Damn is the Midwest Scary

8 days ago I left familiar shores of the Eastern Coast of the USA (Boston specifically) and set out for fairer coastlines (Tahoe specifically). For anyone who lives on a coast and has never driven across country, you're not missing much. Let's just say my girlfriend and I drove non-stop from central Missouri to Denver because there was really nothing to see. 16 hours in the truck was worth not having to camp next to people with no teeth who think that gasoline is an acceptable method by which to start a campfire.

Thankfully we've made it to Boulder, which is one of the coolest places I've seen, and some epic mountain biking which we've only begun to explore. Could you go wrong with a bar that has $2 local drafts and free wireless? Eventhough, I think it's nothing biking-wise compared to our next stops: Fruita, Moab, Durango, and Sedona. If people care I'll try and get some more updates and some photos. At the least, I'll probably see some of you in Tahoe. Any suggestions on where to live??

How soon are you heading to Durango? Iron Horse is this weekend, great fun, road and XC races, lots to do.

Article

Good luck, mang.

so if you didn't stop, how do you know people there don't have teeth and they start fires with gas (is there any other way?)

I propose if you've never seen a sunset in the foothills of western Kansas...

then you haven't missed much;) but they can be stunning.
Lot's of good camping, fishing, hunting and drinking to be had thereabouts... other 'n that...

Starting your campfire with gasoline is a skill that needs to be respected, not mocked.

I love the plains, especially the high desert areas. When you're out there and you can see for miles and miles and not see a single person, that's a good feeling. If you can't see beauty there, yer dumb or yer not lookin'.

(Not harshin' on Darkside, that's just how I feel)

Quote:

---

so if you didn't stop, how do you know people there don't have teeth and they start fires with gas (is there any other way?)
I propose if you've never seen a sunset in the foothills of western Kansas...
then you haven't missed much but they can be stunning.
Lot's of good camping, fishing, hunting and drinking to be had thereabouts... other 'n that...

---

I second that! There is great beauty out there, unfortunately if you on on the Interstate at 80MPH chasing Wal-Mart trucks you will never see it. The Ozarks in Missouri are great, the stars at night in Nebraska and Kansas are really stunning.
PS I am a Bostonian. Most people around here thinks the world revolves around New England and it is amazing how many peeps I know never leave NE except for maybe a flight to Orlando for Disney or a week in Aruba.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by frozenwater
Starting your campfire with gasoline is a skill that needs to be respected, not mocked.

---

And one I'm sure you've mastered, jedi darkside camper guy.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by frozenwater
Starting your campfire with gasoline is a skill that needs to be respected, not mocked.

---

It is a skill, but starting one with deisel is an art.;)


Oh, and Nebraska sucks, I don't care what anyone says, I've spent enough time in it to know. If your not shooting at something, you should be in another state.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by frozenwater
Starting your campfire with gasoline is a skill that needs to be respected, not mocked.

---

This quote is so true.

My buddy was lighting some damp charcoal with gas and soaked it in the stuff. It was like a mini a-bomb, but that was not the bad part. He got the idea to put more gas on the fire and as soom as the gas touched the flame it shot up into the can!

So my dumbass friend started kicking this burning gas can around my yard to put it out. He was kicking flaming gas every where! It was almost nuclear. The bushes were going up in flames, the grass was burning, and the side of my house was engulfed. I was screaming at this jackass to quit. We got it put out and he now knows to respect the gas. Pretty scary that someone could be so stupid.

Darkside-

if you like to ride come out to eaton park and jump(it's just outside of town)!

http://www.hevenor.com/adam/img/bike/noFootSun.jpg
</shameless self promo>

Quote:

---

Originally posted by CaddyDaddy77
It is a skill, but starting one with deisel is an art.;)


Oh, and Nebraska sucks, I don't care what anyone says, I've spent enough time in it to know. If your not shooting at something, you should be in another state.

---

what are you talking about. Diesel is easier as it burns slower and more predictably. Not that I'd know or anything...

Nothing like mixing 1 part Coleman fuel to 6 parts or so motor oil..;)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by schuss
what are you talking about. Diesel is easier as it burns slower and more predictably. Not that I'd know or anything...

---

Harder to see, now what Dave TV is saying is plain trouble.

4 words Darkside-

MARGS AT THE RIO

That is all.


remember there is a 3 marg limit

citra solv+matchheads

If that don't start it off, nothing will.

Gasoline is not for campfires.


It's for bonfires, silly.


.
Place to live in tahoe? West shore is cool, but I'd say it's all goooood.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by frozenwater
Starting your campfire with gasoline is a skill that needs to be respected, not mocked.

---

To be honest, I never really knew how to start fires without gas or liquid propane until I was about 16. My grandpa had a great way of using an LP tank with a torch on the end that he used to stick in the fire. Worked well when he was out of gas.

As for other midwest oddities, I also just heard my gramps tried cutting down the top of a dead tree with a .306. Shot about 6 rounds into the tree before he gave up.

As much as i disliked living in the midwest for skiing and biking, I do miss the oddities of most of the people.

