Posts

Posted on

Book Review: Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash

Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash: A Novel by [Tammy Pasterick]Overview:

This is my first ever book review. You can see my other posts here.   This post kicks things off with a fantastic read, Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash: A Novel by Tammy Pasterick.  Normally, I discard books that do not get my interest quickly.  I have many partially read books on my Kindle. I tend to cut my losses and discard any book that does not interest me. That is definitely not the case with Tammy Pasterick’s first novel. This was  an engaging read from the start. 

Category:

I think this book falls into the category of historical fiction. As such, this novel gives the feel of being meticulously researched and really gave me the feel of what it would be like to live in the early 1900s near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I felt transported back in time and my attention was kept there through a powerful story and engaging characters. The characters are real people just like people today, but in a different time and place.

Characters:

I love the way the Tammy Pasterik  teaches you about the characters so that you become familiar with them.  That makes this novel easy to read and absorb. The novel is divided into relatively short chapters, where each chapter focuses on one of the main characters and tells the story from their perspective. 

Ending:

I like an ending that resolves major story lines in a realistic. though somewhat unexpected way. This novel does not disappoint. While I would love to read more about the Kovac family, I did not feel betrayed by the ending. I felt like the end made sense, and I can move on to a new book. 

Summary:

I give this book my highest recommendation for this book review.  I look forward to reading future books by Tammy Pasterick. You can purchase this book here.

 

 

Posted on

2020 Annual Camper Maintenance

2020 Camper Maintenance

Due to the pandemic our camper sat unused for 8 months so I decided to do the camper maintenance a bit early on my own this year. Bobby normally helps me with this but he is a Respiratory Therapist working in Gainesville, FL. So, I performed the required maintenance on our 2015 Jayco Jay Flight 23RB Travel Trailer to for a trip to Paynes Prairie to help our two younger, Stevie and Charlie, move into their new place to start the new academic year at University of Florida. I somewhat followed the same list as previous years.

Here are some stats on our camper as of July 18, 2020 when the maintenance was performed.:

  • Years Owned: 5 years, 2 months
  • Total Mileage: 17133 miles
  • Total Nights Camping: 166 Nights Camping

For the record, here is a list of all of the systems on which we performed preventative maintenance:

System Tasks Notes

Hitch

 Configured backup assist N/A. In my opinion this is a complete waste.
Removed Gear Rust N/A
Lubricated ball and sway connectors Used standard grease.

Propane

  Inspect  Hoses, connectors, and tanks in good repair
 Clean  N/A
 Refill  Refilled before previous trip was canceled

Undercarriage

 Inspect Noticed even more rust. Still need to plan some time to work on this.

Roof

 Inspect Seams Last year we repaired with Eternabond tape and it is holding nicely.
Repair issues Broke one skylight while cleaning the roof. Had to replace and sealed with eternabond.

Stabilizers

 Inspect Replaced with removable 7500 lb stabilizer jacks that we keep inside the house (rather than letting them rust on the camper).
Lubricate N/A. New stabilizers

Steps

 Paint N/A. Painted earlier in year.
 Lubricate hinges Lubricated earlier in year

Fresh Water

  Sanitize  Followed recommended procedure to drain, sanitized, flush, and refill the fresh water system. I should write a separate blog detailing that process.

Septic system

 Clean tank Tank has been kept very clean over the last year so no action necessary.
Sanitize gear Gear was kept clean over the last year so no action was necessary.

Hot Water (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran hot water heater on gas. Removed wasp nests
Clean Cleaned using vacuum and compressed air

Refrigerator (Gas/Electric)

 Test striker Lit and ran refrigerator on gas. Cleaned out wasp nests. Ran until cold on both gas and electric.
Clean Cleaned using vacuum and compressed air

Stove (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran stove on gas

Air Conditioner

 Inpect and Clean filter Internal parts are starting to rust. Unit is not running as efficiently. Added an additional window AC unit that we can use as necessary during really hot months.

Awning

 Clean Sprayed with bleach water to kill mildew. Actually cleaned up nicely
Inspect Some rust on screw heads, etc.
Lubricate Sprayed liberally all joints and moving parts with silicone lubricant.

