Freedom in a Can: Adventures with Hamlet

Sometimes, it's just one little detail that opens up a whole world of understanding. Corals are both animals AND plants.  Let's just let that sink in for a sec...   This simple fact fundamentally shaped our experiences in the US Virgin Islands National Park and Biscayne Bay National Park this past month, especially on the water.  We are proud natural science nerds, but this story isn't just about a freaky little polyamorous relationship under the sea, it's about so much more! It was "Dr. Coral" himself at US Virgin Islands National Park on St John Island, who dropped this brain bomb on us at an evening "ranger" program during our first night at Cinnamon Bay, the only campground within the park.  While retired from the NPS, he remains active in coral health research and sharing his freaky knowledge about the Caribbean with tourists from all over the world.  We were so fascinated by his talk, we wanted to invite him out for a beer just so we could he...

You want to go solar so that you can enjoy camping in your RV off-the-grid, far away from crowded campgrounds and RV resorts!  We see some RVers build huge systems without a care in the world about adding significant weight, while others are concerned about how the extra pounds may affect their towing experience. Maybe this issue has never even occurred to you?   Regardless, with a few tricks up our sleeves to maximize energy production with limited space and solar equipment , you’ll likely be surprised by how little weight you need to add to your overall rig – especially if you replace the lead acid batteries that came with your rig with more modern LiFePO4 batteries !   First, it’s important to remember that solar power is scalable. Solar can power any size RV – from small Class B vans to moderately-sized travel trailers / motorhomes to full-scale luxury Class A off-grid homes on wheels.  If your daily energy needs are limited to lights, fans and charging...