February '24 Canlife Correspondence - Wood-Fired Waffles, Worksheets & Wool Shoes!

4 Cities, 4 Shows, 5 Topics, 34 Seminars in 6 Weeks

This probably won't come as a surprise to anyone, but we just aren't city people.  In fact, what is the exact opposite of a city person?  Yeah, that feels better.  Though "country" or "rural" doesn't quite fit either.  How far can you get away from human civilization and still remain human?  What's that called? 'Cuz that's what feels like home.  

At the same time, being an alien visitor to the strange, though familiar, urban and suburban landscapes has its advantages.  I mean, we speak the language, know how to get around, appreciate a good museum, our credit cards work, and we thoroughly enjoy city cuisine! This isn't our first rodeo, y'all.  We are very grateful for the chance to travel for our work, share our stories and insights with people wanting to explore our world in an RV.  But we miss ours, terribly, and no cozy or hip B&B can possibly compare to our Hamlet.  

The cities that we've visited during our RV Show schedule -- Grand Rapids, Chattanooga, Raleigh, and Birmingham -- offered us new landscapes, architecture, and dining experiences ranging from the exotic to the familiar.  And, I see you Waffle House.. yes I need it badly, I need it smothered, covered, diced, peppered, AND capped!

Of course, we come to the city to talk about the RV lifestyle, help folks build out their own solar-powered system, plan their next road trip to some of America's National Parks, or even a dream trip to Alaska, but the diversions of science centers, classic movie theaters, unique bars with hand-crafted cocktails, and expressions of art everywhere make missing our lil' camper a little easier.  Unlike previous winters where our schedule led us to northern Midwest cities and show stopping blizzards, the spring-like weather here in the Southeast is a welcomed relief.  

We'll head back to California soon, where we'll reunite with Hamlet, parked at a friend's place in the Sonoma wine country.  We're excited to be back in our home that travels with us and return to living the life we love instead of simply sharing it with others.  Thanks for coming out in such great numbers, asking engaging questions, and simply being a great audience!  

What's Next For Us?
While we probably won't be heading back to Alaska or Canada this year, we have some exciting plans shaping up for 2024!

• A week in New Orleans with some of our Boone-town besties!  Yeah, another city, but we can't wait to experience it through the eyes of two huge fans of The Big Easy.
• Spring travel through Nevada and Utah (including a bike packing adventure in the desert) and some hiking and backpacking adventures in Idaho and Montana.
• Summer adventures include a rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and a week of sea kayaking in Lake Superior's Isle Royale National Park, Michigan.

Recipe of the Month - Wood Fired Waffles

We saw your eyes pop when we mentioned cooking waffles over a campfire at our Gourmet Camp Cooking & Baking seminars.  In case you got distracted somewhere between the RV show and our recipe blog, we're sharing it here again.  Whether over the OTZI Grill, campfire, two-burner stove, or in your own electric waffle iron gathering dust in the back of the pantry, these waffles are simply the best we've ever eaten.  And, they are as good for breakfast as they are for dinner and dessert!

Video of the Month - Solar System Sizing Worksheet Tutorial

This video was a long time coming.  We first thought about doing something like it 3 years ago when we sunk our teeth into developing a comprehensive Excel worksheet that might help folks calculate their daily energy demands, as well as build and price out a solar powered system robust enough to run it.  This video will walk you through each step of the journey to your own energy independence!  Grab your favorite beverage and work through it step-by-step.    

You can download this worksheet for yourself.  When you open it, be sure to click on "Enable Editing" at the top to begin doing your own calculations.

Blog of the Month - How Do Self-Heating LiFePO4 Batteries Work? 

Even as we're enjoying the south for all its spring weather, we know that winter still holds its grip on much of our continent.  Building out a solar powered system with this kind of weather in mind might lead you to the case for self-heating batteries.  In short, as a battery's core temperature approaches freezing (32℉) the efficacy of charging slows down, though most will continue to deliver power until -4℉.   A small heating element within the battery will gently bring the core temperature up so that it can charge efficiently no matter what the weather is outside.  LFP's are the only type of battery to offer this function, so that you can be sure to have all the power you need throughout the winter months. Learn more about how it works in this video.   

In Front of the Mic & Boondocking Basket Giveaway! 

Our winter RV Shows are complete, and we've added nearly 300 people to our growing email list. Please share this newsletter with folks who might love it...there's a link at the bottom to do just that!