Wheels

 Inspect New tires this year. Inspected rubber, hubs, and suspension. No issues.
Grease hubs N/A. Will do this next year.
TPMS Replaced batteries in the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

Posted on

2019 Annual Camper Maintenance

2019 Camper Maintenance

My son, Bobby, came home October 10-11 2019 to help me do the required maintenance on our 2015 Jayco Jay Flight 23RB Travel Trailer for a celebration we had in Orlando for my son, Stevie’s, 21st birthday. This year we were a bit late doing the maintenance, but better late than never. We basically followed the same list that we created last year.

Here are some stats on our camper:

  • Years Owned: 4 years
  • Total Mileage: 15168 miles
  • Total Nights Camping: 161 Nights Camping

For the record, here is a list of all of the systems on which we performed preventative maintenance:

System Tasks Notes

Hitch

 Configured backup assist N/A. In my opinion this is a complete waste.
Removed Gear Rust Sprayed with PB Blaster
Lubricated ball and sway connectors Used standard grease.

Propane

  Inspect  Hoses, connectors, and tanks in good repair
 Clean  N/A
 Refill  N/A. Need to fill before trip.

Undercarriage

  Inspect  Noticed even more rust. Need to plan some time to work on this.

Roof

  Inspect Seams  Last year we repaired with Eternabond tape and it is holding nicely.
 Repair issues  N/A. Eternabond done.

Stabilizers

  Inspect  Significant rust. Considering replacing when these become unserviceable.
 Lubricate  Sprayed liberally with PB Blaster.

Steps

 Paint  N/A. Did not paint steps.
 Lubricate hinges  Sprayed hinges with PB Blaster.

Fresh Water

  Sanitize  Followed recommended procedure to drain, sanitized, flush, and refill the fresh water system. I may write a separate blog detailing that process.

Septic system

 Clean tank Tank has been kept very clean over the last year so no action necessary.
Sanitize gear Gear was kept clean over the last year so no action was necessary.

Hot Water (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran hot water heater on gas. Removed wasp nests
Clean Cleaned using vacuum and compressed air

Refrigerator (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran refrigerator on gas. Cleaned out wasp nests
Clean Cleaned using vacuum and compressed air

Stove (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran stove on gas

Air Conditioner

 Inpect and Clean filter Internal parts are starting to rust. Unit is not running as efficiently.

Awning

 Clean Sprayed with LA’s Totally Awesome to kill mildew
Inspect Some rust on screw heads, etc.
Lubricate Sprayed liberally all joints and moving parts with silicone lubricant.

Wheels

 Inspect Inspected rubber, hubs, and suspension. No issues.
Grease hubs Dexter EZ-Lube hubs were easy to re-grease by following instructions on YouTube.
Posted on

2018 Annual Camper Maintenance

Bobby Camper Maintenance

Anthony Galluscio Camper Maintenance

Becca and I are going on a combined work-vacation to New York. My son, Bobby, came home to help me do the required maintenance on our 2015 Jayco Jay Flight 23RB Travel Trailer. We basically followed the list that we created last year. It is my hope that we can help other camper owners finding themselves in a similar situation, and even add to this list next year based on comments and feedback received.

Here are some stats on our camper:

  • Years Owned: 3 years
  • Total Mileage: 8629 miles
  • Total Nights Camping: 112 Nights Camping

For the record, here is a list of all of the systems on which we performed preventative maintenance:

System Tasks Notes

Hitch

 Configured backup assist N/A. In my opinion this is a complete waste.
Removed Gear Rust Used wire brush and Rustoleum rust reformer
Lubricated ball and sway connectors Used standard grease.

Propane

  Inspect  Hoses, connectors, and tanks in good repair
 Clean  Wiped down tanks, hoses, and fittings
 Refill  Took one tank to ACE Hardware and had it “topped off” for $14. Switched the backup tank to primary.

Undercarriage

  Inspect  Noticed some rust starting.

Roof

  Inspect Seams  Notices small holes and cracks starting in the seals. Will need to repair with Eternabond tape in the near future and definitely by next year.
 Repair issues  N/A. Will do Eternabond at next maintenance.

