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Greeting For All Members

Welcome, and enjoy!
You'll find a few on this forum who like you, embrace winter camping, but it is a very distinct minority.:)

The closest I've come to it is when I pulled our TD from MN to AZ in mid March 5 years ago to get our newly purchased, but totally vacant winter home ready to occupy. It was very handy to catch cat naps, and an overnight along the way down, sleep in until the home was furnished, and again on the return trip back to MN in May. Interestingly enough, the only snow I ran into was on the way home in late May as I took a different way home via CO, where I ran into a spring snowstorm that dropped about 6 in. of snow along my route.
Cosmo Weems has a few interesting winter TD camping videos on YouTube, usually doing equipment reviews. Unfortunately they aren't in a Camp-Inn.
 
yet...not in a camp-inn yet. He seemed pretty impressed when he did the factory tour :)

Winter camping is something I would enjoy except for the roadsalt. The thought of aluminum skinned anything scare me --- even though I've got 3 (soon to be another one) layer of wax on ours. You'll never win that battle.

There's something about the quiet, hot fire, and solitude that draws me...

What part of Ohio? The Indiana "tearjerkers" chapter does a Shiveree every february --- or at least they did. Most of the Tearjerkers have downgraded to full size campers -- so it isn't quite as enthusiastic and interested as it was when we started out in 2012...
 
Ya, road salt...
Its a thing!
Imma save my winter camping for when really cold, or enuff to avoid the slushy season on either side, depending on where...

I wish I had the time to test the CI at the factory camp site...
after picking up mine at Teh Nest...in January...

Cary thoughtfully stocks a huge pile of firewood, and shares a key to the front door to use the shower...for owners.

I even blazed a path in to the spot, after fresh snow...waiting to open...a balmy 20f as I recall...
Those woods were lovely dark and deep...but chickened out...as I had miles to go before I sleep...
 
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We camped our first night with our trailer at the little camp spot in Necedah next to the factory. Had snow on our first night! Figured it was appropriate!
 
Mike & Lisa said:
We camped our first night with our trailer at the little camp spot in Necedah next to the factory. Had snow on our first night! Figured it was appropriate!
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if you're still there, there are some great pizza joints down by the lake....

dirty turtle was pretty good ;)
 
Mike & Lisa said:
No, this was back in 2020. And now that we have the Coleman oven for the galley stove, we just make our own pizza!
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>Face Scrunch< Got enthusiastic about pizza again! I hate when that happens.

I am crazy about chicago pizza --- not the giant cheese bombs you'll find up north, although they are good too. Its the South Side pie that makes my day. Thin crust, sauce where it should be (on the bottom) with some of the best sausage you can get anywhere - lots of fennel and other spices all baked in an oven older than I am on a light dusting of cornmeal.

There aren't many of those places especailly here in Indianapolis. We had one (South of Chicago, owned by a friend of mine) but it has since closed becuase of wha I can tell where machinations and politics. They still have a location south of town, but its really out of the way for us.

When we were there for service in about 2015, we went to a place there (south of Necedah, near the lake) that had just this pie...it was incredible! I remember the restaurant being not at all fancy, light wood interior, mostly a bar --- serving on styrofoam plates (only down side) -- it was incredible! Sadly -- we couldn't find it again becuase it was one of the best pizza's of its kind I've had in a long time, or since.
 
Sweeney said:
>Face Scrunch< Got enthusiastic about pizza again! I hate when that happens.
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Haha, no worries...I do the same thing. It's our pizza enthusiasm that got us making our own. Come to think of it, we're making some cast iron pizza tonight!.
 
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Mike & Lisa said:
Haha, no worries...I do the same thing. It's our pizza enthusiasm that got us making our own. Come to think of it, we're making some cast iron pizza tonight!.
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I have a big green egg -- which is an excelletn pizza oven. Its made a few. Sorry, not into cali-pizza though --- I'm a chicago fan.

My love for this specific style is becuase of a childhood thing. There was a shop where I grew up (South Bend Indiana) that extended east from Chicago (A mere short train ride away) called "Barnabys' --- its the pizza I described above. Regrettably, the chain has gotten away from its roots and changed the recipe for crust and baking --- I think they succumbed to a belt oven, but I'm not 100% sure. I can say, its just no the same.

The first time I went to "South of Chicago" and wiped out a large (a little help from my wife) Bob the owner looked surprised at my enthusiasm, and need for a stomach pump. I relayed my childhood memory as he just smiled. His memories were obviously fond as well.