We gave away some amazing prizes as a part of our Boondocking Basket Giveaway, including Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries and solar panels from Renogy, annual memberships to The Dyrt PRO, Escapees RV Club, & Harvest Hosts, OTZI Gear Flat Pack Grills, and even a planning session with the folks at RVing to Alaska.  Thanks to our awesome brands and to everyone who participated.  We've still got a few more prizes to give away this year, so stay tuned as we'll be giving them out on social media and via this newsletter! 

Buying through our links and using our promo code "CANLIFE" at checkout, not only gets you a discount from 10-12% off, it also helps keep us on the road.  

Also, big thanks to our friends at ShowSpan, RV Supershows and the NCRVDA for hosting us at their wonderful RV shows.  Looking forward to returning next year! 

And, if you happen to live in the Northeast, we'll be returning again to America's Largest RV Show in Hershey, PA, September 11-15, 2024. Hope to see you there!

Amache National Park?  What's in a Name?

In between seminars in Raleigh, I read the announcement on social media that we had a new National Park.  We pulled up our presentation and quickly altered it to reflect the new designation.  But even we, National Park Nerds, were mislead by the jargon used in the articles!  We would like to issue a correction. 

Amache National Historic Site has been added to the National Park Service as a National Historic Site designation.  We believe that this brings the total count of NPS sites to 424, with 63 designated as National Parks or National Parks & Preserves.  There are now 7 NPS sites dedicated to the wrongful detention of Americans of Japanese decent throughout our country.  Department of Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland said it best, “As a nation, we must face the wrongs of our past in order to build a more just and equitable future...To heal and grow as a nation we need to reflect on past mistakes, make amends, and strive to form a more perfect union.”    

Solar Decathlon House on U of A campus in Birmingham

Hutch's Favorite New Kicks Are Helping the Planet!

While we live lighter on our planet, we are constantly surprised by the waste and what causes it.  We learned about the terrible waste cause by the shoe industry, and have been using our SOLE Cork Insoles for over a year now.  We love them not only because they are a C02 negative product, but because they also feel awesome on our feet.  You know we hike a lot, spend much of our time outside on our feet, and these footbeds have made it a whole lot more comfortable on our feet, knees, and ankles.

SOLE has just stepped it up a notch with their recent release of a C02 negative shoe made with their exclusive "ReCORK" sole, the Jasper Chukka.  Hutch put them in the rotation, and is pretty impressed.  

With the upper material made from ethically-sourced Merino wool, upcycled Bison hair, recycled plastic and polyester, and the sole made from recycled natural cork, these are some seriously sustainable shoes!

Get $20 off your purchase with our promo code CANLIFE!

What's in a motto? A Tour of 50 State Mottos 

Hutch ran across the quote, "Dum Spiro Spero," while reading his latest fantasy novel. "While I breath, I hope," is attributed to Cicero (196 - 43 BCE).  It resonated with him because who doesn't need a reminder to live more hopefully rather than fearfully, especially in another tumultuous election year?  Despite all evidence to the contrary, fear does not have to be our first reaction to the morass of bad news coming our way.  If fear is a reaction, then that reaction is a choice, and we can choose to make another one.  Choosing hope doesn't mean denying the facts, or reality; rather it forces us to weed through the garden for the good veggies and flowers.  In the words of Alex Haley, "find the good, and praise it."  

This is also the state motto of South Carolina, admitted into the union in 1788.  In that case they've been hoping for a long time, for what?  Maybe a better basketball team?  But I digress...  Hope might reflect a state of being rather than achieving or arriving at the thing for which we are hoping.  It's the journey, not the destination -- another reminder to keep our eyes on the road.  

This sent Hutch down an online rabbit hole learning about our state mottos, and what they might, or might not, say about their state.  They swing from the bizarre, "She Flies With Her Own Wings" (Oregon) right into the mundane, "Agriculture & Commerce" (yawn...Tennessee), to reaching for the inspirational, "Excelsior" (New York) which reminds us to look "ever upward."  We will revisit this topic as we swing our way through different states in the coming months!

Parting Shot - Grand Rapids Skyline

Want to receive these newsletters in your email inbox?  Subscribe to our Almost Monthly Newsletter.  Just be sure to confirm the email you receive from Freedom in a Can, so that they land in your inbox (rather than your spam or junk mail) each month.