look! www.swayyhammocks.com/ IG http://instagram.com/swayyhammocks This is just some of my 2018 "GOALS" and a look back at 2017. Don't really do resolutions, but I have some thing I'd like to do in 2018. 1. Average 70,000+ steps a week 2. Find and try 5 new to me local restaurants. (at least one with some good shrimp and grits) 3. Find five new places to hammock here in the Up State area. (good views) 4. Try out at least 5 new products. (hammock or camping) 5. 5 camping trips! (even if in my back yard lol) 6. Being more positive!!! Below are some of my favorite Hangs from this past year. (B1,B2,and B3 are my kids LOL) SPECS -will hold 500lbs -Triple Stitched 210T Nylon -9.8ftx6.5ft -pouch is 4.4x6.1x8.5 -1.5 lbs -comes with 2 4.5 ft tree straps and premium aluminum carabiners I started talking with Arbor Creek before they even went live with sales, and knew I was going to get one as soon as they were available. This product is available for Amazon Prime - that’s always a plus. FREE shipping! I really wanted to try it because it has a different style hanging system. Yes, it comes with a hanging system unlike a lot of other brands: they say “tree straps” in their description. They are 4.5’ long in total with about 2’ is a sleeve the rope goes through. If this isn’t long enough, you can easily add more or new, longer rope if you desire. The sleeves protect the trees as well or better than straps can by themselves. Just tie knots to make them whatever length you need. The hammock itself feels secure even for a big guy like me! With it being 9.8’ and 6.5’ wide, you get a comfortable hang. I don’t have any funny stories about falling, but I have an even better story – I have fallen asleep in mine at the park! It’s big enough it’s strong enough what else do you need? If anything happens to your hammock, it is backed with a 100% money back guarantee. For me, that is almost like a dare, and I haven’t had to use the guarantee yet. When forming the company, their two goals were to deliver an affordable product and give back. Check my link, and you will immediately notice they have accomplished the first one because their price is awesome. Then, for every hammock purchase, they donate for one tree to be planted through the National Forrest Foundation! So, that gives us a good price, quality, and cause! You can’t go wrong with Arbor Creek Outfitters! Additionally, if you go to their web page (www.arborcreekoutfutters.com), they have a blog explaining a variety of topics including how to tie knots and bear safety. Don’t forget to use ERNIEB20 to get 20% off, or click on the link at the top of the page. Now, for the real reason you’re here. We are giving away one of these awesome hammocks, so click on the link below for entry. If you didn’t already like the giveaway pic on IG, follow http://instagram/arbor.creek and http://instagram/ernjr6878. As always, have a blessed day!!! Nothing beats hammocking – unless your hammocking with some great snacks. Let’s review my top 10 must-have snacks you have to grab before throwing up that hammock. To be a good hammocking food, it generally can’t be crumbly, flaky, or messy. You will end up lying in the aftermath of whatever you eat! 10. Chicken Nuggets – These shouldn't be too crunchy. If they are small enough to put the whole thing in your mouth, that’s even better. No dipping sauce! 9. Peanut Butter Sandwich - no jelly because of spillage. 8. Corndogs – It’s on a stick, so you should be good. No mustard though! 7. Trail Mix or Nuts – These should be in the small tubular packs that you can get at the gas station, so you can pour straight into your mouth. I don’t prefer sunflower seeds, because if it’s windy, spitting the shells could be a problem. 6. String Cheese – You need your calcium, and there’s no mess. 5. Fresh Fruit – Apples, pears, and bananas should be good, but leave the citrus family and their squirting behind! 4. Granola Bars – Get the chewy ones, and pass on those exploding crunchy ones. 3. Beef Jerky – You should never leave your house without some beef jerky in your pocket. 2. Cold Pizza – This works best with fewer toppings and plenty of cheese. 1. Ice Cream Cone – This is a tricky one. It can’t be too hot out because of melting, it must be from Sonic, and you have to eat it with your hammock hanging between two of their poles at the drive-thru! If you do this, you have to post a pic on IG and tag me! This was all just for fun. Comment any other Ideas for Hammock food you have and have a blessed day! Specifications: · Material: parachute nylon · Hammock Dimensions: o Lengths: 10’ o Width: 6.5’ o Weight Rating: 550lb. · Straps Specifications: 2 10’ straps and steel carabiners. · Total weight: 1.8lb · Total size (packed with straps): o Circumference: 5” o Length: 8” Being a hammock enthusiast, I’m constantly looking for great products to test and review for both my enjoyment and yours! I found Hobo one day while on Amazon and went to their website to check them out a little further. The first thing I noticed is their mission: “For every Hobo Hammock sold we provide a homeless person with one healthy, delicious meal. So while you’re chilling in the best double hammock available today, you can relax knowing that someone out there has dinner on their plate because of you!” Also, you can send you old or damaged hammock and they will repair it and give it to the homeless. Hobo’s founder chose to be homeless for a few months and live in a ball field with a friend out of a hammock. He gained a real appreciation for the day to day struggles the homeless have and has made it his mission to make a difference. You can read his story on the Hobo site by clicking on the Hobo logo above. Let’s turn our attention onto the hammock itself now. While on the site, I registered my e-mail address for updates and discounts. On April 1, I received an e-mail telling me I won a hammock and to let them know what color I wanted. By the way, they have a very good selection of colors. I ended up choosing forest and black; although, looking back, I believe I wish I would’ve chosen the camo design they have. After a few days went by, I hadn’t heard anything back and started to think it was an April Fools’ joke! I sent them an e-mail asking was if it an April Fools’ joke, or if I actually really won a hammock. They replied that it would be a bad joke to trick me like that and gave me my tracking number! A few days later, it came in. Immediately, I opened it to check it out! It felt