i've been spending a LOT of time researching this
car camping thingy. i've even started making some
basic purchases
i already have a two burner propane camp stove but
bought this one burner butane stove to save space. since
i don't have solar i got this fatmax that plugs into my
car so i can charge my phone and laptop while i'm
driving.
i got three of these Luci lights. they are roughly about
the size of a softball and you just blow them up with
your breath. they are solar led lights and are hung in
the sun through the day to charge...with three
settings....low....bright....and blinking (whaaaaaaa...
i'm thinking disco!) they actually put out a lot of
light....enough to read by.
i spent the afternoon (YES...it took me all afternoon!)
making two screens for my car windows. those of you
who are long time readers of my blog know that the
sewing machine is not my friend. this material is tulle
which i found extremely hard to work with. it's slippery
and my old eyes had a hard time seeing if the edges
matched up. even though i pinned the tulle between
a strip of cloth to sew the edge it still slipped and i had
to resew lots (partly because the bobbin thread ran out...
took me three tries sewing one side before i figured
out why it wasn't working!)
here's the screen on my car window. it allows you to
crack (or roll down) the window for a breeze without
letting in the bugs. the screen just slips over the top of
the open door and when you close the door you put a
magnetic strip across the bottom (the white thing) to
block entry. the peel off backing on this magnetic strip
keeps coming off so i'm going to try sticking some metal
heat duct tape on it to see if that will stay.
again....since i don't have solar...i'm planning on buying
this battery operated fan and getting some rechargeable
batteries. i know i won't be able to sleep in the car if it's
too hot so i'm hoping the screens and fan will do the
trick. i'm also planning to get a uv tarp to set up over
the top of the car for shade and to be able to sit/cook
under.
originally i had planned to purchase this REI 3.5 self inflating
camp bed but it's pretty pricey and with all the other things
i need to get i've opted to use my couch pillows...they are an
exact fit for the space where i will be sleeping and really
comfortable. i plan to get a fitted twin cotton mattress cover
to put on the cushions under the sheets so hopefully they
won't get dirty.
this is a pan that mechanics use to catch oil drips that
i bought for under my supplies when i use encaustic
wax. it's very light...about the weight of a cookie pan.
it's the same width and length as two of my couch
pillows and i plan to use it on top of the pillows/bed as
a work station with the back hatch up to prep food or
whatever.
soooo....that's where i am. my next project will be
curtains for the back of my car. i'm going junking
for a fleece blanket that i can cut up to make
curtains....and trust me....they will NOT be
anything that needs sewing!