Aurelios, Lou Malnatti's - both here about an hour north of us. in 2017 Aurelio's was like 40 bucks -- good, not that good.
Malnatti's just opened - havn't had a chance to get there ... yet. Malnatti's shops are all family owned --- maybe THAT family, maybe not -- But they aren't franchises, or licenced. I suspect theirs is the real deal.

I just don't know how they make the crust....Chicago water is REALLY good, and has a unique taste -- its almost sweet. For a @#$ hole of a city, they have good water :D The water comes from deep out of lake Michigan, and has won numerous awards for being of such a high standard.

Before any 'region' people get mad -- keep in mind, I grew up there. From the age of 16 or so (old enough to board the South Shore by myself) I used to go to the city a lot. By a lot, I mean not uncommon on a tuesday after work, to head up for a dog and a coke, or to the billygoat for a cheezboiger.

Right up until Daley ripped up the runway at Meigs field at 2AM, without notifying the FAA or people who hand airplanes on the ground there. Those planes had to be disassembled, transported, and re-assmebled at the owners cost, or a speical dispensation was required from FAA to take off from the taxi way.

The two good things I say say, is that the city has the best government money can buy, and their blue-collar speciality foods are REALLY good.
 
Sweeney said:
Sorry, not into cali-pizza though --- I'm a chicago fan.

My love for this specific style is becuase of a childhood thing.

Chicago water is REALLY good, and has a unique taste -- its almost sweet. For a @#$ hole of a city, they have good water :D The water comes from deep out of lake Michigan, and has won numerous awards for being of such a high standard.
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My family has been in California since before it was a state, having come over by wagon train...and I absolutely think Cali-style pizza is *disgusting* (event though I love all of the individual ingredients). I'd be happy to hunt down the person that invented it and send them back to the state they originally came from.

I generally do mozzarella, pepperoni, black olives, and green peppers. My love of this style is also, like you, due to a childhood thing. We used to have a Shakey's Pizza place nearby as a kid in the 70's, and I used to eat something similar there. With root beer. I still prefer root beer as the drink of choice with my pizza. As a side note, the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City has a whole Shakey's Pizza display; Shakey's was known for entertaining their customers with banjo players, and it had such a big impact on banjo-pick'n around the country that they felt it was important to honor their contribution. Pretty cool.

Can't say I've ever tasted Chicago water. I remember the stories about the flow of the river being reversed way back when because people got tired of drinking the turds and sewage that was being dumped in there at the time. We've certainly had our share of water issues out west...like the time the entire Colorado River was accidentally diverted for a couple of years, which resulted in the creation of the Salton Sea. Crazy. But the campers at Slab City seem to appreciate it.
 
[QUOTE="


Right up until Daley ripped up the runway at Meigs field at 2AM, without notifying the FAA or people who hand airplanes on the ground there. Those planes had to be disassembled, transported, and re-assmebled at the owners cost, or a speical dispensation was required from FAA to take off from the taxi way.

The two good things I say say, is that the city has the best government money can buy, and their blue-collar speciality foods are REALLY good.[/QUOTE]

Pilots everywhere will remember the notorious Mayor Daley and his political machine for that criminal act, and except for a slap on the hand he got away with it. That and his supposed quote "vote early, and vote often" will be what he's remembered for most I think, at least by his detractors, of which I am a member.
 
Mike & Lisa said:
My family has been in California since before it was a state, having come over by wagon train...and I absolutely think Cali-style pizza is *disgusting* (event though I love all of the individual ingredients). I'd be happy to hunt down the person that invented it and send them back to the state they originally came from.

I generally do mozzarella, pepperoni, black olives, and green peppers. My love of this style is also, like you, due to a childhood thing. We used to have a Shakey's Pizza place nearby as a kid in the 70's, and I used to eat something similar there. With root beer. I still prefer root beer as the drink of choice with my pizza. As a side note, the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City has a whole Shakey's Pizza display; Shakey's was known for entertaining their customers with banjo players, and it had such a big impact on banjo-pick'n around the country that they felt it was important to honor their contribution. Pretty cool.

Can't say I've ever tasted Chicago water. I remember the stories about the flow of the river being reversed way back when because people got tired of drinking the turds and sewage that was being dumped in there at the time. We've certainly had our share of water issues out west...like the time the entire Colorado River was accidentally diverted for a couple of years, which resulted in the creation of the Salton Sea. Crazy. But the campers at Slab City seem to appreciate it.
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LOL!!!!! Well said. Kali Pizza kitchen always seemed like a form of punishment to me.