Doesnt anyone use an old tire full of kerosene anymore??

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Ski Monkey
liquid propane

---

Surprisingly that's something Frozen and I have discussed. Of course said LP is contained in a small cylinder for easy fire tossing ability. It was only the closeness of women and children that kept us from attaining our goal.

On a gas sidenote, everyone knows gas should be added to a roaring fire with a childs sand pail. Preferably full to the rim...

BobMc

PS, Oh yeah, forgot to add, you have to throw the whole pail and all in.

Pfft.

Just pour it straight from the jug.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Geoff
Gasoline is not for campfires.


It's for bonfires, silly.

---

Uh, aren't they both the same? ;)

Yep the midwest is scary

http://images.burningman.com/gallery/tor.13299.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally posted by 13
Pfft.

Just pour it straight from the jug.

---

There may be no more beautiful sight than the midair explosion of a plastic milk jug partially filled with gasoline that has been tossed away after the flame has traveled up the stream and into it.

Unless it's the flames left burning on the lake from the residual fuel.

Memories....

Quote:

---

Originally posted by CaddyDaddy77
It is a skill, but starting one with deisel is an art.;)


Oh, and Nebraska sucks, I don't care what anyone says, I've spent enough time in it to know. If your not shooting at something, you should be in another state.

---

It is my understanding that South Dakota sucks and Nebraska blows or is it the otherway around.;) Anyways,when starting fires with propellants it is advised to wait 2-3 minutes before igniting said materials.

http://www.terrypeak.com/images/trailmap.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally posted by DaveTV
I second that! There is great beauty out there, unfortunately if you on on the Interstate at 80MPH chasing Wal-Mart trucks you will never see it. The Ozarks in Missouri are great, the stars at night in Nebraska and Kansas are really stunning.
PS I am a Bostonian. Most people around here thinks the world revolves around New England and it is amazing how many peeps I know never leave NE except for maybe a flight to Orlando for Disney or a week in Aruba.

---

True. I have not spent to much time in the midwest, but the Ozarks were amazing. A trip cross country is well worth the extra time to get off the interstate and explore. This country is full of odd, interesting and wonderful people and sights.

My point is that you could drive I-95 and conclude that the entire East Coast sucks. You would never see the beaches, forests, and other cool stuff there is. A great book to read is Blue Highways: A Journey Into America by a native American named William Least Heat-Moon - having a mid-life crisis, he travels the back roads(blue highways on a map) for 13,000 miles around the US in an old customized Ford Econoline van - recommended reading;)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Ski Monkey

As much as i disliked living in the midwest for skiing and biking, I do miss the oddities of most of the people.

---

I can't argue with skiing but there are some great mountain biking opportunities in the Midwest is you know where to look.

The Midwest also has some of the best fishing and hunting around. From the Boundary Waters to the Great Lakes. No where in the US is trout habitat more finely tuned and respected that the Midwest. There is a lot to do and it is just ignorant to diss the midwest without experiencing it first. If you still don't like it after you visit then flame away.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by interloper
Anyways,when starting fires with propellants it is advised to wait 2-3 minutes before igniting said materials.

---

Advised? By who? Your mom? Wuss.


;)

edit: grange, it's true there is good biking to be had, but there's something to be said for having some of the best singletrack around two blocks from my door.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Grange
... From the Boundary Waters to the Great Lakes...

---

Dood, that's at LEAST 50 miles! Maybe 100! ;)

I agree w/your post though. However, after repeatedly searching for the inner beauty of the great State of Kansas, I have found it lacking in anything more useful than growing food.

Even that big fucking prariedog town outside of Ft. Hays isn't much to look at. :mad: Why do they have so many signs for it?

Quote:

---

However, after repeatedly searching for the inner beauty of the great State of Kansas, I have found it lacking in anything more useful than growing food.

---

You didn't look TOO hard now, didja? ;)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by DaveTV
You didn't look TOO hard now, didja? ;)

---

Meh. Unless it slides on snow/water or has an internal combustion engine I don't ride it. :D

The one redeeming thing about Kansas was that we did get to see an awesome sunset...though the smell from the feedlot around the corner was too overwhelming to enjoy it for long.

The UP is pretty damn far away from kansas but I think it still qualifies as "midwest." If Bohemia was a little taller and there were some girls up here I wouldn't ever feel the need to leave. The mtn bike trails are awesome, close, and kick my ass on a daily basis. And the keewenaw is just beautiful, awesome hiking and camping. So many waterfalls, streams, beaches(so what if you can only go swimming in august/september;)) and sweet views of superior.

Definately don't knock it til you've been there.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by schuss
what are you talking about. Diesel is easier as it burns slower and more predictably. Not that I'd know or anything...

---

How does it burn, though? Do you have to soak the logs first? My understanding is that deisel is flamable, but not combustable - i.e. I've seen guys put out cigarettes and small fires out with it, but if you put it in a spray bottle (if it doesn't gum up the little nossle) and sprayed it on an existing flame, you'd have a fireball. Maybe you just need to light up a few newspapers that are shoved in between the logs, then just spray the deisel...