Stabilizers

  Inspect  Significant rust. Considering replacing when these become unserviceable.
 Lubricate  Sprayed liberally with silicone lubricant.

Steps

 Paint  N/A. Did not paint steps.
 Lubricate hinges  Sprayed hinges with silicone lubricant.

Fresh Water

  Sanitize  Followed recommended procedure to drain, sanitized, flush, and refill the fresh water system. I may write a separate blog detailing that process.

Septic system

 Clean tank Tank has been kept very clean over the last year so no action necessary.
Sanitize gear Gear was kept clean over the last year so no action was necessary.

Hot Water (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran hot water heater on gas
Clean Cleaned using vacuum and compressed air

Refrigerator (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran refrigerator on gas
Clean Cleaned using vacuum and compressed air

Stove (Gas)

 Test striker Lit and ran stove on gas

Air Conditioner

 Inpect and Clean filter Internal parts are starting to rust, but unit running well.

Awning

 Clean Sprayed with LA’s Totally Awesome to kill mildew
Inspect Some rust on screw heads, etc.
Lubricate Sprayed liberally all joints and moving parts with silicone lubricant.

Wheels

 Inspect Inspected rubber, hubs, and suspension. No issues.
Grease hubs Dexter EZ-Lube hubs were easy to re-grease by following instructions on YouTube.
Posted on

Remembering My Wonderful Grandmother, Ruth Ritchie

Grandma-and-Tony

My Grandma, Ruth Alberta Taylor Ritchie, would have been 100 years old on May 16, 2018. She died Monday, July 30, 2007 at 89 years old. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her. I was her only grandson and she proved over and over again to me that she loved me unconditionally. When I was a young man and I enlisted in the USMC, I called Grandma to tell her. After a long, thoughtful, pause she said (and I remember her words vividly) “Tony, I can’t say that doesn’t scare me and I can’t say that it makes me happy, but I do believe that you need to do what you think is right. I think that you can do anything you set your mind to and I am very proud of you. I will always love you.” That kind of love and care enabled me to do all kinds of things in my life. Grandma was born with one kidney and ended up on dialysis the last few years of her life. God bless my wonderful parents for taking such great care of her but being on dialysis at 89 years old is hard. One evening when I was sitting with Grandma to give Mom and Dad a well-deserved break. Grandma put her hand on my arm and she said, “Tony, I love you but I just can’t do this anymore.” Less than a week later, Grandma died. I was with her right before she died and my final words to her were, “Grandma, thank you for always believing in me and I will always love you.” I know she heard me.

Posted on

Anthony Galluscio Art Loeb Trail Hike

Beautiful View from Art Loeb Trail

Hiking the Art Loeb Trail October 26 to 29, 2017

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 30.1
  • Duration: 4 Days
  • Difficulty:  Very Difficult
  • Terrain: Mountains
  • Human Impact: Low impact due to difficult terrain
  • Location: Brevard, NC
  • Start: Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp
  • End: Davidson River Parking
  • Dates: October 26 to 29, 2017

Getting Started

Okay…. I just finished a different hike and I realized that I completely forgot to blog about this hike. To catch you up, I ended up NOT hiking the Georgia section of the AT in early October as I had originally planned. There was a tropical storm that blew through the area so I had to cancel. I still wanted to hike, though, with my daughter, Katie, and her boyfriend, Miguel. So, we selected the Art Loeb Trail in NC because it is shorter. Little did we know, the Art Loeb Trail is one the most difficult trails in North Carolina. We took a shuttle from Davidson River to Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp.

Getting Started on the Art Loeb Trail
Getting Started on the Art Loeb Trail

Day 1: Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp to Deep Gap: 4 miles

We started this hike at the Boy Scout Camp where I actually went one summer with my oldest son, Bobby. We hiked the first 3.8 miles and it was dark by the time we got to camp.

Art Loeb Trail Section 1
Art Loeb Trail Section 1

Setting Up Camp the First Night
Setting Up Camp the First Night

Day 2: Deep Gap to Gloucester Gap: 14 miles

We got an early start on day 2. Hiking through the Shining Rock Wilderness is difficult to navigate due to the intention lack of trail markings. We were vigilant and used a GPS when necessary.

