On The Fly

In this episode - Bi-Directional Charging . . . Can your electric vehicle (E.V.) power your home? It's a question that people are asking, especially with the rise in E.V. popularity. Technically, most E.V.s have enough energy in the battery to power a home for a few days, but it's not as simple as plugging into your charger. All E.V.s store energy in their battery, but they lack the proper hardware and software to transfer all that battery power elsewhere. So, for most E.V. owners, the answer is no, you can't power your home from an E.V. However, new vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Chevy Silverado E feature bi-directional charging and can share that battery power. Here are a few additional details about how this technology works, how you can turn an electric vehicle into a generator, and how long your E.V. could power your house. First - What is Bi-Directional Charging? Suppose you do want to use your electric vehicle as a generator and power your home in cas...

In this episode - A Bear Sighting Part 2 . . . If you recall, it was day two of our 2014 Sierra adventure . We left our heroes at the East Fork Campground along Rock Creek i n the Eastern Sierra, an elevation of 9,000 feet. Still somewhat giddy from our bear encounter, we moved on. "Little Lakes Valley trail is very popular," said Brendan. Expect to see more day-hikers than usual." Trailhead parking was already full when we arrived. Quickly we found out why from one of the locals. "We love this place; it's an easy hike with glorious views." We consulted our map, and the elevation gain from the trailhead to Chickenfoot Lake, about four miles, the elevation of 10,789 feet, was less than 600 feet. An easy climb. Many weekend visitors and fishermen came to enjoy the scenic beauty and fish the abundant lakes. I paused to admire the graceful arc of a fly-line as a fisherman cast his fly to the edge of tall green grass at Marsh lake. For those listeners who have ...

In this episode (166) - A Look at 66 . . . Can you believe it's the middle of August already? School is just around the corner, and summer is coming to an end; this year, the 2022 Sierra adventure is in September. And - this week, I'm looking at 66. You're thinking, well, as another year slips by, we're wiser, stronger, pondering retirement, and developing a plan to stay active. The fleeting reality of time. However, staying active when you retire is not just turning on a switch. An active lifestyle depends on foundational health habits built over many years to transport yourself physically into the future. My exercise program has always included bicycling, hiking, stretching, and daily walks to keep myself fit. But we're all destined to face that reality - as you age, you cannot do what you did as little as five years ago. For example, reading old blog posts, I realized my last Sierra wilderness backpack trip was five years ago. How is that possible? In hindsight, ...

In this episode (165) – A Bear Sighting . . . Pull up a chair, and let me tell you the story of a bear. I awoke to the steady patter of rain on my tent in the black velvet darkness of our cozy mountain camp. Wrapped in my sleeping bag, I sat up, craned my head to one side, and listened; there was that strange sound again. Nervously, I reached for my wristwatch and clicked the Indiglo light. It was just after 1:00 a.m., and I was wide awake. "What was that sound? I thought, Was it a Bear?" The skies were ominous that night. A soft, steady rain began at dusk; we had retired early and camped near Chickenfoot Lake, in the Inyo National Forest, elevation 10,789 feet, in the Sierra Mountains just northwest of Bishop, California. This was the second night of our 2014 annual wilderness backpacking trek. Our evening conversation had centered on BIG , ferocious bears. "It wasn't that long ago campers simply hung their food in trees. Not anymore; the bears had wised up to that ...