Visit Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Breaux Bridge is one of the coolest daytime spots in the Lafayette area. Downtown shops abound. A quiet stroll with your spouse alongside the Bayou Teche. Bed and Breakfasts are hidden in quiet nooks either on the river or a short walk away. Treasure hunting in the antiques shops or at one of the many studios which feature local artists. Maybe you looking for a place to just unwind. Breaux Bridge is it. Festivals, parades, music; this is the place to be.

Need to check your email or just want a good cup of coffee? Head to The Coffee Break, Main Street’s gourmet coffee bar. On some days, you can find local artisans discussing upcoming works, jam sessions or even famous photographers holding a showing. It’s a special place to just hang out and get the feel of the locals, hear a little Cajun French and have the best cup of coffee in town.

Shopping for that perfect centerpiece or maybe an item to add that special touch to your living room? Stop by Lagniappe Antiques, a collection from many different eras; something for everyone. Lagniappe Antiques is the perfect place to find that unique piece which will accent your room or study.

Hungry? Breaux Bridge’s newest restaurant, Buck and Johnny’s Pizzeria has great food, a fantastic staff and a unique atmosphere. Try any one of the many varieties of pizza; try them all! I doubt you will find one you don’t like. The service is always spectacular, the staff friendly. Whether you are looking for a lunchtime treat or dinner with your family, Buck and Johnny’s Pizzeria is the place to go.

Breaux Bridge has many great places to visit, some fantastic architecture and fun, friendly people. Stop by for a visit and you just might stay.

Go get a Kifaru LongHunter Pack!

Do you think you are ready to head for the hills to escape the coming zombie apocalypse? Think again unless you have the Kifaru LongHunter pack. This pack was designed in the field for durability and maximum utility while taking the weight off your shoulders and putting it on your hips where it belongs.

With a capacity rivaling a truck, you can easily carry enough gear to make it through. The specially designed suspension system (with set ups for both men and women) will allow you to easily carry loads of 80 to 100 pounds. Some of their customers have reportedly carried loads of 185 pounds. How much can you carry and for how long? Everything you need and more can be stowed in this pack.

The unsurpassed quality of the manufacturing means your pack won’t fall apart on you even after months on the trails. Kifaru packs are made in the USA of the strongest and lightest materials for the durability you will need that they could find. You might wonder why that’s important and I’ll tell you. When you rely on your pack like we do having material that won’t rip on you is crucial. Just as important is a pack that doesn’t weigh a ton. With innovative designs Kifaru found a way to keep the weight down while making sure your pack is there when you need it.

Going hunting, camping or fleeing the zombie hordes, having a Kifaru pack can make the difference in your ability to get where you need to be. Give a Kifaru pack a try today!

Coffee, my morning wakeup call

Every morning, it’s the same routine. Hear the alarm, hit the snooze (stupid alarm always goes off too early), finally get up and go wake the kids. Next stop: the coffee pot. I don’t know about you, but opening the coffee container and breathing in the scent of the coffee is one of my favorite smells.

I know there are people who prefer to set up the coffee pot before they go to bed. Most of the coffee drinkers I know do. I guess it’s just part of my ritual. Come in to the kitchen, bleary-eyed from just waking up, grab the coffee container and open it. That’s when it hits me. The scent of the grinds leaps out of the jar at me telling me its morning.

Add the grinds to the filter, pour in the water and flip the switch. I don’t know about you, but I love my coffee strong. I don’t understand how people can drink weak coffee. I mean, hey, if you want tea, drink it. But coffee should be thick, rich and strong. I don’t add anything to it, just plain hot coffee to wake me up each morning.

Time to go, gotta refill my cup!

Need a great app for your Android?