There was a big storm coming within 24 hours with  100% chance of rain and high winds. We decided to push on to Gloucester Gap by going over 14 miles to get as close as possible to the shelter in butter gap.  When it became too dark to hike safely we stopped about four miles from the Butter Gap Shelter. The views were beautiful, but this was some of the most strenuous hiking I have done in recent memory. Check out the videos and pictures below to get an idea of how beautiful, and difficult, this trail is.

Note that when Hiking through the Shining Rock Wilderness a bear canister is mandatory. See a picture of the sign below:

Bear Canister Required
Bear Canister Required

Day 3: Weathering the storm at Butter Gap Shelter: 4 miles

We got up early on day 3 to cold rain and started the four mile hike over multiple mountains to Butter Gap Shelter.  We got to the shelter and stayed there for 23 hours to weather the storm. It was a great chance to rest up!

Day 4: Butter Gap Shelter to Davidson River: 8 miles

On day 4 we got an early start and hiked back to the truck. The air was wonderful after the rain and the views were stunning.

We swapped packs, but we didn’t swap camelbacks:

Summary: I think the Art Loeb Trail is one of the most beautiful on the east coast of the US. However, it is also one of the most difficult so make sure you are ready for it!

Posted on

Anthony Galluscio Prepping for the Appalachian Trail Hike of a Lifetime… literally

Appalachian Trail Hike Food

Words of Wisdom

My time as a machine gun team leader in the USMC infantry carrying sixty to eighty pounds of weapons and gear over incredible distances, developed in me a very dangerous muscle memory. As my wife often points out, “Remember, you are very capable of hurting yourself.”

My Situation

I have severe arthritis in my spine for which I take an immunosuppressant to block inflammation. As long as I stay on the medication I can walk unassisted and I am typically able to function fairly normally with periods of exacerbation that are moderately limiting usually only toward the end of a medication period. When I turned fifty, I decided that I would push myself to make sure I still have what it takes to be US Marine.

The Trial Hike

I packed a backpack full of forty-seven pounds of gear and supplies and headed out on a slow, but steady, thru-hike of the seventy-seven mile Foothills Trail. “Foothills” makes it sound easy, right? Wrong! There is actually a section of that trail called “Heartbreak Ridge.” To make a long story short, about one day into the hike my back started to flare up which had a domino effect of causing my pulse to race, which caused me to lack the extra cardio capacity to climb the hills, which caused me to overexert myself, which caused me to feel nauseated, which caused me to not eat, which meant I was low on energy without enough calories. I ended up breaking a cliff bar into 100 pieces and swallowing one little piece whole at a time. That is an example of how I had use brain rather than brawn to make it the distance.

So, if I told you that I intended to hike the entire 2200 miles of the Appalachian Trail, you would probably say that I am crazy.  Before you judge me, keep reading to see what I learned on my FHT hike:

Lessons Learned

  •  Just because I could easily carry a sixty to eighty pound pack in my 20’s means nothing now.  I can’t carry any more than 35 pounds without causing my arthritis to flare. On the FHT I carried 47 pounds.
  • I am going to lose weight rapidly as I hike so I have to limit my hike to less than 100 miles. On the FHT I lost 15 pounds in 7 days.
  • I need to pack foods that help me fight nausea. On the FHT I packed foods that CAUSE nausea.
  • I need to start the hike the day after an injection and NOT a week after (like I did on the foothills trail).
  • I can’t hike more than 12 miles per day. On the FHT, I had days as high as 15 miles.

My Plan

I am going to fully embrace those lessons learned and hike the Appalachian Trail at the rate of approximately 100 miles per year and finish when I am 73 years old.  As I said it is the hike of a lifetime.

I am starting soon and I will blog when I get back.  Here is how I am applying what I learned to my Appalachian Trail hike:

  • My total pack weight with 6 liters of water is 34.4 pounds!
  • My 2017 stretch of the AT is 86.1 miles.
  • I am bringing a variety of foods that will help with nausea.
  • I am starting the day after my injection.
  • My longest day is 12 miles.

Please stay tuned!! More to come!