good and the straps were in the stuff sack. It was a few days before I got to set it up. Most hammocks come with either ropes or nothing, but the Hobo comes with straps. These are not your regular daisy chain straps. They have just one loop on each end, so you need to learn a hammock knot to hang it. If you want some light weight space saving straps for any hammock, you should give these a try. Unfortunately, when I unpacked it to hang I had lost my instruction card, however, I was able to practice the knot at home prior to sitting in it for the first time – I was nervous, because it could have been bad! In addition to working with a new knot, the first time I was in it, I did not have the hammock taught enough and hung till I was on the ground. This could potentially be attributed to it being the first-time stretch for the hammock. Fixed those issues and had a great hang! PSA! I did tie the knot incorrectly one day and fell. Totally my fault! Make sure the knot is correct! Immediately after it happened, I knew what I did wrong as I was licking my wounds! Since then, I have had no issues with that, and I have hung in some interesting places. In summary, give yourself time to learn the knot, make sure you have your hammock reasonably taught. Over all, it is an awesome hammock, and the size is great for a good diagonal hang. The material is very comfortable and feels very secure for a big guy like me! I have no issues recommending this product to anyone. Below, I have included a picture of what the knot should look like. Please give Hobo a look with my link and as always have a blessed day! Here are some things you might not know about me. First, I work third shift; secondly, I work inside a building that is inside a building. If that's not bad enough, I'm inside a gown from head to toe not allowing my body to have any exposure! That is a lot to cover up. For this story, we are going to talk about my working a third shift. A couple years ago on a Sunday morning, I caught a ride to church with my son as I would often do because he went early to do media. I went to a room upstairs where there were open rafters making a nifty spot that I could hang my hammock. I then slept until service started. I’ve been doing this for a while so I could get some extra sleep on Sundays. I forgot to mention I work 12's on the weekends and don't get much rest. So, I get set up, and I'm hanging there asleep when I hear someone messing with the door. I figured it was some kids messing around because this had been the case in the past. So, I stir a bit and check my phone noticing it is time get up. I climbed out of my hammock and started packing up my gear. I was just about finished, and I heard the door again. I paused. Then, I heard the sound of someone creeping up the stairs. I watched the corner to see who it was, and then a head popped around the corner. A voice said, “Who is up here?” I laughed saying, “It’s just me, Ernie." A relieved voice said, “I heard snoring and thought we had a vagrant." I thought that was pretty funny, so after church I went up to Pastor to let him know they had found a vagrant in the upstairs classroom. He was like, "Really?! Where is he now?" I said “Well…right here. It was just me sleeping upstairs before church, and they thought I was a vagrant." That was my hammock adventure - I suppose it's not much of an adventure, but it's a funny story nonetheless. If you liked it, good. If not, sorry! True story though! Y'all have a blessed week! EB
Going to share with you my favorite place to hang out here in upstate SC. We call it Bald rock . I'm not sure if that is the actual name but IG recognizes it as a location so it works. If you are coming out of Travelers rest on 276 it merges with Hwy 11. After a few miles 276 breaks back off to the right and you take that turn. It is a bit of a windy road and you will be looking for a pull off to the right. There are no markings just a pull off that will hold about 8 to 10 cars. The pics below give more details on the location and where to hang. It is not a long walk to any of the spots, but it can be a little steep and slick. More questions just leave them in the comments! So, if we are going to talk about me and my hammock obsession it starts with BearButt. I already had a ENO double and a Junglenest but one day while on Amazon I came across BearButt and I had to have one. The name, the we’re knocking the eagle out of the nest, the ENOPE, just loved the sarcasm and had to be a fun company! Plus, the 500lb weight rating. My Atlas straps had started pulling apart a bit, so a better weight rating made me feel more secure and the “no matter what happens guarantee”. So I preordered a Tommy the Tiger (perfect for a CLEMSON fan) and waited for it to come in! It was awesome. I could tell it was more secure than the ENO and all I wanted to do was find places to hang out. I even made my own IG hashtag #askmeaboutmybearbutt ! Then I even did 25 days of Christmas with BearButt where I posted a Christmas pic with BearButt hammocks from Dec1-25. Shortly after that I became a rep which was like a dream job with no pay. I had a purpose too find new places to hang and take pics! It seems all good thing must come to an end and did. BB hired a new guy and he decided all reps were going to be college students, and that ruled this dad of college students out. Felt like I had been fired for my age and total disregard of my passion of the product. I was a little depressed at first and then realized I could use my passion for what I am doing now! Trying as many hammocks in as many places as I can! I still love my BearButt and hang in it from time to time. There are 2 thing BearButt has over other companies and neither on of them are product related. First the name. it is my favorite hammock name and the look you get when you say “I’m going to hang in my BearButt” the looks you get can be priceless! Second is Chris. If you don’t follow them on IG you should because he is so creative and funny. I have also chatted with him and he is really awesome guy! So, if your bored go to IG and search #askmeaboutmybearbutt and see the obsession was real! Happy hammocking and Y’all have a blessed day! EB https://instagram.com/p/BTEjOjeguZv/ https://instagram.com/p/BSTIA7ZguKx/ Any questions about BearButts feel free to ask!!! |
AuthorJust an ordinary guy here in Up State SC! Love GOD , my family and getting outdoors...with my hammocks of course!!! Archives
February 2018
Categories |