Shakeys! Wow...there's a flashback! They still have a west coast presence...little far for me :D If you remember that, did you ever get to go to a "Farrells" ice cream? Lemonis tried to revive the brand and failed. I remember my grandparents taking me their for a birthday --- probably 2'nd or 3'rd grade. "Give 'em the Pickle!" is a great motiviational program -- find it on youtube. Love Banjo. Really wnat to see Steve Martin perform --- the economy of motion astounds me --- so many sounds with such little motion...

I've thought about picking it up as an instrument --- I just know I dono't hvae the dedication needed...

Chicago water is amazing....it really is. Yes, the chicago river did changen direction --- but I don't think your reason was why :D I've walked over that bridge hundreds of times. For a little while, I worked for a company that had a floor in the mart. I spent weeks there, I liked it --- but no way on God's green earth could you convince me to move there -- or anywhere in Illinois for that matter....

My Pizza? Thinner crust (hand tossed), cornmeal on the stone...sauce, very ligth layer of cheese, then sausage, and onion, with a more generous cheese on top. Simple. I have found that if I eat something while under the influence I will tend to like it while not later. Never been able to do that with olives...green peppers are great raw --- but cooked they give me heartburn....

Drat...now I want pizza and I"m trying to give up flour :(
 
Barro's a great local pizza chain in the greater Phoenix area. Their original crust with Italian sausage, pepperoni, and green olives....mmmmm:)
 
Sweeney said:
LOL!!!!! Well said. Kali Pizza kitchen always seemed like a form of punishment to me.

Shakeys! Wow...there's a flashback! They still have a west coast presence...little far for me :D If you remember that, did you ever get to go to a "Farrells" ice cream? Lemonis tried to revive the brand and failed. I remember my grandparents taking me their for a birthday --- probably 2'nd or 3'rd grade. "Give 'em the Pickle!" is a great motiviational program -- find it on youtube. Love Banjo. Really wnat to see Steve Martin perform --- the economy of motion astounds me --- so many sounds with such little motion...

I've thought about picking it up as an instrument --- I just know I dono't hvae the dedication needed...

Chicago water is amazing....it really is. Yes, the chicago river did changen direction --- but I don't think your reason was why :D I've walked over that bridge hundreds of times. For a little while, I worked for a company that had a floor in the mart. I spent weeks there, I liked it --- but no way on God's green earth could you convince me to move there -- or anywhere in Illinois for that matter....

My Pizza? Thinner crust (hand tossed), cornmeal on the stone...sauce, very ligth layer of cheese, then sausage, and onion, with a more generous cheese on top. Simple. I have found that if I eat something while under the influence I will tend to like it while not later. Never been able to do that with olives...green peppers are great raw --- but cooked they give me heartburn....

Drat...now I want pizza and I"m trying to give up flour :(
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I remember Farrell's, but I don't remember getting ice cream there. I do vaguely recall something about a bunch of people getting killed at the one in Sacramento in an aircraft incident in the early 1970's.

I'm a clarinet and saxophone player, but I've always loved banjo. I did not see myself learning. However, having a lot of southern Appalachian ancestry on my dad's side, I was aware of the mountain dulcimer. A guy by the name of Mike Clemmer out of Tennessee (Wood-N-Strings) makes a banjo version that is superb. Easy to play as a novice, and amazing if you know what you're doing. Highly, highly recommend. Here's Aaron O'Rourke playing a more traditional mountain dulcimer AND the banjo version...this guy is really talented:

Regarding the sewage and river direction...from Wikipedia (whatever THAT'S worth!):

"By the time Europeans arrived, the Chicago River flowed sluggishly into Lake Michigan from Chicago's flat plain. As Chicago grew, this allowed sewage and other pollution into the clean-water source for the city, contributing to several public health problems, like typhoid fever. Starting in 1848, much of the Chicago River's flow was also diverted across the Chicago Portage into the Illinois and Michigan Canal. In 1871, the old canal was deepened in an attempt to completely reverse the river's flow but the reversal of the river only lasted one season. Finally, in 1900, the Sanitary District of Chicago, then headed by William Boldenweck, completely reversed the flow of the main stem and South Branch of the river using a series of canal locks, increasing the river's flow from Lake Michigan and causing it to empty into the newly completed Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. In 1999, this system was named a "Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium" by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Before this time, the Chicago River was known by many local residents of Chicago as "the stinking river" because of the massive amounts of sewage and pollution that poured into the river from Chicago's booming industrial economy."

Your pizza sounds delicious. "More generous cheese" is right up my alley.
 
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