Looking for some great apps for your Android powered phone or device? Look no further than http://www.cube-escape.com for some really useful tools. My favorite is the Bug Out Bag Book. This app is jam packed with info I might need to prepare for an emergency so I can make it through. The Scale Tracker app helps me keep up with my weight, which is handy given all the good food that is cooked down here in Cajun country. One of my friends is a runner and she loves the Running Journal. She is able to keep track of her time and distance with each run so she knows what she has to do to improve. There are a few more apps which you should check out, especially the Daily Insulter. I know you’ll use the apps as frequently as I do.

Buying and Owning a Used Camper

There is a lifestyle that comes with owning a camper. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bumper pull, goose-neck or 5th wheel, when you own one, things are different. No longer are you stuck at a motel a few miles from where you want to be or a cabin that someone else has been in. A camper is freedom. Freedom to go where you want, see what you want and always have a place that is yours right there with you.

There are a few pitfalls you need to be aware of when buying a used camper. Don’t worry, all of the potential problems are easy to overcome as long as the camper is structurally sound. These are not all things you have to check before you buy, especially if you are buying from a private owner. Buying from a dealership is different in that most of the possible issues will likely have been checked out by a technician. Purchasing from a private owner means either bring a mechanic with you, know about checking things out yourself or trusting what the owner tells you. You should however try to be as thorough in checking out the camper as the situation allows, since you will be taking it on the road.

Here’s the first biggie. If the person you are buying it from says the roof leaks a little, they mean like a sieve. There are no “little” leaks on a nearly flat roof. Your best bet is to buy a sealer for the seams (where the roof panels overlap across and along the sides) and go over each one. You should also seal around the pipe bases and covers. Once you finish that, it’s still a good idea to coat the whole thing with a flexible reflective sealer like alumikote or koolseal. Not only will this keep some the heat out but also help seal the roof.

Next thing to worry about is the wiring. If possible, check to make sure everything turns on. This includes the fridge, water heater (if electric), all the lights and outlets. If there are a few that do not work but most do, don’t worry about it. It could be a bulb or maybe some critter chewed through the wire. It’s easy to fix if you have basic household and automotive electrical knowledge and tools. Most campers run on 110 A/C and have 12V systems to power certain things when you are not hooked to normal power.

Don’t forget to check the brake, turn signal and running lights. Make sure that you have the proper adapter for your camper. There are three basic types, 4 pin, 6 pin and 7 pin. There are converters to change from 4 pin to 7 pin, but usually those do not supply power to the trailer brakes. It is best to have the proper connector installed by a professional so that not only do your brake lights work, but so do the brakes.

Last big issue is the propane system. Don’t forget to ask if the camper will be sold with the bottles. If not, you will have to buy your own. There are plenty of places to get them and get the bottles filled, so don’t worry too much about that. What you need to get done is have the system checked for leaks and repaired if necessary. This needs to be done before you take it out. Propane will likely run your heater and stove/oven. It is possible that it will also be used to run your fridge and water heater when you have no electricity. What you don’t want is a leak somewhere in the system. Not only will you run out of propane long before you expect it, but you could cause an explosion. A pressure test is cheap and fast. Take it to a qualified technician and get the system checked.

There are a few things to remember that will help make your trips a bit easier along the way. Water quality varies from place to place. Buy a water filter to use for your drinking and cooking water. Make sure you have water bottles and extra filter cartridges on hand. All sorts of things can go wrong while you are on the road. Make sure your jack can lift the camper in case of a flat if you don’t have a motor club insurance. Don’t forget to carry a household tool kit. Hammer, screwdrivers, electrical tape, etc. You may never need them, but as soon as you aren’t carrying them you will.

Go buy yourself a first camper. Use it as is or customize it and make it your own. Go places. Take friends and family. Grab your camera because you will be making memories for years. Just don’t forget to bring the marshmallows.

Hello world!

Hello World. That’s what this blog is about. I will be posting about the world around me and the things I find in it. I plan on doing a piece on the city I am currently visiting and some of the more interesting businesses I find. My hope is that what I write will inspire you to visit the places I have; to get out and experience life. A life overflowing with all the colors, sights, sounds and smells that a new place fills you up with.

Stay tuned.