 

 

 

Posted on

Anthony Galluscio Camping Review #5: Pine Mountain RV Resort

Near Pine Mountain RV Resort

Anthony Galluscio Pine Mountain RV Resort Camping Review

We were forced to evacuate the barrier islands where we live in Florida for hurricane Irma.  We took my parents to a cottage in Callaway Gardens and we stayed in the camper for two nights at Pine Mountain RV Resort until Tropical Storm Irma arrived.

Learn to live for today instead of putting things off. Sometimes in order to achieve a goal, you have to stop chasing it. As soon as you let the situation go and Chris Pratt Katherine Schwarzenegger start living in the present, there is harmony in your life – the right people, meaningful projects, and even growing income are attracted to you.

  • Campground: Pine Mountain RV Resort

  • Nights Camping: 2 (September 8 to 9, 2017)

  • Nearest City:  Pine Mountain, GA

  • Space Number:  58

  • Hookups:  Water/Electric/Sewer

  • Cost per Night:  $47

  • Likes:  Clean, quiet, well maintained. Very friendly people.

  • Dislikes: Sewer hookup on neighboring spot is very close to the front of our camper. Also, I am concerned about the potential for sap from the pine trees.

  • Notes: Ask for a spot in the open area in the back when we stay there again.

  • Rating:  Good

  • Link: http://www.rvcoutdoors.com/pine-mountain/

Posted on

Anthony Galluscio Camping Review #4: Crooked River State Park

Sunset at Crooked River

Anthony Galluscio Crooked River State Park Camping Review

This review covers our camping trip to Crooked River State Park for our 25th wedding anniversary. Bobby and Kathleen were able be drive over from Gainesville and have dinner with us.  Being August, it was very hot but we made the most of it and had fun. The kids made us this wonderful campsite marker for our anniversary:

Galluscio Campsite Marker Crooked River State Park
Galluscio Campsite Marker

  • Campground: Crooked River State Park

  • Nights Camping: 3 (August 16 to 19, 2017)

  • Nearest City:  St. Marys, GA

  • Space Number:  45

  • Hookups:  Water/Electric/No Sewer

  • Cost per Night:  $32

  • Likes:  Well maintained state park. Nicely laid out with very private spots, wide roads, and easy access. Very clean and quiet. Beautiful sunsets over the river. Staff is very friendly.

  • Dislikes: There are a lot of pine trees with tree sap so be careful.

  • Notes: This is right across the border from Florida. We went in August and it was HOT, but it was hot everywhere at that time.

  • Rating:  Good

  • Link: http://gastateparks.org/CrookedRiver

Posted on

Anthony Galluscio Camping Review #3: Vogel State Park

Vogel State Park

Anthony Galluscio Vogel State Park Camping Review

This review covers our most recent camping trip to Vogel State Park.

  • Campground: Vogel State Park

  • Nights Camping: 5 (July 8 to 13, 2017)

  • Nearest City:  Blairsville, GA

  • Space Number:  34

  • Hookups:  Water/Electric/No Sewer

  • Cost per Night:  $32

  • Likes:  Our spot was very private and next to a babbling creek. There were very few bugs and infrequent rain. The temperatures were in the 70s and 80s during the day and down in the 60s at night. Very clean with campsites well maintained. Absolutely stunning scenery!

    Vogel Camp Site
    Vogel Camp Site

  • Dislikes:  First-come-first-serve check in process is not really fair to out-of-state campers with no local knowledge. The dump stations are not very sanitary because there are constant puddles around the drains and the hoses are not elevated off the ground.

  • Notes:  There is a big lake for canoeing and fishing. The hike around the lake is about one mile. There are many wonderful excursions accessible directly from Vogel State Park including the Byron Herbert Reece Nature Trail, The Bear Hair Gap Trail, and the hike to the top of Blood Mountain on the Appalachian Trail. Within a short drive there is Helton Creek Falls. Blairsville, GA is a nice little town with places to eat. Bobby and Kathleen, Katie and Miguel, and Charlie all joined us for this vacation (Stevie was working). Kourtney, Tyler, and Ansleigh (our neice, nephew, and great neice) came to see us from Clemson one afternoon. We had a blast!

  • Rating:  Excellent

  • Link: http://gastateparks.org/Vogel