On The Fly

In this episode (173) – Goodby Summer 2022 . . . Wow!  Can you believe summer is over? This year (2022) has flown by. It's early morning, and already I'm noticing the sunrise arriving later and later. Siri tells me, "The Sun will rise at 6:43 a.m." The shorter days bring cooler weather. Soon we will don our jackets for an early morning walk. Me, I enjoy the warmth and comfort of my blue flannel shirt . For you sky watchers, the Hunters Moon is your gateway to fall; it will be visible on  Sunday, October 9, 2022, at 16:55 EST , based on the data provided by  NASA . Legend has it that Native Americans inspired the Full Moon's name as they prepared for the winter. They would start gathering provisions to get them through the winter. The October full moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the moon occurs when the season for hunting many game animals begins. That crisp, fresh, colorful time of year. Autumn is a ti...

In this episode (172) – Turn off the Lights . . . It happened on Thursday; Fall officially arrived, and soon darkness will be upon us by 5:00 p.m. To prepare, let's look at our energy usage and the most cost-effective way to light our home this winter. Compulsively turning off household lights to save money is a habit most of us have, but it's not the money-saving power move we think it is - unless . . .   Back in my day, it made sense to turn the lights off when you left the room. As Mom always said, "Turn off the lights! We're not made of money." Let's be clear, if you turn off any device in your home that uses electricity, no matter how big or small the device, you will, of course, save money. It doesn't matter if the device is a power-hungry tungsten lamp or a tiny night light in the bathroom. You are obviously not paying for electricity if it isn't using electricity. However, LEDs completely changed the game regarding serious energy savings. The e...

In this episode (171) – 5 Years Later - Part 2 . . . In last week's episode, we explored the reality of Wilderness camping. This week allow me to share a story that spread like wildfire during our 2022 Sierra adventure.  (Photos on YouTube) First, as an intrepid explorer, you must come to terms with today's world, which you have no control over, that mandates your experience, like it or not. You must be flexible and able to adapt to rapidly changing situations, from freeway traffic patterns to accidents, road construction, and, frankly, drivers who cannot back a truck with a grotesque, oversized motor home attached. So, my friends, a positive frame of mind is essential as you begin your Wilderness adventure. For Brendan and  me, it began that first day. Of course, it was Labor Day weekend. And we did  NOT  have a reservation for our first night in a public campground at ~9,000 feet. As a last-ditch option, we were considering sleeping in the back of the truck, park...

In this episode (170) – 5 Years Later . . . "Hey Google, turn on the kitchen lights." Today's blog post illustrates how people take for granted the conveniences of modern everyday life and miss the satisfaction of wilderness camping. (Photos on YouTube). We just returned home from our recent Sierra adventure. Little Lakes Valley in the Eastern Sierras camped at Gem Lakes - Tuesday, September 6, 2022. It had been five years since my last wilderness adventure. An unprecedented heat wave enveloped California and the West this Labor Day Weekend to mark the occasion. The first all CA—State Flex Alert was issued to prevent possible power outages for the West Coast grid. Why? It was HOT. During our drive up Route 395 North through Owens Valley, temperatures exceeded 110 degrees. Millions were drawing excess power for air conditioning. Anticipating cooler temperatures in our mountain retreat, we experienced unseasonably warm, beautiful weather for the Sierras. You may recall that...

In this episode - Community Solar for California . . . While California is one of the leading U.S. states in solar deployment, CA. has lagged behind in providing community solar access. As of September 1, 2022, the California State Legislature passed AB 2316, the Community Renewable Energy Act, a bill that creates a community renewable energy program, including community solar-plus-storage, to overcome access barriers for nearly half of Californians who rent or have low incomes. What is Community Solar? The U.S. Department of Energy defines community solar as any solar project within a geographic area in which the benefits of a solar project flow to multiple customers such as individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other groups. In most cases, customers benefit from energy generated by solar panels at an off-site array location. Community solar customers can either buy or lease a portion of the solar panels in the array. They typically receive an electric bill credit for electricity g...

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, ...